Popular branchings and their dual certificates

Mathematical Programming - Let G be a digraph where every node has preferences over its incoming edges. The preferences of a node extend naturally to preferences over branchings, i.e., directed...     

Nonsteroidal Anti‐inflammatory Drug‐based N‐Allylidene Benzohydrazides and 1‐Acyl‐2‐pyrazolines: Their Synthesis as Potential Cytotoxic Agents In Vitro

A series of 1‐acyl‐2‐pyrazoline derivatives derived from nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs was designed as potential anticancer agents. Synthesis of these compounds was carried out via the condensation reaction of chalcones and acid hydrazides under heating. The methodology did not require the use of any costly reagents or catalysts, and the acid hydrazide reactants were readily prepared from mefenamic acid or ibuprofen. A variety of 1‐acyl‐2‐pyrazolines was prepared in good to excellent yields. An N‐allylidene benzohydrazide intermediate was isolated during the reaction optimization study, the structure of which was confirmed unambiguously by X‐ray single crystal data. A range of N‐allylidene benzohydrazides were also prepared in good yields. Some of the compounds synthesized showed promising cytotoxic activities when tested against HCT‐15 human colon cancer cell line in vitro.     

Calotropis procera extract induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in human skin melanoma (SK-MEL-2) cells

Calotropis procera (family: Asclepiadaceae) contains cardiac glycosides which are cytotoxic to cancer cells. The extracts of C. procera have been reported to be cytotoxic to many cancer cell lines and this is the first report against the human skin melanoma cells (SK-MEL-2). The SK-MEL-2 cells treated with C. procera methanolic extract (CPME) were analysed for growth inhibition and apoptosis. The exposure of phosphatidylserine in apoptotic SK-MEL-2 was analysed by using the Annexin-V FITC flow cytometry method. In CPME-treated SK-MEL-2 cells, 19.6% of apoptotic and 58.3% dead cells were observed. The 15.97% and 15.85% of early apoptotic cells were found at 20 μg/mL of the ouabain and paclitaxel, respectively. Active caspases, nuclear degradation confirmed apoptotic SK-MEL-2 cells in time- and dose-dependent manner. The cell cycle analysis shows that CPME treated cells halt at G2/M phase. Significant cytotoxic activity of CPME against SK-MEL-2 may be attributed to its high cardenolide content.     

Prediction of nanofluid viscosity using multilayer perceptron and Gaussian process regression

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - More than a decade, a numerous experimental and theoretical studies of thermophysical properties of nanofluids are conducted to reveal its heat...     

Synthesis of Nordstrandite and Nordstrandite-Derived Layered Double Hydroxides of Li and Al: A Comparative Study with the Bayerite Counterpart

The layered double hydroxides (LDHs) of Li and Al can be synthesized from the four polymorphs of Al(OH)₃, namely gibbsite, bayerite, nordstrandite, and doyleite. The crystal structure of this class of compounds depends on the type of the precursor used due to their topotactic reaction mechanism. While the LDHs derived from gibbsite and bayerite yield different crystal structures, the incorporation of Li into nordstrandite was expected to yield new LDH structures different from those derived from gibbsite and bayerite. The structure of nordstrandite derived LDHs were however identical to that derived from the bayerite counterpart. The absence of symmetry in the interlayer of nordstrandite (C₁) makes it unsuitable to accommodate the intercalating anions with different molecular symmetries. To make the interlayer gallery suitable for the anions, the metal hydroxide layers of the nordstrandite translate, transforming nordstrandite to bayerite. The bayerite with site symmetries O_h and C₂ stabilizes the anions in the interlayer by hydrogen bonding. The transformation of nordstrandite to bayerite, when soaked in lithium salt solution is, therefore, a manifestation of the intercalating anions.     

An Efficient One‐pot Three‐component Method for the Synthesis of 5‐Amino‐3‐(2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)‐7‐aryl‐7H‐thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyridine‐6,8‐dicarbonitriles

A facile, convenient, and adequate method has been developed for the synthesis of novel 5‐amino‐3‐(2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)‐7‐aryl‐7H‐thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyridine‐6,8‐dicarbonitriles ( 6 ) by employing 2‐(4‐(2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐3‐yl)thiazol‐2‐yl)acetonitrile ( 3 ) as an important precursor. Initially, we have synthesized the target compounds in a stepwise manner and then approached a tandem method to examine the feasibility of one‐pot method. Subsequently, one‐pot three‐component protocol has been established for the synthesis of title compounds by the reaction of 3 with benzaldehyde and malononitrile in refluxing ethanol engender a new six‐membered thiazolo[3,2‐a] pyridine as a hybrid scaffold. Reaction conditions were optimized for this reaction and a broad substrate scope with various aryl and heteroaryl aldehydes make this protocol very practical, attractive, and worthy. Mechanistic aspects for the formation of these compounds were outlined comprehensively. Characterization of these newly synthesized compounds was achieved by means of IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and HRMS.     

Transfer-Free Graphene Growth on Dielectric Substrates: A Review of the Growth Mechanism

Ever since the more-than-decade-old discovery of application of mechanical exfoliation to obtain graphene, this 2-dimensional material was known for its soaring promise in various applications, owing to its excellent properties. Graphene, most popularly grown on metallic substrates by chemical vapour deposition, needs to be transferred onto dielectric substrates for multiple optical and electronic applications. During such complex and expensive transfer steps, defects are introduced into graphene, which deteriorates the quality and thus, properties of graphene. An alternative approach to surmount these problems is the elimination of the transfer process and to directly grow graphene on dielectric substrates, for future electronic and optical applications. This review presents a comprehensive and an up-to-date account of the development of synthesis methods, challenges and future directions for transfer-free graphene growth on dielectric substrates. Special emphasis is given on the fundamentals of growth mechanisms of various transfer-free graphene synthesis processes on dielectric materials.