Multivariate optimization and comparison between conventional extraction (CE) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of carotenoid extraction from cashew apple

Carotenoids are an essential component of cashew and can be used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, natural pigment, food additives, among other applications. The present work focuses on optimizing and comparing conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods. Every optimization step took place with a 1:1 (w:w) mixture of yellow and red cashew apples lyophilized and ground in a cryogenic mill. A Simplex-centroid design was applied for both methods, and the solvents acetone, methanol, ethanol, and petroleum ether were evaluated. After choosing the extractor solvent, a central composite design was applied to optimize the sample mass (59–201 mg) and extraction time (6–34 min). The optimum conditions for the extractor solvent were 38% acetone, 30% ethanol, and 32% petroleum ether for CE and a mixture of 44% acetone and 56% methanol for UAE. The best experimental conditions for UAE were a sonication time of 19 min and a sample mass of 153 mg, while the CE was 23 min and 136 mg. Comparing red and yellow cashews, red cashews showed a higher carotenoid content in both methodologies. The UAE methodology was ca. 21% faster, presented a more straightforward composition of extracting solution, showed an average yield of superior carotenoid content in all samples compared to CE. Therefore, UAE has demonstrated a simple, efficient, fast, low-cost adjustment methodology and a reliable alternative for other applications involving these bioactive compounds in the studied or similar matrix.     

White and some colored marbles as alternative radiation shielding materials for applications

ABSTRACT

In this paper, the radiation shielding parameters such as linear attenuation coefficients (LAC, µ), mass attenuation coefficients (MAC, µ/ρ), effective atomic numbers (Z_eff), effective electron densities (N_eff), half value of layers (HVL), mean free paths (MFP) and buildup factors (exposure (EBF) and energy absorption (EABF)) were investigated for cream (M1), pink (M2), white (M3), maroon (M4) and green (M5) marbles. Attenuation coefficients were measured in the energy region 31.18–661.66 keV photon energies. The values of Z_eff and N_eff were then calculated using these coefficients with logarithmic interpolation method, and HVLs and MFPs were calculated using the values of LAC of marble samples at the same photon energies. The experimental results were compared with the theoretical values obtained from WinXCom program, and good agreements were observed between the experimental and theoretical results. HVLs and MFPs of all marble samples were compared with those of some concretes, glasses and commercial radiation shielding glasses (SCHOTT Co.). The studied marbles were better radiation shielding materials than standard shielding concretes due to lower HVL and MFP values lower than the ordinary concrete. Finally, EBFs and EABFs of the marbles were calculated in the energy region 0.015–1?MeV up to penetration depths of 40 mfps by Geometric Progression method (G-P), and the results were discussed in terms of photon energies and chemical compositions of the marbles.     

平板几何迁移算子的特征值问题

研究L^p(1相似文献   

Local inverse inelastic mean free path at interface

We calculated a local inverse inelastic mean free path (local-IIMFP) for electrons crossing a medium–medium interface, considering various incident electron energies, crossing angles and combinations of materials. We used an extension of a classical dielectric model developed by Li and co-workers for an electron crossing a surface (interface vacuum-medium). Moreover, the integration over the distance of the local-IIMFP allows to obtain the interface excitation parameter (or IEP) characterizing the change in excitation probability for an electron crossing an interface once caused by the presence of the interface in comparison with an electron for which only volume excitations are considered. We perform these calculations for angles between 0° and 80°, for electron energies between 500 and 2500 eV and for various pairs of materials, as Al/In for its academic interest or Au/Si and SiO₂/Si for their technological importance. Small but not negligible variations of the local-IIMFP and the IEP were observed for metal–metal or metal–semiconductor interfaces, while quite significant variations are obtained when one of the materials is a insulator.     

Development of models for prediction of the antioxidant activity of derivatives of natural compounds

Antioxidants are important for maintaining the appropriate balance between oxidizing and reducing species in the body and thus preventing oxidative stress. Many natural compounds are being screened for their possible antioxidant activity. It was found that a mushroom pigment Norbadione A, which is a pulvinic acid derivative, shows an antioxidant activity; the same was found for other pulvinic acid derivatives and structurally related coumarines. Based on the results of in vitro studies performed on these compounds as a part of this study quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) predictive models were constructed using multiple linear regression, counter-propagation artificial neural networks and support vector regression (SVR). The models have been developed in accordance with current QSAR guidelines, including the assessment of the models applicability domains. A new approach for the graphical evaluation of the applicability domain for SVR models is suggested. The developed models show sufficient predictive abilities for the screening of virtual libraries for new potential antioxidants.     

Structural study of a manganese(II) `picket‐fence' porphyrin complex

`Picket‐fence' porphyrin compounds are used in the investigation of interactions of hemes with dioxygen, carbon monoxide, nitric monoxide and imidazole ligands. (Cryptand‐222)potassium chlorido[meso‐tetra(α,α,α,α‐o‐pivalamidophenyl)porphyrinato]manganese tetrahydrofuran monosolvate (cryptand‐222 is 4,7,13,16,21,24‐hexaoxa‐1,10‐diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane), [K(C₁₈H₃₆N₂O₆)][Mn(C₆₄H₆₄N₈O₄)Cl]·C₄H₈O or [K(222)][Mn(TpivPP)Cl]·THF [systematic name for TpivPP: 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(2‐tert‐butanamidophenyl)porphyrin], is a five‐coordinate high‐spin manganese(II) picket‐fence porphyrin complex. It crystallizes with a potassium cation chelated inside a cryptand‐222 molecule; the average K—O and K—N distances are 2.83 (4) and 2.995 (13) Å, respectively. All four protecting tert‐butyl pickets of the porphyrin are ordered. The porphyrin plane is nearly planar, as indicated by the atomic displacements and the dihedral angles between the mean planes of the pyrrole rings and the 24‐atom mean plane. The axial chloride ligand is located inside the molecular cavity on the hindered porphyrin side and the Mn—Cl bond is tilted slightly off the normal to the porphyrin plane by 3.68 (2)°. The out‐of‐plane displacement of the metal centre relative to the 24‐atom mean plane (Δ₂₄) is 0.7013 (4) Å, indicating a noticeable porphyrin core doming.     

Molecular dynamics study on the influence of C-terminal sugar substitution on dynamics and conformation of vancomycin derivatives

Computational investigations were performed to examine the effects of the addition of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranosylamine or 1-amino-1-deoxy-D-glucitol connected to the C-terminus of vancomycin with different linkers. The purpose of this modification was to find more effective vancomycin derivatives by providing alternative interactions between vancomycin moiety and the peptidoglycan precursor. Each prepared vancomycin–peptidoglycan complex was optimized and submitted to the molecular dynamics study and analysis. The analysis of overall root mean square deviation, changes in position and interactions involving modified part of vancomycin as well as cluster analysis were carried out. One of the proposed vancomycin analogues seems to be efficient vancomycin substitute.     

三项指数和四次均值的精确计算公式(2)

本文进一步深入研究了三项指数和四次均值的计算问题.运用指数和的相关性质并结合求解同余方程组的方法与技巧,利用两种不同的方法获得了两个精确的均值计算公式,揭示了三项指数和的计算与同余方程组解的个数之间的本质联系,推广了已有的结果.     

二项指数和四次混合均值的计算

本文研究了二项指数和四次均值的计算问题.利用初等数论及代数数论的方法获得了一个精确的计算公式以及一个转换公式,推广了已有的结果,揭示了均值计算与同余方程组的本质联系.     

On the first eigenvalue of the mean finsler-laplacian

In this paper, we prove that several different definitions of the Finsler-Laplacian are equivalent. Then we prove that any Berwald metric is affinely equivalent to its mean metric and give some upper or lower bound estimates for the first eigenvalue of the mean Laplacian on Berwald manifolds, which generalize some results in Riemannian geometry.