Existence of positive solutions of nonlinear fractional differential equations

Existence of positive solutions for the nonlinear fractional differential equation D^su(x)=f(x,u(x)), 0<s<1, has been studied (S. Zhang, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 252 (2000) 804-812), where D^s denotes Riemann-Liouville fractional derivative. In the present work we study existence of positive solutions in case of the nonlinear fractional differential equation:

L(D)u=f(x,u),u(0)=0,0<x<1,     

Nanogram/mL detection of nortriptyline: Preparation of a molecularly imprinted polymer for spectrophotometric determination of nortriptyline based on multivariate optimization methods

In this work, the molecularly imprinted polymer was used as a selective sorbent in solid‐phase extraction method for the spectrophotometric determination of nortriptyline at 239 nm. Molecularly imprinted polymer was synthesized by pyrrole as a functional monomer in the presence of nortriptyline as a template. Several factors, consist of the concentration of the monomer to template ratio, amount of initiator, stirring rate, reaction time, the pH of the buffer solution, amount of sorbent, loading time, shaking rate of loading, extraction time, and shaking rate of extraction were evaluated due to their effectiveness in the preparation and extraction capability of molecularly imprinted polymer. Multivariate optimization methods, such as Plackett‐Burman and central composite designs, were employed to find and optimize the significant factors. Under the selected optimal conditions, molecularly imprinted polymer showed a linear range from 0.1 to 100 µmol/L (0.026 to 26 µg/mL) nortriptyline, a detection limit of 10.3 nmol/L (2.7 ng/mL), a highly repeatable (relative standard deviation of 3.7%) and reproducible response (relative standard deviation of 4.6%), and a good selectivity in the presence of structurally related molecules. Furthermore, molecularly imprinted polymer showed high extraction efficiency and was successfully used for the determination of nortriptyline in real samples.     

Isocyanide‐Based Multicomponent Reaction: One‐Pot Synthesis of New Derivatives of Iminofuranone

The one‐pot multicomponent reaction of alkyl isocyanide, alkylidene‐substituted Meldrum's acid, and arylcarboxylic acids affords new derivatives of iminofuranone in fair yields. The structure of the products was deduced from their spectroscopic data. Two equivalents of the respective isocyanides participate in this reaction.     

Microstructure of nickel nanoparticles embedded in carbon films: case study on annealing effect by micromorphology analysis

The presented study is aimed at analyzing the surface texture of amorphous hydrogenated carbon layers containing nickel nanoparticles (Ni‐NPs@a‐C:H) within their structure, which were deposited by Radio Frequency (RF) sputtering and RF‐Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (RF‐PECVD) methods on glass substrates. Prepared films were then used as research material following their annealing at two different temperatures of 250 °C and 350 °C in an inert argon atmosphere. Series of height samples were taken with the help of atomic force microscopy (AFM) operating in a non‐contact mode and examined in order to determine their fractal characteristics. Raw AFM data were first plane‐fitted to remove the surface bow exhibiting the so‐called residual surface, and then numerically processed to calculate the Areal Autocorrelation Function (AACF), which was later used to compute the Structure Function (SF). The log–log plots of the latter served for calculation of fractal properties of surfaces under investigation, including fractal dimension D, and pseudo‐topothesy K. The analysis of 3‐D surface texture helps to understand their essential characteristics and their implications as well as graphical models and their implementation in computer simulation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new molecularly imprinted polymer for selective extraction and pre‐concentration of guaifenesin in different samples: Adsorption studies and kinetic modeling

This paper describes the synthesis of a molecularly imprinted polymer by chemical oxidation of pyrrole as the functional monomer, and at the presence of guaifenesin as the template. The prepared polymer was used as adsorbent in molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction followed by spectrophotometric determination. Different parameters in the solid‐phase extraction including sample pH, adsorbent weight, washing solution, and elution solvent were studied to determine optimum conditions for isolation and enrichment of guaifenesin. The results showed guaifenesin was quantitatively adsorbed on the molecularly imprinted polymer at pH 6.0 and completely eluted with an ethanol–water solution (50% v/v). An enrichment factor of four with satisfactory recoveries (87.0–95.0%) was obtained. The solid‐phase extraction columns could be used for up to six consecutive elution‐loading cycles without significant decreases in the analyte recoveries. The method had a dynamic range of 3.0 × 10^?6–1.5 × 10^?4 mol/L with a limit of detection and limit of quantification of 1.4×10^?6 and 4.5×10^?6 mol/L, respectively. The proposed procedure was used for the extraction and determination of guaifenesin in different pharmaceutical formulations, with satisfying results being achieved.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of mixed-metal complexes of Cu(I) with MOS3 cores (M = Mo, W) and of an unusual polymeric AgI/mercaptoimidazole complex with five different Ag(I) coordination environments

Reaction of (NH(4))(2)[MO(2)S(2)] (M = Mo or W) with KI, CuCl and 1,3-diazepane-2-thione (Diap) in acetone affords air- and moisture-stable mixed-metal cluster compounds [MOS(3)(CuDiap)(3)]I (1 and 2). Attempts to produce [WS(4)Ag(2)(Mim(Ph))(4)] (Mim(Ph) = 2-mercapto-1-phenylimidazole) led to the unexpected polymeric compound [Ag(5)I(5)(Mim(Ph))(4)](n) (4), subsequently obtained from a rational direct reaction between AgI and Mim(Ph) in chloroform. The complexes have been characterized by IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal diffraction. 1 and 2 have crystallographic threefold rotation symmetry, with an incomplete distorted cube MS(3)Cu(3) core bearing terminal oxo and Diap ligands on M and Cu, respectively. The cube vertex opposite M is empty, giving an overall +1 cationic cluster and a separate I(-) anion too distant from the three Cu atoms to be considered as covalently bonded and resulting in discrete ion pairs in the crystal structures. This arrangement is different from previously reported related OMS(3)(CuL)(3)X complexes (L = monodentate ligand, X = halide), in which X, when present, is directly bonded to one, two or three Cu atoms. 4 has a one-dimensional polymeric chain structure in which silver displays five different approximately tetrahedral coordination environments, iodide ions serve as μ(2), μ(3) and μ(4) bridges, and the thione ligands are each either terminal or bridging. This unusually complex structure for a relatively simple chemical formula represents only the fifth example of a complex (AgI)(n)L(m) in which L is a neutral S-donor ligand, and the five structures display a wide range of individual features. In all three of the new structures, N-H···S and/or N-H···I hydrogen bonds are found.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of 1,5-Diionic Organophosphorus Compounds

The reactive 1:1 intermediate produced in the reaction between triphenylphosphine and alkyl propiolates or ethynyl phenyl ketone was trapped by isopropylidene Meldrum's acid (5-isopropylidene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione) to produce alkyl 3-(isopropylidenemalonate-5-yl-5-ylid)-3-methyl-2-triphenylphosphoniomethylidene-butanoates or 3-(isopropylidenemalonate-5-yl-5-ylid)-3-methyl-2-triphenylphosphoniomethylidene-butanone in 75-86% yield. These 1,5-diionic phosphorus betaines exist as (Z) geometrical isomer in CDCl 3 solution.     

Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Isoxazolinediones from One-pot Reaction of Alkylidene Meldrum ’s Acid with Alkyl Isocyanides in the Presence of Arylhydroxylamines

Alkyl isocyanides undergo a smooth reaction with alkylidene Meldrum’s acids in the presence of arylhydroxylamines to produce N ¹-alkyl-2-(3,5-dioxo-2-aryltetrahydro-4-isoxazolyl)alkanamides in high yields.     

H-ras protein in a bilayer: interaction and structure perturbation

Ras GTPases become functionally active when anchored to membranes by inserting their lipid modified side chains. Their role in cell division, development, and cancer has made them targets of extensive research efforts, yet the mechanism of membrane insertion and the structure of the resulting complex remain elusive. Recently, the structure of the full-length H-ras protein in a DMPC bilayer has been computationally characterized. Here, the atomic interactions between the H-ras membrane anchor and the DMPC bilayer are investigated in detail. We find that the palmitoylated cysteines and Met182 have dual contributions to membrane affinity: hydrogen bonding by their amides and van der Waals interaction by their hydrophobic side chains. The polar side chains help maintain the orientation of the anchor. Although the overall structure of the bilayer is similar to that of a pure DMPC, there are localized perturbations. These perturbations depend on the insertion depth and backbone localization of the anchor, which in turn is modulated by the catalytic domain and the linker. The pattern of anchor amide-DMPC phosphate/carbonyl hydrogen bonds and the flexibility of Palm184 are important in discriminating between different modes of ras-DMPC interactions. The results provide structural arguments in support of the proposed participation of ras in the organization of membrane nanoclusters.