Determination of an unknown function in a parabolic inverse problem by Sinc‐collocation method

In this article, an inverse problem of determining an unknown time‐dependent source term of a parabolic equation is considered. We change the inverse problem to a Volterra integral equation of convolution‐type. By using Sinc‐collocation method, the resulting integral equation is replaced by a system of linear algebraic equations. The convergence analysis is included, and it is shown that the error in the approximate solution is bounded in the infinity norm by the condition number and the norm of the inverse of the coefficient matrix multiplied by a factor that decays exponentially with the size of the system. Some examples are given to demonstrate the computational efficiency of the method. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 27: 1584–1598, 2010     

Solving a parabolic PDE with nonlocal boundary conditions using the Sinc method

In this paper, the problem of solving the parabolic partial differential equations subject to given initial and nonlocal boundary conditions is considered. We change the problem to a system of Volterra integral equations of convolution type. By using Sinc-collocation method, the resulting integral equations are replaced by a system of linear algebraic equations. The convergence analysis is included, and it is shown that the error in the approximate solution is bounded in the infinity norm by the condition number of the coefficient matrix multiplied by a factor that decays exponentially with the size of the system. Some examples are considered to illustrate the ability of this method.     

Bis[N‐(4‐nitrophenyl)thiobenzamidato]mercury(II)

The molecule of the title compound, [Hg(C₁₃H₉N₂O₂S)₂], has approximate twofold rotation symmetry, with the Hg atom in an essentially linear two‐coordinate HgS₂ environment supported by secondary π interactions with the nitrophenyl rings of both ligands. The ligands are in the imine–thiolate rather than the amine–thione tautomeric form.     

Catalytic oxidation of thiols at preheated glassy carbon electrode modified with abrasive immobilization of multiwall carbon nanotubes: applications to amperometric detection of thiocytosine, l-cysteine and glutathione

The performance of preheated glassy carbon electrode modified with carbon nanotubes is described. First glassy carbon electrode is heated for 5 min at 50 °C, then abrasive immobilization of multiwall carbon nanotubes on a preheated glassy carbon electrode was achieved by gentle rubbing of electrode surface on a filter paper supporting carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-modified glassy carbon electrodes exhibit strong and stable electrocatalytic response toward thiols oxidation in wide pH range. These properties permit an important decrease in over voltage for the oxidation of thiocytosine, glutathione and l-cysteine, as well as a dramatic increase in the peak currents in comparison with bare glassy carbon electrode. Furthermore, the thiols amperometric response of the coated electrodes is extremely stable, with more than 95% of the initial activity after 30 min stirring of 0.1 mM thiols. The electrocatalytic behavior is further exploited as a sensitive detection scheme for thiols detection by hydrodynamic amperometry. The substantial decrease in the overvoltage of the thiols oxidation associated with a stable amperometric response and antifouling properties of nanotubes films allow the development of highly sensitive thiols sensor without using any redox mediator. Such ability of carbon nanotubes to promote the thiols electron transfer reaction, short response time (5 s) and long-term stability, low detection limit, extended linear concentration range, high sensitivity suggest great promise for thiols amperometric sensors and detector for chromatographic analysis of thiol derivatives.     

Polarographic Studies on Anion Coordination Chemistry. Host–Guest Interactions of Hexacyclen and Pentacyclen with Pyrophosphate, Selenite, Selenate, Molybdate and Tungstate Anions

The complexation of protonated hexacyclen and pentacyclen with pyrophosphate, selenite, selenate, molybdate and tungstate anions was studied by differential pulse polarography at 25 °C. The stoichiometry and stability of the resulting anion complexes were evaluated from the pH and concentration-dependence of the peak potentials, respectively. The results established 1 : 1 anion receptor complexation in all cases. In the case of all anions studied, hexacyclen was found to form more stable anion complexes than pentacyclen. The fact that the anion-receptor complexation depends on the structural features of both the anions and the macrocycles used is indicative of a steric controlled interaction.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Nano‐sized Zinc Oxide Coating on Cellulosic Fibers: Photoactivity and Flame‐retardancy Study

We have investigated the effect of zinc oxide as a photocatalyst and durable flame‐retardant on cellulosic fibers. Zinc oxide nanocrystals were successfully synthesized and deposited onto cellulosic fibers using sol‐gel process at low temperature. The samples were characterized by means of several techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The photocatalytic activity was tested by measuring the photodegradation of methylene blue under UV‐Vis illumination. Moreover, flame‐retardancy was tested by vertical flame spread test. The optimum add‐on value for donating flame‐retardancy onto cellulosic fabric was obtained to be in the range of 15.24 to 23.20 g of the ZnO per 100 g of fabric. Thermogravimetric analysis of pure and flame‐retarded samples were accomplished and discussed. The results obtained are in agreement with Wall effect theory and Coating theory. The originality of this work on introducing photoactive flame‐retarded fibers is highly valuable for industrial implementation.     

Influence of crucible geometry and position on the induction heating process in crystal growth systems

A series of 2D finite element numerical simulations of induction heating process for an oxide Czochralski crystal growth system has been done for different shapes and locations of a metal crucible. Comparison between the computational results shows the importance of crucible shape, geometry and its position with respect to the RF-coil on the electromagnetic field and heat generation distribution in the growth setup.     

Disposable amperometric sensor for neurotransmitters based on screen-printed electrodes modified with a thin iridium oxide film.

Potential cycling in the range from -0.2 to +1.2 V is used for the electrodeposition of hydrous iridium oxide films onto a screen-printed electrode from a saturated solution of alkaline iridium(III) solution. The iridium oxide redox couple shows a stable and obvious reversible redox, with the formal potential being pH dependent in the range 1-14. The properties, stability and electrochemical properties of iridium oxide films were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. A modified electrode showed excellent catalytic activity toward the oxidation of neurotransmitters (catecholamines) over a wide pH range (2-8). The electrocatalytic behavior is further exploited as a sensitive detection scheme for adrenaline and dopamine by hydrodynamic amperometry. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curves are linear in the concentration range 0.1-70 and 0.1-15 microM for dopamine and adrenaline determination, respectively. The detection limit and sensitivity are 30 nM and 30 nA/microM for adrenaline and 15 nM and 80 nA/microM for dopamine. Finally, the analytical performance of the modified electrode was demonstrated for the elimination of interference by uric acid in catecholamines determination when present in a 1000-fold concentration excess.     

Encapsulation of L-dopa and catechol in bovine serum albumin nanocarrier using desolvation method and their in vitro release studies

In the current study, the interaction between L-dopa and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as well as catechol and BSA is investigated separately. In order to achieve the optimum values for encapsulated efficiency (EE), the content of crosslinker/BSA, organic/aqueous phase, drug/BSA, stirring rate, and pH were closely studied taking the advantage of Taguchi method. Particle characterization was carried out using transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering techniques. The most appropriate catechol and L-dopa nanoparticles in the size range of 100 nm and 65 nm, respectively, and at optimized conditions of drug/BSA = 0.1, pH = 7.4, crosslinker/BSA = 0.084, organic/aqueous phase = 4 and stirring rate 400 rpm were obtained. The most favorable EE (encapsulation efficiency) and LC (loading capacity) for L-dopa and catechol was estimated to be 88.1% and 83.6%, respectively, and the calculated LC% was achieved 93.4% and 89.7% for L-dopa and catechol, respectively. The chromatographic analyses results were also found to be in a good agreement with the obtained data for the calculated EE% and LC% values. in vitro release of loaded drugs from nanoparticles in phosphate-buffered saline (pH = 7.4, incubated at 37 ± 0.5°C under stirring rate of 100 rpm) showed the release of 78% catechol and 89% L-dopa during 480 min and 510 min, respectively.