Shallow Water Flow Analysis with Moving Boundary Technique Using Least-squares Bubble Function

This paper presents a computational simulation method for a river problem. For the actual flow problem, it is necessary to compute flow velocity, water elevation and water region at the same time. For the basic formulation, the unsteady shallow water equations are used. As the numerical approach, implicit FEM is proposed by bubble function. To control numerical stability and accuracy, LSBF (Least-Squares Bubble Function) is used to solve the finite element equations. Also, the fixed boundary technique is combined to deal with wet and dry areas in the moving finite element mesh. Some numerical tests are shown to check this method.     

Structure determination of salvadorin, a novel dimeric dihydroisocoumarin from Salvadora oleoides, by NMR spectroscopy

Salvadorin, a new dimeric dihydroisocoumarin (1), was isolated from the chloroform fraction of Salvadora oleoides. Its chemical structure was established as 8-benzyl-6-[6-(6-ethyl-7-methyl-5,8-dihydro-2-naphthalenyl)-1-oxo-3,4-dihydro-1H-isochromen-8yl]-3, 4-dihyro-1H-isochromen-1-one, through spectroscopic techniques and chemical analysis.     

Bis(2-benzyl-1H-benz­imidazole-N3)dichorozinc(II)

In the title compound, [ZnCl₂(C₁₄H₁₂N₂)₂], the environment around the Zn atom is distorted tetrahedral formed by two Cl atoms and two tertiary N atoms of the 2-benzyl-1H-benz­imidazole ligands. N—H⃛Cl intermolecular hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into infinite chains in the [101] direction.     

Methyl (SR)‐10‐chloro‐1,2,3,4,5,6‐hexahydro‐6‐hydroxy‐8‐methoxy‐1‐methyl‐1,9‐phenanthroline‐6‐carboxylate

In the title compound, C₁₆H₁₉ClN₂O₄, the pyridine ring is nearly planar, the piperidine ring is non‐planar and the cyclo­hexane ring adopts a screw‐boat conformation. The carboxyl­ate group makes a dihedral angle of 80.9 (2)° with the least‐squares plane through the cyclo­hexane ring.     

Optimization of an efficient semi-solid culture protocol for sterilization and plant regeneration of Centella asiatica (L.) as a medicinal herb

The present study investigates the effects of different concentrations, as well as type of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and medium (MS, Duchefa) on the growth and development of Centella asiatica in semi-solid culture. In addition, a protocol for successful sterilization of C.asiatica explants prepared from field-grown plants highly exposed to fungal and bacterial contamination was determined. Results for sterilization treatments revealed that applying HgCl? and Plant Preservative Mixture (PPM) with cetrimide, bavistin and trimethoprim which were included after washing with tap water, followed by the addition of PPM in the medium, produced a very satisfactory result (clean culture 90 ± 1.33%) and TS5 (decon + cetrimide 1% + bavistin 150 mg/L + trimethoprim 50 mg/L + HgCl?0.1% + PPM 2% soak and 2 mL/L in medium) was hence chosen as the best method of sterilization for C.asiatica. The synergistic combination of 6 benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) in concentrations of 2 mg/L and 0.1 mg/L, respectively, in Duchefa medium compared with MS induced the most optimal percentage of sprouted shoots (93 ± 0.667), number of shoots (5.2 ± 0.079) and nodes (4 ± 0.067) per explant, leaf per explant (14 ± 0.107) and shoot length (4.1 ± 0.67 cm). Furthermore, optimum rooting frequency (95.2 ± 0.81%), the number of roots/shoot (7.5 ± 0.107) and the mean root length (4.5 ± 0.133 cm) occurred for shoots that were cultured on full-strength MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). In this study, the acclimatized plantlets were successfully established with almost 85% survival. The findings of this study have proven an efficient medium and PGR concentration for the mass propagation of C.asiatica. These findings would be useful in micropropagation and ex situ conservation of this plant.     

Rare earths elements in phosphorite and granulated single super-phosphate fertilizers of Pakistan,a study using instrumental neutron activation analysis

Sensitive nondestructive instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) technique has been applied for the determination of rare earth elements (REEs) (Ce, Eu, La, Lu, Sm, Tb and Yb) in phosphate rocks (PR) and granulated single super-phosphate (GSSP) fertilizer samples from Hazara district of Pakistan. The comparison of the PR with product fertilizers shows that most of the quantified REEs were found to be in lower contents in the fertilizers. Six fertilizer samples with different N, P and K ratio for distinctive application to plants were also characterized. The REEs in these showed irregular patterns that can be attributed to difference in their manufacturing and chemical processes. The REEs contents of local phosphate fertilizer were found to be lower in comparison to the values cited in the literature; however Ce is relatively high. For quality assurance fair agreement was found between the results obtained for reference materials IAEA SL-1 (Lake Sediment) and GSJ-JR-1 (Rhyolite).     

Effect of surface modification of indium tin oxide by nanoparticles on the electrochemical determination of tryptophan

The effect of surface modification of indium tin oxide (ITO) by multi wall carbon nanotube (MWNT) and gold nanoparticles attached multi wall carbon nanotube (AuNP-MWNT) has been studied to determine tryptophan, an important and essential amino acid for humans and herbivores. A detailed comparison has been made among the voltammetric response of bare ITO, MWNT/ITO and AuNP-MWNT/ITO in respects of several essential analytical parameters viz. sensitivity, detection limit, peak current and peak potential of tryptophan. The AuNP-MWNT/ITO exhibited a well defined anodic peak at pH 7.2 at a potential of ∼669 mV for the oxidation of tryptophan as compared to 760 mV at MWNT/ITO electrode. Under optimum conditions linear calibration curve was obtained over tryptophan concentration range 0.5-90.0 μM in phosphate buffer solution of pH 7.2 with detection limit and sensitivity of 0.025 μM and 0.12 μA μM⁻¹, respectively. The oxidation of tryptophan occurred in a pH dependent, 2e⁻ and 2H⁺ process and the electrode reaction followed adsorption controlled pathway. The method has been found selective and successfully implemented for the determination of tryptophan in human urine and plasma samples using standard addition method. The electrode exhibited an efficient catalytic response with good reproducibility and stability.     

Physicochemical Properties of Binary Mixtures of the Protic Ionic Liquid Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)methylammonium Formate with Methanol,Ethanol, and 1-Propanol

Densities and viscosities were determined for binary mixtures containing the protic ionic liquid bis(2-hydroxyethyl)methylammonium formate [BHEMF] with methanol, ethanol, and 1-propanol at four different temperatures (293.15, 303.15, 313.15, and 323.15 K) and atmospheric pressure. Excess molar volume and viscosity deviations for the binary system were calculated. The calculated results were fitted to a Redlich-Kister equation to obtain the coefficients and estimate the standard deviations between the experimental and calculated quantities. The negative values of excess volume molar for these mixtures indicate that ion-dipole interactions and packing between ionic liquids and alcohols are present. The values of viscosity deviation are also negative over the whole composition range, and their values become less negative as the temperature increases.     

Dissolution and Delignification of Bamboo Biomass Using Amino Acid-Based Ionic Liquid

In the present work, the dissolution of bamboo biomass was tested using a number of ionic liquids synthesized in laboratory. It was observed that one of the synthesized amino acid-based ionic liquids, namely 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium glycinate, was capable of dissolving the biomass completely. The dissolved biomass was then regenerated using a reconstitute solvent (acetone/water) and was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The results were compared to preconditioned bamboo biomass. The regenerated biomass was found to have a more homogenous macrostructure, which indicates that the crystalline form and structure of its cellulose has changed from type Ι to type ΙΙ during the dissolution and regeneration process.