Chaotic harmony search algorithms

Harmony Search (HS) is one of the newest and the easiest to code music inspired heuristics for optimization problems. Like the use of chaos in adjusting note parameters such as pitch, dynamic, rhythm, duration, tempo, instrument selection, attack time, etc. in real music and in sound synthesis and timbre construction, this paper proposes new HS algorithms that use chaotic maps for parameter adaptation in order to improve the convergence characteristics and to prevent the HS to get stuck on local solutions. This has been done by using of chaotic number generators each time a random number is needed by the classical HS algorithm. Seven new chaotic HS algorithms have been proposed and different chaotic maps have been analyzed in the benchmark functions. It has been detected that coupling emergent results in different areas, like those of HS and complex dynamics, can improve the quality of results in some optimization problems. It has been also shown that, some of the proposed methods have somewhat increased the solution quality, that is in some cases they improved the global searching capability by escaping the local solutions.     

Gamma radiolytic degradation of the endrin insecticide in methanol and monitoring of radiolytic degradation products by HPLC

The objective of this investigation was to verify the degradation of endrin by gamma irradiation. ⁶⁰Co was used as radiation source for irradiation of 50 mg L^?1 endrin with a varied dose of 1–6 kGy. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode array detector was used as an analytical technique to monitor the degradation rate along with numbers of degradation products formed. At dose rate of 6 kGy ≥99% of endrin was degraded. It is proposed that utilization of ionization radiations can be an effective and efficient tool for the removal of halogenated pesticides.     

Novel quinoxalinophenanthrophenazine-based molecules as sensors for anions: synthesis and binding investigations

The design and synthesis of two novel quinoxalinophenanthrophenazine-based anion sensors are reported. Binding studies of these sensors with an array of mono- and polyatomic anions using UV-vis, fluorescence, and NMR titrations have shown 1:1 and 1:2 sensor-to-anion ratios. Binding constants were calculated for anions, which exhibited high affinity for the sensors, including acetate, benzoate, cyanide, and fluoride ions.     

Multi-component KdV hierarchy,V-algebra and non-Abelian toda theory

We prove the recently conjectured relation between the 2 × 2-matrix differential operatorL = ² –U and a certain nonlinear and nonlocal Poisson bracket algebra (V-algebra), containing a Virasoro subalgebra, which appeared in the study of a non-Abelian Toda field theory. In particular, we show that thisV-algebra is precisely given by the second Gelfand-Dikii bracket associated withL. The Miura transformation that relates the second to the first Gelfand-Dikii bracket is given. The two Gelfand-Dikii brackets are also obtained from the associated (integro-) differential equation satisfied by fermion bilinears. The asymptotic expansion of the resolvent of (L -) = 0 is studied and its coefficientsR _l yield an infinite sequence of Hamiltonians with mutually vanishing Poisson brackets. We recall how this leads to a matrix KdV hierarchy, which here are flow equations for the three component fieldsT,V ⁺,V ^– ofU. ForV ^± = 0, they reduce to the ordinary KdV hierarchy. The corresponding matrix mKdV equations are also given, as well as the relation to the pseudo-differential operator approach. Most of the results continue to hold ifU is a Hermitiann ×n matrix. Conjectures are made aboutn ×n-matrix,mth-order differential operatorsL and associatedV _(n,m)-algebras.     

Synthesis of the anti and syn isomers of thieno[f,f ']bis[1]benzothiophene. Comparison of the optical and electrochemical properties of the anti and syn isomers

We report isomer-pure synthesis of thieno[2,3-f:5,4-f ']bis[1]benzothiophene and thieno[3,2-f:4,5-f ']bis[1]benzothiophene, the anti and syn isomers of a pentacyclic compound consisting of alternating thiophene and benzene rings. The optical and electrochemical properties of both are reported. In the anti isomer, the ribbonlike embedding of three thiophene units leads to a near-planar molecule with favorable pi-pi stacking behavior in the solid state as shown by X-ray crystal structure analysis.     

Biological Potentials and Phytochemical Constituents of Raw and Roasted Nigella arvensis and Nigella sativa

Nigella species are widely used to cure various ailments. Their health benefits, particularly from the seed oils, could be attributed to the presence of a variety of bioactive components. Roasting is a critical process that has historically been used to facilitate oil extraction and enhance flavor; it may also alter the chemical composition and biological properties of the Nigella seed. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the roasting process on the composition of the bioactive components and the biological activities of Nigella arvensis and Nigella sativa seed extracts. Our preliminary study showed that seeds roasted at 50 °C exhibited potent antimicrobial activities; therefore, this temperature was selected for roasting Nigella seeds. For extraction, raw and roasted seed samples were macerated in methanol. The antimicrobial activities against Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Klebsiella oxytoca were determined by measuring the diameter of the zone of inhibition. The cell viability of extracts was tested in a colon carcinoma cell line, HCT-116, by using a microculture tetrazolium technique (MTT) assay. Amino acids were extracted and quantified using an automatic amino acid analyzer. Then, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis was performed to identify the chemical constituents and fatty acids. As a result, the extracts of raw and roasted seeds in both Nigella species showed strong inhibition against Klebsiella oxytoca, and the raw seed extract of N. arvensis demonstrated moderate inhibition against S. pyogenes. The findings of the MTT assay indicated that all the extracts significantly decreased cancer cell viability. Moreover, N. sativa species possessed higher contents of the measured amino acids, except tyrosine, cystine, and methionine. The GC–MS analysis of extracts showed the presence of 22 and 13 compounds in raw and roasted N. arvensis, respectively, and 9 and 11 compounds in raw and roasted N. sativa, respectively. However, heat treatment decreased the detectable components to 13 compounds in roasted N. arvensis and increased them in roasted N. sativa. These findings indicate that N. arvensis and N. sativa could be potential sources of anticancer and antimicrobials, where the bioactive compounds play a pivotal role as functional components.     

Modulation instability analysis,optical and other solutions to the modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation

This paper studies the new families of exact traveling wave solutions with the modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which models the propagation of rogue waves in ocean engineering. The extended Fan sub-equation method with five parameters is used to find exact traveling wave solutions. It has been observed that the equation exhibits a collection of traveling wave solutions for limiting values of parameters. This method is beneficial for solving nonlinear partial differential equations, because it is not only useful for finding the new exact traveling wave solutions, but also gives us the solutions obtained previously by the usage of other techniques (Riccati equation, or first-kind elliptic equation, or the generalized Riccati equation as mapping equation, or auxiliary ordinary differential equation method) in a combined approach. Moreover, by means of the concept of linear stability, we prove that the governing model is stable. 3D figures are plotted for showing the physical behavior of the obtained solutions for the different values of unknown parameters with constraint conditions.     

Free-Standing CoO-POM Janus-like Ultrathin Nanosheets

A single-step solution-based strategy is used to obtain 2D Janus-like free-standing ultrathin nanosheets build from two structurally unrelated species, that is, polyoxomolybdate (POM) and CoO. A controlled 2D-to-1D morphological transition was achieved by judiciously adjusting the solvent choice. These POM-CoO heterostructures can behave as an ideal catalyst for the epoxidation of styrene. Benefiting from their amphiphilic nature, these 2D POM-CoO nanosheets have also been used as surfactant to emulsify immiscible solvents. It is anticipated that structurally diverse polyoxometalates will offer promise as design elements for variety of structurally and compositionally tunable van der Waals integrated heteromaterials having a broad range applications.     

Monomer sequencing and microstructural analysis on polymers of dimethyl norbornene dicarboxylate and 7‐oxanorbornene dicarboxylic derivatives employing ruthenium catalysts by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization

The physiochemical properties, comonomer sequencing, and regiospecificity of the linkages between monomeric units within homo/copolymers based on 5,6‐di‐substituted norbornene and 7‐oxanorbornene type monomers by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization are reported and correlated to their primary and secondary structural elements. In general, first‐generation Grubbs‐ I1 ruthenium catalyst generates polymers with high trans content that exhibits an extended secondary structure with exo,exo substituents, whereas second‐generation Grubbs‐ I2 catalyst produces polymers with high cis content that forms tight turns, resulting in a compact structure. Furthermore, I2 ‐produced polymers exhibit a high level of alternating cis–trans double bonds along their polymeric backbone. In stark contrast, both first‐ and second‐generation Grubbs catalysts display complete reversal in cis/trans selectivity when an oxygen atom is in position‐7 of the norbornene‐ring along with mono‐endo‐substitution in position‐5 or 6, and hence highlighting the importance of stereoelectronic complexation by the catalyst with the next incoming monomer for cis/trans selectivity. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2477–2501