Synthesis and properties of alkylated imidazoles

Alkylation of 4(5)-nitroimidazole-5(4)-sulfonamide with benzyl bromide occurred on both ring nitrogens. The structures of the products could be assigned by comparison of the chemical shifts of the sulfonamide hydrogens in the nmr spectra with those of the isomeric methyl derivatives, which were prepared by differing routes. Uv and nmr spectral data are reported for a number of bromo-, nitro-, mercapto-, sulfamyl- and amino- substituted imidazoles as well as for both of the isomeric methylated derivatives of the series.     

Crystallization and stereocomplexation behavior of poly(D‐ and L‐lactide)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethyl methacrylate) block copolymers

The thermal properties, crystallization, and morphology of amphiphilic poly(D ‐lactide)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethyl methacrylate) (PDLA‐b‐PDMAEMA) and poly (L ‐lactide)‐b‐poly(N,N‐dimethylamino‐2‐ethyl methacrylate) (PLLA‐b‐PDMAEMA) copolymers were studied and compared to those of the corresponding poly(lactide) homopolymers. Additionally, stereocomplexation of these copolymers was studied. The crystallization kinetics of the PLA blocks was retarded by the presence of the PDMAEMA block. The studied copolymers were found to be miscible in the melt and the glassy state. The Avrami theory was able to predict the entire crystallization range of the PLA isothermal overall crystallization. The melting points of PLDA/PLLA and PLA/PLA‐b‐PDMAEMA stereocomplexes were higher than those formed by copolymer mixtures. This indicates that the PDMAEMA block is influencing the stability of the stereocomplex structures. For the low molecular weight samples, the stereocomplexes particles exhibited a conventional disk‐shape structure and, for high molecular weight samples, the particles displayed unusual star‐like shape morphology. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 1397–1409, 2011     

An effective ant colony optimization algorithm (ACO) for multi-objective resource allocation problem (MORAP)

The multi-objective resource allocation problem (MORAP) addresses the important issue which seeks to find the expected objectives by allocating the limited amount of resource to various activates. Resources may be manpower, assets, raw material or anything else in limited supply which can be used to accomplish the goals. The goals may be objectives (i.e., minimizing costs, or maximizing efficiency) usually driven by specific future needs. In this paper, in order to obtain a set of Pareto solution efficiently, we proposed a modified version of ant colony optimization (ACO), in this algorithm we try to increase the efficiency of algorithm by increasing the learning of ants. Effectiveness and efficiency of proposed algorithm was validated by comparing the result of ACO with hybrid genetic algorithm (hGA) which was applied to MORAP later.     

Duality in robust optimization: Primal worst equals dual best

We study the dual problems associated with the robust counterparts of uncertain convex programs. We show that while the primal robust problem corresponds to a decision maker operating under the worst possible data, the dual problem corresponds to a decision maker operating under the best possible data.     

The inhibitory effect of dissolved carbaryl in dioxane on physically adsorbed acetylcholinesterase

Acetylcholinesterase was immobilized by means of physical adsorption. The aim of this work is to describe the kinetic characterization of the immobilized acetylcholinesterase. Here we report the effects of immobilization, carbaryl and its solvent dioxane on the kinetic properties of acetylcholinesterase. The immobilized product has significant storage stability. Dioxane could decrease the acetylcholinesterase activity and increase the inhibitory effect of carbaryl. Immobilization could change acetylcholinesterase activity cooperatively. The inhibitory mechanism is hyperbolic noncompetitive. Carbaryl and dioxane could eliminate the substrate inhibition by a competitive mechanism and by changing the native conformation of acetylcholinesterase.     

Kinetics of the thermal isomerization of cis-methylcyclopropane carboxylic acid

The gas-phase thermal decomposition of cis-2-methylcyclopropane carboxylic acid was investigated in the temperature range 692–753 K and pressure between 10 and 70 Torr. Arrhenius parameters were determined for homogeneous, unimolecular formation of the isomeric products and for the overall loss-rate of the reactant. The determined values are in accordance with the Arrhenius parameters that were reported previously for the thermal unimolecular reactions of cyclopropane and other substituted cyclopropanes. The formation of isomeric products and the observed Arrhenius parameters are consistent with a biradical mechanism. The effect of surface on the reaction was studied at 732 K using the packed reaction vessel. It was observed that the rate of production of all isomeric products and the total loss of cis-2-methylcyclopropane carboxylic acid were not affected by increasing surface to volume ratio.     

Determination of Biogenic Amines in Cheese Using Simultaneous Derivatization and Microextraction Method Followed by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Microwave-assisted extraction and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry as a sensitive and efficient method was applied to extract and determine four biogenic amines (BAs) in Iranian Lighvan cheese samples. Carrez solutions were used for the sedimentation of proteins. Effective factors on the performance of microextraction were studied and optimized. The proposed method showed good linear ranges from 5 to 500 ng mL^?1, with the coefficients of determination higher than 0.9929. Average recoveries were between 97 and 103%. Limits of detection for all analyzed BAs ranged from 5.9 to 14.0 ng g^?1, and limits of quantitation ranged between 19.7 and 46.2 ng g^?1. Compared with previous methods, the proposed method is simple, fast, accurate, and precise and gives low detection limits for investigating trace amounts of BAs in Iranian Lighvan cheese samples. The levels of four BAs were determined in five Lighvan cheese samples. Cadaverine was found as prevailing amine in the cheese samples. Putrescine, tyramine, and histamine were present at the second, third, and fourth highest levels, respectively.     

Effects of heteroatoms on the electronic,sensor, and adsorption properties of graphene

The effects of doping heteroatoms on the structure, electronic and adsorption properties of graphene are investigated using density functional theory calculations. Six different doped graphenes (with Al, B, Si, N, P, and S) are considered, and to obtain the interaction and adsorption properties, three sulfur-containing molecules (H₂S, SO₂, and thiophene) were interacted with selected graphenes. The adsorption energies (E _ad) in the gas phase and solvents show the exothermic interaction for all complexes. The maximum E _ad values are observed for aluminum doped graphene (AG) and silicon doped graphene (SiG), and adsorption energies in the solvent are not so different from those in the gas phase. NBO calculations show that the AG and SiG complexes have the highest E ⁽²⁾ interaction energies and simple graphene (G) and nitrogen doped graphene (NG) have the least E ⁽²⁾ energies. Population analyses show that doping heteroatoms change the energy gap. This gap changes more during the interaction and these changes make these structures useful in sensor devices. All calculated data confirm better adsorption of SO₂ by graphenes versus H₂S and thiophene. Among all graphenes, AG and then SiG are the best adsorbents for these structures.     

Synthesis and investigation of antibacterial activities and carbonic anhydrase and acetyl cholinesterase inhibition profiles of novel 4,5-dihydropyrazol and pyrazolyl-thiazole derivatives containing methanoisoindol-1,3-dion unit

Novel 4,5-dihydropyrazole derivatives (3a–i), 3-(4-((3aR,4S,7R,7aS)-1,3-dioxo-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-4,7-methanoisoindol-2(3H)-yl)phenyl)-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carbothio amide, were obtained by the addition of thiosemicarbazide (2) to the chalcones (1a–i). The addition–cyclization of 2,4′-dibromoacetophenone (4) to pyrazole derivatives (3a–i) gave the new pyrazolyl-thiazole derivatives (5a–i), (3aR,4S,7R,7aS)-2-(4-(1-(4-(4-bromophenyl)thiazol-2-yl)-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)phenyl)-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-1H-4,7-methanoisoindole-1,3(2H)-dione. Antibacterial and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme and human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) I, and II isoform inhibitory activities of the compounds 3a–i and 5a–i were investigated. Some of the compounds showed promising antibacterial activity. In addition, the hCA II and I were effectively inhibited by the lately synthesized derivatives, with K_i values in the range of 18.90?±?2.37 ?58.25?±?13.62?nM for hCA II and 5.72?±?0.98 ?37.67?±?5.54?nM for hCA I. Also, the K_i parameters of these compounds for AChE were obtained in the range of 25.47?±?11.11???255.74?±?82.20?nM. Also, acetazolamide, clinical molecule, was used as a CA standard inhibitor that showed K_i value of 70.55?±?12.30?nM against hCA II, and 67.17?±?9.1?nM against hCA I, and tacrine inhibited AChE showed K_i value of 263.67?±?91.95.