Optimal Design of 2 DOF Parallel Kinematics Machines

The aim of this paper is to show the usefulness of the multicriteria approach to optimize the Parallel Kinematic Machines (PKM). Variations of the kinematic performances index remain not constant throughout workspace. Aiming to deal at the same time with multiple criteria in optimal design of PKM, we have developed a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (MOGA) using concepts of Pareto optimality and niching techniques. The obtained results have shown that the use of MOGA in such kind of optimization problem enhances the quality of the optimization outcome, providing a better and more realistic support for the decision maker. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis,Structure and Biological Activity of Coordination Compounds of Copper,Nickel, Cobalt,and Iron with Ethyl N '-(2-Hydroxybenzylidene)- N -prop-2-en-1-ylcarbamohydrazonothioate

N-(Prop-2-en-1-yl)hydrazonocarbothioamide reacts with iodoethane in methanol with further addition of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde to form hydroiodide of carbamohydrazonothioate (HL·HI). The coordination compounds were obtained by interaction of HL or HL·HI with copper, nickel, cobalt and iron salts CuLХ·nH2O [X = Cl–, Br–, NO3–; n = 0–1], Ni(L)2·HI·CH3OH, Сo(L)2X [X = I–, NO3–] and Fe(L)2NO3. The structures of three complexes were established by single crystal X-ray analysis. The synthesized complexes exhibit selective antimicrobial and antifungal activity against a series of standard microorganisms and fungi in the concentration range of 30–500 μg/mL. In addition, nickel and iron complexes selectively inhibit the growth and proliferation of cancer cells and do not adversely affect normal cells.     

Density, Overcompleteness, and Localization of Frames. I. Theory

Frames have applications in numerous fields of mathematics and engineering. The fundamental property of frames which makes them so useful is their overcompleteness. In most applications, it is this overcompleteness that is exploited to yield a decomposition that is more stable, more robust, or more compact than is possible using nonredundant systems. This work presents a quantitative framework for describing the overcompleteness of frames. It introduces notions of localization and approximation between two frames and ( a discrete abelian group), relating the decay of the expansion of the elements of in terms of the elements of via a map . A fundamental set of equalities are shown between three seemingly unrelated quantities: The relative measure of , the relative measure of — both of which are determined by certain averages of inner products of frame elements with their corresponding dual frame elements — and the density of the set in . Fundamental new results are obtained on the excess and overcompleteness of frames, on the relationship between frame bounds and density, and on the structure of the dual frame of a localized frame. In a subsequent article, these results are applied to the case of Gabor frames, producing an array of new results as well as clarifying the meaning of existing results. The notion of localization and related approximation properties introduced in this article are a spectrum of ideas that quantify the degree to which elements of one frame can be approximated by elements of another frame. A comprehensive examination of the interrelations among these localization and approximation concepts is presented.     

Emission characteristics of laser dyes C1 and Rh6G in cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol solutions

The lifetimes and the relative quantum yields for fluorescence of two laser dyes Coumarin 1 and Rhodamine 6G have been determined in cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol matrix. The cross-linking has been achieved using gamma radiation. The relative fluorescence quantum yields of the dyes increased with increasing cross-linking of the polymer, but the fluorescence lifetimes remained unchanged within experimental error. The results have been attributed to a reduction in the loss of the excitation energy via the internal conversion of the excited singlet state due to increase in the viscosity of the medium brought about by the increased cross-linking of the polymer.     

Spontaneous edge <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis> sheared flow development studies in the TJ-II stellarator

The influence of plasma density and edge gradients in the development of perpendicular sheared flow has been investigated in the plasma edge region of the TJ-II stellarator. It has been experimentally observed that the generation of spontaneous perpendicular sheared flow (i.e. the naturally occurring shear layer) requires a minimum plasma density or gradient. It has been found that there is a coupling between the onset of sheared flow development and an increase in the level of plasma edge turbulence; once sheared flow is fully developed the level of fluctuations and turbulent transport slightly decreases whereas edge gradients and plasma density increase. The resulting shearing rate is close to the one required to trigger a transition to improved confinement regimes with reduction of edge turbulence, showing that spontaneous sheared flows and fluctuations keep themselves near marginal stability. Presented at the Workshop “Electric Fields, Structures and Relaxation in Edge Plasmas”, Tarragona, Spain, July 3–4, 2005.     

Molecular Imaging of Growth,Metabolism, and Antibiotic Inhibition in Bacterial Colonies by Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

Metabolism in microbial colonies responds to competing species, rapidly evolving genetic makeup, and sometimes dramatic environmental changes. Conventional characterization of the existing and emerging microbial strains and their interactions with antimicrobial agents, e.g., the Kirby–Bauer susceptibility test, relies on time consuming methods with limited ability to discern the molecular mechanism and the minimum inhibitory concentration. Assessing the metabolic adaptation of microbial colonies requires their non‐targeted molecular imaging in a native environment. Laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI) is an ambient ionization technique that in combination with mass spectrometry (MS) enables the analysis and imaging of numerous metabolites and lipids. In this contribution, we report on the application of LAESI‐MS imaging to gain deeper molecular insight into microbe–antibiotic interactions, and enhance the quantitative nature of antibiotic susceptibility testing while significantly reducing the required incubation time.     

Expedient synthesis of sulfinamides from sulfonyl chlorides

Sulfinamides were synthesized from sulfonyl chlorides using a procedure involving in situ reduction of sulfonyl chlorides. The reaction is broad in scope and easy to perform.     

The Effects of New Zealand Grown Ginseng Fractions on Cytokine Production from Human Monocytic THP-1 Cells

Pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines are important mediators that regulate the inflammatory response in inflammation-related diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate different New Zealand (NZ)-grown ginseng fractions on the productions of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in human monocytic THP-1 cells. Four NZ-grown ginseng fractions, including total ginseng extract (TGE), non-ginsenoside fraction extract (NGE), high-polar ginsenoside fraction extract (HPG), and less-polar ginsenoside fraction extract (LPG), were prepared and the ginsenoside compositions of extracts were analyzed by HPLC using 19 ginsenoside reference standards. The THP-1 cells were pre-treated with different concentrations of TGE, NGE, HPG, and LPG, and were then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-10 (IL-10), and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). TGE at 400 µg/mL significantly inhibited LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-6 productions. NGE did not show any effects on inflammatory secretion except inhibited IL-6 production at a high dose. Furthermore, LPG displayed a stronger effect than HPG on inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) productions. Particularly, 100 µg/mL LPG not only significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, but also remarkably enhanced the production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. NZ-grown ginseng exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in vitro, which is mainly attributed to ginsenoside fractions (particularly less-polar ginsenosides) rather than non-saponin fractions.     

Complementary α-alkylation approaches for a sterically hindered spiro[pyrazolopyranpiperidine]ketone

Complementary α-alkylation methods are used to derivatize a sterically hindered spiro[pyrazolopyranpiperidine]ketone. More specifically, enolate alkylations in the presence of DMPU and aldol condensations are employed to deliver these compounds.