f-algebras with a \sigma -bounded approximate unit

Let $X$ be a lattice ordered algebra ( $\ell $ -algebra). A positive element $x\in $ $X$ is said to be totally bounded if $x^{2}\le x$ . The $\ell $ -algebra $X$ is said to have a $\sigma $ -bounded approximate unit if for each positive linear functional $f$ on $X$ the set $\left\{ f(x)\text{: } x \text{ totally } \text{ bounded }\right\} $ is bounded in $\mathbb R $ . In this paper we study the class of $f$ -algebras with a $\sigma $ -bounded approximate unit which contains the class of all unital $f$ -algebras. In particular It is shown that an $f$ -algebra $X$ has a $\sigma $ -bounded approximate unit if and only if the order bidual $X^{\sim \sim }$ is a unital $f$ -algebra.     

Magnetic Solid Phase Extraction Coupled with HPLC Towards Removal of Pigments and Impurities from Leaf-derived Paclitaxel Extractions of Taxus baccata and Optimization via Response Surface Methodology

A reusable and cost-effective magnetic graphite oxide (Fe₃O₄NPs@GO) nanocomposite was fabricated and applied for pre-purification of paclitaxel from leaf-derived crude extract of Taxus baccata. Furthermore, the potential roles of three crucial criteria (i.e., adsorbent dosage, sorption temperature and agitation/shaking power) on the two responses [i.e., efficiency of plant pigments removal (EPPR) and efficiency of taxol purity (ETP)] were examined and simultaneously optimized through response surface methodology. The nanocomposite was accurately characterized using TEM, AFM, BET, FT-IR, Raman and VSM. Moreover, for both proposed second-degree polynomial regression models, highly significant correlations were achieved between the experimental and predicted data (p < 0.0001). Meanwhile, the optimum conditions to simultaneously acquire the maximum EPPR (94.0 %) and ETP (11.4 %) were recorded as adsorbent dosage of 37.7 g L⁻¹, sorption temperature of 30.7 °C and agitation power of 153.1 rpm; and the predictive results were confirmed using experimental rechecking survey. Interestingly, upon five consecutive treatments, the nanocomposite still exhibited substantial potency in eliminating large amounts of plant pigments and impurities (up to 90 %), without significant reduction on sorption capacity and magnetism thereof. Our results demonstrated that the current nanocomposite, as SPE sorbent for MSPE, could be a simple, fast and reusable approach for HPLC-based purification studies of paclitaxel, and probably other plant secondary metabolites.

     

A green one-pot three-component synthesis of α-aminophosphonates under solvent-free conditions and ultrasonic irradiation using Fe3O4@SiO2-imid-PMAn as magnetic catalyst

An efficient and environment friendly process for the synthesis of α-aminophosphonates has been devised. Through a one-pot three-component condensation of various aldehydes, amines, and triethyl phosphite in the presence of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂-imid-PMAⁿ nanoparticles as magnetic catalysts under solvent-free conditions and ultrasonic irradiation, α-aminophosphonates were obtained with excellent yields. The reactions under solvent-free conditions at room temperature are compared with the ultrasonic-assisted reactions. This new procedure has notable advantages such as short reaction time, excellent yields, easy purification, and the absence of any tedious workup or purification. The aforementioned catalyst could be easily recovered by an external magnetic field and can be reused for six consecutive reaction cycles without significant loss of activity. In addition, SEM and DLS of the catalyst after the reaction cycle were investigated.     

One-pot synthesis of multisubstituted imidazoles catalyzed by Dendrimer-PWA<Superscript>n</Superscript> nanoparticles under solvent-free conditions and ultrasonic irradiation

An efficient, green and eco-friendly protocol has been developed for the synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted and 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles via one-pot condensation reaction using Dendrimer-PWAⁿ as catalyst under solvent-free conditions or ultrasonic irradiation in excellent yields. The reactions under conventional heating conditions were compared with the ultrasonic-assisted reactions. The operational simplicity, practicability and applicability of this protocol to various substrates make it an interesting alternative to previous procedures. The present methodology offers several advantages such as excellent yields, short reaction times, a cleaner reaction, and the absence of any tedious work-up or purification. The catalyst is easily separated from the products by filtration and also exhibits remarkable reusable activity. SEM, BET and DLS of the catalyst were also investigated after each reaction cycle.     

Aerosol-assisted self-assembly of hybrid Layered Double Hydroxide particles into spherical architectures

Over the last decade, the use of nanocellulose in advanced technological applications has been promoted both due the excellent properties of this material in combination with its renewability. In this study, multilayered thin films composed of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), polyvinyl amine (PVAm) and silica nanoparticles were fabricated on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using a layer-by-layer adsorption technique. The multilayer build-up was followed in situ by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, which indicated that the PVAm-SiO(2)-PVAm-NFC system adsorbs twice as much wet mass material compared to the PVAm-NFC system for the same number of bilayers. This is accompanied with a higher viscoelasticity for the PVAm-SiO(2)-PVAm-NFC system. Ellipsometry indicated a dry-state thickness of 2.2 and 3.4 nm per bilayer for the PVAm-NFC system and the PVAm-SiO(2)-PVAm-NFC system, respectively. Atomic force microscopy height images indicate that in both systems, a porous network structure is achieved. Young's modulus of these thin films was determined by the Strain-Induced Elastic Buckling Instability for Mechanical Measurements (SIEBIMM) technique. The Young's modulus of the PVAm/NFC films was doubled, from 1 to 2 GPa, upon incorporation of silica nanoparticles in the films. The introduction of the silica nanoparticles lowered the refractive index of the films, most probably due to an increased porosity of the films.     

Methyl 3-0-benzyl-2,4,6-trideoxy-6-iodo-α-d-erythro-hexopyranoside,a chiral synthon for the synthesis of inhibitors of HMG-CoA reductase

Methyl 3-0-benzyl-2,4,6-trideoxy-6-iodo-α-D-$\text{erythro}$-hexopyranoside $\text{2}$ was prepared from D-glucose and demonstrated to have potential utility as a chiral synthon for the elaboration of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.     

Understanding non-linear modeling of measurement invariance in heterogeneous populations

This study examined how a non-linear modeling of ordered categorical variables within multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis supported measurement invariance. A four-item classroom disciplinary climate scale used in cross-cultural framework was empirically investigated. In the first part of the analysis, a separated categorical confirmatory factor analysis was initially applied to account for the complex structure of the relationships between the observed measures in each country. The categorical multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) was then used to conduct a cross-country examination of full measurement invariance namely the configural, metric, and scalar levels of invariance in the classroom discipline climate measures. The categorical MGCFA modeling supported configural and metric invariances as well as scalar invariance for the latent factor structure of classroom disciplinary climate. This finding implying meaningful cross-country comparisons on the scale means, on the associations of classroom disciplinary climate scale with other scales and on the item-factor latent structure. Application of the categorical modeling appeared to correctly specify the factor structure of the scale, thereby promising the appropriateness of reporting comparisons such as rankings of many groups, and illustrating league tables of different heterogeneous groups. Limitations of the modeling in this study and future suggestions for measurement invariance testing in studies with large numbers of groups are discussed.     

Modeling Dislocation-Stacking Fault Interaction Using Molecular Dynamics

In a number of fcc materials such as copper or aluminum, as well as more complex materials such as twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) steels, the interaction between dislocations and other defects such as stacking faults or twins plays an important role in the hardening behavior of such materials. Interactions of dislocation and twin or stacking fault layers have been studied in this work using molecular dynamics. Depending on the material and the loading conditions, possible interaction modes include (i) penetration of the dislocation into the faulted layer, (ii) reduction of the faulted layer after interaction, (iii) growth of the faulted layer after interaction. Such studies up to this point have been performed without temperature control near zero K (0 to 2 K). In this work, we extend the previous studies to higher temperature with the help of two methods, both based on molecular dynamics (MD) modeling. (© 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Copper iodide nanoparticles-decorated porous polysulfonamide gel: As effective catalyst for decarboxylative synthesis of N-Arylsulfonamides

A porous cross-linked poly (ethyleneamine)-polysulfonamide (PEA-PSA) as a novel organic support system is synthesized in the presence of silica template by nanocasting technique. The paper demonstrates immobilization of CuI nanoparticles inside the pores (PEA-PSA@CuI) for the facile recovery and recycling of these nanoparticles. The presence of porous PEA-PSA and PEA-PSA@CuI nanocomposites was confirmed using FT-IR spectroscopy, FE-SEM, EDX, TGA, XRD, TEM, BET, XPS, WDX, ¹H NMR, and ICP-OES techniques. The PEA-PSA@CuI along with Ag(I)/K₂S₂O₈ was implemented as a reusable cooperative catalyst-oxidant system in the N-arylation of p-toluenesulfonamide with substituted carboxylic acids in mild condition. So, the novel decarboxylative cross-coupling catalyzed by copper and silver has been developed. Aromatic, secondary and tertiary aliphatic acids underwent high efficient decarboxylative processes with p-toluenesulfonamide to afford the corresponding products. This method provides a practical approach for the flexible synthesis of sulfonamides from the readily affordable substrates. The catalyst is highly reusable and efficient, especially in terms of time and yield of the desired product.     

Crystal structure of a silver(I) complex with the 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid (pyromellitic acid)

The reaction between freshly precipitated silver oxide Ag₂O and an aqueous solution of tetrabenzenecarboxylic acid H₄L leads to the anhydrous Ag₂H₂L complex. It crystallizes in the space groupP2₁/c, witha=6.457(1),b=8.180(1),c=9.982(1) Å, β=97.83(1)°,V=522.3(1) ų,Z=2,d=2.976 g cm^?3. This structure is a three dimensional polymeric network polymer without any silver...silver interaction. The silver environment is a bipyramid trigonal polyhedron with three short bond distances in the equatorial plane (Ag?O=2.255(2), 2.295(2), and 2.499(2) Å) and two longer bond distances in axial positions (Ag?O=2.558(2) and 2.617(2) Å). Thus, the silver polyhedron involves five different ligands. It is noteworthy that the (H₂L₂)^2? ligand is located around an inversion centre.