Inhibitory Effects of Tunisian Marine Algal Extracts on Digestive Lipases

The lipase inhibitory activity of ethanol extracts obtained from some marine algae collected on the Tunisian coast was evaluated. Caulerpa prolifera extract markedly reduced both dog gastric (DGL) and human pancreatic lipase (HPL) activities. Generally, the inhibition reached 100% after 40 to 60 min of incubation depending on lipase types and on substrates used. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of C. prolifera extract on lipases appeared to be accelerated by adding bile salts, which likely modified the interface and allowed the inhibitory compound to inactivate the lipase. The separation of C. prolifera extract by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) resulted in eight fractions showing efficient inhibition rate against DGL, compared to the crude extract. In the case of HPL, TLC fractionation reduced the inhibitory rates, suggesting that the effect of algal extract on lipases may be caused by a synergetic action of several compounds within the extract. High-performance liquid chromatograph separation resulted in isolation of a major compound displaying high inhibition capacity of HPL activity. Caulerpa prolifera extract may therefore be useful in developing antiobesity drugs.     

Global Stabilization of a Class of Bilinear Systems in $${\mathbb{R}^3}$$

In this paper, we consider a class of bilinear systems in dimension three which can be an extension of another one in \({\mathbbm{R}^{2}}\). We prove that there exists some homogeneous feedback of degree zero stabilizing the considered class if and only if these feedbacks are constants.     

Electrochemical Capacitive K+ EMIS Chemical Sensor Based on the Dibromoaza[7]helicene as an Ionophore for Potassium Ions Detection

A K⁺‐sensitive capacitive electrolyte‐membrane‐insulator‐semiconductor (EMIS) based on a novel dibromoaza[7]helicene ionophore has been developed. An ion‐sensitive membrane based on polyvinylchloride (PVC) doped with the ionophore was deposited on the Si₃N₄/SiO₂/Si‐p/Cu‐Al transducer. The properties of the K⁺‐EMIS chemical sensor were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). All the developed devices upon being tested have shown good sensitivity and linearity responses within the range 10^?6 M to 10^?1 M of potassium activity, with good selectivity over a wide variety of other cations (Na⁺, Li⁺, Cu²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺). To our knowledge, this is the first time that a capacitive field‐effect sensor has been fabricated using helicene as a carrier for K⁺‐detection, combined with the structure: Si₃N₄/SiO₂/Si‐p/Cu‐Al as a transducer.     

Quadratic differentials (A(z − a)(z − b)/(z − c)2) dz2 and algebraic Cauchy transform

We discuss the representability almost everywhere (a.e.) in C of an irreducible algebraic function as the Cauchy transform of a signed measure supported on a finite number of compact semi-analytic curves and a finite number of isolated points. This brings us to the study of trajectories of the particular family of quadratic differentials A(z ? a)(z ? b)×(z ? c)^?2 dz². More precisely, we give a necessary and sufficient condition on the complex numbers a and b for these quadratic differentials to have finite critical trajectories. We also discuss all possible configurations of critical graphs.     

Predicting Homoclinic Bifurcations in Planar Autonomous Systems

An analytical method to predict the homoclinic bifurcation in a planar autonomous self-excited weakly nonlinear oscillator is presented. The method is mainly based on the collision between the periodic orbit undergoing the homoclinic bifurcation and the saddle fixed point. To illustrate the analytical predictive criteria, two typical examples are investigated. The results obtained in this work are then compared to Melnikov's technique and to a previous criterion based on the vanishing of the frequency. Numerical simulations are also provided.     

Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate Production by Fast-Growing Rhizobia Cultivated in Sludge and in Industrial Wastewater

In our study, the potential of producing polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) by cultivating fast-growing rhizobia (Sinorhizobium meliloti, Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae, R. leguminosarum bv. phaseoli and R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii) in sludge and in industrial wastewater was evaluated. Results confirmed the possibility of using sludge as media for rhizobial growth. During growth, substantial quantity of PHB was accumulated and yields varied depending on the media and rhizobial species. Growing in sludge, PHB production did not exceed 3.7% w/w for all strains at the end of experiment (after 72 h). During the growth of S. meliloti, PHB yield varied and the maximum value reached 7.27% w/w after 60 h, with 1% Total Suspend Solid (TSS) sludge. Alkaline sludge pre-treatment affects rhizobial growth but did not improve the PHB accumulation. While growing S. meliloti in industrial wastewater, the PHB yields varied and the highest value was obtained with slaughterhouse wastewater (10.7% w/w) after 35 h of growth. Therefore, this work shows the potential of exploiting PHB production by rhizobia growing in wastewater or sludge which could be applied to bioplastic industry, and confirms the potential of these recyclable wastes for high production of rhizobial cells useable for legumes inoculants production. This study provides an environmentally sound way of sludge and wastewater management and use in diverse biotechnological applications.     

Suppression of hysteresis in a forced van der Pol–Duffing oscillator

This paper examines the suppression of hysteresis in a forced nonlinear self-sustained oscillator near the fundamental resonance. The suppression is studied by applying a rapid forcing on the oscillator. Analytical treatment based on perturbation analysis is performed to capture the entrainment zone, the quasiperiodic modulation domain and the hysteresis area as well. The analysis leads to a strategy for the suppression of hysteresis occurring between 1:1 frequency-locked motion and quasiperiodic response. This hysteresis suppression causes the disappearance of nonlinear effects leading to a smooth transition between the quasiperiodic and the frequency-locked responses. Specifically, it appears that a rapid forcing introduces additional apparent nonlinear stiffness which can effectively suppress hysteresis in a certain range of the rapid excitation frequency. This work was motivated by the important issue of controlling and eliminating hysteresis often undesirable in mechanical systems, in general, and in application to microscale devices, especially.     

杂化化合物(C7H11N2)2[CdCl4]·0.5H2O的晶体结构、光谱表征和光学性质

开发了标题化合物（C₇H₁₁N₂）₂[CdCl₄]·0.5H₂O （C₇H₁₁N₂=4-（二甲基氨基）吡啶鎓）的制备程序,并得到良好的收率和纯度。Cd（Ⅱ）离子在略微扭曲的四面体环境中与4个氯离子配位。晶体排列显示出层状结构,有机层和无机层交替排列,平行于（001）平面,位于x=n+1/2（n∈Z）。在晶体中,有机层和无机层通过C—H…Cl、C—H…O、N—H…Cl和N—H…O氢键相互作用连接。Hirshfeld表面分析和结构的指纹图表明分子堆积受氢键和π堆积的控制。UV-Vis漫反射光谱使我们能够用Tauc外推法确定具有半导体特性的3.596 eV的直接带隙。观察到的在562 nm处具有最大值的光致发光带归属于4-（二甲基氨基）吡啶鎓阳离子中的激发π-π^*态。     

New silica hybrids elaborated by sol-gel process from bifunctional thiadiazole and 1,2,4-triazole precursors

New hybrid materials were synthesized from an inorganic precursor, (tetraethoxysilane: TEOS) and bifunctional organic precursors through the sol-gel process. Indeed, monolithic and transparent hybrid gels were obtained by the reaction of tetraethoxysilicate (TEOS) with 1,2,4-thiadiazole-3,5-diamine (1), 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol (2), and 1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (3) in ethanol as solvent, using chloric acid (HCl 10^?1M) as catalyst. It is shown that TEOS has been cross-linked with bi-functional heterocyclic compounds: (1), (2) and (3) leading to the formation of transparent and colorous gels. The characterization was realized by infrared, ²⁹Si and ¹³C CP MAS NMR. The xerogels morphology and texture were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer – Emmet – Teller method (BET). The obtained results show that organic adducts (1), (2) and (3) react with TEOS leading to gels in which Si–N and Si–S bridges were formed. According to N₂-physisorption results, xerogels are mesoporous with specific surface area varied from 105 to 312 m²g^?1 and their isotherms are classified as type IV. The optic and magnetic properties of hybrids were studied respectively by UV-Vis spectroscopy and RPE. This study showed that all materials are paramagnetic semiconductors.