Electrochemical Detection of Artemisinin Using Cobalt Sulphide/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite

Solvothermally synthesized cobalt sulphide/reduced graphene oxide (CoS/rGO) was used to fabricate an electrochemical sensor for detection of artemisinin. Microscopic techniques were used to characterize CoS/rGO nanocomposite. The electrochemical sensor was fabricated by modifying the surface of glassy carbon electrode with CoS/rGO nanocomposite. [Fe(CN)6]^3−/4− was used as a mediator to aid oxidation of artemisinin. Differential pulse voltammetric technique was used for the detection of artemisinin. A linear range of 30–100 μM was used. Experimentally, a detection limit of 0.5 μM was obtained. Therefore, the developed sensor can be used for quality control of artemisinin.     

Approximation of the supply scheduling problem

The supply scheduling problem consists in finding a minimum cost delivery plan from a set of providers to a manufacturing unit, subject to given bounds on the shipment sizes and subject to the demand at the manufacturing unit. We provide a fully polynomial time approximation scheme for this problem.     

Discrimination of bacteria from Jamaican bauxite soils using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Soil bacteria are sensitive to ecological change and can be assessed to gauge anthropogenic influences and ecosystem health. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the focus on new technologies that can be applied to the evaluation of soil quality. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a promising technique that has been used for the investigation and characterization of explosives, solids, liquids, gases, biological and environmental samples. In this study, bacteria from un-mined and a chronosequence of reclaimed bauxite soils were isolated on Luria–Bertani agar media. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of the bacterial 16S rDNA, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis were applied to each isolated soil bacteria from the sample sites resulting in the identification and classification of the organisms. Femtosecond LIBS performed on the isolated bacteria showed atomic and ionic emission lines in the spectrum containing inorganic elements such as sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), and calcium (Ca). Principal component analysis and partial least squares regression analysis were performed on the acquired bacterial spectra demonstrating that LIBS has the potential to differentiate and discriminate among bacteria in the un-mined and reclaimed chronosequence of bauxite soils.     

Supply network planning in the forest supply chain with bucking decisions anticipation

We consider a two-echelon timber supply chain in which the first echelon consists of several stands to be harvested and the second echelon consists of mills to be supplied with logs of different length. This problem aims at minimizing harvesting and transportation costs for one production period, while satisfying demand expressed as a mix of volumes of specific log types. Harvesting cost, which includes felling, bucking and hauling to roadside, depends upon the number of log type to be produced and sorted. Each stand to be harvested is modeled individually with a limited number of trees of various classes of diameter and total length, which affects the productivity factors of the bucking patterns to be used. To take these characteristics into account, we propose heuristics based on columns generation to solve the supply network problem at the forest level with an anticipation of bucking operations at the stand level.     

Use of graphite oxide and graphene oxide as catalysts in the synthesis of dipyrromethane and calix[4]pyrrole

Graphite oxide and graphene oxides have been used as solid catalysts for the synthesis of 5,5-dialkyldipyrromethanes and calix[4]pyrroles in organic and aqueous solutions at room temperature.     

Hamming weight distributions of multi-twisted codes over finite fields

Designs, Codes and Cryptography - Let $${\mathbb {F}}_q$$ denote the finite field of order q,  and let $$n = m_1+m_2+\cdots +m_\ell ,$$ where $$m_1,m_2,\ldots ,m_\ell $$ are arbitrary...     

Study on Volumetric,Compressibility and Viscometric Behavior of Cationic Surfactants (CTAB and DTAB) in Aqueous Glycyl Dipeptide: A Thermo-Acoustic Approach

This study aims to understand how glycyl dipeptide affected the compressibility, volumetric behavior and viscometric behavior of the cationic surfactants CTAB (Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) and DTAB (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide). Information on solute–solute, solute–solvent, and solvent–solvent interactions has been inferred using the quantification of density (ρ), speed of sound (u) and viscosity in aqueous media containing glycyl dipeptide in the temperature range 293.15–313.15 K at an interval of 5 K. The data from the aforementioned research have been used to enumerate numerous volumetric and compressibility metrics that aid in the collection of information about the interactional behavior of the system under consideration. The study suggests that CTAB interacts strongly compared to DTAB with dipeptide, and it also significantly dehydrates glycyl dipeptide. The difference in water–water interactions caused by the loss of hydrophobic hydration of the surfactant molecules upon the addition of cationic surfactants may be the cause of the variation in determined parameters with surfactant concentration. Consideration of the structural rearrangement of molecules that may occur in the system has been used to explain the results of viscosity and computed factors related to viscosity. The patterns of competitive intermolecular interactions in the ternary (dipeptide + water + surfactant) system have been used to analyze the trends of all the parameters. The study may be helpful to understand the stability and structural changes in protein–surfactant systems mediated through various interactions that may be present in the system.     

Fouling Mitigation by Surface-Patterned Polymeric Membranes in Water Treatment: A Review of Recent Advancements in Fabrication Techniques

The world is constantly challenged regarding managing environmental and ecological contamination due to human and industrial activities. This is because of the constant threat posed by pollution. Nowadays, membrane-based technology is a growing field, making practically all the separation of foulant from wastewater possible. The membrane fouling resulting from the interaction between the foulant and the membrane surface presents a challenge for the technology in maintaining performance over extended periods of operation. As a result, there is a rising interest in research focusing mainly on creating patterned membrane surfaces that reduce fouling and effectively enhance the surface area. This article comprehensively overviews the most recent and cutting-edge techniques that can be applied to modify and construct high-performance patterned membranes suitable for ultrafiltration, microfiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis (UF, MF, NF, and RO) water purification processes. In this study, recent developments in membrane material are dissected, focusing on methods for improving surface chemistry, structure, and hydrodynamics, as well as the consequences of these characteristics on filtering performance.     

Virtual Screening of Alkaloid and Terpenoid Inhibitors of SMT Expressed in Naegleria sp.

The pathogenic form of thermophilic Naegleria sp. i.e., Naegleria fowleri, also known as brain eating amoeba, causes primary amoebic encephalitis (PAM) with a >97% fatality rate. To date, there are no specific drugs identified to treat this disease specifically. The present antimicrobial combinatorial chemotherapy is hard on many patients, especially children. Interestingly, Naegleria fowleri has complex lipid biosynthesis pathways like other protists and also has a strong preference to utilize absorbed host lipids for generating energy. The ergosterol biosynthesis pathway provides a unique drug target opportunity, as some of the key enzymes involved in this pathway are absent in humans. Sterol 24-C Methyltransferase (SMT) is one such enzyme that is not found in humans. To select novel inhibitors for this enzyme, alkaloids and terpenoids inhibitors were screened and tested against two isozymes of SMT identified in N. gruberi (non-pathogenic) as well as its homolog found in yeast, i.e., ERG6. Five natural product derived inhibitors i.e., Cyclopamine, Chelerythrine, Berberine, Tanshinone 2A, and Catharanthine have been identified as potential drug candidates based on multiple criteria including binding affinity, ADME scores, absorption, and, most importantly, its ability to cross the blood brain barrier. This study provides multiple leads for future drug exploration against Naegleria fowleri.     

A multiple focused probe approach for high intensity focused ultrasound based surgery

To produce deep-seated surgical lesions using ultrasound requires high power and intensity levels at the target sites. Conventionally, large transducers are used which require big apertures and so are generally suitable only for extra-corporeal access. Such transducers also result in strong off-focus maxima, where the resulting hot spots can destroy normal tissue whilst deep-seated large tissue volumes are being ablated. This paper describes a new approach in which it is proposed that multiple probes are used simultaneously, each at a relatively low power, to result in an overlapping focused region of high temperature without strong off-focus hot spots. Robotic techniques could be used to move the individual probes in coordination to sweep out the desired region of tissue ablation. Simulation and planning are the key to quality prediction for high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Simplified two-dimensional and three-dimensional models of HIFU probes have been developed to study the characteristics of various multi-probe configurations. Preliminary simulation results show that the multi-probe system can be arranged successfully to minimise off-focus hot spots. Experimental results are presented which validate the modality and confirm this positive finding. Further prediction studies and planning will be necessary to achieve the most appropriate desired treatment, by varying the pulse duration and spacing.