Travelling waves in a radiation-combustion free-boundary model for flame propagation

We study a combustion-radiation model which models premixed flames propagating in a gaseous mixture with inert dust. This model combines diffusion of mass and temperature with reaction at the flame front. We choose a free boundary model to describe the propagating flames and take a linearized approximation to model the radiation, but we keep a nonlinear reaction term which is temperature dependent. The radiative transfer of thermal energy emitted and absorbed by dust is modelled using the Eddington equation. We analyse the bifurcation diagram of the travelling wave solution curve. In a specific parameter plane, travelling waves are given by a single smooth curve which is parameterized by the flame temperature.     

Recent synthetic methodologies for pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine

The development of new synthetic routes towards pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines for their biological and medicinal exploration is an attractive area for researchers. This review focuses on various synthetic routes developed in the last decade for the synthesis of differently substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines by a broad range of organic reactions by means of 5-aminopyrazole as a precursor.     

Synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial study via new heterocyclic derivatives of trimethoprim

New compounds of trimethoprim heterocyclic derivatives were synthesized. These compounds were synthesized through the condensation reaction between trimethoprim with bromoacetic acid to yield compound 1. Several Schiff bases 2–7 have been synthesized by the condensation different aromatic aldehydes with compound 1. Compound 8 were formed from the reaction of sodium nitrite and acetyl acetone in presence of conc. hydrogen chloride to obtain the hydrazono derivative; then, Cyclocondensation of compound 8 with hydrazine hydrate, phenyl hydrazine and dinitrophenyl hydrazine respectively to yield compounds 9–11 in ethanol affording the pyrazoline derivatives. This work involves the synthesis of some 1,2,3-Triazoles derived from compound 1 by the action of sodium azide on the diazonium chloride salt to yield 5-azido-8-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidin-3(2H)-one 12. Finally, by reaction of 12 with acetyl acetone and ethyacetoacetate; respectively in sodium ethoxide/ethanol as a solvent to form compounds 13, 14. The structures of the compounds 1–14 were characterized by elemental analysis, spectral data and antimicrobial evaluation of the some newly synthesized compounds and found that the synthesized compounds are active against tested Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Proteus.     

Testing the applicability of artificial intelligence techniques to the subject of erythemal ultraviolet solar radiation part one: the applicability of a fuzzy rule based approach

This work presents the applicability of applying a fuzzy logic approach to the calculation of noontime erythemal UV irradiance for the plain areas of Egypt. When different combinations of data sets were examined from the test performance point of view, it was found that 91% of the whole series was estimated within a deviation of less than +/-10 mW/m(2), and 9% of these deviations lay within the range of +/-15 mW/m(2) to +/-25 mW/m(2).     

A Validated Direct Thin-Layer Chromatographic Separation and Enantioselective Determination of Racemic Centrally Acting Drugs Using Ion-Pair and Ligand-Exchange Chiral Selectors: A Thermodynamic Study of Complexation

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A rapid, inexpensive, and stereoselective densitometric—thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) method using l-(+)-tartaric acid and...     

1H-NMR Metabolic Profiling and Antioxidant Activity of Saffron (Crocus sativus) Cultivated in Lebanon

Despite the beneficial health properties shown by Lebanese saffron, its qualitative and quantitative composition has never been investigated before. In the present study, NMR spectroscopy, together with antioxidant activity assays, were applied to evaluate the chemical composition of saffron samples of different geographical origins (Lebanon, Italy, Iran, and India) and to categorize the Lebanese saffron for the first time. The distinction between Lebanese saffron and that produced in other countries was attributed to its higher linolenic and linoleic fatty acids, glucose and picrocrocin contents. Moreover, spices produced in three different regions of the Lebanese territory have been clearly differentiated. Saffron cultivated in the Qaa region displayed a high glucose, fatty acids and polyphenols content, whereas Hermel saffron exhibited the largest rate of picrocrocin and glycosylated carotenoids. Finally, samples from Baalbeck showed lower rates for the majority of metabolites. Moreover, Lebanese saffron showed a high antioxidant activity in ABTS and DPPH assays. A low dose of saffron extract (10 µg/mL) inhibited the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma cells, probably due to the high polyphenolic content. This study highlights the quality and peculiarity of Lebanese saffron cultivated in Northern Beqaa district and allows for a good discrimination between spices produced in relatively close territory.     

Antioxidant and Antisteatotic Activities of Fucoidan Fractions from Marine and Terrestrial Sources

Fucoidan is a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide typically found in the cell wall of marine algae but also recently isolated from terrestrial sources. Due to a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant properties, fucoidan exhibits an attractive therapeutic potential against a wide array of metabolic diseases associated with oxidative stress. We used FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy to investigate the structural features of a fucoidan fraction extracted from the brown alga Cystoseira compressa (CYS). The antioxidant potential of CYS was measured by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays, which revealed a radical scavenging capacity that was confirmed in in vitro cellular models of hepatic and endothelial cells. The same antioxidant effects were observed for another fucoidan fraction previously identified in the terrestrial tree Eucalyptus globulus (EUC). Moreover, in hepatic cells, CYS and EUC exhibited a significant antisteatotic action, being able to reduce intracellular triglyceride content through the regulation of key genes of hepatic lipid metabolism. EUC exerted stronger antioxidant and antisteatotic effects as compared to CYS, suggesting that both marine and terrestrial sources should be considered for fucoidan extraction and therapeutic applications.     

An Efficient Strategy for Enhancing the Adsorption of Antibiotics and Drugs from Aqueous Solutions Using an Effective Limestone-Activated Carbon–Alginate Nanocomposite

Based on the adsorption performance of a porous nanocomposite with limestone (LS), activated carbon (AC) and sodium alginate (SG), a unique, multifunctional LS–AC–SG nanocomposite absorbent was designed and prepared for extracting antibiotics and drugs from aqueous solutions. The composite exhibited the following advantages: quick and simple to prepare, multifunctionality and high efficiency. Amoxicillin (AMX) and diclofenac (DCF) were chosen as the conventional antibiotic and the drug, respectively. The prepared nanocomposite’s physicochemical characteristics were calculated through numerous characterization methods. The structure of the surface was made up of interconnected pores that can easily confine pollutants. The surface area was measured to be 27.85 m²/g through BET analysis. The results show that the maximum absorption capacity of amoxicillin and diclofenac was 99.6% and 98.4%, respectively, at a contact time of 40 min. The maximum removal of amoxicillin and diclofenac was reached at pH = 2. Adsorption analysis revealed that adsorption isotherm and kinetic data matched the pseudo-first-order kinetic and the Langmuir isotherm models. The results imply that the synthesized nanocomposites have the capacity to remove amoxicillin (AMX) and diclofenac (DCF) from aqueous solutions.     

Essential oil composition of the aerial parts of fresh and air-dried Salvia palaestina Benth. (Lamiaceae) growing wild in Jordan

The composition of the essential oil of fresh and air-dried Salvia palaestina Benth. (Lamiaceae) growing wild in Jordan has been studied using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The essential oils of fresh and air-dried S. palaestina were mainly composed of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (52.66% and 65.98%, respectively). The major component detected in the oils of fresh and dry S. palaestina was germacrene D (21.18% and 26.02%, respectively). Air drying resulted in a general increase of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and a great decrease in the percentage of monoterpene hydrocarbons.     

Optical properties of nanostructure boron doped NiO thin films

Boron doped NiO films were prepared by sol–gel method. The effects of B content on the morphological and optical properties of NiO films were studied with atomic force microscopy, and optical characterization method. The average transmittance at the visible region is reached to 75 % for lower doped films (0.1 and 0.2 % B), whereas, the recorded average value of transmittance was about 62 % for doped film with 1 % B throughout the region. The optical energy gap value for pure NiO film was found to be 3.73 eV. These values were affected by B doping with non-monotonic variation and reached to 3.64 eV for 0.1 % B doped NiO. Also, the refractive index dispersion and dielectric constants of the NiO films were studied throughout the investigated range of wavelengths. The obtained results indicate that the optical parameters of the NiO film are controlled with boron doping.