Molecular dynamics simulation study of the structural features and inclusion capacities of cucurbit[6]uril derivatives in aqueous solutions

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for cucurbit[6]uril (CB6) methyl and cyclohexyl derivatives in aqueous solutions. Furthermore, MD simulations have been conducted to study the inclusion complexes between each CB6 derivative with α,ω-pentane diammonium ion (NH₃⁺(CH₂)₅NH₃⁺) to estimate the binding free energies, the complex geometries and the intermolecular forces responsible for complex formation. Results show a complete inclusion of the guest molecule in the cavity of the host for all complexes. Results also indicate that the guest dynamics inside the cavity of the substituted host is similar to that for the unsubstituted host. This demonstrates that the molecular recognition of the host is not affected by the alkyl substitution at the equator. Also, there is an insignificant conformational change of the macrocyclic structure upon inclusion of the guest. Molecular mechanics/Poisson Boltzmann surface area method was used to estimate the binding free energy of each complex. Results indicate that host–guest electrostatic interactions make the largest contribution to the complex binding free energy. Moreover, van der Waals interactions add significantly to the complex stability. The guest molecules show more or less similar binding free energies with the substituted CB6 that exhibits slightly more negative values than unsubstituted CB6 which is proved also by umbrella sampling.     

Content Analysis of Gender‐related Differential Item Functioning TIMSS Items in Mathematics in Jordan

The purpose of this study is to analyze items that exhibit gender‐related Differential Item Functioning (DIF) in Mathematics in Jordan. Data was taken from the TIMSS 1999 of Jordan, which includes responses of 5,299 eighth grade students. Mantel‐Haenszel (MH) DIF procedure was applied to 124 multiple‐choice items. The results showed that 37 items exhibited gender‐related DIF. The analysis of the content of these items reflected some patterns that need further investigation. All the DIF items in measurement content favored male students while most of the DIF items in algebraic and data analysis contents favored female students. Most of the DIF items that negatively impacted on females were unfamiliar items that required some risk taking such as estimation, expectation, or approximation. On the other hand, most of the DIF items that favored females were familiar items which have one specific correct answer. Some implications for both research and teaching practice are provided.     

Trans‐ and cis‐ Cobalt(III), Iron(III), and Chromium(III) Complexes Based on α‐ and γ‐Diimine Schiff Base Ligands: Synthesis and Evaluation of the Complexes as Catalysts for Oxidation of L‐Cysteine

The synthesis of a new series of trans and racemic cis isomers of cobalt(III)‐, iron(III)‐, and chromium(III)‐based complexes with the α‐ and γ‐diimine Schiff base ligands, N,N′‐bis(X)‐2,3‐butandiimine and N,N′‐bis(X)‐1,2‐phenyldiimine (X = cyclohexyl, 2‐isopropylphenyl, 1‐naphthyl) is described. To confirm the identity of the complexes prepared in the present study, a variety of techniques including elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, infrared‐, mass‐ (EI), and UV/Vis‐ spectroscopy have been utilized. Some of the isolated complexes have been evaluated as catalysts for the oxidation of L‐cysteine. Preliminary results showed that the metal atoms, geometry of the complexes, auxiliary substituents, and the backbone of the ligand influenced the rate of oxidation reaction.     

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils from leaves, stems and flowers of Salvia reuterana Boiss. grown in Iran

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the leaves, stems and flowers of Salvia reuterana (Lamiaceae) were analysed by GC and GC/MS. Germacrene D and beta-caryophyllene were the major constituents in all the three oils: (28.5, 27.7 and 32.5%) and (15.5, 11.4 and 16.6%), respectively. Bicyclogermacrene (10.2 and 13.2%) was also prodominated in the stem and flower oils. The composition of the oils was mostly quantitativel rather than qualitatively different. All the oils consisted mainly of sesquiterpenes and a small percentage of non-terpenoid compounds. In all the three oils, monoterpenes were in a concentration less than 0.5%. Antibacterial activity was determined by the measurement of growth inhibitory zones.     

Expeditious green synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted isoxazole-5(4<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-ones catalyzed by nano-MgO

In this work, it was found that magnesium oxide nanoparticles (nano-MgO) catalyzed one-pot three-component reaction of hydroxylamine hydrochloride with aryl aldehydes (or heteroaryl aldehydes) and β-oxoesters to synthesize some biologically active isoxazole-5(4H)-one-based heterocycles. The reactions were completed using 3 mol% catalyst loading in aqueous medium at room temperature. Nano-MgO was synthesized by precipitation and hydrothermal treatment of aqueous salt solution. The structure of the nano-MgO was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The presented environmentally friendly heterocyclization offers some interesting merits, including safety, high product yield, mild conditions, low cost, minimal waste, good atom efficiency, catalyst recoverable, energy efficiency, avoidance of hazardous organic solvents, and easy workup.     

Refinements of mean-square stochastic integral inequalities on convex stochastic processes

Recently, in the class of convex stochastic processes, Kotrys (Aequat Math 83:143–151, 2012; Aequat Math 86:91–98, 2013) proposed upper and lower bounds of mean-square stochastic integrals by using Hermite–Hadamard inequality. This paper shows that these bounds can be refined. Our results extend and refine the corresponding ones in the literature. Finally, an open problem for further investigations is given.     

On fractional stochastic inequalities related to Hermite–Hadamard and Jensen types for convex stochastic processes

Stochastic convexity and its applications are very important in mathematics and probability (Aequationes Mathematicae 20:184–197, 1980). There are two well-known inequalities for convex stochastic processes: Jensen’s inequality and Hermite–Hadamard’s inequality. Recently, Hafiz (Stoch Anal Appl 22:507–523, 2004) has provided fractional calculus for some stochastic processes. The problem is how to formulate these inequalities for stochastic processes in the class of fractional calculus and that is what is done in this paper. Our results generalize the corresponding ones in the literature.     

Volatile constituents and antioxidant activity of flowers, stems and leaves of Nasturtium officinale R. Br

GC-MS analyses of the essential oils of leaves, stems and flower of Nasturtium officinale resulted in the identification of 9, 8 and 15 compounds, representing 97%, 100% and 94.7% of the oils, respectively. The main compounds of the oil of leaves were myristicin (57.6%), α-terpinolene (8.9%) and limonene (6.7%). Caryophyllene oxide (37.2%), p-cymene-8-ol (17.6%), α-terpinolene (15.2%) and limonene (11.8%) were the main components in stems, whereas limonene (43.6%), α-terpinolene (19.7%), p-cymene-8-ol (7.6%) and caryophyllene oxide (6.7%) were the major constituents in the oil of flowers. All the samples were subjected to a screening for their possible antioxidant activities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. In the above tests, methanol extracts of leaves showed higher antioxidant activity than the oils and methanol extracts of stems and flowers.     

Predictive tools in data mining and k-means clustering: Universal Inequalities

Grouping data into meaningful clusters is very important in data mining. K-means clustering is a fast method for finding clusters in data. The integral inequalities are a predictive tool in data mining and k-means clustering. Many papers have been published on speeding up k-means or nearest neighbor search using inequalities that are specific for Euclidean distance. An extended inequality related to Hölder type for universal integral is obtained in a rather general form. Previous results of Agahi et al. (Results Math, 61:179–194, 2012) are generalized by relaxing some of their requirements, thus closing the series of papers on this topic. Chebyshev’s, Hölder’s, Minkowski’s, Stolarsky’s, Jensen’s and Lyapunov’s type inequalities for the universal integral are obtained.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic investigations,and computational study of 4-((9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracen-1-yl)oxy)-3-methoxybenzaldehyde

4-((9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracen-1-yl)oxy)-3-methoxybenzaldehyde has been synthesized in an attempt to obtain a new photochromic compound. The optimized molecular structure, mole fractions of title compound in trans and ana forms have been investigated. UV-visible spectra of the compound were also recorded. Upon irradiation with 300 nm light, the camel solid turned orange, in which a visible absorption band was observed at 475 nm. The electronic properties, such as HOMO, LUMO and band gap energies were obtained by the time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) approach. The predicted nonlinear optical properties of the title compound are much greater than those of urea. Transition structures were calculated by QST3 and IRC methods which yielded the potential energy surface and activation energy.