Electrical Impedance Spectroscopic Study of CNT/Ethylene-alt-CO/Propylene-alt-CO Polyketones Nanocomposite

Impedance spectroscopy was utilized to investigate the dielectric properties, ac conductivity and charge transport mechanisms in propylene-alt-CO/ethylene-alt-CO (EPEC) random terpolymer filled with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as a function of nanofiller content, frequency, and temperature. Equivalent resistor-capacitor (RC) circuit models were proposed to describe the impedance characteristics of the unfilled terpolymer and the nanocomposite at different temperatures. For the nanocomposites, the ac conductivity tended to be frequency independent at low frequencies. At high frequencies, the ac conductivity increased with frequency. The dc conductivity (i.e., plateau of the ac conductivity at low frequencies) at room temperature increased from 10^?9 (Ω·m)^?1 for the unfilled polymer to l0^?3 (Ω·m)^?1 for the 6 wt% MWCNT/EPEC nanocomposite. At low temperatures, the equivalent RC model for EPEC-0 and EPEC-2 was found to consist of a parallel RC circuit. However, for 6 wt% MWCNT/EPEC nanocomposite, an RC model consisting of an R/constant phase element (CPE) circuit and a resistor in series was required to describe the impedance behavior of the nanocomposite.     

Medicinal Potential of Isoflavonoids: Polyphenols That May Cure Diabetes

In recent years, there is emerging evidence that isoflavonoids, either dietary or obtained from traditional medicinal plants, could play an important role as a supplementary drug in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) due to their reported pronounced biological effects in relation to multiple metabolic factors associated with diabetes. Hence, in this regard, we have comprehensively reviewed the potential biological effects of isoflavonoids, particularly biochanin A, genistein, daidzein, glycitein, and formononetin on metabolic disorders and long-term complications induced by T2DM in order to understand whether they can be future candidates as a safe antidiabetic agent. Based on in-depth in vitro and in vivo studies evaluations, isoflavonoids have been found to activate gene expression through the stimulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) (α, γ), modulate carbohydrate metabolism, regulate hyperglycemia, induce dyslipidemia, lessen insulin resistance, and modify adipocyte differentiation and tissue metabolism. Moreover, these natural compounds have also been found to attenuate oxidative stress through the oxidative signaling process and inflammatory mechanism. Hence, isoflavonoids have been envisioned to be able to prevent and slow down the progression of long-term diabetes complications including cardiovascular disease, nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. Further thoroughgoing investigations in human clinical studies are strongly recommended to obtain the optimum and specific dose and regimen required for supplementation with isoflavonoids and derivatives in diabetic patients.     

Existence theorems for boundary value problems in difference equations

In this research, we study linear difference equations with constant coefficients subject to boundary conditions. Necessary and/or sufficient conditions for the existence of a unique solution will be established. The proofs of the existence and uniqueness theorems are established by means of special types of determinants called Mosaic Vandermonde determinants.     

Synthesis of Thio Analogues of Quinolone Antibacterials

A facile and rapid synthesis of thio compounds, analogues to ciprofloxacin, and norfloxacin is described.     

Invariant Pseudolinearity with Applications

In this paper, we introduce the notion of invariant pseudolinearity for nondifferentiable and nonconvex functions by means of Dini directional derivatives. We present some characterizations of invariant pseudolinear functions. Some characterizations of the solution set of a nonconvex and nondifferentiable, but invariant, pseudolinear program are obtained. The results of this paper extend various results for pseudolinear functions, pseudoinvex functions, and η-pseudolinear functions, and also for pseudoinvex programs, pseudolinear programs, and η-pseudolinear programs.     

Acidified,Wet, Silica-Supported Tetrabutylammonium Periodate: A Convenient and Mild Reagent for Conversion of Thioamides to Their Corresponding Amides Under Solvent-Free Conditions

A series of thioamides are transformed to their corresponding oxo analogues in good to excellent yields with acidified, wet, silica-supported tetrabutylammonium periodate under solvent-free conditions.