Effect of Dielectric Constant of Solvents on the Particle Size and Bandgap of La/SnO2‐TiO2 Nanoparticles and Their Catalytic Properties

Lanthanum (La) supported on tin oxide‐titanium oxide (SnO₂‐TiO₂ ) nanoparticles were prepared by a sol–gel method followed by a hydrothermal method. Effect of different solvents (ethyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, ethylene glycol) on the particle size and catalytic activity was investigated. The nanomaterial was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, powder X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X‐ray. The catalytic and optical properties were studied using solid‐phase spectrophotometry and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, respectively. Gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) was used to detect the intermediates during the catalytic degradation of methylene blue. It was observed that with decrease in the dielectric constant (ε) of the solvent, the bandgap and particle size decrease and catalytic efficiency increases. Hence, the highest catalytic activity was observed with the solvent having the least dielectric constant.     

A new modified Laplace decomposition method for higher order boundary value problems

In this article, we suggest modified Laplace decomposition method for analytical solution of eighth-order boundary value problems (BVPs). The numerical application indicates the effectiveness and stability of the proposed algorithm. The efficiency of proposed method is examined with the help of linear and nonlinear problems.     

A quadratically convergent local algorithm on minimizing sums of the largest eigenvalues of a symmetric matrix

In this paper, we consider the problem on minimizing sums of the largest eigenvalues of a symmetric matrix which depends on the decision variable affinely. An important application of this problem is the graph partitioning problem, which arises in layout of circuit boards, computer logic partitioning, and paging of computer programs. Given 0, we first derive an optimality condition which ensures that the objective function is within error bound of the solution. This condition may be used as a practical stopping criterion for any algorithm solving the underlying problem. We also show that, in a neighborhood of the minimizer, the optimization problem can be equivalently formulated as a smooth constrained problem. An existing algorithm on minimizing the largest eigenvalue of a symmetric matrix is shown to be applicable here. This algoritm enjoys the property that if started close enough to the minimizer, then it will converge quadratically. To implement a practical algorithm, one needs to incorporate some technique to generate a good starting point. Since the problem is convex, this can be done by using an algorithm for general convex optimization problems (e.g., Kelley's cutting plane method or ellipsoid methods), or an algorithm specific for the optimization problem under consideration (e.g., the algorithm developed by Cullum, Donath, and Wolfe). Such union ensures that the overall algorithm has global convergence with quadratic rate. Finally, the results presented in this paper are readily extended on minimizing sums of the largest eigenvalues of a Hermitian matrix.Some of results in this paper were given in [19] without proofs.     

Effect of arbitrary temperature degeneracy and ion magnetization on shear Alfven waves in electron-positron-ion plasmas

Linear properties of low-frequency electromagnetic shear Alfven waves (SAWs) are studied in quantum electron-positron-ion plasmas with effect of arbitrary temperature degeneracy for magnetized () and unmagnetized ( ) ions by using the quantum hydrodynamic model. Dispersion relations are derived for nearly degenerate () and nearly non-degenerate () plasmas. Bohm potential due to density correlation and temperature degeneracy due to Fermi–Dirac statistics of electron–positron, and their effects on the dispersion of SAWs are studied in detail both analytically and numerically. The relevance of the work regarding dense astrophysical plasmas is highlighted.     

Regioselective synthesis of fused ring heterocyclic derivatives of ketene aminals and their biological activities

A regioselective and convenient methodology was developed to synthesize heterocyclic derivatives, bearing imidazole, piperidines, and azepines rings. The N-arylnitrones derived from 3-formylchromones were selected to react with heterocyclic ketene aminal to furnish the structurally attractive and pharmacologically important fused ring heterocycles. The N-arylnitrone moiety of 3-formylchromone was used to activate the formyl group for regioselective fused ring heterocycles synthesis, whereas, the effect of substituents at aryl functionality of nitrones were studied to improve the yield of target fused ring heterocyclic products. The synthesized compounds (10-12) were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic and antifungal influences. In cytotoxic (brine shrimp lethality) assay, compound 11e was found to be active with LD₅₀ = 4.1 × 10⁻⁶ μg/mL.     

Conversion of alcohols, thiols, and trimethysilyl ethers to alkyl cyanides using triphenylphosphine/2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone/n-Bu(4)NCN

Triphenylphosphine and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone afford an adduct, which in the presence of n-Bu(4)NCN converts alcohols, thiols, and trimethylsilyl ethers into their corresponding alkyl cyanides in good to excellent yields at room temperature. This method is highly selective for the conversion of 1 degrees alcohols in the presence of 2 degrees and 3 degrees ones, thiols and silyl ethers.     

Effect of Ag Loading on the Microstructure of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Electrospun Nanofibers

In this research work, crystalline structure, phase transformation, morphology and mean size of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) electrospun nanofibers have been tailored by loading with 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 wt.% of silver (Ag) which was followed by calcination. The as prepared non woven mats of nanofibers were calcinated at 500 °C to allow the reaction moieties to leave the TiO₂ matrix and subsequently formation of Ag clusters. The effect of Ag loading and calcination on the transformation of microstructure of these electrospun nanofibers have been characterized by XRD, FESEM, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy (RS). The mean diameter of Ag loaded nanofibers has been found to decrease upon calcination which was estimated to 70 nm whereas length was in the order of mm range. XRD and RS results have strongly supported the transformation of crystalline phase from rutile (A) to anatase (R) above 2.5 wt.% of Ag loading in TiO₂ after calcination. The roughness on the outer surfaces of these nanofibers has been observed to increase with the Ag loading consequent to calcination, which has been attributed to the formation Ag nanoparticles that were found adsorbed at the surfaces. An interesting finding of this study is the existence of 1D nanofibers’ structure even at higher (7.5 wt.%) Ag loading, as observed by the SEM micrographs.     

One-Pot Synthesis and X-Ray Structure of New,Stable Tetrahydropyrrolo [1,2-a][1,10]phenanthrolines with Four Diastereoisomeric Centers

1,10-Phenanthrolinium N-ylides react with ethyl cyanoacetate and aromatic aldehydes via a domino-Knoevenagel cyclization to produce a new class of tetrahydropyrrolo [1,2-a][1,10] phenanthrolines with four diastereoisomeric centers as stable helical compounds in a simple, mild, and efficient protocol in excellent yields. Explicit structural elucidation of compounds was accomplished by single-crystal x-ray diffraction.     

Variation in antioxidant attributes at three ripening stages of guava (Psidium guajava L.) fruit from different geographical regions of Pakistan

The present investigation was carried out to appraise the levels of total phenols and vitamin C as well as antioxidant potential at three different ripening stages (un-ripe, semi-ripe and fully-ripe) of guava (Psidium guajava L.) fruit collected from three different geographical regions of Pakistan (Islamabad, Faisalabad and Bhakkar). The antioxidant potential of guava fruit extracts was assessed by means of different in-vitro antioxidant assays, namely inhibition of peroxidation in linoleic acid system, reducing power and radical scavenging capability. Overall, fruit at the un-ripe stage (G1) exhibited the highest levels of TPC, TFC, reducing power and DPPH radical scavenging activity, followed by the semi-ripe (G2) and fully-ripe (G3) stages. On the other hand, vitamin C content increased as the fruit maturity progressed, with highest value seen at the fully-ripe stage (G3) followed by the semi-ripe (G2) and un-ripe stage (G1). The concentration of vitamin C in fruits varied as: Faisalabad (136.4-247.9 mg 100 g?1), Islamabad (89.7-149.7 mg 100 g?1) and Bhakkar (73.1-129.5 mg 100 g?1). The results showed that different stages of maturation and geographical locations had profound effects on the antioxidant activity and vitamin C contents of guava fruit.