Microbial transformation of 5-episinuleptolide

5-episinuleptolide (1) is an abundant norcembranolide diterpene isolated from several species of the soft coral genus Sinularia. Biocatalytic transformation studies of 1 using Streptomyces lavendulea ATCC 8664 resulted in the isolation and characterization of two new metabolites 2 and 3. Compound 2, 6alpha-hydroxy-5-episinuleptolide was produced via a stereoselective reduction of 1 and was further metabolized into compound 3 which has a 3,8-bicylized cembranoid skeleton. The structures and configurations of the metabolites were determined by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analyses.     

Implication of Tsallis entropy in the Thomas–Fermi model for self-gravitating fermions

The Thomas–Fermi approach for self-gravitating fermions is revisited within the theoretical framework of the q$q$-statistics  . Starting from the q$q$-deformation of the Fermi–Dirac distribution function, a generalized Thomas–Fermi equation is derived. It is shown that the Tsallis entropy   preserves a scaling property of this equation. The q$q$-statistical   approach to Jeans’ instability in a system of self-gravitating fermions is also addressed. The dependence of the Jeans’ wavenumber (or the Jeans length) on the parameter q$q$ is traced. It is found that the q$q$-statistics makes the Fermionic system unstable at scales shorter than the standard Jeans length.     

Modeling and analysis of stick-slip and bit bounce in oil well drillstrings equipped with drag bits

Rotary drilling systems equipped with drag bits or fixed cutter bits (also called PDC), used for drilling deep boreholes for the production and the exploration of oil and natural gas, often suffer from severe vibrations. These vibrations are detrimental to the bit and the drillstring causing different failures of equipment (e.g., twist-off, abrasive wear of tubulars, bit damage), and inefficiencies in the drilling operation (reduction of the rate of penetration (ROP)). Despite extensive research conducted in the last several decades, there is still a need to develop a consistent model that adequately captures all phenomena related to drillstring vibrations such as nonlinear cutting and friction forces at the bit/rock formation interface, drive system characteristics and coupling between various motions. In this work, a physically consistent nonlinear model for the axial and torsional motions of a rotating drillstring equipped with a drag bit is proposed. A more realistic cutting and contact model is used to represent bit/rock formation interaction at the bit. The dynamics of both drive systems for rotary and translational motions of the drillstring, including the hoisting system are also considered. In this model, the rotational and translational motions of the bit are obtained as a result of the overall dynamic behavior rather than prescribed functions or constants. The dynamic behavior predicted by the proposed model qualitatively agree well with field observations and published theoretical results. The effects of various operational parameters on the dynamic behavior are investigated with the objective of achieving a smooth and efficient drilling. The results show that with proper choice of operational parameters, it may be possible to minimize the effects of stick-slip and bit-bounce and increase the ROP. Therefore, it is expected that the results will help reduce the time spent in drilling process and costs incurred due to severe vibrations and consequent damage to equipment.     

Baryscan: a sensitive and user-friendly alternative to Z scan for weak nonlinearities measurements

A new and efficient technique for measuring weak optical nonlinearities is reported. Like Z scan, its implementation is basic, both experimentally and theoretically, but leads to an improved sensitivity of λ/5.10?, which represents, to date, one of the highest observed enhancements. With this technique, which is based upon the use of a position sensitive detector, nonlinear properties are deduced by monitoring the barycentric position of a truncated pump-probe laser beam as the sample is moved along the optical axis. The technique is experimentally validated by measuring the pump-induced refractive index change and the underlying polarizability variation resulting from the excitation of the Cr(3+) ions in ruby.     

On the Ni(x) integral function and its application to the Airy’s non-homogeneous equation

In this article, we discuss a recently introduced function, Ni(x), to which we will refer as the Nield-Kuznetsov function. This function is attractive in the solution of inhomogeneous Airy’s equation. We derive and document some elementary properties of this function and outline its application to Airy’s equation subject to initial conditions. We introduce another function, Ki(x), that arises in connection with Ni(x) when solving Airy’s equation with a variable forcing function. In Appendix A, we derive a number of properties of both Ni(x) and Ki(x), their integral representation, ascending and asymptotic series representations. We develop iterative formulae for computing all derivatives of these functions, and formulae for computing the values of the derivatives at x = 0. An interesting finding is the type of differential equations Ni(x) satisfies. In particular, it poses itself as a solution to Langer’s comparison equation.     

In vitro antischistosomal evaluation of some newly synthesized praziquantel derivatives

Praziquantel, 2-(cyclohexylcarbonyl)-1,2,3,6,7,11b-hexahydro-4H-pyrazino[2,1-a]isoquinolin-4-one, was used as the parent starting material to synthesize a new series of praziquantel-3-arylidene derivatives 1a–c and praziquantel–Mannich bases 2a–d, hoping to obtain new antischistosomal compounds of more activity and lower adverse effects. The antischistosomal activity of the newly synthesized compounds was evaluated using in vitro Schistosoma mansoni worm killing tests. Both compounds 2c and 2d exhibited significant in vitro antischistosomal activity and may offer promising use as an antischistosomal drug either alone or in combination with praziquantel.     

Synthesis and radioiodination of new dipeptide coupled with biologically active pyridine moiety

The adsorption of uranium (VI), cesium and strontium ions from aqueous solutions onto a commercial activated carbon obtained by physical activation of coconut shell has been studied in batch systems. In particular the adsorption of uranium, studied as a function of contact time and metal ion concentration, followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. Equilibrium adsorption data were fitted by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models and the maximum adsorption capacity of the activated carbon resulted to be 55.32 mg/g. The study showed that the considered activated carbon could be successfully used for uranium adsorption from aqueous solutions. Feasibility of cesium and strontium adsorption onto the same activated carbon has been also investigated. Results showed that no affinities with both of these ions exist.     

Study on the influence of ageing on chemical and mechanical properties of N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-diphenylcarbamide stabilized propellants

Double-base propellants undergo chemical, physical and mechanical changes upon ageing, leading to changes in ballistic performance and presenting explosive hazards. This report studies the variation of chemical and mechanical properties of aged N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-diphenylcarbamide (methyl centralite) stabilized propellants in order to simulate and evaluate the natural ageing throughout the artificial one. Therefore, a comparative study of stabilizer depletion, plasticizers content, heat of combustion and mechanical properties such as storage modulus, loss modulus and damping of naturally and artificially aged propellants has been carried out by the following techniques: high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), thermogravimetric analyzer (TG), calorimeter of combustion and dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), respectively. The results obtained show that all properties are closely connected. In addition, the determination of stabilizer depletion, plasticizers evaporation, decrease of heat of combustion and mechanical properties are very useful for a better understanding of the decomposition and ageing behaviour of propellants. The HPLC investigation of stabilizer has shown good stability of the propellants. The results obtained for DMA have shown that some considerable changes of the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the propellants occurred during ageing. These results confirm the results obtained by TG for the reduction of the nitroglycerine amount and the decrease of the heat of combustion.     

Ultrafast x-ray phase-contrast imaging of the initial coalescence phase of two water droplets

We report an ultrafast x-ray phase-contrast imaging study of the early merging dynamics of two water drops in air. Owing to the edge-enhancement capability, the high penetrability, and the unprecedented temporal and spatial resolutions offered by this new x-ray technique, the coalescence singularity of two water drops was revisited. A finite initial contact radius was identified and the evolvement of the trapped toroidal air bubble was studied for the first time. Despite the existence of this finite initial contact radius, the subsequent meniscus radius followed power laws which agree with theoretical predictions for the inviscid regime.     

Screen-printed electrochemical sensors for label-free potentiometric and impedimetric detection of human serum albumin

Herein, two electrochemical methods based on potentiometric and impedimetric transductions were presented for albumin targeting, employing screen-printed platforms (SPEs) to make easy and cost-effective sensors with good detection merits. The SPEs incorporated ion-to-electron multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) transducer. Sensors were constructed using either tridodecyl methyl-ammonium chloride (TDMACl) (sensor I) or aliquate 336S (sensor II) in plasticized polymeric matrices of carboxylated poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC-COOH). Analytical performances of the sensors were evaluated using the above-mentioned electrochemical techniques. For potentiometric assay, constructed sensors responded to albumin with −81.7 ± 1.7 (r² = 0.9986) and −146.2 ± 2.3 mV/decade (r² = 0.9991) slopes over the linearity range 1.5 μM–1.5 mM with 0.8 and 1.0 μM detection limits for respective TDMAC- and aliquate-based sensors. Interference study showed apparent selectivity for both sensors. Impedimetric assays were performed at pH = 7.5 in 10 mM PBS buffer solution with a 0.02 M [Fe(CN)₆]^−3/−4 redox-active electrolyte. Sensors achieved detection limits of 4.3 × 10⁻⁸ and 1.8 × 10⁻⁷ M over the linear ranges of 5.2×10⁻⁸–1.0×10⁻⁴ M and 1.4×10⁻⁶–1.4×10⁻³ M, with 0.09 ± 0.004 and 0.168 ± 0.009 log Ω/decade slopes for sensors based on TDMAC and aliquate, respectively. These sensors are characterized with simple construction, high sensitivity and selectivity, fast response time, single-use, and cost-effectiveness. The methods were successfully applied to albumin assessment in different biological fluids.