Enhanced Adjacent Extreme-point Search and Tabu Search for the Minimum Concave-cost Uncapacitated Transshipment Problem

Practicable methods for optimising concave-cost, uncapacitated transshipment networks are non exact. In this paper, one such effective method, that of adjacent extreme point search, is further developed to enhance its overall computational efficiency. The enhanced search algorithm is then imbedded in a tabu search scheme which proved capable of finding better solutions, by a wide margin in some instances. Another tabu search scheme, somewhat inferior in terms of solution quality but computationally more efficient, is also developed to provide an alternative solution vehicle for larger networks. Results of extensive computational testing are included.     

Determination of Mn and Na in geological samples

Neutron activation technique using a low intensity²⁵²Cf source has been applied for Mn and Na analysis in geological samples. The series of samples tested in the present work were collected from the boreholes Nádudvar-9, Hajdúböszörmény-1 and Nagyecsed-1 in Hungary, from different strata.     

New polyamides containing azobenzene unites and hydantoin derivatives in main chain: synthesis and characterization

Eight new polyamides containing azo moieties and hydantoin groups were synthesized under microwave irradiation by using a domestic microwave oven from the polycondensation reactions of 4,4^′-azodibenzoyl chloride [4,4^′-azobenzenedicarboxylic acid] 3 with eight different derivatives of 5,5-disubstituted hydantoin 4a-h in the presence of a small amount of a polar organic medium such as o-cresol. The polycondensation proceeded rapidly, compared with the bulk polycondensation and the solution polycondensation and was completed between 7-12 min, producing a series of new polyamides 5a-h in high yield, and inherent viscosity between 0.35 and 0.60 dL/g. The resulting polyamides were characterized by elemental analysis, viscosity measurements, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG), solubility test and FT-IR spectroscopy. All of the polymers were soluble at room temperature in polar solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, tetrahydrofurane and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.     

A multi-component reaction (MCR) approach to the synthesis of highly diverse polymers with polypeptide-like features

A new strategy for the combinatorial synthesis of new materials has been developed through the consecutive application of an Ugi 4CC reaction and a ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reaction. Norbornenyl aldehydes and carboxylic acids could be used in the Ugi MCR to give highly diverse monomers that were converted to the corresponding polymers by exposure to the second-generation Grubbs' catalyst. These polymers have structural features reminiscent of polypeptides and the process could be extended to the preparation of chiral materials.     

The Antibacterial Activity of Egyptian Wasp Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles against Important Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens

The current work discusses the production and characterization of new biodegradable nanoparticles for biomedical applications based on insect chitosan. Chitosan has numerous features due to the presence of primary amine groups in repeating units, such as antibacterial and anticancer activities. When polyanion tripolyphosphate is added to chitosan, it creates nanoparticles with higher antibacterial activity than the original chitosan. In this study, the ionic gelation technique was used to make wasp chitosan nanoparticles (WCSNPs) in which TEM and FTIR were used to investigate the physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles. In addition, the antibacterial activities of chitosan nanoparticles against extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)- and carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were evaluated. The extracted wasp chitosan exhibited high solubility in acetic acid and met all standard criteria of all characterization testes for nanoparticles; the zeta potential indicated stable WCSNPs capable of binding to cellular membrane and increasing the cellular uptake. The produced WCSNPs showed growth inhibition activity against all tested strains, and the bacterial count was lower than the initial count. The inhibition percent of WCSNPs showed that the lowest concentration of WCSNPs was found to be effective against tested strains. WCSNPs’ antibacterial activity implies that they could be used as novel, highly effective antibacterial agents in a variety of biological applications requiring antibacterial characteristics.     

Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Activated Carbon–Filled Epoxy Nanocomposites

Nano-activated carbons obtained from oil palm empty fiber bunch (AC-EFB), bamboo stem (AC-BS), and coconut shells (AC-CNS) were reinforced in epoxy matrix to fabricate epoxy nanocomposites. The dynamic mechanical analysis of epoxy nanocomposites was carried out, and 5% AC-CNS treated with KOH-filled epoxy composites displayed the highest storage modulus of all the activated carbon–filled epoxy composites. The incorporation of a small amount of AC-BS, AC-EFB, and AC-CNS to the epoxy matrix enhanced the damping characteristics of the epoxy nanocomposites. The 5% AC-EFB treated with H₃PO₄ filled epoxy composites showed the highest glass transition temperature (T_g) in all temperature ranges.     

Statistical and Mathematical Investigations for Determining the Binding Constants of Micelle with Reactants Molecules from Kinetic Data

Binding constants between reactants molecules with micelles are considered to be important parameters particularly in micellar catalysis area. Recently, we developed a statistical method based on multiple linear regression for determining those parameters from kinetic data (Phys. Chem. Liq. 2008, 46, 34–46). In the present work, we derived further two statistical equations from the same original equation using also multiple linear regression method. A substantial difference has been found between the results of those equations and with that of the recently published one. This strongly indicates that the statistical procedures are not valid for such a purpose, that is, the available statistical and graphical methods in the literature are also not suitable for such treatment. A mathematical procedure using iterative method for evaluating the binding constants is introduced. An equation for such treatment has also been derived from the same original equation, and a computer program for this purpose has been written. Application of the developed method to the kinetic data has been found to be quite successful. It has been concluded that the presented mathematical method is simple, reliable, and accurate.     

A search for kinase inhibitors and antibacterial agents: bromopyrrolo-2-aminoimidazoles from a deep-water Great Australian Bight sponge, Axinella sp.

Biological screening of a deep-water Great Australian Bight marine sponge, Axinella sp., detected inhibition against the neurodegenerative disease kinase targets CDK5/p25, CK1δ, and GSK3β, as well as significant levels of antibacterial activity. Chemical fractionation returned 18 secondary metabolites identified by detailed spectroscopic analysis as three new bromopyrrolo-2-aminoimidazoles, 14-O-sulfate massadine (1), 14-O-methyl massadine (2), and 3-O-methyl massadine chloride (3), together with the known metabolites massadine chloride (4), massadine (5), stylissadine B (6), axinellamines A-C (7-9), hymenin (10), stevensine (also known as odiline) (11), tauroacidin A (12), hymenidin (13), taurodispacamide A (14), oroidin (15), debromohymenialdisine (16), hymenialdisine (17), and aldisin (18). Armed with this focused natural product chemical diversity library, we re-established that 16 and 17 were nM kinase inhibitors, and determined that 3, 6, and 12-15 were sub μM antibacterials.