Fabrication of poly(ϵ-caprolactone)/paclitaxel (core)/chitosan/zein/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/doxorubicin (shell) nanofibers against MCF-7 breast cancer

In the present study, paclitaxel (PTX), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and doxorubicin (DOX) have been simultaneously doped into the poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL)/chitosan/zein core-shell nanofibers to increase its cytotoxicity for MCF-7 breast cancers killing. The physico-chemical properties of synthesized nanofibers were determined by scanning electron microscope, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile strength, and degradation rate determinations. The in vitro release studies demonstrated the sustained release of drugs from core-shell nanofibrous scaffold. The cytotoxicity and compatibility of core-shell nanofibers were investigated by their treating with MCF-7 breast cancer cells and L929 normal cells, respectively. PCL/PTX/chitosan/zein/MWCNTs/DOX core-shell nanofibers containing 1 wt% MWCNTs, 100 μg ml⁻¹ DOX and 100 μg ml⁻¹ PTX had a high biocompatibility with a 84% MCF-7 cancer cells killing. The in vivo studies revealed the synergic effects of MWCNTs and anticancer drugs on the tumor inhibition. This method could be considered as a new way for developing of MWCNTs loaded-nanofibers for cancer treatment in future.     

The DLVO Energy Interaction of Nanorough Surfaces by Spherical Coordinates

By a new method of modeling, the DLVO energy interaction between rough nanoparticles and rough surfaces is investigated at various conditions. Rippled sphere model and surface element integration method are used. For calculation of energy interaction, the spherical coordinates are used and by increasing the radius ratio of two particles, the pseudo flat surfaces are generated. With increasing the radius ratio of two particles to 50, the large particle behaves as flat surface in front of small particle. Roughness, size of particles, temperature, zeta potential, capacity, and concentration of ions, which influence the stability of nanocolloidal solutions, are considered by the new method. Spherical coordinates enable to model the rough nanoparticles and rough surfaces so that no simplifying assumptions are needed, which was very difficult and time-consuming in Cartesian coordinate system. New method could predict the effect of different parameters on the stability of nanocolloidal systems precisely, easily, and at short times in comparison to Cartesian coordinate.     

Stabilization of active fault‐tolerant control systems by uncertain nonhomogeneous markovian jump models

This article investigates the stabilization and control problems for a general active fault‐tolerant control system (AFTCS) in a stochastic framework. The novelty of the research lies in utilizing uncertain nonhomogeneous Markovian structures to take account for the imperfect fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) algorithms of the AFTCS. The underlying AFTCS is supposed to be modeled by two random processes of Markov type; one characterizing the system fault process and the other describing the FDD process. It is assumed that the FDD algorithm is imperfect and provides inaccurate Markovian parameters for the FDD process. Specifically, it provides uncertain transition rates (TRs); the TRs that lie in an interval without any particular structures. This framework is more consistent with real‐world applications to accommodate different types of faults. It is more general than the previously developed AFTCSs because of eliminating the need for an accurate estimation of the fault process. To solve the stabilizability and the controller design problems of this AFTCS, the whole system is viewed as an uncertain nonhomogeneous Markovian jump linear system (NHMJLS) with time‐varying and uncertain specifications. Based on the multiple and stochastic Lyapunov function for the NHMJLS, first a sufficient condition is obtained to analyze the system stabilizability and then, the controller gains are synthesized. Unlike the previous fault‐tolerant controllers, the proposed robust controller only needs to access the FDD process, besides it is easily obtainable through the existing optimization techniques. It is successfully tested on a practical inverted pendulum controlled by a fault‐prone DC motor. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 318–329, 2016     

Bending of Euler–Bernoulli nanobeams based on the strain-driven and stress-driven nonlocal integral models: a numerical approach

Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity theory is extensively employed for the analysis of nanostructures because it is able to capture nanoscale effects. Previous studies have revealed that using the differential form of the strain-driven version of this theory leads to paradoxical results in some cases, such as bending analysis of cantilevers, and recourse must be made to the integral version. In this article, a novel numerical approach is developed for the bending analysis of Euler–Bernoulli nanobeams in the context of strain- and stress-driven integral nonlocal models. This numerical approach is proposed for the direct solution to bypass the difficulties related to converting the integral governing equation into a differential equation. First, the governing equation is derived based on both strain-driven and stress-driven nonlocal models by means of the minimum total potential energy. Also, in each case, the governing equation is obtained in both strong and weak forms. To solve numerically the derived equations, matrix differential and integral operators are constructed based upon the finite difference technique and trapezoidal integration rule. It is shown that the proposed numerical approach can be efficiently applied to the strain-driven nonlocal model with the aim of resolving the mentioned paradoxes. Also, it is able to solve the problem based on the strain-driven model without inconsistencies of the application of this model that are reported in the literature.     

Optimization of Microwave-Assisted Extraction for the Determination of Glycyrrhizin in Menthazin Herbal Drug by Experimental Design Methodology

In the present study, a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method has been investigated for the extraction of glycyrrhizin from Menthazin herbal drug. The extracted samples have been analyzed by a developed reversed-phase liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The separation was performed by a Eurospher-100 C₈ reversed-phase column (250 × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 μm) and the mobile phase consisted of methanol:acetonitrile:water:glacial acetic acid (30:30:40:1 v/v/v/v) with a flow rate of 0.8 mL min^?1. The extraction procedure has been screened by a two level full factorial design for determination of statistically significant parameters. Thereafter, the identified parameters, extraction temperature, time and solvent volume were optimized by a Box–Behnken design. The proposed mathematical model was based on analysis of variance results and correctly explained the behavior of the response in the experimental domain. R ² value adjusted for numbers of degrees of freedom was 0.9915 and P-value for lack of fit, 0.8499 at the 95% confidence level, P > 0.05. The optimal condition identified were extraction temperature, 70 °C, time, 13.8 min and solvent volume 2.0 mL. To evaluate the applicability of the proposed MAE method, results were compared with those obtained with the liquid extraction method. Extraction efficiency and precision were higher when MAE has been used. The proposed method allows extracting the glycyrrhizin in a small quantity of solvent and faster than the liquid extraction method.     

Bidirectional Quantum Teleportation of a Class of <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-Qubit States by Using (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> + <Emphasis Type="Bold">2</Emphasis>)-Qubit Entangled States as Quantum Channel

A new protocol of bidirectional quantum teleportation (BQT) is proposed in which the users can transmit a class of n-qubit state to each other simultaneously, by using (2n + 2)-qubit entangled states as quantum channel. The state of the art approaches can only transmit two-qubit states in each round. This scheme is based on control-not operation, single-qubit measurements and appropriate single-qubit unitary operations. It is shown that the protocol is secure in preparation phase.     

Preparation and electrochemical performances of nanoporous/cracked cobalt oxide layer for supercapacitors

Nanoporous/cracked structures of cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) electrodes were successfully fabricated by electroplating of zinc–cobalt onto previously formed TiO₂ nanotubes by anodizing of titanium, leaching of zinc in a concentrated alkaline solution and followed by drying and annealing at 400 °C. The structure and morphology of the obtained Co₃O₄ electrodes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, EDX analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the obtained Co₃O₄ electrodes were composed of the nanoporous/cracked structures with an average pore size of about 100 nm. The electrochemical capacitive behaviors of the nanoporous Co₃O₄ electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge studies and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 1 M NaOH solution. The electrochemical data demonstrated that the electrodes display good capacitive behavior with a specific capacitance of 430 F g^?1 at a current density of 1.0 A g^?1 and specific capacitance retention of ca. 80 % after 10 days of being used in electrochemical experiments, indicating to be promising electroactive materials for supercapacitors. Furthermore, in comparison with electrodes prepared by simple cathodic deposition of cobalt onto TiO₂ nanotubes(without dealloying procedure), the impedance studies showed improved performances likely due to nanoporous/cracked structures of electrodes fabricated by dealloying of zinc, which provide fast ion and electron transfer routes and large reaction surface area with the ensued fast reaction kinetics.     

Deformation behavior in the tubular channel angular pressing (TCAP) as a noble SPD method for cylindrical tubes

Tubular channel angular pressing is a recently developed technique for producing ultrafine grained and nanostructured tubular components. The current study dealt with the influence of the channel angles, friction coefficient and back pressure on the plastic deformation behavior and strain homogeneity in TCAP processing. The FEM results demonstrated that the equivalent plastic strains of 1.65–2.15, 2.15–2.85, and 2.5–3.75 have been achieved after applying one pass TCAP with channel angles of 120°, 90°, and 60°, respectively. Increasing the channel angle leads to lower equivalent plastic strain while obtaining better strain homogeneity. The homogeneity of the strain through the length of the processed tube is very good for all channel angles. Increasing the back pressure leads to slightly higher strain level while the strain homogeneity is decreased. Force results showed that lower loads were required for lower channel angles. It was also observed that for different values of coefficient of friction and channel angles, the load values converged to a constant value at the end of the process. Microstructural observations showed a significant decrease in grain size from the initial value of ～150 μm to about?1?μm.     

Selective conversion of C=N bonds to their corresponding carbonyl compounds by the tribromoisocyanuric acid/wet SiO2 system as a novel reagent

Abstract  

Tribromoisocyanuric acid/wet SiO₂ was used for the conversion of C=N bonds to their corresponding carbonyl compounds in oximes, semicarbazones, azines, and Schiff bases. The interesting feature of this system is that in those oximes, semicarbazones, azines, and Schiff bases which have conjugated or unconjugated C=C bonds, the C=N bond will selectively change to the relevant C=O bond while the conjugated or unconjugated C=C bond will remain intact.     

The Cost Reduction of Distributed Quantum Factorization Circuits

International Journal of Theoretical Physics - The number of qubits involved in a quantum system increases as the quantum computation is being progressed. Restrictions in monolithic quantum...