Particle filtering for passive fathometer tracking

Seabed interface depths and fathometer amplitudes are tracked for an unknown and changing number of sub-bottom reflectors. This is achieved by incorporating conventional and adaptive fathometer processors into sequential Monte Carlo methods for a moving vertical line array. Sediment layering information and time-varying fathometer response amplitudes are tracked by using a multiple model particle filter with an uncertain number of reflectors. Results are compared to a classical particle filter where the number of reflectors is considered to be known. Reflector tracking is demonstrated for both conventional and adaptive processing applied to the drifting array data from the Boundary 2003 experiment. The layering information is successfully tracked by the multiple model particle filter even for noisy fathometer outputs.     

A microchip sensor for calcium determination

A newly designed glass-PDMS microchip-based sensor for use in the determination of Ca²⁺ ions has been developed, utilizing reflectance measurements from arsenazo III (1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid-2,7-bis[(azo-2)-phenyl arsenic acid]) immobilized on the surface of polymer beads. The beads, produced from cross-linked poly(p-chloromethylstyrene) (PCMS), were covalently modified with polyethylenimine (PEI) to which the Arsenazo III could be adsorbed. The maximum amount of Arsenazo III which could be immobilized onto the PEI-attached PCMS beads was found to be 373.71 mg g⁻¹ polymer at pH 1. Once fabricated, the beads were utilized at the detection point of the microfluidic sensor device with a fiber optic assembly for reflectance measurements. Samples were mobilized past the detection point in the sensor where they interact with the immobilized dye. The sensor could be regenerated and re-used by rinsing with HCl solution. The pH, voltage, linear range, and the effect of interfering ions were evaluated for Ca²⁺ determination using this microchip sensor. At the optimum potential, 0.8 kV, and pH 9.0, the linear range of the microchip sensor was 3.57 × 10⁻⁵ – 5.71 × 10⁻⁴ M Ca²⁺, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.68 × 10⁻⁵ M. The microchip biosensor was then applied for clinical analysis of calcium ions in serum with good results. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Spectroscopic (NMR, UV, FT-IR and FT-Raman) analysis and theoretical investigation of nicotinamide N-oxide with density functional theory

The spectroscopic properties of the nicotinamide N-oxide (abbreviated as NANO, C(6)H(6)N(2)O(2)) were examined by FT-IR, FT-Raman, NMR and UV techniques. FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra in solid state were observed in the region 4000-400 cm(-1) and 3500-50 cm(-1), respectively. The (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra were recorded in DMSO. The UV absorption spectrum of the compound that dissolved in water was recorded in the range of 200-800 nm. The structural and spectroscopic data of the molecule in the ground state were calculated by using Density Functional Theory (DFT) employing B3LYP methods with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The geometry of the molecule was fully optimized, vibrational spectra were calculated and fundamental vibrations were assigned on the basis of the total energy distribution (TED) of the vibrational modes, calculated with scaled quantum mechanics (SQM) method and PQS program. The optimized structure of compound was interpreted and compared with the reported experimental values. The observed vibrational wavenumbers, absorption wavelengths and chemical shifts were compared with calculated values. As a result, the optimized geometry and calculated spectroscopic data show a good agreement with the experimental results.     

In vitro evaluation of radiolabeled (125I) methanol extracts of yarrow in cell lines of MCF-7, PC-3, A-549 and Caco-2

Nowadays, cancer is still the second leading cause of death all over the world. Therefore, natural products which have anticancer and antitumor properties are come into prominence. Achillea family is known with anticancer and antitumor activity. Yarrow which has over a hundred bioactive compounds is a member of Achillea family. In current study; components of yarrow which was obtained after methanol extraction and purification were radiolabeled with ¹²⁵I and effects of these radiolabeled components on the cells were examined with using Caco-2, MCF-7, A-549, PC-3 cell lines. As a result of these studies, seven peaks were obtained and the highest radiolabeling yield was calculated for ¹²⁵I radiolabeled Peak 7 (95.00 ± 7.07, n = 4). To screen the biological properties of these radiolabeled peaks at determined cell lines, our ongoing effort was to evaluate incorporation percentage with time dependent. Furthermore, ¹²⁵I-Peak 7 had highest incorporation ratio for whole cell lines and its incorporation percentage was increased with time dependent. Results of these in vitro studies were compatible with previous in vivo studies and traditional use of yarrow plants.     

Passive droplet trafficking at microfluidic junctions under geometric and flow asymmetries

When droplets enter a junction they sort to the channel with the highest flow rate at that instant. Transport is regulated by a discrete time-delayed feedback that results in a highly periodic behavior where specific patterns can continue to cycle indefinitely. Between these highly ordered regimes are chaotic structures where no pattern is evident. Here we develop a model that describes droplet sorting under various asymmetries: branch geometry (length, cross-section), droplet resistance and pressures. First, a model is developed based on the continuum assumption and then, with the assistance of numerical simulations, a discrete model is derived to predict the length and composition of the sorting pattern. Furthermore we derive all unique sequences that are possible for a given distribution and develop a preliminary estimation of why chaotic regimes form. The model is validated by comparing it to numerical simulations and results from microfluidic experiments in PDMS chips with good agreement.     

Characterization and pillaring of a Turkish bentonite (Resadiye)

The shifts of the SiOSi stretching and the SiOAl and SiOSi bending modes, as well as the free silica peak in the IR spectra and the strengthening of the XRD reflections due to the quartz and alpha-cristobalite components of the Al-pillared bentonites (Wyoming and Resadiye), are ascribed to the formation of new SiOAl groups of covalent character. The mass losses in the temperature range 150-700 degrees C correspond to the dehydration and dehydroxylation processes. The total mass losses of the Al-pillared bentonites (Wyoming and Resadiye) are close to each other at an OH/Al ratio of 2.2, but calcination from 400 to 600 degrees C causes the surface area of the latter composite to decrease by 13%.     

Synthesis, structural and optical properties of novel borylated Cu(II) and Co(II) metal complexes of 4-benzylaminobiphenylglyoxime

4-Benzylaminobiphenylglyoxime ligand and its Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes were prepared. -bridge containing 4-benzylaminobiphenylglyoxime complexes were obtained by replacing of the bridging protons of the dioxime complexes with BF₂ group. These compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic (ICP-OES, infra-red) and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Thermal decomposition of the complexes is studied in nitrogen atmosphere. The final decomposition products are found to be the corresponding metal oxides. The optical constants such as optical conductivity, dielectric constant, refractive index were determined for the complexes. The analysis of the optical absorption data revealed that the band gap E_g was direct transitions. The optical dispersion parameters were determined according to Wemple and Didomenico method.     

Bis­(saccharinato‐κN)zinc(II) com­plexes with N,N′‐bidentate 2‐amino­methyl­pyridine and 2‐amino­ethylpyridine

The structures of trans‐bis[2‐(amino­methyl)­pyridine‐κ²N,N′]­bis­(saccharinato‐κN)­zinc(II), [Zn(C₇H₄NO₃S)₂(C₆H₈N₂)₂], (I), and [2‐(amino­ethyl)­pyridine‐κ²N,N′]bis­(saccharinato‐κN)­zinc(II), [Zn(C₇H₄NO₃S)₂(C₇H₁₀N₂)], (II), exhibit octa‐ and tetrahedrally coordinated Zn^II atoms, respectively. The di­amine ligands behave as N,N′‐bidentate ligands, while saccharinate (sac) is coordinated through the N atom. In (I), the complex lies about an inversion centre with the Zn atom disordered and displaced by 0.256 (2) Å from a centre of symmetry towards a sac N atom. The crystal structure of (I) is stabilized by N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and the crystal packing of (II) is determined by hydrogen bonding as well as weak π–π stacking interactions between the sac ligands.     

Synthesis of a radioiodinated antiestrogen glucuronide compound (TAM-G)

Tamoxifen [TAM; ([Z]-2-[4-(1,2-diphenyl-1-di-butenyl)-phenoxy]-N,N-dimethylethanamine) has been used as an antiestrogen drug for treatment and prevention of human breast cancer. The aim of this study is conjugation of hydrophilic glucuronic acid to the starting substance TAM and labeling with ¹³¹I using iodogen as oxidizing agent. The reactions are completed in three steps, including enzymatic reaction, with the following sub-steps; preparation of microsomal fraction from rat liver and subsequent purification of UDP-glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT), estimation of protein amount in microsomal samples and glucuronidation reaction. Synthesized glucuronide derivative (TAM-G) was purified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Mass spectroscopy of cold standard showed that the labeling most probably occurs in ortho position to the aromatic ring containing the ether group of TAM-G as expected. Radiochemical yield of the ¹³¹I labeled TAM-G ([¹³¹I]TAM-G) is determined by using Thin Layer Radio Chromatography (TLRC). The radiopharmaceutical potential of [¹³¹I]TAM-G is examined by biodistribution studies that is run on normal female Albino Wistar rats. According to biodistribution results ¹³¹I labeled TAM-G may be proposed as a new antiestrogen glucuronide imaging agent for breast and uterus.     

Divergence for s-concave and log concave functions

We prove new entropy inequalities for log concave and s-concave functions that strengthen and generalize recently established reverse log Sobolev and Poincaré inequalities for such functions. This leads naturally to the concept of f-divergence and, in particular, relative entropy for s-concave and log concave functions. We establish their basic properties, among them the affine invariant valuation property. Applications are given in the theory of convex bodies.