Surface modification of glassy carbon electrode with the functionalized carbon nanotube for ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of risperidone

Risperidone (RIS), one of the typical antipsychotics drugs, originally approved to be used for the mental illness treatment, especially schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism and major depression. In the present study, different carbon nanostructures including functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (F-MWCNTs), carbon nanoparticles, nanodiamond-graphite and reduced graphene oxide were employed for modification of the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for ultrasensitive detection of RIS. The most significant increase in the anodic peak current of RIS was observed on F-MWCNTs-modified electrode (compared to the other modified electrodes and bare GCE). The influence of different experimental parameters such as pH of the buffered solutions, the amount of the modifier and time and potential of the accumulation was optimized by monitoring the LSV responses toward RIS for the selected modified electrode. A wide linear dynamic range of 0.04–7 µM with a low detection limit of 12 nM was obtained. The results exhibit an acceptable performance of the proposed electrode for determination of RIS in the pharmaceutical and clinical preparations.     

In-vitro drug–drug interaction studies of diltiazem with floroquinolones

Diltiazem is an established cardiovascular drug mainly used for the management of hypertension specifically for the angina pectoris. Fluoroquinolones are widely prescribed against the treatment of severe infections. In vitro relations of diltiazem with fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin) were examined using spectrophotometric and separation techniques, i.e., RP-HPLC. Diltiazem’s availabilities were observed to be predisposed highly in the presence of fluoroquinolones. To investigate the mechanism of interaction in a variety of dissolution environments, i.e., simulating body environments with regard to pH on these interactions has been studied. Moreover, complex of diltiazem–fluoroquinolones were prepared and elucidated through IR spectroscopy and confirmed by computational molecular modeling.     

One-pot synthesis of multisubstituted imidazoles catalyzed by Dendrimer-PWA<Superscript>n</Superscript> nanoparticles under solvent-free conditions and ultrasonic irradiation

An efficient, green and eco-friendly protocol has been developed for the synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted and 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles via one-pot condensation reaction using Dendrimer-PWAⁿ as catalyst under solvent-free conditions or ultrasonic irradiation in excellent yields. The reactions under conventional heating conditions were compared with the ultrasonic-assisted reactions. The operational simplicity, practicability and applicability of this protocol to various substrates make it an interesting alternative to previous procedures. The present methodology offers several advantages such as excellent yields, short reaction times, a cleaner reaction, and the absence of any tedious work-up or purification. The catalyst is easily separated from the products by filtration and also exhibits remarkable reusable activity. SEM, BET and DLS of the catalyst were also investigated after each reaction cycle.     

Synthesis,characterization and heterogeneous catalytic application of a nickel(II) Schiff base complex immobilized on MWCNTs for the Hantzsch four-component condensation

A nickel(II) Schiff base complex immobilized on multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) surface as a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst was synthesized and characterized by IR, X-ray diffraction patterns, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma, elemental analysis, and thermal gravimetric analysis. Then a facile and environmentally benign procedure was developed for synthesis of polyhydroquinoline derivatives via Hantzsch one-pot condensation reaction of aromatic aldehydes, 1,3-diones, ethyl acetoacetate, and ammonium acetate in the presence of above synthesized catalyst under solvent-free conditions. This protocol has the advantages of stability, easy availability, recyclability and eco-friendly nature of catalyst, simple experimental and work-up procedure, and also high to excellent yields. Considering the solvent-free condition and also temperature, time, and yield of the model reaction, the nanocatalyst reported here is among the best catalysts reported so far for synthesis of polyhydroquinolines.     

Composition of the basic fraction of marijuana and tobacco condensates: A comparative study by capillary GC/MS

Summary Combined capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry has been used to characterize the basic fraction of Mexican marijuana and standard tobacco smoke condensates. A thermostable Superox-coated glass capillary column permitted elution of relatively large nitrogen-containing compounds. Substantial qualitative and quantitative differences between the two materials were noted.Dedicated to Dr. L. S. Ettre on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

An application of cooperative game among container terminals of one port

In this paper a two-stage game that involves three container terminals located in Karachi Port in Pakistan is discussed. In the first stage, the three terminals have to decide on whether to act as a singleton or to enter into a coalition with one or both of the other terminals. The decision at this stage should presumably be based on the predicted outcome for the second stage. The second stage is here modelled as a Bertrand game with one outside competitor, the coalition and the terminal in Karachi Port (if any) that has not joined the coalition. Furthermore, three partial and one grand coalition among the three terminals at Karachi Port are investigated. The concepts of “characteristic function” and “core” are used to analyse the stability of these coalitions and this revealed that one combination does not satisfy the superadditivity property of the characteristic function and can therefore be ruled out. The resulting payoffs (profits) of these coalitions are analysed on the basis of “core”. The best payoff for all players is in the case of a “grand coalition”. However, the real winner is the outsider (the terminal at the second port) which earns a better payoff without joining the coalition, and hence will play the role of the “orthogonal free-rider”.     

The effect of number of baffles on the improvement efficiency of primary sedimentation tanks

In this study, the effect of different numbers of baffles is investigated using computational simulation. Laboratory measurements using different numbers of constant height baffles in a rectangular primary sedimentation tank are conducted. The velocity fields measured by an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) are used to verify the results of the computational model. The effects of the number of baffles arrangement on the hydraulic performance of primary settling tanks are studied by using two different ways: the parameters of flow pattern and the Flow Through Curves (FTCs) method. The results of both the experimental and computational investigations indicate that increasing the number of baffles in suitable positions provides minimum volume of the recirculation region, dissipates the kinetic energy, creates a uniform flow field in the tank and finally the hydraulic efficiency of the sedimentation tank will be improved.     

Optimal Error Correction and Methods of Feasible Directions

The main objective of this study is to discuss the optimum correction of linear inequality systems and absolute value equations (AVE). In this work, a simple and efficient feasible direction method will be provided for solving two fractional nonconvex minimization problems that result from the optimal correction of a linear system. We will show that, in some special-but frequently encountered-cases, we can solve convex optimization problems instead of not-necessarily-convex fractional problems. And, by using the method of feasible directions, we solve the optimal correction problem. Some examples are provided to illustrate the efficiency and validity of the proposed method.