On completely integrable coupled Burgers and coupled Korteweg–de Vries systems

In this work, we study two completely integrable equations, namely, coupled Burgers and Korteweg–de Vries systems. The modified form of Hirota’s bilinear method, established by Hereman, is employed to formally derive multiple-soliton solutions and multiple-singular-soliton solutions for each system. Hirota’s bilinear method is reliable and effective and can also be applied to solve other types of higher-dimensional integrable and non-integrable systems.     

A Versatile Synthesis,PM3‐Semiempirical,Antibacterial, and Antitumor Evaluation of Some Bioactive Pyrazoles

This research work describes the synthesis and biological properties of some novel isolated or fused heterocyclic ring systems with pyrazole, for example; enaminones containing pyrazolone ring photochromic functional unit, 4‐[(4‐chlorophenylamino)methylene]‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5(4H)‐one (3) and some analogous derivatives 4, 9, and 10, also as pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine, pyrazolo[3,4‐b]quinoline, pyrazolo[3′,4′:4,5]thieno[2,3‐c]pyrazoline and pyrazolo[3,4‐c]pyrazole were synthesized and characterized. Newly synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass spectral data and quantum mechanical calculations. Selected products were tested for their antibacterial and antitumor agents.     

High-performance liquid chromatography quantification of principal antioxidants in black seed (Nigella sativa L.) phytopharmaceuticals

A new, simple, sensitive, rapid, and accurate isocratic RP-HPLC method was developed and validated for simultaneous analysis of the principal antioxidants of Nigella sativa, i.e., thymoquinone (TQ), carvacrol (CR), and its isomer thymol (THY), in different phytopharmaceuticals. The mobile phase was water-methanol (40 + 60, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/min. Quantification was achieved with UV detection at 254 nm, based on peak area. The method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, selectivity, and robustness. The proposed method is stability-indicating for determination of TQ in the presence of its degradants. The LOD and LOQ (microg/mL) were, respectively, 0.006 and 0.021 for TQ, 0.002 and 0.006 for CR, and 0.027 and 0.090 for THY. The mean recoveries measured at three concentrations were higher than 99%, with RSD <2%. This analytical method is suitable for quality control of the marker substances in this widely used natural protective and curative remedy.     

Synthesis and Structure Elucidation of Novel Spirooxindole Linked to Ferrocene and Triazole Systems via [3 + 2] Cycloaddition Reaction

In the present work, a novel heterocyclic hybrid of a spirooxindole system was synthesized via the attachment of ferrocene and triazole motifs into an azomethine ylide by [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction protocol. The X-ray structure of the heterocyclic hybrid (1″R,2″S,3R)-2″-(1-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-5-methyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carbonyl)-5-methyl-1″-(ferrocin-2-yl)-1″,2″,5″,6″,7″,7a″-hexahydrospiro[indoline-3,3″-pyrrolizin]-2-one revealed very well the expected structure, by using different analytical tools (FTIR and NMR spectroscopy). It crystallized in the triclinic-crystal system and the P-1-space group. The unit cell parameters are a = 9.1442(2) Å, b = 12.0872(3) Å, c = 14.1223(4) Å, α = 102.1700(10)°, β = 97.4190(10)°, γ = 99.1600(10)°, and V = 1484.81(7) ų. There are two molecules per unit cell and one formula unit per asymmetric unit. Hirshfeld analysis was used to study the molecular packing of the heterocyclic hybrid. H···H (50.8%), H···C (14.2%), Cl···H (8.9%), O···H (7.3%), and N···H (5.1%) are the most dominant intermolecular contacts in the crystal structure. O···H, N···H, H···C, F···H, F···C, and O···O are the only contacts that have the characteristic features of short and significant interactions. AIM study indicated predominant covalent characters for the Fe–C interactions. Also, the electron density (ρ(r)) at the bond critical point correlated inversely with the Fe–C distances.     

Development and Optimization of Ciprofloxacin HCl-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles Using Box–Behnken Experimental Design

Various chitosan (CS)-based nanoparticles (CS-NPs) of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CHCl) have been investigated for therapeutic delivery and to enhance antimicrobial efficacy. However, the Box–Behnken design (BBD)-supported statistical optimization of NPs of CHCl has not been performed in the literature. As a result, the goal of this study was to look into the key interactions and quadratic impacts of formulation variables on the performance of CHCl-CS-NPs in a systematic way. To optimize CHCl-loaded CS-NPs generated by the ionic gelation process, the response surface methodology (RSM) was used. The BBD was used with three factors on three levels and three replicas at the central point. Tripolyphosphate, CS concentrations, and ultrasonication energy were chosen as independent variables after preliminary screening. Particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), encapsulation efficiency (EE), and in vitro release were the dependent factors (responses). Prepared NPs were found in the PS range of 198–304 nm with a ZP of 27–42 mV. EE and drug release were in the range of 23–45% and 36–61%, respectively. All of the responses were optimized at the same time using a desirability function based on Design Expert^® modeling and a desirability factor of 95%. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the improved formula against two bacterial strains, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, was determined. The MIC of the optimized NPs was found to be decreased 4-fold compared with pure CHCl. The predicted and observed values for the optimized formulation were nearly identical. The BBD aided in a better understanding of the intrinsic relationship between formulation variables and responses, as well as the optimization of CHCl-loaded CS-NPs in a time- and labor-efficient manner.     

Cu(II)‐promoted cyclization of hydrazonophthalazine to triazolophthalazine; Synthesis and structure diversity of six novel Cu(II)‐triazolophthalazine complexes

A novel route for the synthesis of Cu(II)‐triazolophthalazine complexes using the Cu(II)‐promoted cyclization dehydrogenation reactions of hydrazonophthalazines under reflux was presented. Two hydrazonophthalazines were cyclized to the corresponding triazolophthalazine ligands, 3‐pyridin‐2‐yl‐3,10b‐dihydro‐[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4‐a]phthalazine ( TPP ) and 3‐(3,10b‐dihydro‐[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4‐a]phthalazin‐3‐yl)‐benzoic acid ( TP3COOH ), followed by in situ complexation with Cu(II) yielding six novel Cu(II)‐triazolophthalazine complexes depending on the reaction conditions. The molecular and supramolecular structures of the Cu(II)‐triazolophthalazine complexes were discussed. The metal sites have rectangular pyramidal geometry in the [Cu(TPP)Cl₂]₂; 1 and [Cu(TP3COOEt)Cl₂(H₂O)]₂; 4 dinuclear complexes, distorted square planar in [Cu(TP3COOMe)₂Cl₂]; 3 , [Cu(TP3COOH)₂Cl₂]; 5 and [Cu(TP3COOH)₂Cl₂]·H₂O; 6 and a distorted octahedral in [Cu(TPP)(H₂O)₂(NO₃)₂]; 2 . Hirshfeld analysis showed that the O…H, C…H, Cl…H (except TP3COOH and 2 ), N…H and π‐π stacking interactions are the most important intermolecular contacts. The π‐π stacking interactions are the maximum for TP3COOH and complex 6 with net C…C/C…N contacts of 19.4% and 15.4%, respectively. The orbital–orbital interaction energies of the Cu‐N/Cu‐Cl bonds correlated inversely with the corresponding Cu‐N/Cu‐Cl distances, respectively. The charge transfer processes between Cu(II) and ligand groups were also discussed. The charge densities of the Cu(II) centers are reduced to 0.663–0.995 e due to the interactions with the ligand groups coordinating it.     

Mono- and penta-nuclear self-assembled silver(I) complexes of pyrazolyl s-triazine ligand; synthesis,structure and antimicrobial studies

The self-assembled [Ag (PTDM)NO₃] ( 1 ), [Ag (PTDM)₂(H₂O)]ClO₄^.H₂O ( 2 ) and [Ag₅(PTDM)₄(H₂O)₆(ClO₄)₄]ClO₄^.2H₂O ( 3 ) complexes were synthesized by the direct mixing of AgX (X = NO₃¯ or ClO₄¯) and 4,4′-[6-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diyl]dimorpholine ( PTDM ) ligand in water–methanol mixture. The coordination numbers of silver range from three to five. Complex 3 is a rare case in which one nitrogen atom from the same s-triazine core of the PTDM ligand has a μ(1,1) bridging mode between Ag1 and Ag2 in the penta-nuclear array with Ag1–N1 and Ag2–N1 distances of 2.666(4) and 2.418(3) Å, respectively. Its 3D topology has a kind of primitive dense packing derived from the α-Po type structure. Hirshfeld analysis showed that the percentages of the O^…H hydrogen bonds were 32.4, 25.4, and 42.0% in complexes 1 – 3 , respectively. While the ligand showed no antimicrobial activity at the applicable concentration, the penta-nuclear complex 3 had higher antibacterial (MIC = 3.7 μmol/L) and antifungal (14.6 μmol/L) potencies toward the tested microbes compared with complexes 1 and 2 . Also, the killing doses of 3 were in the range of 7.3–58.5 μmol/L compared with 18.2–291.1 and 20.1–160.6 μmol/L for 1 and 2 , respectively. It is clear that the higher Ag-content in 3 could be the main reason for its higher antimicrobial activity.     

Erratum to “Simultaneous effects of magnetic field and space porosity on compressible Maxwell fluid transport induced by a surface acoustic wave in a microchannel”

We would like to acknowledge the misprinted terms in our published paper “Simultaneous effects of magnetic field and space porosity on compressible Maxwell fluid transport induced by a surface acoustic wave in a microchannel” [Chin. Phys. B 22 124702 (2013)]. Since only two misprints exist and the main results of the published paper are correct, we present the correct equations in this erratum.     

Effect of γ-radiation on the birefringence of stretched polyethylene films

The spectral dependences of the birefringence and of the retardance of polyethylene films of thickness 67 μm exposed to γ-radiation doses up to 500 kGy are studied in the spectral range 400–700 nm. It is shown that the characteristics of polymeric polarization elements could be controlled by irradiation processes.     

Optimization of the production of hydroelectric power systems with a variable head

We present in this paper a new approach for optimization of the production of hydroelectric power systems with a variable head. The problem is formulated as a minimum norm problem.The method takes into account the water head variation. To avoid underestimation of production for rising water levels and overestimation for falling water level, an average head (of begin and end of time step) is used. The method also takes into account the stochasticity of the river flows. Numerical results for a real system in operation including up to six reservoirs are reported for different water conditions. The proposed method is computationally efficient compared to other approaches.This work was supported by the National Research Council of Canada, Grant No. A-4146. The authors would like to acknowledge the data obtained from British Columbia Hydro.