Synthesis,crystal structure and biological activity of the nickel(II) complex of 2,6-diacetylpyridinedihydrazone

A complex of Ni^II with 2,6-diacetylpyridinedihydrazone (L) towards nickel(II) has been prepared and characterized by means of elemental analyses, IR, electronic spectra and single crystal X-ray analyses. [NiL₂](NO₃) was crystallized in the tetragonal space group P-4 21 c. The complex exhibits the expected coordination sphere with six nitrogen atoms coordinated to the central Ni^II with a deformation from pseudo-octahedral geometry. Antimicrobial activities of the ligand and its complex were investigated.     

Meta-heuristic approaches with memory and evolution for a multi-product production/distribution system design problem

We consider a multi-product two-stage production/distribution system design problem (PDSD) where a fixed number of capacitated distribution centers are to be located with respect to capacitated suppliers (plants) and retail locations (customers) while minimizing the total costs in the system. We present a mixed-integer problem formulation that facilitates the development of efficient heuristic procedures. We provide meta-heuristic procedures, including a population-based scatter search with path relinking and trajectory-based local and tabu search, for the solution of the problem. We also develop efficient construction heuristics and transshipment heuristics that are incorporated into the heuristic procedures for the solution of subproblems. We present extensive computational results that show the high performance of the solution approaches. We obtain smaller than 1.0% average optimality gaps with acceptable runtimes, even for relatively large problems. The computational results also demonstrate the effectiveness of the construction and transshipment heuristics that impact the solution quality and overall runtimes.     

On‐site analysis of Limoges enamels from sixteenth to nineteenth centuries: an attempt to differentiate between genuine artefacts and copies

A selection of 15 painted enamels, most of which belong to Limoges productions, from 1500 to 1900 A.D. , has been studied on‐site in the storage rooms of musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris. The Raman signatures of the transparent and/or opacified glass matrix are discussed and compared with those which were previously recorded on glazed pottery, enamelled and stained glasses as well as Chinese cloisonné enamels. Analysed enamels mostly belong to soda‐lime‐based glass. Three types of compositions such as soda‐lime (fifteenth to sixteenth century), soda‐rich (fifteenth, sixteenth/nineteenth centuries) and lead‐potash‐lime (sixteenth and nineteenth centuries) are identified on the basis of the Raman signature of the glaze according to the wavenumber maxima of the Si O stretching and bending multiplets. The pigment signatures are similar to those recorded on ceramic glazes and glass enamels, which proves the similarity of the technologies. Cassiterite as an opacifier and hematite red and Naples yellow pigment variations give characteristic Raman signatures. The presence of lead arsenate as a pigment opacifier in nineteenth‐century samples is confirmed. Attempts are made to establish tools for the differentiation between genuine artefacts and nineteenth‐century restoration or fakes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fitting ideals and the Gorenstein property

Let p be a prime number and G be a finite commutative group such that p ² does not divide the order of G. In this note we prove that for every finite module M over the group ring Z _p [G], the inequality #M  ￡  #Z_p[G]/Fit_Zp[G](M){\#M\,\leq\,\#{\bf Z}_{p}[G]/{{\rm Fit}}_{{\bf Z}_{p}[G]}(M)} holds. Here, Fit_Zp[G](M){\rm Fit}_{{\bf Z}_{p}[G]}(M) is the Z _p [G]-Fitting ideal of M.     

Low temperature plasma production of hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon thin films

The hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si:H) thin films were produced by capacitively-coupled plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique at low substrate temperatures (T_s ≈ 40–200 °C). Firstly, for particular growth parameters, the lowest stable T_s was determined to avoid temperature fluctuations during the film deposition. The influence of the T_s on the structural and optical properties of the films was investigated by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV–visible transmittance/reflectance and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopies. Also, the films deposited at the center of the PECVD electrode and those around the edge of the PECVD electrode were compared within each deposition cycle. The XRD and UV–visible reflectance analyses reveal the nanocrystalline phase for the films grown at the edge at all T_s and for the center films only at 200 °C. The crystallinity fraction and lateral dark conductivity decrease with lowered T_s. FTIR analyses were used to track the hydrogen content, void fraction and amorphous matrix volume fraction within the films. The optical constants obtained from the UV–visible transmittance spectroscopy were correlated well with the FTIR results. Finally, the optimal T_s was concluded for the application of the produced nc-Si:H in silicon-based thin film devices on plastic substrates.     

Optimization of Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE) for the Isolation of Antioxidants from Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) by Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Abstract

The recovery of antioxidants from basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) was modeled with the aid of response surface methodology (RSM) using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Face-centered central design (FCCD) was employed to optimize the MAE operational parameters including the extraction time (1 to 7?min), extraction temperature (30 to 120?°C), solid-to-solvent ratio (0.1 to 0.4), and solvent concentration (20 to 80% ethanol, v/v), and to obtain the best possible combinations of these parameters for a high antioxidant yield from basil. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was expressed in trolox (TR) equivalents per gram of dried sample (DS). Three of the operational parameters (temperature, extraction time and solvent concentration) were shown to have significant effect on the extraction efficiency of antioxidants in basil extracts (p?<?0.05). The solvent concentration was shown to be the most significant factor on antioxidant yield obtained by MAE. There was a close relationship between experimental and predicted values using the proposed method. This optimized MAE method shows an application potential for the efficient extraction of antioxidants from basil in the food and pharmaceutical industries.     

Thermal and gas (CH4 and C2H4) adsorption characteristics of nitric acid-treated clinoptilolite

In this study, in order to consider the effect of the time of the nitric acid treatment on thermal, structural and gas adsorption properties, clinoptilolite was modified with 1.0 M acid solutions at 80 °C for 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h. Structural and thermal properties of natural and acid-treated clinoptilolites were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis and nitrogen adsorption methods. Methane (CH₄) and ethylene (C₂H₄) are hazardous gases for human and plant health, respectively. Therefore, some measures should be taken to reduce emissions of methane and ethylene. CH₄ and C₂H₄ adsorption capacities of clinoptilolite (CLN) from Turkey and that of acid-treated forms at 273 K up to 100 kPa were found between 0.556–0.683 and 0.470–1.295 mmol g^?1, respectively.