State estimation of memristor‐based recurrent neural networks with time‐varying delays based on passivity theory

This article deals with the state estimation problem of memristor‐based recurrent neural networks (MRNNs) with time‐varying delay based on passivity theory. The main purpose is to estimate the neuron states, through available output measurements such that for all admissible time delay, the dynamics of the estimation error is passive from the control input to the output error. Based on the Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional (LKF) involving proper triple integral terms, convex combination technique, and reciprocal convex technique, a delay‐dependent state estimation of MRNNs with time‐varying delay is established in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). The information about the neuron activation functions and lower bound of the time‐varying delays is fully used in the LKF. Then, the desired estimator gain matrix is accomplished by solving LMIs. Finally, a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed theoretical results. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 19: 32–43, 2014     

Application of extended Prelle–Singer procedure to the generalized modified Emden type equation

In this paper we investigate the integrability and linearization of a generalized modified Emden type equation. We derive integrating factors and integrals of motion for this equation through the extended Prelle–Singer (PS) procedure and obtain the general solution. We deduce linearizing transformations by using a new procedure. We also report general solutions for two special cases, which cannot be obtained from the general case.     

Crystallographic report: Dibenzyl(dichloro)(1,10‐phenanthroline)tin (IV) chloroform solvate

The monomeric title compound features a distorted octahedral tin (IV) centre within a C₂Cl₂N₂ donor set with two cis Cl atoms and two trans benzyl groups. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and validation of a reversed-phase HPLC method for determination of nitrendipine in rat plasma: application to pharmacokinetic studies

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of nitrendipine in rat plasma was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The procedure involves extraction of nitrendipine in dichloromethane/sodium hydroxide, followed by reversed phase HPLC using a Waters, Spherisorb ODS2 (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) column and UV detection at 238 nm. The retention times of nitrendipine and internal standard (felodipine) were 5.0 min and 7.5 min, respectively. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 5 ng/mL (lower limit of quantification, LOQ) to 200 ng/mL for nitrendipine. The intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation for all criteria of validation were less than 15% over the linearity range. The sensitivity and precision of the method were within the accepted limits (< 15%) throughout the validation period. The present method was also successfully applied for the study of plasma pharmacokinetics of nitrendipine loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) in rats.     

Rapid, one-pot derivatization and distillation of chlorophenols from solid samples with their on-line enrichment

A microwave-assisted steam distillation (MASD) sample preparation technique for extracting chlorophenols from solid samples was studied. This open vessel microwave system based study developed as an integrated method since it has incorporated extractive distillation, derivatization and on-line enrichment. Gas chromatography (GC) with electron-capture detection was used for the analysis. The study involved optimization of MASD parameters and on-line enrichments using spiked solid samples. MASD achieved recoveries for spiked soil samples in the range of 94-101% within 20min with a collection of only 20ml distillate facilitating on-line enrichment. Some real samples were analyzed that included soil, wood, leather, textiles, dyes and certified reference materials of soil and wood samples. Limit of detection values of 12ng/g for pentachlorophenol and 194ng/g for monochlorophenol were found. Recoveries of 96.6% in the case of soil certified reference material (CRM) with RSD 2.7% and 80.6% in the case of wood CRM with RSD 3.3% were observed in this study. MASD studied found to produce very clean extracts in comparison to reference techniques.     

β-Sitosterol Circumvents Obesity Induced Inflammation and Insulin Resistance by down-Regulating IKKβ/NF-κB and JNK Signaling Pathway in Adipocytes of Type 2 Diabetic Rats

β-sitosterol (SIT), the most abundant bioactive component of vegetable oil and other plants, is a highly potent antidiabetic drug. Our previous studies show that SIT controls hyperglycemia and insulin resistance by activating insulin receptor and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT-4) in the adipocytes of obesity induced type 2 diabetic rats. The current research was undertaken to investigate if SIT could also exert its antidiabetic effects by circumventing adipocyte induced inflammation, a key driving factor for insulin resistance in obese individuals. Effective dose of SIT (20 mg/kg b.wt) was administered orally for 30 days to high fat diet and sucrose induced type-2 diabetic rats. Metformin, the conventionally used antidiabetic drug was used as a positive control. Interestingly, SIT treatment restores the elevated serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines including leptin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) to normalcy and increases anti-inflammatory adipocytokines including adiponectin in type 2 diabetic rats. Furthermore, SIT decreases sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and enhances Peroxisome Proliferator–activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) gene expression in adipocytes of diabetic rats. The gene and protein expression of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase-1 (JNK1), inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit beta (IKKβ) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were also significantly attenuated in SIT treated groups. More importantly, SIT acts very effectively as metformin to circumvent inflammation and insulin resistance in diabetic rats. Our results clearly show that SIT inhibits obesity induced insulin resistance by ameliorating the inflammatory events in the adipose tissue through the downregulation of IKKβ/NF-κB and c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway.     

Template-directed supramolecular self-assembly of coordination dumbbells at surfaces

Scanning tunneling microscopy reveals, at single-molecular resolution, how external parameters--substrate morphology and guest addition--re-direct the assembly of dumbbell-shaped coordination supramolecules towards different surface-confined supramolecular organizations.     

Experimental studies on heat transfer and friction factor characteristics of CuO/water nanofluid under laminar flow in a helically dimpled tube

An experimental investigation on the convective heat transfer and friction factor characteristics in the plain and dimpled tube under laminar flow with constant heat flux is carried out with distilled water and CuO/water nanofluids. For this, CuO nanoparticles with an average size of 15.3 nm were synthesized by sol–gel method. The nanoparticles are then dispersed in distilled water to form stable suspension of CuO/water nanofluid containing 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% volume concentration of nanoparticles. It is found that the experimental Nusselt numbers for 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% volume concentration of CuO nanoparticles are about 6, 9.9 and 12.6%, respectively higher than those obtained with distilled water in plain tube. However, the experimental Nusselt numbers for 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3% volume concentration of CuO nanoparticles are about 3.4, 6.8 and 12%, respectively higher than those obtained with distilled water in dimpled tube. The friction factor of CuO/water nanofluid is also increased due to the inclusion of nanoparticles and found to increase with nanoparticle volume concentration. The experimental results show that there exists a difference in the enhancement levels of Nusselt numbers obtained with nanofluids in plain tube and dimpled tube. Hence it is proposed that the mechanism of heat transfer enhancement obtained with nanofluids is due to particle migration from the core of fluid flow to tube wall.     

Mass synchronization: occurrence and its control with possible applications to brain dynamics

Occurrence of strong or mass synchronization of a large number of neuronal populations in the brain characterizes its pathological states. In order to establish an understanding of the mechanism underlying such pathological synchronization, we present a model of coupled populations of phase oscillators representing the interacting neuronal populations. Through numerical analysis, we discuss the occurrence of mass synchronization in the model, where a source population which gets strongly synchronized drives the target populations onto mass synchronization. We hypothesize and identify a possible cause for the occurrence of such a synchronization, which is so far unknown: Pathological synchronization is caused not just because of the increase in the strength of coupling between the populations but also because of the strength of the strong synchronization of the drive population. We propose a demand controlled method to control this pathological synchronization by providing a delayed feedback where the strength and frequency of the synchronization determine the strength and the time delay of the feedback. We provide an analytical explanation for the occurrence of pathological synchronization and its control in the thermodynamic limit.     

Preparation and Characterization of Mn Doped ZnO Nanorods

Physics of the Solid State - Mn doped ZnO nanorods were prepared by chemical precipitation method. The micro-structural and structural properties of the nanorods were calculated from the X-ray...