n-Butylammonium carboxylates/Tf2O: ionic liquid based systems for the synthesis of unsymmetrical imides via a Ritter-type reaction

We have developed a new method for the preparation of unsymmetrical imides using liquid carboxylate salts via a Ritter-type process. The reactions were carried out with nitriles and n-butylammonium carboxylates as ionic liquids in the presence of triflic anhydride (Tf₂O) as the promoter. Mild reaction conditions, simplicity of the procedure, and proton-free conditions are the main advantages of this procedure.     

Molecular dynamics results for the radial distribution functions of highly asymmetric hard sphere mixtures

Molecular dynamics (MD) results for the radial distribution functions of mixtures of large and small hard spheres are reported for size ratios whose (large/small) values are 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 in the region where the concentration of the large spheres is very small. The MD contact values of these functions are compared with formulae due to Boublik, Mansoori, Carnahan, Starling, Leland, Grundke, and Henderson, Viduna and Smith, Henderson, Trokhymchuk, Woodcock, and Chan, as well as new formulae that are considered here. The new formulae give good agreement for the large–small contact values and reasonably good agreement for the large–large contact values. The Viduna–Smith formula is satisfactory for the small–small contact value and quite reasonable for the small–large contact value. Undoubtedly, further improvements are possible. These results give insight into what may be called the colloidal limit, where the size ratio is exceedingly large while the concentration of the large spheres is exceedingly small, and into the passage to this limit.     

On maximal commutative subrings of non-commutative rings

We observe that every non-commutative unital ring has at least three maximal commutative subrings. In particular, non-commutative rings (resp., finite non-commutative rings) in which there are exactly three (resp., four) maximal commutative subrings are characterized. If R has acc or dcc on its commutative subrings containing the center, whose intersection with the nontrivial summands is trivial, then R is Dedekind-finite. It is observed that every Artinian commutative ring R, is a finite intersection of some Artinian commutative subrings of a non-commutative ring, in each of which, R is a maximal subring. The intersection of maximal ideals of all the maximal commutative subrings in a non-commutative local ring R, is a maximal ideal in the center of R. A ring R with no nontrivial idempotents, is either a division ring or a right ue-ring (i.e., a ring with a unique proper essential right ideal) if and only if every maximal commutative subring of R is either a field or a ue-ring whose socle is the contraction of that of R. It is proved that a maximal commutative subring of a duo ue-ring with finite uniform dimension is a finite direct product of rings, all of which are fields, except possibly one, which is a local ring whose unique maximal ideal is of square zero. Analogues of Jordan-Hölder Theorem (resp., of the existence of the Loewy chain for Artinian modules) is proved for rings with acc and dcc (resp., with dcc) on commutative subrings containing the center. A semiprime ring R has only finitely many maximal commutative subrings if and only if R has a maximal commutative subring of finite index. Infinite prime rings have infinitely many maximal commutative subrings.     

In vitro estimation of fast and slow wave parameters of thin trabecular bone using space-alternating generalized expectation-maximization algorithm

In testing cancellous bone using ultrasound, two types of longitudinal Biot’s waves are observed in the received signal. These are known as fast and slow waves and their appearance depend on the alignment of bone trabeculae in the propagation path and the thickness of the specimen under test (SUT). They can be used as an effective tool for the diagnosis of osteoporosis because wave propagation behavior depends on the bone structure. However, the identification of these waves in the received signal can be difficult to achieve.In this study, ultrasonic wave propagation in a 4 mm thick bovine cancellous bone in the direction parallel to the trabecular alignment is considered. The observed Biot’s fast and slow longitudinal waves are superimposed; which makes it difficult to extract any information from the received signal. These two waves can be separated using the space alternating generalized expectation maximization (SAGE) algorithm. The latter has been used mainly in speech processing.In this new approach, parameters such as, arrival time, center frequency, bandwidth, amplitude, phase and velocity of each wave are estimated. The B-Scan images and its associated A-scans obtained through simulations using Biot’s finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method are validated experimentally using a thin bone sample obtained from the femoral-head of a 30 months old bovine.     

Microperoxidase-11/NH2-FSM16 as a H2O2-resistant heterogeneous nanobiocatalyst: a suicide-inactivation study

The catalytic activity of heme peptides is an area of intense investigation. They are utilized for exploring the fine details of structural and functional properties of an active site, and to create minimized and industrial catalysts. The peroxidase activity and kinetics of suicide-inactivation of microperoxidase-11/FSM16 as a heterogeneous nanobiocatalyst in oxidation reaction of guaiacol were studied in the presence of high concentration of hydrogen peroxide (2?mM), as its natural suicide-substrate. The substrate concentration was first-order in relation to aromatic substrate (AH), and the ratio of suicide-substrate (H₂O₂) was kept much higher than the benign substrate (guaiacol). The results of kinetic analysis confirmed a similar mechanism for suicide-peroxide inactivation of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), microperoxidase (MP-11) and MP-11/NH₂-FSM16. Inactivation kinetic parameters, including intact activity of MP-11/NH₂-FSM16, ??_i, and the apparent inactivation rate constant (k _i) were obtained as 0.229?±?0.009?min^?1 and 0.651?±?0.041?min^?1 at [H₂O₂]?=?2.0?mM, respectively, in 5.0?mM phosphate buffer solution (PBS; pH 7.0) at 27?°C. Our results indicated that covalent immobilization of microperoxidase onto NH₂-FSM16 protected the heme group against peroxide inactivation resulting in generation of an efficient peroxide-resistant heterogeneous nanobiocatalyst.     

Natural Convection Induced by a Heated Vertical Plate Embedded in a Porous Medium with Transpiration: Local Thermal Non-equilibrium Similarity Solutions

This paper is concerned with the thermal non-equilibrium free convection boundary layer, which is induced by a vertical heated plate embedded in a saturated porous medium. The effect of suction or injection on the free convection boundary layer is also studied. The plate is assumed to have a linear temperature distribution, which yields a boundary layer of constant thickness. On assuming Darcy flow, similarity solutions are obtained for governing the steady laminar boundary layer equations. The reduced Nusselt numbers for both the solid and fluid phases are calculated for a wide range of parameters, and compared with asymptotic analyses.     

Forced Convection Heat Transfer of Nanofluids in a Porous Channel

This article is concerned with the effects of flow and migration of nanoparticles on heat transfer in a straight channel occupied with a porous medium. Investigation of force convective heat transfer of nanofluids in a porous channel has not been considered completely in the literature and this challenge is generally considered to be an open research topic that may require more study. The fully developed flow and steady Darcy?CBrinkman?CForchheimer equation is employed in porous channel. The thermal equilibrium model is assumed between nanofluid and solid phases. It is assumed that the nanoparticles are distributed non-uniformly inside the channel. As a result the volume fraction distribution equation is also coupled with governing equations. The effects of parameters such as Lewis number, Schmidt number, Brownian diffusion, and thermophoresis on the heat transfer are completely studied. The results show that the local Nusselt number is decreased when the Lewis number is increased. It is observed that as the Schmidt number is increased, the wall temperature gradient is decreased and as a consequence the local Nusselt number is decreased. The effects of Lewis number, Schmidt number, and modified diffusivity ratio on the volume fraction distribution are also studied and discussed.     

DNA‐Organized Light‐Harvesting Antennae: Energy Transfer in Polyaromatic Stacks Proceeds through Interposed Nucleobase Pairs

DNA‐based light‐harvesting antennae with varying arrangements of light‐absorbing phenanthrene donor units and a pyrene acceptor dye were synthesized and tested for their light‐harvesting properties. Excitation of phenanthrene is followed by rapid transfer of the excitation energy to the pyrene chromophore. A block of six light‐absorbing phenanthrenes was separated from the site of the acceptor in a stepwise manner by an increasing number of intervening AT base pairs. Energy transfer occurs through interposed AT base pairs and is still detected when the phenanthrene antenna is separated by 5 AT base pairs.     

Transition layer thickness in a fluid-porous medium of multi-sized spherical beads

Momentum and mass transfer at fluid–porous interfaces occur in many technical and natural applications. The vertical extend below a fluid–porous interface within which the free fluid velocity reduces to a constant Darcy velocity in the porous medium is known as Brinkman layer. Recently, the Brinkman layer thickness (δ) has been measured for a porous bed of mono-sized spherical beads, and was found to be in the order of the particle diameter (d). In this study, we investigate a porous medium made of multi-sized spherical beads. The measured averaged interfacial velocity field clearly indicated that, in the case of multi-sized beads, δ is in the order of a characteristic diameter given by with x _i and d _i being the weight fraction and diameter of the component i in the mixture.     

Robin Boundary Condition for Casimir Plates in a General Weak Gravitational Field

The energy of the massless scalar field inside parallel Casimir plates in a general weak gravitational field under the influence of Robin boundary conditions is calculated. The mode frequencies are found in asymptotic limits and consistency of results with the literature is shown. Experimental evidence for detection of corrections is explored.