A new mixed integer programming model for curriculum balancing: Application to a Turkish university

Curriculum design is a highly important activity for the academic institutions. It is discussed in literature as a balancing academic curriculum problem (BACP). The BACP schedules courses to different semesters, while balancing the total workload per period. BACP model involves precedence relations, but the related courses are not necessarily assigned to closest periods.     

Adsorption of Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solutions Onto Raw and Acid-Activated Reşadiye and Hançılı Clays

ABSTRACT

The adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions onto raw and acid-activated clays—namely, Re?adiye region clay (R, raw Re?adiye region clay; R-H₂SO₄, acid-activated with H₂SO₄ Re?adiye region clay; R-HCl, acid-activated with HCl Re?adiye region clay) and Hanç?l? region clay (H, raw Hanç?l? region clay; H-H₂SO₄, acid-activated with H₂SO₄ Hanç?l? region clay; H-HCl, acid-activated with HCl Hanç?l? region clay)—was studied in a batch system. For optimization of the Cr(VI) adsorption on raw clays and acid-activated clays, the effect of pH, temperature, initial Cr(VI) concentration, time, and adsorbent dosage were investigated. X-ray diffraction analyses of raw and acid-activated clays were used to determine the effects of acid-activating on the layer structure of the clays. The surface characterizations of clays and modified clays were performed by using FT-IR spectroscopy. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models were employed to describe the equilibrium isotherms, and thus the isotherm constants were determined. The data obtained from our investigations were well described by the Langmuir model. The adsorption capacity of the adsorbents Re?adiye and Hanç?l? clays were found to be 0.0269, 0.0144, and 0.0170 mmol/g for H, H-HCl, and H-H₂SO₄ and 0.0356, 0.0276, and 0.0422 mmol/g for R, R-HCl, and R-H₂SO₄, respectively. The results show that the adsorption was strongly dependent on pH of the medium, initial Cr(VI) concentration and temperature. The removal of Cr(VI) reached saturation in about 120 min, and the adsorption process of Cr(VI) was observed as exothermic. A maximum removal of 73% was noted at 1.0 × 10^?4 M concentration of Cr(VI) in solution for H-HCl. Furthermore the enhancement of removal of Cr(VI) was observed from pH 3 to 4. The results are discussed to highlight the influence of acid activation on Cr(VI) adsorption characteristics of the clays.     

GC–MS analysis of phytoconstituents present in Trigonella foenumgraecum L. seeds extract and its antioxidant activity

Trigonella foenumgraecum L. (TF) is a medicinal herb, belonging to the family Legumes. It has shown positive results in remedying hypo-cholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-lipidemia, antilithigenic, hepatoprotective, antiulcer, anticarcinogenic, antifungal and other miscellaneous pharmacological effects of fenugreek. The n-hexane extract of Trigonella foenumgraecum L. Seeds (TF) was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy for identification and characterization of its therapeutic claim by traditional system. DPPH method was used to determine the antioxidant activity of Trigonella foenumgraecum L-seeds extract using UV spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 518 nm as it is one of the most sorted methods for antioxidant activity. The major compounds discovered in Trigonella foenumgraecum L. seeds extract are Linoleic acid (48.01%); 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester (24.65%); 2-[4-Methyl-6-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-enyl)hexa-1,3,5-trienyl]cyclohex-1-en-carboxaldehyde(1.88%); Nonane dioic acid, bis (2-ethylhexyl) ester (1.09%); Bis (2-ethylhexyl) ester of azelaic acid (11.97%); Elemicin (0.51%); cis-Linoleic acid methyl ester (0.76%); Linoleic acid chloride(0.57%); Ethyl oleate(0.18%); Isopropyl linoleate (0.38%); Dihydrovallesiachotamine (0.06%); 4-(2,2-Dimethyl-6-methylenecyclohexyl) butanal(0.12%); Citronellyl myristate (0.09%); Rhaphidecursinol B(0.25%); 5-Methoxygalbelgin (0.07%); Vitamin E (0.31%); 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-4-{[3-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl]imino}-2-pentanone (0.76%); γ-Sitosterol (0.66%); 1-(1,5-Dimethylhexyl)-3a,12a-dimethyltetradecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]cyclopropa[e]phenanthren-7-ol (0.16%) and (9Z)-9-Octadecenyl (9Z)-9-hexadecenoate (1.57%). The results showed potential antioxidant activity of n-hexane extract of Trigonella foenumgraecum L. seeds by showing significant reduction in free radical against DPPH. The hexane extract of Trigonella foenumgraecum L. seeds comprises various non-water-soluble (nonpolar) constituents. These compounds were established qualitatively via GC-MS evaluation. The free radical scavenging activity of the plant extract was established owning to the presence of compounds such as terpenes, vitamin E, and unsaturated fatty acids.     

Speciation of lead in soils and relation with its concentration in fruits

The lead concentrations of the fruit samples were determined by using slotted tube atom trap (STAT)-enrichment-flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS and GF-AAS). The soil samples related to these fruits were also analysed for Pb after extraction with various chemical reagents. The relation between the fruit-lead and soil-extractable lead concentrations was examined in order to explain the bioavailability of lead. A linear relation was observed between the hot Na₂EDTA extraction-soluble Pb contents in the soil and the Pb concentrations in the mulberry (R²=0.95), strawberry and apple grown on these soils. Probable chemical forms of lead in soil were evaluated. Acceptable agreement (at least 91%) was achieved between the results of STAT-enrichment-FAAS and GF-AAS.     

HAMILTON OPERATORS AND HOMOTHETIC MOTIONS IN R^3

Quaternion is a division ring. It is shown that planes passing through the origin can be made a field with the quaternion product in R3. The Hamiltonian operators help us define the homothetic motions on these planes. New characterizations for these motions are investigated.     

Solution of free vibration equations of semi-rigid connected Reddy–Bickford beams resting on elastic soil using the differential transform method

The literature regarding the free vibration analysis of Bernoulli–Euler and Timoshenko beams under various supporting conditions is plenty, but the free vibration analysis of Reddy–Bickford beams with variable cross-section on elastic soil with/without axial force effect using the Differential Transform Method (DTM) has not been investigated by any of the studies in open literature so far. In this study, the free vibration analysis of axially loaded and semi-rigid connected Reddy–Bickford beam with variable cross-section on elastic soil is carried out by using DTM. The model has six degrees of freedom at the two ends, one transverse displacement and two rotations, and the end forces are a shear force and two end moments in this study. The governing differential equations of motion of the rectangular beam in free vibration are derived using Hamilton’s principle and considering rotatory inertia. Parameters for the relative stiffness, stiffness ratio and nondimensionalized multiplication factor for the axial compressive force are incorporated into the equations of motion in order to investigate their effects on the natural frequencies. At first, the terms are found directly from the analytical solutions of the differential equations that describe the deformations of the cross-section according to the high-order theory. After the analytical solution, an efficient and easy mathematical technique called DTM is used to solve the governing differential equations of the motion. The calculated natural frequencies of semi-rigid connected Reddy–Bickford beam with variable cross-section on elastic soil using DTM are tabulated in several tables and figures and are compared with the results of the analytical solution where a very good agreement is observed.     

Photosensitized Cationic Polymerization of Cyclohexene Oxide Using a Phenacylanilinium Salt

The photoinitiated cationic polymerization of cyclohexene oxide with N‐phenacyl‐N,N‐dimethylanilinium hexafluoroantimonate (PDA⁺SbF₆^–) and a polynuclear aromatic compound, such as perylene, anthracene or phenothiazine, or an aromatic carbonyl compound, such as benzophenone or thioxanthone, was studied at λ_inc > 340 nm. All the aromatic sensitizers except benzophenone and thioxanthone are effective in initiating the polymerization at wavelengths where PDA⁺SbF₆^– is transparent. An initiation mechanism is proposed that involves electron transfer from the excited sensitizer to PDA⁺SbF₆^–.     

Photoinitiating systems and their use in polymer synthesis

This paper on recent developments in the use of photoinitiating systems in polymer synthesis concentrates on: (i) the possiblity of controlled//living polymerization by photopolymerization, (ii) major photoinitiating systems for both cationic and radical polymerization and (iii) preparation of block copolymers and functional polymers by photoinduced processes. Much progress has been made in the past ten years in preparation of block copolymers by photoinduced reactions of either chromophoric groups incorporated into polymers or low‐molecular‐weight compounds with suitable functional groups present in polymer chains.     

Combining Step-Growth and Chain-Growth Polymerizations in One Pot: Light-Induced Fabrication of Conductive Nanoporous PEDOT-PCL Scaffold

A novel method based on light-induced fabrication of a poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-polycaprolactone (PEDOT-PCL) scaffold using phenacyl bromide (PAB) as a single-component photoinitiator is presented. HBr released from the step-growth polymerization of EDOT is utilized as an in situ catalyst for the chain-growth polymerization of ε-caprolactone. Detailed investigations disclose the formation of a self-assembled nanoporous electroconductive scaffold (1.2 mS cm⁻¹). Fluorescence emission spectra of the fabricated scaffold exhibit a mixed solvatochromic behavior, indicating specific interactions between the self-assembled scaffold and solvents with varying polarities, as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, the same light-induced technique can also be applied for bulk photopolymerization showcasing the versatility and wide-ranging scope of the originated method. In brief, this study introduces a novel approach for light-induced polymerization reactions that is merging step-growth and chain-growth mechanisms. This innovative approach is promising to facilitate in situ polymerization of monomers possessing diverse functionalities.