A Magneto-Mechanically Coupled Phase-Field Model at Large Deformation

The aggregate magneto-mechanical behavior of magneto-rheological elastomers (MREs) stems from the magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic inclusion and the mechanical properties of the matrix material. We propose a large deformation micro-magnetic theory, to predict the behavior and interaction of ferromagnetic particles inside an elastomeric matrix. A rate-type variational principle, with the magnetization as the order parameter is proposed. A large deformation Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation for the time evolution of the magnetization, is obtained directly from the proposed variational principle. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Production of ROS by photosensitized anthracene under sunlight and UV-R at ambient environmental intensities

The aim of this study was to analyze the photostability and phototoxicity mechanism of anthracene (ANT) in a human skin epidermal cell line (HaCaT) at ambient environmental intensities of sunlight/UV‐R (UV‐A and UV‐B). Photomodification of ANT under sunlight/UV‐R exposure produced two photoproducts, anthrone and 9,10 anthracenedione. Generation of ¹O₂, O₂^?? and ^?OH was measured under UV‐R/sunlight exposure. Involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was further substantiated by their quenching with free radical quenchers. Photodegradation of 2‐deoxyguanosine and linoleic acid peroxidation showed that ROS were mainly responsible for ANT phototoxicity. ANT generates significant amount of intracellular ROS in cell line. Maximum cell viability (85%) was reduced under sunlight exposure (30 min). Results of MTT assay accord NRU assay. ANT (0.01 μg mL^?1) induced cell‐cycle arrest at G1 phase. RT‐PCR demonstrated constitutive inducible mRNA expression of CYP 1A1 and 1B1 genes. Photosensitive ANT upregulates CYP 1A1 (2.2‐folds) and 1B1 (4.1‐folds) genes. Thus, the study suggests that ROS and DNA damage were mainly responsible for ANT phototoxicity. ANT exposure may be deleterious to human health at ambient environmental intensities reaching the earth’s surface through sunlight.     

Fuzzy goal programming for inventory management: A bacterial foraging approach

An efficient inventory planning approach in today’s global trading regime is necessary not only for increasing the profit margin, but also to maintain system flexibility for achieving higher customer satisfaction. Such an approach should hence be comprised of a prudent inventory policy and clear satisfaction of stakeholder’s goals. Relative significance given to various objectives in a supply chain network varies with product as well as time. In this paper, a model is proposed to fill this void for a single product inventory control of a supply chain consisting of three echelons. A generic modification proposed to the membership functions of the fuzzy goal-programming approach is used to mathematically map the aspiration levels of the decision maker. The bacterial foraging algorithm has been modified with enhancement of the algorithms’ capability to map integer solution spaces and utilised to solve resulting fuzzy multi-objective function. An illustrative example comprehensively covers various decision scenarios and highlights the underlying managerial insights.     

Synthesis and α‐glucosidase inhibitory,DPPH scavenging activity of substituted 2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐7‐yl‐dihydrogen phosphate derivatives

Series of phosphorylated coumarin derivatives ( 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f , 4g , 4h , 4i , 4j ) were synthesized by Pechmann condensation, phosphorylation, and debenzylation reactions in very good yields. Thus, synthesized compounds ( 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f , 4g , 4h , 4i , 4j ) were evaluated for their α‐glucosidase and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl scavenging activities; few compounds showed moderate to good activity. J. Heterocyclic Chem., 00 , 00 (2011).     

Fluorescent zinc(II) complex exhibiting "on-off-on" switching toward Cu2+ and Ag+ ions

Binuclear zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes based on a new Schiff base ligand N,N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzilidene)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3-diamine (H(2)L) have been synthesized. The ligand H(2)L and complexes under investigation have been characterized by elemental analyses, spectral (FT-IR, (1)H, (13)C NMR, ESI-MS, electronic absorption, emission), and electrochemical studies. The structures of H(2)L and complexes [{Zn(C(23)H(18)N(2)O(2))}(2)] (1) and [{Cu(C(23)H(18)N(2)O(2))}(2)]·H(2)O (2) have been determined crystallographically. Selective "On-Off-On" switching behavior of the fluorescent complex 1 has been studied. The fluorescence intensity of 1 quenches (turns-off) upon addition of Cu(2+), while enhances (turns-on) in the presence of Ag(+) ions. The mechanisms of "On-Off-On" signaling have been supported by (1)H NMR, ESI-MS, electronic absorption, and emission spectral studies. Job's plot analysis supported 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometries for Cu(2+) and Ag(+) ions, respectively. Association and quenching constants have been estimated by the Benesi-Hildebrand method and Stern-Volmer plot. Moreover, 1 mimics a molecular keypad lock that follows correct chemical input order to give maximum output signal.     

Synthesis of BF2 complexes of prodigiosin type oligopyrroles

We developed a simple, facile route for the synthesis of BF(2) complexes of prodigiosin type oligopyrroles and their cholesterol conjugates. This route gives an access to synthesize any desired meso-aryl-substituted 3-pyrrolyl BODIPYs which were not easily accessible earlier.     

Synthesis and DNA binding studies of Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) metal complexes of N1,N5-bis[pyridine-2-methylene]-thiocarbohydrazone Schiff-base ligand

The thiocarbohydrazone Schiff-base ligand with a nitrogen and sulphur donor was synthesized through condensation of pyridine-2-carbaldehyde and thiocarbohydrazide. Schiff-base ligands have the ability to conjugate with metal salts. A series of metal complexes with a general formula [MCl2(H2L)]·nH2O (MNi, Co, Cu and Zn) were synthesized by forming complexes of the N1,N5-bis[pyridine-2-methylene]-thiocarbohydrazone (H2L) Schiff-base ligand. These metal complexes and ligand were characterized by using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy, physicochemical characterization, CHNS and conductivity. The biological activity of the synthesized ligand was investigated by using Escherichia coli DNA as target. The DNA interaction of the synthesized ligand and complexes on E. coli plasmid DNA was investigated in the aqueous medium by UV-Vis spectroscopy and the binding constant (Kb) was calculated. The DNA binding studies showed that the metal complexes had an improved interaction due to trans-geometrical isomers of the complexes than ligand isomers in cis-positions.     

Identification of Interaction Pressure Between Structure and Explosive with Inverse Approach

An inverse approach for the identification of the time-dependent localized interaction pressure between a structure and an explosive has been proposed and developed. In this approach, surface measurements of structural response (displacement and velocity) are integrated with numerical simulations to identify the spatial and time-dependent interaction pressure (i.e. the normal traction) on a structure surface. For verification and validation purposes, numerical simulations are used to (a) generate the time-dependent displacement and velocity fields on the free surface of the specimen at specified time intervals, (b) form a blast wave and compute the resulting interaction traction field between the structure and blast wave on the interaction interface for comparison to inverse predictions. In particular, validation of the proposed approach was performed using numerical simulation results for an underwater explosion, with excellent agreement between the identified interaction traction and the simulation generated interaction traction up to and including the maximum traction condition. To demonstrate the potential of the method, the proposed inverse procedure was employed to estimate the interaction traction field on a thin aluminum specimen subjected to transient pressure loading through detonation of explosive buried in sand.