The star function for meromorphic functions of several complex variables

We define an analogue of the Baernstein star function for a meromorphic function f in several complex variables. This function is subharmonic on the upper half-plane and encodes some of the main functionals attached to f. We then characterize meromorphic functions admitting a harmonic star function.     

Generalized Alexandroff Duplicates and CD 0(K) spaces

We define and investigateCD _Σ,Γ(K, E)-type spaces, which generalizeCD ₀-type Banach lattices introduced in [1]. We state that the space CD _Σ,Γ(K, E) can be represented as the space of E-valued continuous functions on the generalized Alexandroff Duplicate of K. As a corollary we obtain the main result of [6, 8].     

Non-Stationary Ordering Policies for Multi-Item Inventory Systems Subject to a Single Resource Constraint

This paper studies the multi-item inventory problem with a single constraint. Two well-known approaches to this problem are the Lagrangian method and the fixed-cycle approach. Both of these methods generate stationary ordering policies. A competing approach is presented here that generates non-stationary ordering policies, with order quantities that vary over time. These non-stationary policies are, in all cases, preferred to those generated by the Lagrangian approach, and in some cases preferred to those generated by the fixed-cycle approach. Computational results comparing the three methods are also given.     

Bimetallic complexes of Schiff base bis-[4-hydroxycuomarin-3-yl]-1N,5N-thiocarbohydrazone as a potentially dibasic pentadentate ligand. Synthesis, spectral, and antimicrobial properties

The Schiff base bis-[4-hydroxycuomarin-3-yl]-¹N,⁵N-thiocarbohydrazone, H²L, was prepared by the reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarine-3-carbaldehyde with thiocabohydrazide in 2:1 molar ratio. The ligand and its binuclear complexes with Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Fe(III) and Cr(III) ions were characterized via elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, mass spectrometry, infrared, and electronic spectra, as well as room temperature magnetic susceptibilities. Furthermore, the thermal stabilities of two representative complexes were also investigated. The Schiff base and its metal complexes were screened for their antifungal and antibacterial activities against different species of pathogenic fungi and bacteria and their biopotency have been discussed.     

Interfacial Behavior of Cysteine between Mild Steel and Sulfuric Acid as Corrosion Inhibitor

Interfacial behavior of cysteine (Cys) between mild steel and sulfuric acid solution as a corrosion inhibitor has been studied with electrochemical AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current) techniques at (25.0±0.1) °C. The AC impedance results were evaluated using equivalent circuits in which a constant phase element (CPE) has been replaced with double layer capacitance (C_dl) to represent the frequency distribution of experimental data. Changes in impedance parameters (charge transfer resistance and double layer capacitance) indicated that cysteine molecules acted by accumulating at the metal/solution interface. The fractional coverage of the metal surface () was determined using AC impedance results and it was found that the adsorption of cysteine on the mild steel surface followed a Langmuir isotherm model with a standard free energy of adsorption (ΔG⁰_ads) of −35.1 kJ·mol⁻¹.To clarify the type of interaction between mild steel surface and cysteine molecules with a molecular orbital approach, electronic properties, such as, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy, and the frontier molecular orbital coefficients have been calculated. Energy gaps for the interaction of mild steel surface and cysteine molecules (E_{LUMO Fe}−E_{HOMO Cys} and E_{LUMO Cys}−E_{HOMO Fe}) were used to determine whether cysteine molecules acted as electron donors or electron acceptors when they interacted with the mild steel surface. The local reactivity was evaluated through the condensed Fukui indices. Theoretical calculations were carried out using the density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP level with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set for all atoms by Gaussian 03W program.     

Cell‐Derived Vesicles for Single‐Molecule Imaging of Membrane Proteins

A new approach is presented for the application of single‐molecule imaging to membrane receptors through the use of vesicles derived from cells expressing fluorescently labeled receptors. During the isolation of vesicles, receptors remain embedded in the membrane of the resultant vesicles, thus allowing these vesicles to serve as nanocontainers for single‐molecule measurements. Cell‐derived vesicles maintain the structural integrity of transmembrane receptors by keeping them in their physiological membrane. It was demonstrated that receptors isolated in these vesicles can be studied with solution‐based fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and can be isolated on a solid substrate for single‐molecule studies. This technique was applied to determine the stoichiometry of α3β4 nicotinic receptors. The method provides the capability to extend single‐molecule studies to previously inaccessible classes of receptors.     

A novel amperometric glucose biosensor based on poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-(3-thienylmethylmethacrylate))

Two novel glucose oxidase (GOx) enzyme electrodes based on the copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate with 3-thienylmethyl methacrylate (poly(GMA-co-MTM)) with and without polypyrrole (PPyr) coating were prepared and employed in the amperometric determination of glucose levels. The effect of PPyr coating on the electrode properties was investigated in detail. Cyclic voltammetry studies showed that electrical conductivity of electrode B with PPyr coating (poly(GMA-co-MTM)/GOx/PPyr) was substantially higher than that of electrode A (poly(GMA-co-MTM)/GOx). On the other hand, electrode A showed better results in terms of sensitivity (10 nA/mM), limit of detection (50.2 μM), and response time (5 s). Electrodes A and B gave linear responses to the glucose concentrations in the range of 2–20 and 2–14 mM, respectively. The ranges of linearity for both enzyme electrodes are sufficient for the determination of physiological glucose concentrations in human blood. Moreover, PPyr coating of electrode B did not result in further stabilization of the enzyme electrode.     

Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9 synthesis for solid oxide fuel cell electrolyte by ultrasound assisted co-precipitation method

In this study, the synthesis of Ce_0.8Sm_0.2O_1.9 (SDC) solid electrolyte by the ultrasound assisted co-precipitation method was accomplished to explore the effects of ultrasound power, ultrasound pulse ratio and probe type upon the ionic conductivity of SDC as well as the lattice parameter, the microstructure and the density. Fine powders of uniform crystallite sizes (average 11.70 ± 0.62 nm) were obtained, needing lower sintering temperature. The SDC powders were successfully sintered to a relative density of over 95% at 1200 °C (5 °C min^?1) for 6 h. The micrograph of SDC pellets showed non-agglomerated and well-developed grains with average size of about 200 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the lattice parameter increased with increasing acoustic intensity and reached a maximum for the 14.94 W cm^?2. Further, a linear relationship was detected between the lattice parameter and the ionic conductivity, inspiring a dopant like effect of US on the electrolyte properties. The highest ionic conductivity as σ_800°C = 3.07 × 10^?2 S cm^?1 with an activation energy E_a = 0.871 kJ mol^?1 was obtained with pulsed ultrasound for an acoustic intensity of 14.94 W cm^?2, using 19 mm probe and 8:2 pulse ratio.     

Selenium concentrations of selected medicinal and aromatic plants in Turkey

Recent scientific studies have proven the importance of trace elements on human health. The main food supplies are plants and animals, which are significant sources of these minerals. Studies on determining mineral compositions of herbs, spices and some other crops have increased all over the world. Published works revealed that spices, herbs and medicinal plants should be consumed to obtain beneficial trace elements. Selenium (Se), one of the most vital trace elements, has a significant role in human diet acting as a preventative agent against some serious illnesses. Despite numerous scientific works on mineral compositions of medicinal and aromatic plants, investigations of selenium content in these foods could not be successfully studied until recently due to the lack of suitable analytical methods for selenium analysis. Thus, publications on selenium concentrations of foods are recent. In this regard, selenium contents of some medicinal and aromatic plants commonly used as spices, herbal teas and traditional medicines in Turkey were studied in the present research. Selenium contents of the most used parts of these plants were analyzed by ICP-OES (Varian Vista-Pro, Australia). Of the analyzed 26 medicinal and aromatic plants, the highest Se concentration (1133 microg kg-1) was found in sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and the lowest in sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) fruits (11 microg kg(-1)).