Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Chitosan Nanoparticles

Chitosan nanoparticles (CHN) were prepared based on ionotropic gelation between low moleculer weight chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) under microwave irradiation. Particle size, zeta potential, and FT-IR techniques were used for characterization of CHN. The influence of reaction time on the nanoparticle size distribution was investigated, and the results showed that the microwave irradiation method evidently decreases the reaction times and particle size over the conventional method. It was determined by the results of the zeta potential measurements that synthesized CHN under microwave irradiation clearly exhibits more homogeneous and stable dispersion.     

PLGA encapsulation and radioiodination of indole-3-carbinol: investigation of anticancerogenic effects against MCF7, Caco2 and PC3 cells by in vitro assays

Encapsulation with PLGA of I3C and radioiodination have been performed. Anticancerogenic effects of I3C and I3C-PLGA have been investigated utilizing in vitro methods on breast adenocarcinoma epithelial (MCF7), colon adenocarcinoma epithelial (Caco2), prostate carcinoma epithelial (PC3) cells. Characterization of I3C-PLGA have been performed with DLS method and SEM analysis. I3C and I3C-PLGA compounds have been radiolabeled in high yields with ¹³¹I which is widely used for diagnosis and treatment in Nuclear Medicine. All experimental results demonstrated that radioiodinated compounds are promising in order to be used in Nuclear Medicine as well as present study contributed previously reported studies.     

Multilayered perceptron neural networks to compute energy losses in magnetic cores

This paper presents a new approach based on multilayered perceptrons (MLPs) to compute the specific energy losses of toroidal wound cores built from 3% SiFe 0.27 mm thick M4, 0.1  and 0.08 mm thin gauge electrical steel strips. The MLP has been trained by a back-propagation and extended delta-bar-delta learning algorithm. The results obtained by using the MLP model were compared with a commonly used conventional method. The comparison has shown that the proposed model improved loss estimation with respect to the conventional method.     

Preparation of (99m)Tc labeled vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and biodistribution in rats

The aim of this study was to label ascorbic acid with (99m)Tc and to investigate its radiopharmaceutical potential in rats. Ascorbic acid was labeled with (99m)Tc using the stannous chloride method. The radiochemical purity of [(99m)Tc]ascorbic acid ((99m)Tc-AA) was determined by RTLC, paper electrophoresis, and RHPLC methods. The labeling yield was found to be 93+/-5.0%. The maximum labeling yield of (99m)Tc-AA was determined at pH 5 and 25 degrees C. The biodistribution studies related to (99m)Tc-AA were done in male albino Wistar rats. (99m)Tc-AA, which has a specific activity of 13.02 GBq/mmol, was administered into the tail vein of the rats. The rats were sacrificed at 15, 30, 60, and 120 min after the injection by heart puncture under ether anaesthesia. The organs were weighed after removal. Their activities were counted using a Cd(Te) detector equipped with a RAD 501 count system. The %ID/g (% of injected dose per gram of tissue weight) in each organ and in blood was calculated. Maximum uptake of (99m)Tc-AA was observed in prostate and kidneys at the 60th min. (99m)Tc-AA may be a promising radiopharmaceutical for the imaging of prostate and kidneys.     

Determination of Naphthazarin Derivatives in 16 Alkanna Species by RP-LC Using UV and MS for Detection

As part of our ongoing studies, a new and validated method for analysis of isohexenyl-naphthazarines in Turkish Alkanna species was developed. By using reversed phase material (Synergi MAX RP) it was possible to determine four known isohexenylnaphthazarin-derivatives, namely alkannin, acetylalkannin, deoxyalkannin, and β,β-dimethylacrylalkannin within 25 min in n-hexane extracts of the roots. The quantification of these compounds in 16 Anatolian Alkanna species is described for the first time. In order to assure peak identity LC-MS experiments were performed. Quantitative results revealed that the most dominant compound in the extracts was β,β-dimethylacrylalkannin.     

Win–win match using a genetic algorithm

As the service industries grow, tasks are not directly assigned to the skills but the knowledge of the worker which is to be valued more in finding the best match. The problem becomes difficult mainly because the match has to be seen with the objectives of both sides. Assignment methods fail to respond to a multi-objective, multi-constraint problem with complicated match; whereas, metaheuristics is preferable based on computational simplicity. A conditional genetic algorithm is developed in this study to propose both global and composite match using different fitness functions. This algorithm kills the infeasibilities to achieve the maximum number of matches. The proposed algorithm is applied on an academic problem of multi-alternative candidates and multi-alternative tasks (m × n problem) in two stages. In the first stage, four different fitness functions are evaluated and in the second stage using one of the fitness functions global and composite matching have been compared. The achievements will contribute both to the academic and business world.     

Application of light-emitting diodes for aerosol fluorescence detection

We demonstrate a proof-of-concept optical spectroscopic system for bioaerosol-particle fluorescence detection, in which a pulsed high-power laser is replaced by a highly compact linear array of sequentially fired light from blue light-emitting diodes. The results suggest that low-cost, compact optical aerosol detection may be feasible with the contemporary emergence of efficient UV light-emitting diodes.     

Optimal assignment of broadcasting frequencies

As a result of major developments in communication technology, the electromagnetic spectrum is now a ‘significant’ but ‘scarce’ resource. The broadcasting frequencies/channels/ bands must be assigned to applicants in an optimal manner so that larger numbers of applicants can be accommodated. This problem is constructed as a 0–1 programming problem. Numerical examples are also presented.     

Highly Active Cobalt Sulfide/Carbon Nanotube Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution at Soft Interfaces

Hydrogen evolution at polarized liquid–liquid interfaces [water/1,2‐dichloroethane (DCE)] by the electron donor decamethylferrocene (DMFc) is catalyzed efficiently by the fabricated cobalt sulfide (CoS) nanoparticles and nanocomposites of CoS nanoparticles formed on multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (CoS/CNT). The suspended CoS/CNT nanocomposite catalysts at the interface show a higher catalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) than the CoS nanoparticles due to the high dispersity and conductivity of the CNT materials, which can serve as the main charge transport pathways for the injection of electrons to attain the catalytic sites of the nanoparticles. The reaction rate increased more than 1000‐fold and 300‐fold by using CoS/CNT and CoS catalysts, respectively, when compared to a non‐catalyzed reaction.