Basic topological and geometric properties of Cesàro-Orlicz spaces

Necessary and sufficient conditions under which the Cesàro-Orlicz sequence spaceces _ϕ is nontrivial are presented. It is proved that for the Luxemburg norm, Cesàro-Orlicz spacesces _ϕ have the Fatou property. Consequently, the spaces are complete. It is also proved that the subspace of order continuous elements inces _ϕ can be defined in two ways. Finally, criteria for strict monotonicity, uniform monotonicity and rotundity (= strict convexity) of the spacesces _ϕ are given.     

The general iterative methods for nonexpansive mappings in Banach spaces

In this paper, we introduce a general iterative approximation method for finding a common fixed point of a countable family of nonexpansive mappings which is a unique solution of some variational inequality. We prove the strong convergence theorems of such iterative scheme in a reflexive Banach space which admits a weakly continuous duality mapping. As applications, at the end of the paper, we apply our results to the problem of finding a zero of an accretive operator. The main result extends various results existing in the current literature.     

Analysis of chorismate mutase catalysis by QM/MM modelling of enzyme-catalysed and uncatalysed reactions

Chorismate mutase is at the centre of current controversy about fundamental features of biological catalysts. Some recent studies have proposed that catalysis in this enzyme does not involve transition state (TS) stabilization but instead is due largely to the formation of a reactive conformation of the substrate. To understand the origins of catalysis, it is necessary to compare equivalent reactions in different environments. The pericyclic conversion of chorismate to prephenate catalysed by chorismate mutase also occurs (much more slowly) in aqueous solution. In this study we analyse the origins of catalysis by comparison of multiple quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) reaction pathways at a reliable, well tested level of theory (B3LYP/6-31G(d)/CHARMM27) for the reaction (i) in Bacillus subtilis chorismate mutase (BsCM) and (ii) in aqueous solvent. The average calculated reaction (potential energy) barriers are 11.3 kcal mol(-1) in the enzyme and 17.4 kcal mol(-1) in water, both of which are in good agreement with experiment. Comparison of the two sets of reaction pathways shows that the reaction follows a slightly different reaction pathway in the enzyme than in it does in solution, because of a destabilization, or strain, of the substrate in the enzyme. The substrate strain energy within the enzyme remains constant throughout the reaction. There is no unique reactive conformation of the substrate common to both environments, and the transition state structures are also different in the enzyme and in water. Analysis of the barrier heights in each environment shows a clear correlation between TS stabilization and the barrier height. The average differential TS stabilization is 7.3 kcal mol(-1) in the enzyme. This is significantly higher than the small amount of TS stabilization in water (on average only 1.0 kcal mol(-1) relative to the substrate). The TS is stabilized mainly by electrostatic interactions with active site residues in the enzyme, with Arg90, Arg7 and Glu78 generally the most important. Conformational effects (e.g. strain of the substrate in the enzyme) do not contribute significantly to the lower barrier observed in the enzyme. The results show that catalysis is mainly due to better TS stabilization by the enzyme.     

Estimation of pathways of the production of greenhouse gases in the tropical swamp forest in Thailand by stable isotope investigation

Dynamics of greenhouse gases (N(2)O and CH(4)) with the dry-wet cycle along with the variation of oxidation-reduction boundaries were investigated in the tropical wetland in monsoon Asia. It was clarified that the production of N(2)O and CH(4) was closely related to the development of a redox boundary in the Bang Nara River systems. An intermittent increase in N(2)O was observed at the beginning of the rainy season, when a large amount of easily decomposable organic matter was introduced into the river. After 10 days, when dissolved oxygen was consumed completely at the middle reaches, the emission of CH(4) became maximal due to the possible occurrence of denitrification. The distribution of stable isotope ratios in N(2)O clearly demonstrated that nitrification is the major process for its production. Furthermore, the production of N(2)O in this study area was found to vary in time and space with changes in the redox boundary along the water flow.     

Separation,Preconcentration and Spectrophotometric Determination of Rhodamine B in Industrial,Cosmetic and Water Samples by Cloud Point and Solid Phase Extraction

The aim of this study is extraction, preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of Rhodamine B (RB) in aqueous media by developing solid phase extraction (SPE) and cloud point extraction (CPE) methods. Amberlite XAD-1180 adsorbent and Tergitol NP-7 surfactant were used for SPE and CPE, respectively. Parameters of SPE and CPE which effected quantitative extractions were investigated and optimized. Matrix effects of some ions and dyes were analyzed at the optimum conditions. Developed methods were used to determine RB contents of anti-freeze, lipstick and water samples. The results of both methods demonstrated that the RB was quantitatively extracted and determined. RB contents of solid samples were found between 473 ± 15 and 317 ± 8 μg/g; 472 ± 11 and 312 ± 6 μg/L dye contents were determined for liquid samples. The methods were tested by analysis of spiked samples. Analytical characteristics of the methods were compared with each other and previously reported studies.     

Electron Transport Properties of Two-Dimensional Electron Gas in BexZn1−xO/ZnO Heterostructures

In this study, we have numerically investigated the conduction band structures, the carrier densities and the electron probability densities of pseudomorphic grown Be_xZn_1?xO/ZnO heterostructures using self-consistent solutions of one-dimensional, non linear Schrödinger–Poisson equations. In the calculations, two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) formations were observed in the studied heterostructures and the effects of layer thickness and Be-mole fraction (x) of Be_xZn_1?xO barrier layer on 2DEG were described. For possible transistor device applications, 10 nm Be_xZn_1?xO barrier layer structure with x = 0.08 has been suggested. For this structure, we examined the variation of electron mobility with temperature using analytical calculations. Because of the polarization-induced low carrier densities, we found that the background impurity scattering has a strong effect on total electron mobility even at room temperature.     

Preparation and characterization of antibacterial cobalt-exchanged natural zeolite/poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels

In the present study, potential application of the local clinoptilolite-rich natural zeolite in formulation of antibacterial hydrogels was investigated. The zeolite powder exchanged with cobalt(II) ions was used in preparation of the zeolite/poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel films in different amounts. The films were physically crosslinked by the freezing-thawing method and characterized for their crystallinity, surface and cross sectional morphology, chemical composition, thermal behaviour, mechanical properties, swelling and dissolution behaviours, and antibacterial activities against a Gram-negative bacteria. The films with 0.48 wt% and higher cobalt-exchanged zeolite contents showed antibacterial activity. Addition of the zeolite powder in the formulations did not cause significant changes in the other properties of the films.