On the existence of solutions to quasivariational inclusion problems

We establish sufficient existence conditions for general quasivariational inclusion problems, which contain most of variational inclusion problems and quasiequilibrium problems considered in the literature. These conditions are shown to extend recent existing results and sharpen some of them even for particular cases.     

New potent vinca alkaloids resulting from an unexpected isomerization

Four new vinca alkaloids have been elaborated, using an unexpected isomerization and formation of stable enammoniums in very mild conditions. They are cytotoxic on a sub-micromolar range and inhibit microtubule assembly.     

Synthesis and antibacterial and antifungal activities of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(tetra-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-acetyl-β-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-glucopyranosyl)thiosemicarbazones of substituted 4-formylsydnones

Background

Sydnone is a heterocycle that exhibits remarkable pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and antioxidant activities. Thiosemicarbazones are of compounds that contain the –NHCSNHN=C< linkage group and are considerable interest because they exhibit important chemical properties and potentially beneficial biological activities. Similarly, thiosemicarbazones having carbohydrate moieties also exhibit various significant biological activities.

Results

The compounds of 3-formyl-4-phenylsydnones were obtained by Vilsmeyer-Haack’s formylation reaction and were transformed into thiosemicarbazones by condensation reaction with N-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)thiosemicarbazide. Reaction were performed in the presence glacial acetic acid as catalyst using microwave-assisted heating method. Reaction yields were 43?85 %. The antimicrobial activities of these thiosemicarbazones were screened in vitro by using agar well diffusion and MIC methods. Among these thiosemicarbazones, compounds 4k, 4l, 4m and 4n were more active against all tested bacterial strains, especially against S. epidermidis, B. subtilis and E. coli. The MIC values in these cases are 0.156, 0.156 and 0.313 μg/mL, respectively. All compounds showed weak to moderate antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger than nystatin (MIC = 0.156?0.625 μg/mL vs. MIC = 0.078 μg/mL of nystatin), and thiosemicarbazones 4l, 4m and 4n exhibited significant activity with MIC = 0.156 μg/mL. These compounds also had good antifungal activity against F. oxysporum similarly to nystatin (MIC = 0.156 μg/mL). Among the tested compounds having halogen group 4k, 4l, 4m and 4n showed highest activity against three strains of fungal organisms.

Conclusions

In summary, we have developed a clean and efficient methodology for the synthesis of novel thiosemicarbazone derivatives bearing sydnone ring and d-glucose moiety; the heterocyclic and monosaccharide system being connected via ?NH?C(=S)NH?N=C< linker using molecular modification approach. The methodology could be further extended and used for the synthesis of other thiosemicarbazones of biological importance. 4-Formyl-3-arylsydnone N-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)thiosemicarbazones have been synthesized under microwave-assisted heating conditions. Almost all obtained compounds showed remarkable activities against the tested microorganisms. Among the tested compounds having halogen group 4k, 4l, 4m and 4n showed highest activity against all tested strains of bacterial and fungal organisms.

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Graphical abstract:Synthesis and antibacterial and antifungal activities of N-(tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)thiosemicarbazones of substituted 4-formylsydnones

     

Stabilization of an axially moving web via regulation of axial velocity

In this paper, a novel control algorithm for suppression of the transverse vibration of an axially moving web system is presented. The principle of the proposed control algorithm is the regulation of the axial transport velocity of an axially moving beam so as to track a profile according to which the vibration energy decays most quickly. The optimal control problem that generates the proposed profile of the axial transport velocity is solved by the conjugate gradient method. The Galerkin method is applied in order to reduce the partial differential equation describing the dynamics of the axially moving beam into a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). For control design purposes, these ODEs are rewritten into state-space equations. The vibration energy of the axially moving beam is represented by the quadratic form of the state variables. In the optimal control problem, the cost function modified from the vibration energy function is subjected to the constraints on the state variables, and the axial transport velocity is considered as a control input. Numerical simulations are performed to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm.     

On the interrelations between an optical differentiator and an optical Hilbert transformer

We show analytically and numerically that a practically realizable first-order optical Hilbert transformer (OHT) can simultaneously function as a negative/positive first-order temporal optical differentiator (OD) in the stopband and a broadband ±90° phase shifter in the passbands. An integrated-optic OHT based on a four-tap finite impulse response filter is designed using the Remez iteration algorithm and is numerically verified.     

Magnetic susceptibility of alkali-tetracyanoquinodimethane salts and extended Hubbard models with bond order and charge density wave phases

The molar spin susceptibilities χ(T) of Na-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), K-TCNQ, and Rb-TCNQ(II) are fit quantitatively to 450 K in terms of half-filled bands of three one-dimensional Hubbard models with extended interactions using exact results for finite systems. All three models have bond order wave (BOW) and charge density wave (CDW) phases with boundary V = V(c)(U) for nearest-neighbor interaction V and on-site repulsion U. At high T, all three salts have regular stacks of TCNQ(-) anion radicals. The χ(T) fits place Na and K in the CDW phase and Rb(II) in the BOW phase with V ≈ V(c). The Na and K salts have dimerized stacks at T < T(d) while Rb(II) has regular stacks at 100 K. The χ(T) analysis extends to dimerized stacks and to dimerization fluctuations in Rb(II). The three models yield consistent values of U, V, and transfer integrals t for closely related TCNQ(-) stacks. Model parameters based on χ(T) are smaller than those from optical data that in turn are considerably reduced by electronic polarization from quantum chemical calculation of U, V, and t of adjacent TCNQ(-) ions. The χ(T) analysis shows that fully relaxed states have reduced model parameters compared to optical or vibration spectra of dimerized or regular TCNQ(-) stacks.     

Stability of aqueous silica nanoparticle dispersions

In this study, we present quantification methods for nanoparticle stability analysis using non-intrusive analytical techniques: attenuated total reflectance, Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectrophotometer, zeta potential analyses, and dynamic light scattering (DLS). We use these techniques to study the stability of silica nanoparticle dispersions and the effects of pH, temperature, and electrolytes that would be encountered in oil field brines in a reservoir. Spectral analysis of the Si–O bond at wavenumber of 1110 cm⁻¹ with the ATR-FTIR indicates a structural change on the surface of silica particles as the dispersion pH changes, which agrees with zeta potential measurements. We define a critical salt concentration (CSC) for different salts, NaCl, CaCl₂, BaCl₂, and MgCl₂, above which the silica dispersion becomes unstable. Three distinct stages of aggregation occur in the presence of salt: clear dispersed, turbid, and separated phases. Divalent cations Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Ba²⁺ are more effective in destabilizing silica nanoparticle dispersion than the monovalent cation Na⁺. The CSC for Na⁺ is about 100 times more than for Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, and Mg²⁺. Among the divalent cations studied, Mg²⁺ is the most effective in destabilizing the silica particles. The CSC is independent of silica concentration, and lowers at high temperature.     

24-Epimarkhacanasin C,An Epimeric Cycloartane-Type Triterpenoid from the Leaves of Markhamia stipulata var. canaense

Chemistry of Natural Compounds - One new cycloartane-type triterpenoid, named 24-epimarkhacanasin C (1), together with four known flavonoids, apigenin (2), luteolin (3), apigenin...