Exergetic and economic optimization of a solar-based cogeneration system applicable for desalination and power production

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The selective drug delivery system could be an excellent alternative to fight cancer and pathogens, due to its minimized negative consequences....     

Hysteresis of two interacting magnetic pairs with inequivalent perpendicular anisotropy

We consider a model for magnetic memory that consists of strongly coupled dipolar or antiferromagnetic (AF) pairs with inequivalent perpendicular anisotropy _K1$K_1$ and _K2$K_2$. For appropriate parameter values, determined in this work, they have two inequivalent storage states with zero net magnetic moment. Both analytical and numerical calculations are performed, in some cases yielding different results because of relaxation effects (i.e., a dependence on the damping parameter α$\alpha$). Hysteresis loops for a wide variety of parameter values are obtained, both for the AF case and the dipole case. An Appendix gives analytic results for slightly non-collinear spins in an applied field, which were used to test the numerical results.     

On independent sets in random graphs

The independence number of a sparse random graph G(n,m) of average degree d = 2m/n is well‐known to be with high probability, with in the limit of large d. Moreover, a trivial greedy algorithm w.h.p. finds an independent set of size , i.e., about half the maximum size. Yet in spite of 30 years of extensive research no efficient algorithm has emerged to produce an independent set with size for any fixed (independent of both d and n). In this paper we prove that the combinatorial structure of the independent set problem in random graphs undergoes a phase transition as the size k of the independent sets passes the point . Roughly speaking, we prove that independent sets of size form an intricately rugged landscape, in which local search algorithms seem to get stuck. We illustrate this phenomenon by providing an exponential lower bound for the Metropolis process, a Markov chain for sampling independent sets. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 47, 436–486, 2015     

Comparison and Evaluation of Three Diagnostic Methods for Detection of Beet Curly Top Virus in Sugar Beet Using Different Visualizing Systems

To diminish the time required for some diagnostic assays including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP; due to mainly DNA extraction step) and also triple antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TAS-ELISA) into a minimum level, an innovative immunocapture LAMP (IC-LAMP) and immunocapture PCR (IC-PCR) protocol on the basis of beet curly top virus (BCTV) genome was used and optimized. TAS-ELISA was employed first to validate the existence of the virus. All six IC-LAMP primers (i.e. forward outer primer (F3), backward outer primer (B3), forward inner primer (FIP), backward inner primer (BIP), loop forward (LF) and loop backward (LB)) together with IC-PCR primers were designed on the basis of the replication-associated protein (rep) gene (GenBank accession AF379637.1) of BCTV genome. Also, a novel colorimetric IC-LAMP assay for rapid and easy detection of BCTV was developed here, its potential compared with TAS-ELISA and IC-PCR assays. The method, on the whole, had the following advantages over the two mentioned procedures: (i) fascinatingly, no need of DNA extraction; (ii) no requirement of expensive and sophisticated tools for amplification and detection; (iii) no post-amplification treatment of the amplicons and (iv) a flexible and easy detection approach, which is visually detected by naked eyes using diverse visual dyes.     

Thermal dry reforming of methane over La2O3 co-supported Ni/MgAl2O4 catalyst for hydrogen-rich syngas production

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The excess emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as CO2 and CH4 is posing an acute threat to the environment, and efficient ways are being sought to utilize...     

Study of the interfacial charge transfer in bismuth vanadate/reduce graphene oxide (BiVO4/rGO) composite and evaluation of its photocatalytic activity

Research on Chemical Intermediates - We prepared unique BiVO4/reduce graphene oxide (BiVO4/rGO) nanocomposite with enhanced photocatalytic ability by hydrothermal method applying...     

Effects of MN4-Type Coordination Structure in Metallophthalocyanine for Bio-Inspired Oxidative Desulfurization Performance

Oxidative desulfurization (ODS) is the promising new method for super deep desulfurization of fuel oil. The oxidative desulfurization performance of the metal-N₄-chelates metallophthalocyanines (MPcs) is related to the chemical properties of conjugate structures and the central metal ions. Herein, a biomimetic catalytic system composed of metallophthalocyanines (MPcR₄, M = Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II); R = -H, -COOH, -NO₂, -NH₂) and molecular O₂ was performed to study the influence of MN₄-type coordination structure in metallophthalocyanines for the degradation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) in model oil containing n-octane. The results reveal that the conjugate structures and the center metal ions of metallophthalocyanines played key roles in oxidative desulfurization performance. The inductive effect of different R substituents strongly affected the electron cloud distribution of the conjugate structures and the catalytic performance. Moreover, the catalytic activity of MPcs, which is related to the d electronic configuration and ligand-field effects, does not sequentially increase with the increase in the d electron number of central metal ions.     

Recent Advances in the Chemistry and Therapeutic Evaluation of Naturally Occurring and Synthetic Withanolides

Natural products are a major source of biologically active compounds that make promising lead molecules for developing efficacious drug-like molecules. Natural withanolides are found in many flora and fauna, including plants, algae, and corals, that traditionally have shown multiple health benefits and are known for their anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-leishmaniasis, and many other medicinal properties. Structures of these withanolides possess a few reactive sites that can be exploited to design and synthesize more potent and safe analogs. In this review, we discuss the literature evidence related to the medicinal implications, particularly anticancer properties of natural withanolides and their synthetic analogs, and provide perspectives on the translational potential of these promising compounds.     

Study on Viscous Fluid Flow in Disordered-Deformable Porous Media Using Hydro-mechanically Coupled Pore-Network Modeling

Transport in Porous Media - We investigate viscous fluid flows and concurrent fluid-driven deformations in porous media. The hydro-mechanically (H-M) coupled pore-network model (PNM) is developed,...     

A Novel Method for Permeability Estimation from Micro-tomographic Images

Transport in Porous Media - A methodology has been developed to create a pore network model (PNM) from the geometrical/topological information extracted from the micro-tomographic images of a...