Dunkl generalization of Szász beta‐type operators

The goal in the paper is to advertise Dunkl extension of Szász beta‐type operators. We initiate approximation features via acknowledged Korovkin and weighted Korovkin theorem and obtain the convergence rate from the point of modulus of continuity, second‐order modulus of continuity, the Lipschitz class functions, Peetre's K‐functional, and modulus of weighted continuity by Dunkl generalization of Szász beta‐type operators.     

Valorization and Application of Fruit and Vegetable Wastes and By-Products for Food Packaging Materials

The important roles of food packaging are food protection and preservation during processing, transportation, and storage. Food can be altered biologically, chemically, and physically if the packaging is unsuitable or mechanically damaged. Furthermore, packaging is an important marketing and communication tool to consumers. Due to the worldwide problem of environmental pollution by microplastics and the large amounts of unused food wastes and by-products from the food industry, it is important to find more environmentally friendly alternatives. Edible and functional food packaging may be a suitable alternative to reduce food waste and avoid the use of non-degradable plastics. In the present review, the production and assessment of edible food packaging from food waste as well as fruit and vegetable by-products and their applications are demonstrated. Innovative food packaging made of biopolymers and biocomposites, as well as active packaging, intelligent packaging, edible films, and coatings are covered.     

Asymptotics of eigenvalues for regular Sturm-Liouville problems with eigenvalue parameter in the boundary condition

In this paper we obtain asymptotic estimates of eigenvalues for regular Sturm-Liouville problems having the eigenparameter in the boundary condition. The method is based on an iterative procedure solving the associated Riccati equation and producing an asymptotic expansion of the solution in the higher powers of 1/λ1/2 as λ→∞.     

Utilization of smart hydrogel-metal composites as catalysis media

Various metal nanoparticles such as, Cu, Co, Ni, and Fe were prepared inside poly(1-vinyl imidazole) p(VI) hydrogel by the absorption of the corresponding metal ions from aqueous solutions and the reduction with suitable reducing agents such as NaBH(4) and/or NaOH. TGA and ICP-AES were used to determine the metal particle content of p(VI)-M (M: Cu, Co, and Ni) composites. The prepared hydrogel-metal nanoparticle composites were proven to be resourceful as reaction container for the catalysis of various organic reactions. It was illustrated that p(VI)-M hydrogel-metal composites can be successfully used in the hydrolysis of NaBH(4) for the generation hydrogen form NaBH(4) and NH(3)BH(3). Additionally, p(VI)-M composites were also illustrated in the catalysis of different organic reactions; e.g., these hydrogel-M are very effective in the reduction nitro aromatic compounds such 2-nitrophenol (2-NP) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to their corresponding amine forms in the presence of aqueous NaBH(4). Various parameters in the catalysis of hydrogen production and 4-NP reduction were determined.     

Amplification of Solar Energy Conversion in Quantum‐Confined CdSe‐Sensitized TiO2 Photonic Crystals by Trapping Light

Photonic effects amplifying solar energy conversion are reported in titania inverse opals sensitized with quantum‐confined CdSe films. TiO₂ inverse opals (i‐TiO₂‐o) and unstructured nanocrystalline TiO₂ (nc‐TiO₂) films are sensitized with CdSe deposited via successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) by generating Se^2? in situ under inert atmosphere, and the film absorbance is tuned by the number of SILAR cycles. Photonic effects are investigated while varying the i‐TiO₂‐o stop band position relative to CdSe films’ absorbance. i‐TiO₂‐o films with stop band at 700 and 560 nm are sensitized with CdSe having absorption edges at 600 and 650 nm thus tuning absorbance to the red and the blue of the stop band. Significant amplification in photon‐to‐current conversion efficiency is measured when CdSe films prepared via two cycles are adsorbed on i‐TiO₂‐o with a stop band at 700 nm, with a maximum average enhancement factor equal to 6.7 ± 1.6 at 640 nm, 60 nm to the blue of the stop band center, relative to nc‐TiO₂ sensitized with comparable CdSe amounts. The gain is observed over a wide frequency range to the blue of the stop band and is greatest when film absorbance was low. The photocurrent gain is not a result of differences in the rates of charge separation or charge transport, and occurs in the same frequency range where absorbance amplification is measured to the blue of the 700‐i‐TiO₂‐o stop band, and is thus attributed to slow light effects enhancing absorbance in the photonic crystal environment.     

Correlations,hierarchies and networks of the world’s automotive companies

We investigate, within the scope of econophysics, the correlations, hierarchies and networks of the world’s automotive companies over the 2003–2010 period by using the concept of a minimal spanning tree (MST) and hierarchical tree (HT). We derive a hierarchical organization and construct the MSTs and HTs for the 2003–2010 period and illustrate how the MSTs and their associated HTs developed over time. These periods are divided into two subperiods, such as 2003–2006 and 2007–2010, in order to test various time-windows and understand the temporal evolution of the correlation structure over time. We perform the bootstrap techniques to investigate a value of the statistical reliability to the links of the MSTs. We also use average linkage cluster analysis (ALCA) to observe the cluster structure more clearly in HTs. From the structural topologies of these trees, we identify different clusters of companies according to their geographical proximity and economic ties. Our results show that some companies are more important within the network, due to a tighter connection with other companies. We also find that these important companies play a predominant role in the world’s automotive industry.     

Dynamic phase transitions in the kinetic mixed spin-1/2 and spin-5/2 Ising model under a time-dependent oscillating magnetic field

We calculate the dynamic phase transition (DPT) temperatures and present the dynamic phase diagrams in the kinetic mixed spin-1/2 and spin-5/2 Ising model under the presence of a time-dependent oscillating external magnetic field. We employ the Glauber transition rates to construct the set of mean-field dynamic equations. The time variation of the average magnetizations and the thermal behavior of the dynamic magnetizations are investigated, extensively. The nature (continuous or discontinuous) of the transitions is characterized by studying the thermal behaviors of the dynamic magnetizations. The DPT points are obtained and the phase diagrams are presented in two different planes. Phase diagrams contain four fundamental phases and three coexistence or mixed phases, which strongly depend on interaction parameters. The phase diagrams are discussed and a comparison is made with the results of the other mixed spin Ising systems.     

InGaN green light emitting diodes with deposited nanoparticles

We grew an InGaN/GaN-based light-emitting diode (LED) wafer by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), fabricated devices by optical lithography, and successfully deposited ellipsoidal Ag nano-particles by way of e-beam lithography on top. The diodes exhibited good device performance, in which we expected an enhancement of the radiated intensity by the simulations and emission measurements. The obtained results showed the feasibility of plasmon-assisted LED emission enhancement.     

Cytotoxicity of Silica Nanoparticles with Transcaucasian Nose-Horned Viper, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vipera ammodytes transcaucasiana</Emphasis>, Venom on U87MG and SHSY5Y Neuronal Cancer Cells

Highly bioactive compounds of the snake venom make them particular sources for anticancer agent development. They contain very rich peptide-protein structures. Therefore, they are very susceptible to environmental conditions such as temperature, pH, and light. In this study, Vipera ammodytes transcaucasiana venom was encapsulated in PAMAM-G4 dendrimer by sol-gel method in order to prevent degradation of venom contents from the environmental conditions. For this purpose, nanoparticles were prepared by sol-gel methodology and SEM analyses were performed. U87MG and SHSY5Y neuronal cancer cell lines were treated with different concentrations of venom-containing nanoparticles and cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay. IC₅₀ values of nanoparticles with snake venom were calculated as 37.24 and 44.64 μg/ml for U87MG and SHSY5Y cells, respectively. The IC₅₀ values of nanoparticles with snake venom were calculated as 10.07 and 7.9 μg/ml for U87MG and SHSY5Y cells, respectively. As a result, nanoparticles with V. a. transcaucasiana venom showed remarkably high cytotoxicity. Encapsulation efficiency of nanoparticles with 1 mg/ml snake venom was determined as %67 via BCA? protein analysis. In conclusion, this method is found to be convenient and useful for encapsulating snake venom as well as being suitable for drug delivery systems.     

Adsorption of benzoic acid onto high specific area activated carbon cloth

The adsorption of benzoic acid from aqueous solution onto high area carbon cloth at different pH values has been studied. Over a period of 125 min the adsorption process was found to follow a first-order kinetics and the rate constants were determined for the adsorption of benzoic acid at pH 2.0, 3.7, 5.3, 9.1, and 11.0. The extents of adsorption and the percentage coverage of carbon cloth surfaces were calculated at 125 min of adsorption. Adsorption isotherms at pH values of 2.0, 3.7, and 11.0 were derived at 25 degrees C. Isotherm data were treated according to Langmuir and Freundlich equations and the parameters of these equations were evaluated by regression analysis. The fit of experimental isotherm data to both equations was good. It was found that both the adsorption rate and the extent of adsorption at 125 min were the highest at pH 3.7 and decreased at higher or lower pH values. The types of interactions governing in the adsorption processes are discussed considering the surface charge and the dissociation of benzoic acid at different pH values.