Gravitomagnetic Effects on Collective Plasma Oscillations in Compact Stars

The effects of gravitomagnetic force on plasma oscillations are investigated using the kinetic theory of homogeneous electrically neutral plasma in the absence of external electric or magnetic field. The random phase assumption is employed neglecting the thermal motion of the electrons with respect to a fixed ion background. It is found that the gravitomagnetic force reduces the characteristic frequency of the plasma thus enhancing the refractive index of the medium. The estimates for the predicted effects are given for a typical white dwarf, pulsar, and neutron star.     

Bioactive Components and Anticancer Activities of Spray-Dried New Zealand Tamarillo Powder

Tamarillo fruit contains many phytochemicals that have beneficial therapeutic and nutritional properties. Spray-drying is widely used to preserve fruit puree in powder form. However, to obtain high-quality fruit powder, the optimisation of spray-drying conditions is necessary, as a high drying temperature can damage sensitive bioactive compounds. This study investigated the effects of spray-drying on the microstructure, polyphenolics, total flavonoids, total carotenoids, antioxidant activity, and anticancer capacity of tamarillo powder. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimise the spray-drying process to produce tamarillo powder. The independent variables were inlet drying temperature (120–160 °C), flow rate (1–5 g/mL), and maltodextrin concentration (0–10%). These variables influenced the microstructural attributes, bioactive components, and cytotoxicity of the spray-dried tamarillo powder. The increase in polyphenols and antioxidant activities were favoured under high-temperature spray drying conditions and a low carrier concentration. The optimised spray-drying conditions for producing tamarillo powder with high antioxidant and anticancer activities, high yield, and stable bioactive compounds were found to be at 146.8 °C inlet temperature, and a flow rate of 1.76 g/mL.     

Oxidative coupling of methane in a fixed bed reactor over perovskite catalyst： A simulation study using experimental kinetic model

The oxidative coupling of methane （OCM） to ethylene over a perovskite titanate catalyst in a fixed bed reactor was studied experimentally and numerically. The two-dimensional steady state model accounted for separate energy equations for the gas and solid phases coupled with an experimental kinetic model. A lumped kinetic model containing four main species CH4, O2, COx （CO2, CO）, and C2 （C2H4 and C2H6） was used with a plug flow reactor model as well. The results from the model agreed with the experimental data. The model was used to analyze the influence of temperature and feed gas composition on the conversion and selectivity of the reactor performance. The analytical results indicate that the conversion decreases, whereas, C2 selectivity increases by increasing gas hourly space velocity （GHSV） and the methane conversion also decreases by increasing the methane to oxygen ratio.     

APPROXIMATE SOLUTION OF A p-th ROOT FUNCTIONAL EQUATION IN NON-ARCHIMEDEAN (2,β)-BANACH SPACES

In this paper, using the Brzdek's fixed point theorem [9,Theorem 1] in non-Archimedean(2,β)-Banach spaces, we prove some stability and hyperstability results for an p-th root functional equation ■where p∈{1, …, 5}, a_1,…, a_k are fixed nonzero reals when p ∈ {1,3,5} and are fixed positive reals when p ∈{2,4}.     

Unfolding mechanism of PHD2 as a vital protein: all-atom simulation approach

Prolyl hydroxylase domain 2 containing protein (PHD2) is a central protein in regulation of cellular response to hypoxia. This protein controls the responses of cell to oxygen level via the regulation of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) stability. HIF induces the expression of many genes, especially ones orchestrate angiogenesis. There are some reports that mentioned in some tumor types the level of HIF is high in spite of the presence of wild-type PHD2 and normoxic environment. Therefore, the possibility of PHD2 misfolding in some cancer cells arises. Studying such important protein unfolding pathway is insightful for possible therapeutic approaches. In this study, the unfolding pathway of PHD2 illustrates utilizing molecular dynamics simulation of protein thermal denaturation. Based on current study results, we represent the possible mechanisms of PHD2 unfolding in detail. The possible intermediates of PHD2 thermal unfolding are characterized, and the most venomous state of its unfolding pathway is introduced.     

Synthesis and performance of electroless Ni–P–TiCN composite coatings on Al substrate

Electroless Ni–P and Ni–P–TiCN composite coatings have been deposited successfully on Al substrates. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) techniques were applied to study the surface morphology and the chemical composition of the deposited films. Moreover, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) proved that Ni–P and Ni–P–TiCN deposits have amorphous structures. The properties of Ni–P–TiCN/Al composite films such as hardness, corrosion resistance and electrocatalytic activity were examined and compared with that of Ni–P/Al film. The results of hardness measurements reveal that the presence of TiCN particles with Ni–P matrix improves its hardness. Additionally, the performance against corrosion was examined using Tafel lines and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques in both of 0.6 M NaCl and a mixture of 0.5 M H₂SO₄ with 2 ppm HF solutions. The results indicate that the incorporation of high dispersed TiCN particles into Ni–P matrix led to a positive shift of the corrosion potential and an increase in the corrosion resistance for all aluminum substrates after their coating with Ni–P–TiCN. In addition, Ni–P–TiCN/Al electrodes showed a higher electrochemical catalytic activity and stability toward methanol oxidation in 0.5 M NaOH solution compared with that of Ni–P/Al. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A highly diastereoselective five-component synthesis of 1-(alkylimino)-5,5-dicyano-3a-aryloctahydro-3-oxacyclobuta[cd]pentalene-1a,2,5a,5b(2H,3aH)-tetracarboxylates

A novel one-pot, five-component synthesis of 1-(alkylimino)-5,5-dicyano-3a-aryloctahydro-3-oxacyclobuta[cd]pentalene-1a,2,5a,5b(2H,3aH)-tetracarboxylates is described. A mixture of phenacyl bromide, malononitrile, isocyanide, and two equivalents of a dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate undergoes a novel 1:1:1:2 addition reaction at ambient temperature in absolute ethanol to produce diastereoselectively the title compounds in good yields.     

Efficient Catalytic and Thermal Syntheses of Novel Thiadiazole,Triazole, Benzothiazole,and Fused Quinazoline Derivatives

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry - A thiourea derivative, 4-chloro-N-[(4-chlorophenyl)carbamothioyl]benzamide, was oxidized with iodine in acetic acid to give the corresponding disulfide,...