Gegenbauer spectral method for time‐fractional convection–diffusion equations with variable coefficients

In this paper, we study the numerical solution to time‐fractional partial differential equations with variable coefficients that involve temporal Caputo derivative. A spectral method based on Gegenbauer polynomials is taken for approximating the solution of the given time‐fractional partial differential equation in time and a collocation method in space. The suggested method reduces this type of equation to the solution of a linear algebraic system. Finally, some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental investigation for enhanced ferrofluid heat transfer under magnetic field effect

This paper reports an experimental work on the convective heat transfer of ferrofluid flowing through a heated copper tube in the laminar regime in the presence of magnetic field. Significant enhancement on the heat transfer of ferrofluid by applying various orders of magnetic field is observed in this experiment. Also in this experiment, the effect of magnetic nanoparticles concentrations and magnet position have been investigated. The main reason for the enhancement of heat transfer coefficient could be caused due to remarkable changes in thermophysical properties of ferrofluid under the influence of applied magnetic field.     

Highly Sensitive and Selective Determination of Manganese in Tea Leaves by a Catalytic Kinetic Spectrophotometric Method

The catalytic effect of manganese(II) on the oxidation of barium diphenylamine sulfonate (BDAS) with potassium bromate in sulfuric acid was studied. Progress of the reaction was monitored, spectrophotometrically, by measuring absorbance changes at 547.5 nm. A highly sensitive, selective and simple method was accordingly developed for the determination of trace amounts of Mn(II), with no need for a separation or pre‐concentration step. Effects of reaction time, concentration of reagents, temperature and ionic strength on the reaction rate were studied. In the optimized conditions, manganese could be determined in a range of 1 to 60 ng mL^?1 with a detection limit of 0.2 ng mL^?1. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of manganese in tea leaves.     

A novel class of extended pi-conjugated systems: one-pot synthesis of bis-3-aminoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, pyrimidines and pyrazines

Bis-3-aminoimidazo[1, 2-a] pyridines, pyrimidines and pyrazines as extended pi-conjugated systems were synthesized for the first time by a novel pseudo five-component condensation of 2-aminopyridine pyrimidines and pyrazines derivatives with terephthalaldehyde or isophthalaldehyde and isocyanides in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid in methanol.     

Novel,One-Pot,Three-Component,Regioselective Synthesis of Fluorine-Containing Thiazole and Bis-3H-thiazole Derivatives Using Polyvinyl Pyridine as Heterogeneous Catalyst,and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial Activity

A convenient, one-pot, three-component regioselective synthesis of novel 2,2′-(1,4-phenylene)-bis-(3-aryl-2-substituted imino-4-aryl-3H-thiazole) derivatives from 1,4-phenylene diisothiocyanate, aryl amines, and various phenacyl bromide, and also the regioselective synthesis of 3-alkyl-2-(aryl imino)-4-cyclopropyl-5-(2′-fluorophenyl)-thiazole derivatives from alkylisothiocyanate, aryl amines, and 2-bromo-2-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-cyclopropylethanone in the presence of poly-4-vinyl pyridine as heterogenous basic catalyst are described. This efficient method produced the products at room temperature with excellent yields (82–96%). The structures of all products were characterized by spectral and elemental analyses. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated against Salmonella enterica, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.     

Magnetic Nanoparticles Supported Ionic Liquids Improve Firefly Luciferase Properties

Ionic liquids as neoteric solvents, microwave irradiation, and alternative energy source are becoming as a solvent for many enzymatic reactions. We recently showed that the incubation of firefly luciferase from Photinus pyralis with various ionic liquids increased the activity and stability of luciferase. Magnetic nanoparticles supported ionic liquids have been obtained by covalent bonding of ionic liquids-silane on magnetic silica nanoparticles. In the present study, the effects of [γ-Fe₂O₃@SiO₂][BMImCl] and [γ-Fe₂O₃@SiO₂][BMImI] were investigated on the structural properties and function of luciferase using circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, and bioluminescence assay. Enzyme activity and structural stability increased in the presence of magnetic nanoparticles supported ionic liquids. Furthermore, the effect of ingredients which were used was not considerable on K _m value of luciferase for adenosine-5′-triphosphate and also K _m value for luciferin.     

Water desalination across functionalized silicon carbide nanosheet membranes: insights from molecular simulations

Desalination of seawater can be an effective way to access drinking water. In this study, the performance of functionalized silicon carbide nanosheet (SiCNS) membranes for water desalination was investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. For this purpose, four types of membranes with various functionalized pores were considered to investigate their capabilities in water desalination. The chemical functions of fluorine (–F) (system S1), hydrogen (–H) (systems S2 and S3), and hydrogen (–H) and hydroxyl (–OH) (system S4) were bonded to the pore edge of the SiCNS membranes. Also, the effect of the number of pores in the membrane on the water permeability was studied between systems S2 and S3. The SiCNS membrane was placed at the center of the simulation box and the external pressure was applied to the system in the range of 10–100 MPa. The water permeability, salt rejection, potential of mean force of ions, water density, water density map, and radial distribution function (RDF) of water molecules were calculated in this work. The results demonstrated that the water permeability increases by adding hydrophilic chemical functions such as –F and –OH on the pore edge.

     

Edge-plane-rich nitrogen-doped carbon nanoneedles and efficient metal-free electrocatalysts

CNN news: N-doped carbon nanoneedles (CNNs) are synthesized by self-assembling core-shell nanostructures and nanoreactors around cellulose nanoneedles, and subsequent graphitization. The resulting graphitic nanoneedles (see picture) have well-organized graphitic multi-layers and large proportions of N-doped edge planes. The materials serve as efficient metal-free electrocatalysts for hydrazine oxidation.     

Multi-component catalysts with spinel structure for the selective reduction of nitrogen oxide by ethylene in lean-exhaust gas streams

The Ga₂O₃-Al₂O₃-ZnO (GAZ) multi-component spinel powders with incorporated Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Fe²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺ and In²⁺ metal cations were synthesized by co-precipitation method from a mixed solution of nitrate salts. Spinel crystal structure of each composition was confirmed by XRD measurements. The multi-component oxide powders were tested in the reduction of nitrogen oxide (NO) under lean conditions. Among the catalysts tested, In₂O₃-containing GAZ with a pure spinel phase structure showed promising catalytic activity in the NO reduction in the presence of 10% H₂O vapor. In addition, the effect of H₂O vapor and SO₂ on the selective reduction of NO over In₂O₃-GAZ/cordierite and In₂O₃-GAZ/metal honeycombs catalysts has been investigated.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,Spectroscopic, Electrochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Cu(II) Complex with the Mixed Ligands of 2,9‐Dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline and 4‐Hydroxypyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic Acid

A mononuclear Cu(II) complex with mixed ligands, formulated as [Cu(hypydc)(dmp)]·H₂O (hypydc=4‐hydroxypyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylate, dmp=2,9‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline), was synthesized and well characterized by single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, as well as spectroscopic (IR, UV‐Vis), and electrochemical methods. The Cu(II) atom exhibits a distorted square‐pyramidal geometry. Intermolecular O? H···O and C? H···O hydrogen bonds, π‐π stacking interactions and C? H···π interactions seem to be effective in the stabilization of the crystal structure. The complex was also evaluated for its antimicrobial activity using in vitro microdilution methods. Six standard bacteria and a strain of Candida albicans were used for the antimicrobial activities. There was a very strong activity against Candida albicans and significant activities against Enterococcus fecalis, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus, indicating important biological activities of the complex.