Synthesis of new azo compounds based on N-(4-hydroxypheneyl)maleimide and N-(4-methylpheneyl)maleimide

Maleic anhydride was reacted with p-aminophenol and p-toluidine in the presence of di-phosphorus pentoxide (P?O?) as a catalyst to produce two compounds: N-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)maleimide (I) and N-(4-methylphenyl)maleimide (II). The new azo compounds I(a-c) and II(a-c) were prepared by the reaction of I and II with three different aromatic amines, namely aniline, p-aminophenol and p-toluidine. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by CHN, FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, mass spectrum and UV/Vis spectroscopy.     

Antibody immobilization on gold nanoparticles coated layer-by-layer with polyelectrolytes

Nanoscale materials are used in the biomedical field for magnetic resonance imaging, protein detection and drug/gene delivery. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are particularly investigated in cancer treatment and imaging. In this study, we described a simple and reliable liquid method to coat AuNPs (diameter: 21 nm) layer-by-layer with alternative cationic polyallylamine and anionic polystyrenesulfonate. The C-terminal amino acid of the antibody directed against anti-bovine serum albumin was activated by EDC/NHS, and then condensed with the amino functions of the external polyallylamine layer. An ELISA test confirmed that the antigen recognition of the bioconjugate antibody was conserved. This AuNP coating and the covalently coupling could be used as a generic process for binding other specific antibodies, particularly those overexpressed in cancer cells and angiogenesis.     

On Some Measure Convolution Operators in Neutron Transport Theory

We show how some fundamental spectral properties of neutron transport semigroups in L ^p spaces (1<p<+∞), such as stability of essential spectra or critical spectra and related results, can be inferred from the study of two measure convolution operators on  \(\mathbb{R}^{n}\) .     

Stokes flow in a junction of two-dimensional orthogonal channels

The purpose of this study is to calculate Stokes flow structures in relation to flow rate distribution in a junction of four orthogonal channels. Particular attention was paid to the existence of recirculation flow inside the channels for low Reynolds numbers. The presence of this recirculation flow may be observed, but only when the flow rate is relatively low in at least one of the branches.     

Selection criteria for two-parameter solutions to scalar-tensor gravity

We investigate the generic properties of static, spherically symmetric, asymptotically flat solutions to the field equations describing gravity minimally coupled to a nonlinear self-gravitating real scalar field. Five corollaries and a theorem on selection criteria for two- and one-parametric solutions are proven and conditions for obtaining particle-like solutions, black holes or naked singularities are derived. A series of exact solutions in closed forms including different black holes, naked singularities and particle-like solutions, all of which obey the weak energy condition at spatial infinity, are provided. Two further corollaries elaborate on the behavior of solutions at spatial infinity, critical mass, mass density, pressure and energy conditions.     

Solutions analytiques globales de problèmes linéaires avec argument absorbant

The aim of this work is the study of the Cauchy problem for a large class of linear operators, non-necessarily kowalevskian, with shrinking argument. We prove the well posedness of this problem in the space of analytic functions with respect to time and Gevrey class with respect to spatial variable. Our tools are based on formal norms of Leray and Waelbroeck [J. Leray, L. Waelbroeck, Norme formelle d'une fonction composée (Préliminaire à l'étude des systèmes non linéaires, hyperboliques non stricts), in: Colloque de Liège, CBRM, 1964, pp. 145-152. [23]], already used in [Cl. Wagschal, Le problème de Goursat non linéaire, J. Math. Pure Appl. 58 (1979) 309-337; D. Gourdin, M. Mechab, Solution globale d'un problème de Cauchy linéaire, J. Funct. Anal. 202 (2003) 123-146].     

Gas‐phase copper and silver complexes with phosphorothioate and phosphorodithioate pesticides investigated using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Efforts to improve agricultural productivity have led to a growing dependency on organophosphorus pesticides. Phosphorothioate and phosphorodithioate pesticides are organophosphorus pesticide subclasses with widespread application for the control of insects feeding on vegetables and fruits. However, even low doses of these pesticides can cause neurological problems in humans; thus, their determination and monitoring in agricultural foodstuffs is important for human health. Phosphorothioate and phosphorodithioate pesticides may be poorly ionized during electrospray, adversely affecting limits of detection. These pesticides can form complexes with Cu²⁺ and Ag⁺, however, potentially improving ionization. In the present work, we used electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (ESI/MS) to study fenitrothion, parathion, diazinon, and malathion coordination complexes with silver and copper ions. Stable 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 metal/pesticide complexes were detected. Mass spectra acquired from pesticide solutions containing Ag⁺ or Cu²⁺ showed a significant increase in signal‐to‐background ratio over those acquired from solutions containing only the pesticides, with Ag⁺ improving detection more effectively than Cu²⁺. Addition of Ag⁺ to a pesticide solution improved the limit of detection by ten times. The relative affinity of each pesticide for Ag⁺ was related to complex stability, following the order diazinon > malathion > fenitrothion > parathion. The formation of Ag⁺–pesticide complexes can significantly improve the detection of phosphorothioate and phosphorodithioate pesticides using ESI/MS. The technique could potentially be used in reactive desorption electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry to detect phosphorothioate and phosphorodithioate pesticides on fruit and vegetable skins. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On Asymptotic Stability and Sweeping of Collisionless Kinetic Equations

We study a collisionless kinetic equation describing density distribution function of the position and velocity of particles moving in a slab with finite thickness and with a partly diffusive boundary reflection. In particular, we deal with existence of an invariant density and with the convergence to the equilibrium. We also study the long time behavior of densities when the equilibrium does not exists.     

An expeditious,environment-friendly,and microwave-assisted synthesis of 5-isatinylidenerhodanine derivatives

A series of nine 5-arylidenerhodanine derivatives was prepared in good yields and purity without the use of a solvent or catalyst under microwave-assisted condensation with some substituted isatins. All 5-arylidenerhodanines were evaluated as possible inhibitors of the CK1α/β, CDK5/p25, and GSK-3α/β kinases. None of them showed substantive inhibitory activity against these kinases when evaluated at the concentration of 10 μM.     

Theoretical and experimental studies on the carbon-nanotube surface oxidation by nitric acid: interplay between functionalization and vacancy enlargement

The nitric acid oxidation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes leading to surface carboxylic groups has been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The experimental results show that such a reaction involves the initial rapid formation of carbonyl groups, which are then transformed into phenol or carboxylic groups. At room temperature, this reaction takes place on the most reactive carbon atoms. At higher temperatures a different mechanism would operate, as evidenced by the difference in activation energies. Experimental data can be partially related to first-principles calculations, showing a multistep functionalization mechanism. The theoretical aspects of the present article have led us to propose the most efficient pathway leading to carboxylic acid functional groups on the surface. Starting from mono-vacancies, it ends up with the synergistic formation of dangling -COOH groups and the enlargement of the vacancies.