Cucurbitacin glucosides from Citrullus colocynthis

A new cucurbitacin glucoside 2-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-16alpha-20R-dihydroxy-cucurbita-1,5,23E,25(26)-tetraen-3,11,22-trione (1) has been isolated from the methanolic extract of the fruits of Citrulluscolocynthis. The structure has been assigned on the basis of spectral analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques. In addition 2-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-cucurbitacin B (arvenin I) (2) and 2,25-di-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-cucurbitacin L (3) are reported for the first time from this species.     

Early excited state dynamics of 6-styryl-substituted pyrylium salts exhibiting dual fluorescence

A series of 6-styryl-2,4-diphenylpyrylium salts exhibiting dual fluorescence has been investigated by fluorescence up-conversion in conjunction with quantum chemical calculations. The short-wavelength emission is due to an excited state localized on the pyrylium fragment and the long-wavelength emission arises from a charge-transfer state delocalized over the whole molecule. The two fluorescing states do not exhibit a precursor-successor relationship. The rise time of the short-wavelength fluorescence is smaller than 200 fs, and that of the long-wavelength emission depends on the electron-donating property of the styryl group substituent. The rise is almost prompt with the weaker donors but is slower, wavelength and viscosity dependent with the strongest electron-donating group. A model involving a S(2)/S(1) conical intersection is proposed to account for these observations.     

Liquid Film on Unsteady Stretching Sheet with General Surface Temperature and Viscous Dissipation

We study the effects of viscous dissipation on flow and heat transfer in a thin liquid film on an unsteady stretching sheet. A general surface temperature is taken into consideration. The velocity and temperature fields are solved using the homotopy analysis method. The results show that the increasing values of the Eckert number can increase temperature distribution and the heat transfer rate.     

Creeping flow analysis of slightly non-Newtonian fluid in a uniformly porous slit

This paper provides the analysis of the steady, creeping flow of a special class of slightly viscoelastic, incompressible fluid through a slit having porous walls with uniform porosity. The governing two dimensional flow equations along with non-homogeneous boundary conditions are non-dimensionalized. Recursive approach is used to solve the resulting equations. Expressions for stream function, velocity components, volumetric flow rate, pressure distribution, shear and normal stresses in general and on the walls of the slit, fractional absorption and leakage flux are derived. Points of maximum velocity components are also identified. A graphical study is carried out to show the effect of porosity and non-Newtonian parameter on above mentioned resulting expressions. It is observed that axial velocity of the fluid decreases with the increase in porosity and non-Newtonian parameter. The outcome of this theoretical study has significant importance both in industry and biosciences.     

A hybrid proximal point algorithm for finding minimizers and fixed points in CAT(0) spaces

We introduce a hybrid proximal point algorithm and establish its strong convergence to a common solution of a proximal point of a lower semi-continuous mapping and a fixed point of a demicontractive mapping in the framework of a CAT(0) space. As applications of our new result, we solve variational inequality problems for these mappings on a Hilbert space. Illustrative example is given to validate theoretical result obtained herein.     

Propensity for the air/water interface and ion pairing in magnesium acetate vs magnesium nitrate solutions: molecular dynamics simulations and surface tension measurements

Molecular dynamics simulations in slab geometry and surface tension measurements were performed for aqueous solutions of magnesium acetate and magnesium nitrate at various concentrations. The simulations reveal a strong affinity of acetate anions for the surface, while nitrate exhibits only a very weak surface propensity, and magnesium is per se strongly repelled from the air/water interface. CH3COO- also exhibits a much stronger tendency than NO3- for ion pairing with Mg2+ in the bulk and particularly in the interfacial layer. The different interfacial behavior of the two anions is reflected by the opposite concentration dependence (beyond 0.5 M) of surface tension of the corresponding magnesium salts. Measurements, supported by simulations, show that the surface tension of Mg(NO3)2(aq) increases with concentration as for other inorganic salts. However, in the case of Mg(OAc)2(aq) the surface tension isotherm exhibits a turnover around 0.5 M, after which it starts to decrease, indicating a positive net solute excess in the interfacial layer at higher concentrations.     

Asymmetric synthesis of hexapropionate synthons by sequential enantiotopic group selective enolization of meso diketones

Meso 1,9-diketones (six to seven stereocenters) are readily obtained by stepwise or simultaneous two-directional aldol reactions of tetrahydro-4H-thiopyran-4-one with a thiopyran-derived aldehyde or dialdehyde. Enantioselective enolizations of these diketones with the lithium amide from (R,R)-bis(1-phenylethyl)amine occur with simultaneous kinetic resolution to give the mono-TMS enol ethers in >90% yields (BORSM) and >95% ee. The products are applicable to polypropionate synthesis. [reaction: see text]     

Physical, structural, and luminescence studies of Nd3+ doped MgO-ZnO borate glass

A series of borate glass of the system xNd₂O₃-5MgO-20ZnO-(75 ? x)B₂O₃, where x = 0.5, 1.0,1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 was successfully fabricated using melt quench method. The properties of the glass were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), absorption and luminescence spectra. The upconversion properties of Nd³⁺ doped borate glass were observed by using 574 nm excitation wavelength corresponding to ⁴ I _15/2 → ² H _114/2 transition. The emission bands centered at 460, 500 and 620 nm which corresponding to the Nd³⁺ transitions, ⁴ F _7/2 → ⁴ I _15/2, ² H _11/2 → ⁴ I _15/2, and ⁴ F _9/2 → ⁴ I _15/2 respectively were observed at room temperature. The presence of Nd³⁺ in borate based glass could intensify the upconversion luminescence spectra as it can potentially be used as host materials for upconversion lasers.     

Transfer of radioactivity from soil to vegetation in Rechna Doab,Pakistan

In Rechna Doab, samples of the most common vegetation, perennial grass Desmostachya bipinnata (dab), were collected along with soil samples from 29 sites. Natural radioactivity of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th/²²⁸Ac and ⁴⁰K was measured by using high purity germanium-based gamma ray spectrometer. Activity concentration levels of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th/²²⁸Ac and ⁴⁰K in soil were found to be 46.8±6.2 (36.0–57.6), 61.4±5.9 (48.2–73.2) and 644.8±73.9 (537.7–868.4) Bq kg^?1 (dry mass), respectively, and those in vegetation were 2.74±1.70 (1.00–6.39), 2.24±0.59 (1.56–2.61) and 172.72±113.37 (53.14–469.24) Bq kg^?1 (dry mass), respectively. The measured values of the activity concentration in vegetation are comparable with some other international data. Calculated soil to vegetation transfer factors of ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁸Ac and ⁴⁰K were 0.06±0.03 (0.02–0.14), 0.04±0.01 (0.03–0.04) and 0.26±0.16 (0.09–0.69). The mean outdoor absorbed dose rate in air for the area under study was determined as 8.22 nGy h^?1 and the mean indoor absorbed dose rate in air was 11.52 nGy h^?1. The total annual effective dose to the general public from the vegetation was found to be (0.02–0.16) mSv, which is below the recommended limit value of 1 mSv y^?1 for the general public. The dab vegetation under study was found to be radiologically safe for the population and environment.     

Effective synthesis of carbon nanotubes via catalytic decomposition of methane: Influence of calcination temperature on metal–support interaction of Co–Mo/MgO catalyst

The present work investigated the influence of calcination temperature for bimetallic Co–Mo/MgO catalyst on the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) of methane. The experimental results showed that variation in the catalyst calcination temperature affected carbon yield, diameter distribution and quality of the CNTs. Increasing the catalyst calcination temperature enabled Co–Mo/MgO catalysts in growing CNTs at higher yield, narrower diameter distribution and better degree of graphitization, credited to the strong metal–support interaction (MSI) formed between CoO species and MgO support. We also discovered that the catalysts of weak MSI were beneficial to the nucleation and growth of CNTs, meanwhile the catalysts with strong MSI provoked the growth of CNTs with narrow diameter distribution. The catalyst calcined at 700 °C, possessing moderate MSI, was found to be the most suitable catalyst for the growth of high quality CNTs with the diameter of 7.70±0.77 nm and the carbon yield of as high as 647.4%.