A fast training method for memristor crossbar based multi-layer neural networks

The capacitance variation of capacitive accelerometer as a function of vibratory movement relative frequency is presented using a developed model validated by simulation and experimental tests. The damping rate effect on accelerometer capacitance variation is studied for four damping rate values. The first value is that of accelerometer used in the experimental tests, the second and third are taken from the recent works and the fourth is the value proposed in this work. A comparative study has been made to mount our improvements on the capacitive accelerometer performances by the comparison between the proposed accelerometers in the recent works. Finally, a new capacitive accelerometer with improved parameters is proposed having many benefits over the existing accelerometers. These benefits are: appropriate choice of damping rate (equal to 0.68), very low measurement error (limited to 0.5%), high accuracy (equal to 99.5%), low consumption of electrical energy and high sensitivity and reliability.     

A SiCl4-ZnCl2 induced general, mild and efficient one-pot, three-component synthesis of β-amido ketone libraries

A general, mild and efficient protocol for the synthesis of β-amido ketone libraries was achieved utilizing tetrachlorosilane and zinc chloride in dichloromethane at ambient temperature via a one-pot, three-component condensation of various aldehydes, ketones and nitriles.     

Polyurethane‐nanocomposite materials via in situ polymerization into organoclay interlayers

New nanocomposite materials based on polyurethane intercalated into organoclay layers have been synthesized via in situ polymerization. The syntheses of polyurethane–organoclay hybrid films were carried out by swelling the organoclay [12‐aminododecanoic acid montmorillonite] into different kinds of diols followed by addition of diisocyanate then casting in a film. The homogeneous dispersion of MMT in the polymer matrix is evidenced by scanning electron microscope and x‐ray diffraction, which showed the disappearance of the peak characteristic to d₀₀₁ spacing. It was found that the presence of organoclay has improved the thermal, solvent resistance and mechanical properties. Also, the tensile strength is increased with increasing the organoclay contents to 20% by the ratio 182% related to the PU with 0% organoclay. On the contrary, the elongation has decreased with increasing the organoclay contents. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of 6-Heterocyclically Appended Tri-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-methyl Protected 6-Desmethyl Emodin Derivatives

Summary. A convenient synthesis of several 6-heterocyclically appended tri-O-methyl 6-desmethyl emodin derivatives including the tetrazolyl, oxazolyl, oxazolinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzoxazolyl, and benzothiazolyl derivatives of potential biological and medicinal interest was achieved starting from the tri-O-methyl protected emodin aldehyde or nitrile. In addition, these derivatives could serve as synthons for heterocyclic hypericin derivatives.     

Effect of positively charged short peptides on stability of cubic phases of monoolein/dioleoylphosphatidic acid mixtures

To elucidate the stability and phase transition of cubic phases of biomembranes with infinite periodic minimal surface is indispensable from biological and physicochemical aspects. In this report, we investigated the effect of positively charged peptide-3K (LLKKK) and poly(L-lysine) on the phase stability of monoolein (MO) membranes containing negatively charged dioleoylphosphatidic acid (DOPA) (i.e., DOPA/MO membranes) using small-angle X-ray scattering. At first, the effect of peptide-3K on 10% DOPA/90% MO membrane in excess water, which is in the Q229 phase, was investigated. At 3.4 mM peptide-3K, a Q229 to Q230 phase transition occurred, and at >3.4 mM peptide-3K, the membrane was in the Q230 phase. Poly(L-lysine) (M(w) 1K-4K) also induced the Q230 phase, but peptide-2K (LLKK) could not induce it in the same membrane. We also investigated the effect of peptide-3K on the multilamellar vesicle (MLV) of 25% DOPA/75% MO membrane, which is in L(alpha) phase. In the absence of peptide, the spacing of MLV was very large (11.3 nm), but at > or = 8 mM peptide-3K, it greatly decreased to a constant value (5.2 nm), irrespective of the peptide concentration, indicating that peptide-3K and the membranes form an electrostatically stabilized aggregation with low water content. Poly(L-lysine) also decreased greatly the spacing of the 25% DOPA/75% MO MLV, indicating the formation of a similar aggregation. To compare the effects of peptide-3K and poly(L-lysine) with that of osmotic stress on stability of the cubic phase, we investigated the effect of poly(ethylene glycol) with molecular weight 7500 (PEG-6K) on the phase stability of 10% DOPA/90% MO membrane. With an increase in PEG-6K concentration, i.e., with an increase in osmotic stress, the most stable phase changed as follows; Q229 (Schwartz's P surface) --> Q224 (D) --> Q230 (G). On the basis of these results, we discuss the mechanism of the effects of the positively charged short peptides (peptide-3K) and poly(L-lysine) on the structure and phase stability of DOPA/MO membranes.     

Facile regiocontrolled synthesis of trialkyl-substituted pyrazines

[reaction: see text] Alpha-nitro ketones can be transformed selectively into trialkyl-substituted pyrazines via reaction with alpha-amino ketones using octyl viologen as an electron-transfer reagent. The new synthetic method, and the optimal reaction conditions that allow for the regiochemical control, are described.     

Potentiometric determination of silver(I), palladium(II) and gold(III) in mixtures by use of an iodide-selective electrode

Two procedures are proposed for the potentiometric determination of Ag(I), Pd(II) and Au(III) in binary mixtures, by titration with potassium iodide solution, and use of a commercial iodide electrode as sensor. In the first procedure, two aliquots of the mixture are titrated, at pH 2.0 ± 0.2 and 9.0 ± 0.2, adjusted with dilute sulphuric acid and ammonia solution. At pH 2.0, the titrant reacts with both metals, whereas at pH 9.0, Ag(I) is the only reactant. The second procedure utilizes titration of two aliquots of the mixture in the presence and absence of a selective masking agent. The methods have been applied to the determination of these metals in some jewellery alloys.     

Synthesis,Antimicrobial, Anti-Virulence and Anticancer Evaluation of New 5(4H)-Oxazolone-Based Sulfonamides

Since the synthesis of prontosil the first prodrug shares their chemical moiety, sulfonamides exhibit diverse modes of actions to serve as antimicrobials, diuretics, antidiabetics, and other clinical applications. This inspiring chemical nucleus has promoted several research groups to investigate the synthesis of new members exploring new clinical applications. In this study, a novel series of 5(4H)-oxazolone-based-sulfonamides (OBS) 9a–k were synthesized, and their antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated against a wide range of Gram-positive and -negative bacteria and fungi. Most of the tested compounds exhibited promising antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria particularly OBS 9b and 9f. Meanwhile, compound 9h showed the most potent antifungal activity. Moreover, the OBS 9a, 9b, and 9f that inhibited the bacterial growth at the lowest concentrations were subjected to further evaluation for their anti-virulence activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Interestingly, the three tested compounds reduced the biofilm formation and diminished the production of virulence factors in both P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Bacteria use a signaling system, quorum sensing (QS), to regulate their virulence. In this context, in silico study has been conducted to assess the ability of OBS to compete with the QS receptors. The tested OBS showed marked ability to bind and hinder QS receptors, indicating that anti-virulence activities of OBS could be due to blocking QS, the system that controls the bacterial virulence. Furthermore, anticancer activity has been further performed for such derivatives. The OBS compounds showed variable anti-tumor activities, specifically 9a, 9b, 9f and 9k, against different cancer lines. Conclusively, the OBS compounds can serve as antimicrobials, anti-virulence and anti-tumor agents.     

Synergistic effects of carbon doping and coating of TiO2 with exceptional photocurrent enhancement for high performance H2 production from water splitting

The"one pot"simultaneous carbon coating and doping of TiO₂ materials by the hydrolysis of TiCl4 in fructose is reported.The synergistic effect of carbon doping and coating of TiO₂ to significantly boost textural,optical and electronic properties and photocurrent of TiO₂ for high performance visible light H2 production from water splitting has been comprehensively investigated.Carbon doping can significantly increase the thermal stability,thus inhibiting the phase transformation of the Titania material from anatase to rutile while carbon coating can suppress the grain aggregation of TiO₂.The synergy of carbon doping and coating can not only ensure an enhanced narrowing effect of the electronic band gap of TiO₂ thus extending the absorption of photocatalysts to the visible regions,but also promote dramatically the separation of electron-hole pairs.Owing to these synergistic effects,the carbon coated and doped TiO₂ shows much superior photocatalytic activity for both degradation of organics and photocatalytic/photoelectro chemical(PEC)water splitting under simulated sunlight illumination.The photocatalytic activity of obtained materials can reach 5,4 and 2 times higher than that of pristine TiO₂,carbon doped TiO₂ and carbon coated TiO₂,respectively in the degradation of organic pollutants.The carbon coated and doped TiO₂ materials exhibited more than 37 times and hundreds of times photocurrent enhancement under simulated sunlight and visible light,respectively compared to that of pristine TiO₂.The present work providing new comprehensive understanding on carbon coating and doping effect could be very helpful for the development of advanced TiO₂ materials for a large series of applications.     

Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Studies on the Interaction of Gatifloxacin,Moxifloxacin and Sparfloxacin with DNA and Their Analytical Applications

The electrochemical oxidation of the three fluoroquinolone drugs FQs: gatifloxacin GTF, moxifloxacin MXF and sparfloxacin SPF, at the bare and DNA‐modified glassy carbon electrodes has been studied by voltammetric techniques. The three FQs showed one irreversible oxidation peak at potential range 0.85–0.91 V vs. Ag‐AgCl, in phosphate buffer of pH 7.0. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and UV‐absorption spectroscopic techniques were employed to probe the interaction between the FQs and calf thymus double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ds CT‐DNA). From electrochemical data, the binding constant between DNA and the gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin and sparfloxacin are calculated to be 3228, 2596 and 2857 M^?1 respectively. Based on electrochemical and spectroscopic results, the mode of binding of fluoroquinolone to DNA through combined effect of intercalation and electrostatic interaction was concluded. A detection scheme based on a preconcentration and differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) determination at dsDNA modified glassy carbon electrode (DNA/GCE) was proposed for the trace determination of the studied analytes. The developed method was successfully applied to the determination of the FQs in pharmaceutical formulations.