Efficient Routes for the Synthesis of Dinaphthosulfide (BINOL Derivatives) and Dibenzosulfide Aza Podands Containing Ethanolamine

Four new dinaphthosulfide and dibenzosulfide aza podands were synthesized. The synthesis of these podands was performed under three different reaction conditions: 1) diester, K ₂ CO ₃ , methanol, and RT; 2) diester, ethanolamine, and microwave (MW); and 3) diacid dichloride, ethanolamine, Et ₃ N, CH ₂ Cl ₂ , RT. Two kinds of diester (dinaphthosulfide and dibenzosulfide) were used for the preparation of dihydroxy podands. These dihydroxy podands were reacted with thionyl chloride to afford dichloro podands. The second route gave excellent yields of dihydroxy podands. Dichloro podands are more soluble than dihydroxy podands in conventional solvents such as methanol, chloroform, and acetonitrile.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Ion Exchange Properties of a New Composite of Inorganic Ion Exchanger: Polyacrylonitrile Cerium(IV) Molybdophosphate

In this work, the synthesis of the composite of cerium(IV) molybdophosphate (CMP) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was reported (CMP‐PAN). The material has been characterized by elemental and spectral (FT‐IR), X‐ray and thermal (TGA) analysis. Also the size analysis of the composite was done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Its chemical stability in acidic, basic and saline solutions and radiation stability up to 100 kGy total expose dose were assessed. Whereas the synthesized composite has ion exchange properties, its ion exchange capacity and behavior toward several metal ions were also investigated. Further, the distribution coefficients of the metal ions were calculated. Finally, the ability of the synthesized CMP‐PAN composite for the decontamination of low level liquid waste (LLLW) was investigated.     

Effect of diffusive and nondiffusive surfaces combinations on sound diffusion

One of room acoustic goals, especially in small to medium rooms, is sound diffusion in low frequencies, which have been the subject of lots of researches. Sound diffusion is a very important consideration in acoustics because it minimizes the coherent reflections that cause problems. It also tends to make an enclosed space sound larger than it is. Diffusion is an excellent alternative or complement to sound absorption in acoustic treatment because it doesn’t really remove much energy, which means it can be used to effectively reduce reflections while still leaving an ambient or live sounding space. Distribution of diffusive and nondiffusive surfaces on room walls affect sound diffusion in room, but the amount, combination, and location of these surfaces are still the matter of question. This paper investigates effects of these issues on room acoustic frequency response in different parts of the room with different source-receiver locations. Room acoustic model based on wave method is used (implemented) which is very accurate and convenient for low frequencies in such rooms. Different distributions of acoustic surfaces on room walls have been introduced to the model and room frequency response results are calculated. For the purpose of comparison, some measurements results are presented. Finally for more smooth frequency response in small and medium rooms, some suggestions are made.     

Optimization models for assessing the peak capacity utilization of intelligent transportation systems

With limited economic and physical resources, it is not feasible to continually expand transportation infrastructure to adequately support the rapid growth in its usage. This is especially true for traffic coordination systems where the expansion of road infrastructure has not been able to keep pace with the increasing number of vehicles, thereby resulting in congestion and delays. Hence, in addition to striving for the construction of new roads, it is imperative to develop new intelligent transportation management and coordination systems. The effectiveness of a new technique can be evaluated by comparing it with the optimal capacity utilization. If this comparison indicates that substantial improvements are possible, then the cost of developing and deploying an intelligent traffic system can be justified. Moreover, developing an optimization model can also help in capacity planning. For instance, at a given level of demand, if the optimal solution worsens significantly, this implies that no amount of intelligent strategies can handle this demand, and expanding the infrastructure would be the only alternative. In this paper, we demonstrate these concepts through a case study of scheduling vehicles on a grid of intersecting roads. We develop two optimization models namely, the mixed integer programming model and the space-time network flow model, and show that the latter model is substantially more effective. Moreover, we prove that the problem is strongly NP-hard and develop two polynomial-time heuristics. The heuristic solutions are then compared with the optimal capacity utilization obtained using the space-time network model. We also present important managerial implications.     

The Effect of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Collagen Incorporated with Exo-Polysaccharides Derived from Rhodotorula mucilaginosa sp. on Burn Healing

Burn is one of the physically debilitating injuries that can be potentially fatal; therefore, providing appropriate coverage in order to reduce possible mortality risk and accelerate wound healing is mandatory. In this study, collagen/exo-polysaccharide (Col/EPS 1–3%) scaffolds are synthesized from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) skins incorporated with Rhodotorula mucilaginosa sp. GUMS16, respectively, for promoting Grade 3 burn wound healing. Physicochemical characterizations and, consequently, biological properties of the Col/EPS scaffolds are tested. The results show that the presence of EPS does not affect the minimum porosity dimensions, while raising the EPS amount significantly reduces the maximum porosity dimensions. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FTIR, and tensile property results confirm the successful incorporation of the EPS into Col scaffolds. Furthermore,the biological results show that the increasing EPS does not affect Col biodegradability and cell viability, and the use of Col/EPS 1% on rat models displays a faster healing rate. Finally, histopathological examination reveals that the Col/EPS 1% treatment accelerates wound healing, through greater re-epithelialization and dermal remodeling, more abundant fibroblast cells and Col accumulation. These findings suggest that Col/EPS 1% promotes dermal wound healing via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which can be a potential medical process in the treatment of burn wounds.