An experimental study on the kinetics of leaching for the preparation of a Raney-silver catalyst

A Raney-Ag catalyst was prepared by leaching out aluminium from a Raney Ag-Al alloy with NaOH solution. The kinetics of leaching has been investigated in a stirred-batch-reactor at various temperatures by using alloy particles of different sizes. The kinetic model best fitting the experimental results has been determined. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the well-posedness of the inviscid SQG equation

In this paper we consider the inviscid SQG equation on the Sobolev spaces $H^s({\mathbb{R}}^2)$, $s>2$. Using a geometric approach we show that for any $T>0$ the corresponding solution map, $\theta (0)?\theta (T)$, is nowhere locally uniformly continuous.     

Affinity of a new copper(II) complex to DNA/BSA and antioxidant/radical scavenging activities: crystal structure of [Cu(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)(leucine)(NO3)(H2O)]

A new copper(II) complex, [Cu(Bphen)(Leu)(NO₃)(H₂O)] (Bphen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, leu = L-leucine), has been synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, CHN analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The CT-DNA binding properties of the complex have been investigated by both absorption and emission spectroscopy. The binding parameters for the fluorescence Scatchard plot were also determined. Further, the interaction of the complex with bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been investigated using absorption and emission spectroscopy. The thermodynamic parameters, free energy change (ΔG), enthalpy change (ΔH), and entropy change (ΔS), were calculated by the van’t Hoff equation and discussed. The distance between BSA and the complex has been obtained according to fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Conformational changes of BSA have been observed from synchronous fluorescence. Antioxidant and radical scavenging activities of the complex were determined by various in vitro assays such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl free radicals (DPPH˙), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals (ABTS˙⁺), and reducing ability determination by H₂O₂ scavenging methods.     

On the well-posedness of the Holm-Staley b-family of equations

In this paper we consider the Holm-Staley b-family of equations in the Sobolev spaces H^s(?) for s>3/2. Using a geometric approach we show that, for any value of the parameter b, the corresponding solution map,u(0)?u(T ), is nowhere locally uniformly continuous.     

Exciton related optical absorption in a spherical quantum dot

An exciton in a spherical quantum dot is studied analytically within the effective mass approximation. A parabolic confinement under an electric field is considered. The linear and nonlinear optical absorption coefficients are calculated within the density matrix formalism. No assumptions are made about the strength of the confinement. It is shown how the competing mechanisms of the Coulomb interaction, the confinement and the applied static electric field affect the optical absorption.     

A comparison of the effect of the ellipticity on the small and large solid-core PCF’s characteristics

In this paper we study small and large solid-core PCFs with elliptical shaped air-holes for the hexagonal lattice, which were constructed by omitting one air-hole (small core) and seven air-holes (large core), respectively, and we compare their characteristics with those with circular holes. We use two types of ellipticity: vertical and horizontal. Birefringence, dispersion, and the numerical apertures of the fundamental modes are analyzed using commercial simulation software. Also, the confinement loss is obtained. The effect of ellipticity on these characteristics is investigated in detail. It is found that the type of ellipticity of the air holes affects the numerical aperture and hence confinement loss significantly, but it has no crucial effect on either the dispersion or the birefringence for the small and large core PCFs.     

The question of equivalence for generalized Hausdorff matrices

In the present paper we investigate when Hausdorff matrices and generalized Hausdorff matrices, with the same mass function, are equivalent, as bounded operators on c and ?p.     

Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) as a Potential Target for Anticancer Drug Design and Development

Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) are oxidative enzymes that catalyze the conversion of biogenic amines into their corresponding aldehydes and ketones through oxidative deamination. Owing to the crucial role of MAOs in maintaining functional levels of neurotransmitters, the implications of its distorted activity have been associated with numerous neurological diseases. Recently, an unanticipated role of MAOs in tumor progression and metastasis has been reported. The chemical inhibition of MAOs might be a valuable therapeutic approach for cancer treatment. In this review, we reported computational approaches exploited in the design and development of selective MAO inhibitors accompanied by their biological activities. Additionally, we generated a pharmacophore model for MAO-A active inhibitors to identify the structural motifs to invoke an activity.     

Use of polyethylene glycol coatings for optical fibre humidity sensing

Humidity induced change in the refractive index and thickness of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) coatings are in situ investigated for a range from 10 to 95%, using an optical waveguide spectroscopic technique. It is experimentally demonstrated that, upon humidity change, the optical and swelling characteristics of the PEG coatings can be employed to build a plastic fibre optic humidity sensor. The sensing mechanism is based on the humidity induced change in the refractive index of the PEG film, which is directly coated onto a polished segment of a plastic optical fibre with dip-coating method. It is observed that PEG, which is a highly hydrophilic material, shows no monotonic linear response to humidity but gives different characteristics for various ranges of humidity levels both in index of refraction and in thickness. It undergoes a physical phase change from a semi-crystalline structure to a gel one at around 80% relative humidity. At this phase change point, a drastic decrease occurs in the index of refraction as well as a drastic increase in the swelling of the PEG film. In addition, PEG coatings are hydrogenated in a vacuum chamber. It is observed that the hydrogen has a preventing effect on the humidity induced phase change in PEG coatings. Finally, the possibility of using PEG coatings in construction of a real plastic fibre optic humidity sensor is discussed.     

Investigation of the spontaneous emission rate of perylene dye molecules encapsulated into three-dimensional nanofibers via FLIM method

The decay dynamics of perylene dye molecules encapsulated in polymer nanofibers produced by electrospinning of polymethyl methacrylate are investigated using a confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy technique. Time-resolved experiments show that the fluorescence lifetime of perylene dye molecules is enhanced when the dye molecules are encapsulated in a three-dimensional photonic environment. It is hard to produce a sustainable host with exactly the same dimensions all the time during fabrication to accommodate dye molecules for enhancement of spontaneous emission rate. The electrospinning method allows us to have a control over fiber diameter. It is observed that the wavelength of monomer excitation of perylene dye molecules is too short to cause enhancement within nanofiber photonic environment of 330 nm diameters. However, when these nanofibers are doped with more concentrated perylene, in addition to monomer excitation, an excimer excitation is generated. This causes observation of the Purcell effect in the three-dimensional nanocylindrical photonic fiber geometry.