Optimization technique based on learning automata

Optimization techniques are finding increasingly numerous applications in process design, in parallel to the increase of computer sophistication. The process synthesis problem can be stated as a largescale constrained optimization problem involving numerous local optima and presenting a nonlinear and nonconvex character. To solve this kind of problem, the classical optimization methods can lead to analytical and numerical difficulties. This paper describes the feasibility of an optimization technique based on learning systems which can take into consideration all the prior information concerning the process to be optimized and improve their behavior with time. This information generally occurs in a very complex analytical, empirical, or know-how form. Computer simulations related to chemical engineering problems (benzene chlorination, distillation sequence) and numerical examples are presented. The results illustrate both the performance and the implementation simplicity of this method.Nomenclature c _i penalty probability - cp precision parameter on constraints - D variation domain of the variablex - f(·) objective function - g(·) constraints - i,j indexes - k iteration number - N number of actions - P probability distribution vector - p _i ith component of the vectorP as iterationk - r number of reactors in the flowsheet - u(k) discrete value or action chosen by the algorithm at iterationk - u _i discrete value of the optimization variable in [u _min,u _max] - u _min lowest value of the optimization variable - u _max largest value of the optimization variable - Z random number - x variable for the criterion function - xp precision parameter on criterion function - W(k) performance index unit output at iterationk - ₀, ₁ reinforcement scheme parameters - _p sum of the probability distribution vector components     

Synthesis and In Vitro Anti-HIV Activity of Some New Schiff Base Ligands Derived from 5-Amino-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol and Their Metal Complexes

New Schiff base ligands (6–9) derived from 5-amino-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol 1 and substituted benzaldehydes (2–5) as well as their metal complexes with Cu(II), Fe(II), Au(III), and Mn(II) (12–17) have been synthesized. A new benzothiazole derivative (11) was prepared from coupling of 7 with N-(benzothiazol-2-yl)-2-chloroacetamide 10. Their spectral properties were investigated. The newly designed and synthesized Schiff base ligands and the metal complexes were assayed for anti-HIV-1 and HIV-2 activity by examination of their inhibition of HIV-induced cytopathogenicity in MT-4 cells. Compounds 11 and 16 were found to be the most active inhibitors in cell culture (EC₅₀ = 12.2 μg/mL (SI = 4) and > 2.11 μg/mL (SI = > 1), respectively) against HIV-1, whereas 11 showed inhibition against HIV-2 of EC₅₀ > 10.2 μg/mL with SI = 9, which provided a good lead for further optimization.     

Rheological behavior of self-assembling PEG-beta-cyclodextrin/PEG-cholesterol hydrogels

The rheological properties of a recently developed self-assembling hydrogel system composed of beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD)- and cholesterol-derivatized 8-arm star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG8) were investigated. To understand and predict the gel rheological properties, data fitting with the Maxwell model as well as comparing the system's concentration-dependent behavior with Cates' model for reversibly breaking chains were performed. To investigate the influence of the polymer architecture, networks were also prepared by replacing the cholesterol-derivatized 8-arm star-shaped PEG by linear bifunctional PEG-cholesterol or by using 4-arm instead of 8-arm polymers. Rheological analysis showed that the 8-arm polymer-based mixtures yielded tight viscoelastic networks, but their storage and loss moduli significantly deviated from those predicted by the Maxwell model. The scaling of the plateau moduli, relaxation times, and zero-shear viscosities with concentration for gels composed of 8-arm cholesterol- and betaCD-derivatized PEG followed a power law with exponents higher than predicted by Cates' model. On the other hand, hydrogels in which linear bifunctional PEG-cholesterol was used instead of 8-arm star-shaped PEG-cholesterol or which were based on 4-arm polymers showed a substantially better fit with the Maxwell model and reduced differences between empirical and Cates' theoretical scaling exponents. Rheological analysis also showed that the hydrogels were thermoreversible. At low temperatures, the gels showed viscoelastic behavior due to slow overall relaxation of the polymer chains. At higher temperatures, however, a reduced number of betaCD/cholesterol complexes and concomitant faster chain relaxation processes eventually led to liquid-like behavior. The relationship between temperature and the relaxation time was used to determine an activation energy of 46 kJ/mol for breaking and reptation of the polymers.     

N‐ and C‐acyclic thionuleoside analogues of 1,2,3‐triazole

Cycloaddition of the azide derivative 5 with 1,4‐dihydroxybutyne afforded the N‐thio‐acyclic nucleoside 6 , which prepared alternatively from coupling of the bromo derivative 8 with 2‐acetoxy‐ethylmercaptan. Deblocking of 6 gave the free nucleoside 7 . Mesylation of 6 furnished the dimesylate 9 , which gave three rearranged products 14–16 on treatment with chloride anion. These compounds might be obtained via the episulfonium ion 10 , which is subjected to nucleophilic displacement and further sulfur participation. Deblocking of 14–16 afforded the free nucleoside analogues 17–19 , and their structures were confirmed by COSY, ROESY, HMQC, and HMBC NMR techniques. Compound 16 was prepared alternatively from chlorination of alcohol 6 with Ph₃P‐CCl₄. Carbomoylation of 6 led to the carbamate 20 , which gave the free nucleoside analogue 21 on deblocking. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 15:380–387, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20030     

New benzylpiperazine derivatives bearing mono‐ and bis‐dialkyl substituted 1,2,4‐triazoles

Cycloaddition of the 1‐aza‐2‐azoniaallenes 3 with p‐cyanobenzyl chlorides afforded, after spontaneous rearrangement, the 1,5‐dialkyl‐3‐[4‐chloromethyl)phenyl]‐1H‐[1,2,4]‐triazoles 6 . A series of 1,5‐dialkyl‐1H‐[1,2,4]‐triazol‐3‐yl)benzyl‐piperazines 7 and 8 were prepared from direct condensation of 6 with piperazine and N‐methylpiperazine, respectively. The structures of the newly synthesized products were identified by 2D NMR spectroscopy. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 16:28–32, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20061     

Evaluation of the bioactivity of novel spiroisoxazoline typecompounds against normal and cancer cell lines

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro cellular activity of novel spiroisoxazoline type compounds against normal and cancer cell lines from lung tissue (Hs888Lu), neuron-phenotypic cells (SH-SY5Y), neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y), human histiocytic lymphoma (U937), lung cancer (A549), and leukaemia (HL-60). Our bioassay program revealed that the spiroisoxazoline type compounds show cytotoxicity only in lymphoma cell lines, which is in contrast with the pyrrolidine precursor of these spiroisoxazoline compounds, where significant cytotoxicity is seen in all normal and cancer cell lines. These data suggest a tumour-specific mechanism of action. In addition these data also show that spiroisoxazoline compounds are non-toxic in the human neuronphenotypic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line, and furthermore that they might protect cells from neurodegenerative disease.     

Thiohydantoin Nucleosides. Synthesis Approaches

Summary. Several thiohydantoin N-nucleosides and their S-glycosides were prepared via different approaches which involved the direct glycosylation of the free thiohydantoin bases or their silylated derivatives with the corresponding sugar moieties in the presence of base or Lewis acid. Deprotection was carried out in acidic or basic medium. The site of N- and/or S-glycosylation was determined by NMR and UV measurements. In similar manner, hydantoin nucleosides were prepared.Present address: Riaydh Teachers College, P.O. Box 4341, Riaydh 11491, Saudi ArabiaPresent address: EuroMed-Konstanz, P.O. Box 100552, D-78405 Konstanz, Germany     

Amino acid derivatives,part 2: Synthesis,antiviral, and antitumor activity of simple protected amino acids functionalized at N‐terminus with naphthalene side chain

Coupling of various acylated amino acid derivatives with (naphthalen‐2‐lyloxy)acetic acid ( 3 ) in the presence of 1‐hydroxy‐benzoteriazole (HOBt) and DCC afforded the new amides 6–12 . Alternatively, the latter compounds were prepared from reaction of the corresponding hydrazide 5 , via the azide‐coupling method, with the acylated amino acid derivatives. Treatment of 6, 10–12 with N₂H₄ċH₂O afforded the hydrazides 13–16 , respectively, as key intermediates for the synthesis of peptide derivatives. Reaction of 12 , as a acceptor, with the glycosyl‐trichloroimidate 18 , as donors in the presence of TMSOTf gave the new glycoside 19 . The new compounds were evaluated for their anti‐HIV‐1, antibovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), and antitumor activity. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 16:148–222, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20082