Catalysis in the Synthesis of S,N-Heterocycles and O,N-, S,N-, and O,S,N-Macroheterocycles

The review systemizes and generalizes published data on the catalytic syntheses of six-, seven-, and eight-membered S,N-heterocycles and O,N-, S,N-, and O,S,N-macroheterocycles.     

Detection of Variation in Long-Term Micropropagated Mature Pistachio via DNA-Based Molecular Markers

Determination of genetic stability of in vitro-grown plantlets is needed for safe and large-scale production of mature trees. In this study, genetic variation of long-term micropropagated mature pistachio developed through direct shoot bud regeneration using apical buds (protocol A) and in vitro-derived leaves (protocol B) was assessed via DNA-based molecular markers. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR), and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) were employed, and the obtained PIC values from RAPD (0.226), ISSR (0.220), and AFLP (0.241) showed that micropropagation of pistachio for different periods of time resulted in “reasonable polymorphism” among donor plant and its 18 clones. Mantel’s test showed a consistence polymorphism level between marker systems based on similarity matrices. In conclusion, this is the first study on occurrence of genetic variability in long-term micropropagated mature pistachio plantlets. The obtained results clearly indicated that different marker approaches used in this study are reliable for assessing tissue culture-induced variations in long-term cultured pistachio plantlets.     

Multi-choice goal programming formulation based on the conic scalarizing function

The multi-choice goal programming allows the decision maker to set multi-choice aspiration levels for each goal to avoid underestimation of the decision. In this paper, we propose an alternative multi-choice goal programming formulation based on the conic scalarizing function with three contributions: (1) the alternative formulation allows the decision maker to set multi-choice aspiration levels for each goal to obtain an efficient solution in the global region, (2) the proposed formulation reduces auxiliary constraints and additional variables, and (3) the proposed model guarantees to obtain a properly efficient (in the sense of Benson) point. Finally, to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed formulation, illustrative examples and test problems are included.     

Fused heterocycles: synthesis of some new imidazo[1,2-a]- pyridine derivatives

Some new thiazolidines and spirothiazolidines derived from hydrazones of 2-methylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carboxylic acid hydrazide, a bioisosteric derivative of isoniazid, were synthesized and characterized by analytical, IR, (1)H- and (13)C-NMR and mass spectral data. Some of the newly synthesized compounds were screened for their antimycobacterial activities. None of the tested compounds showed significant in vitro antituberculous activity at 6.25 mirog/mL (MIC rifampin 0.031 microg/mL).     

Application of light-emitting diodes for aerosol fluorescence detection

We demonstrate a proof-of-concept optical spectroscopic system for bioaerosol-particle fluorescence detection, in which a pulsed high-power laser is replaced by a highly compact linear array of sequentially fired light from blue light-emitting diodes. The results suggest that low-cost, compact optical aerosol detection may be feasible with the contemporary emergence of efficient UV light-emitting diodes.     

Strong coupling of nonlinear electronic and biological oscillators: reaching the "amplitude death" regime

Interaction between an electronic and a biological circuit has been investigated for a pair of electrically connected nonlinear oscillators, with a spontaneously oscillating olivary neuron as the single-cell biological element. By varying the coupling strength between the oscillators, we observe a range of behaviors predicted by model calculations, including a reversible low-energy dissipation "amplitude death" where the oscillations in the coupled system cease entirely.     

A modified method for the sequential determination of 210Po and 210Pb in Ca-rich material using liquid scintillation counting

This research describes methods for the sequential determination of ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po activity concentrations in Ca-rich ash samples collected from oil shale-fired power plants in Estonia. The procedure involves digestion of Ca-rich ash samples in a microwave digestion system, radiochemical separation of ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po and their measurements. All samples, blanks and standards were measured by liquid scintillation counting (Quantulus 1220). The method was tested using IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) RGU-1 and IAEA-444 reference materials. Spectral calibration/peak identification which included the optimization of α/β discrimination system (pulse shape analyser), and recovery have been made by ²⁰⁹Po and ²¹⁰Pb standard solutions.