Parallel discrete event simulation algorithm for manufacturing supply chains

Parallel discrete event simulation (PDES) is concerned with the distributed execution of large-scale system models on multiple processors. It is an enabler in the implementation of the virtual enterprise concept, integrating semi-autonomous models of production cells, factories, or units of a supply chain. The key issue in PDES is to maintain causality relationships between system events, while maximizing parallelism in their execution. Events can be executed conservatively only when it is safe to do so, sacrificing the extent to which potential parallelism of the system can be exploited. Alternatively, they can be processed optimistically without guarantee of correctness, but incurring the overhead of a rollback to an earlier saved state when causality error is detected. The paper proposes a modified optimistic scheme for distributed simulation of constituent models of a supply chain in manufacturing, which exploits the inherent operating characteristics of its domain.     

Spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum(VI)

Molybdenum(IV) gives a red colour with ammonium thiocyanate in 5-8M hydrochloric acid medium, the Sandell sensitivity index being 0.018 ppm Mo(VI)/cm(2). Molybdenum(VI) in 4-7M hydrochloric acid medium forms a red complex with ethyl xanthate and ammonium thiocyanate and this can be extracted into acetophenone. Beer's law is obeyed over the range of 1.2-13.8 ppm, and the Sandell indices at 370 and 470 nm are 0.0016 and 0.0068 ppm/cm(2) respectively. The colour is stable for 40 hr. Most cations do not interfere.     

The `cyclophene' [2.2.2](1,2,4)cyclophan‐9‐ene

In the title compound, C₁₈H₁₆, the [2.2]paracyclophane geometry is restrained to a considerable extent despite the introduction of the extra C=C bridge; typical paracyclophane features, such as the elongated C—C bridges, are still observed. However, the bridgehead atoms of the C=C bridge are forced into unusually close proximity [2.657 (3) Å], which in turn causes the rings to be rotated to an interplanar angle of 13.7 (2)°. The packing involves hexagonally close‐packed layers of molecules parallel to the xy plane, corresponding to the known `7,11' pattern of paracyclophanes, but without significant short intermolecular contacts.     

Spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum(VI) with 2-mercaptobenzo-γ-thiopyrone and ammonium thiocyanate

Molybdenum(VI) in 1.4–3.6 M hydrochloric acid medium forms an acetophenone-extractable orange-red complex with the potassium salt of 2-mercapto-benzo-γ-thiopyrone and ammonium thiocyanate in the presence of tin(II) chloride. The limit of identification of the spot test based on this reaction is 0.1 μg of molybdenum (dilution limit, 1:1·10⁶). The spectrophotometric method is fairly selective, the sensitivity being 0.005μg Mo cm^-2 at 470 nm. The colour system obeys Beer's law; the optimal concentration range is 0.75–8.5 μg Mo ml^-1, the relative photometric error being 1.675%. The complex is stable for over 24 h. Common ions can be tolerated in amounts greater than 1000-fold. Interferences of Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ag⁺ are avoided by complexing these ions with 2-mercaptobenzo-γ-thiopyrone at pH 6–10 and extracting with ethyl acetate or chloroform. The proposed method is applied to the determination of molybdenum in steel and in artificial mixtures.     

Euphorbiasteroid Abrogates EGFR and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells to Impart Anticancer Activity

EGFR and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways play a prominent role in tumor progression in various human cancers including non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Transactivation and crosstalk between the EGFR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways may contribute to the aggressiveness of cancers. Targeting these oncogenic pathways with small molecules is an attractive approach to counteract various types of cancers. In this study, we demonstrate the effect of euphorbiasteroid (EPBS) on the EGFR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in NSCLC cells. EPBS induced preferential cytotoxicity toward A549 (wildtype EGFR-expressing) cells over PC-9 (mutant EGFR-expressing) cells. EPBS suppressed the expression of EGFR, Wnt3a, β-catenin, and FZD-1, and the reduction in β-catenin levels was found to be mediated through the activation of GSK-3β. EPBS reduced the phosphorylation of GSK-3β^S9 with a parallel increase in β-TrCP and phosphorylation of GSK-3β^Y216. Lithium chloride treatment increased the phosphorylation of GSK-3β^S9 and nuclear localization of β-catenin, whereas EPBS reverted these effects. Forced expression or depletion of EGFR in NSCLC cells increased or decreased the levels of Wnt3a, β-catenin, and FZD-1, respectively. Overall, EPBS abrogates EGFR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways to impart its anticancer activity in NSCLC cells.     

Elucidation of efficient dual performance in photodegradation and antibacterial activity by a promising candidate Ni-doped MoO3 nanostructure

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - In the present work, Nickel doped Molybdenum trioxide (NixMoO3) where Ni = X (X = 5, 10, and 15%) nanoparticles (NPs) were...     

Synthesis,CMC determination and influence of the micelles, β-cyclodextrin,ionic liquids and liposome(dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine) vesicles on the kinetics of an outer-sphere electron transfer reaction

The surfactant–cobalt(III) complex, cis-[Co(trien)(4AMP)(DA)](ClO₄)₃, trien = triethylenetetramine, 4AMP = 4-aminopyridine, DA = dodecylamine was synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic and physico-chemical techniques. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) value of this surfactant–cobalt(III) complex in aqueous solution was found out from conductance measurements. The conductivity data (at 303, 308, 313, 318 and 323 K) were used for the evaluation of the temperature-dependent CMC and the thermodynamics of micellization (ΔG _m ^° , ΔH_m and ΔS _m ^° ). Also the kinetics of reduction of this surfactant–cobalt(III) complex by hexacyanoferrate(II) ion in micelles, β-cyclodextrin, ionic liquids (ILs) and in liposome vesicles (DPPC) media were studied at different temperature. The rate constant for the electron transfer reaction in micelles was found to increase with increase in the initial concentration of the surfactant–cobalt(III) complex. This peculiar behaviour of dependence of second-order rate constant on the initial concentration of one of the reactants has been attributed to the presence of various concentration of micelles under different initial concentration of the surfactant–cobalt(III) complex in the reaction medium. Inclusion of the long aliphatic chain of the surfactant complex ion into β-cyclodextrin leads to decrease in the rate constant. Below the phase transition temperature of DPPC, the rate decreased with increasing concentration of DPPC, while above the phase transition temperature the rate increased with increasing concentration of DPPC. It is concluded that below the phase transition temperature, there is an accumulation of surfactant–cobalt(III) complex at the interior of the vesicle membrane through hydrophobic effects, and above the phase transition temperature the surfactant–cobalt(III) complex is released from the interior to the exterior surface of the vesicle. In the presence of ionic liquid medium the second order rate constant for this electron transfer reaction for the same complex was found to increase with increasing concentration of ILs has also been studied. An outer-sphere mechanism is proposed for all these reactions and the results have been explained based on the hydrophobicity of the ligand and the reactants with opposite charges.     

Construction of anion‐responsive crosslinked polypseudorotaxane based on molecular recognition of pillar[5]arene

A pillar[5]arene pendant polymer (Poly‐P[5]A) is synthesized via ROMP using Grubb's first‐generation catalyst. GPC analysis of the polymer suggested ~30 pendant pillar[5]arene units in the polymer. Supramolecular polypseudorotaxane assembly is constructed by intermolecularly crosslinking pendant pillar[5]arene units using a bispyridinium guest via host–guest complexation. Formation of the polypseudorotaxane assembly is characterized by 1D/2D NMR techniques and DLS analysis. Moreover, anion‐responsiveness of the polypseudorotaxane assembly is demonstrated by ¹H NMR spectroscopic analysis using chloride anion as external stimulus. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of the poly‐P[5]A showed breath‐figure assembly and upon crosslinking with G.2PF₆ the polymer self‐assemble to give a supramolecular polymer network. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1508–1515     

Determination of trace metallic impurities in high-purity quartz by ion chromatography

A method has been developed for the determination of relevant trace impurities (alkali, alkaline and transition metals) in high purity quartz by ion-chromatography. In situ reagent (HF) purification and simultaneous sample dissolution was achieved in a multichannel vapour phase digestion assembly. Twenty-one samples can be digested at a time in this vapour phase system. Significant decrease in the process blank levels for all the analytes was observed. Drastic reduction (250 times) of NH4+ blank was achieved in the described vapour phase digestion, which enables the determination of trace concentration of sodium in high purity quartz. After volatilisation of the matrix and unreacted HF, the clear water leached solutions were injected into an ion-chromatograph equipped with conductivity detector for the determination of alkali and alkaline earth metals. In the case of transition metals, the trace residues were leached with 10 mM HCl and after separation on a mixed bed analytical column (IonPac CS5) were detected by spectrophotometry after post column derivatisation using 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR). The accuracy of the result was checked by their comparison with those obtained by independent methods like inductively coupled plasma (ICP) MS and ICP atomic emission spectrometry. The achievable detection limits are between 0.4 ng/g (Li) and 22 ng/g (Mn). The application of the method to the determination of the above trace metals in two high-purity-grade quartz samples is demonstrated.