Improved DPPH determination for antioxidant activity spectrophotometric assay

An improved procedure for determination of the residual DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical concentration was proposed taking into account the absorbance of both DPPH free radicals and DPPH nonradical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazine) stable form. The calculated residual DPPH free radical concentrations were compared with those obtained from a calibration curve and variation coefficients below 10 % were found.     

Natural radioactivity measurements in the granite rock of quarry sites,Johor, Malaysia

This study was conducted to determine the concentration of natural radionuclides in the granite rocks of selected quarry sites in Johor state, Malaysia and their possible radiological effects. The activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in the areas of study indicated varying values of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K. The highest values of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th concentrations (67±1 and 85±2 Bq kg^?1, respectively) were observed at Kamad Quarry (IJM), whereas the highest value of ⁴⁰K concentration (722±18 Bq kg^?1) was detected in Kim Seng Quarry, while the values of activity concentration are lower in Hanson Quarry Products (Kulai) (25±0.5 for ²³⁸U, 24±0.5 for ²³²Th and 429±11 for ⁴⁰K). Overall, ⁴⁰K has the highest concentration in the granite rocks of the quarry sites, followed by ²³²Th and the least for ²³⁸U. The radium equivalent activity concentration was found in the range between 94 and 239 Bq kg^?1, the absorbed dose rate was found to be in the range between 47 and 112 nGy h^?1, and effective dose ranged from 58 to 137 μSv h^?1. Moreover, the internal and external hazard index values were given in results lower than unity.     

TG/DTG/DTA for the oxidation behavior characterization of vegetable and animal fats

TG/DTG/DTA curves can be used to estimate alimentary fats quality and antioxidants insertion efficiency. Sunflower oil obtained from Carnia hybrid and pork lard were used as matrices for the non-isothermal measurements. The first stage of non-isothermal decomposition is mostly important for the characterization of the fats thermal stability. The corresponding onset temperature is a good value for the comparison of different fats thermal stability or for the effectiveness evaluation in case of antioxidant insertion. In this study, it can be seen a considerable improvement of the fats thermal stability by adding small amounts from a natural antioxidant liquid mixture (obtained by alcoholic maceration of equal amounts of seven plants, namely: milfoil, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, lovage, oregano, and basil). Chlorophylls removal from the plant extract using two different adsorbents was accompanied by a four time decrease of the antiradical activity (measured by the DPPH method) with Sephadex LH20 and seventeen times decrease when activated carbon was used.     

The study of non-isothermal degradation of acrylic ion-exchange resins

Summary The thermal behavior under non-isothermal conditions of some low-acidity carboxylic cationites with acrylic-divinylbenzene (DVB) matrix was investigated in air and nitrogen atmosphere up to 600°C. Thermal analysis (TG/DTG) combined with Mass Spectrometry (MS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterize the resins decomposition steps and the degradation products. Five decomposition steps were observed. The first step is due to elimination of osmotic and bound water. The second decomposition step is due to dehydration of neighboring (-COOH) groups. The third and fourth mass-loss steps correspond to decarboxylation of the polyanhydrides and to some depolymerization of the polymeric matrix. The last decomposition step is associated with total degradation of the polymeric matrix. The shape and the temperature for each decomposition steps depend on the experimental conditions (heating rate and degradation atmosphere) and on the sample properties (i.e. granulation, cross-linking degree, porosity and physical form).     

Copper-catalyzed alkylation of benzoxazoles with secondary alkyl halides

Copper-catalyzed direct alkylation of benzoxazoles using nonactivated secondary alkyl halides has been developed. The best catalyst is a new copper(I) complex (1), and the reactions are promoted by bis[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl] ether.     

Pd, Pt, and Ru complexes of a pincer bis(amino)amide ligand

An improved synthesis of pincer ligand bis[(2-dimethylamino)phenyl]amine ((Me)N(2)NH) was reported. Reaction of the Li complex of (Me)N(2)N with suitable Pd, Pt, and Ru precursors gave the corresponding metal complexes. The structures of the Pd, Pt, and Ru complexes were determined. The Ru complex showed activity in catalytic transfer hydrogenation of aryl and alkyl ketones.     

Computing stock price comovements with a three-regime panel smooth transition error correction model

Annals of Operations Research - This paper studies the hypothesis of stock price comovements toward the US market for a large sample of developed and emerging stock markets (G6, BRICS, and MENA)...     

Energy-efficient Nature-Inspired techniques in Cloud computing datacenters

Telecommunication Systems - Cloud computing is a systematic delivery of computing resources as services to the consumers via the Internet. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is the capability...     

Lightweight distributed geographical: a lightweight distributed protocol for virtual clustering in geographical forwarding cognitive radio sensor networks

Recent literature characterizes future wireless sensor networks (WSN) with dynamic spectrum capabilities. When cognitive radio is introduced as a main component of a network, a network management protocol is needed to ensure network connectivity and stability especially in highly dynamic environments. Implementing such protocols in WSN opens more challenges because of the resource constraints in sensor networks. We propose a distributed lightweight solution that fulfills this need for WSN. With this protocol, a node in a multichannel environment is quickly able to establish a control channel with neighboring nodes. Lightweight distributed geographical either increases or reduces the coverage area of the control channel based on perceived interference and adequately takes care of intersecting nodes with minimal overhead. By identifying local minima nodes, it also has the potentiality of reducing route failure by 70% further reducing the time and energy overhead incurred by switching to angle routing or maximum power transmission schemes usually used to solve the local minima issue. The work shows best operating values in terms of duty cycle and signal to noise ratio threshold frequencies and the lightweight nature of lightweight distributed geographical in terms of energy and communication overhead, which suits network management protocols for cognitive radio sensor networks. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heterogeneous soft acid catalysis of the sucrose hydrolysis

Using a micro-calorimetrical DSC we have compared the acid-catalyzed inversion of sucrose in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. Acetic acid was chosen as catalyst for homogeneous system, and several carboxylic cationites were used as heterogeneous catalysts. The kinetic apparent parameters (A, E, k _ap) for all the systems were calculated from DSC data with Friedmann’s method and catalytic constant, k₃₂₃^cat, was further inferred. We found that the specific catalyst efficiency, q _cat, in heterogeneous system is over 5000 times higher than in case of homogeneous ones. The activity of heterogeneous carboxylic systems is still about 30 times larger than those of a strong mineral acid in homogeneous catalysis. The results indicate the high efficiency of heterogeneous systems for soft acid catalysis of the sucrose hydrolysis.