Determination of Vanadyl Ions by a New PVC Membrane Sensor Based on N, N'-bis-(Salicylidene)-2,2-Dimethylpropane-1,3-Diamine

N, N'-bis-(salicylidene)-2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diamine (NNPD) was found to be a suitable neutral ion carrier for the construction of a highly selective and sensitive vanadyl membrane sensor. Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) based membranes of NNPD with potassium tetrakis (p-chlorophenyl) borate (KTpCIPB) as an anionic excluder and diethyl sebacate (DES), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), banzyl acetate (BA) and o-nitrophenyloctyl ether (NPOE) as plasticizing solvent mediators were investigated in vanadyl membrane sensors. A membrane, composed of NNPD-PVC-KTpCIPB-DES with the ratio 4.0:30.0:1.0:65.0, works well over a wide concentration range (7.0 times 10^-6 to 1.0 times 10 ^-2 M) with a Nernstian slope of 28.8plusmn0.3 mV per decade of activity between pH values of 4.0 and 5.10. The detection limit of the sensor was calculated to be 5.0 times 10^-6 M. It displays satisfactorily good discrimination toward vanadyl ions with regard to most common transitional metal ions. The proposed sensor demonstrates a short response time (-10 s). It was successfully applied for the determination of vanadyl ions in water samples     

Non-monotonic robust H2 fuzzy observer-based control for discrete time nonlinear systems with parametric uncertainties

A non-monotonic Lyapunov function (NMLF) is deployed to design a robust H₂ fuzzy observer-based control problem for discrete-time nonlinear systems in the presence of parametric uncertainties. The uncertain nonlinear system is presented as a Takagi and Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy model with norm-bounded uncertainties. The states of the fuzzy system are estimated by a fuzzy observer and the control design is established based on a parallel distributed compensation scheme. In order to derive a sufficient condition to establish the global asymptotic stability of the proposed closed-loop fuzzy system, an NMLF is adopted and an upper bound on the quadratic cost function is provided. The existence of a robust H₂ fuzzy observer-based controller is expressed as a sufficient condition in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) and a sub-optimal fuzzy observer-based controller in the sense of cost bound minimization is obtained by utilising the aforementioned LMI optimisation techniques. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed scheme is shown through an example.     

A review on current research trends in electrical discharge machining (EDM)

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is one of the earliest non-traditional machining processes. EDM process is based on thermoelectric energy between the work piece and an electrode. A pulse discharge occurs in a small gap between the work piece and the electrode and removes the unwanted material from the parent metal through melting and vaporising. The electrode and the work piece must have electrical conductivity in order to generate the spark. There are various types of products which can be produced using EDM such as dies and moulds. Parts of aerospace, automotive industry and surgical components can be finished by EDM. This paper reviews the research trends in EDM on ultrasonic vibration, dry EDM machining, EDM with powder additives, EDM in water and modeling technique in predicting EDM performances.     

Ultrafast optical pulse delivery with fibers for nonlinear microscopy

Nonlinear microscopies including multiphoton excitation fluorescence microscopy and multiple-harmonic generation microscopy have recently gained popularity for cellular and tissue imaging. The optimization of these imaging methods for minimally invasive use requires optical fibers to conduct light into tight space, where free-space delivery is difficult. The delivery of high-peak power laser pulses with optical fibers is limited by dispersion resulting from nonlinear refractive index responses. In this article, we characterize a variety of commonly used optical fibers in terms of how they affect pulse profile and imaging performance of nonlinear microscopy; the following parameters are quantified: spectral bandwidth and temporal pulse width, two-photon excitation efficiency, and optical resolution. A theoretical explanation for the measured performance of these fibers is also provided.     

Theoretical investigation of interaction between Gatifloxacin and DNA: Implications for anticancer drug design

This study is an attempt to have a better understanding of the physicochemical interaction between a novel anticancer drug, Gatifloxacin (GTFX) and its biological receptor, DNA. The eventual purpose is to design drugs which interact more with DNA. Considering the physicochemical properties of the drug as well as the mechanism by which it interacts with DNA, it should eventually allow the rational design of novel anticancer or antiviral drugs. Molecular modeling on the complex formed between Gatifloxacin and DNA presented the full ability of the drug for participating in the formation of a stable intercalation site. Besides, the molecular geometries of Gatifloxacin (GTFX) and the DNA bases (Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine and Thymine) were optimized with the aid of B3LYP/6-31G? method. The properties of the isolated intercalator and its stacking interactions with the adenine?thymine (AT) and guanine?cytosine (GC) nucleic acid base pairs, were studied using DFTB method, (an approximate version of the DFT method) that was extended to cover the London dispersion energy. The B3LYP/6-31G? stabilization energies of the intercalator?base pair complexes were found to be ? 26.99 and ? 37.62 kcal/mol for AT?GTFX and GC?GTFX, respectively. It was completed that the dispersion energy and the electrostatic interaction contributed to the stability of the intercalator?DNA base pair complexes.     

Effect of the volume of the drainage system on the measurement of undrained thermo-poro-elastic parameters

For evaluation of the undrained thermo-poro-elastic properties of saturated porous materials in conventional triaxial cells, it is important to take into account the effect of the dead volume of the drainage system. The compressibility and the thermal expansion of the drainage system, along with the dead volume of the fluid filling this system, influence the measured pore pressure and volumetric strain during an undrained thermal or mechanical loading in a triaxial cell. The correction methods previously presented by Wissa [Pore pressure measurement in saturated stiff soils. ASCE J Soil Mech Found Div 1969;95(SM 4):1063–73], Bishop [Influence of system compressibility on observed pore pressure response to an undrained change in stress in saturated rock. Geotechnique 1976;26(2):371–5] and Ghabezloo and Sulem [Stress dependent thermal pressurization of a fluid-saturated rock. Rock Mech Rock Eng 2009;42(1):1–24], only permit one to correct the measured pore pressures during an undrained isotropic compression test or an undrained heating test. An extension of these methods is presented in this paper to correct the measured volumetric strain, and consequently the measured undrained bulk compressibility and undrained thermal expansion coefficients, during these tests. Two examples of application of the proposed correction method are presented for an undrained isotropic compression test and an undrained heating test performed on a fluid-saturated granular rock. A parametric study has demonstrated that the porosity and the drained compressibility of the tested material, and the ratio of the volume of the drainage system to the one of the tested sample, are the key parameters that most influence the error induced by the drainage system.     

Exogenous coenzyme Q10 modulates MMP-2 activity in MCF-7 cell line as a breast cancer cellular model

Background/Aims  

Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 is a key molecule in cellular invasion and metastasis. Mitochondrial ROS has been established as a mediator of MMP activity. Coenzyme Q₁₀ contributes to intracellular ROS regulation. Coenzyme Q₁₀ beneficial effects on cancer are still in controversy but there are indications of Coenzyme Q₁₀ complementing effect on tamoxifen receiving breast cancer patients.     

Large distance flow-slide at Jono-Oge due to the 2018 Sulawesi Earthquake,Indonesia

There was a shallow earthquake in the Central Sulawesi province of Sulawesi island of Indonesia with a moment magnitude (Mw) 7.5 on 28th September 2018 at 18:02:44 local time. The event was preceded by major foreshocks and followed by aftershocks of significant magnitude. The epicenter of the main shock was in the Donggala regency of Minahasa peninsula of Central Sulawesi, approximately 70 km from the provincial capital of Palu. The earthquake was caused by the tectonic movement of the left lateral Palu- Koro fault within the Molucca Sea microplate, triggering major geotechnical failure and structural damage in Palu city and Sigi regency. Thousands of people died or are still unaccounted for, and countless others were injured. Balaroa, Petobo, Jono-Oge and Sibalaya were the worst hit mainly due to large-scale flow-slides and mud flows. It was the first time that such large-scale flow failures were triggered by an earthquake, and that the failure of very gentle sloping ground swept away whole localities. The objective of this research was to provide insight into the scale of ground failure and other infrastructural damage caused by the event, especially in Jono-Oge area, where the flow distance was longest. The authors performed preliminary and detailed surveys in the area twice by conducting Portable Dynamics Cone Penetration Test (PDCPT), collecting disturbed and undisturbed samples and using aerial drone (UAV) photography. The findings of the reconnaissance survey are described here along with subsequent data interpretation. Finally, the mechanism of the flow-slides is discussed.