A study on fluorescence quenching of LD-425 by aromatic amines in 1,4-dioxane–acetonitrile mixtures

The fluorescence quenching of 4-methyl-7-(4-morpholiny)-2H-pyrano[2,3-b]pyridin-2-one (LD-425) by aromatic amines aniline (AN), dimethyl aniline (DMAN) and diethyl aniline (DEAN) in solvent mixtures of 1,4-dioxane and acetonitrile has been studied at room temperature by steady-state and time-resolved methods. The positive deviation from linearity has been observed in the Stern–Volmer (S–V) plots. Various quenching rate parameters have been determined using the extended S–V equation and are found to be dependent on solvent polarity. The quenching ability of amines increases with increase in their ionization energies. Further, with the use of the sphere of action static quenching model and finite sink approximation model, it is concluded that the bimolecular quenching reactions are due to the presence of both dynamic and static quenching processes.     

Comparison of the effect of anti-hyperlipidemic drugs from different groups on the phase profile of liposomal membrane–a fluorescence anisotropy study

The study compares the effect of incorporation of three different groups of anti-hyperlipidemic drugs, namely niacin, simvastatin, and fenofibrate on the phase profile of liposomal membranes of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). The fluorescence anisotropy studies, using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene as fluorescent probe, have shown that the lipophilic molecule fenofibrate changes phase behavior of DPPC liposomal membrane to a greater extent compared to the changes produced by amphiphilic simvastatin and hydrophilic niacin. This variation in effect can be attributed to the nature of the drug molecules and hence their location in different parts of the liposomal membrane. We have also calculated the changes in van’t Hoff enthalpy values in all these three cases and observed that these values decreased with increase in drug concentrations in the case of simvastatin but for fenofibrate and niacin the effect is completely the reverse. In order to get a better insight, the fraction of motionally restricted lipid molecules has been calculated.     

The effect of perturbedk-selection and gap shrinkage on the optical transitions in III–V semiconductors

Optical transitions in direct semiconductors are governed according to simple one-electron treatment by ak-selection rule, which in doped or mixed crystals is but lifted to some extent (k) caused by 1) shallow impurities, 2) isoelectronic impurities or 3) alloy scattering. Values of k for these mechanisms are given and the implications for line shapes of optical spectra are discussed.Furthermore, as to the position of lines in the optical spectra of highly doped or highly excited crystals, gap shrinkage effects have to be considered, three main mechanisms of which can be distinguished: 1) Quadratic response of the band edges with respect to the fluctuating potential of the (screened) impurities, 2) polaron effects and 3) carrier exchange and correlation effects. Results of theoretical calculation are compared with experimental findings for GaAs and GaP. The practical importance of gap shrinkage effects for gain measurements and for the operation of (Ga, Al) As laser diodes is pointed out.From the Coulomb interaction of the carriers an additional mechanism for the lifting of thek-selection rule (especially valid for pure, but excited semiconductors) can be derived (plasmon coupling): Estimations show that the simplek-selection rule is almost never fulfilled within the energy range of emission spectra and that these spectra can be well explained simply assuming no-k-selection even for pure direct material.     

Hansen Solubility Parameters in the Analysis of Solvent–Solvent Interactions by Inverse Gas Chromatography

The Flory–Huggins interaction parameters, for a solute with pure nonvolatile solvents and with binary mixtures of nonvolatile solvents were evaluated using Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC) data at 403.15 K. The five solvents used have similar structure and nearly the same molar volume and their mixtures form regular solutions. The values were used to evaluate the Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) for the pure solvents and mixed solvent systems. The HSP are plotted as a function of composition of the polar solvent. The dispersion component, , and the polar component, , exhibited negative deviation whereas the hydrogen bonding component, , showed positive deviation in the four mixtures. However, the total solubility parameter was found to be almost linear with composition in the four binary systems. Further the total solubility parameter, , was used to calculate the molar excess heat of vaporization for the solvents (C78 + POH, C78 + PCN, C78 + TTF, and C78 + TMO) that was found to be negative for C78 (19,24-dioctadecyldotetracontane) + POH(18,23-dioctadecylhentetracontan-1-ol) and C78 + PCN(1-cyano-18,23-dioctadecylhentetracontane) systems and positive for C78 + TTF [19,24-bis(18,18,18-trifluorooctadecyl)-1,1,1,42,42,42-hexafluorodotetracontane), and C78 + TMO(17,22-bis-(16-methoxyhexadecyl)-1,38-dimethoxyoctatriacontane] and the other systems.     

Decreasing the electromagnetic observability of carbon fiber polymer–matrix composites by using epoxy-coated carbon fibers

The electromagnetic observability of epoxy–matrix composites containing continuous carbon fibers was decreased by using epoxy-coated carbon fibers. The attenuation of electromagnetic waves at 1.0–1.5 GHz upon reflection was increased from 1.3 to 1.7 dB, while the attenuation upon transmission was decreased from 30 to 24 dB. The effect is attributed to the decreased transverse electrical conductivity of the composite due to the epoxy coating. The epoxy coating caused the tensile strength and modulus of the composite to decrease by about 10%, while the elongation at break was not affected.     

Solvent effect study of the13C chemical shifts of acetonitrile and acetone using the “Solvaton” model

The¹³C chemical shifts of acetonitrile and acetone, as calculated by Pople's GIAO-MO theory and application of Klopman's “solvaton” model to the MINDO/2-MO method, agree well with the observed solvent effects, including the temperature dependence of the chemical shift.     

Stimulated supercontinuum-radiation generation of carbon disulfide by all-trans-β-carotene fluorescence enhancement effect in liquid core optical fibre

We demonstrate stimulated supercontinuum-radiation of carbon disulfide (CS₂) influenced by biological molecules all-trans-β -carotene in liquid core optical fibre (LCOF). By virtue of the broad fluorescence characteristics and large third-order optical nonlinearities of all-{trans}-β-carotene,the high-order Stokes lines of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and the multi-order Stokes lines of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) excitated by SRS are observed at low input-laser energies. The results indicate that the fluorescence not only enhances the SRS, but also the SBS. These Stokes lines generate the SRS--SBS supercontinuum radiation (RBSR). A flat-amplitude bandwidth of 110 nm from 515nm to 625nm is observed when a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser at 532nm with an energy of 0.86mJ is used. This result is expected to be useful for the multi-wavelength fibre laser.     

Effect of the temperature of megaplastic deformation on the redistribution of carbon in Fe–Ni–C austenite

Structural phase transitions induced by megaplastic deformation at temperatures of 80–573 K are investigated in high-carbon Fe–Ni austenite of the invar range of compositions. Phase transformations change their direction from the nonequilibrium dissolution of graphite particles upon low-temperature (80 and 293 K) deformation and the activation of carbon precipitation from the fcc matrix to graphite upon high-temperature (373–573 K) deformation, due to the structure being saturated with point defects.     

Enhancement of stimulated Raman scattering of acetone and the generation of three-color laser by using fluorescence dye RB

The enhancement of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) of acetone (C3H6O) and the generation of three color lasers in lasing dye rhodamine B (RB) were reported. The first-order Stokes wave (629.9 nm) of SRS of C3H6O was amplified by 2.83 times than that of pure C3H6O. At the same time, a dye laser of RB at the wavelength from 575 to 598 nm can be generated in a suitable concentration of RB between 3×10-5 and 2×10-4 mol/L. Thus the green pump laser, yellow dve laser, and red Stokes wave concurred.     

Study on the surface performance of carbon fibres irradiated by γ-ray under different irradiation dose

The technology of high-energy irradiation is widely used in the field of material interface modification because of its high efficiency, energy conservation and environment friendliness. In this paper, γ-ray irradiation graft technology was used in order to enhance the surface performance of the carbon fibre (CF). The surface chemical elements and functional groups of untreated and irradiated CF were observed by photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that the value of O/C and the quantity of oxygen functional groups on CF surface were enhanced efficiently after treatment by γ-ray irradiation graft technology. The morphology of CF was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atom forced microscopy (AFM), respectively. The surface roughness of CF was greatly increased compared with the untreated CF. Moreover, the interface performance was clearly improved after irradiation.     

On the effect of boundary conditions on I–V characteristics of HTSC tunnel junctions

The pairing potential distribution over the thickness of superconducting CuO₂ layers in cuprate HTSCs is determined within the Ginzburg–Landau (GL) theory using the microscopic justification of this theory by Gor’kov. It is found that the pairing potential in them is significantly suppressed due to the effect of non-superconducting interlayers, which results in a decrease in the critical temperature of these superconductors. The temperature dependences of the effective energy gap and current–voltage (I–V) characteristic of tunnel junctions of the “break junction” type made of these superconductors are calculated.     

Study on the effect of laser parameters on wakefield excitation in femtosecond pulsed laser–plasma interaction using PIC method

Propagation of an intense short laser pulse through under-dense plasma can produce huge amplitude plasma wake field. A 3D particle in cell (PIC) method was used to simulate the wakefield generation for different laser parameters such as intensity, pulse duration, spot size and temporal pulse shape. Our study shows that the amplitude of wakefield is increased with laser intensity, but it is decreased with spot size. The results for pulse shape and pulse duration depend on their optimum values.     

The effect of HCP on the formation of twin boundaries and dislocations in Ni–Co alloys

In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) was used to simulate the rapid solidification process of Ni₄₇Co₅₃ and Ni₄₈Co₅₂ alloys at a cooling rate of 10¹² K/s. The effects of HCP on the formation of twin boundaries and dislocations in two Ni–Co alloys are studied. It is found that the difference of HCP clusters is the main effect that producing discrepancies on microstructure of two alloys. The number of HCP clusters accounted for 9.23% in Ni₄₇Co₅₃ alloy. They are regularly arranged to form the number of single-layer twin boundaries, and each twin boundary ends in a dislocation. The FCC and HCP structures coexist in the same atomic layers, which is easy to create dislocations. The relatively standard FCC crystal and only 0.32% HCP clusters are formed in Ni₄₈Co₅₂ alloy at 300 K. That small amount of HCP clusters are dispersed on the surface, and cause the formation of dislocation in the border with FCC clusters.     

Temperature-resolved synchrotron X-ray diffraction of nanocrystalline titania in solvent: the effect of Cr–Sb and V–Sb doping

Nanocrystalline titania pigments were produced by high temperature-forced hydrolysis in a coordinating high-boiling solvent (and water for reference). The effect of synthesis conditions and co-doping with Cr–Sb and V–Sb on particle size and anatase-to-rutile transformation (A → R) was studied by temperature-resolved synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The experiments were performed directly on low concentration (3.5 vol.%) as-synthesized suspensions of titania nanoparticles (up to 230 °C) and on the corresponding dried powders (up to 950 °C). Crystallite size of as-synthesized nano-anatase is around 20 nm (glycol) or 70 nm (water); it exhibits a slow growth rate up to the onset temperature of the A → R. Phase composition and crystallite size are drastically influenced by both synthesis conditions and doping. Synthesis in water resulted in the simultaneous occurrence of anatase and brookite; transformation into rutile begins early but with a slower rate with respect to glycol-based samples. Doping affected the A → R, whose onset temperature in undoped titania (700 °C) was lowered to 650 °C (V–Sb) or prevented up to 950 °C (Cr–Sb). Both (V–Sb) and (Cr–Sb) dopings reduced the volume thermal expansion rate of anatase.     

Study on the interaction of anticancer drug mitoxantrone with DNA by fluorescence and Raman spectroscopies

Mitoxantrone, a clinically useful antitumour antibiotic for leukaemia and breast cancer, has received more attentions. In this paper, the interaction between mitoxantrone and calf thymus DNA is investigated by Raman and fluorescence spectroscopies, and the binding site of mitoxantrone to calf thymus DNA is explored. The results showed that mitoxantrone interacts with calf thymus DNA bases by the intercalation of anthracycline into the base pair plane of adenine (A) and thymine (T), and it results in the disruption of the hydrogen bonds between calf thymus DNA bases, and thus the calf thymus DNA double-strand can be disrupted into the B-form DNA double-strand segments.