Halogenation of a twisted non-polar π-system as a tool to modulate phosphorescence at room temperature

Halogenation of a twisted three-fold symmetric hydrocarbon with F, Cl or Br leads to strong modulation of triplet–triplet annihilation and dual phosphorescence, one thermally activated and the other very persistent and visible by eye, with different relative contributions depending on the halide. The room temperature phosphorescence is highly unusual given the absence of lone-pair-contributing heteroatoms. The interplay between the spin–orbit coupling matrix elements and the spatial configuration of the triplet state induces efficient intersystem crossing and thus room temperature phosphorescence even without relying on heteroatomic electron lone pairs. A ninefold increase of the ISC rate after introduction of three bromine atoms is accompanied by a much higher 34-fold increase of phosphorescence rate.

Twisted π-systems investigation showed a very unusual HAE, influencing independently the ISC and the dual phosphorescence emission, one being very persistent at room temperature and visible by eye in powder.     

Improvements to compressible Euler methods for low‐Mach number flows

In the present study improvements to numerical algorithms for the solution of the compressible Euler equations at low Mach numbers are investigated. To solve flow problems for a wide range of Mach numbers, from the incompressible limit to supersonic speeds, preconditioning techniques are frequently employed. On the other hand, one can achieve the same aim by using a suitably modified acoustic damping method. The solution algorithm presently under consideration is based on Roe's approximate Riemann solver [Roe PL. Approximate Riemann solvers, parameter vectors and difference schemes. Journal of Computational Physics 1981; 43 : 357–372] for non‐structured meshes. The numerical flux functions are modified by using Turkel's preconditioning technique proposed by Viozat [Implicit upwind schemes for low Mach number compressible flows. INRIA, Rapport de Recherche No. 3084, January 1997] for compressible Euler equations and by using a modified acoustic damping of the stabilization term proposed in the present study. These methods allow the compressible Euler equations at low‐Mach number flows to be solved, and they are consistent in time. The efficiency and accuracy of the proposed modifications have been assessed by comparison with experimental data and other numerical results in the literature. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of solubility parameter of poly(N-vinyl 2-pyrrolidon/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) gels by swelling measurements

The solubility parameters of pure Poly(n-vinyl 2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) and Poly(n-vinyl 2-pyrrolidone/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate)P(VP/EGDMA) hydrogels have been evaluated via swelling experiments. Twenty solvents with various solubility parameters have been used in the swelling experiments. Considering the limitations of using the approach as developed by Gee, we have applied an asymmetric double sigmodial equation for locating the peak maxima in swelling curves. The solubility parameters are evaluated via this new approach. The solubility parameter of pure PVP is determined to be 11.38 ± 0.11 Hb. The incorporation of EGDMA into the gel system slightly reduced the solubility parameter. The influence of relative amount of EGDMA on the solubility parameter was investigated, and evaluated values compared with literature and theoretically determined solubility values by group contribution values of van Krevelen, Small, and Hoy. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36 : 213–219, 1998     

Size and morphology controlled synthesis of barium sulfate

In this work submicron barium sulfate (BaSO₄) particles were synthesized successfully by chemical precipitation technique. We focused on the effects of pH and additives on the size and morphology of BaSO₄ crystals. Polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl sulfonic acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid were used as crystal growth modifiers. BaSO₄ crystals were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared resonance techniques. The results show that the submicron BaSO₄ particles have been synthesized successfully and the particle size of the barium sulfate was effectively controlled under the experimental conditions. Experimental studies revealed that the additive concentration and pH had great effect on the morphology and size of barium sulfate.     

Histopathological Changes in Liver and Heart Tissue Associated with Experimental Ultraviolet Radiation A and B Exposure on Wistar Albino Rats

This study aims to evaluate the influences of ultraviolet radiation A and B ( UVA + B) exposure on the liver and heart organs of albino rats. Female Wistar Albino rats, whose hair of the dorsal skin was shaved, were exposed to a combined UVA + B radiation for 2 h/day, for 4 weeks in order to be compared with the control group. Histopathological findings in vital organs (liver and heart) were evaluated. Tissues were fixed in 10% buffered formalin (pH = 7.2) and embedded in paraffin. The histopathological findings were examined on the H&E stained sections with light microscopy. The results show that the liver and the heart were injured in the UVA + B group. Liver tissue in the UVA + B group showed minimal vacuolation, enlargement of hepatocytes and bile duct proliferation, and the heart tissue showed hibernomas; uniform large cells resembling brown fat with coarsely granular to multivacuolated cytoplasm that is eosinophilic or pale with a small central nucleus. The number of hibernoma cases was significantly higher in the UVA + B group compared with the control group (P = 0.021). The control group showed normal liver and heart histology with normal adipose tissue in the pericardium. As a result, UVA + B exposure has toxic effects, especially on the liver and the heart of Wistar albino rats. UV radiation may cause such adverse effects in humans. Therefore, protection against the harmful effects of UV radiation is of significant importance for skin and organs.     

Decoding the Fucose Migration Product during Mass-Spectrometric analysis of Blood Group Epitopes

Fucose is a signaling carbohydrate that is attached at the end of glycan processing. It is involved in a range of processes, such as the selectin-dependent leukocyte adhesion or pathogen-receptor interactions. Mass-spectrometric techniques, which are commonly used to determine the structure of glycans, frequently show fucose-containing chimeric fragments that obfuscate the analysis. The rearrangement leading to these fragments—often referred to as fucose migration—has been known for more than 25 years, but the chemical identity of the rearrangement product remains unclear. In this work, we combine ion-mobility spectrometry, radical-directed dissociation mass spectrometry, cryogenic IR spectroscopy of ions, and density-functional theory calculations to deduce the product of the rearrangement in the model trisaccharides Lewis x and blood group H2. The structural search yields the fucose moiety attached to the galactose with an α(1→6) glycosidic bond as the most likely product.