Inorganic reinforcement in PET/silica electrospun nanofibers

PET/silica nanocomposite fibers of high quality were fabricated from electrospinning by choosing appropriate surface modification of inorganic fillers, solution properties, and processing conditions. The existence of an immobilized layer around silane-modified silica particles in PET fibers was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the results of which confirm previous thermal analysis studies. The influence of silica particles on the crystal growth during isothermal crystallization as well as the phase structure of the crystallized nanocomposite fibers were examined using differential scanning calorimetry. The PET crystallization rate increases significantly with increasing silica content, which indicates that the silica nanoparticles act as an efficient nucleating agent to facilitate PET crystallization. Using Avrami analysis, for the first time, preferred 1-D crystal growth was confirmed for geometrically confined nanocomposite fibers. Addition of silica particles makes the crystal growth more likely to occur in a 1-D manner.     

Structure and multiferroic properties of Bi<Subscript>5</Subscript>FeTi<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>15</Subscript> thin films prepared by the sol–gel method

The Bi₅FeTi₃O₁₅ (BFTO) films of layered structure have been fabricated on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates by the sol–gel method. The thermal decomposition behaviors of precursor powder were examined using thermo-gravimetric and differential scanning calorimeters analysis. The optimal heat treatment process for BFTO films were determined to be low-temperature drying at 200 °C for 4 min and high-temperature drying at 350 °C for 5 min followed by annealing at 740 °C for 60 min, which led to the formation of compact films with uniform grains of ~300 nm. The structural, surface topography, ferroelectric and magnetic properties of the films were investigated. The remnant polarization (2P _r) of BFTO thin films under an applied electric field of ~550 kV/cm are determined to be 67.5 μC/cm² . Meanwhile, the weak ferromagnetic properties of the BFTO films were observed at room temperature.     

Morphine-induced conditioned place preference in mice: Metabolomic profiling of brain tissue to find “molecular switch” of drug abuse by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Conditioned place preference (CPP) is a widely used model to explore the mechanism of context-dependent learning. In this work, we developed a GC–MS method to investigate the metabolites in mice brain which was used to study the mechanism of context-dependent learning associated with rewarding effect of morphine. Metabolites were extracted from brain tissues and derivatized followed by analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS). In total, 69 peaks were identified as known compounds. By a Wilcoxon ran sum test with p value ≤0.05, 21 metabolites were selected and considered as the potential biomarkers of morphine in mice brain. Using principal component analysis (PCA) and receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves, a model was constructed with a combination of these 21 metabolic markers. Multivariate statistics of the model yielded separation between the two groups with an area under the curve value of 0.947. Some metabolites were further discussed in detail about their pathway. Results showed that our technique can be successfully applied to profile for biomarkers and in understanding molecular mechanisms of drug abuse.     

Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of organic sensitizers containing electron-deficient and electron-rich fused thiophene for dye-sensitized solar cells

Diverse fused thiophenes with electron-rich and electron-deficient blocks have been synthesized and employed as the π-conjugated spacers of organic dyes for the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The effects of these fused thiophenes were investigated by their absorption spectra, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties. For a typical device a maximum power conversion efficiency of 6.11% was obtained under simulated AM 1.5 irradiation (100 mW cm^?2): a short-circuit current (J_SC) of 14.47 mA cm^?2, an open-circuit voltage (V_OC) of 670 mV, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.63.     

New approach to the preparation of bicyclo octane derivatives via the enantioselective cascade reaction catalyzed by chiral diamine-Ni(OAc)2 complex

A highly efficient catalyst system assembled from enantiomerically pure diaminocyclohexane and Ni(OAc)(2) is, for the first time, used to catalyze the cascade Michael-Henry reaction of various diones and substituted nitroalkenes. A series of polyfunctionalized bicyclo[3.2.1]octane derivatives containing four stereogenic centers are prepared with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to 50 : 1 dr) with high yields. In addition, via this chiral diamine-Ni(OAc)(2) catalyst system, the base-induced epimerization leading to the decrease of stereoselectivity can be prevented.     

Pairs of partitions without repeated odd parts

We prove two identities related to overpartition pairs. One of them gives a generalization of an identity due to Lovejoy, which was used in a joint work by Bringmann and Lovejoy to derive congruences for overpartition pairs. We apply our two identities on pairs of partitions where each partition has no repeated odd parts. We also present three partition statistics that give combinatorial explanations to a congruence modulo 3 satisfied by these partition pairs.     

Geometrical form factor calculation using Monte Carlo integration for lidar

We proposed a geometrical form factor (GFF) calculation using Monte Carlo integration (GFF–MC) for lidar that is practical and can be applied to any laser intensity distribution. Theoretical results have been calculated with our method based on the functions of measured, uniform and Gaussian laser intensity distribution. Two experimental GFF traces on clear days are obtained to verify the validity of the theoretical results. The results indicated that the measured distribution function outperformed the Gaussian and uniform functions. That means that the deviation of the measured laser intensity distribution from an ideal one can be too large to neglect. In addition, the theoretical GFF of the uniform distribution had a larger error than that of the Gaussian distribution. Furthermore, the effects of the inclination angle of the laser beam and the central obstruction of the support structure of the second mirror of the telescope are discussed in this study.     

Synthesis and Fungicidal Activity of (1Z, 3Z)‐4,4‐Dimethyl‐1‐substitutedphenyl‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)‐pent‐1‐en‐3‐one O‐[2,4‐dimethylthiazole(or 4‐methyl‐1,2,3‐thiadiazole)]‐5‐carbonyl Oximes

A series of novel (Z)‐1‐tert‐butyl (or phenyl)‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)‐ethanone O‐[2,4‐dimethylthiazole (or 4‐methyl‐1,2,3‐thiadiazole) ?5‐carbonyl] oximes 5a – 5c and (1Z, 3Z)‐4,4‐dimethyl‐1‐substitutedphenyl‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)‐pent‐1‐en‐3‐one O‐[2,4‐dimethylthiazole (or 4‐methyl‐1,2,3‐thiadiazole)‐5‐carbonyl] oximes 6a – 6e were synthesized by the condensations of (Z)‐1‐tert‐butyl (or phenyl)‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)‐ethanone oximes 3 or (1Z, 3Z)‐4,4‐dimethyl‐1‐substitutedphenyl‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)‐pent‐1‐en‐3‐one oximes 4 with 2,4‐dimethylthiazole‐5‐carbonyl chloride or 4‐methyl‐1,2,3‐thiadiazole‐5‐carbonyl chloride in the basic condition. Their structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, mass spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. The results of preliminary bioassays showed the title compounds 5 and 6 exhibited moderate to good fungicidal activities. For example, compound 6c possessed 86.4% inhibition against Fusarium oxysporum, and compound 6b exhibited 86.4 and 100% inhibition against Fusarium oxysporum and Cercospora arachidicola Hori at the concentration of 50 mg/L, respectively.     

Partial Molar Volumes of Hexaamminecobalt(III) Nitrate in Proteated and Deuterated Water

The partial molar volumes (V ₂) for hexaamminecobalt(III) nitrate in proteated and deuterated water were determined at 0.00 (for H₂O only), 5.00, 10.00, 15.00, and 20.00?°C. The increase of the solute??s partial molar volume with increasing concentration and the negative second derivative of the solute??s partial molar volume at infinite dilution with respect to temperature were interpreted in terms of the solvent structure breaking property of the solute. In addition, the difference at each temperature between the solute??s partial molar volume at infinite dilution for proteated and deuterated water was used to estimate the solvent coordination number at each temperature.     

Responsive Polyelectrolyte Multilayers Assembled at High Ionic Strength with an Unusual Collapse at Low Ionic Strength

Responsive polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) of poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(styrene sodium sulfonate) (PSS) with thicknesses between 350 and 400 nm for 11 deposited polyelectrolyte layers were fabricated assembling the polyelectrolytes at 3 M NaCl. When the 3 M NaCl bulk solution is replaced by water, the PEMs release water, approximately a 46% of the total mass, and experience a thickness reduction of more than 200 nm. Changes in thickness and water content are fully reversible. The film recovers its original thickness and water content when it is exposed again to a 3 M NaCl solution. A responsive polymer film is achieved with the capability of swelling at high ionic strength and collapsing in water with variations in thickness of hundred of nanometers.