Millimeter-wave enabled PAM-4 data transmission over hybrid FSO-MMPOF link for access networks

Optical Review - In this paper, we propose a full duplex architecture based on a hybrid link composed of free space optics (FSO) and multimode plastic optical fiber (MMPOF) for short-range wireless...     

Aromatic CC Bonds as Dipolarophiles: Facile Reactions of Uncomplexed Electron‐Deficient Benzene Derivatives and Other Aromatic Rings with a Non‐Stabilized Azomethine Ylide

Non‐stabilized azomethine ylide 4 a reacts smoothly at room temperature with a variety of uncomplexed aromatic heterocycles and carbocycles on the condition that the ring contains at least one or two electron‐withdrawing substituents, respectively. Aromatic substrates, including pyridine and benzene derivatives, participate as 2 π components in [3+2] cycloaddition reactions and interact with one, two, or three equivalent(s) of the ylide, depending on their structure and substitution pattern. Thus, this process affords highly functionalized polycyclic structures that contain between one and three pyrrolidinyl ring(s) in useful yields. These results indicate that the site selectivity of the cycloaddition reactions strongly depends on both the nature and the positions of the substituents. In most cases, the second 1,3‐dipolar reaction occurs on the opposite face to the one that contains the first pyrrolidinyl ring. DFT calculations on model compounds indicate that a concerted mechanism features a low activation barrier.     

A molecularly imprinted polymer for the determination of neopterin

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the specific retention of neopterin has been developed. A set of 6 polymers was prepared by radical polymerization under different experimental condition using methacrylic acid as functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as crosslinker, with the aim to understand their influence on the efficiency of the MIP. The performance of each MIP was tested in batch experiments via their binding capacity. The MIP prepared in the presence of nickel ions in dimethylsulfoxide-acetonitrile mixture (P4) exhibited the highest binding capacity for neopterin (260 μmol per gram of polymer). A selectivity study with two other pteridines demonstrated the polymer P4 also to possess the best selectivity.

The Reactions of 2,2,2-Trichloro-1-phenylethanone with O,C and S Nucleophiles

The reactions of 2,2,2-trichloro-1-phenylethanone with various oxygen, carbon and sulfur nucleophiles were investigated with a view of widening the use of trichloroethanones as acylating agents.     

Reductive Cleavage of tert-Butyldimethylsilyl Ether via Intramolecular Transfer of Hydride

The cleavage of α-hydroxy tert-butyldimethylsilyl ether to diol takes place efficiently with LAH. It has been proposed that the reaction proceeds via intramolecular hydride transfer from the alkoxy aluminium hydride. In order to substantiate this, reduction of TBDMS ether with LAH in a variety of substrates was studied.     

Critical behavior and magnetic entropy change in the La0.6Sr0.4Mn0.8Fe0.1Cr0.1O3 perovskite

Critical behavior in the La_0.6Sr_0.4Mn_0.8Fe_0.1Cr_0.1O₃ ceramics was studied using magnetization methods. Results show that the paramagnetic–ferromagnetic transition is of second order. Based on the critical behavior analysis using the Banerjee criterion and the Kouvel–Fisher method, we find the critical exponents: β=0.395±0.010, γ=1.402±0.010, and δ=5.208±0.007, for which the magnetic interaction is satisfied within the three-dimensional Heisenberg model. Results indicate the presence of short-range interactions. The magnetic entropy change (−ΔS_M) reached maximum values of 1.75, 1.45, 1.15, 0.8 and 0.43 J Kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ under a magnetic field variation of 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 T, respectively. Nevertheless, these (−ΔS_M) values are much low for any potential application at this moment. The nature of this phenomenon is discussed in relation to the characteristics of the magnetic phase transition and critical exponents.     

Wave propagation in locally perturbed periodic media (case with absorption): Numerical aspects

We are interested in the numerical simulation of wave propagation in media which are a local perturbation of an infinite periodic one. The question of finding artificial boundary conditions to reduce the actual numerical computations to a neighborhood of the perturbation via a DtN operator was already developed in [1] at the continuous level. We deal in this article with the numerical aspects associated to the discretization of the problem. In particular, we describe the construction of discrete DtN operators that relies on the numerical solution of local cell problems, non stationary Ricatti equations and the discretization of non standard integral equations in Floquet variables.     

Kinetic studies of urban solid residues and leachate from sanitary landfill

Urban solid residues are constituted of food remaining, grass leaves, fruit peelings, paper, cardboard, rubber, plastic, etc. The organic fraction formed represents about 50% during the decomposition yields biogas and leachate, which are sources of pollution. Residue samples were collected from the landfill in different and cells from several ages and the corresponding leachate, both after treatments, were submitted to thermal analysis. Kinetic parameters were determined using Flynn–Wall–Ozawa method. The linear relation between the two kinetic parameters (ln A and E) was verified for organic residue urban’s samples, but not for leachate’s sample. The occurred difference can be attributed to the constituents present in leachate.     

A biofunctional polymeric coating for microcantilever molecular recognition

An innovative route to activate silicon microcantilevers (MCs) for label free molecular recognition is presented. The method consists in coating the underivatized MCs with a functional ter-polymer based on N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) bearing N-acryloyloxysuccinimide (NAS) and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl-methacrylate (MAPS), two functional monomers that confer to the polymer the ability to react with nucleophilic species on biomolecules and with glass silanols, respectively. The polymer was deposited onto MCs by dip coating. Polymer coated MCs were tested in both static and dynamic modes of actuation, featuring detection of DNA hybridization as well as protein/protein interaction. In the dynamic experiments, focused on protein detection, the MCs showed an average mass responsivity of 0.4 Hz/pg for the first resonant mode and of 2.5 Hz/pg for the second resonant mode. The results of the static experiments, dedicated to DNA hybridization detection, allowed for direct estimation of the DNA duplex formation energetics, which resulted fully consistent with the nominal expected values. These results, together with easiness and cheapness, high versatility, and excellent stability of the recognition signal, make the presented route a reliable alternative to standard SAM functionalization (for microcantilevers (MCs) and for micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) in general).     

A New Indirect Electroanalytical Method to Monitor the Contamination of Natural Waters with 4‐Nitrophenol Using Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes

The electrochemical detection of the hazardous pollutant 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) at low potentials, in order to avoid matrix interferences, is an important research challenge. This study describes the development, electrochemical characterization and utilization of a multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) film electrode for the quantitative determination of 4‐NP in natural water. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements showed that the modified surface exhibits a decrease of ca. 13 times in the charge transfer resistance when compared with a bare glassy carbon (GC) surface. Voltammetric experiments showed the possibility to oxidize a hydroxylamine layer (produced by the electrochemical reduction of 4‐NP on the GC/MWNCT surface) in a potential region which is approximately 700 mV less positive than that needed to oxidize 4‐NP, thus minimizing the interference of matrix components. The limit of detection for 4‐NP obtained using square‐wave voltammetry (0.12 μmol L^?1) was lower than the value advised by EPA. A natural water sample from a dam located in São Carlos (Brazil) was spiked with 4‐NP and analyzed by the standard addition method using the GC/MWCNT electrode, without any further purification step. The recovery procedure yielded a value of 96.5% for such sample, thus confirming the suitability of the developed method to determine 4‐NP in natural water samples. The electrochemical determination was compared with that obtained by HPLC with UV‐vis detection.