Characterization of thermophysical properties of nano-enhanced organic phase change materials using T-history method

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Nano-enhanced phase change materials (NEPCMs) have gained popularity as efficient thermal management and energy storage materials owing to their high...     

Catalytic asymmetric allylation of 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines and its application to the synthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids

A catalytic asymmetric allylation of 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline was carried out with allyltrimethoxylsilane-Cu as the nucleophile in the presence of DTBM-SEGPHOS as the chiral ligand to afford corresponding chiral 1-allyltetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives in good yield and stereoselectivity. The allyl adduct thus obtained was applied to the synthesis of several isoquinoline alkaloids such as crispine A and homolaudanosine. The reaction was further used for the synthesis of the isoquinoline moiety of schulzeine A.     

Cationic photopolymerization of liquid fullerene derivative under visible light

We describe the synthesis and cationic photopolymerization of a C₆₀ derivative bearing a 2,4,6‐tris(epoxynonyloxy)phenyl moiety (FB9ox). Rheological analysis of monomer indicates that temperature of 130 °C yields sufficiently low viscosity for polymerization. A thin film of the liquid monomer has been cationically photopolymerized with a photoinitiator system of curcumin and p‐(octyloxyphenyl)phenyliodonium hexafluoroantimonate, which harvests 424 nm light instead of commonly used ultraviolet light. The degree of polymerization was determined with ATR‐IR. The reaction is the first recorded photopolymerization of a fullerene derivative thin film. The polymer exhibits good mechanical and chemical stabilities. The polymerization can also be achieved by annealing at 150 °C without illumination, but with a smaller degree of polymerization. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5194–5201, 2008     

A hydrogen ion-selective liquid-membrane electrode based on tri-n-dodecylamine as neutral carrier

An electrically neutral hydrogen ion-selective carrier, tri-n-dodecylamine, is used as the active component for liquid-membrane electrodes. The observed ion selectivities are superior to those of previously described pH-sensitive liquid-membrane electrodes. The electrode characteristics permit the study of intracellular as well as extracellular hydrogen ion activities.     

Efficient Generation of Microdroplets Using Tail Breakup Induced with Multi-Branch Channels

In recent years, research on the application of microdroplets in the fields of biotechnology and chemistry has made remarkable progress, but the technology for the stable generation of single-micrometer-scale microdroplets has not yet been established. In this paper, we developed an efficient and stable single-micrometer-scale droplet generation device based on the fragmentation of droplet tails, called “tail thread mode”, that appears under moderate flow conditions. This method can efficiently encapsulate microbeads that mimic cells and chemical products in passively generated single-micrometer-scale microdroplets. The device has a simple 2D structure; a T-junction is used for droplet generation; and in the downstream, multi-branch channels are designed for droplet deformation into the tail. Several 1–2 µm droplets were successfully produced by the tail’s fragmentation; this continuous splitting was induced by the branch channels. We examined a wide range of experimental conditions and found the optimal flow rate condition can be reduced to one-tenth compared to the conventional tip-streaming method. A mold was fabricated by simple soft lithography, and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) device was fabricated using the mold. Based on the 15 patterns of experimental conditions and the results, the key factors for the generation of microdroplets in this device were examined. In the most efficient condition, 61.1% of the total droplets generated were smaller than 2 μm.     

Application of clear polymethylmethacrylate dosimeter Radix W to a few MeV electron in radiation processing

Characteristics of clear PMMA dosimeter (Radix W) were studied for electron irradiation and compared with the response for gamma irradiation. The dose–response curves were nearly linear up to 30 kGy and become sublinear at higher doses. The radiation-induced absorbance was reduced with 6% within 4 h after irradiation. Dose comparisons were performed for 2, 3, 4 and 5 MeV electron irradiation using cellulose triacetate dosimeter (CTA) (FTR-125) and Radix W dosimeters which were independently calibrated for 2 MeV electrons and ⁶⁰Co gamma-rays using calorimeter and ionizing chamber, respectively. The doses estimated by CTA and Radix W were different by about 20%. The magnitude of this difference was, however, independent of electron energy.     

Sterically Frustrated Aromatic Enes with Various Colors Originating from Multiple Folded and Twisted Conformations in Crystal Polymorphs**

Overcrowded ethylenes composed of 10-methyleneanthrone and two bulky aromatic rings contain a twisted carbon–carbon double (C=C) bond as well as a folded anthrone unit. As such, they are unique frustrated aromatic enes (FAEs). Various colored crystals of these FAEs, obtained in different solvents, correspond to multiple metastable conformations of the FAEs with various twist and fold angles of the C=C bond, as well as various dihedral angles of attached aryl units with respect to the C=C bond. The relationships between color and these parameters associated with conformational features around the C=C bond were elucidated in experimental and computational studies. Owing to the fact that they are separated by small energy barriers, the variously colored conformations in the FAE crystal change in response to various external stimuli, such as mechanical grinding, hydrostatic pressure and thermal heating.     

Antimicrobial activity and phytochemical analysis of crude extracts and essential oils from medicinal plants

We aimed to establish a phytochemical analysis of the crude extracts and performed GC-MS of the essential oils (EOs) of Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae) and Asteraceae species Baccharis dracunculifolia DC, Matricaria chamomilla L. and Vernonia polyanthes Less, as well as determining their antimicrobial activity. Establishment of the minimal inhibitory concentrations of the crude extracts and EOs against 16 Staphylococcus aureus and 16 Escherichia coli strains from human specimens was carried out using the dilution method in Mueller-Hinton agar. Some phenolic compounds with antimicrobial properties were established, and all EOs had a higher antimicrobial activity than the extracts. Matricaria chamomilla extract and E. uniflora EO were efficient against S. aureus strains, while E. uniflora and V. polyanthes extracts and V. polyanthes EO showed the best antimicrobial activity against E. coli strains. Staphylococcus aureus strains were more susceptible to the tested plant products than E. coli, but all natural products promoted antimicrobial growth inhibition.     

Preconcentration of submicrogram amounts of nickel by liquid-liquid extraction and micro back-extraction from water for graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

The effective preconcentration of submicrogram amounts of nickel from water is described. Nickel is extracted into xylene as a dithiocarbamate complex and subsequently back-extracted into 100 μl of nitric acid for graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Conditions for quantitative extraction and back-extraction are described. Data on interferences, precision and detection limits are presented. Sub-μg 1^?1 levels of nickel in water could be determined with concentration factors of 500–1000 by the proposed method. The concentrations of nickel in rain water and surface snow were found to be 0.39 and 0.19 μg 1^?1, respectively. The limit of determination can be lowered by using concentration factors larger than 10⁴, nickel determination at ng 1^?1 levels being feasible.