A New Approach for the Synthesis of Miktoarm Star Polymers Through a Combination of Thiol–Epoxy “Click” Chemistry and ATRP/Ring‐Opening Polymerization Techniques

A new approach was developed for synthesis of certain A₃B₃‐type of double hydrophilic or amphiphilic miktoarm star polymers using a combination of “grafting onto” and “grafting from” methods. To achieve the synthesis of desired miktoarm star polymers, acetyl protected poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) thiols (M_n = 550 and 2000 g mol^?1) were utilized to generate A₃‐type of homoarm star polymers through an in situ protective group removal and a subsequent thiol–epoxy “click” reaction with a tris‐epoxide core viz. 1,1,1‐tris(4‐hydroxyphenyl)ethane triglycidyl ether. The secondary hydroxyl groups generated adjacent to the core upon the thiol–epoxy reaction were esterified with α‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to install atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiating sites. ATRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) using the three‐arm star PEG polymer fitted with ATRP initiating sites adjacent to the core afforded A₃B₃‐type of double hydrophilic (PEG)₃[poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)] (PNIPAM)₃ miktoarm star polymers. Furthermore, the generated hydroxyl groups were directly used as initiator for ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone to prepare A₃B₃‐type of amphiphilic (PEG)₃[poly(ε‐caprolactone)]₃ miktoarm star polymers. The double hydrophilic (PEG)₃(PNIPAM)₃ miktoarm star polymers showed lower critical solution temperature around 34 °C. The preliminary transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated formation of self‐assembly of (PEG)₃(PNIPAM)₃ miktoarm star polymer in aqueous solution. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 146–156     

QbD approached comparison of reaction mechanism in microwave synthesized gold nanoparticles and their superior catalytic role against hazardous nirto‐dye

Microwave irradiation (MI) process characteristically enables extremely rapid “in‐core” heating of dipoles and ions, in comparison to conventional thermal (conductance) process of heat transfer. During the process of nanoparticles synthesis, MI both modulates functionality behaviors as well as dynamic of reaction in favorable direction. So, MI providing a facile, favorable and alternative approach during nanoparticles synthesis nanoparticles with enhanced catalytic performances. Although, conventionally used reducing and capping reagents of synthetic origin, are usually environmentally hazardous and toxic for living organism. But, in absence of suitable capping agent; stability, shelf life and catalytic activity of metallic nanoparticles adversely affected. However, polymeric templates which emerged as suitable choice of agent for both reducing and capping purposes; bearing additional advantages in terms of catalyst free one step green synthesis process with high degree of biosafety and efficiency. Another aspect of current works was to understand role of process variables in growth mechanism and catalytic performances of microwave processed metallic nanoparticles, as well as comparison of these parameters with conventional heating method. However, due to poor prediction ability with previously published architect OFAT (One factor at a time) design with these nanoparticles as well as random selection of process variables with their different levels, such comparison couldn't be possible. Hence, using gum Ghatti (Anogeissus latifolia) as a model bio‐template and under simulated reaction conditions; architect of QbD design systems were integrated in microwave processed nanoparticles to establish mechanistic role these variables. Furthermore, in comparison to conventional heating; we reported well validated mathematical modeling of process variables on characteristic of nanoparticles as well as synthesized gold nanoparticles of desired and identical dimensions, in both thermal and microwave‐based processes. Interestingly, despite of identical dimension, MI processed gold nanoparticles bearing higher efficiency (kinetic rate) against remediation of hazardous nitro dye (4‐nitrophenol), into safer amino (4‐aminophenol) analogues.     

Characteristic behaviour of plasma fluctuations inside a plasma bubble in presence of a magnetic field due to the formation of a potential well

Experiments were carried out to observe the effect of a magnetic field and grid biasing voltage in presence of a plasma bubble in a magnetized, filamentary discharge plasma system. A spherical mesh grid of 80% optical transparency was negatively biased and introduced into the plasma for creating a plasma bubble. Diagnostics via an electrical Langmuir probe and a hot emissive probe were extensively used for scanning the plasma bubble. Plasma floating potential fluctuations were measured at three different positions of the plasma bubble. The instability in the pattern showed the dynamic transition from periodic to chaotic for increasing magnetic fields. Time scale analysis using continuous wavelet transform was carried out to identify the presence of non‐linearity from the contour plots. The mechanisms of the low‐frequency instabilities along with the transition to chaos could be qualitatively explained. Non‐linear techniques such as fast Fourier transform, phase space plot, and recurrence plot were used to explore the dynamics of the system appearing during plasma fluctuations. In order to demonstrate the observed chaotic phenomena in this study, characteristics of chaos such as the Lyapunov exponent were obtained from experimental time series data. The experimentally observed potential structure is confirmed with numerical analysis based on fluid hydrodynamics.     

Design and Synthesis of Aromatic Polyesters Bearing Pendant Clickable Maleimide Groups

A bisphenol bearing pendant maleimide group, namely, N‐maleimidoethyl‐3, 3‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1‐isobenzopyrrolidone (PPH‐MA) was synthesized starting from phenolphthalein. Aromatic (co)polyesters bearing pendant maleimide groups were synthesized from PPH‐MA and aromatic diacid chlorides, namely, isophthaloyl chloride (IPC), terephthaloyl chloride (TPC), and 50:50 mol % mixture of IPC and TPC by low temperature solution polycondensation technique. Copolyesters were also synthesized by polycondensation of different molar proportions of PPH‐MA and bisphenol A with IPC. Inherent viscosities and number‐average molecular weights of aromatic (co)polyesters were in the range of 0.52–0.97 dL/g and 20,200–32,800 g/mol, respectively indicating formation of medium to reasonably high‐molecular‐weight polymers. ¹³C NMR spectral analysis of copolyesters revealed the formation of random copolymers. The 10% weight loss temperature of (co)polyesters was found in the range 470–484 °C, indicating their good thermal stability. A selected aromatic polyester bearing pendant maleimide groups was chemically modified via thiol‐maleimide Michael addition reaction with two representative thiol compounds, namely, 4‐chlorothiophenol and 1‐adamantanethiol to yield post‐modified polymers in a quantitative manner. Additionally, it was demonstrated that polyester containing pendant maleimide groups could be used to form insoluble crosslinked gel in the presence of a multifunctional thiol crosslinker. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 630–640     

High‐Energy Long‐Lived Mixed Frenkel–Charge‐Transfer Excitons: From Double Stranded (AT)n to Natural DNA

The electronic excited states populated upon absorption of UV photons by DNA are extensively studied in relation to the UV‐induced damage to the genetic code. Here, we report a new unexpected relaxation pathway in adenine–thymine double‐stranded structures (AT)_n. Fluorescence measurements on (AT)_n hairpins (six and ten base pairs) and duplexes (20 and 2000 base pairs) reveal the existence of an emission band peaking at approximately 320 nm and decaying on the nanosecond time scale. Time‐dependent (TD)‐DFT calculations, performed for two base pairs and exploring various relaxation pathways, allow the assignment of this emission band to excited states resulting from mixing between Frenkel excitons and adenine‐to‐thymine charge‐transfer states. Emission from such high‐energy long‐lived mixed (HELM) states is in agreement with their fluorescence anisotropy (0.03), which is lower than that expected for π–π* states (≥0.1). An increase in the size of the system quenches π–π* fluorescence while enhancing HELM fluorescence. The latter process varies linearly with the hypochromism of the absorption spectra, both depending on the coupling between π–π* and charge‐transfer states. Subsequently, we identify the common features between the HELM states of (AT)_n structures with those reported previously for alternating (GC)_n: high emission energy, low fluorescence anisotropy, nanosecond lifetimes, and sensitivity to conformational disorder. These features are also detected for calf thymus DNA in which HELM states could evolve toward reactive π–π* states, giving rise to delayed fluorescence.     

Intraspecific competition of predator for prey with variable rates in protected areas

Nonlinear Dynamics - In this present study, we systematically explore the periodicity (almost periodic nature) of a dynamical system in time-varying environment, which portrays a special case of...     

An improved depth-averaged nonhydrostatic shallow water model with quadratic pressure approximation

Phase-resolved information is necessary for many coastal wave problems, for example, for the wave conditions in the vicinity of harbor structures. Two-dimensional (2D) depth-averaging shallow water models are commonly used to obtain a phase-resolved solution near the coast. These models are in general more computationally effective compared with computational fluid dynamics software and will be even more capable if equipped with a parallelized code. In the current article, a 2D wave model solving the depth-averaged continuity equation and the Euler equations is implemented in the open-source hydrodynamic code REEF3D. The model is based on a nonhydrostatic extension and a quadratic vertical pressure profile assumption, which provides a better approximation of the frequency dispersion. It is the first model of its kind to employ high-order discretization schemes and to be fully parallelized following the domain decomposition strategy. Wave generation and absorption are achieved with a relaxation method. The simulations of nonlinear long wave propagations and transformations over nonconstant bathymetries are presented. The results are compared with benchmark wave propagation cases. A large-scale wave propagation simulation over realistic irregular topography is shown to demonstrate the model's capability of solving operational large-scale problems.     

Fano profile in a novel double cavity optomechanical system with harmonically bound mirrors

We investigate a double cavity optomechanical system generating single and double Fano resonance (multi-Fano). By altering a single parameter, the tunnelling rate g of the middle mirror, we are able to switch between single and double Fano line shapes. The first spectral line shape is stronger in the case of multi-Fano than in the case of single Fano. Also the behaviour of the steady state value of the displacement of the middle mirror, with respect to g, heavily influences the behaviour of double Fano lines in our scheme. This tunability along with using a single pump and signal/probe laser has an added advantage in situations where only low power consumption is available.     

Versatile gold-polymer nanointerfaces probed by GISAXS

An increasing trend toward integration of polymers in microelectronics and organic electronics has recently boosted research focusing in metal-polymer interfaces. These two materials differ vastly, with the former forming dense, crystalline, cohesive structures and the latter forming open structures bound together by weak van der Waals forces. As a result, there is dire need to assess their surface features (e.g., roughness) and correlate them with corresponding growth parameters, as metal-polymer interfaces are mainly determined by the preparation process. Here, we report a laboratory-based grazing-incidence small-angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) study on distinct gold-polymer interfaces fabricated with different growth mechanisms, utilizing in-plane and oblique sputter geometries. GISAXS provided an improved analytic scheme for the buried surface in free-standing 2D gold-polymer nanosheets (with 19% porosity) revealing their fractal structure (Porod slope: ?1.71). Two quantitative approaches (Height-Height Correlation and Power Spectral Density functions) were used to describe rough surfaces characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in consort with GISAXS data; different correlation length dependencies on growth time were revealed for gold rough surfaces grown on bare and polymerized Si. The results are considered pertinent to interfacial nanoscience and engineering, enabling statistical data collection from large surface areas, in a fast and nondestructive manner.