Chromatic and opto-mechanical dispersion of some characteristic parameters of optical fiber undergoing macrobending

Bending of optical fiber leads to an induced-anisotropy in the index profile that influences many important guiding fiber parameters. An analytical method is described for the measurement of refractive-index-wavelength dispersion in bent optical fibers. Multiple-beam Fizeau fringes technique at transmission is used to analyze the opto-mechanical properties and induced-index anisotropy in a standard single-mode fiber undergoes pure mechanical macrobending. The shift in Fizeau fringes is employed to evaluate the dispersion of the cladding material of the bent fiber. The radial variations in Cauchy’s coefficients and the associated variations of some fiber parameters due to macrobending are carried out. The radial profiles of some material parameters such as oscillation energy, dispersion energy, lattice energy and material dispersion are measured as well. The presented method is capable to achieve quantitative and qualitative measurements, which is not available with other methods. The method has a good index resolution in the order of 10⁻⁴ and spatial resolution of 1.3 μm.     

Optimal stopping problems by two or more decision makers: a survey

A review of the optimal stopping problem with more than a single decision maker (DM) is presented in this paper. We classify the existing literature according to the arrival of the offers, the utility of the DMs, the length of the sequence of offers, the nature of the game and the number of offers to be selected. We enumerate various definitions for this problem and describe some dynamic approaches. Fouad Ben Abdelaziz is on leave from the Institut Superieur de Gestion, University of Tunis, Tunisia e-mail: foued.benabdelaz@isg.run.tn.     

Rapid synthesis of 2,5‐disubtituted 1,3,4‐thiadiazoles under microwave irradiation

The one pot, three‐components condensation of aromatic aldehydes, hydrazine and sulfur in ethanol under microwave irradiation provided symmetrically 3,5‐disubstituted 1,3,4‐thiadiazoles in high yields and good purity. This reaction must be conducted under pressure of hydrogen sulfide produced in‐situ. The structure of the compounds was confirmed by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, MS and elemental analysis.     

Chemistry of Phosphorus Ylides. Part 22 [1]. Effect of Newly Synthesized Niclosamide Mannich Bases, Phosphopyranones, Phosphoranylidenes, and Oxaphosphinin on Some Metabolic Aspects of Biomphalaria Alexandrina

Niclosamide reacts with secondary amines and formaldehyde under the condition of Mannich reaction, to give new Mannich bases. The reaction of these niclosamide Mannich bases with active phosphacumulene ylides affords the corresponding phenyliminopyranone, pyranone, and pyranthione, respectively. When Wittig reaction was carried out on the pyranone, using p-nitrobenzaldehyde, a new arylidene and triphenylphosphine oxide were obtained. On the other hand, stabilized phosphonium ylides affect the transylidation of niclosamide Mannich bases to the corresponding phosphoranylidenes. When diphenylmethylenetriphenylphosphorane reacts with a niclosamide Mannich base, an oxaphosphinin was obtained. The molluscicidal potency of the newly synthesized derivatives against Biomphalaria alexandrina was studied, too.     

Synthesis and characterization of maleimide polymers with pendant pyrazole groups. IV. Copolymerization of pyrazole-modified maleimides with vinyl ethers

The synthesis of maleimides that have pyrazolic or bipyrazolic pendant groups is described. Their homopolymerization and their copolymerization with 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether (CEVE) is reported. The homopolymerizations of such maleimides were performed under various conditions and led to low molecular-weight polymers. However, alternating copolymers were obtained from CEVE as comonomers whatever the monomers feed compositions. A similar behavior was also observed for maleimides that do not exhibit any spacer, whereas for bulky vinyl ethers, random copolymers were produced. A comparison of the thermal behavior between these copolymers (glass transition temperatures, T_g, and decomposition temperatures) and other copolymers having different spacers between the nitrogenated cycles and the chain are related. Thus, an important decrease of T_g, was observed when C₃H₆CO₂CH₂ groups were used as the spacer instead of methylene groups. Moreover, the thermal weakness of these copolymers may come from the substituents of the vinyl ether and is discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Physicochemical characterization of degradable thermosensitive polymeric micelles

Amphiphilic AB block copolymers consisting of thermosensitive poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide lactate) and poly(ethylene glycol), pHPMAmDL-b-PEG, were synthesized via a macroinitiator route. Dynamic light scattering measurements showed that these block copolymers form polymeric micelles in water with a size of around 50 nm by heating of an aqueous polymer solution from below to above the critical micelle temperature (cmt). The critical micelle concentration as well as the cmt decreased with increasing pHPMAmDL block lengths, which can be attributed to the greater hydrophobicity of the thermosensitive block with increasing molecular weight. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that the micelles have a spherical shape with a narrow size distribution. 1H NMR measurements in D2O showed that the intensity of the peaks of the protons from the pHPMAmDL block significantly decreased above the cmt, indicating that the thermosensitive blocks indeed form the solidlike core of the micelles. Static light scattering measurements demonstrated that pHPMAmDL-b-PEG micelles with relatively large pHPMAmDL blocks possess a highly packed core that is stabilized by a dense layer of swollen PEG chains. FT-IR analysis indicated that dehydration of amide bonds in the pHPMAmDL block occurs when the polymer dissolved in water is heated from below to above its cmt. The micelles were stable when an aqueous solution of micelles was incubated at 37 degrees C and at pH 5.0, where the hydrolysis rate of lactate side groups is minimized. On the other hand, at pH 9.0, where hydrolysis of the lactic acid side groups occurs, the micelles started to swell after 1.5 h of incubation and complete dissolution of micelles was observed after 4 h as a result of hydrophilization of the thermosensitive block. Fluorescence spectroscopy measurements with pyrene loaded in the hydrophobic core of the micelles showed that when these micelles were incubated at pH 8.6 and at 37 degrees C the microenvironment of pyrene became increasingly hydrated in time during this swelling phase. The results demonstrate the potential applicability of pHPMAmDL-b-PEG block copolymer micelles for the controlled delivery of hydrophobic drugs.     

The spectrophotometric and titrimetric determination of gold with ferroin as reagent

A spectrophotometric and a photometric titration method in a two-phase system for the determination of gold with ferroin is reported. Both methods are rapid and reproducible with an accuracy of ±1%. In the spectrophotometric determination Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺ , Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Cr³⁺ do not interfere with the determination of gold and Pt⁴⁺, Pd²⁺, Hg²⁺, Ir⁴⁺ and Os⁴⁺ can be tolerated up to a ratio of 1:1. The titrations can also be carried out in the presence of a number of diverse ions, e.g. Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺, Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺, without interference; the platinum metals and Hg²⁺ cause interference but, by the use of the spectrophotometric procedure, this can be reduced.     

Cellulosic nanoparticles from alfa fibers (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Stipa tenacissima)</Emphasis>: extraction procedures and reinforcement potential in polymer nanocomposites

The microstructure and chemical composition of alfa (Stipa tenacissima) were investigated. The polysaccharide and lignin contents were around 70 and 20 wt%, respectively. From the bleached and delignified fibers, two types of nanosized cellulosic particles were extracted, namely cellulose nanocrystals and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). The former correspond typically to the elementary crystallite units of the cellulose fibers, with a rod-like morphology and an aspect ratio of about 20. The latter, mechanically disintegrated from oxidized bleached fibres, presents an entangled fibrillar structure with widths in the range 5-20 nm. The reinforcing potential of the ensuing nanoparticles was investigated by casting a mixture of acrylic latex and aqueous dispersion of cellulose nanoparticles. Thermo-mechanical analysis revealed a huge enhancement of the stiffness above the glass transition of the matrix. Significant differences in the mechanical reinforcing capability of the nanoparticles were reported.     

Negative capacitance of ZnGa2Se4/Si nano-heterojunction diode

The negative capacitance (NC) behavior in p-ZnGa₂Se₄/n-Si nano-crystalline HJD was characterized by admittance-voltage method. The C–V, G–V and R _s –V for the studied diode were analysed in the frequency range of 1–5 MHz and in the temperature range of 303–423 K. The capacitance and conductance plots were interpreted in terms of interface states and series resistance. The C–V and G/ω–V plots exhibit a pounced peak due to the interface states and the series resistance effects. The negative capacitance behavior in the studied diode can be explained in terms of the transient currents.     

Calcium-based hydrated minerals: Promising halogen-free flame retardant and fire resistant additives for polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers

In this study, we evaluated the potential flame retardant effect of calcium-based hydrated minerals, such as hydrated lime, partially and completely hydrated dolomitic limes in polyethylene (MDPE) and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) and compared to that obtained with magnesium di-hydroxide (MDH). The most significant flame retardant effects, observed using the mass loss calorimeter test, indicated that Ca-based MDPE composites showed similar peak Heat Release Rate (pHRR) level to that obtained with MDH composite while the pHRR was lower for Ca-based fillers in EVA compositions. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) data, combined with thermal analysis results, indicated that the calcium di-hydroxide plays a role in the formation of an intumescent cohesive residue during the combustion. Indeed, Ca(OH)₂ reacts with CO₂ formed during the thermal degradation of the polymer to generate CaCO₃ (calcium carbonate) that contributes to the enhancement of the mechanical resistance of the residue.