The versatility of salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone in the determination of copper in blood using adsorptive stripping voltammetry

The adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry technique (AdCSV) is used to determine copper(II) using salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (N, S- donor) as a complexing agent on hanging mercury drop electrode at pH 9.3. Variable factors affecting the response, i.e. the concentration of ligand, pH, adsorption potential and adsorption time are assessed and optimized. The adsorbed complex of copper(II) and salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone gives a well defined cathodic stripping peak current at −0.35 V, which has been used for the determination of copper in the concentration range of 7.85 × 10⁻⁹ to 8.00 × 10⁻⁶ M with accumulation time of 360 s at −0.1 V versus Ag/AgCl. This technique has been applied for the determination of copper in various digested samples of whole blood at trace levels.     

Comparison of two theories during self-focusing of Gaussian laser beam in thermal conduction-loss predominant plasmas

In the present paper, self-focusing phenomenon occurring as a result of non-linear interaction of intense laser beam with thermal conduction-loss predominant plasmas is studied by following both approaches viz. paraxial theory approach and moment theory approach. Non-linear differential equations for the beam width parameters of laser beam have been set up and solved numerically in both cases to study the variation of beam width parameters with normalized distance of propagation. Effects of laser intensity as well as plasma density on the beam width parameters have also been analyzed. It is observed from the analysis that in case of moment theory approach, strong self-focusing of laser beam is observed as compared to paraxial theory approach.     

Hydrogenation of Pd-capped Mg thin films prepared by DC magnetron sputtering

Structural and optical properties of pure Mg thin film coated with Pd have been investigated. Pd-capped Mg thin films had been prepared by DC magnetron sputtering. This work presents an ex situ study on hydrogenation and dehydrogenation kinetics of Pd/Mg films at different conditions using XRD, AFM and optical spectrophotometer. We have succeeded to load thin films of Mg to MgH₂ at normal temperature and normal pressure of hydrogen gas. In hydrogenation, α-MgH₂ phase of magnesium hydride was observed in hydrogenated films at 200 °C and γ-MgH₂ at 250 °C respectively. The desorption kinetics in vacuum also revealed the phase transformation α-MgH₂ to γ-MgH₂. A reflectance change was observed in hydrogenated films in comparison of as deposited thin film. Hydrogenated (H loaded) samples were observed partially transparent in comparison of as deposited.     

Comparison of Two Theories for the Relativistic Self Focusing of Laser Beams in Plasma

In the present paper, self‐focusing of laser beams in relativistic plasmas is studied by the moment theory approach. The equilibrium beam radius of the self‐trapped laser beams is also derived. Results are compared with the paraxial ray theory. It is observed from the analysis that at higher intensities, the equilibrium beam radius increases in case of the paraxial ray theory, whereas it becomes independent of the beam intensity in case of the moment theory. Analysis also confirms the role of relativistic electrons travelling with the light pulse in (3D PIC) simulation studies (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Evaluation of thermodynamic functions for complexation reactions involving bivalent metal ions and ethyl-2,3-dioxobutyrate-2 p -bromophenylhydrazone

Complexation reactions of bivalent metal ions and ethyl-2,3-dioxobutyrate-2p-bromophenylhydrazone (EDOB-2p-BPH) have been studied potentiometrically in 50% (v/v) ethanol/water medium at different ionic strengths with respect to NaClO₄ and at different temperatures and their stability constants determined. The method of Bjerrum and Calvin as modified by Irving and Rossotti has been used to determine then andpL values. S_min values which have the same significance as ‘T²’ have also been calculated. The thermodynamic stability constants and standard free energy change (ΔG) have also been calculated. ΔG values are negative in all cases indicating that the reactions are spontaneous. The ligand field stabilization energy (δH) has also been calculated for the 3d transition metals.     

Normal-phase transport properties of highT c Y-Ba-Cu-O compounds

The normal state resistivity of highT _c Y-Ba-Cu-O compounds has been investigated and it is shown that the room temperature resistivity depends exponentially on the volume fraction of the non-superconducting phase. It is further shown that the dependence of normal state resistivity on temperature upto 300 K can be explained on the basis of a short-range co-operative electron-phonon coupling. This model also explains the observed positive Seebeck coefficient for the pure phase superconducting sample.     

Relativistic self-focusing and self-channeling of Gaussian laser beam in plasma

In the present paper, we have studied the self-focusing of a laser beam in a relativistic plasma. We have set up the non-linear differential equation for the beam width parameter of the main beam by using the moment theory approach and solved it numerically by the Runge–Kutta method. The results obtained are in agreement with the findings of the simulation (3D PIC). A new stable form of self-channeling propagation has also been observed.     

Lossy mode resonance-based uniform core tapered fiber optic sensor for sensitivity enhancement

A lossy mode resonance (LMR)-supported fiber optic sensor in which a uniform fiber core is placed among two identical tapered regions, is investigated numerically. Indium tin oxide (ITO) and aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) are considered as LMR active materials used to excite several lossy modes and gold and silver are used as surface plasmon resonance (SPR) active materials. In this probe design, a central uniform core coated with ITO/AZO is the active sensing region, whereas tapered regions are meant for bringing the incident angle close to the critical angle. The sensitivity of the present fiber optic bio-sensor is evaluated for first two LMRs utilizing both ITO and AZO separately, along with its variation with the taper ratio (TR). For ITO, the maximum sensitivity values are observed to be 18.425 μm RIU⁻¹ (refractive index unit) and 0.825 μm RIU⁻¹, corresponding to the first and second LMRs, respectively, at a TR of 1.6 and for AZO, equivalent values are 0.79 μm RIU⁻¹ and 0.35 μm RIU⁻¹, respectively, at a TR of 2.0. The results illustrate that the first LMR is more sensitive than the second LMR and the ITO-coated probe possesses greater sensitivity than the AZO-coated probe for both LMRs. Similarly, for the fiber optic SPR sensor, the maximum value of sensitivity is 5.6425 μm RIU⁻¹, in the case of gold and 5.0615 μm RIU⁻¹ in the case of silver, at a TR of 1.6. Hence, the result shows that the sensor with the present fiber optic probe design has around a 3-fold enhancement in sensitivity compared with conventional SPR sensors. This study will have applications in many sensing schemes where the requirement of large sensitivity is vital.     

Encapsulating Au‐Fe3O4 Nanodots into AIE‐active Supramolecular Assemblies: Ambient Visible‐light Harvesting “Dip‐Strip” Photocatalyst for C−C/C−N Bond Formation Reactions

The present study demonstrates the development of a supramolecular porous ensemble consisting of hetero‐oligophenylene derivative 6 and Au‐Fe₃O₄ nanodots. Supramolecular assemblies of AIE‐active hetero‐oligophenylene derivative 6 served as reactors for the generation of Au‐Fe₃O₄ nanodots. The as prepared supramolecular ensemble functioned as an efficient recyclable photocatalytic system for C(sp²)?H bond activation of anilines for the construction of quinoline carboxylates. Interestingly, the “dip catalyst” prepared by depositing PTh‐co‐PANI‐6: Au‐Fe₃O₄ nanodots on a filter paper served as a recyclable strip (up to 10 cycles) for C?C/C?N bond formation reaction.     

Theoretical study of the thermal unimolecular rearrangement of fluoroethylidenes

The thermal unimolecular isomerization of fluoroethylidenes to the corresponding fluoroethylenes has been studied by the MNDO method. It has been shown that fluorine substitution on the carbene carbon increases the activation energy in comparison with the ethylidene rearrangement. To understand the reason for this increase in the activation energy, the charge-transfer effects have been analyzed. Fluorine substitution at other positions does not significantly affect the activation energies. The thermodynamic parameters for the reaction have been evaluated, using vibrational and rotational spectral data calculated in this work. RRKM calculations have been performed and high-pressure Arrhenius parameters calculated. Hydrogen–deuterium kinetic isotope effects indicate that the reaction rates are altered considerably on isotopic substitution, and the change in reaction rates depends upon the position of deuterium substitution, as well as on the number of hydrogens replaced by deuterium atoms. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.