Bis(2‐pyridyl­methanol)­bis­(saccharinato)­zinc(II) and ‐cadmium(II) at 120 K: three‐dimensional structures containing both N‐and O‐coordinated ambi­dentate saccharinate ligands

The title complexes [M(sac)₂(mpy)₂] [sac is saccharinate (C₇H₄NO₃S) and mpy is 2‐pyridyl­methanol (C₆H₇NO)], with M = Zn^II and Cd^II, are isostructural and consist of neutral mol­ecules. The Zn^II or Cd^II cations are octahedrally coordinated by the two neutral mpy and two anionic sac ligands. The mpy ligand acts as a bidentate donor through the amine N and hydroxyl O atoms. The sac ligands exhibit an ambidentate coordination behaviour; one is N‐coordinated and the other is O‐coordinated within the same coordination octahedron. The crystal packing is determined by C—H?O‐type hydrogen bonding, as well as by weak py–py and sac–sac aromatic π–π‐stacking interactions.     

Monitoring the Instant Creation of a New Fluorescent Signal for Evaluation of DNA Conformation Based on Intercalation Complex

Here we report the monitoring the instant creation of a new fluorescent signal (FS) aroused from a positively charged water-soluble fluorogenic probe, ethidium bromide (EtBr) in the presence of a radical initiator, ammonium persulfate (APS) and an accelerator, tetraethylmetilendiamine (TEMED) for evaluation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) conformation. The results revealed that the occurred FS (λ_ex?=?430 nm; λ_max?=?525 nm) is a reduced form of EtBr (λ_ex?=?480 nm; λ_max?=?617 nm) and it is completely distinct from hydroethidine (λ_ex?=?350 nm; λ_max?=?430 nm), which is two-electron reduced form of EtBr. It was noticed that EtBr was reduced to a new FS during the polymerization of N, N dimethyacrylamide (DMAA) too, at 25 °C in the presence of APS and TEMED or at 55 °C with only APS, and the rate of formation of FS was increased upon treatment time. The effect of nanoclays such as Laponite XLG® and Laponite XLS®, which provide a protective environment for DNA in nature, were also investigated through the reduction process of EtBr in the absence and presence of a water soluble monomer DMAA. We demonstrated that DNA conformation might be evaluated by monitoring FS effectuated during the reduction of EtBr in the presence of nanoclays having positively and negatively charged surfaces. Protective property of DNA against the formation of reduced product was elucidated by carrying out the polymerization at 55 °C. The results revealed that the monitoring of formation of FS in the presence of radical initiator could lead to elucidate the conformation of DNA upon formation of intercalator complex.     

Bacterial Foraging Algorithm for Null Synthesizing of Linear Antenna Arrays by Controlling Only the Element Positions

A method based on the bacterial foraging algorithm (BFA) for the pattern synthesis of linear antenna arrays with the prescribed nulls is presented. Nulling of the pattern is achieved by controlling only the element positions. The BFA is a new evolutionary computing technique, based on the foraging behavior of Escherichia (E) coli bacteria in a human intestine. Simulation results for Chebyshev patterns with the imposed single, multiple and broad nulls are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method. For practical consideration, due to small variations of the element positions, the sensitivity of the produced patterns is also examined by rounding the element position values to the second decimal position.     

Thermally stimulated current measurements in as-grown TlGaSeS layered single crystals

Charge carrier traps in as-grown TlGaSeS layered single crystals were studied using thermally stimulated current measurements. The investigations were performed in temperatures ranging from 10 to 100 K. The experimental evidences were found for the presence of one shallow hole trapping center in TlGaSeS, located at 12 meV from the valence band. The trap parameters have been calculated using various methods of analysis, and these agree well with each other. Its capture cross-section and concentration have been found to be 8.9 × 10⁻²⁶ cm² and 2.0 × 10¹⁴ cm⁻³, respectively. Analysis of the thermally stimulated current data at different light excitation temperatures leads to a value of 19 meV/decade for the shallow hole traps distribution.     

Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy study of polyvinylpyrrolidone-added polyvinylidene fluoride membranes: Investigation of free volume and permeation relationships

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes were prepared via the phase inversion method from casting solutions containing PVDF, dimethylformamide (DMF), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as pore former. PVP was used in the casting solution in a range of 0–5 wt % and extracted. The effect on membranes of using PVP in the casting process was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, viscosity, and water permeability techniques. With an increase of PVP from 0 to 5 wt %, the PVDF casting solution viscosities increased from 858 to 1148 cP; the resulting PVDF membrane thickness increased; and the crystallinity of PVDF membranes decreased from 40.0 to 33.3%, which indicates that the addition of PVP inhibits the degree of crystallization in the PVDF membranes. SEM results revealed the shape and size of macropores in the membranes; these macropores changed after PVP addition to the casting solutions. The impact of structural changes on free-volume properties was evaluated using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) studies. PALS analysis indicated no effect on the average radius (~3.4 Å) of membrane free-volume holes from the addition of PVP to the casting solution. However, the percentage of o-Ps pick-off annihilation intensity, I₃, increased from 1.7 to 5.1% with increased PVP content. Further, increasing the PVP content from 0.5 to 5% resulted in an increased final pure water permeability flux. For instance, the 210 min flux for a 14% PVDF + 0.5% PVP membrane was found to be 3.3 times greater than a control membrane having the same PVDF concentration. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 58, 589–598     

Bis(saccharinato)palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes with 2,2′-bipyridine: Syntheses,structures, spectroscopic,fluorescent and thermal properties

New palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes, cis-[Pd(bpy)(sac)₂] (1) and cis-[Pt(bpy)(sac)₂] (2), where sac = saccharinate, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, UV–Vis, IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. The structures of the DMSO solvated complexes are determined by X-ray diffraction. Both complexes are isomorphous and the metal ions are coordinated by two N-bonded sac ligands, and two nitrogen atoms of pyridyl groups of bpy in a cis fashion. The mononuclear species interact each other through weak intermolecular C–H?O hydrogen bonds, C–H?π and π?π interactions leading to three-dimensional supramolecular networks. All complexes exhibit a high thermal stability in the solid state, and are fluorescent in the solution.     

Elastic properties and mechanical relaxation behaviors of PVDF (poly (vinylidene fluoride)) at temperatures between −20 and 100 °C and at 2 MHz ultrasonic frequency

The elastic properties of PVDF have been investigated as a function of temperature. The propagation velocity and absorption of longitudinal and transverse ultrasonic waves have been measured at a constant frequency of 2 MHz and temperatures between –20 and 100 °C. Hence, the temperature dependences of storage and loss elastic constants have been obtained for temperatures between –20 and 100 °C. It has been seen that the relaxation behavior is affected from the form of mechanical disturbance. For the longitudinal mode, only one relaxation peak at 42 °C, but for transverse mode three relaxation peaks at 28 °C, 60 °C, and 94 °C have been observed. The results have been compared with the literature values obtained previously for PVDF. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2862–2873, 2005     

Efficient synthesis of fluorescent rosamines: multifunctional platforms for cellular imaging

Substituted rosamines are efficiently prepared through a new organometallic addition to an imine-substituted xanthone as a novel primary amine equivalent. The synthesis reduces the number of synthetic steps to the targeted rosamines, for convenient and facile access to potential libraries of rosamine dyes. The prepared rosamine derivatives represent unique multifunctional platforms that possess radiolabeling capability and fluorescence. Rosamines have (i) useful non-specific binding properties in mammalian cells and plant root hair, and (ii) positive uptake or binding properties in microbial systems.     

Effect of LiClO4 Salt on Dielectric Properties of Acrylonitrile-Methyl Methacrylate and Acrylonitrile-Isobutyl Methacrylate Copolymers

Poly(acrylonitrile-co-isobutyl methacrylate), PAN-co-PIBMA, and poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl methacrylate), PAN-co-MMA copolymers are synthesized by emulsion polymerization. The structural characterization is done by FTIR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and thermal analyses are performed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). After various amounts of LiClO₄ salt loading into copolymer films, the dielectric properties of these films at different temperatures and frequencies are determined. The effects of different methacrylate groups and salt content on the dielectric properties of copolymers are investigated. It is found that the dielectric constant increases systematically with increasing MMA and IBMA content in the copolymer. The samples with higher salt content show higher ac-conductivities.