Relationship of nanostructure and thermo-chemical response/thermal ablation of carbon aerogels

In this work, the interfacial mass balance relations combined with the non-parametric kinetic (NPK) analysis results were used for evaluating the thermo-chemical ablation process and oxidation mechanism of carbon aerogels with various porous structure. It was found that the two-parameter model of Nomen–Sempereis was able to describe the kinetics of the oxidation reaction and to reveal the structure-dependent contribution of two main processes with chemical and physical nature. The porosity of the carbon aerogel, rather than the other microstructural features, was realized more effective on the rate of ablation.     

Green synthesis of the 1-substituted 1H-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrazoles over bifunctional catalyst based on copper intercalated into Mg/Al hydrotalcite modified magnetite nanoparticles

An effective one-pot, convenient process for the synthesis of 1- substituted 1H-tetrazoles from triethyl orthoformate, amines, and sodium azide is described using copper (II) doped and immobilized on functionalized magnetic hydrotalcite (Fe₃O₄/HT-NH₂ Cu^II) as a novel recyclable catalyst. The application of this catalyst allows the synthesis of a variety of tetrazoles in good to excellent yields in water. The new catalyst was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), vibration sample magnetometry (VSM) and inductively coupled plasma analysis (ICP-OES). This new procedure offers several advantages such as short operational simplicity, practicability, and applicability to various substrates and the absence of any tedious workup or purification. The loading amount of Cu^II (doped and immobilized) on functionalized magnetic hydrotalcite was indicated to be 4.66 mmol g⁻¹, obtained from the ICP-OES analysis. Also, the excellent catalytic performance, thermal stability, and separation of the catalyst make it an excellent heterogeneous system and a useful alternative to other heterogeneous catalysts. Also, the catalyst could be magnetically separated and reused six times without significant loss of catalytic activity.     

Simulation of viscoelastic fluids in a 2D abrupt contraction by spectral element method

This study presents the vortex structure and numerical instability increase occurring when the level of elasticity is enhanced in inertial flows in planar contraction configuration for finitely extensible nonlinear elastic model by Peterlin (FENE‐P) fluid 1 . The re‐entrant corner effect on corner vortices is also considered. The calculations are performed using extended matrix logarithm formulation described in a previous paper: A. Jafari et al. A new extended matrix logarithm formulation for the simulation of viscoelastic fluids by spectral elements. Computer & Fluids 2010; 39 (9):1425–1438. In that reference, the proposed algorithm has been tested for simple geometry such as Poiseuille flow. In this study, we are interested in the capability of this algorithm for more complex geometry. This formulation helps to reach higher values of the Weissenberg number when compared with the classical one. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distinguishing and quantification of the human visual pathways using high-spatial-resolution diffusion tensor tractography

Quantification of the living human visual system using MRI methods has been challenging, but several applications demand a reliable and time-efficient data acquisition protocol. In this study, we demonstrate the utility of high-spatial-resolution diffusion tensor fiber tractography (DTT) in reconstructing and quantifying the human visual pathways. Five healthy males, age range 24–37 years, were studied after approval of the institutional review board (IRB) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. We acquired diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data with 1-mm slice thickness on a 3.0-Tesla clinical MRI scanner and analyzed the data using DTT with the fiber assignment by continuous tractography (FACT) algorithm. By utilizing the high-spatial-resolution DTI protocol with FACT algorithm, we were able to reconstruct and quantify bilateral optic pathways including the optic chiasm, optic tract, optic radiations free of contamination from neighboring white matter tracts.     

Experimental and numerical study of residual stresses caused by cold expansion of adjacent holes

Cold expansion is a useful process for imposing compressive residual stresses around the holes in riveted and bolted connections. These stresses increase the fatigue life of holed parts. Distribution and amount of exerted residual stress dependent on various parameters as material, distance of adjacent holes, hole diameter, cold expansion ratio and plate thickness. In this study, experimental and numerical results for two different aluminum alloys and various holes distances are investigated and compared. Effects of mentioned parameters on the residual stress are studied.     

Silver,iron, and nickel immobilized on hydroxyapatite‐core‐shell γ‐Fe2O3 MNPs catalyzed one‐pot five‐component reactions for the synthesis of tetrahydropyridines by tandem condensation of amines,aldehydes, and methyl acetoacetate

In this study, Ag, Ni²⁺, and Fe²⁺ immobilized on hydroxyapatite‐core‐shell γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (γ‐Fe₂O₃@HAp‐Ag, γ‐Fe₂O₃@HAp‐Ni²⁺, and γ‐Fe₂O₃@HAp‐Fe²⁺) as a new and reusable Lewis acid magnetic nanocatalyst was successfully synthesized and reported for an atom economic, extremely facile, and environmentally benign procedure for the synthesis of highly functionalized tetrahydropyridines derivatives 4a‐t is described by one‐pot five‐component reaction of 2 equiv of aldehydes 1 , 2 equiv of amines 2 , and 1 equiv of methyl acetoacetate 3 in EtOH at room temperature in good to high yields and short reaction time. The presented methodology offers several advantages such as easy work‐up procedure, reusability of the magnetic nanocatalyst, operational simplicity, green synthesis avoiding toxic reagents and solvent, mild reaction conditions, and no tedious column chromatographic separation.     

Complexation ability of kryptofix 22DD with lanthanum (III) cation in some binary mixed non-aqueous solvents

The complex formation between lanthanum (III) cation with kryptofix 22DD was studied in acetonitrile–dimethylformamide (AN–DMF), acetonitrile–methanol (AN–MeOH), acetonitrile–ethylacetate (AN–EtOAc) and acetonitrile–ethanol (AN–EtOH) binary solvent solutions at different temperatures by using conductometric method. The conductance data show that in all cases, the stoichiometry of the complex formed between the macrocyclic ligand and the metal cation is 1:1 [ML]. The stability order of (kryptofix 22DD.La)³⁺ complex in the studied binary solvent solutions at 25 °C was found to be: AN–EtOAc>AN–EtOH>AN–MeOH>AN–DMF and in the case of pure non-aqueous solvents at 25 °C was: EtOAc>EtOH>MeOH>AN>DMF. A non-linear behavior was observed for changes of logK_f of (kryptofix 22DD.La)³⁺ complex versus the composition of the binary mixed solvents, which was explained in terms of solvent–solvent interactions and also the preferential solvation of the species involved in the complexation reaction. The values of standard thermodynamic parameters (?H _c°, ?S _c°) for formation of (kryptofix 22DD.La)³⁺ complex were obtained from temperature dependence of the stability constant using the van’t Hoff plots.The results show that in most cases, the (kryptofix 22DD.La)³⁺ complex is enthalpy destabilized, but entropy stabilized and the values of these thermodynamic quantities for formation of the complex are quite sensitive to the nature and composition of the mixed solvents solution.     

Glucose Electro‐oxidation on Graphite Electrode Modified with Nickel/Chromium Nanoparticles

In this study, an available and inexpensive graphite substrate, was easily modified with Ni/Cr nanoparticles via electrodeposition technique in a very short time (3 min) and used as an electrocatalyst for glucose oxidation in alkaline solution. Graphite electrode modified with Ni/Cr nanoparticles demonstrated an outstanding electrocatalytic performance to glucose oxidation in comparison to examined Ni‐based electrodes or even different materials in other reports. It is noteworthy to mention that adding a little Cr led to a synergistic effect with Ni; accordingly, the presence of Cr not only resulted in a greater adsorption of glucose molecules by chromium oxide but also boosted conductivity of the nickel oxide because of the enhancement of Ni(III) amount. The electrochemical studies were performed by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The morphology and structure of catalyst layer was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy (EDS). The linear range of the electrode by cyclic voltammetry was between 2–31 mM with a high sensitivity of 2094 μA cm^?2 mM^?1. The repeatability and reproducibility of the proposed electrode was examined in glucose solution which were 0.3 % and 4.7 %, respectively. According to the low cost, ease and fast preparation, good repeatability and high sensitivity, this electrode can be a good candidate for nonenzymatic glucose oxidation.