Synthesis of AA-MMA Block Copolymer by RAFT Polymerization and Used as Emulsifier cum Macroinitiator and Its Influence on the Film Properties

Blocked copolymer of acrylic acid-methyl methacrylate with controlled molecular architecture were prepared by reversible addition chain fragmentation polymerization and were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) for structural evaluation. The neutralized copolymers were evaluated for the critical micelle concentration (CMC), hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) and were utilized as polymeric emulsifier cum macro RAFT initiator for the synthesis of acrylic binder. The structure properties of the emulsifier were evaluated correlating with the film properties.     

A phase I, randomized study of combined IL-2 and therapeutic immunisation with antiretroviral therapy

Background  

Fully functional HIV-1-specific CD8 and CD4 effector T-cell responses are vital to the containment of viral activity and disease progression. These responses are lacking in HIV-1-infected patients with progressive disease. We attempted to augment fully functional HIV-1-specific CD8 and CD4 effector T-cell responses in patients with advanced chronic HIV-1 infection.     

Concentration quenched luminescence and energy transfer analysis of Nd3+ ion doped Ba-Al-metaphosphate laser glasses

This paper reports the dopant ion (Nd³⁺) concentration effects on its luminescence properties in a new glass system based on barium-alumino-metaphosphates. Amongst the studied concentrations range of 0.276–13.31×10²⁰ ions/cm³, the glass with 2.879×10²⁰ ions/cm³ (1 mol%) Nd³⁺ concentration shows intense NIR emission from ⁴F_3/2 excited state, followed by a decrease in emission intensity for further increase in Nd³⁺ ion concentration. The observed luminescence quenching is ascribed to Nd³⁺ self-quenching through the donor-donor migration assisted cross-relaxation mechanism. The microscopic energy transfer parameters for donor-acceptor energy transfer, C _DA, and donor-donor energy migration, C _DD, have been obtained from the theoretical fittings to experimental decay curves and the spectral overlap model respectively. The C _DD parameters (×10^?39 cm⁶/sec) are found to be about three orders greater than that of C _DA (×10^?42 cm⁶/sec) for Nd³⁺ self-quenching in this host, demonstrating that the excitation energy migration among donors is due to the hopping mechanism. The energy transfer micoparameters obtained in the present study are comparable to the values reported for commercially available laser glasses LHG-8 and Q-98.     

Time Resolved Fluorescence and Energy Transfer Analysis of Nd<Superscript>3+</Superscript>–Yb<Superscript>3+</Superscript>–Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript> Triply-Doped Ba–Al-Metaphosphate Glasses for an Eye Safe Emission (1.54 μm)

This paper reports on the preparation and systematic analysis of energy transfer mechanisms in Nd³⁺–Yb³⁺–Er³⁺ co-doped new series of barium-alumino-metaphosphate glasses. The time resolved fluorescence of Nd³⁺ in triply doped Ba–Al-metaphosphate glasses have revealed that, Yb³⁺ ions could function as quite efficient bridge for an energy transfer between Nd³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions. As a result, a fourfold emission enhancement at 1.54 μm of Er³⁺ ions has been achieved through an excitation of ⁴F_5/2 level of Nd³⁺ at 806 nm for the glass having 3 mol% Yb³⁺ with an energy transfer efficiency reaching up to 94%. Decay of donor (Nd³⁺) ion fluorescence has been analyzed based on theoretical models such as direct energy transfer model (Inokuti–Hirayama) and migration assisted energy transfer models (Burshtein’s hopping and Yokota–Tanimoto’s diffusion). The corresponding energy transfer parameters have been evaluated and discussed. Primarily, electrostatic dipole–dipole (s ~ 6) interactions are found to be responsible for the occurrence of energy transfer process in theses glasses.     

Femtosecond vibrational dynamics of self-trapping in a quasi-one-dimensional system

We have directly time resolved the lattice motions associated with the formation of the self-trapped exciton in the quasi-one-dimensional system [Pt(en)(2)] [Pt(en)2Br2];(PF6)(4) ( en = ethylene-diamine, C2H8N2), using femtosecond impulsive excitation techniques. A strongly damped, low-frequency wave packet modulation at approximately 110 cm(-1) accompanies the formation of the self-trapped exciton on a approximately 200 fs time scale following excitation of the intervalence charge-transfer transition. Coherent oscillations at the ground state vibrational frequency and its harmonics are also detected.     

Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics and microstructure evolution of calcium lanthanum metaborate glass

This paper reports results on the crystallization kinetics of 35.5CaO–7.25La₂O₃–57.25B₂O₃ glass under nonisothermal conditions based on the studies carried out from the differential thermal analysis upon using various well-established models. The crystalline phases formed during the optimized ceramization process have been confirmed from the X-ray diffraction. The activation energies of the first (formation of CaLaB₇O₁₃) and second (formation of LaBO₃) crystallization events have been estimated using the conventional methods of Kissinger, Augis–Bennett, Ozawa, and Matusita, and the results are found to be in good agreement with each other. The Avrami exponents that are determined by these models for the crystallization of CaLaB₇O₁₃ and LaBO₃ are found to be in the range of (1.81–2.35) and (4.03–4.65), respectively. This indicates that the formation of CaLaB₇O₁₃ is dominated by a surface crystallization, whereas LaBO₃ is formed by three-dimensional bulk crystallization with an increased rate of nucleation. This observation is further validated by microstructural investigation, which shows the formation of CaLaB₇O₁₃ phase as a surface layer and a bulk crystallization of LaBO₃ in optimally ceramized samples.     

TRPM5-expressing microvillous cells in the main olfactory epithelium

Background  

The main olfactory epithelium (MOE) in the nasal cavity detects a variety of air borne molecules that provide information regarding the presence of food, predators and other relevant social and environmental factors. Within the epithelium are ciliated sensory neurons, supporting cells, basal cells and microvillous cells, each of which is distinct in morphology and function. Arguably, the least understood, are the microvillous cells, a population of cells that are small in number and whose function is not known. We previously found that in a mouse strain in which the TRPM5 promoter drives expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP), a population of ciliated olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), as well as a population of cells displaying microvilli-like structures is labeled. Here we examined the morphology and immunocytochemical properties of these microvillous-like cells using immunocytochemical methods.