Negative thermal expansion in NbF_3 and NbOF_2:A comparative theoretical study

Thermal expansion control is always an obstructive factor and challenging in high precision engineering field. Here,the negative thermal expansion of Nb F_3 and Nb OF_2 was predicted by first-principles calculation with density functional theory and the quasi-harmonic approximation(QHA). We studied the total charge density, thermal vibration, and lattice dynamic to investigate the thermal expansion mechanism. We found that the presence of O induced the relatively strong covalent bond in Nb OF_2, thus weakening the transverse vibration of F and O in Nb OF_2, compared with the case of Nb F_3.In this study, we proposed a way to tailor negative thermal expansion of metal fluorides by introducing the oxygen atoms.The present work not only predicts two NTE compounds, but also provides an insight on thermal expansion control by designing chemical bond type.     

Enhanced oral bioavailability through nanotechnology in Saudi Arabia: A meta-analysis

Oral administration represents the most suitable mean among different means of administering drugs because it ensures high compliance by patients. Nevertheless, the lacking aqueoussolubility, as well as, inadequate metabolic/enzymatic stability of medicines are leading obstacles to successful drug administration by oral route. Among different systems, drug administration systems based on nanotechnology have the potential to surmount the problems associated with oral drug administration. Drug delivery systems based on nanotechnology offer an alternative to deliver antihypertensive agents with enhanced therapeutic effect and bioavailability. In this study, meta-analysis was utilized in combining data relating to oral bioavailability (area under plasma concentration time curve, AUC) enhancement through nanotechnology from multiple studies. Twenty-one studies of the total 37articles included in this study were from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and were included in a specific meta-analysis. From the analysis conducted, the overall enhancement power of the nanotechnology based formulations on drug bioavailability was found to be 7.94% (95 %CI [5.809, 10.064]). Haven utilized comprehensive and recent data of the confirmed the enhancement of bioavailability using nanotechnology which for this study was grouped into five: solid lipid nanoparticles; polymer based nanoparticles; SNEEDS/Nanoemulsion; liposomes/proliposomes and; nanostructured lipid carriers. Furthermore, the meta-analysis, provided evidence of insignificant differences between APG Bio-SNEDDS and its free drug suspension (Apeginin, APG), though with relative bioavailabiilty of 1.91. Notwithstanding most of the treatment showed a substantial relative bioavailability.     

Accurate,sensitive determination of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in human plasma,urine samples

Quantitative determination of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in human plasma and urine with high accuracy and precision provides significant information to monitor the underlying etiology of several diseases. In this regard, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry is a good choice owing to its great selectivity and sensitivity. Additionally, the hybrid quadrupole–time of flight–mass spectrometer systems provides easy identification of target compounds with superior mass measurements. In this study, an analytical method has been developed for simple, accurate and simultaneous determination of linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in a short chromatographic analysis period. The developed method is suitable for the quantitative detection of these four compounds with detection limits ranging between 1.1–3.0 ng ml⁻¹ and its applicability was assessed in human urine and plasma samples. As a result, acceptable accuracy (between 83 and 111%) and good precision (<6%) were obtained for target compounds using matrix matching calibration strategy.     

Investigation on Three-Dimensional Solubility Parameters for Explanation and Prediction of Swelling Degree of Polydimethylsiloxane Pervaporation Membranes

Using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a basic matrix to prepare ethanol and butanol permselective pervaporation membranes is a vibrant field. Many studies have verified that the three-dimensional Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) theory offers a valid explanation for the swelling performance of ethanol and butanol in PDMS. Five parameters (δ_D, δ_P, δ_H, δ_t, and R_a) are defined in HSP theory which can be individually used to explain the interaction strength between a solvent and a polymer. However, for the above five parameters, which one is the most effective parameter for deciding the swelling degree still needs to be determined. In this study, a commonly used hydroxy-terminated PDMS precursor was adopted to prepare the PDMS network. The HSP of the chosen PDMS precursor was measured by an advanced “solubility-rating” method. The special software package HSPiP (4.1.03), purchased from the HSPiP team, was used to process the “solubility-rating” results. The equilibrium swelling degree (Q value) of the PDMS network in water, ethanol, butanol, and toluene was measured and the relationships between the five HSP parameters of the solvents and the logarithmic equilibrium swelling degree, log(Q), were discussed. It was found that the measured polar parameter, δ_P, of PDMS was 0.12 MPa^0.5. The measured hydrogen bonding parameter, δ_H, was larger than δ_P, attaining a value of 8.6 MPa^0.5, because the hydroxy groups directly contributed to the hydrogen bonding solubility parameter, δ_H. With respect to the relationships between log(Q) and δ_D, δ_P, δ_H, δ_t, and R_a, linear relationships existed after plotting log(Q) vs. δ_P and log(Q) vs. δ_H. The linear relation degree of the fitted lines was 0.995 and 0.989, respectively. Their standard deviations were 0.149 and 0.232, respectively. Therefore, a better linear relationship existed between log(Q) and δ_P than the other solubility parameters. This indicated that the polar interaction was the main effect for deciding the swelling degree of the PDMS network in water and alcohol systems.     

Combustion properties of H2/N2/O2/steam mixtures

The present work reports new experimental and numerical results of the combustion properties of hydrogen based mixtures diluted by nitrogen and steam. Spherical expanding flames have been studied in a spherical bomb over a large domain of equivalence ratios, initial temperatures and dilutions at an initial pressure of 100 kPa (T_ini = 296, 363, 413 K; N₂/O₂ = 3.76, 5.67, 9; %Steam = 0, 20, 30). From these experiments, the laminar flame speed $S_L^0$, the Markstein length L’, the activation energy Ea and the Zel'dovich β number have been determined. These parameters were also simulated using COSILAB^® in order to verify the validity of the Mével et al. [1] detailed kinetic mechanism. Other parameters as the laminar flame thickness δ and the effective Lewis number Le_eff were also simulated. These new results aim at providing an extended database that will be very useful in the hydrogen combustion hazard assessment for nuclear reactor power plant new design.     

The High Energy X-ray telescope (HE) onboard the Insight-HXMT astronomy satellite

The Insight-Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope(Insight-HXMT) is a broadband X-ray and γ-ray(1-3000 ke V) astronomy satellite. One of its three main telescopes is the High Energy X-ray telescope(HE). The main detector plane of HE comprises 18 Na I(Tl)/Cs I(Na) phoswich detectors, where Na I(Tl) is used as the primary detector to measure ~ 20-250 ke V photons incident from the field of view(FOV) defined by collimators, and Cs I(Na) is used as the active shielding detector to Na I(Tl) by pulse shape discrimination. Additionally, Cs I(Na) is used as an omnidirectional γ-ray monitor. The HE collimators have a diverse FOV,i.e. 1.1°×5.7°(15 units), 5.7°×5.7°(2 units), and blocked(1 unit). Therefore, the combined FOV of HE is approximately5.7°×5.7°. Each HE detector has a diameter of 190 mm resulting in a total geometrical area of approximately 5100 cm2, and the energy resolution is ~15% at 60 ke V. For each recorded X-ray event by HE, the timing accuracy is less than 10 μs and the deadtime is less than 10 μs. HE is used for observing spectra and temporal variability of X-ray sources in the 20-250 ke V band either by pointing observations for known sources or scanning observations to unveil new sources. Additionally, HE is used for monitoring the γ-ray burst in 0.2-3 Me V band. This paper not only presents the design and performance of HE instruments but also reports results of the on-ground calibration experiments.     

Effect of chemical parameters on pyrene degradation in soil in a pulsed discharge plasma system

Degradation of pyrene in soil in a net-to-net pulsed discharge plasma (PDP) system was reviewed. Effect of main chemical parameters, including air flow rate, pyrene concentration, initial pH and soil moisture content on pyrene degradation was examined. The obtained results show that 87.9% of pyrene could be removed under the condition of 60 min reaction; increasing of air flow rate within 1 L min⁻¹ was favorable for degradation; pyrene removal was decreased with the increase of initial pyrene concentration; oxidation of pyrene was more evident in acidic soil; enhancement of soil moisture content has no benefit on pyrene degradation.     

Structural and luminescence characteristics of CuAlxIn1−xSe2 (0 < x ≤ 0.30) chalcopyrite solid solutions

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Synthesis,characterization, and biological investigation of new mixed-ligand complexes

A novel series of mixed-ligand complexes of 5,5′-{(1E,1E′)-1,4-phenelynebis(diazene-2,1-diyl)}bis(quinolin-8-ol) (H₂L₁) as a primary ligand and 4-aminoantipyrine(L₂) as a secondary ligand with Mn(II) ion were prepared using two general formulae: [Mn₂(H₂L₁)₂(L₂)₂X₄].4Cl (X = OH₂( 1 ), ONO₂⁻( 2 ), Cl=nil; OAc( 3 ), Cl = nil) and [Mn₂(H₂L₁)(L₂)₂(O₂SO₂)₂]( 4 ). Free ligands and their complexes were characterized. Electronic absorption spectra of the mixed-ligand complexes indicate a distorted octahedral geometry around the central metal ion, and the anions X⁻ are in the axial positions for all compounds. The ligands behave in a neutral bidentate manner, through nitrogen atoms and oxygen atoms of the carbonyl group (L₂), whereas H₂L₁ coordinated through nitrogen and OH groups as a neutral bidentate ligand. All complexes do not contain coordinated water molecules, but complex ( 1 ) contains four water molecules. The water molecules are removed in a single step. The complexes exhibited magnetic susceptibility corresponding to five unpaired electrons. The antimicrobial activity of the Mn(II) mixed-ligand complexes ( 1–4 ) against two gram-positive bacteria, three local gram-negative bacteria, and three fungi species was tested. Mn(II) mixed-ligand complex ( 2 ) exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas sp. Mixed-ligand complex ( 2 ) exhibited a high potential cytotoxicity against the growth of human lung cancer cells.