On equilibrium intensive thermodynamic properties of composed p‐particles in many‐body systems

Equilibrium intensive thermodynamic properties of p‐particles (p‐ons), i.e., composed particles formed by few particles of the same nature such as fermion or boson pairs (p=2), trios (p=3), etc., are investigated. The relation of the p‐particle correlation functions to its p‐hole counterparts and an existing covariant structure in the hierarchy of the p‐particle correlation functions allow these generalized intensive properties to be properly defined and characterized. The connection between these generalized properties of the composed objects and those of the components is also derived. An explicit derivation of the chemical potential for pairs and its generalization to p‐particles is performed. Such results are further extended to any intensive property. Finally, the present development allows some previous results to be clearly interpreted thus yielding an important support for our theory. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 85: 63–71, 2001     

Nematic–isotropic phase behaviors of polydisperse polymer/liquid‐crystal systems: Chain‐length‐dependent interaction parameter

Phase behaviors of polydisperse polystyrene (PS)/nematic liquid‐crystal systems [P‐ethoxy ‐ benzylidene ‐ p ‐ n‐butylaniline (EBBA)] are investigated with a thermo‐optical analysis technique. We also develop a thermodynamic framework to describe the phase behaviors of polydisperse PS/EBBA systems. The proposed model is based on a modified double‐lattice model to describe isotropic mixing and Maier–Saupe theory for anisotropic ordering. To correlate the polymer chain length and energy parameters in a nematic–isotropic biphasic region and to apply the primary interaction parameter in an isotropic–isotropic phase‐transition behaviors of polydisperse PS/EBBA systems. The proposed model shows remarkable agreement with experimental data for the model systems in comparison with an existing model. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1031–1039, 2006     

Periodic organic–organometallic microdomain structures in poly(styrene‐block‐ferrocenyldimethylsilane) copolymers and blends with corresponding homopolymers

A series of poly(styrene‐block‐ferrocenyldimethylsilane) copolymers (SF) with different relative molar masses of the blocks were prepared by sequential anionic polymerization. The bulk morphology of these polymers, studied by TEM and SAXS, showed well‐ordered lamellar and cylindrical domains as well as disordered micellar structures. Temperature‐dependent rheological measurements exhibited an order–disorder transition for SF 17/8 (the numbers refer to the relative molar masses in 10³ g/mol) between 170 and 180°C, and an order–order transition for SF 9/19 between 190 and 200°C. The morphologies of binary blends of the diblocks with homopolymer were also investigated. In the blends the molar mass of the homopolymer was always less than the molar mass of the matching block. Ordered spheres on a bcc lattice and double‐gyroid morphology were observed for the blends. The double‐gyroid morphology was found only in F‐rich diblock/homopolymer systems. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 1009–1021, 1999     

Geminal approach to vibronic models of superconductivity in crystals. I. The Jahn–Teller effect

Electronic geminals constructed as linear combinations of binary products of site functions are used to formulate a vibronic model of superconductivity in crystals that is based upon the approximation of independent correlated electron pairs obtained variationally from an electron‐pair Hamiltonian and the Jahn–Teller effect. The cyclic symmetry of the system is taken into account and the geminals are sorted into doubly degenerate pairs. The Herzberg–Teller expansion of the pair Hamiltonian in terms of vibrational modes leads directly to the Jahn–Teller effect. A contact transformation of the vibronic Hamiltonian containing only linear terms lowers the energy of the system by a second‐order term associated with the Jahn–Teller stabilization energy. A possible model for superconductivity in solids is proposed on the basis of the Jahn–Teller effect. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003     

Preparation of new π‐conjugated polypyrroles by organometallic polycondensations. Synthesis of N‐BOC (t‐butoxycarbonyl) and N‐phenylethynyl polymers,thermal deprotection of the BOC Group,and packing structure of the N‐phenylethynyl polymer

New π–conjugated polypyrroles such as poly(3‐heptyl‐N‐(t‐butoxycarbonyl)pyrrole‐2,5‐diyl), PPr(3‐Hep; N‐BOC) , and poly(N‐(phenylethynyl)pyrrole‐2,5‐diyl‐alt‐thiophene‐2,5‐diyl), Copoly‐2 , were prepared by organometallic polycondensations using the corresponding 2.5‐dihalopyrroles as the starting materials. Deprotection of the BOC group of PPr(3‐Hep; N‐BOC) proceeded at 185 °C to give poly(3‐heptylpyrrole). XRD (X‐ray diffraction) data of Copoly‐2 indicated that Copoly‐2 assumed a stacked structure in the solid. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6223–6232, 2005     

Erratum: On equilibrium intensive thermodynamic properties of composed p‐particles in many‐body systems*

Equilibrium intensive thermodynamic properties of p‐particles (p‐ons), i.e., composed particles formed by few particles of the same nature such as fermion or boson pairs (p=2), trios (p=3), etc., are investigated. The relation of the p‐particle correlation functions to its p‐hole counterparts and an existing covariant structure in the hierarchy of the p‐particle correlation functions allow these generalized intensive properties to be properly defined and characterized. The connection between these generalized properties of the composed objects and those of the components is also derived. An explicit derivation of the chemical potential for pairs and its generalization to p‐particles is performed. Such results are further extended to any intensive property. Finally, the present development allows some previous results to be clearly interpreted thus yielding an important support for our theory. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

Relation between BCS Hamiltonian and Ginzburg–Landau equation

It is intended to derive the Ginzburg–Landau (GL) equation directly from the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) Hamiltonian. By the use of the Hubbard–Stratonovitch transformation, the electron–electron interaction composed of four fermion operators is eliminated to yield an auxiliary boson field. This is an effective field in which electrons behave as if they were free. In applying the path integral method, the electron field is integrated out to remain the Lagrangian for this boson field. The symmetry breaking and the phase transition of the system described by this field are discussed, and it is shown that this boson field turns out to be the GL order parameter. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 69: 693–703, 1998     

Assessment of errors in the determination of Mark–Houwink–Sakurada and Stockmayer–Fixman constants using size‐exclusion chromatography with on‐line viscometric detection: Analyses of poly(p‐substituted styrenes) in tetrahydrofuran

In this work, we present values for the Mark–Houwink–Sakurada (MHS) and Stockmayer–Fixman (SF) constants for a series of homopolymers of para‐substituted styrenes (4‐X‐styrene; X = OCH₃, OCH₂CH₃, CH₃, F, Cl, and Br) in THF at room temperature. The respective values of K (in 10⁻⁵ dL/g) and α were: 0.685 and 13.2; 0.662 and 14.1; 0.740 and 8.41; 0.781 and 5.24; 0.726 and 8.95; 0.700 and 7.79. The respective values for K_θ (in 10⁻⁴ dL/g) and K' (in 10⁻⁷ dL/g) were: 6.01 and 16.1; 6.22 and 9.07; 7.64 and 17.4; 5.59 and 23.7; 6.29 and 17.3; 4.44 and 10.3. These constants were measured using size‐exclusion chromatography with on‐line viscometry. As part of this work, we investigate the applicability of common model fitting procedures to this method of measuring MHS/SF constants and the effect of uncertainties in their estimated values on the accuracy of molecular weight analysis. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2557–2570, 1999     

Preparation of Organometallic Ruthenium–Arene–Diaminotriazine Complexes as Binding Agents to DNA

The reactions of two diaminotriazine ligands 2,4‐diamino‐6‐(2‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine (2‐pydaT) and 6‐phenyl‐2,4‐diamino‐1,3,5‐triazine (PhdaT) with ruthenium–arene precursors led to a new family of ruthenium(II) compounds that were spectroscopically characterized. Four of the complexes were cationic, with the general formula [(η⁶‐arene)Ru(κ²‐N,N‐2‐pydaT)Cl]X (X=BF₄, TsO; arene=p‐cymene: 1.BF4 , 1.TsO arene=benzene: 2.BF4 , 2.TsO ). The neutral cyclometalated complex [(η⁶‐p‐cymene)Ru(κ²‐C,N‐PhdaT*)Cl] ( 3 ) was also isolated. The structures of complexes 2.BF4 and 3.H2O were determined by X‐ray diffraction. Complex 1.BF4 underwent a partial reversible‐aquation process in water. UV/Vis and NMR spectroscopic measurements showed that the reaction was hindered by the addition of NaCl and was pH‐controlled in acidic solution. At pH 7.0 (sodium cacodylate) Ru–Cl complex 1.BF4 was the only species present in solution, even at low ionic strength. However, in alkaline medium (KOH), complex 1.BF4 underwent basic hydrolysis to afford a Ru–OH complex ( 5 ). Fluorimetric studies revealed that the interaction of complex 1.BF4 with DNA was not straightforward; instead, its main features were closely linked to ionic strength and to the [DNA]/complex ratio. The bifunctional complex 1.BF4 was capable of interacting concurrently through both its p‐cymene and 2‐pydaT groups. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity studies showed that, contrary to the expected behavior, the complex species was biologically inactive; the formation of a Ru–OH complex could be responsible for such behavior.     

4‐Methoxyanilinium tetrafluoroborate–dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 (1/1)

In the structure of the complex of dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 [systematic name: 2,5,8,15,18,21‐hexaoxatricyclo[20.4.0.0^9,14]hexacosa‐1(26),9,11,13,22,24‐hexaene] with 4‐methoxyanilinium tetrafluoroborate, C₇H₁₀NO⁺·BF₄⁻·C₂₀H₂₄O₆, the protonated 4‐methoxyanilinium (MB‐NH₃⁺) cation forms a 1:1 supramolecular rotator–stator complex with the dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 molecule via N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The MB‐NH₃⁺ group is attached from the convex side of the bowl‐shaped crown, in contrast with similar ammonium cations that nest in the curvature of the bowl. The cations are associated via C—H...π interactions, while the cations and anions are linked by weak C—H...F hydrogen bonds, forming cation–crown–anion chains parallel to [011].     

Branching by reactive end groups. III. Synthesis,branching, and analysis of m‐ethynylphenol/p‐t‐butylphenol‐coterminated bisphenol a polycarbonates

The use of m‐ethynylphenol (m‐EP) and p‐t‐butylphenol (PTBP) as coterminators for bisphenol A polycarbonates (BA PCs) provided long‐chain‐branched PCs, partially crosslinked PCs, or both after the thermal reaction of the terminal m‐EP groups, depending on the molar ratio of the chain terminators. Linear m‐EP/PTBP PCs were prepared by solution phosgenation of BA and the two coterminators. Differential scanning calorimetry showed the onset of the m‐EP‐end‐group reaction at about 250 °C by the appearance of a reaction exotherm. The enthalpy (ΔH) of this reaction was roughly proportional to the amount of m‐EP in the PC and to an extent could be used to monitor the progress of the reaction and estimate its kinetics. A complete m‐EP‐end‐group reaction was evident from gel permeation chromatography analysis upon heating under N₂ to 380 °C for 10 min or 360 °C for 60 min. The amount, if any, of gel formed after the m‐EP‐end‐group reaction depended on X_EP; those PCs with a X_EP value less than or equal to 0.33 had little or no gel. The maximum X_EP that precluded the formation of gels after branching was estimated to be about 0.45–0.48. The molecular weight of m‐EP/PTBP PCs increased after branching, as evidenced by gel permeation chromatography analysis. Assuming that the terminal m‐EP groups had a statistical distribution on the polymer chain ends and that they underwent only homopolymerization, the average reacted m‐EP‐group functionality according to estimated gel‐point composition was about 2.8–3.0. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2352–2358, 2000     

Polymerization of (E)‐1,3‐Pentadiene and (E)‐2‐methyl‐1,3‐pentadiene with neodymium catalysts: Examination of the factors that affect the stereoselectivity

(E)‐1,3‐Pentadiene (EP) and (E)‐2‐methyl‐1,3‐pentadiene (2MP) were polymerized to cis‐1,4 polymers with homogeneous and heterogeneous neodymium catalysts to examine the influence of the physical state of the catalyst on the polymerization stereoselectivity. Data on the polymerization of (E)‐1,3‐hexadiene (EH) are also reported. EP and EH gave cis‐1,4 isotactic polymers both with the homogeneous and with the heterogeneous system, whereas 2MP gave an isotactic cis‐1,4 polymer with the heterogeneous catalyst and a syndiotactic cis‐1,4 polymer, never reported earlier, with the homogeneous one. For comparison, the results obtained with the soluble CpTiCl₃‐based catalyst (Cp = cyclopentadienyl), which gives cis‐1,4 isotactic poly(2MP), are examined. A tentative interpretation is given for the mechanism of the formation of the stereoregular polymers obtained and a complete NMR characterization of the cis‐1,4‐syndiotactic poly(2MP) is reported. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3227–3232     

Nonempirical calculations of the one‐bond 29Si–13C spin–spin coupling constants taking into account relativistic and solvent corrections

The computational study of the one‐bond ²⁹Si–¹³C spin–spin coupling constants has been performed at the second‐order polarization propagator approximation (SOPPA) level in the series of 60 diverse silanes with a special focus on the main factors affecting the accuracy of the calculation including the level of theory, the quality of the basis set, and the contribution of solvent and relativistic effects. Among three SOPPA‐based methods, SOPPA(MP2), SOPPA(CC2), and SOPPA(CCSD), the best result was achieved with SOPPA(CCSD) when used in combination with Sauer's basis set aug‐cc‐pVTZ‐J characterized by the mean absolute error of calculated coupling constants against the experiment of ca 2 Hz in the range of ca 200 Hz. The SOPPA(CCSD)/aug‐cc‐pVTZ‐J method is recommended as the most accurate and effective computational scheme for the calculation of ¹J(Si,C). The slightly less accurate but essentially more economical SOPPA(MP2)/aug‐cc‐pVTZ‐J and/or SOPPA(CC2)/aug‐cc‐pVTZ‐J methods are recommended for larger molecular systems. It was shown that solvent and relativistic corrections do not play a major role in the computation of the total values of ¹J(Si,C); however, taking them into account noticeably improves agreement with the experiment. The rovibrational corrections are estimated to be of about 1 Hz or 1–1.5% of the total value of ¹J(Si,C). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and mechanical behavior of polypropylene/ maleated styrene‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐styrene/sisal fiber composites prepared by injection molding

Hybrid composites consisting of isotactic poly(propylene) (PP), sisal fiber (SF), and maleic anhydride grafted styrene‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐styrene copolymer (MA‐SEBS) were prepared by melt compounding, followed by injection molding. The melt‐compounding torque behavior, thermal properties, morphology, crystal structure, and mechanical behavior of the PP/MA‐SEBS/SF composites were systematically investigated. The torque test, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetric, and scanning electron microscopic results all indicated that MA‐SEBS was an effective compatibilizer for the PP/SF composites, and there was a synergism between MA‐SEBS and PP/SF in the thermal stability of the PP/MA‐SEBS/SF composites. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction analysis indicated that the α form and β form of the PP crystals coexisted in the PP/MA‐SEBS/SF composites. With the incorporation of MA‐SEBS, the relative amount of β‐form PP crystals decreased significantly. Mechanical tests showed that the tensile strength and impact toughness of the PP/SF composites were generally improved by the incorporation of MA‐SEBS. The instrumented drop‐weight dart‐impact test was also used to examine the impact‐fracture behavior of these composites. The results revealed that the maximum impact force (F_max), impact‐fracture energy (E_T), total impact duration (t_r), crack‐initiation time (t_init), and crack‐propagation time (t_prop) of the composites all tended to increase with an increasing MA‐SEBS content. From these results, the incorporation of MA‐SEBS into PP/SF composites can retard both the crack initiation and propagation phases of the impact‐fracture process. These prolonged the crack initiation and propagation time and increased the energy consumption during impact fracture, thereby leading to toughening of PP/MA‐SEBS/SF composites. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1214–1222, 2002     

Living anionic polymerization of (E)‐1,3‐pentadiene and (Z)‐1,3‐pentadiene isomers

The anionic polymerization of (E)‐1,3‐pentadiene (EP) and (Z)‐1,3‐pentadiene (ZP) together with mixture of the E/Z isomers are investigated, respectively. The kinetic analysis shows that the activation energy for EP (86.17 kJ/mol) is much higher than that for ZP (59.03 kJ/mol). GPC shows that it is the EP rather than the ZP isomer that undergoes anionic living polymerization affording quantitative products of the polymers with well‐controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (1.05 ≤? ≤ 1.09). In addition, THF as polar additive has proved its validity to reduce the molecular weight distribution of poly(ZP) from 1.38 to as low as 1.19. The microstructure and sequence distributions of polypentadiene are characterized by ¹H NMR and quantitative ¹³C NMR. Finally, the distinctive reaction activity of two isomers can be elucidated by two different mechanisms which involve the presence of four forms of zwitterions for EP and the typical [1,5]‐sigmatropic hydrogen‐shift phenomenon for ZP. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2291–2301     

Examining the kinetics of the thermal polymerization of commercial aromatic bis‐benzoxazines

Three commercial bis‐benzoxazine monomers based on the aniline derivatives of bisphenol A (BA‐a), bisphenol F (BF‐a), and 3,3′‐thiodiphenol (BT‐a) are examined using a variety of spectroscopic, chromatographic, and thermomechanical techniques. The kinetics of the polymerization of BA‐a were found to be well described using an autocatalytic model for which values of n = 1.39 and m = 2.49 were obtained for the early and later stages of reaction respectively (activation energy = 81–88 kJ/mol.). Following recrystallization the same monomer yielded values of n = 1.80, m = 0.92, and E_a = 94–97 kJ/mol. BF‐a and BT‐a were also found to be well described using an autocatalytic model for which values of n = m = 2.11 (BF‐a) and n = 2.10, m = 1.47 (BT‐a) were obtained for the early and later stages of reaction (activation energy = 80–84 kJ/mol. for BF‐a and 88–95 kJ/mol. for BT‐a). The kinetic data are compared with parallel studies involving chemically initiated benzoxazine monomers. Molecular simulation is used to examine the rotational freedom of the central bridging units and this is related to the degree of conversion achieved. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2068–2081     

Hydrogen Peroxide Enhances the Antibacterial Effect of Methylene Blue‐based Photodynamic Therapy on Biofilm‐forming Bacteria

Recently, increased attention has been focused on endoscopic disinfection after outbreaks of drug‐resistant infections associated with gastrointestinal endoscopy. The aims of this study were to investigate the bactericidal efficacy of methylene blue (MB)‐based photodynamic therapy (PDT) on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), which is the major cause of drug‐resistant postendoscopy outbreak, and to assess the synergistic effects of hydrogen peroxide addition to MB‐based PDT on biofilms. In planktonic state of P. aeruginosa, the maximum decrease was 3 log₁₀ and 5.5 log₁₀ at 20 and 30 J cm^?2, respectively, following MB‐based PDT. However, the maximum reduction of colony forming unit (CFU) was decreased by 2.5 log₁₀ and 3 log₁₀ irradiation on biofilms. The biofilm formation was significantly inhibited upon irradiation with MB‐based PDT. When the biofilm state of P. aeruginosa was treated with MB‐based PDT with hydrogen peroxide, the CFU was significantly decreased by 6 log₁₀ after 20 J cm^?2, by 7 log₁₀ after 30 J cm^?2 irradiation, suggesting significantly higher efficacy than MB‐based PDT alone. The implementation of the combination of hydrogen peroxide with MB‐based PDT through working channels might be appropriate for preventing early colonization and biofilm formation in the endoscope and postendoscopy outbreak.     

Enhanced interfacial interaction by grafting carboxylated‐macromolecular chains on nanodiamond surfaces for epoxy‐based thermosets

A novel core‐shell‐structured carboxylated‐styrene butadiene rubber (XSBR)‐functionalized nanodiamond (ND‐XSBR) was synthesized and characterized. Epoxy (EP) nanocomposites toughened by pristine ND and ND‐XSBR were investigated and compared. The ND‐XSBR‐reinforced nanocomposite exhibited mechanical properties superior to those of the one filled by pristine ND. At a low‐filler loading, the ND‐XSBR exhibited an impressive toughening effect. The maximum flexural strength was shown when the filler loading was as low as 0.1 wt % for the EP/ND‐XSBR nanocomposite. Furthermore, enhanced fracture toughness and fracture energy were shown by surface functionalization, representing enhanced compatibility between the ND‐XSBR and EP matrix. The glass transition temperature (T_g) and storage modulus of the nanocomposites were studied, and the EP/ND‐XSBR0.1 nanocomposite exhibited the highest T_g owing to the stronger interfacial interaction. The EP/ND‐XSBR0.2 exhibited higher storage modulus and T_g than the EP/ND0.2, because the higher interfacial interaction can restrict the molecular mobility of the EP by the functionalized ND‐XSBR. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1890–1898     

Active‐center equilibrium in Ziegler–Natta butadiene polymerization

The Ziegler–Natta‐catalyzed polymerization of 1,3‐butadiene was investigated at a low aluminum alkyl/cobalt (Al/Co) ratio using two different soluble catalyst systems: cobalt(II) octanoate/diethylaluminum chloride/water and cobalt(II) octanoate/methylaluminoxane/tert‐butyl chloride. When the active‐center concentration was determined by the number‐average molecular weight technique, it was found that the percentage of active cobalt depended on the Al/Co ratio. Subsequently, an equilibrium reaction was proposed to be Co + 2Al ? CoAl₂, where Co is cobalt(II) octanoate, Al is either of the aluminum alkyl‐activator species, and CoAl₂ is the active catalyst. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2256–2261, 2001     

Biocompatible stimuli‐responsive nanogels for controlled antitumor drug delivery

Herein, the synthesis and potential application as cargo delivery systems of thermo‐responsive poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL)‐based, pH‐responsive poly(2‐(diethylamino)ethyl) methacrylate (PDEAEMA)‐based, and thermo‐, and pH‐responsive PDEAEMA/PVCL‐based core–shell nanogels are reported. All the nanogels have been synthesized using different dextran‐methacrylates (Dex‐MAs) as macro‐cross‐linkers. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOXO), an anticancer drug, has been effectively loaded into nanogels via hydrogen‐bonding interactions between ? OH groups of DOXO and ? OH groups of Dex‐MA chains. Drug‐release profiles at various pHs, and the cytocompatibility of the DOXO‐loaded nanogels have been assessed in vitro using cervical cancer HeLa and breast cancer MDA‐MB‐231 cell lines. In all the cases, the DOXO release is controlled by Fickian diffusion and case‐II transport, being the diffusional process dominant. In addition, DOXO‐loaded nanogels are efficiently internalized by HeLa and MDA‐MB‐231 cells and DOXO is progressively released in time. Therefore, nanogels synthesized could be suitable and potentially useful as nanocarriers for antitumor drug delivery. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1694–1705