Laser ultrasonic receivers based on organic photorefractive polymer composites

We present two laser ultrasonic receivers based on organic photorefractive polymer composites with 2-[4-bis(2-methoxyethyl)aminobenzylidene]malononitrile (AODCST) or 2-dicyanomethylen-3-cyano-5,5-dimethyl-4-(4′-dihexylaminophenyl)-2,5-dihydrofuran nonlinear optical chromophores. Experimental results show sensitivities of the ultrasonic receivers of ~9.5 × 10^?8 nm (W/Hz)^0.5 for both composites, and a faster response time (~60 ms) for the AODCST-based laser ultrasonic receiver. We show that such LUS detectors are highly suitable for contactless thickness measurements of aluminum, steel sheets and defect detection with an accuracy of 100 μm.     

FT-IR,FT-Raman spectra and quantum mechanical study of piperidine-3-carboxylic acid and its tautomers,isomers

The mid-IR, far-IR, and Raman spectra of piperidine-3-carboxylic acid were measured and interpreted with support of the MP2 and B3LYP/6-311++G(d, p) calculated harmonic vibrational spectra. 10 stable piperidine-3-carboxylic acid tautomers/isomers were found after B3LYP, calculations. The experimental absorption bands of carboxylate (COO^?) group show that the free piperidine-3-carboxylic acid molecule exists in zwitterionic form and the most stable tautomer (NAT-1) can be stabilized by an intramolecular N-H...O hydrogen bond. All vibrational frequencies of NAT-1 assigned in detail with the help of total energy distribution (TED). The experimental vibrational wave numbers were compared with the calculated data.     

General analysis of the rare B<Subscript>c</Subscript>→D<Subscript>s</Subscript><Superscript>*</Superscript>ℓ<Superscript>+</Superscript>ℓ<Superscript>-</Superscript> decay beyond the standard model

The general analysis of the rare B_c→D_s ^*ℓ⁺ℓ^- decay is presented by using the most general, model independent effective Hamiltonian. The dependencies of the branching ratios and of the longitudinal, normal and transversal polarization asymmetries for ℓ^- and the combined asymmetries for ℓ^- and ℓ⁺ on the new Wilson coefficients are investigated. Our analysis shows that the lepton polarization asymmetries are very sensitive to the scalar and tensor type interactions, which will be very useful in looking for new physics beyond the standard model.     

On-chip optical filters with designable characteristics based on an interferometer with embedded silicon photonic structures

We demonstrate chip-scale flat-top filters at near-IR wavelengths using negative index photonic crystal based Mach-Zehnder interferometers. Supported by full three-dimensional numerical simulations, we experimentally demonstrate a new approach for engineering high-pass, low-pass, bandpass, and band-reject filters, based on designing the photonic band diagram both within the bandgap frequency region and away from it. We further show that our approach can be used to design filters that have tunable multilevel response for different sections of the spectrum and for different polarizations. This configuration enables deterministic control of the bandwidth and the rejection ratio of filters for integrated photonic circuits.     

Paramagnetic contribution of serum iron to the spin-spin relaxation rate (1/T 2) measured by MRI

Spin-spin relaxation timeT ₂ values of serum with and without iron were measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to find the proton relaxivity of Fe(III) in serum.T ₂ values in serum containing definite amounts of added iron were also measured before and after addition of ascorbic acid. The difference in the 1/T ₂ of serum with and without ascorbic acid was used for recalculation of the added iron values. Recalculated iron values confirm that the difference in healthy serum is caused by iron only. In addition, in order to find the paramagnetic contribution of serum iron,T ₂ values of iron-deficient, healthy and iron-overloaded serum were measured before and after addition of ascorbic acid. The difference in the 1/T ₂ values was then applied to the calculation of the serum iron values. The consistency of iron values determined from the difference to those by autoanalyzer suggests that the differences in diseased serum also represent the paramagnetic contribution of serum iron. The data imply that serum iron content in healthy, iron-deficient and iron-overloaded serum may be assessed by MRI.     

Comparison of NMR Water Proton T1 Measurements in Healthy and Pathological Blood

water proton T1 in blood from healthy volunteers and patients with acute leukaemia, lymphoma; iron deficiency anaemia, post hepatitic cirrhosis and tuberculosis, was measured by a FT-NMR spectrometer. Relaxation measurements were performed at 60MHz frequency and a temperature of (20 ± 0.5)C. The T1 measured for each disease correlates strongly with hemoglobin content. The spin-lattice relaxation time in each abnormal group was signaficantly (p < 0.001) elevated over normal group. There is little overlap between the healthy and abnormal groups. On the contrast, T1 ranges obtained for malignant groups and non-malignant diseases do overlap.     

Structure of starch-bentonite gels

Mixed gels of starch and bentonite are investigated in the interval 0.056–0.089 of total solids/water ratio and 0-100% starch in the solids. The bentonite was a sodium calcium bentonite with a Na/Ca ratio of 1.76. In water it forms gels consisting of a network of band-type structures. Starch forms gels through hydrogen bonds between granules and/or amylose and amylopectin present on the external surfaces of granules and/or in fully stretched form. Mixed gels of bentonite and starch were obtained by adding corn starch granules to the already formed bentonite gels and heating the mixture above the Kofler gelatinization temperature. Amylose and amylopectin were adsorbed on strands of band-type structures of mont-morillonite lamellae. Starch gellation, e.g. diffusion of amylose out of the granule, was facilitated in the presence of bentonite. On the other hand, the presence of starch favored delamination of the montmorillonite particle into thinner lamellae. Maximum gelatinization and polymer adsorption were observed for gels with 20% starch and 80% bentonite. Montmorillonite networks formed the continuous phase for 0-80% starch. At higher starch concentrations, montmorillonite flakes were dispersed within the polymer network. Increase in the water content of the gels caused segregation of the bentonite and starch.     

A new binucleating macrocycle incorporating exocyclic oxime groups and its polynuclear complexes

A new binucleating macrocycle incorporating four exocyclic oxime groups, 6,6′-methylene-bis[1,12–di(hydroximino)-2,3;9,10–dibenzo-1,11–diaza-4,8–dithiacyclotridecane] (LH4) has been synthesized, its mononuclear CoIII and hetropolynuclear CoIII-PdII complexes have been prepared. LH4 and its metal complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, 1H- and 13C-n.m.r., i.r. and mass spectral studies. The elemental analysis, stoichiometry and the spectroscopic data of the mononuclear CoIII complex indicate that the CoIII ions are coordinated by the oxime nitrogen atoms (C=N); PdII ions in the latter complex are coordinated through diaza-dithia moiety on the macrocycle. The mononuclear CoIII complex of LH4 has a 1:1 metal:ligand ratio. All spectral data support the proposed structure of LH4 and its complexes. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Models for copper proteins. Copper(I) and (II) complexes of a novel binucleating tetraamino-tetrathioether ligand

The novel binucleating ligand, 6,6 prime-methylene-bis(5 prime-amino-3 prime,4 prime-benzo-2 prime-thiapentyl)-1,11-diamino-2,3:9,10-dibenzo-4,8-dithiaundecane (H4L) was prepared and reacted with copper(II) salts in dry MeOH to yield mixtures of copper(I) and copper(II) complexes with Cl- and ClO-4 counter ions. The amine functions on the ligand release protons to form copper(I) complexes: (Cu2L)X2, where X=Cl−, ClO4-. The complexes were oxidized to (Cu2L)X4 with H2O2 in DMF; Cu(NO3)2 gave a different complex, [Cu2(H4L)(NO3)2](NO3)2, as regards proton releasing ability, coordination and oxidation number. Evidence for the structures of this new tetraamino-tetrathioether ligand and its copper complexes is provided by 1H-, 13C-n.m.r., mass, u.v.–vis., i.r. spectra, elemental analyses, molar conductivities and magnetic moments. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Di- and tetranuclear copper(II) complexes of a novel binucleating tetrathioether-tetrathiol ligand

A novel bi-tetradentate polythioether ligand, 6,6-methylene-bis(5- mercapto-3-thiahexyl)-4,8-dithiaundecane-1, 11-dithiol (H4L) was synthesized, and its di- and tetranuclear copper(II) complexes were prepared, and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic moments, 1H-n.m.r., i.r., and Uv/vis spectra. The i.r. data show that the ligand acts in a tetradentate manner and coordinates via one S atom of the thioether and thiol groups. The geometry of the metal chelates is discussed with the help of magnetic and spectroscopic measurements. The elemental analyses, stoichiometry, and spectroscopic data of the complexes indicate that the copper(II) ions are coordinated to the bi-dianion of the ligand. The function of the thiol ligand is to release protons to form copper(II) complexes, (Cu2L).