Study of γ‐Fast Neutron Attenuation and Mechanical Characteristics of Modified Concretes for Shielding and Sheltering Purposes

The study of γ‐neutrons attenuation and mechanical characteristics of modified concrete are vital and crucial parameters for the construction of civilian radiological, nuclear shielding, and/or shelters. In this work, fifteen samples of ordinary concretes with five different additives; steel fibers, polypropylene, silica fume, and fly ash, with variation of cement percentages, were prepared and used for performing the mechanical and radiation attenuation investigations. The compressive strength, tensile strength, slump test, bulk density, and water permeability were also carried out for the prepared concrete mixes. Collimated coherent beams from ⁶⁰Co and Pu‐Be fast neutron sources were used to check the radiation penetrability through the syntheized mixed concrete‐additives. Very sensitive and well calibrated gamma‐neutron pulse shape discriminating spectrometer with its electronic componenets and stilbene organic detector and 3′′ × 3′′ NaI scintillation crystal was used to measure the radiation before and after attenuation and transmission. The integrated fast neutron removal macroscopic cross section (Σ_r) and linear attenuation coefficient of total gamma rays (μ) were calculated for all the analysed concrete mixes. The results of measurements, tests, analyses and calculations are given and explained. The investigated modified concrete mixes show good workability and properties from the view point of mechanical loads and γ‐fast neutrons penetrability and resistance. These results can be used for shielding and sheltering design.     

Novel monofunctional and bifunctional boronic acid‐functionalized squarylium dyes as precolumn and on‐column labels for protein analysis by capillary electrophoresis with laser‐induced fluorescence

This article presents a continuous capillary electrophoresis with laser‐induced fluorescence (CE‐LIF) following spectral studies of the noncovalent interactions between novel Squarylium Boronic Acid 4 (SQ‐BA4) & Squarylium Diboronic Acid 2 (SQ‐DBA2) squarylium dyes and human serum albumin (HSA). Two protocols were used wherein the on‐column‐labeling protocol was found to be more sensitive than the precolumn one by showing a better enhancement in the peak area of the HSA–dye complex besides lower limits of detection (LODs) for HSA. Also, stability studies were conducted with or without HSA using precolumn‐labeling mode over one week exhibiting the superiority of SQ‐BA4 to SQ‐DBA2. Then, a mixture containing three model proteins, HSA, β‐lactoglobulin B, and transferrin, was labeled on‐column with both dyes and completely resolved by CE‐LIF after optimization of several parameters. Both dyes provided lower LODs for HSA than those of β‐lactoglobulin B and transferrin with higher sensitivities. In addition, the SQ‐BA4 dye showed again greater sensitivities with all the three proteins than SQ‐DBA2.     

Negative Charging of Au Nanoparticles during Methanol Synthesis from CO2/H2 on a Au/ZnO Catalyst: Insights from Operando IR and Near‐Ambient‐Pressure XPS and XAS Measurements

The electronic and structural properties of Au/ZnO under industrial and idealized methanol synthesis conditions have been investigated. This was achieved by kinetic measurements in combination with time‐resolved operando infrared (DRIFTS) as well as in situ near‐ambient pressure X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP‐XPS) and X‐ray absorption near‐edge spectroscopy (XANES) measurements at the O K‐edge together with high‐resolution electron microscopy. The adsorption of CO during the reaction revealed the presence of negatively charged Au nanoparticles/Au sites during the initial phase of the reaction. Near‐ambient‐pressure XPS and XANES demonstrate the build‐up of O vacancies during the reaction, which goes along with a substantial increase in the rate of methanol formation. The results are discussed in comparison with previous findings for Cu/ZnO and Au/ZnO catalysts.     

Synthesis,molecular modeling,TD-DFT,antimicrobial, and in vitro therapeutic activity of new spherical nano-sized sulfonamide imine ligands and their zinc (II) and copper (II) complexes

A series of nanometer-sized spherical sulfonamide imine ligands HL ¹ -HL ⁵ and their copper and zinc complexes were synthesized and fully characterized based on elemental analyses, spectroscopic (UV/vis, FT-IR, NMR, EPR, SEM) studies, molar conductance and thermal analyses. Furthermore, computational studies of HL ¹ -HL ⁵ were carried out by the DFT/B3LYP method. TD-DFT, HOMO and LUMO energy values, chemical hardness, electronegativity, electrophilic index, softness, and other parameters were calculated. Screening against several pathogenic microorganisms indicated that HL ¹ exhibited high activity against the tested Gram-negative bacteria relative to other analogues and the inhibition activity is greater than the standard Gentamicin. Analogously, HL ² exhibited high potent activity against the tested Gram-positive bacteria. Copper complexes exhibited a higher potent activity than zinc analogues. Noteworthy, inhibition activity of [Cu ( L ³ )(OAc)] complex is higher than that of the standard Ampicillin. [Cu ( L ² )(OAc)] complex displayed a similar activity of the standard bactericides and fungicides in use. The complexes showed appreciated values of MIC against bacterial strains: B. subtilis (MIC = 0.4 μg / mL), E. coli and S. pneumonia (MIC = 1.95 μg / mL) and P. aeruginosa (MIC = 7.81 μg / mL). in vitro cytotoxic activities study proved that [Cu ( L ³ )(OAc)] complex exhibited appreciable activity versus (HEPG-2); IC₅₀ = 4.8 μg/ml, while [Cu( L ² )(OAc)] complex showed a high activity against (MCF-7); IC₅₀ = 6.2 μg/ml. These results could be considered as new findings of promising antitumor candidates for experimental chemotherapy.     

Click Synthesis of 1,2,3-Triazole Nucleosides Based on Functionalized Nicotinonitriles

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry - A facile synthesis of a new series of 1,2,3-triazolyl nucleosides via one-pot click reaction is described. Acetylenic nicotinonitriles synthesized previously...     

Investigation of novel composites to be used as backfill materials in radioactive waste disposal facilities

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The current work aims at the preparation and characterization of novel composite materials of acrylic acid/charcoal/montmorillonite (MMT) (PAACM...     

Development of a novel LC–MS/MS method for detection and quantification of tramadol hydrochloride in presence of some mislabeled drugs: Application to counterfeit study

Counterfeiting of pharmaceuticals has become a serious problem all over the world, particularly in developing countries. In the present work, a highly sensitive LC–MS/MS method was developed for simultaneous determination of tramadol hydrochloride in the presence of some suspected mislabeled drugs such as alprazolam, diazepam, chlorpheniramine maleate, diphenylhydramine and paracetamol. The prepared samples were analyzed on an API 4000 mass spectrometer using an Eclipse C₁₈ column (3.5 μm, 4.6 × 100 mm). The mobile phase consisting of 0.01% formic acid, acetonitrile and methanol (60:20:20 v/v/v) was pumped with an isocratic elution at a flow rate of 0.7 mL min^?1. The detection was achieved on a triple quadruple tandem mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The proposed method was successfully validated according to International Conference on Harmonization guidelines with respect to accuracy, precision, linearity, limit of detection and limit of quantitation. The calibration linear range for tramadol hydrochloride, alprazolam, diazepam, chlorpheniramine maleate, diphenylhydramine and paracetamol was 5–500 ng mL^?1. The results revealed that the applied method is promising for the differentiation of genuine tramadol tablets from counterfeit ones without prior separation.     

Electrochemical behavior of Al2O3/Al composite coated Al electrodes through surface mechanical alloying in alkaline media

The behavior of $A{l}_2{O}_3/Al$ composite coated Al electrodes fabricated by surface mechanical alloying ‘SMA’ was studied. The work was accomplished using Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques in alkaline media $2MKOH$ were done at room temperature. Results show hydroxyl ions accumulate on the surface due to Al deformation micro cavities filling with $A{l}_2{O}_3$ until full charge blockage reached. A barrier cover layer development causing an increase of both resistance and capacitance as it becomes more stable and thinner with exposure time increase. Migrating hydroxyl ion inside micro cavity changed its composition from Al₂O₃ to stable tetrahedral $Al{\left(OH\right)}_4^{?}$ aluminate ions. Therefore future benefits could be reached by developing such surfaces having charge accumulation that enables environmental interaction.     

Morphological and Interaction Characteristics of Surface-Active Ionic Liquids and Palmitic Acid in Mixed Monolayers

A series of water soluble, surface-active ionic liquids (SAILs), namely, 1-alkyl-3-methyl imidazolium chlorides ([C_n-mim]Cl) and their mixtures with palmitic acid (PA) are investigated in Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir–Blodgett films. It is inferred from the surface pressure-area isotherms that C₁₆-mim-IL mixes non-ideally with PA and stabilizes the binary mixed films. In addition, the residence of mim-IL at the water surface is enhanced as a function of the increasing alkyl side chain length. Generally, the compressional moduli values decrease upon increasing the content of the mim-ILs over a wide range of compositions. Furthermore, film relaxation measurements indicate that the IL component is selectively excluded from the mixed films upon achieving a certain target pressure. Brewster angle microscope images demonstrate minimal changes on the PA domains in the presence of either C₄- and C₈-mim-ILs, whereas presence of the hexadecyl counterpart results in the formation of condensed sheets. Atomic force microscopy imaging of deposited films show the formation of propeller-like aggregates when C₈- or C₁₆-mim-IL is present in the mixed films.