Effects on molecular orientation and phase transition of addition of carbon nanotubes into liquid crystalline matrix

For practical guest–host applications, it is important to choose dyes with a high ability of orientation in the liquid crystal (LC) matrix. In this experimental work, two different azo-structured dyes (disperse yellow 3 and 7) were separately doped to each of two different nematic LCs (E7 and ZLI-1132). Their solubilities, textures, phase transition temperatures and order parameters were determined. At the second stage, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in a small amount were separately added to each of these solutions, and the experiments were repeated as similar to the previous ones. The solubilities of dyes in the LC E7 were lower than those of ZLI-1132. Moreover, the highest order parameter value was attained with yellow 7 dye in ZLI-1132 nematic host. Co-use of nanoparticles (CNTs) as dopant resulted in notable increases in order parameters. These dyes and CNTs did not significantly destabilise the mesomorphic phase of nematic hosts. An appreciable change in textures was not monitored with addition of dopant(s). In addition, it was observed that the narrowing on the temperature range of the LC did not take place with the addition of dopants to the crystal; on the contrary, an increase was recorded.     

Electricity Production and Characterization of High-Strength Industrial Wastewaters in Microbial Fuel Cell

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) convert electrochemical energy into electrical energy immediately and have a big potential usage for the same time wastewater treatment and energy recovery via electro-active microorganisms. However, MFCs must be efficiently optimized due to its limitations such as high cost and low power production. Finding new materials to increase the cell performance and reduce cost for MFC anodes is mandatory. In the first step of this study, different inoculation sludges such as anaerobic gum industry wastewater, anaerobic brewery wastewater and anaerobic phosphate were tested, and MFC that was set up with anaerobic gum industry wastewater inoculation sludge exhibited the highest performance. In the second step of this study, various wastewaters such as chocolate industry, gum industry and slaughterhouse industry were investigated for anode bacteria sources. Several electrochemical techniques have been employed to elucidate how wastewaters affect the MFCs’ performance. Among all the mentioned wastewaters, the best performance was achieved by the MFCs fed with slaughterhouse wastewater; this device produced a maximum power density of 267 mW·m^?2.     

Tetrakis(bicyclo[2.2.2]oct‐2‐ene)‐Fused Calix[4]pyrrole

Tetrakis(bicyclo[2.2.2]oct‐2‐ene)‐fused calix[4]pyrrole, 5 , was obtained starting from (E)‐1,2‐bis(phenylsulfonyl)ethylene. This new calixpyrrole derivative is the prospective precursor of tetrabenzocalix[4]pyrrole, a potential ion‐pair receptor and an attractive species as a possible deep‐walled ‘molecular container’.     

Facilitated Proton Transfer by a Novel 2-Aminothiazole Derivative Across the Water/1,2-Dichloroethane Interface

The behavior of proton transfer facilitated by a novel thiazole derivative, N-methyl-4-(4-phenoxyphenyl)thiazol-2-amine (MPPT), across the water/1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) interface was investigated electrochemically. The ionic partition diagram for MPPT was obtained from interpretation of the cyclic voltammograms. The apparent partition coefficient of MPPT was evaluated by the shaking-flask method under experimental conditions, while that for the protonated form of MPPT was calculated from its transfer potential obtained from the ionic partition diagram. It was suggested that the mechanism for transfer of MPPT across the water/1,2-DCE) interface depends on the pH of the aqueous phase. The parameters of the facilitated proton transfer across the water/1,2-DCE interface were evaluated as a quantitative measure of its lipophilicity.     

Composition,properties, and application of products formed in oxidation of polyethylene by nitric acid

Structure of products formed in polyethylene oxidation by nitric acid was studied by NMR, IR, and electronic absorption spectroscopies and derivatography.     

Determination of periodic solutions for nonlinear oscillators with fractional powers by He’s modified Lindstedt-Poincaré method

He’s modified Lindstedt-Poincaré method is applied to nonlinear oscillatiors with fractional powers. Comparison of the obtained results with exact solutions provides confirmation for the validity of He’s modified Lindstedt-Poincaré method.     

Simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for determination of atropine and obidoxime in a parenteral injection device

Atropine and obidoxime in a parenteral injection device are determined by simple HPLC method simultaneously without any pretreatment at 228 nm. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) were below 1.6% for the compounds. The correlation coefficient was greater than 0.999 for both compounds in the calibration range. The recoveries at 5 mg/L concentration averaged as 95% for atropine and 102% for obidoxime. The uncertainty of the measurements for atropine and obidoxime was 2.8% and 2.4%, respectively.     

An unusual case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis confined to brainstem

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disorder usually encountered in children or adolescents and characterized by multifocal neurological deficits of rapid onset. Typical target areas of demyelination include the corona radiata, centrum semiovale, periventricular white matter, cerebellar peduncles and brainstem. Involvement of deep gray matter nuclei is also frequent. We report a 6-year-old boy with ADEM who had only brainstem involvement. Serial magnetic resonance images representing the stage of disease and response to steroid treatment are presented.