Increasing the pump-up rate to polarize He gas using spin-exchange optical pumping method

In recent years, polarized ³He gas has increasingly been used as neutron polarizers and polarization analyzers. Two of the leading methods to polarize the ³He gas are the spin-exchange optical pumping (SEOP) method and the meta-stable exchange optical pumping (MEOP) method. At present, the SEOP setup is comparatively compact due to the fact that it does not require the sophisticated compressor system used in the MEOP method. The temperature and the laser power available determine the speed, at which the SEOP method polarizes the ³He gas. For the quantity of gas typically used in neutron scattering work, this speed is independent of the quantity of the gas required, whereas the polarizing time using the MEOP method is proportional to the quantity of gas required. Currently, using the SEOP method to polarize several bar-liters of ³He to 70% polarization would require 20−40 h. This is an order of magnitude longer than the MEOP method for the same quantity of gas and polarization. It would therefore be advantageous to speed up the SEOP process. In this article, we analyze the requirements for temperature, laser power, and the type of alkali used in order to shorten the time required to polarize ³He gas using the SEOP method.     

A Simple and Efficient Procedure for Synthesis of Optically Active 1,2,4‐Triazolo‐[3,4‐b]‐1,3,4‐Thiadiazole Derivatives Containing l‐Amino Acid Moieties

Some new and optically active 1,2,4‐triazolo thiadiazoles bearing N‐phthaloyl‐l ‐amino acids were synthesized by reaction of 4‐amino‐5‐(3‐ or 4‐)pyridyl‐3‐mercapto‐(4H)‐1,2,4‐triazoles with N‐phthaloyl‐l ‐amino acids in the presence of phosphorus oxychloride. All the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and elemental analysis.     

Influence of heat transfer on a peristaltic transport of Herschel–Bulkley fluid in a non-uniform inclined tube

Peristaltic transport in a two-dimensional non-uniform tube filled with Herschel–Bulkley fluid is studied under the assumptions of long wavelength and low Reynold number. The fluid flow is investigated in the wave frame of reference moving with the velocity of the peristaltic wave. Exact solution for the velocity field, the temperature profile, the stream functions and the pressure gradient are obtained. The physical behavior of τ, n, α and on the pressure rise versus flow rate are discussed through graphs. At the end of the article trapping phenomena for Herschel–Bulkley and also for Newtonian, Bingham and power law (which are the special cases of Herschel–Bulkley fluid) fluid are discussed.     

Dual solutions in MHD stagnation-point flow of Prandtl fluid impinging on shrinking sheet

The present article investigates the dual nature of the solution of the magneto- hydrodynamic （MHD） stagnation-point flow of a Prandtl fluid model towards a shrinking surface. The self-similar nonlinear ordinary differential equations are solved numerically by the shooting： method. It is found that the dual solutions of the flow exist for cer- tain values of tile velocity ratio parameter. The special case of the first branch solutions （the classical Newtonian fluid model） is compared with the present numerical results of stretching flow. The results are found to be in good agreement. It is also shown that the boundary layer thickness for the second solution is thicker than that for the first solution.     

An alytical and numerical study of peristaltic transport of a Johnson-Segalman fluid in an endoscope

In the present study, we discuss the peristaltic flow of a Johnson-Segalman fluid in an endoscope. Perturbation, homotopy, and numerical solutions are found for the non-linear differential equation. The comparative study is also made to check the validity of the solutions. The expressions for pressure rise frictional forces, pressure gradient, and stream lines are presented to interpret the behavior of various physical quantities of the Johnson-Segalman fluid.     

Abundant Exact Traveling Wave Solutions of Generalized Bretherton Equation via Improved (G′/G)-Expansion Method

In this article, we construct abundant exact traveling wave solutions involving free parameters to the generalized Bretherton equation via the improved (G′/G)-expansion method. The traveling wave solutions are presented in terms of the trigonometric, the hyperbolic, and rational functions. When the parameters take special values, the solitary waves are derived from the traveling waves.     

Multiple Spectroscopic,Docking and Cytotoxic Study of a Synthesized 2,2′ Bipyridin Phenyl Isopentylglycin Pt(II) Nitrate Complex: Human Serum Albumin and Breast Cancer Cell Line of MDA-MB231 as Targets

In the present study, the biological activities of a new synthesized Pt(II)-complex, 2,2′ bipyridinphenyl isopentylglycin Pt(II) nitrate was investigated via its interaction with the most important blood carrier protein of human serum albumin (HSA), using fluorescence and Far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic techniques and also molecular docking. Moreover, cytotoxicity activity of the complex was studied against breast cancer cell line of MDA MB231 using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The Pt(II)-complex has a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA through a static quenching mechanism. According fluorescence quenching data, the binding parameters of the interaction were calculated and showed that hydrophobic interaction has an important role. The molecular docking results in coherent with fluorescence measurements illustrated that Pt(II) complex can bind to HSA at one position that located in the hydrophobic cavity of groove between drug site I and II. Also, experimental data on driving force in binding site was confirmed whereas theoretical results demonstrated Pt(II) complexinteract to HSA by hydrophobic interaction. Far-UV-CD results showed that Pt(II)-complex induced an increasing in the content of α-helical structure of the protein and stabilized it. Also, MTT assay represented growth inhibitory effect of the complex toward the breast cancer cell line.     

The influence of gas flow rate on the structural,mechanical, optical and wettability of diamond-like carbon thin films

In this research, diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin films were deposited on silicon substrates by radio-frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition method using gas mixture of CH₄ and Ar. The effect of different CH₄/Ar gas ratio on the structure, refractive index, transmission and hardness of the DLC thin films were investigated by means of Raman spectroscopy, ellipsometry, Fourier transform Infrared Spectroscopy and nano-indentation methods, respectively. Nuclear resonant reaction analysis was used to measure the amount of hydrogen and carbon in the thin films. Furthermore, wettability of the thin films was achieved by measuring of water contact angle (WCA). The results indicated that the structural properties of the diamond-like carbon thin films are strongly dependent on the composition of gas mixture. Based on ellipsometry results, refractive index of the thin films varied in the range of 1.89–2.06 at 550 nm. FTIR results determined that deposition of DLC thin films on silicon substrate led to an increase of the light transmission in IR region and these films have the potential to be used in silicon optics as the antireflective coatings in this region. Nano-indentation analysis showed that the thin films hardness changed in the range of 7.5–11 GPa. On the other hand hydrogen content and fraction of C?H bonds in the samples increased by an increase in the gas ratio of CH₄/Ar. Also, WCA measurements indicated that WCA for thin films with gas ratio of 3/7 is the most and equal to 79°.     

Matrimid–polyaniline/clay mixed‐matrix membranes with plasticization resistance for separation of CO2 from natural gas

Mixed‐matrix membranes (MMMs) of Matrimid® and polyaniline/clay (PC) are investigated for CO₂/CH₄ separation and CO₂‐induced plasticization. PC particles are synthesized through in‐situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of organophilic clay and then incorporated into Matrimid by solution casting method. Chemical structure and morphology of PC powder and fabricated membranes are analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetric analysis (DSC/TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD spectra of PC particles show the exfoliation of silicate layers throughout the polyaniline (PAni) matrix, and SEM images indicate flower‐petal morphology for PC particles. The permeability values of CO₂ and CH₄ increase 30–35% by incorporation of 10 wt% PC without any significant drop in selectivity. PC particles with flower‐petal morphology plays an important role in increasing the gas permeability values of both gases while Matrimid is the only phase that controls CO₂/CH₄ selectivity. The plasticization pressure was increased to 30 bar by incorporation of 10 wt% PC in the Matrimid matrix. CO₂ permeability and p_plast improved 35% and 200%, respectively, resulting in 300% enhancement in the capacity of MMM in the purification of natural gas with a selectivity of about 40. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fabrication and characterization of CMC‐based magnetic superabsorbent hydrogel nanocomposites for crystal violet removal

In this research work, novel magnetic superabsorbent hydrogel nanocomposites (MSHNs) based on carboxymethyl cellulose were prepared via a facile “one‐pot” two step approach. Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were in situ synthesized and incorporated into carboxymethyl cellulose/poly(acrylic acid) polymer hydrogel. The morphology and chemical composition of MSHNs as well as the presence of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles were evaluated by using Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐Ray diffraction, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The effect of different reaction parameters on the swelling capacity of MSHNs was investigated. Furthermore, batch adsorption experiments of crystal violet dye onto MSHNs were studied by varying solution pH, initial dye concentration, and temperature. Evaluation of thermodynamic parameters of crystal violet adsorption confirmed that the adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic process in nature. The equilibrium study revealed that the dye adsorption behavior of MHSNs followed the Redlich‐Peterson isotherm model. Finally, the dye adsorption experiment data was well fitted by the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model with the regression coefficient (R²) of 0.9979. Our results suggest that the MHSNs with facile preparation method, high swelling capacity, and high dye adsorption capacity may be used as promising adsorbents for fast removal of various dyes from aqueous solutions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.