Perturbation theory for equilibrium properties of molecular fluids

Perturbation theory for the angular pair correlation function g(r₁₂ ω ₁ ω ₂), using a fluid with isotropic intermolecular forces as the reference system, is applied to the calculation of a variety of macroscopic properties. Comparisons with experiment are made for methane, oxygen and nitrogen (and carbon monoxide for infra-red and Raman band moments) in the dense fluid and liquid states. Theoretical expressions are given and calculations made for thermodynamic properties (isothermal compressibility, pressure, configurational energy, entropy and specific heat) both along and away from the vapour-liquid co-existence curve, for infra-red and Raman band moments, and for neutron scattering cross sections. Excellent agreement with experiment is obtained for all properties, except for the infra-red and Raman band moments; this latter comparison is inconclusive because of large experimental uncertainties. The anisotropic intermolecular forces are found to have very little effect on the liquid isothermal compressibility, in agreement with the first-order theory. Molecular anisotropy has a relatively small effect on the configurational energy and on the Helmholtz free energy, but the effect is large for pressure and specific heat. The pressure is more sensitive to short-range anisotropic forces than the other properties, whereas the specific heat is particularly sensitive to the long-range anisotropic forces. Mean squared torques (derived from infra-red and Raman band moments) are very sensitive to the strengths of the anisotropic forces, and are more sensitive to higher terms in the multipole series than are the other properties. The structure factors for oxygen and nitrogen are found to be little affected by the anisotropic forces.     

High index contrast Er:Ta2O5 waveguide amplifier on oxidised silicon

We report a high index contrast erbium doped tantalum pentoxide waveguide amplifier. 2.3 cm long waveguides with erbium concentration of 2.7 × 10²⁰ cm^? 3 were fabricated by magnetron sputtering of Er-doped tantalum pentoxide on oxidised silicon substrates and Ar-ion milling with photolithographically defined mask. A net on-chip optical gain of ~ 2.25 dB/cm at 1531.5 nm was achieved with 20 mW of pump power at 977 nm launched into the waveguide. The pump threshold for transparency was 4.5 mW.     

Sound Signal Based Fault Classification System in Motorcycles Using Hybrid Feature Sets and Extreme Learning Machine Classifiers

Vehicles generate dissimilar sound patterns under different working environments. These generated sound patterns signify the condition of the engines, which in turn is used for diagnosing various faults. In this paper, the sound signals produced by motorcycles are analyzed to locate various faults. The important attributes are extracted from the generated sound signals based on time, frequency and wavelet domains which clearly describe the statistical behavior of the signals. Further, various types of faults are classified using the Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) classifier from the extracted features. Moreover, the improved classification performance is obtained by the combination of feature sets in different domains. The simulation results clearly demonstrate that the proposed hybrid feature set together with the ELM classifier gives more promising results with higher classification accuracy when compared with the other conventional methods.     

A furan-containing conjugated polymer for high mobility ambipolar organic thin film transistors

Furan substituted diketopyrrolopyrrole (DBF) combined with benzothiadiazole based polymer semiconductor PDPP-FBF has been synthesized and evaluated as an ambipolar semiconductor in organic thin-film transistors. Hole and electron mobilities as high as 0.20 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) and 0.56 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1), respectively, are achieved for PDPP-FBF.     

Electronic properties of anthracene derivatives for blue light emitting electroluminescent layers in organic light emitting diodes: a density functional theory study

Molecular level parameters are investigated computationally to understand the factors that are responsible for the higher efficiency in derivatives of 9,10-bis(1-naphthyl)anthracene (alpha-ADN), 9,10-bis(2-naphthyl)anthracene (beta-ADN), their tetramethyl derivatives (alpha,beta-TMADN) and the t-Bu derivative (beta-TBADN) as blue light emitting electroluminescent (EL) layers in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). DFT studies at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level have been carried out on the substituted anthracenes. The absorption spectra are simulated using time dependent DFT methods (TD-DFT) whereas the emission spectra are approximated by optimizing the excited state by HF/CI-Singles and then carrying out the vertical CI calculations by the TD-DFT method. The reorganization energy for estimating the hole and electron transport is calculated. The transfer integrals between parallely stacked molecules in the bulk state are estimated by calculating the electronic splitting. The substituted anthracenes are compared with unsubstituted anthracene and yet untested 9,10-dianthrylanthracene (TANTH). A larger and slower buildup of the electrons and holes in the EL layer, due to the higher reorganization energy and smaller electronic coupling between the adjacent molecules could lead to an increase in hole-electron recombination in the layer and thus increase the efficiency.     

Numerical investigations of response surface methodology for organic dye adsorption onto Mg-Al LDH -GO Nano Hybrid: An optimization,kinetics and isothermal studies

We developed Mg-Al LDH intercalated with NO₃^- decorated Graphene Oxide nanohybrid with positive cationic textile dye adsorption, such as methylene blue. Contact time, initial dye concentration, and pH were among the independent variables used in the study. The Response Surface Model (RSM) was used to optimise and describe the interdependencies of the different variables. The method was evaluated using the Box-Behnken design (BBD). A second-order polynomial model was used to understand the experimental results, and the effectiveness of the chosen model was verified by its strong agreement in determination coefficient values. The adsorption results suited the best for the Langmuir isotherm than the D-R and Freundlich isotherms, resulting in efficient adsorption of 187.62 ?mg/g, proving LDH-GO is an effective dye adsorbent. Simultaneously, the kinetics were based on the pseudo-second-order model, and additional kinetic factors such as Elovich, pseudo-first-order, and intra-particular diffusion were examined. According to Thermodynamic studies, the adsorption process is spontaneous, which is exothermic and characterised by increased randomness. According to a regeneration test, even after four cycles, 37% of the removal efficiency for MB can be achieved. Based on this report, these materials can be used as an adsorbent to remove the dye.     

An e.p.r. study of tetradentate Schiff base copper complexes with an N–(CH2)n–N,n = 3–6 backbone

Cu^II complexes of Schiff-base ligands with a general formulation o-HOC₆H₄CH=N–(CH₂) _n –N=CHC₆H₄OH-o, where n = 3–6 have been prepared and their e.p.r. spectra investigated in order to determine the effect of the flexible methylene backbone length on the structure. The room temperature and 77 K e.p.r. spectra of the compounds, n = 3 and 4, are typical of the axially symmetric ground state with g > g . When n = 5, on the other hand, the complex gives an isotropic spectrum at room temperature. For n = 6, g appears to be greater than g . The g _iso value increases gradually from n = 3 to n = 6 indicating deviation from planarity. Simulation of the 77 K spectrum for n = 6 shows the presence of two distinct Cu²⁺ sites of equal probability. The Q-band spectrum of this compound exhibits a narrowed g signal indicative of exchange coupling. The spectrum is a consequence of intermolecular electron exchange giving a pseudo d² _z state.     

Strikingly High Activity of 15-Lipoxygenase Towards Di-Polyunsaturated Arachidonoyl/Adrenoyl-Phosphatidylethanolamines Generates Peroxidation Signals of Ferroptotic Cell Death

The vast majority of membrane phospholipids (PLs) include two asymmetrically positioned fatty acyls: oxidizable polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) attached predominantly at the sn2 position, and non-oxidizable saturated/monounsaturated acids (SFA/MUFA) localized at the sn1 position. The peroxidation of PUFA-PLs, particularly sn2-arachidonoyl(AA)- and sn2-adrenoyl(AdA)-containing phosphatidylethanolamines (PE), has been associated with the execution of ferroptosis, a program of regulated cell death. There is a minor subpopulation (≈1–2 mol %) of doubly PUFA-acylated phospholipids (di-PUFA-PLs) whose role in ferroptosis remains enigmatic. Here we report that 15-lipoxygenase (15LOX) exhibits unexpectedly high pro-ferroptotic peroxidation activity towards di-PUFA-PEs. We revealed that peroxidation of several molecular species of di-PUFA-PEs occurred early in ferroptosis. Ferrostatin-1, a typical ferroptosis inhibitor, effectively prevented peroxidation of di-PUFA-PEs. Furthermore, co-incubation of cells with di-AA-PE and 15LOX produced PUFA-PE peroxidation and induced ferroptotic death. The decreased contents of di-PUFA-PEs in ACSL4 KO A375 cells was associated with lower levels of di-PUFA-PE peroxidation and enhanced resistance to ferroptosis. Thus, di-PUFA-PE species are newly identified phospholipid peroxidation substrates and regulators of ferroptosis, representing a promising therapeutic target for many diseases related to ferroptotic death.