Toward the Classification of Scalar Nonpolynomial Evolution Equations: Polynomiality in Top Three Derivatives

We prove that arbitrary (nonpolynomial) scalar evolution equations of order    m  ≥ 7  , that are integrable in the sense of admitting the canonical conserved densities   ρ⁽¹⁾, ρ⁽²⁾  , and   ρ⁽³⁾   introduced in [ 1 ], are polynomial in the derivatives    u _{m −  i}    for  i  = 0, 1, 2. We also introduce a grading in the algebra of polynomials in     u _k     with     k  ≥  m  − 2    over the ring of functions in     x ,  t ,  u , … ,  u _{m −3}    and show that integrable equations are scale homogeneous with respect to this grading .     

Mathematical Characterization of Thermo-reversible Phase Transitions of Agarose Gels

The thermal phase transition temperatures of high (HMP) and low melting point (LMP) agarose gels were investigated by using UV–vis spectroscopy techniques. Transmitted light intensities from the gel samples with different agarose concentrations were monitored during the heating (gel-sol) and cooling (sol–gel) processes. It was observed that the transition temperatures, T_m, defined as the location of the maximum of the first derivative of the sigmoidal transition paths obtained from the UV–vis technique, slightly increased by increasing the agarose concentration in both the HMP and LMP samples. Here, we express the phase transitions of the agar-water system, as a representative of reversible physical gels, in terms of a modified Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible epidemic model whose solutions are the well-known 5-point sigmoidal curves. The gel point is hard to determine experimentally and various computational techniques are used for its characterization. Based on previous work, we locate the gel point, T₀, of sol-gel and gel-sol transitions in terms of the horizontal shift in the sigmoidal transition curve. For the gel-sol transition (heating), T₀ is greater than T_m, i.e. later in time, and the difference between T₀ and T_m is reduced as the agarose content increases. For the sol-gel transition (cooling), T₀ is again greater than T_m, but it is earlier in time for all agarose contents and moves forward in time and gets closer to T_m as the agarose content increases.     

Nanofusion: mesoporous zeolites made easy

A new path to zeolites: Nanofusion is a template-free, one-step process that gives mesoporous zeolite beta with tunable mesopore diameters in very short reaction times. The hierarchical materials are built from zeolite beta nanocrystals in concentrated gels. The nanocrystals can either be retrieved as individual particles in a colloidal suspension or are directly fused into mesoporous zeolitic materials (see scheme).     

Synthesis and Properties of Oligo-/Polymers Based on a “Flexible” Swivel-Cruciform Structure

We have introduced the concept of the so-called swivel type cruciforms as a highly flexible tool to tune the molecular properties from amorphous to highly crystalline features. Simple alkoxy substituted binaphthyl building blocks have been introduced randomly into poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO) thereby suppressing the formation of side-chain crystallization. On the other hand the all aryl penta-thiophene based cruciform exhibited strong π–π interaction between the arms and gave one of the highest values reported to date for wet processed organic field effect transistors (OFETs) utilising oligothiophenes.     

Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy study of polyvinylpyrrolidone-added polyvinylidene fluoride membranes: Investigation of free volume and permeation relationships

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes were prepared via the phase inversion method from casting solutions containing PVDF, dimethylformamide (DMF), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as pore former. PVP was used in the casting solution in a range of 0–5 wt % and extracted. The effect on membranes of using PVP in the casting process was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, viscosity, and water permeability techniques. With an increase of PVP from 0 to 5 wt %, the PVDF casting solution viscosities increased from 858 to 1148 cP; the resulting PVDF membrane thickness increased; and the crystallinity of PVDF membranes decreased from 40.0 to 33.3%, which indicates that the addition of PVP inhibits the degree of crystallization in the PVDF membranes. SEM results revealed the shape and size of macropores in the membranes; these macropores changed after PVP addition to the casting solutions. The impact of structural changes on free-volume properties was evaluated using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) studies. PALS analysis indicated no effect on the average radius (~3.4 Å) of membrane free-volume holes from the addition of PVP to the casting solution. However, the percentage of o-Ps pick-off annihilation intensity, I₃, increased from 1.7 to 5.1% with increased PVP content. Further, increasing the PVP content from 0.5 to 5% resulted in an increased final pure water permeability flux. For instance, the 210 min flux for a 14% PVDF + 0.5% PVP membrane was found to be 3.3 times greater than a control membrane having the same PVDF concentration. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 58, 589–598     

Novel fluorescent chemosensor for anions via modulation of oxidative PET: a remarkable 25-fold enhancement of emission

The fluorescence emission intensity of the 1:1 Zn(II) complex of a doubly boradiazaindacene (BODIPY) substituted bipyridyl ligand is highly sensitive to anion coordination to the metal center. Oxidative PET, which is responsible for the quenching of the fluorescence in the complex is effectively inhibited by anion coordination, leading to a 25-fold enhancement of the emission intensity.     

Novel bioactive vic-dioxime ligand containing piperazine moiety: Synthesis,X-ray crystallographic studies, 2D NMR applications and complexation with Ni(II)

A new vic-dioxime ligand bearing an important pharmacophore substituent, anti-1-(4-benzylpiperazine-1-yl) phenylglyoxime (LH₂) (Scheme 1), has been synthesized and its nickel(II) complex was obtained by the reaction of NiCl₂·6H₂O and the ligand. The characterization of the newly formed compounds was performed by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1D NMR (¹H, ¹³C, DEPT), 2D NMR (HMBC), ESI mass-spectrometry, TG/DTA, X-ray crystallography. The antibacterial activity was also studied against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Streptococcus mutans RSHM 676, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Lactobacillus acidophilus RSHM 06029, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, E. coli ATCC 35218, Pseudomonasaeruginosa ATCC 27853. The antimicrobial test results indicated that all the compounds have mild antibacterial activity against both Gram negative and Gram positive bacterial species.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Polypyrrole Nanoparticles and Their Nanocomposites with Poly(propylene)

Summary: Conducting polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles were synthesized via microemulsion polymerization. PP/PPy nanocomposites were prepared by melt-mixing of polypyrrole with polypropylene (PP) and processed with injection molding. Tensile tests have revealed that increasing amount of PPy increased the strength and the stiffness of the nanocomposite while limiting the elongation of PP. Thermal gravimetric analysis has showed that incorporation of PPy nanoparticles has improved the thermal stability of the nanocomposites. Increasing amount of PPy nanoparticles increases the conductivity of nonconductive PP up to 2,4.10⁻⁴ Scm⁻¹. The same techniques were used to characterize nanocomposites containing 2% w dispersant. Composites prepared with dispersant have involved smaller dimension PPy nanoparticles and exhibited improvement in some mechanical and thermal properties.