Characterization of a Smartphone Camera's Response to Ultraviolet A Radiation

As part of a wider study into the use of smartphones as solar ultraviolet radiation monitors, this article characterizes the ultraviolet A (UVA; 320–400 nm) response of a consumer complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)‐based smartphone image sensor in a controlled laboratory environment. The CMOS image sensor in the camera possesses inherent sensitivity to UVA, and despite the attenuation due to the lens and neutral density and wavelength‐specific bandpass filters, the measured relative UVA irradiances relative to the incident irradiances range from 0.0065% at 380 nm to 0.0051% at 340 nm. In addition, the sensor demonstrates a predictable response to low‐intensity discrete UVA stimuli that can be modelled using the ratio of recorded digital values to the incident UVA irradiance for a given automatic exposure time, and resulting in measurement errors that are typically less than 5%. Our results support the idea that smartphones can be used for scientific monitoring of UVA radiation.     

Eicosatetraenehydroxamates: inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase

The syntheses of 5-hydroxamyl and 5-hydroxamylmethyl-6,8,11,14,-eicosatetraenoic acids ($\text{3}$ and $\text{4}$), which possess potent 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity, are described.     

Crystal structures, EPR and magnetic properties of 2-ClC6H4CNSSN˙ and 2,5-Cl2C6H3CNSSN˙

The β-sheet structure associated with chlorinated aromatics (d(Cl···Cl)≈ 4.0 ?) has been implemented to drive formation of π-stacked structures of dithiadiazolyl radicals. Both title compounds exhibit an increase in paramagnetism above 150 K but solid-state EPR studies indicate that the origin of the paramagnetism in these two systems is different.     

In situ Raman studies on lithiated single-wall carbon nanotubes in liquid ammonia

The charge transfer induced lithiation of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was investigated by in situ monitoring by Raman spectroscopy as lithium was added incrementally to a dispersion of SWNTs in liquid ammonia. Charge transfer from liquid ammonia solvated lithium to the SWNTs led to intercalation of lithium into the SWNT ropes, as well as to the semi-covalent lithiation of the SWNTs. Raman spectra of the SWNTs recorded as lithium was added showed a 30 wavenumber downshift of the G band (1594 cm⁻¹) with the concomitant appearance of a new peak at 1350 cm⁻¹ that was assigned as the signature of the lithiated SWNTs. Addition of 1-iodododecane to the lithiated SWNTs resulted in the covalent attachment of dodecyl groups. The intercalation of lithium throughout the SWNT ropes led to complete dodecylation of all individual SWNTs.     

Development and evaluation of a detailed mechanism for the atmospheric reactions of isoprene and NOx

A detailed photochemical mechanism for the atmospheric reactions of isoprene and its major oxidation products in the presence of NO_x, which incorporates the most recent laboratory results and our current understanding of the system, is described. It is evaluated by comparing its predictions against results of NO_x-air irradiations of isoprene and its two major products, methacrolein, and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK), in five different types of environmental chambers at two different laboratories. In most cases it simulated experimental results within the uncertainty of the data and the chamber and run characterization model. However, the photodecomposition quantum yields of methacrolein and MVK and the organic nitrate yield from the OH + isoprene reaction had to be adjusted to obtain satisfactory simulations of the data. The major discrepancy observed was that the model tended to underpredict PAN by ca. 40% in the isoprene experiments, despite the fact that the model predicted PAN from methacrolein and MVK reasonably well. The uncertainties and additional data needed to completely characterize the isoprene atmospheric photooxidation system are discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Importance of dynamic surface tension to the residual water content of fabrics

At the end of the final spin cycle of the laundry process, the residual moisture content (RMC) of fabric is directly related to the dynamic surface tension of the residual water in the fabric. The LaPlace equation for capillary rise predicts that the capillary rise of solutions in a capillary is proportional to the surface tension at the air-liquid interface. If fabric can be considered to be a large ensemble of capillaries due to interfiber spacing, then the RMC of fabrics will be directly related to the surface tension of residual solution in the fabric. The use of a tailored rinse additive has the potential to decrease the surface tension of solution significantly, thus leading to a decrease in the residual water content of the fabric. It is expected that as the surfactant concentration increases the surface tension decreases. Hence, the RMC of fabrics must decrease with increasing surfactant concentration. However, a peak is observed in the RMC of fabrics before the critical micelle concentration (CMC) is reached. Prior to the CMC, it is proposed that a sudden adsorption of surfactant is occurring on the fabric surface leading to a decrease in bulk monomer concentration. The decrease in free monomer concentration should result in an increase in the equilibrium surface tension of the residual solution leading to a concomitant increase in RMC. Because the dynamic surface tension is measured on a short time scale (on the order of milliseconds), there will be less adsorption of monomer onto the newly created air-liquid interface of the bubbles during the measurement process. This decrease in adsorption should lead to a pronounced increase in the dynamic surface tension. This indeed was observed. The RMC correlates very well with the dynamic surface tension of the residual solution.     

Olefin oxygenation by the hydroperoxide adduct of a nonheme manganese(IV) complex: epoxidations by a metallo-peracid produces gentle selective oxidations

The reactive intermediates and mechanisms of oxygenation of olefins by manganese complexes were investigated by treating olefins with newly synthesized [MnIV(Me2EBC)(OH)2](PF6)2 in the presence and absence of peroxide and by studying its catalytic epoxidation reaction in normal aqueous solution and, individually, with isotopically labeled H218O, 18O2, and H218O2. The manganese oxo species is not the reactive intermediate for the oxygen transfer process mediated by this manganese complex. A novel manganese(IV) peroxide intermediate, MnIV(Me2EBC)(O)(OOH)+, was captured by mass spectrometry and is proposed as the intermediate that oxygenates olefins in this catalytic system.     

Engineered protein cages for nanomaterial synthesis

Self-assembled particles of genetically engineered human L subunit ferritin expressing a silver-binding peptide were used as nanocontainers for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The inner cavity of the self-assembled protein cage displays a dodecapeptide that is capable of reducing silver ions to metallic silver. This chimeric protein cage when incubated in the presence of silver nitrate exhibits the growth of a silver nanocrystal within its cavity. Our studies indicate that it is possible to design chimeric cages, using specific peptide templates, for the growth of other inorganic nanoparticles.     

Atomic origin of hysteresis during cyclic loading of Si due to bond rearrangements at the crack surfaces

The atomistic origin of fatigue failure in micron-sized silicon devices is not fully understood. Two series of density-functional theory calculations on cubic diamond Si explore the effect of surface bond formation on crack healing in systems which exhibit strong surface reconstruction. Both series introduce a separation between Si(100) layers (i.e., the crack) and allow the ions to relax to their minimum-energy configuration. The initial surface ionic positions are either bulk terminated or 2 x 1 reconstructed. A plot of the energy versus the introduced separation reveals that once the surfaces reconstruct, the crack is no longer able to return to the equilibrium configuration. Rather, the healed crack interface contains defects which places the flawed energy minimum at a finite strain of 3% and an increased energy of 1.13 Jm2 relative to the equilibrium configuration. The irreversible plastic deformation supports the mechanism proposed by Kahn et al. [Science 298 1215 (2002)] that invokes mechanically induced subcritical cracking to explain the delayed onset of failure.     

A general preparation of (Z)-1-fluorostilbene derivatives for the design of conformationally restricted peptidomimetics

The preparation of (Z)-1-fluoro-2-bromostyrenes provides a general route for the formation of (Z)-1-fluorostilbene derivatives as configurationally stable spacial linkers for the design of conformationally restricted peptidomimetics. Palladium-catalyzed aryl Suzuki and Stille cross-coupling reactions have been surveyed to proceed with complete retention of fluoroalkene geometry, and permit the direct incorporation of a variety of aryl and heteroaromatic substituents.