Emission-based optical carbon dioxide sensing with HPTS in green chemistry reagents: room-temperature ionic liquids

We describe the characterization of a new optical CO₂ sensor based on the change in the fluorescence signal intensity of 8-hydroxypyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid trisodium salt (HPTS) in green chemistry reagents—room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). As far as we are aware, this is the first time RTILs, 1-methyl-3-butylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (RTIL-I) and 1-methyl-3-butylimidazolium bromide (RTIL-II), have been used as matrix materials with HPTS in an optical CO₂ sensor. It should be noted that the solubility of CO₂ in water-miscible ionic liquids is approximately 10 to 20 times that in conventional solvents, polymer matrices, or water. The response of the sensor to gaseous and dissolved CO₂ has been evaluated. The luminescence intensity of HPTS at 519 and 521 nm decreased with the increasing concentrations of CO₂ by 90 and 75% in RTIL-I and RTIL-II, respectively. The response times of the sensing reagents were in the range 1–2 min for switching from nitrogen to CO₂, and 7–10 min for switching from CO₂ to nitrogen. The signal changes were fully reversible and no significant hysteresis was observed during the measurements. The stability of HPTS in RTILs was excellent and when stored in the ambient air of the laboratory there was no significant drift in signal intensity after 7 months. Our stability tests are still in progress.      

Base-promoted new C–C bond formation: an expedient route for the preparation of thiazolo- and imidazolo-pyridinones via Michael addition

Base-catalyzed one-pot cyclocondensation reactions of acryloyl and cinnamoyl chlorides with β-nitroenamine derivatives have been performed under mild conditions and target 7-substituted thiazolo-[3,2-a] or imidazolo-[1,2-a]pyridin-5-one derivatives were prepared successfully in moderate to good yields. The cyclization reactions may proceed via Michael addition followed by iminoketene-amide tautomerization in view of the products formed.     

Enhanced catalytic activity of ppy-coated pencil electrode in the presence of chitosan and Au nanoparticles for hydrogen evolution reaction

Catalytically active and low-cost electrocatalysts for the production of hydrogen from water are extremely important for future renewable energy systems. Here, we report the fabrication of a facile pencil graphite electrode modified with polypyrrole-chitosan/Au nanoparticles and tested its performance for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) as a model process. The porous surface of the pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was modified potentiostically by polypyrrole (PPy) at various film thicknesses in the presence of chitosan (Chi), which is a natural biopolymer, in the electrolyte medium. After the optimum film thickness had been obtained, the Au particles electrodeposited on to the PPy/Chi composite film at the nano-scale to benefit both from its well-known high catalytic activity and to reduce the amount of precious metal Au to prepare a low-cost eletrocatalyst. The performance of this composite catalyst on the H⁺ reduction (H_ad formation) and thereby on the hydrogen evolution was investigated. Data from cyclic voltammetry (CV), Tafel polarization curves, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated that the current densities related to the electron transfer rate changed with the thickness of the composite film, and the catalytic activity was enhanced more with deposition small amount of Au on to the catalyst surface.     

Uniqueness of uniform decompositions in exact categories

Two uniqueness theorems on uniform decompositions due to Krause, Diracca and Facchini are extended from abelian categories to weakly idempotent complete exact categories. We give applications to (quasi-)abelian categories, finitely accessible additive categories and exactly definable additive categories.     

The isomorphism problem for uniserial modules over an arbitrary ring

Abstract

First, we give a partial solution to the isomorphism problem for uniserial modules of finite length with the help of the morphisms between these modules. Later, under suitable assumptions on the lattice of the submodules, we give a method to partially solve the isomorphism problem for uniserial modules over an arbitrary ring. Particular attention is given to the natural class of uniserial modules defined over algebras given by quivers.     

Fractional optimal control problem of a distributed system in cylindrical coordinates

In this work, Fractional Optimal Control Problem (FOCP) of a Distributed system is investigated in cylindrical coordinates. Axis-symmetry naturally arises in the problem formulation. The fractional time derivative is described in the Riemann-Liouville (RL) sense. The performance index of a FOCP is considered as a function of state and control variables and system dynamics are given as a Partial Fractional Differential Equation (PFDE). The method of separation of variables is used to find the solution of the problem. Eigenfunctions are used to eliminate the terms containing space parameters and to define the problem in terms of a set of generalized state and control variables. For numerical computations, Grünwald-Letnikov (GL) approach is used. A time-invariant example is considered to demonstrate the effectiveness of the formulation. The comparison of analytical and numerical solutions is given using simulation results and also it can be seen that analytical and numerical results converge each other. In addition, simulation results for different values of order of derivative, time discretizations and eigenfunctions are analyzed.     

Novel functional copolymers based on glycidyl methacrylate: Synthesis,characterization, and polymerization kinetics

A new methacrylate monomer 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-oxoethyl-2-methacrylate (NFM) was synthesized and its radical copolymerization with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was studied in 1,4-dioxane solution at 65°C using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The synthesized monomer and copolymers were characterized by FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The analysis of reactivity ratios revealed that NFM is less reactive than GMA, and copolymers formed are statistically in nature. Thermogravimetric analysis of the polymers reveals that the thermal stability of the copolymers increases with an increasing in the mole fraction of NFM in the copolymers. Glass transition temperatures of the copolymers decreased with an increasing of NFM molar fraction in copolymers. In addition, according to the results obtained from the contact angle and zeta potential measurements the hydrophobic character of the polymer decreases (it means surface free energy increases) and its zeta potential becomes more negative with increase of NFM ratio in the copolymer. Polymers with carbonyl functional groups have been particularly interesting because of their use as photoresists.     

Radiolabeling, quality control and kit formulation of a new 99mTc-labeled antibiotic: 99mTc-doxycycline hyclate

Since radiolabeled antibiotics specifically bind to the bacterial components they are promising radiopharmaceuticals for the precise diagnosis and detection of infectious lesions. Doxycycline hyclate (DOX) was chosen to investigate as a new radiolabeled antibacterial agent since its bacteriostatic activity against a wide variety of microorganisms. The aim of the present study is to develop simple and easy formulation of DOX with ^99mTc ready to use kit. ^99mTc-DOX was developed and standardized under varying conditions of reducing and antioxidant agent concentration, pH, radioactivity dose and reducing agent type. Labeling studies were performed by changing the selected parameters one by one and optimum labeling conditions were determined. After observing the conditions for maximum labeling efficiency and stability, lyophilized freeze dry kits were prepared accordingly. Radiochemical purity was determined with RTLC and RHPLC which was found more than >95 %. Two different freeze dry kits were formulated with optimum labeling conditions. The improved kits were found stable up to 6 months.     

Donor-acceptor type random copolymers for full visible light absorption

Copolymerization towards obtaining full visible light absorption is highlighted. Randomly distributed segments of different oligomers resulted in neutral state black copolymers. Solution processability and highly transmissive gray oxidized states make copolymers great candidates to be used in low cost flexible organic electronics.