Synthesis of 1,6-didecylnaphtho[1,2-b:5,6-b']difuran-based copolymers by direct heteroarylation polymerization

The use of direct C H arylation cross-coupling polymerization was evaluated for the synthesis of donor–acceptor conjugated co-polymers using the novel donor 1,6-didecylnaphtho[1,2-b:5,6-b']difuran and either thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (TPD) or 1,4-diketopyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrrole (DPP) as the acceptor. Thiophene and furan moieties were used to flank the DPP group and the impact of these heterocycles on the polymers' properties was evaluated. The alkyl chains on the diketopyrrolopyrrole monomers were varied to engineer the solubility and morphology of the materials. All of the polymers have similar optoelectronic properties with narrow optical band gaps around 1.3 eV, which is ideal for solar energy harvesting. Unfortunately, these polymers also had high-lying highest occupied molecular orbital levels of −4.8 to −5.1, and as a result bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic cells fabricated using the soluble fullerene derivative PC₇₁BM as the electron-acceptor and these polymers as donor materials exhibited poor performance due to limited V_oc values. An examination of the films from these blends indicates that film-thickness and morphology were also a major hindrance to performance and a potential point of improvement for future materials.     

Multimeric Presentation of RGD Peptidomimetics Enhances Integrin Binding and Tumor Cell Uptake

The use of multimeric ligands is considered as a promising strategy to improve tumor targeting for diagnosis and therapy. Herein, tetrameric RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) peptidomimetics were designed to target α_vβ₃ integrin-expressing tumor cells. These compounds were prepared by an oxime chemoselective assembly of cyclo(DKP-RGD) ligands and a cyclodecapeptide scaffold, which allows a tetrameric presentation. The resulting tetrameric RGD peptidomimetics were shown to improve α_vβ₃ integrin binding compared with the monomeric form. Interestingly, these compounds were also able to enhance tumor cell endocytosis in the same way as tetrameric RGD peptides. Altogether, the results show the potential of the tetrameric cyclo(DKP-RGD) ligands for in vivo imaging and drug delivery.     

Size,Shape, and Wavelength Effect on Photothermal Heat Elevation of Gold Nanoparticles: Absorption Coefficient Experimental Measurement

Complex-shaped nanoparticles as gold nanourchins (GNU) and nanorods (GNR) are very suitable agents in the case of photothermal therapy due to their photon-heat conversion ability in the red and near-infrared region (NIR). The quantification in heat generation of complex shaped nanostructures is an important key to predict the therapeutic effect of these nanoparticles. For that, the determination of the nanoparticles absorption cross section (σ_Abs) responsible for the heat generation is one of the important steps before any application. Although it is obvious to determine σ_Abs for spheres via Mie's theory, in the case of complex structures like GNU or GNR, this parameter is difficult to model. In this work, a new methodology is used to determine experimentally σ_Abs for both GNU and GNR. Experimental measurements of the photothermal properties of 100 nm size GNU and two different sizes of GNRs are studied regarding different parameters such as concentration, laser excitation wavelength, and exposure time. By using the heat transfer theory, the temperature elevation in the nanoparticles solutions is converted to temperature elevation at the nanoparticles surface and σ_Abs values are then calculated for both GNU and GNR in the NIR spectral region.     

Considération sur l'ordre des acidités successives du diacide 7-para carboxy anilino 4-nitrobenzofurazane

On the dissociation constants of successive acidities of the diacid 7-para carboxy anilino-4-nitrobenzofurazane. The first dissociation constant of the 7-para carboxy anilino-4-nitrobenzofurazane noted 4H,COOH, in dimethylsulfoxyde was estimated using an NMR method. Diacid 4H,COOH was prepared by simple reaction of aromatic nucleophilic substitution (S_NAr) and monopotassium salt and was precipitated by chloroform addition to a solution of 4H,COOH in Me₂SO, after neutralisation of an acid function by one equivalent of solid potassium bicarbonate. Initially, a titration NMR ¹H of two acidities of 4H,COOH was carried out in Me₂SO-d₆ by the strong base potassium tert-butoxide. After, we showed that ionization NH/N⁻ is carried out completely before that of function COOH. We could estimate the first dissociation constant (7.5) of 4H,COOH in dimethylsulfoxyde by using the 9-cyano fluorene as a reference compound.     

Out-patient Queues at the Ibn-Rochd Health Centre

An arbitrary policy of fixing the number of outpatient appointments specifying the dates (and not the exact times) of appointments created long queues and large waiting times in some departments of the Ibn-Rochd health centre, but considerable idle time for the consulting doctors in others. After narrating in detail these circumstances and examining a number of possible options, this paper describes the scientific approaches made to determine the number of appointments, the corresponding parameters of the queue and the system and the service per cent occupation.Finite source size, a random number of initial patients, group arrivals, non-exponential service time distribution, late start-up of the servicing unit and many other factors combined to render available theoretical results difficult to apply and results obtained by applying approximately equivalent theoretical models unreliable as compared with those observed in real life. It is shown that simulation could be more profitably applied in such situations.     

Characterization of olive mill wastewater and gamma irradiation effects on some parameters of its composition

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Gamma irradiation was applied to olive mill wastewater and synthetic samples prepared from Gallic acid. The effects, generated on the...     

Simultaneous Determination of Cobalt and Nickel Using Morpholinedithiocarbamate (MDTC) as Reagent by First and Second Derivative Spectrophotometry

A selective and sensitive derivative method has been proposed for the simultaneous determination of trace amounts of Co(II) and Ni(II) with morpholinedithiocarbamate (MDTC) in the presence of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). The molar absorption coefficients of the 1:2 complex of Co(II) and Ni(II) at 326 nm and 322 nm are 2.248 × 10⁴ and 2.505 × 10⁴ L mol^?1 cm^?1 for zero order. The analytical sensitivity for the second derivative of Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes are 0.0044 μg mL^?1 and 0.0060 μg mL^?1. The developed derivative procedure, using the zero‐crossing technique, has been successfully applied for the analysis of Co(II) and Ni(II) simultaneously in different alloy samples.     

Complexes of borane and N-heterocyclic carbenes: a new class of radical hydrogen atom donor

Calculations suggest that complexes of borane with N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) have B-H bond dissocation energies more then 20 kcal/mol less than free borane, diborane, borane-THF, and related complexes. Values are in the range of popular radical hydrogen atom donors like tin hydrides (70-80 kcal/mol). The resulting prediction that NHC borane complexes could be used as radical hydrogen atom donors was verified by radical deoxygenations of xanthates by using either AIBN or triethylborane as initiator.     

Luminescent properties of Yb-doped monoclinic yttrium polyphosphates

Yb³⁺-doped monoclinic yttrium polyphosphate Y(PO₃)₃ powder compounds were synthesized and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR absorption spectroscopy and Raman scattering spectroscopy.An attempt to use Yb³⁺ ion as structural probe is carried out to investigate the site occupation. Yb³⁺ emission and fluorescence decay studies were carried out both at low and room temperatures. The interpretation of electronic energy level positions has been done by using the comparison of emission spectra with those of vibronic sideband energy positions from Raman scattering spectroscopy.The spectroscopic results are discussed and correlated with the data of the already known monoclinic structure of Y(PO₃)₃ where four slightly different octahedral sites are available for the trivalent rare earth ion.