Synthesis,characterization and molecular weight studies of certain soluble poly(3-alkylthiophene) conducting polymers

Soluble conducting polymers of 3-hexylthiophene, 3-octylthiophene, 3-decylthiophene and 3-dodecylthiophene were synthesized by constant potential electrolysis. The resultant polymers were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, ultraviolet spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Molecular weights were studied with gel permeation chromatography on solutions of the polymers in toluene. Surface properties were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Substituent groups lengths have been found to strongly influence the electronic properties of the resultant polymers. Poly(3-hexylthiophene) has shown the highest conductivity, with the highest degree of polymerization. The conductivity and the degree of polymerization values decrease as the substituent chain length increases.H.B. Mark Jr.: deseased     

Single‐Chain Folding of Synthetic Polymers: A Critical Update

The current contribution serves as a critical update to a previous feature article from us (Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2012 , 33, 958−971), and highlights the latest advances in the preparation of single chain polymeric nanoparticles and initial—yet promising—attempts towards mimicking the structure of natural biomacromolecules via single‐chain folding of well‐defined linear polymers via so‐called single chain selective point folding and repeat unit folding. The contribution covers selected examples from the literature published up to ca. September 2015. Our aim is not to provide an exhaustive review but rather highlight a selection of new and exciting examples for single‐chain folding based on advanced macromolecular precision chemistry. Initially, the discussion focuses on the synthesis and characterization of single‐chain folded structures via selective point folding. The second part of the feature article addresses the folding of well‐defined single‐chain polymers by means of repeat unit folding. The current state of the art in the field of single‐chain folding indicates that repeat unit folding‐driven nanoparticle preparation is well‐advanced, while initial encouraging steps towards building selective point folding systems have been taken. In addition, a summary of the—in our view—open key questions is provided that may guide future biomimetic design efforts.

     

Determination of selected polychlorinated biphenyls in soil by miniaturised ultrasonic solvent extraction and gas chromatography-mass-selective detection

Miniaturised ultrasonic solvent extraction procedure was developed for the determination of selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil samples by gas chromatography-mass-selective detection by using 2³ factorial experimental design. Recoveries of PCBs from fortified soil samples are over 90% for three different fortification levels between 40 and 120 μg kg⁻¹, and relative standard deviations of the recoveries are below 7%. The limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.003 to 0.006 μg kg⁻¹. The performance of the proposed method was compared to traditional shake flask extraction method on the spiked real soil sample and extraction methods showed comparable efficiencies. Proposed miniaturised ultrasonic solvent extraction offers several advantages, i.e., reducing sample requirement for measurement of target compound, less solvent consumption and reducing the costs associated with solvent purchase and waste disposal.     

Signal-to-noise ratio and frequency analysis of continuous loop averaging deconvolution (CLAD) of overlapping evoked potentials

In this study, a frequency domain formulation of continuous loop averaging deconvolution (CLAD) of overlapping evoked potentials is developed and applied for the extraction of transient responses from recordings obtained at high stimulation rates. This formulation allows for a faster execution of CLAD by using fast Fourier transform algorithms. The frequency characteristics of the deconvolution filter depends exclusively on the stimulus sequence and determines whether the noncoherent noise is amplified or attenuated in different frequencies. A formula for calculating the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) achieved by the deconvolution process is developed. The newly developed theory and the methodology is applied to the extraction of the auditory brainstem and middle latency responses using various sequences. The effects of the sequence used and the number of sweeps averaged in ongoing acquisition on SNR are examined by using single sweep recordings. The results verify the deconvolution theory and the methodology and show its limitations. Depending on the frequency characteristics of the sequence, the deconvolution process can amplify or attenuate the EEG noise. Proper selection of the stimulus sequence can increase the SNR enhancement obtained with conventional averaging.     

Adsorption of Acid Blue 193 from aqueous solutions onto Na-bentonite and DTMA-bentonite

Dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide-modified bentonite (DTMA-bentonite) was prepared and tested as an adsorbent for an acid dye (Acid Blue 193, AB193) removal from aqueous solution in comparison with Na-bentonite. The effect of various experimental parameters was investigated using a batch adsorption technique. In this manner, the adsorption isotherms, adsorption kinetics, and temperature and pH effects upon Acid Blue 193 adsorption on Na-bentonite and DTMA-bentonite were thoroughly examined. Results show that a pH value of 1.5 is favorable for the adsorption of Acid Blue 193. The isothermal data could be well described by the Freundlich equation. The dynamical data fit well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption capacity of DTMA-bentonite (740.5 mg g(-1)) was found to be around 11 times higher than that of Na-bentonite (67.1 mg g(-1)) at 20 degrees C. Thermodynamic parameters such as activation energy (E(a)) and change in the free energy (DeltaG(0)), the enthalpy (DeltaH(0)), and the entropy (DeltaS(0)) were also evaluated. The overall adsorption process was exothermic but it is only spontaneous at 20 degrees C. The results indicate that Na-bentonite and DTMA-bentonite could be employed as low-cost alternatives to activated carbon in wastewater treatment for the removal of color which comes from textile dyes.     

A3‐type star polymers via click chemistry

We report a simple preparation of three‐armed (A₃‐type) star polymers based on the arm‐first technique, using a click‐reaction strategy between a well‐defined azide‐end‐functionalized polystyrene, poly(tert‐butyl acrylate), or poly(ethylene glycol) precursor and a trisalkyne‐functional initiator, 1,1,1‐tris[4‐(2‐propynyloxy)phenyl]ethane. The click‐reaction efficiency for A₃‐type star formation has been investigated with gel permeation chromatography measurements (refractive‐index detector). The gel permeation chromatography curves have been split with the deconvolution method (Gaussian area), and the efficiency of A₃‐type star formation has been found to be 87%. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6458–6465, 2006     

(Mathematical) Necessary conditions for the selection of gradient vectors in DTI

A set of necessary conditions for the choice of diffusion gradient vectors to make the linear equations nonsingular for the estimation of the diffusion matrix are given in a coordinate free manner. The conditions assert that the initial step in the design of a DTI experiment with six or more acquisitions must be to select six valid diffusion gradients first and then add new ones.     

Do mergers enhance the performance of hospital efficiency?

Due to the wave of mergers that have taken place in the USA, the early 1990s could be labelled as a restructuring era for health care systems. The question of whether mergers have an impact on organizational performance is still an area of interest for health services researchers. In this study, we examined the impacts of horizontal mergers of US hospital's technical efficiency before and after merger using longitudinal Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The findings of our study illustrate that mergers do increase a hospital's level of efficiency. Constant returns-to-scale model indicated an overall reduction in input utilisation after merger, compared to variable returns-to-scale model. This indicates the role of scale efficiency as a dominant source of improvement in inefficiency of hospitals involved in horizontal mergers, but not for technical efficiency. Suggestions for future study are provided.