Structural Properties and Phase Behavior of Crosslinked Networks in Polymer Solutions

Structural properties and phase behavior of crosslinked networks embedded in polymer solutions are theoretically investigated. The partial structure factor of the network is calculated using a matrix formulation of the random phase approximation and the forward scattering limit is correlated with the phase behavior. Swelling and deswelling processes are analyzed in terms of the polymer concentration, the mismatch of solvent quality with respect to polymer and network, the polymers incompatibility and their characteristic sizes. Most studies reported so far in the literature have focussed on the swelling of crosslinked networks and gels in pure solvents but the correlation of the structural properties with the phase behavior in the presence of high molecular weight polymers in solution has not been given sufficient attention. The present work is intended to fill this gap in view of the current efforts to develop novel drug encapsulating and targeted delivery devices.     

Nanostructured base electrochemical sensor for voltammetric determination of homocysteine using a modified single-walled carbon nanotubes paste electrode

A carbon paste electrode modified with benzoylferrocene (BF) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been applied to the electrocatalytic oxidation of homocysteine which reduced the overpotential by about 165 mV with an obvious increase in the current response. The transfer coefficient (α) for the electrocatalytic oxidation of homocysteine and diffusion coefficient of this substance under the experimental conditions were also investigated. In a phosphate buffer solution (PBS) of pH 7.0, the oxidation current increased linearly with two concentration intervals of homocysteine; one is 0.1 to 10.0 μM, and the other is 10.0 to 80.0 μM. The detection limit (3σ) obtained by square wave voltammetry (SWV) was 50.0 nM. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of homocysteine in real samples.     

Double/single phase segregation and vertical stratification induced by crystallization in all‐crystalline tri/diblock copolymers and homopolymer blends of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and poly(ethylene glycol)

Distinct stratified and non‐stratified morphologies were developed in poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)‐based homopolymer blends and diblock and triblock copolymer systems. By applying X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, only a double‐percolation mechanism including assembling of P3HT chains into the nanofibers in solution aging process with a marginal solvent like p‐xylene as well as crystallization of PEG phase in the cast thin films resulted in vertical stratification and networked fibrils. In cast thin films whose PEG phase, due to low molecular weight or being constrained between two rigid P3HT blocks in triblock copolymers was not crystallized, a non‐stratified discrete fibrillar morphology was acquired. Crystallization of PEGs in the thin films mainly participated in networking and expelling pre‐organized P3HT fibrils to the film surface. By performing the solution aging step in a good solvent such as o‐dichlorobenzene, the P3HTs remained in a coily‐like conformation, and casting the corresponding thin films reflected the non‐stratified discrete granular and featureless morphologies. Assembling the P3HT chains in the presence of PEG phase in cast films at most led to the low‐crystalline granules instead of highly crystalline nanofibrils. No significant crystallization in either homopolymer blends or block copolymer systems conduced to a featureless morphology with homogeneous distribution of existed materials. The surface morphology and ordering in various morphologies were studied employing atomic force microscopy, grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction, and ultraviolet–visible analyses. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prediction of stable processes: Spectral and moving average representations

Summary For stable processes which are Fourier transforms of processes with independent increments, we obtain a Wold decomposition, we characterize their regularity and singularity, and, in the discrete-parameter case, we derive their linear predictors. In sharp contrast with the Gaussian case, regular stable processes which are Fourier transforms of processes with independent increments are not moving averages of stable motion.This research was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Grant No. F 49620 82C0009     

Studies on pyrrolidinones. synthesis of N-(2-nitrobenzyl)pyroglutamic acid

While methyl N-(4-nitrobenzyl)pyroglutamate can be obtained from methyl N-trimethylsilylpyroglutamate, the best way to obtain methyl N-(2-nitrobenzyl)pyroglutamate is to react 4-nitro benzyl bromide with the iminoether derived from methyl pyroglutamate.     

Direct preparation of primary amides from carboxylic acids and urea using imidazole under microwave irradiation

A very simple and efficient solvent-free procedure for the preparation of primary amides is described from carboxylic acids and urea using imidazole under microwave irradiation. Various aliphatic and aromatic primary amides were prepared in good yields by this direct amidation method.     

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography separation of adrenal steroids prior to radioimmunoassay: application in congenital adrenal hyperplasia

21-Hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is the most common form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), followed by 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency (11beta-OHD). Diagnostic serum markers for these conditions are 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and 11-desoxycortisol (S), respectively. In 21-OHD, the large amounts of 17-OHP are further 11beta-hydroxylated to form 21-deoxycortisol (21-DF), making it also an excellent marker of this disease. These steroids can be measured in blood by radioimmunoassay (RIA). In this paper, we report the use of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for steroid purification, prior to RIA determinations of 21-DF, S, 17-OHP, and testosterone (T) in ether-extracted serum. The chromatographic separation is developed in a BDS-Hypersil column using water-methanol (53:47, v/v) as the mobile phase. The method is applied to 35 patients with the classic form of 21-OHD (18 females, 17 males, 5.1-14.2 years old) and 2 with 11beta-OHD (1 female, 1 male, 9.5 and 12.6 years old). Thirteen control children (5 females and 8 males, 5.2-15.2 years) are also studied. The results obtained for all measured steroids are compatible with those reported in the literature. The method is precise, and recovery is adequate. The HPLC technique proved to be of value for the purification of several steroids from single serum samples prior to RIA in patients with CAH.     

The Behavior of 3,4,5-Trimethoxybenzylidenemalononitrile Towards Alkyl Phosphites

3,4,5-Trimethoxybenzylidenemalononitrile 1 reacts with trialkyl phosphites 2a-c in the absence of solvent to give the phosphonate derivatives 4a-c . The dimeric compound 6 also was produced in the reaction with 2c . The phosphonates 8a-c were produced when compound 1 was allowed to react with dialkyl phosphites 3a-c under the same experimental conditions. A mechanism is proposed to explain the formation of compounds 4 and 6 .