Preconcentration of low levels of americium and plutonium from waste waters by synthetic water-soluble metal-binding polymers with ultrafiltration

A preconcentration approach to assist in the measurement of low levels of americium and plutonium in waste waters has been developed based on the concept of using water-soluble metal-binding polymers in combination with ultrafiltration. The method has been optimized to give over 90% recovery and accountability from actual waste water.     

Coating of optical fibers with a conical shape applicator

Primary emphasis is placed on the effects of coating parameters such as coating thickness and tip size, the coating thickness variations due to different draw speeds, and induced maximum shear rate in the applicator. However, in this analysis the flow region is divided into two because of the mixed boundary conditions: non-slip condition (region I) and free shear condition along the meniscus (region II). The surface tension at the edge in region II is balanced with the pressure difference, which becomes a constraint for the flow rate.     

Structural Characterization of the Condensation Polymer of Dipyridine Manganese II Dichloride with 1,3-Di-4-piperidy I propane

The synthesis of polymers derived from the condensation of dipyridine manganese II dichloride with 1,3-di-4-piperidylpro-pane is described. Structural analysis of the polyamines is detailed utilizing results based on infrared, thermal, elemental and solution analyses.     

Focusing of Fe3O4 nanoparticles using a rotating magnetic field in various environments

The paper shows the application of a new method – Magnetic Nanoparticles Focusing 3D, MNF-3D – for focusing of magnetic nanoparticles at any point in a three-dimensional space between the rotating magnet system. The results of focusing process of nanoparticles in water, human blood, human serum and polyurethane sponge are presented. Additionally, blood flow was also considered. The effectiveness of nanoparticle focusing was monitored optically and quantitatively by electron spin resonance method. The method enabled focusing of magnetic nanoparticles within a few minutes in different environments. A good efficiency of focusing process was observed for all the samples.     

Thio Analogues of Pyrimidine Bases: Syntheses and Spectral Study of New Potentially Biologically Active 2,4-Di-Ortho-(Meta- and Para-)Bromo- (Chloro and Nitro)-Benzylthio-5-Bromouracils (and 6-Methyluracils)

Eighteen new 2,4-di-ortho- (meta- and para-) bromo-(chloro- and nitro-)benzylthio-5-bromouracils (and 6-methyluracils) have been prepared. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by spectral (IR, UV/vis, ¹H NMR) and elemental analyses. Estimation of pharmacotherapeutic potential has been made for synthesized compounds on the basis of prediction of activity spectra for substances (PASS).     

Nucleation of Organic Crystals—A Molecular Perspective

The outcome of synthetic procedures for crystalline organic materials strongly depends on the first steps along the molecular self‐assembly pathway, a process we know as crystal nucleation. New experimental techniques and computational methodologies have spurred significant interest in understanding the detailed molecular mechanisms by which nuclei form and develop into macroscopic crystals. Although classical nucleation theory (CNT) has served well in describing the kinetics of the processes involved, new proposed nucleation mechanisms are additionally concerned with the evolution of structure and the competing nature of crystallization in polymorphic systems. In this Review, we explore the extent to which CNT and nucleation rate measurements can yield molecular‐scale information on this process and summarize current knowledge relating to molecular self‐assembly in nucleating systems.     

Quantitative analysis of complex amino acids and RGD peptides by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)

The C 1 s, N 1 s, and O 1 s core level binding energies (BEs) of the functional groups in amino acids (glycine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, arginine, and histidine) with varied side‐chains and cell‐binding RGD‐based peptides have been determined and characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy with a monochromatic Al K_α source. The zwitterionic nature of the amino acids in the solid state is unequivocally evident from the N 1 s signals of the protonated amine groups and the C 1 s signature of carboxylate groups. Significant adventitious carbon contamination is evident for all samples but can be quantitatively accounted for. No intrinsic differences in the XP spectra are evident between two polymorphs (α and γ) of glycine, indicating that the crystallographic differences have a minor influence on the core level BEs for this system. The two nitrogen centers in the imidazole group of histidine exhibit an N 1 s BE shift that is in line with previously reported data for theophylline and aqueous imidazole solutions, while the nitrogen and carbon chemical shifts reflect the unusual guanidinium chemical environment in arginine. It is shown that the complex envelopes of C 1 s and O 1 s photoemission spectra for short‐chain peptides can be analyzed quantitatively by reference to the less complex XP spectra of the constituent amino acids, provided the peptides are of high enough purity. The distinctive N 1 s photoemission from the amide linkages provides an indicator of peptide formation even in the presence of common impurities, and variations in the relative intensities of N 1 s were found to be diagnostic for each of the three peptides investigated (RGD, RGDS, and RGDSC). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Observation of B-->eta'K* and evidence for B+-->eta'rho+

We present an observation of B-->eta'K*. The data sample corresponds to 232x10(6) BB[over ] pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. We measure the branching fractions (in units of 10(-6)) B(B(0)-->eta'K*0)=3.8+/-1.1+/-0.5 and B(B+-->eta'K*+)=4.9(1.7)(+1.9)+/-0.8, where the first error is statistical and the second systematic. A simultaneous fit results in the observation of B-->eta'K* with B(B-->eta'K*)=4.1(-0.9)(+1.0)+/-0.5. We also search for B-->eta'rho and eta'f(0)(980)(f(0)-->pi+pi-) with results and 90% confidence level upper limits B(B+-->eta'rho+)=8.7(-2.8-1.3)(+3.1+2.3) (<14), B(B(0)-->eta'rho0)<3.7, and B(B(0)-->eta'f(0)(980)(f(0)-->pi+pi-))<1.5. Charge asymmetries in the channels with significant yields are consistent with zero.     

The Rayleigh law in silicon doped hafnium oxide ferroelectric thin films

A wealth of studies have confirmed that the low‐field hysteresis behaviour of ferroelectric bulk ceramics and thin films can be described using Rayleigh relations, and irreversible domain wall motion across the array of pining defects has been commonly accepted as the underlying micro‐mechanism. Recently, HfO₂ thin films incorporated with various dopants were reported to show pronounced ferroelectricity, however, their microscopic domain structure remains unclear till now. In this work, the effects of the applied electric field amplitude, frequency and temperature on the sub‐coercive polarization reversal properties were investigated for 10 nm thick Si‐doped HfO₂ thin films. The applicability of the Rayleigh law to ultra‐thin ferroelectric films was first confirmed, indicating the existence of a multi‐domain structure. Since the grain size is about 20–30 nm, a direct observation of domain walls within the grains is rather challenging and this indirect method is a feasible approach to resolve the domain structure. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)