Preparation and characterization of bismaleimide/1,3-dicyanatobenzene modified epoxy intercrosslinked matrices

An intercrosslinked network of cyanate ester (CE)-bismaleimide (BMI) modified epoxy matrix system was made by using epoxy resin, 1,3-dicyanatobenzene and bismaleimide (N,N^′-bismaleimido-4,4^′-diphenyl methane) with diaminodiphenylmethane as curing agent. BMI-CE-epoxy matrices were characterised using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and heat deflection temperature (HDT) analysis. The matrices, in the form of castings, were characterised for their mechanical properties such as tensile strength, flexural strength and unnotched Izod impact test as per ASTM methods. Mechanical studies indicated that the introduction of cyanate ester into epoxy resin improves the toughness and flexural strength with reduction in tensile strength and glass transition temperature, whereas the incorporation of bismaleimide into epoxy resin influences the mechanical and thermal properties according to its percentage content. DSC thermograms of cyanate ester as well as BMI modified epoxy resin show an unimodal reaction exotherm. Electrical properties were studied as per ASTM method and the morphology of the BMI modified epoxy and CE-epoxy systems were studied by scanning electron microscope.     

An investigation on visible luminescence of Ho activated LBTAF glasses

Different concentrations of Ho³⁺-doped lead borate titanate aluminum fluoride (LBTAFHo) glasses with chemical composition of PbO-H₃BO₃-TiO₂-AlF₃-Ho₂O₃ were prepared by the melt quenching method. The spectral properties were investigated using the absorption, emission and decay measurements. The experimental oscillator strengths were calculated from the area under the absorption bands. Applying Judd-Ofelt theory, the intensity parameters (Ω_{λ=2, 4, 6}) were calculated, by the least square fit approach from which the radiative transition rates, luminescence branching ratios and radiative decay times were determined. The photoluminescence spectra revealed the quenching of luminescence intensity beyond 1.0 mol% of Ho³⁺ ion concentration. To investigate the luminescence potentiality of ⁵F₄→⁵I₈ emission level, the effective bandwidth and the stimulated emission cross-section were determined. The quenching in experimental decay time is attributed to the resonance energy transfer among the excited Ho³⁺ ions.     

Cycloaddition profile of pentafulvenes with 3-oxidopyrylium betaine: experimental and theoretical investigations

A detailed investigation on the effect of solvent polarity, temperature, and microwave irradiation on periselectivity in cycloaddition reactions of pentafulvenes with 3-oxidopyrylium betaine is described. The base catalyzed generation of 3-oxidopyrylium betaine in CHCl₃ resulted in the exclusive formation of [6+3] adducts. With increase in solvent polarity and temperature, mixtures of [6+3] and [3+2] adducts were formed, where as under microwave irradiation, [3+2] adducts were formed exclusively. The experimental results have been rationalized on the basis of theoretical calculations.     

Facile Synthesis of Pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidines and Pyrimido[4,5‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐one Derivatives

Pyrazolopyrimidine and pyrimidopyrimidine derivatives have shown a wide range of biological activities such as acting as A₁ adenosine receptors, kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), Rous sarcoma oncogene (Src), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), antiproliferative, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), antimicrobial, antifungal, and lipid peroxidation. Because of this wide range of activities, we have synthesized pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidines and pyrimido[4,5‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐one derivatives.     

Thermoelectric properties of n-type Bi2Te3 alloys produced by a combined process of magnetic pulsed compaction (MPC) and spark plasma sintering (SPS)

In this study, n-type 95 %Bi₂Te₃-5 %Bi₂Se₃ thermoelectric materials have been produced by a combined process of gas atomization with subsequent magnetic pulsed compaction and spark plasma sintering, and then we investigated the behavior of transport properties with sintering temperature. The microstructural observation was performed by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The crystal structures were analyzed by X-ray diffractometer. The mechanical properties were calculated by measuring the density and micro-Vickers hardness of the samples. It was found that with increasing sintering temperature the gaps between powder particles decreases and the grain sizes were coarsened. The mechanical properties shows higher values along the parallel direction compared to the perpendicular direction to the pressing. The transport properties of the thermoelectric material were investigated with variation of the sintering temperatures. The maximum power factor 1.7 × 10^?3 Wm^?1 K^?2 was measured at the sintering temperature of 450 °C.     

Development and validation of LC‐MS/MS method for the estimation of β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate in rat plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic studies

A simple, sensitive and specific high‐performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantification of β‐hydroxy‐β‐methyl butyrate (HMB) in small volumes of rat plasma using warfarin as an internal standard (IS). The API‐4000 LC‐MS/MS was operated under the multiple reaction‐monitoring mode using the electrospray ionization technique. A simple liquid–liquid extraction process was used to extract HMB and IS from rat plasma. The total run time was 3 min and the elution of HMB and IS occurred at 1.48 and 1.75 min respectively; this was achieved with a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid in a water–acetonitrile mixture (15:85, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min on a Agilent Eclipse XDB C₈ (150 × 4.6, 5 µm) column. The developed method was validated in rat plasma with a lower limit of quantitation of 30.0 ng/mL for HMB. A linear response function was established for the range of concentrations 30–4600 ng/mL (r > 0.998) for HMB. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision values for HMB were acceptable as per Food and Drug Administration guidelines. HMB was stable in the battery of stability studies, viz. bench‐top, autosampler freeze–thaw cycles and long‐term stability for 30 days in plasma. The developed assay method was applied to a bioavailability study in rats. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aptamer-based fluorometric determination of norovirus using a paper-based microfluidic device

Microchimica Acta - The authors describe a rapid and highly sensitive point-of-care device for rapid determination of noroviruses, a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis. The assay is based on...