Structural and optical investigations of SiO2-CdS core-shell particles

Cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (approximately 5 nm), chemically capped using thioglycerol molecules, have been anchored onto silica particles (approximately 80 nm) functionalized with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. Transmission electron microscopy clearly showed that at a low concentration of cadmium sulfide, nanoparticles were discretely and more or less uniformly attached onto the silica particles. At a high concentration of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles, an approximately 6-nm-thick compact shell of cadmium sulfide was formed on the silica particles. In both cases the nanocrystalline nature of cadmium sulfide particles was preserved, as is evident from X-ray diffraction and optical absorption spectra.     

Lesion edge preserved direct average strain estimation for ultrasound elasticity imaging

Elasticity imaging techniques with built-in or regularization-based smoothing feature for ensuring strain continuity are not intelligent enough to prevent distortion or lesion edge blurring while smoothing. This paper proposes a novel approach with built-in lesion edge preservation technique for high quality direct average strain imaging. An edge detection scheme, typically used in diffusion filtering is modified here for lesion edge detection. Based on the extracted edge information, lesion edges are preserved by modifying the strain determining cost function in the direct-average-strain-estimation (DASE) method. The proposed algorithm demonstrates approximately 3.42–4.25 dB improvement in terms of edge-mean-square-error (EMSE) than the other reported regularized or average strain estimation techniques in finite-element-modeling (FEM) simulation with almost no sacrifice in elastographic-signal-to-noise-ratio (SNRe) and elastographic-contrast-to-noise-ratio (CNRe) metrics. The efficacy of the proposed algorithm is also tested for the experimental phantom data and in vivo breast data. The results reveal that the proposed method can generate a high quality strain image delineating the lesion edge more clearly than the other reported strain estimation techniques that have been designed to ensure strain continuity. The computational cost, however, is little higher for the proposed method than the simpler DASE and considerably higher than that of the 2D analytic minimization (AM2D) method.     

Covalent and ionic Cu(II) complexes with cyclam and substituted benzoato ligands: structural,thermal, redox and mesomorphic properties

A covalent mononuclear complex, [Cu(p–HOC₆H₄COO)₂(cyclam)] (1), and two ionic mononuclear complexes, [Cu(cyclam)(H₂O)₂](p–CH₃OC₆H₄COO)₂ (2) and [Cu(cyclam)(H₂O)₂](p–CH₃(CH₂)₁₅OC₆H₄COO)₂·H₂O (3), were formed from reaction of cyclam with [Cu₂(p–HOC₆H₄COO)₄(H₂O)₂], [Cu₂(p–CH₃OC₆H₄COO)₄(H₂O)₂] and [Cu₂(p-CH₃(CH₂)₁₅OC₆H₄COO)₄(H₂O)₂], respectively. These complexes were isolated as purple crystals with molecular structures showing distorted octahedral N₄O₂ geometry. Complexes 1 and 2 were irreversibly reduced to Cu(I) and oxidized to Cu(III), while 3 was redox inactive. Complex 2 reacted with N-(hexadecyl)isonicotinamide (L) to form [Cu(cyclam)(L)₂](p–CH₃OC₆H₄COO)₂ (4). These complexes were thermally stable (T_dec > 200 °C for 1–3 and 174 °C for 4). Complexes 3 and 4 behaved as ionic liquids (melting temperatures lower than 100 °C) and exhibited mesomorphism.     

Polymerization-induced self-assembly of metallo-polyelectrolyte block copolymers

Cobaltocenium-containing polyelectrolyte block copolymer nanoparticles were prepared via polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) using aqueous dispersion RAFT polymerization. The cationic steric stabilizer was a macromolecular chain-transfer agent (macro-CTA) based on poly(2-cobaltocenium amidoethyl methacrylate chloride) (PCoAEMACl), and the core-forming block was poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate) (PHPMA). Stable cationic spherical nanoparticles were formed in aqueous solution with low dispersity without adding any salts. The chain extension of macro-CTA with HPMA was efficient and fast. The effects of block copolymer compositions, solid content, charge density, and addition of salts were studied. It was found that the degree of polymerization of both the stabilizer PCoAEMACl and the core-forming PHPMA had a strong influence on the size of nanoparticles. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 58, 77–83     

Fabrication and mechanical characterization of biodegradable and synthetic polymeric films: Effect of gamma radiation

Chitosan (1 wt%, in 2% aqueous acetic acid solution) and starch (1 wt%, in deionised water) were dissolved and mixed in different proportions (20–80 wt% chitosan) then films were prepared by casting. Tensile strength and elongation at break of the 50% chitosan containing starch-based films were found to be 47 MPa and 16%, respectively. It was revealed that with the increase of chitosan in starch, the values of TS improved significantly. Monomer, 2-butane diol-diacrylate (BDDA) was added into the film forming solutions (50% starch-based), then casted films. The BDDA containing films were irradiated under gamma radiation (5–25 kGy) and it was found that strength of the films improved significantly. On the other hand, synthetic petroleum-based polymeric films (polycaprolactone, polyethylene and polypropylene) were prepared by compression moulding. Mechanical and barrier properties of the films were evaluated. The gamma irradiated (25 kGy) films showed higher strength and better barrier properties.     

Effectiveness of silane monomer and gamma radiation on chitosan films and PCL-based composites

Chitosan films were prepared by casting from its 1% (w/w) solution. Tensile strength (TS) and tensile modulus (TM) of chitosan films were found to be 30 MPa and 450 MPa, respectively. Silane monomer (3-aminopropyl tri-methoxysilane) (0.25%, w/w) was added into the chitosan solution (1%, w/w) and films were casted. Then films were exposed to gamma radiation (5–25 kGy) and mechanical properties were investigated. It was found that at 10 kGy, the values of TS and TM were improved significantly. Silane grafted chitosan film reinforced poly(caprolactone) (PCL)-based tri-layer composites were prepared by compression molding. Silane improved interfacial adhesion between chitosan and PCL in composites. Surface of the films was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and found better morphology for silane grafted films.     

Dynamic Characteristics of a Microhollow Cathode Sustained Discharge with Split Third Electrodes for Potential Flow Application to Flow Velocimetry

The dynamic behavior of a microhollow cathode sustained discharge with split third electrodes is experimentally investigated. The sustained discharge swells isotropically in the presence of a small amount of argon gas flow that is not clearly detectable with a conventional single third electrode. At high flow rates, the sustained discharge transitions to a fast-moving constricted discharge with an are shape. The modified discharge structure causes a shift in current distribution over the third electrodes, and the current peak location varies linearly with the flow rate over a certain flow range. Such linear behavior may be applied to in situ flow velocity measurement.     

Reactions of rhenium and manganese carbonyl complexes with 1,8-bis(diphenylphosphino)naphthalene: Ligand chelation, C-H and C-P bond-cleavage reactions

Reaction of [Re₂(CO)₈(MeCN)₂] with 1,8-bis(diphenylphosphino)naphthalene (dppn) afforded three mono-rhenium complexes fac-[Re(CO)₃(κ¹:η¹-PPh₂C₁₀H₆)(PPh₂H)] (1), fac-[Re(CO)₃{κ¹:κ¹:η¹-(O)PPh₂C₁₀H₆(O)PPh(C₆H₄)}] (2) and fac-[ReCl(CO)₃(κ²-PPh₂C₁₀H₆PPh₂)] (3). Compounds 1-3 are formed by Re-Re bond cleavage and P-C and C-H bond activation of the dppn ligand. Each of these three complexes have three CO groups arranged in facial fashion. Compound 1 contains a chelating cyclometalated diphenylnaphthylphosphine ligand and a terminally coordinated PPh₂H ligand. Compound 2 consists of an orthometalated dppn-dioxide ligand coordinated in a κ¹:κ¹:η¹-fashion via both the oxygen atoms and ortho-carbon atom of one of the phenyl rings. Compound 3 consists of an unchanged chelating dppn ligand and a terminal Cl ligand. Treatment of [Mn₂(CO)₈(MeCN)₂] with a slight excess of dppn in refluxing toluene at 72 °C, gave the previously reported [Mn₂(CO)₈(μ-PPh₂)₂] (4), formed by cleavage of C-P bonds, and the new compound fac-[MnCl(CO)₃(κ²-PPh₂C₁₀H₆PPh₂)] (5), which has an unaltered chelating dppn and a terminal Cl ligand. In sharp contrast, reaction of [Mn₂(CO)₈(MeCN)₂] with slight excess of dppn at room temperature yielded the dimanganese [Mn₂(CO)₉{κ¹-PPh₂(C₁₀H₇)}] (6) in which the diphenylnaphthylphosphine ligand, formed by facile cleavage of one of the P-C bonds, is axially coordinated to one Mn atom. Compound 6 was also obtained from the reaction of [Mn₂(CO)₉(MeCN)] with dppn at room temperature. The XRD structures of complexes 1-3, 5, 6 are reported.     

Complexes of nickel(II) carboxylates with pyridine and cyclam: crystal structures,mesomorphisms, and thermoelectrical properties

Nickel(II) carboxylates [Ni(CH₃(CH₂)₁₄COO)₂(H₂O)₂] (1) and [Ni(C₆H₅COO)₂(H₂O)₂] (2) were obtained from reactions of NiCl₂·6H₂O with CH₃(CH₂)₁₄COONa and C₆H₅COONa, respectively. Complex 1 reacted with pyridine (pyr) to form [Ni(CH₃(CH₂)₁₄COO)₂(pyr)₂(H₂O)₂] (3) and [Ni₂(μ₂-H₂O)(CH₃(CH₂)₁₄COO)₄(pyr)₄] (4) in the same reaction mixture, and reacted with cyclam to form an ionic complex, [Ni(CH₃(CH₂)₁₄COO)(cyclam)(H₂O)]CH₃(CH₂)₁₄COO·4H₂O (5). In contrast, 2 reacted with cyclam to form [Ni(C₆H₅COO)₂(cyclam)] (6). Finally, 6 reacted with p-(hexadecyloxy)pyridine (L) to form an ionic complex, [Ni(cyclam)(L)₂](C₆H₅COO)₂ (7). Complexes 3–6 were single crystals. All complexes have octahedral Ni(II) center(s) and were magnetic. Complexes with cyclam as co-ligand were more thermally stable than those with pyridine and its derivative, L. Complexes 3 and 4 were mesomorphic after partial loss of water and/or pyridine ligands on heating. The ionic complexes 5 and 7 were not mesomorphic, but showed good thermoelectrical behavior with negative S_e values in CHCl₃ (?0.28 mV K^?1 for 5; -0.39 mV K^?1 for 7) and positive S_e values in C₂H₅OH (+0.25 mV K^?1 for 5; +0.20 mV K^?1 for 7).