Simple optical determination of silver ion in aqueous solutions using benzo crown-ether modified gold nanoparticles

We describe a method for the modification of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) with benzo-15-crown-5 that led to the development of a colorimetric assay for Ag(I) ion. The brown color of a solution of the modified Au-NPs turns to purple on addition of Ag(I) ion. The ratio of the UV–vis absorption at 600 nm and 525 nm is proportional to the concentration of Ag(I) ions in the range from 20 to 950 nM, and the detection limit is 12.5 nM. Other metal ions do not interfere if present in up to millimolar concentrations. The method enables a rapid determination of Ag(I) in lake and drinking water and is amenable to bare-eye readout.

Adhesion and interfacial interactions of BaO–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-based glass-ceramic seals and AISI430 interconnect for solid oxide fuel cell applications

In the present work, adhesion, leak rate, and chemical compatibility of a series of borosilicate-based glasses, belonging to the ternary BaO–SiO₂–B₂O₃ system, with AISI 430 alloys as interconnect were investigated for solid oxide fuel cell applications. Wetting angle and deformation behavior of the selected glasses with temperature and time were initially characterized with the hot-stage microscope. It was observed that the temperature ranges of wetting for all combinations were greater than 1000 °C. Significant deformation did not appear in the samples over soaking time at sealing temperature. In the next step, the leakage tests of AISI430/glass-ceramic couples were performed. The sample containing 32 % molar BaO (Ba32) had no gas leakage; a low leak rate of 10^?7to 10^?8 Pam³ s^?1 was obtained for the glass with 37 % molar BaO (Ba37) and big leak of the system (10^?3to 10^?4 Pam³ s^?1) for Ba42. Possible interfacial reactions between the as-received glass and cell ingredients and aging up to 100 h were studied by scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray dot mapping. The results showed that the Ba32 and Ba37 glasses coupled with AISI had fine adhesion, which remained stable under these conditions and were compatible with the interconnect. So, the use of these glass-ceramics will probably be successful in joining the ceramic electrolytes to the metallic interconnect.     

Dioxidomolybdenum(VI) complexes of allyl N'-2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidenecarbamohydrazonothioate: synthesis,spectral, and theoretical investigations

The new dibasic NNO ligand H₂L (H₂L = allyl N′-2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidenecarbamohydrazonothioate) was synthesized by condensation of 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde with the product resulting from the reaction of thiosemicarbazide with allyl bromide. Four dioxidomolybdenum(VI) complexes with the general formula [MoO₂L(S)] (S=MeOH, EtOH, DMSO, and 1-methylimidazole) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, EI-MS and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and by X-ray crystallography. Spectroscopic evidence indicates that the cis-MoO₂ chelates have octahedral geometry in which H₂L coordinates via the phenolate oxygen, azomethine nitrogen and deprotonated thioamide nitrogen. The other sites are occupied by two oxido and an additional ligand (S). Density functional theory calculations of spectral parameters were also carried out for these systems.     

Simultaneous voltammetric determination of uric acid and ascorbic acid using carbon paste/cobalt Schiff base composite electrode

Differential pulse and cyclic voltammetry were applied for the oxidation of mixture of uric acid and ascorbic acid at the surface of carbon paste/cobalt Schiff base composite electrode. The electrooxidation of these compounds at bare electrode is sluggish, and there is no suitable peak separation between them. However, using cobalt methyl salophen as modifier, two well-defined anodic waves with a considerable enhancement in the peak current and a remarkable peak potential separation near 315 mV are obtained. It can improve the kinetics of electron transfer for both compounds remarkably. All these improvements are created because of the electrocatalytic property of cobalt Schiff base complex. The effect of some parameters such as pH and scan rates were studied. All the anodic peak currents for the oxidation of ascorbic acid and uric acid shifted toward more negative potential with an increase in pH, revealing that protons have taken part in their electrode reaction processes. The best peak separation with appropriate current was obtained for pH 4.0. A linear range of 5.0?×?10^?4 to 1.0?×?10^?8 and 1.0?×?10^?3 to 1.0?×?10^?8 M with detection limit of 8.0?×?10^?9 and 8.0?×?10^?9 M was obtained for ascorbic acid and uric acid using differential pulse voltammetry at the surface of modified electrode, respectively. Analytical utility of the modified electrode has been examined successfully using human urine samples and vitamin C commercial tablets.     

Small signal gain and saturation intensity of a Yb:Silica fiber MOPA system

In this work, the small signal gain (γ₀) and signal saturation power (P_sat) of a continuous wave (CW) single-frequency ytterbium-doped (YD) double-clad (DC) fiber master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) array has been determined in the optimum length. At first, we have obtained output versus input signal powers in the amplifier, using the coupled steady-state rate equations for the various end diode pumping such as co/counter propagation and bidirectional modes. On the other hand, the steady-state amplification relation was employed at a presumed γ₀ and P_sat as initial guess, to generate output signals. Then, using the least square method (LSM), those input/output signal powers were fitted by the best regression curve obtained from the amplification relation to determine the converged γ₀ and P_sat values. The analytical formulae for γ₀ and P_sat were derived using the rate equations as well.     

Optimization of Raman gain spectrum using Lagrangian multiplier method

Based on Lagrangian multiplier method (LMM), the gain spectrum of distributed multi-pump Raman amplifier (DMRA) is optimized. Beside of governing rate equations in Raman amplifiers, we consider two applicable constrains on cost function for optimizing the gain spectrum. Because of more accurate and controllable designing of DMRAs, a maximum power for each input pump wave is considered as well as average gain value as two constrains. LMM reduces the optimization problem with constrains to solve a two-point boundary value problem for each solution. This method is applied to minimizing gain ripple of full bandwidth (60 nm) a 100 Km Raman amplifier for different number of pumps.     

One-pot synthesis of functionalized furamide derivatives via a three-component reaction between an amine, diketene and dibenzoylacetylene in the presence of triphenylphosphine

An effective route to functionalized furamide derivatives is described. This involves reaction of N-alkyl-3-oxobutanamides, derived from the addition of amines to the diketene, and dibenzoylacetylene in the presence of triphenylphosphoine. The reactive 1:1 intermediate obtained from the addition of triphenylphosphine to dibenzoylacetylene was trapped by OH-acids such as N-alkyl-3-oxobutanamide to produce functionalized furamide derivatives.     

Synthesis,characterization, cytotoxic activity and DNA-binding studies of cobalt (II) mixed-ligand complex containing pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate ion and 2-aminopyrimidine

Treatment of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid and 2-aminopyrimidine with Co(NO₃)₂?6H₂O under hydrothermal conditions led to a new Co (II) complex [Co(amp)(pydc)(H₂O)₂]?H₂O (1), which was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis as well as X-ray diffraction studies. The DNA-binding behavior of the complex has been studied by UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic titration, viscosity measurements, thermal denaturation and circular dichroism (CD). The experimental results indicated that Co (II) complex was bound to DNA by an intercalative mode. The intrinsic binding constant of Co (II) complex with DNA was (3.80 ± 0.02) × 10⁴ M^?1. The biological effects of the Co (II) complex were also studied by MTT assay in MCF-7 and HT-29 cancer cell lines. Treatment of MCF-7 and HT-29 cells with Co (II) complex resulted in a concentration-dependent cell growth inhibition.     

Using synchrotron radiation inline phase‐contrast imaging computed tomography to visualize three‐dimensional printed hybrid constructs for cartilage tissue engineering

Synchrotron radiation inline phase‐contrast imaging combined with computed tomography (SR‐inline‐PCI‐CT) offers great potential for non‐invasive characterization and three‐dimensional visualization of fine features in weakly absorbing materials and tissues. For cartilage tissue engineering, the biomaterials and any associated cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) that is secreted over time are difficult to image using conventional absorption‐based imaging techniques. For example, three‐dimensional printed polycaprolactone (PCL)/alginate/cell hybrid constructs have low, but different, refractive indices and thicknesses. This paper presents a study on the optimization and utilization of inline‐PCI‐CT for visualizing the components of three‐dimensional printed PCL/alginate/cell hybrid constructs for cartilage tissue engineering. First, histological analysis using Alcian blue staining and immunofluorescent staining assessed the secretion of sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAGs) and collagen type II (Col2) in the cell‐laden hybrid constructs over time. Second, optimization of inline PCI‐CT was performed by investigating three sample‐to‐detector distances (SDD): 0.25, 1 and 3 m. Then, the optimal SDD was utilized to visualize structural changes in the constructs over a 42‐day culture period. The results showed that there was progressive secretion of cartilage‐specific ECM by ATDC5 cells in the hybrid constructs over time. An SDD of 3 m provided edge‐enhancement fringes that enabled simultaneous visualization of all components of hybrid constructs in aqueous solution. Structural changes that might reflect formation of ECM also were evident in SR‐inline‐PCI‐CT images. Summarily, SR‐inline‐PCI‐CT images captured at the optimized SDD enables visualization of the different components in hybrid cartilage constructs over a 42‐day culture period.     

A One‐Pot Synthesis of 1,2‐Dihydroisoquinoline Derivatives from Isoquinoline via a Four‐Component Reaction

A four‐component reaction for the synthesis of 1,2‐dihydroisoquinoline derivatives is described. The Huisgen 1,4‐dipolar intermediate, which is produced from isoquinoline and an electron‐deficient acetylene compound 1 , reacts with H₂O in the presence of diketene to produce 1,2‐dihydroisoquinoline derivatives 2 (Scheme 1). In addition, reaction of isoquinoline, dibenzoylacetylene (=1,4‐diphenylbut‐2‐yne‐1,4‐dione), and diketene in the presence of H₂O leads to pyrroloisoquinoline derivative 7 . The structures of the compounds 2a – f and 7 were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, EI‐MS) and by elemental analyses. A plausible mechanism for the reaction is proposed (Schemes 2 and 3).