(n,m) Abundance evaluation of single-walled carbon nanotubes by fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy

A methodology that takes into account the (n,m) structure of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), through an exciton-exciton resonance model and an electron-phonon interaction model, was employed in order to evaluate the semiconducting (n,m) abundance of two SWNT samples (i.e., Co-MCM-41 and HiPco). This was based on photoluminescence and near-infrared absorption data obtained on aqueous suspensions of individually dispersed SWNTs. In the absence of known (n,m) abundance SWNT samples, we resorted to determining the diameter distribution curves for both samples, which were found to obey an unsymmetrical log-normal distribution, typical for vapor-phase particle growth. Using this log-normal function, we reconstructed the near-infrared E S11 absorption spectrum of the narrow diameter distribution Co-MCM-41 SWNT sample, which in turn enabled us to assess the predictions of these two theoretical models. High spectral reconstruction accuracy was obtained from the electron-phonon interaction model when considering (11,0) and (10,0) zigzag nanotubes, along with (n,m) line widths inversely proportional to their extinction coefficients.     

The mechanism of interaction between focused ultrasound and microbubbles in blood-brain barrier opening in mice

The activation of bubbles by an acoustic field has been shown to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier (BBB), but the trigger cause responsible for the physiological effects involved in the process of BBB opening remains unknown. Here, the trigger cause (i.e., physical mechanism) of the focused ultrasound-induced BBB opening with monodispersed microbubbles is identified. Sixty-seven mice were injected intravenously with bubbles of 1-2, 4-5, or 6-8 μm in diameter and the concentration of 10(7) numbers/ml. The right hippocampus of each mouse was then sonicated using focused ultrasound (1.5 MHz frequency, 100 cycles pulse length, 10 Hz pulse repetition frequency, 1 min duration). Peak-rarefactional pressures of 0.15, 0.30, 0.45, or 0.60 MPa were applied to identify the threshold of BBB opening and inertial cavitation (IC). Our results suggest that the BBB opens with nonlinear bubble oscillation when the bubble diameter is similar to the capillary diameter and with inertial cavitation when it is not. The bubble may thus have to be in contact with the capillary wall to induce BBB opening without IC. BBB opening was shown capable of being induced safely with nonlinear bubble oscillation at the pressure threshold and its volume was highly dependent on both the acoustic pressure and bubble diameter.     

Reaction of a triazolinedione with simple alkenes. Isolation and characterization of hydration products

The reaction of N-phenyltriazolinedione with three simple alkyl-substituted alkenes in water/alcohol or water/acetone solution was found to give a mixture of the corresponding ene and water addition products. The new hydration products were characterized by spectroscopy, and in one case, also by X-ray diffraction analysis. Thermodynamic parameters were determined for the reactions involving 2-methylbut-2-ene, TriME, and 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene, TetraMe, in accordance with an ‘S_N2-like’, nucleophilic attack on a closed aziridinium imide (AI) intermediate by water.     

Total synthesis of psammaplysenes A and B, naturally occurring inhibitors of FOXO1a nuclear export

[reaction: see text] Two inhibitors of FOXO1a-mediated nuclear export, psammaplysenes A and B, have been synthesized by a flexible and efficient route. A common starting material, 4-iodophenol, was used to prepare both halves of these pseudosymmetric dibromotyrosine-derived metabolites.     

Simultaneous multidopant investigation of rare-earth-doped optical fibers by an ion microprobe

The relative distribution of five elements present in the core area of several optical fiber samples has been obtained by utilizing nanoscale-secondary ion mass spectrometry. A strong correlation between the rare-earth (RE) ion and aluminum was observed, consistent with aluminum's improving the solubility of the RE ion. The central dip in distribution was less severe than that observed for germanium, characteristic of the collapse process during fabrication of the fiber preform.     

Asymptotic homogenization modeling of smart composite generally orthotropic grid-reinforced shells: Part II– Applications

A comprehensive micromechanical model for the analysis of thin smart composite grid-reinforced shells with an embedded periodic grid of generally orthotropic cylindrical reinforcements that may also exhibit piezoelectric properties is developed and applied to examples of practical importance. Details on derivation of a general homogenized smart shell model are provided in Part I of this work. The present paper solves the obtained unit cell problems and develops expressions for the effective elastic, piezoelectric and thermal expansion coefficients for the grid reinforced smart composite shell. Thus obtained effective coefficients are universal in nature and can be used to study a wide variety of boundary value problems. The applicability of the model is illustrated by means of several examples including cylindrical reinforced smart composite shells, and multi-layer smart shells. The derived expressions allow tailoring the effective properties of a smart grid-reinforced shell to meet the requirements of a particular application by changing certain geometric or physical parameters.     

Asymptotic homogenization modeling of smart composite generally orthotropic grid-reinforced shells: Part I – theory

We develop in this paper a comprehensive micromechanical model for the analysis of thin smart composite grid-reinforced shells with an embedded periodic grid of generally orthotropic cylindrical reinforcements that may also exhibit piezoelectric properties. The original boundary value problem which characterizes the thermopiezoelastic behavior of the smart shell is decoupled via the asymptotic homogenization technique into three simpler problems the solution of which permits the determination of the effective elastic, piezoelectric and thermal expansion coefficients. The general orthotropy of the constituent materials is very important from the practical viewpoint and it renders the resulting analysis a lot more complicated. In Part II of this work the model is applied to the analysis of several practically important examples including cylindrical reinforced smart composite shells and multi-layer smart shells.     

Broadband passive targeted energy pumping from a linear dispersive rod to a lightweight essentially non-linear end attachment

We examine non-linear resonant interactions between a damped and forced dispersive linear finite rod and a lightweight essentially non-linear end attachment. We show that these interactions may lead to passive, broadband and on-way targeted energy flow from the rod to the attachment, which acts, in essence, as non-linear energy sink (NES). The transient dynamics of this system subject to shock excitation is examined numerically using a finite element (FE) formulation. Parametric studies are performed to examine the regions in parameter space where optimal (maximal) efficiency of targeted energy pumping from the rod to the NES occurs. Signal processing of the transient time series is then performed, employing energy transfer and/or exchange measures, wavelet transforms, empirical mode decomposition and Hilbert transforms. By computing intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) of the transient responses of the NES and the edge of the rod, and examining resonance captures that occur between them, we are able to identify the non-linear resonance mechanisms that govern the (strong or weak) one-way energy transfers from the rod to the NES. The present study demonstrates the efficacy of using local lightweight non-linear attachments (NESs) as passive broadband energy absorbers of unwanted disturbances in continuous elastic structures, and investigates the dynamical mechanisms that govern the resonance interactions influencing this passive non-linear energy absorption.