Inner filter effect and the onset of concentration dependent red shift of synchronous fluorescence spectra

The phenomenon of concentration dependent red shift, often observed in synchronous fluorescence spectra (SFS) of monofluorophoric as well as multifluorophoric systems at high chromophore concentrations, is known to have good analytical advantages. This was previously understood in terms of large inner filter effect (IFE) through the introduction of a derived absorption spectral profile that closely corresponds to the SFS profile. Using representative monofluorophoric and multifluorophoric systems, it is now explained how the SF spectral maximum changes with concentration of the fluorophore. For dilute solutions of monofluorophores the maximum is unchanged as expected. It is shown here that the onset of red shift of SFS maximum of both the mono as well as the multifluorophoric systems must occur at the derived absorption spectral parameter value of 0.32 that corresponds to the absorbance value of 0.87. This value is unique irrespective of the nature of the fluorophore under study. For monofluorophoric systems, the wavelength of derived absorption spectral maximum and the wavelength of synchronous fluorescence spectral maximum closely correspond with each other in the entire concentration range. In contrast, for multifluorophoric systems like diesel and aqueous humic acid, large deviations were noted that could be explained as to be due to the presence of non-fluorescing chromophores in the system. This work bridges the entire fluorophore concentration range over which the red shift of SFS maximum sets in; and in the process it establishes the importance of the derived absorption spectral parameter in understanding the phenomenon of concentration dependent red shift of SFS maximum.     

Chlorotrimethylsilane catalyzed synthesis of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenones and their antimicrobial activities

The base- or acid-catalyzed Claisen–Schmidt condensation reaction is the common synthetic route for the synthesis of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenone (known as chalcone). A variety of different synthetic pathways have been used over the decades in the synthesis of chalcone. Microwave irradiation in absence of solvent is employed successfully and presented here with prominent improvement over the existing methods. The reaction is incredibly accelerated in the presence of the catalyst chlorotrimethylsilane (CTMS) and found superior in terms of reaction time, product yield, safer synthetic route, and easy removal of catalyst etc. Products were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopy. Single crystal X-ray diffraction was used to determine crystal structures. All compounds were treated for antimicrobial activity. The profound response against bacteria and fungus pathogens by these compounds is impressive and opens up opportunities for further physiological activity studies.     

High-performance polymer electrolyte membranes incorporated with 2D silica nanosheets in high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Silica nanosheets(SN)derived from natural vermiculite(Verm)were successfully incorporated into polyethersulfone-polyvinylpyrrolidone(PES-PVP)polymer to fabricate high-temperature proton exchange membranes(HT-PEMs).The content of SN filler was varied(0.1-0.75 wt%)to study its influence on proton conductivity,power density and durability.Benefiting from the hydroxyl groups of SN that enable the formation of additional proton-transferring pathways,the inorganic-organic membrane displayed enhanced proton conductivity of 48.2 mS/cm and power density of 495 mW/cm² at 150℃ without humidification when the content of SN is 0.25 wt%.Furthermore,exfoliated SN(E-SN)and sulfonated SN(S-SN),which were fabricated by a liquid-phase exfoliation method and silane condensation,respectively,were embedded in PES-PVP polymer matrix by a simple blending method.Due to the significant contribution from sulfonic groups in S-SN,the membrane with 0.25 wt%S-SN reached the highest proton conductivity of51.5 mS/cm and peak power density of 546 mW/cm² at150℃,48%higher than the pristine PES-PVP membranes.Compared to unaltered PES-PVP membrane,SN added hybrid composite membrane demonstrated excellent durability for the fuel cell at 150℃.Using a facile method to prepare 2D SN from natural clay minerals,the strategy of exfoliation and functionalization of SN can be potentially used in the production of HT-PEMs.     

Nonlinear wave propagation through a stratified atmosphere

We examine the propagation of sound waves through a stratified atmosphere. The method of multiple scales is employed to obtain an asymptotic equation which describes the evolution of sound waves in an atmosphere with spatially dependant density and entropy fields. The evolution equation is an inviscid Burger-like equation which contains quadratic and cubic nonlinearities, and a curvature term all of which are functions of the space variables. A model equation is derived when the modulations of the signal in a direction transverse to the direction of propagation become significant.     

Enantioconvergent Biohydrolysis of Racemic Styrene Oxide to R-phenyl-1, 2-ethanediol by a Newly Isolated Filamentous Fungus Aspergillus tubingensis TF1

An effort was made to isolate biocatalysts hydrolyzing epoxides from various ecological niches of northeast India, a biodiversity hot spot zone of the world and screened for epoxide hydrolase activity to convert different racemic epoxides to the corresponding 1, 2-vicinal diols. Screening of a total of 450 microorganisms isolated was carried out using NBP colorimetric assay. One of the strains TF1, after internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis, identified as Aspergillus tubingensis, showed promising enantioconvergent epoxide hydrolase activity. The hydrolysis of unsubstituted styrene oxide (1) occurred to give 97 % ee of R-(?)-1-phenylethane-1, 2-diol (6) with more than 99 % conversion within 45 min incubation. It is shown to be a cheap and practical biocatalyst for one step asymmetric synthesis of chiral R-diol. The other representative substrates (2–5), although underwent hydrolysis with more than 99 % conversion beyond 15 h, exhibited poor enantioselectivity.     

Polymeric microspheres: a delivery system for osteogenic differentiation

Advanced drug delivery systems employing controlled release technology are being developed to address many of the difficulties associated with traditional methods of drug administration. Controlled release technology involves the use of devices such as polymer‐based disks, rods, pellets, or microspheres (MSs) that encapsulate drugs, genes, cytokines, and growth factors and release them in specific location within the body in a controlled fashion, for relatively long periods of time. Among these, microencapsulation is one of the core technologies used in polymer‐based drug delivery systems. In this regard, MS serves as microcarriers for sustain drug release facilitating their use for invasive or minimally invasive treatment. MS has significant potential for the application in bone repair, intra‐articular treatment of osteoarthritis, and biological bone growth. The present review compiles the recent advances in polymeric MS for application in bone and cartilage regeneration. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Substoichiometric extraction of chromium(III) with 2-picolinic acid into n-butanol

A substoichiometric radiochemical extraction procedure has been designed for the estimation of trace amounts of chromium(III). The method employs the extraction of spiked (⁵¹Cr) chromium by chelation with 2-picolinic acid in n-butanol solvent at pH 4. The interference effects of various closely related foreign ions on the extraction efficiency were found to be negligible, thus establishing the selectivity of the proposed technique over other standard analytical procedures available for the estimation of chromium(III). The validity of this method has been established by successful estimation of chromium present in various certified alloys. Investigations have been made to understand the parameters controlling the extraction of chromium(III).     

Influence of multiwall carbon nanotubes on morphology and electrical conductivity of PP/ABS blends

Polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS) blends with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were prepared by melt mixing. PP/ABS blends without MWNT revealed coarse co continuous structures on varying the ABS content from 40 to 70 wt %. Bulk electrical conductivity of the blends showed lower percolation threshold (0.4–0.5 wt %) in the 45/55 co continuous blends whereas the percolation threshold was between 2 and 3 wt % in matrix‐particle dispersed morphology of 80/20 blends. Interestingly, droplet size was observed to decrease with addition of MWNT above percolation threshold in 80/20 blends. Further, the bulk electrical conductivity was found to be dependent on the melt flow index of PP. The non‐polar or weakly polar nature of blends constituents resulted in the temperature independent dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and DC electrical conductivity. Rheological analysis revealed the formation of 3D network‐like structure in 80/20 PP/ABS blends at 3 wt % MWNT. An attempt was made to understand the relationship between rheology, morphology, and electrical conductivity of these blends. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2286–2295, 2008