Nanoporous Network Channels from Self‐Assembled Triblock Copolymer Supramolecules

Supramolecular complexes of a poly(tert‐butoxystyrene)‐block‐polystyrene‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) triblock copolymers and less than stoichiometric amounts of pentadecylphenol (PDP) are shown to self‐assemble into a core–shell gyroid morphology with the core channels formed by the hydrogen‐bonded P4VP(PDP)complexes. After structure formation, PDP was removed using a simple washing procedure, resulting in well‐ordered nanoporous films that were used as templates for nickel plating.

     

Quantum Fourier Transform-Based Arithmetic Logic Unit on a Quantum Processor

This study proposes and construct a primitive quantum arithmetic logic unit (qALU) based on the quantum Fourier transform (QFT). The qALU is capable of performing arithmetic ADD (addition) and logic NAND gate operations. It designs a scalable quantum circuit and presents the circuits for driving ADD and NAND operations on two-input and four-input quantum channels, respectively. By comparing the required number of quantum gates for serial and parallel architectures in executing arithmetic addition, it evaluates the performance. It also execute the proposed quantum Fourier transform-based qALU design on real quantum processor hardware provided by IBM. The results demonstrate that the proposed circuit can perform arithmetic and logic operations with a high success rate. Furthermore, it discusses in detail the potential implementations of the qALU circuit in the field of computer science, highlighting the possibility of constructing a soft-core processor on a quantum processing unit.     

The mixed ligand complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) with coumarilic acid/1,10-phenanthroline

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The coumarilate (coum?) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) mixed ligand complexes of Co(II) (1), Ni(II) (2) Cu(II) (3) and Zn(II) (4) were...     

The Concept of Fact in German Physics around 1900: A Comparison between Mach and Einstein

Physics in Perspective - The concept of “fact” has a history. Over the past centuries, physicists have appropriated it in various ways. In this article, we compare Ernst Mach and Albert...     

Targeted Photodynamic Therapy of Human Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Anti-epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Antibody Cetuximab and Photosensitizer IR700DX in the Mouse Skin-fold Window Chamber Model

Targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) in head/neck cancer patients with a conjugate of the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody, Cetuximab and a phthalocyanine photosensitizer IR700DX is under way, but the exact mechanisms of action are still not fully understood. In this study, the EGFR-overexpressing human head/neck OSC-19-luc2-cGFP tumor with transfected GFP gene was used in a skin-fold window chamber model in BALB/c nude mice. The uptake and localization of the conjugate in the tumor and its surrounding normal tissues were studied by an intravital confocal laser scanning microscopy with image analyses. The tumor was also irradiated with 690 nm laser light 24 h after conjugate administration. The vascular and tumor responses were examined by morphological evaluation and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The amount of conjugate in the tumor peaked at 24–48 h after injection. Image analyses of colocalization correlation parameters demonstrated a high fraction of the conjugate IR700DX colocalized in the GFP-expressing tumor cells. PDT-treated tumors showed extensive necrotic/apoptotic destruction with little vascular damage, while IHC showed no HIF-1α expression and decreased EGFR and Ki67 expression with activated caspase-3 overexpression, indicating a direct killing of tumor cells through both necrotic and apoptotic cell death.     

Hybrid ceramic nanosieves: stabilizing nanopores with organic links

Unprecedented hydrothermal stability in functional membranes has been obtained with hybrid organic-inorganic nanoporous materials, enabling long-term application in energy-efficient molecular separation, including dehydration up to at least 150 degrees C.     

Hierarchical Layer Engineering Using Supramolecular Double‐Comb Diblock Copolymers

The formation of unusual multilayered parallel lamellae‐in‐lamellae in symmetric supramolecular double‐comb diblock copolymers is presented. While keeping the concentration of surfactant fixed, the number of internal layers was found to increase with molecular weight M up to 34 for the largest block copolymer. The number of internal structures n was established to scale as M^0.67 and therefore enables easy design of such structures with great precision.     

Ion- and atom-leaching mechanisms from palladium nanoparticles in cross-coupling reactions

Leaching of palladium species from Pd nanoparticles under C--C coupling conditions was observed for both Heck and Suzuki reactions by using a special membrane reactor. The membrane allows the passage of palladium atoms and ions, but not of species larger than 5 nm. Three possible mechanistic scenarios for palladium leaching were investigated with the aim of identifying the true catalytic species. Firstly, we examined whether or not palladium(0) atoms could leach from clusters under non-oxidising conditions. By using our membrane reactor, we proved that this indeed happens. We then investigated whether or not small palladium(0) clusters could in fact be the active catalytic species by analysing the reaction composition and the palladium species that diffused through the membrane. Neither TEM nor ICP analysis supported this scenario. Finally, we tested whether or not palladium(II) ions could be leached in the presence of PhI by oxidative addition and the formation of [Pd(II)ArI] complexes. Using mass spectrometry, UV-visible spectroscopy and 13C NMR spectroscopy, we observed and monitored the formation and diffusion of these complexes, which showed that the first and the third mechanistic scenarios were both possible, and were likely to occur simultaneously. Based on these findings, we maintain that palladium nanoparticles are not the true catalysts in C--C coupling reactions. Instead, catalysis is carried out by either palladium(0) atoms or palladium(II) ions that leach into solution.     

Light absorption properties of the rabbit cornea repeatedly irradiated with UVB rays

Under normal conditions, the cornea absorbs the majority of UVB (ultraviolet B, 280-320 nm) rays, which is very important for the protection of the inner eye against their damaging effect. Our previous studies have shown that repeated irradiation of the rabbit cornea with UVB rays for 5 days (daily dose of 1.01 J cm(- 2)) caused photokeratitis accompanied by swelling (hydration) of the corneal stroma, thinning of the corneal epithelium and decrease in antioxidants. The purpose of this study was to examine the light absorption properties of such damaged rabbit cornea. Results of both spectrophotometry of the whole corneal buttons and corneal tissue dissolved in sodium hydroxide show that because of above mentioned disturbances, UVB-irradiated cornea absorbs more light throughout the whole measurable UV-VIS spectral range than the normal cornea. Increased corneal thickness (result of hydration), changes of corneal transparency (the cornea becomes grayish) and some increase in protein content all contribute to the increased light absorption of UVB irradiated corneas. We suggest that the UVB-irradiated cornea, although damaged and nearly without antioxidants, might actually through its higher UV absorbance protect the inner eye against further damage from UVB rays.