Effect of the ytterbium concentration on the upconversion luminescence of Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped PbO–GeO2–Ga2O3 glasses

The effect of Yb³⁺ concentration on the frequency upconversion (UPC) of Er³⁺ in PbO–GeO₂–Ga₂O₃ glasses is reported for the first time. Samples were prepared with 0.5 wt% of Er₂O₃ and different concentrations of Yb₂O₃ (1.0–5.0 wt%). The green (523 and 545 nm) and red (657 nm) emissions are observed under 980 nm diode laser excitation. The dependence of the frequency UPC emission intensity upon the excitation power was examined and the UPC mechanisms are discussed. An interesting characteristic of these glasses is the increase of the ratio of red to green emission, through an increase of the Yb³⁺ concentration due to an efficient energy transfer from Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺.     

Amphiphilic pentablock copolymers and their blends with PDMS for antibiofouling coatings

Well‐defined amphiphilic pentablock copolymers Siy‐(EGx‐FAz)₂ composed of polysiloxane (Si), polyethylene glycol (EG), and perfluorohexylethyl polyacrylate (FA) blocks are synthesized by ATRP of FA monomer starting from a difunctional bromo‐terminated macroinitiator. Diblock copolymers EGx‐FAz are also synthesized as model systems. The block copolymers are used, either alone or blended with a PDMS matrix in varied loadings, to prepare antibiofouling coatings. Angle‐resolved XPS and contact angle measurements show that the coating surface is highly enriched in fluorine content but undergoes reconstruction after contact with water. Protein adsorption experiments with human serum albumin and calf serum highlight that diblock copolymers resist protein adhesion better than do pentablock copolymers. Blending of the pentablock copolymer with PDMS results in increased protein adsorption. By contrast, the PDMS‐matrix coatings show high removal percentages of sporelings of the green fouling alga Ulva linza. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 2015 , 53, 1213–1225     

Measurement of the frequency response induced by electrostriction in optical fibers

Accurate measurements of the frequency response of the nonlinear refractive index induced by the combined effects of Kerr nonlinearity with electrostrictional excitation of acoustic waves in optical fibers are presented. A detailed experimental investigation of both standard (zero-dispersion wavelength,lambda(0) approximately 1.31microm) and dispersion-shifted (lambda(0)=1.55microm) single-mode fibers showed the presence of several resonant peaks induced by the electrostrictive nonlinearity in the fiber structure. This investigation has provided better insight into the frequency behavior of the electrostriction-induced acoustic waves in optical fibers.     

Palladium-catalyzed carbonylation reactions of aryl bromides at atmospheric pressure: a general system based on Xantphos

A method for the Pd-catalyzed carbonylation of aryl bromides has been developed using Xantphos as the ligand. This method is effective for the direct synthesis of Weinreb amides, primary and secondary benzamides, and methyl esters from the corresponding aryl bromides at atmospheric pressure. In addition, a putative catalytic intermediate, (Xanphos)Pd(Br)benzoyl, was prepared and an X-ray crystal structure was obtained revealing an unusual cis-coordination mode of Xantphos in this palladium-acyl complex.     

Electrostatic-thermodynamic-kinetic (ELTHEKI) modeling of the coupled $$\text {Ni}$$ / $$\text {Ni}\text {O}$$ /water system,under physico-chemical conditions of pressurized water reactors

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In the present paper, we develop an electrostatic-thermodynamic-kinetic (ELTHEKI) model for studying the behavior of the specific $$\text {Ni}$$ / $$\text...     

Nanostructure-Driven Indocyanine Green Dimerization Generates Ultra-Stable Phototheranostics Nanoparticles

Indocyanine green (ICG) is the only near-infrared (NIR) dye approved for clinical use. Despite its versatility in photonic applications and potential for photothermal therapy, its photobleaching hinders its application. Here we discovered a nanostructure of dimeric ICG (Nano-dICG) generated by using ICG to stabilize nanoemulsions, after which ICG enabled complete dimerization on the nanoemulsion shell, followed by J-aggregation of ICG-dimer, resulting in a narrow, red-shifted (780 nm→894 nm) and intense (≈2-fold) absorbance. Compared to ICG, Nano-dICG demonstrated superior photothermal conversion (2-fold higher), significantly reduced photodegradation (−9.6 % vs. −46.3 %), and undiminished photothermal effect (7 vs. 2 cycles) under repeated irradiations, in addition to excellent colloidal and structural stabilities. Following intravenous injection, Nano-dICG enabled real-time tracking of its delivery to mouse tumors within 24 h by photoacoustic imaging at NIR wavelength (890 nm) distinct from the endogenous signal to guide effective photothermal therapy. The unprecedented finding of nanostructure-driven ICG dimerization leads to an ultra-stable phototheranostic platform.     

Stereoselective synthesis of a MCHr1 antagonist

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is implicated in the feeding behavior in mammals affording a potential target to control overeating in people. Compound 1 (AMG 076) has been identified as a potent MCHr1 antagonist for the treatment of obesity. A synthesis suitable for the large-scale preparation of this lead candidate was developed to support preclinical studies. A Robinson annulation of benzylpiperidone and resolution of the desired enone from a mixture of the diastereomers afforded key intermediate 6 after a stereoselective hydrogenation. Subsequent Fischer indole synthesis with hydrazine 5 then provided the advanced intermediate, indole 2. Two complementary reductive amination strategies employing either aldehyde 3 or lactol 4 led to the synthesis of title compound 1.     

Renormalization group invariant matrix elements of ΔS=2 and ΔI=3/2 four-fermion operators without quark masses

We introduce a new parameterization of four-fermion operator matrix elements which does not involve quark masses and thus allows a reduction of systematic uncertainties. In order to simplify the matching between lattice and continuum renormalization schemes, we express our results in terms of renormalization group invariant B-parameters which are renormalization-scheme and scale independent. As an application of our proposal, matrix elements of ΔI=3/2 and SUSY ΔS=2 operators have been computed. The calculations have been performed using the tree-level improved Clover lattice action at two different values of the strong coupling constant (β=6/g²=6.0 and 6.2), in the quenched approximation. Renormalization constants and mixing coefficients of lattice operators have been obtained non-perturbatively. Using lowest order χPT, we also obtain ππ|O₇|K^NDR_I=2=(0.11±0.02) GeV⁴ and ππ|O₈|K^NDR_I=2=(0.51±0.05) GeV⁴ at μ=2 GeV.     

ANALYSIS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GAS-KINETIC BGK SCHEME FOR COMPUTATIONAL GAS DYNAMICS

Gas-kinetic schemes based on the BGK model are proposed as an alternative evolution model which can cure some of the limitations of current Riemann solvers. To analyse the schemes, simple advection equations are reconstructed and solved using the gas-kinetic BGK model. Results for gas-dynamic application are also presented. The final flux function derived in this model is a combination of a gas-kinetic Lax– Wendroff flux of viscous advection equations and kinetic flux vector splitting. These two basic schemes are coupled through a non-linear gas evolution process and it is found that this process always satisfies the entropy condition. Within the framework of the LED (local extremum diminishing) principle that local maxima should not increase and local minima should not decrease in interpolating physical quantities, several standard limiters are adopted to obtain initial interpolations so as to get higher-order BGK schemes. Comparisons for well-known test cases indicate that the gas-kinetic BGK scheme is a promising approach in the design of numerical schemes for hyperbolic conservation laws. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Compared EC-AFM Analysis of Laser-Induced Graphene and Graphite Electrodes in Sulfuric Acid Electrolyte

Flexible and economic sensor devices are the focus of increasing interest for their potential and wide applications in medicine, food analysis, pollution, water quality, etc. In these areas, the possibility of using stable, reproducible, and pocket devices can simplify the acquisition of data. Among recent prototypes, sensors based on laser-induced graphene (LIGE) on Kapton represent a feasible choice. In particular, LIGE devices are also exploited as electrodes for sensing in liquids. Despite a characterization with electrochemical (EC) methods in the literature, a closer comparison with traditional graphite electrodes is still missing. In this study, we combine atomic force microscopy with an EC cell (EC-AFM) to study, in situ, electrode oxidation reactions when LIGE or other graphite samples are used as anodes inside an acid electrolyte. This investigation shows the quality and performance of the LIGE electrode with respect to other samples. Finally, an ex situ Raman spectroscopy analysis allows a detailed chemical analysis of the employed electrodes.