Differences in actinide metal-ligand orbital interactions: comparison of U(IV) and Pu(IV) β-ketoiminate N,O donor complexes

Syntheses and characterization of UCl(2)((Ar)acnac)(2), UI(2)((Ar)acnac)(2), and PuI(2)((Ar)acnac)(2) are reported ((Ar)acnac denotes a bis-phenyl β-ketoiminate ligand where Ar = 3,5-(t)Bu(2)C(6)H(3)). Structural analyses and computations show significant metal-ligand orbital interaction differences in U(IV) vs. Pu(IV) bonding.     

Antimicrobial graphene polymer (PVK-GO) nanocomposite films

The first report on the fabrication and application of a nanocomposite containing poly-N-vinyl carbazole (PVK) polymer and graphene oxide (GO) as an antimicrobial film was demonstrated. The antimicrobial film was 90% more effective in preventing bacterial colonization relative to the unmodified surface. More importantly, the nanocomposite thin film showed higher bacterial toxicity than pure GO-modified surface.     

Catalytic dioxygen activation by Co(II) complexes employing a coordinatively versatile ligand scaffold

The ligand bis(2-isobutyrylamidophenyl)amine has been prepared and used to stabilize both mononuclear and dinuclear cobalt(II) complexes. The nuclearity of the cobalt product is regulated by the deprotonation state of the ligand. Both complexes catalytically oxidize triphenylphosphine to triphenylphosphine oxide in the presence of O(2).     

Experimental analysis on vortex tube energy separation performance

The present study reports the effect of several operating parameters on the thermal performance of the vortex tube. The experimental results indicate that the inlet pressure and the cold fraction are the most significant parameters influencing the vortex tube performance. The experimental data point out that insulation has minimal effect on the vortex tube performance. The same inlet pressure tests show that energy separation increases as number of inlet nozzle increases.     

Microwave-assisted immobilization of the REDOX indicator 2,6-dichloroindophenol on PEGylated Merrifield resins

The blue organic dye, 2,6-dichloroindophenol (DCIP), was immobilized on PEGylated Merrifield resin after a chlorination step followed by a nucleophilic substitution reaction, using microwave-assisted methodology. The final product was a blue pigmented resin that can be reversibly reduced by ascorbic acid and changes color from blue to light yellow. Structural elucidation of this immobilized indicator was confirmed through FTIR and elemental analyses.     

Rat pups and random robots generate similar self‐organized and intentional behavior

Biorobotic research continually demonstrates that behavior and cognition can be the emergent products of (1) embodied agents that are (2) dynamically embedded within an environment and (3) equipped with simple sensorimotor rules. Thigmotaxis is an orientation response to contact manifested in infant rats by wall following, corner burrowing, and group aggregation. Orientation responses have been long thought to be mediated only by sensory or central processes. Here we show that a random control architecture in a morphologically similar robot embedded in a scaled environment can reproduce thigmotaxic behaviors seen in infant rats. We conclude that (1) and (2) may play a larger role than previously thought in the generation of complex behaviors. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 12: 53–66, 2006     

Dicke-narrowed spectral line shapes of CO in Ar: Experimental results and a revised interpretation

The shapes of Dicke-narrowed spectral lines in the fundamental P-branch of CO in Ar are studied by comparing high-resolution measurements and theoretical calculations. The measured spectra were recorded at temperatures between 214 and 324 K, and at pressures between 0.025 and 1 atm. The calculations are based on solving a transport/relaxation equation for the appropriate off-diagonal element of the density matrix; they use a realistic intermolecular potential to determine the speed-dependent collisional broadening, and a rigid sphere potential to determine the Dicke narrowing. It is found that the calculations can reproduce the measured spectra within the experimental noise under all conditions, but that the magnitude of the Dicke narrowing in the measured spectra is 70-90% less than predicted from the mass diffusion constant. A revised view of the collision operator resolves the discrepancy in principle, and leads to a better understanding of the line shape problem in general.     

TG/MS capillary interface

A TA Instruments Thermal Analysis System (TG) has been interfaced to the Hewlett Packard 5972 quadrupole mass spectrometer. An OSS-2 variable outlet splitter was plumbed between the TG and the mass spectrometer. This interface allows continuous monitoring of the ion intensities of mass peaksm/e=18 (water) andm/e=44 (carbon dioxide) used to elucidate the TG transitions attributable to residual moisture in freeze-dried biological products. Moisture specifications must be met in order to insure product stability throughout the approved shelf life. TG/MS results are discussed for BCG Vaccine, BCG Live (Intravesical) and U. S. Standard Antihemophilic Factor. Karl Fischer and TG/MS moisture results are compared.     

An optimization-based approach for the design of Bayesian networks

Bayesian networks model conditional dependencies among the domain variables, and provide a way to deduce their interrelationships as well as a method for the classification of new instances. One of the most challenging problems in using Bayesian networks, in the absence of a domain expert who can dictate the model, is inducing the structure of the network from a large, multivariate data set. We propose a new methodology for the design of the structure of a Bayesian network based on concepts of graph theory and nonlinear integer optimization techniques.