Synthesis and Characterization of H3PW12O40 and H3PMo12O40 Nanoparticles by a Simple Method

In this study H₃PW₁₂O₄₀·9H₂O and H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀·6H₂O (HPA) particles were changed into nano forms by heat-treatment in an autoclave as a simple, repaid, inexpensive and one step method. The particle size of these nanoparticles was around 25 nm. The as-synthesized nanostructures were characterized by dynamic light scattering, X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma analyzer. Thermal stability of nanoparticles was surveyed by thermal gravimeter analyse. Acidity of prepared nanoparticles was investigated by pyridine adsorption method. Results showed rising acidity by declining particle size of HPA.     

Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of solid-phase microextraction fibers using conductive polymers: application in extraction of benzaldehyde from aqueous solution

In this work, polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polyaniline/polypyrrole composite fibers were synthesized in the absence and presence of oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes using electrochemical cyclic voltammetry with CF₃COOH as dopant. Thermal stability of these fibers was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Then, headspace solid-phase microextraction process coupled with gas chromatography and flame ionization detector was used for comparing extraction capability of benzaldehyde from aqueous solution. Since polyaniline fiber showed better extraction efficiency than the other fibers, its preparation conditions including acid concentration, aniline concentration, scan rate, and amount of multiwalled carbon nanotubes were studied by means of the “one-factor-at-a-time method”. The analytical performance of polyaniline fibers were investigated to determine benzaldehyde from the aqueous solution. The morphology and texture of polyaniline fibers were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. The attained results revealed that the perfect conditions for acid concentration, aniline concentration, scan rate, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes content were 0.5 M, 0.2 M, 25 mV s^?1, and 0.02 wt%, respectively. The limit of detection for the proposed polyaniline fiber was 15 ng ml^?1.     

A Gas Chromatography-Molecular Rotational Resonance Spectroscopy Based System of Singular Specificity

We designed and demonstrated the unique abilities of the first gas chromatography–molecular rotational resonance spectrometer (GC-MRR). While broadly and routinely applicable, its capabilities can exceed those of high-resolution MS and NMR spectroscopy in terms of selectivity, resolution, and compound identification. A series of 24 isotopologues and isotopomers of five organic compounds are separated, identified, and quantified in a single run. Natural isotopic abundances of mixtures of compounds containing chlorine, bromine, and sulfur heteroatoms are easily determined. MRR detection provides the added high specificity for these selective gas-phase separations. GC-MRR is shown to be ideal for compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA). Different bacterial cultures and groundwater were shown to have contrasting isotopic selectivities for common organic compounds. The ease of such GC-MRR measurements may initiate a new era in biosynthetic/degradation and geochemical isotopic compound studies.     

Highly Sensitive Electrochemiluminescent Insecticide Sensor Based on ZnO Nanocrystals Anchored Nickel Foam for Determination of Imidacloprid in Real Samples

In this work, a novel electrochemiluminescent (ECL) pesticide sensor based on zinc oxide nanocrystals decorated nickel foam is proposed for determination of imidacloprid for the first time. The silica film was used as a morphology‐controlling factor for modification of the electrode with zinc oxide nanocrystals. Zinc oxide was selected as luminescent material due to its cheapness, non‐toxicity, high thermal stability and excellent luminescence properties which truly adhered on the surface of nickel foam. The K₂S₂O₈ was used as strong co‐reactant for this purpose. The silica template plays an important role in controlling the size of ZnO nanocrystals. The Physical morphology of the ZnO/Ni‐foam electrode was performed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET), X‐Ray diffraction analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis. The ultra‐sensitive electrochemiluminescence method was successfully used for ultra‐trace determination of imidacloprid. The linear dynamic range and low detection limit were obtained 3×10^?14 ?8×10^?8 M and 4.4×10^?15 M, respectively. Also, the relative standard deviation for 15 repetitive optical signals was calculated 1.09 %.The present ECL sensor exhibited superior performance toward the accurate determination of imidacloprid with good reproducibility and stability.     

Pitchfork and Hopf bifurcations of geared systems with nonlinear suspension in permanent contact regime

Nonlinear Dynamics - Gears are important mechanical parts with various industrial applications. Many researchers have investigated the complex nonlinear behavior of geared systems by studying the...     

Electromyography Activity of Vastus Medialis Obliquus and Vastus Lateralis Muscles During Lower Limb Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Patterns in Individuals with and without Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Objective: Exercise therapy to strengthen quadriceps muscle is recommended in rehabilitation program for people with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). This study aimed to investigate the electromyography (EMG) activity of vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), vastus lateralis (VL) and VMO/VL ratio during PNF in individuals with and without PFPS. Methods: 26 persons with PFPS and 26 healthy subjects participated to study. All subjects performed PNF patterns (Flexion-Adduction-External Rotation (D₁FL), Extension-Adduction-External Rotation (D₂EX), D₁FL+ load, D₂EX+ load) and straight leg raise (SLR). The normalized EMG activity of VMO, VL and VMO/VL ratio were measured and analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA. Results: There were significant main effects of group and exercises for the both VMO and VL (p<0.05). It was found that except SLR and D₂EX, in the other motions PFPS group had lower VMO activity compared to healthy group (p<0.05). For VL except SLR, in the other motions PFPS group had lower VL activity too (p<0.05). The PNF patterns activated VMO more than SLR, however it was not significant (p>0.05). Also; there weren''t any significant difference between the two groups in VMO/VL activation ratios. Also, performing the PNF patterns with load increased VMO and VL muscles activity significantly (p<0.05). It also found that in PFPS group the VMO/VL ratio values in PNF patterns were significantly more than SLR and the highest VMO/VL ratio value (0.96) was found during D₂EX. Conclusion: The PNF patterns due to provide optimal VMO/VL ratio value than SLR and proper balance between these two muscles can be recommended in rehabilitation of individuals with PFPS.     

Relativistic n-body wave equations in scalar quantum field theory

The variational method in a reformulated Hamiltonian formalism of Quantum Field Theory (QFT) is used to derive relativistic n-body wave equations for scalar particles (bosons) interacting via a massive or massless mediating scalar field (the scalar Yukawa model). Simple Fock-space variational trial states are used to derive relativistic n-body wave equations. The equations are shown to have the Schrödinger non-relativistic limits, with Coulombic interparticle potentials in the case of a massless mediating field and Yukawa interparticle potentials in the case of a massive mediating field. Some examples of approximate ground state solutions of the n-body relativistic equations are obtained for various strengths of coupling, for both massive and massless mediating fields.     

Application of chromium‐doped fullerene as a carrier for thymine and uracil nucleotides: Comprehensive density functional theory calculations

The interactions of the nucleobases thymine (C₅H₆N₂O₂) and uracil (C₄H₄N₂O₂) with Cr‐doped C₂₀ fullerene (C₁₉Cr) are investigated by performing density functional theory calculations. The adsorption of these nucleobases on C₁₉Cr leads to two distinct geometries (P1 and P2) differing in the orientation of the nucleobases. The interaction of the nucleobases with the C₁₉Cr nanocluster is highly exothermic, revealing that they are chemically adsorbed on C₁₉Cr. The results show that the binding energy of the thymine–C₁₉Cr complex is slightly higher than that of the uracil–C₁₉Cr complex. In addition, the P2 geometry is more stable compared to P1 due to the higher binding energy in the former configuration. However, based on the results of natural bond orbital and frontier molecular orbitals analyses, the C₁₉Cr nanocage has higher reactivity with the nucleobases in P1 geometry in comparison with P2 due to the larger charge transfer and orbital hybridization in the former geometry. Moreover, the band gap of the C₁₉Cr nanocage decreases after interaction with the nucleobases, and interestingly the impact is more pronounced for P1 geometry, confirming the higher sensitivity of C₁₉Cr to the nucleobases in P1 geometry. Our findings reveal the promising potential of C₁₉Cr as an organometallic carrier for nucleobases thymine and uracil.     

Synthesis of boronic acid‐functionalized poly(glycerol‐oligoγ‐butyrolactone): Nano‐networks for efficient electrochemical sensing of biosystems

Despite the outstanding properties of hyperbranched polyglycerols such as biocompatibility and multifunctionality, enough attention has not been paid to the synthesis of their functional copolymers. This problem has limited the structural diversity of hyperbranched polyglycerols and hampers further developments and their practical usage. In this work, butyrolactone segments were incorporated into the backbone of polyglycerols by one‐pot ring‐opening copolymerization of a mixture of glycidol and γ‐butyrolactone in the presence of tin(II) 2‐ethylhexanoate. Poly(glycerol‐oligoγ‐butyrolactone)s were then crosslinked by 2,5‐thiophenediylbisboronic acid to obtain polymeric nanonetworks with 140 nm average size. Afterwards, the gold electrode was modified by the polymeric nano‐networks, and it was used for the determination of glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and Escherichia coli in phosphate buffer solution (pH = 9.0) through cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopic. Taking advantage of the straightforward synthesis, cheap precursors and multifunctionality of poly(glycerol‐oligoγ‐butyrolactone)s, they could be used for real‐time sensing of a wide range of biosystems. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1430–1439     

Unraveling the role of binder concentration on the electrochemical behavior of mesocarbon microbead anode in lithium–ion batteries: understanding the formation of the solid electrolyte interphase

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Binders play a significant role in the electrochemical performance of anodes in lithium–ion batteries. In this study, mesocarbon microbead (MCMB)...