Real-time measurement of oxidation dynamics of sub-stoichiometric tungsten oxide films by pulsed laser deposition

In this study WO _x films were deposited by laser ablation of ultra-pure (5N) tungsten trioxide targets onto SiO₂ or silicon substrates at 250°C temperature, 100 mTorr oxygen partial pressure and 1×10⁻⁵ Torr vacuum. Surface chemical states and compositions of the deposits were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that deposits in oxygen partial pressure contain W⁶⁺ with x∼3.1, while vacuum-deposited films have different W states with various percentage distributions as W⁴⁺>W⁵⁺>W⁶⁺>W⁰, and x∼1. We used fast electrical resistance measurement as a probe to study the deposition process. Film resistance as a function of deposition time in vacuum revealed some microsecond fluctuations modulated on the time variation curve of electrical resistance. We attribute these data to surface absorption and desorption of oxygen during layer deposition. Finally, the effect of the laser beam on the target’s structure, surface morphology and chemical state was studied. Our results revealed that in spite of structural variation by laser irradiation, the O/W ratio remained about 3.     

Novel Ferrocenyl Linked Pyrazoline Analogs as Potent Antiamoebic Agents

Some novel ferrocenyl linked pyrazoline analogs were synthesized, well characterized, and evaluated for in vitro antiamoebic activity against HM1 : IMSS strain of Entamoeba histolytica. Most of the compounds exhibited higher antiamoebic activity with the IC₅₀ value in the range of 0.12–1.20 μM, than the reference drug metronidazole, (IC₅₀ value of 1.78 μM). Compound 9 showed the most promising antiamoebic activity (IC₅₀ = 0.12 μM), concluding that these compounds hold immense potential to be employed as new antiamoebic agents. Also, being novel, they can be a solution to the increasing resistance that has posed a major problem globally.     

Orthogonally reactive SAMs as a general platform for bifunctional silica surfaces

We report the synthesis and self-assembly of azide and amine trimethoxysilanes that result in mixed monolayers on silica. The amine and azide functional groups can be independently reacted with acid chlorides and terminal alkynes, respectively. Consequently, these orthogonally reactive monolayers represent a general starting point for making bifunctional surfaces. Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we determined the azide/amine surface ratio as well as the reactivity of the azide and amine functional groups in the mixed self-assembled monolayer (SAM). Significantly, the surface azide/amine ratio was much lower than the azide/amine ratio in the self-assembly mixture. After determining the self-assembly mixture composition that would afford 1:1 azide-amine mixed monolayers, we demonstrated their subsequent functionalization. The resulting bifunctional surface has a similar functional group ratio to the azide/amine precursor SAM demonstrating the generality of this approach.     

Structure-based virtual screening to identify inhibitors against Staphylococcus aureus MurD enzyme

Structural Chemistry - The MurD enzyme of Staphylococcus aureus is an attractive drug target as it is essential and ubiquitous in bacteria but absent in mammalian cells. In the present study, we...     

Maximum temperature analysis in a Li-ion battery pack cooled by different fluids

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The use of Li-ion battery in electric vehicles is becoming extensive in the modern-day world owing to their high energy density and longer life. But...     

Electrical bending instability in electrospinning visco‐elastic solutions

The electrical bending instability in charged liquid jets is the phenomenon determining the process of electrospinning. A model of this phenomenon is lacking however, mostly due to the complicated interplay between the viscosity and elasticity of the solution. To investigate the bending instability, we performed electrospinning experiments with a solution of polyethylene oxide in water/ethanol. Using a fast camera and sensitive multimeter, we deduced an experimental dispersion relation describing the helix pitch length as a function of surface charge. To understand this relation, we developed a theoretical model for the instability for a wide range of visco‐elastic materials, from conducting to nonconducting. The theoretical dispersion relation shows good agreement with the experimental results. Using the new model, we find that the elastic tension in the visco‐elastic threads plays an important role in triggering the instability. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 1036–1042     

One-pot,three-component,catalyst-free synthesis of novel derivatives of pyrido-[2,3-d]pyrimidines under ultrasonic irradiations

Novel derivatives of pyrido-[2,3-d] pyrimidines were synthesized via an efficient and catalyst- free, one-pot, three-component reaction of 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-3-oxopropanenitrile, 6-amino-(ethylthio)pyrimidine-4(3H)-one, and arylaldehydes under ultrasonic irradiations. This practical method furnished the desired pyridopyrimidines in high yields (79–89%) and short reaction times (25–40 min).