Nano-cellulose-OSO<Subscript>3</Subscript>H as a new,green, and effective nano-catalyst for one-pot synthesis of pyrano [4,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>] pyrans

A facile, green, and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of biologically important pyrano [4,3-b] pyrans in the presence of nano-cellulose-OSO₃H as a new solid acid catalyst. The reaction involves the use of 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one, malononitrile, and aldehydes. A wide range of aldehydes is compatible in this reaction, producing excellent yields in short time. The morphology of nano-catalyst (nano-cellulose-OSO₃H) was observed using a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cellulose-OSO₃H surface was studied by the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) method to find out the chemical composition. The decomposition steps and thermal stability of the catalyst were investigated by thermal analysis techniques (TGA/DTG). In addition, the vibrational spectrum analysis (FT-IR) and X-ray diffractogram (XRD) of the catalyst have been performed.     

BF3.SiO2: An efficient heterogeneous alternative for regio-chemo and stereoselective claisen-schmidt condensation

Under solvent free conditions between 40-50 °C, BF₃.SiO₂, a mild solid acid catalyst, is applied to regio-chemo and stereoselective Claisen-Schmidt condensation. The procedure is very simple and the products are isolated with an easy workup in good to excellent yields.     

Mechanisms of antioxidant action: Transformations of 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinoxyl (HTMPO) in polypropylene during processing

When 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidinoxyl (HTMPO) is processed in polypropylene in a closed mixer, almost 50% is converted to other products during the first few minutes whilst the applied torque in the mixer is high. There is associated formation of unsaturation and this fact, in conjunction with the almost complete regeneration of nitroxyl within five minutes, suggests that the corresponding hydroxylamine (HTMPOH), which can be qualitatively identified, is the major transformation product. A study of the UV stability of PP films fabricated from polymer processed for varying times shows that UV stability is related to the quantity of the redox couple (HTMPO + HTMPOH) remaining in the polymer. This is considerably reduced by severe processing. The redox capable has almost no thermal antioxidant (oven aging) activity.     

Von Neumann entropy in a Rashba-Dresselhaus nanodot; dynamical electronic spin-orbit entanglement

The main purpose of the present article is to report the characteristics of von Neumann entropy, thereby, the electronic hybrid entanglement, in the heterojunction of two semiconductors, with due attention to the Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit interactions. To this end, we cast the von Neumann entropy in terms of spin polarization and compute its time evolution; with a vast span of applications. It is assumed that gate potentials are applied to the heterojunction, providing a two dimensional parabolic confining potential (forming an isotropic nanodot at the junction), as well as means of controlling the spin-orbit couplings. The spin degeneracy is also removed, even at electronic zero momentum, by the presence of an external magnetic field which, in turn, leads to the appearance of Landau states. We then proceed by computing the time evolution of the corresponding von Neumann entropy from a separable (spin-polarized) initial state. The von Neumann entropy, as we show, indicates that electronic hybrid entanglement does occur between spin and two-dimensional Landau levels. Our results also show that von Neumann entropy, as well as the degree of spin-orbit entanglement, periodically collapses and revives. The characteristics of such behavior; period, amplitude, etc., are shown to be determined from the controllable external agents. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the phenomenon of collapse-revivals’ in the behavior of von Neumann entropy, equivalently, electronic hybrid entanglement, is accompanied by plateaus (of great importance in quantum computation schemes) whose durations are, again, controlled by the external elements. Along these lines, we also make a comparison between effects of the two spin-orbit couplings on the entanglement (von Neumann entropy) characteristics. The finer details of the electronic hybrid entanglement, which may be easily verified through spin polarization measurements, are also accreted and discussed. The novel results of the present article, with potent applications in the field of quantum information processing, provide a deeper understanding of the electronic von Neumann entropy and hybrid entanglement that occurs in two-dimensional nanodots.     

Non-minimally coupled quintom model inspired by string theory

In this Letter we consider a quintom model of dark energy with a single scalar field T given by a Lagrangian which inspired by tachyonic Lagrangian in string theory. We consider non-minimal coupling of tachyon field to the scalar curvature, then we obtain the equation of state (EoS), and the condition required for the model parameters when ω crosses over −1.     

Thermal performance investigation of DQW GaInNAs laser diodes

In this work, we optimize the thermal performance of a double quantum well GaInNAs ridge waveguide laser using an accurate in-house 2D electro-opto-thermal laser simulator. The simulator has shown good agreement with experiments after a detailed calibration procedure. Using calibrated material parameters, we investigate the influence of the cladding doping level on the heat generation within the laser. It is found that due to the competition between Joule heating and free carrier absorption, an optimum cladding doping level exists.     

Copper (II) ion selective liquid membrane electrode based on new Schiff base carrier

Cu2+ selective PVC membrane electrode based on new Schiff base 2, 2'-[1,9 nonanediyl bis (nitriloethylidyne)]-bis-(1-naphthol) as a selective carrier was constructed. The electrode exhibited a linear potential response within the activity range of 1.0 x 10(-6) - 5.0 x 10(-3) moll(-1) with a Nernstian slope of 29 +/- 1 mV decade(-1) of Cu2+ activity and a limit of detection 8.0 x 10(-7) mol l(-1). The response time of the electrode was fast, 10 s, and stable potentials were obtained within the pH range of 3.5- 6.5. The potentiometric selectivity coefficients were evaluated using two solution method and revealed no important interferences except for Ag+ ion. The proposed electrode was applied as an indicator electrode to potentiometric titration of Cu2+ ions and determination of Cu2+ content in real samples such as black tea leaves and multivitamin capsule.     

Damage detection and denoising in two-dimensional structures using curvelet transform by wrapping method

The main objectives of this study are to present a vibration-based damage identification method and also a denoising mode shape approach applicable to two-dimensional structures using curvelet transform. For this purpose, the curvelet transform via wrapping method is employed. The reliability of the proposed technique is demonstrated through a verification study by comparing the results of numerical and those of the experimental data in plate structures. Two case studies, one-story and three-story shear walls assuming damages at arbitrary locations, are examined in which different noise levels are included. Good agreement between the simulated and assumed damage in both example is demonstrated. The results confirm the robustness and high performance of the proposed method in detecting the damage in plate structure and eliminating the noises.