Ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide: A green reaction media for the efficient synthesis of 3-methyl-1,4-diphenyl-1,4,5,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-6-ones/thiones using phthalimide-N-sulfonic acid as catalyst

A simple, green and environmentally benign procedure was developed for the one pot synthesis of 3-methyl-1,4-diphenyl-1,4,5,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-6-one/thiones using catalytic amount of phthalimide-N-sulfonic acid (PISA) in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([Bmim][Br]) ionic liquid via the three-component reaction of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole-5(4H)-one, aromatic aldehyde and urea/thiourea. [Bmim][Br] as reaction media offers several advantages including non-toxic, non-corrosive, shorter reaction times, high yield of the products, mild reaction conditions as well as simple experimental and isolation procedures.     

Nanosecond Dynamics Regulate the MIF‐Induced Activity of CD74

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) activates CD74, which leads to severe disorders including inflammation, autoimmune diseases and cancer under pathological conditions. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations up to one microsecond revealed dynamical correlation between a residue located at the opening of one end of the MIF solvent channel, previously thought to be a consequence of homotrimerization, and residues in a distal region responsible for CD74 activation. Experiments verified the allosteric regulatory site and identified a pathway to this site via the MIF β‐strands. The reported findings provide fundamental insights on a dynamic mechanism that controls the MIF‐induced activation of CD74.     

A numerical study of quasi-steady burning characteristics of a condensed fuel: effect of angular orientation of fuel surface

A numerical study of laminar diffusion flames established over a condensed fuel surface, inclined at several angular orientations in the range of –90°?θ?+90° with respect to the vertical axis, under atmospheric pressure and normal gravity environment, is presented. Methanol is employed as the fuel. A numerical model, which solves transient gas-phase, two-dimensional governing conservation equations, with a single-step global reaction for methanol–air oxidation and an optically thin radiation sub-model, has been employed in the present investigation. Numerical results have been validated against the experimental data from the present study. Thereafter, the model is used to investigate the influence of angular orientation of fuel surface on its quasi-steady burning characteristics. Results in terms of fuel mass burning rate, flame stand-off distances, temperature field, velocity profiles and oxygen contours have been presented and discussed in detail. It is observed that orientation angles in the range of –45°?θ? –30° (fuel surface facing upwards), yield the maximum mass burning rates. The flame anchoring location near the leading edge of the fuel surface, normal gradient of fuel vapor mass fraction at the surface and oxygen contours have been used to explore this unique behavior. Based on the numerical results, a theoretical correlation to predict the mass burning rate as a function of fuel surface orientation is also proposed. Furthermore, a discussion on the differences in the structure of laminar diffusion flame established over fuel surface as a function of its angular orientation is included.     

DNA adsorption on graphene

We study analytically the properties of the optical absorption and the spatial weak-light solitons in a quantum dot molecule system with the interdot tunneling coupling (ITC). It is shown that, for the linear case, there exists tunneling induced transparency (TIT) in the context of a weak ITC, while the TIT can be replaced by Autler-Townes splitting in the presence of a strong ITC. For the nonlinear case, it is probable to realize the spatial optical solitons even under weak light intensity. Interestingly, we find that there appears transformation behavior between the bright and dark solitons by properly turning both the ITC strength and the detuning of the probe field. Meanwhile, the transformation condition of the bright and dark solitons is obtained. Additionally it is also found that the amplitude of the solitons first descends and then rises with the increasing of ITC strength. Our results may have potential applications for nonlinear optical experiments and optical telecommunication engineering in solid systems.     

Influence of Y2Cu2O5 nanoparticles doping on superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O7-δ

ABSTRACT

The blue phase of YBa₂Cu₃O_{7- δ} (YBCO) family, Y₂Cu₂O₅ (Y202) nanoparticles were prepared and doped into (YBCO) superconductor and the effect of doping on critical current density and critical temperature was investigated. Y202 nanoparticles with particle sizes of 47, 107 and 206?nm were prepared by a sol–gel combustion method and added into the YBCO superconductor by 0.5–2?wt.%. XRD and scanning electron microscope measurements were used to characterize the samples. The measurement of critical current density at 77?K revealed that the doped superconductors had larger critical current density compared to the undoped superconductors. For a fixed dopant concentration, by increasing the size of nanoparticles, the J_c was increased. For the samples including 0.5?wt.% of nanoadditives, J_c was higher. The highest critical current density of 137?A/cm² was measured for the superconductors containing 0.5?wt.% of 206?nm Y202 nanoparticles. Also, by increasing the nanoparticles concentration, the T_c was reduced.     

Bistable perpendicular switching with in-plane spin polarization and without external fields

To-date, all experiments switching perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) materials with in-plane spin polarization require external B-fields. Here, in two approaches, it is shown that with Rashba-type in-plane spin polarization and PMA, bistable switching is achievable without external B  -fields, and at currents on the order of 10⁷ A/cm²${10}^7\text{A}/{\text{cm}}^2$, consistent with recent experiments. Utilization of PMA is primarily discussed, demonstrating the potential for two possibilities: (1) in-plane polarization as a ‘natural’ candidate for precessional switching and (2) bistable switching using a tilted anisotropy axis. Both are shown to lead to stable perpendicular switching without an external B-field, even though spin polarization is in-plane.     

Generation of sulfate radicals by supported ruthenium catalyst for phenol oxidation in water

In this study we report the preparation of RuO₂/Fe₃O₄@nSiO₂@mSiO₂ core–shell powder mesoporous catalyst for heterogeneous oxidation of phenol by peroxymonosulfate (PMS) as oxidant. The properties of this supported catalyst were characterized by SEM–EDS (scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), XRD (powder X-ray diffraction), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), and nitrogen adsorption–desorption. It is found that using ruthenium oxide-based catalyst is highly effective in activating PMS for related sulfate radicals. The effects of catalyst loading, phenol concentration, PMS concentration, reaction temperature, and reusability of the as-prepared catalyst on phenol degradation were investigated. In RuO₂/Fe₃O₄@nSiO₂@mSiO₂ mesoporous catalyst, Oxone (PMS) was effectively activated and 100 % phenol degradation occurred in 40 min. The magnetic RuO₂/Fe₃O₄@nSiO₂@mSiO₂ catalyst was facility separated from the solution by an external magnetic field. To regenerate the deactivated catalyst and improve its catalytic properties, three different methods involving annealing in air, washing with water, and applying ultrasonics were used. The catalyst was recovered thoroughly by heat treatment.