Effect of MWCNT content on thermal and shape memory properties of epoxy nanocomposites as material for morphing wing skin

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In the present study, a shape memory epoxy polymer (SMEP) system was prepared from commercially available EPON 826 and NGDE, and then, 0.5%, 1.0% and...     

Antiviral Activities of Algal-Based Sulfated Polysaccharides

An antiviral agent is urgently needed based on the high probability of the emergence and re-emergence of future viral disease, highlighted by the recent global COVID-19 pandemic. The emergence may be seen in the discovery of the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and recently discovered Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2. The need for strategies besides testing and isolation, social distancing, and vaccine development is clear. One of the strategies includes searching for an antiviral agent that provides effective results without toxicity, which is well-presented by significant results for carrageenan nasal spray in providing efficacy against human coronavirus-infected patients. As the primary producer of sulfated polysaccharides, marine plants, including macro- and microalgae, offer versatility in culture, production, and post-isolation development in obtaining the needed antiviral agent. Therefore, this review will describe an attempt to highlight the search for practical and safe antiviral agents from algal-based sulfated polysaccharides and to unveil their features for future development.     

Spectrofluorimetric Determination Of Indium with 1,2,4-Trihydroxyanthraquinone

A new method for the spectrofluorimetric determination of indium by formation of a fluorescent 1:1 complex with 1,2,4-trihydroxyanthraquinone is proposed. The complex is formed in a mixed, 60:40 v/v acetone-water medium at pH 3.8 provided by an acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer. The calibration graph is linear between 10 and 600 ng/ml. The effect of potential interferents on the determination was assessed and the proposed method was applied to the determination of indium in synthetic samples.     

Novel bis-betaines and betaines within [1(4)]meta-heterophane frameworks

After prior selection of betaine building blocks for the construction of quadrupolar heterophane frameworks, a convergent "3+1" synthetic strategy is reported for the synthesis of the title macrocycles composed of heterocyclic betaine subunit(s). These typify the first example of simple cyclophanes constructed out of both highly pi-excessive and highly pi-deficient heteroaromatic moieties linked in a 1,3-alternating fashion. The chemical reactivity of the quadrupolar heterophanes 1a and 1c toward electrophiles under neutral conditions corroborated their bis-betaine structure. The structural features of the bis-betaines 1, betaines 2 x PF6 and 5 x X, and the corresponding dicationic [1(4)]heterophanes 3 x 2X and 4 x 2Cl were studied by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of macrocycles 1a and 2a x PF6.     

A diversity-oriented strategy for the construction of tetrasubstituted pyrroles via coupled domino processes

A new microwave-assisted rearrangement of 1,3-oxazolidines scaffolds is the basis for a new, metal-free, direct, and modular construction of tetrasubstituted pyrroles from terminal-conjugated alkynes, aldehydes, and primary amines. This new reaction manifold entails two linked domino processes in a one-pot manner with both atom- and bond-efficiency and under very simple and environment-friendly experimental conditions.     

Elysiapyrones from Elysia diomedea. Do such metabolites evidence an enzymatically assisted electrocyclization cascade for the biosynthesis of their bicyclo[4.2.0]octane core?

[structure: see text] Biogenetically interesting polypropionate-derived metabolites 1 and 2, featuring an unprecedented skeleton, have been isolated from the sea slug Elysia diomedea. Their enantiomeric character indicates that the current spontaneous electrocyclization cascade biogenetic hypothesis for the bicyclo[4.2.0]octane core must be enzymatically aided. These compounds are isomeric with the 15-nor-9,10-deoxytridachione/15-norphotodeoxytridachione pair of metabolites and encourage speculation about their biosynthetic relationship.     

Phoebegrandine C, a novel proaporphine-tryptamine dimer, from Phoebe grandis (Nees) Merr

A novel proaporphine-tryptamine dimer alkaloid, named phoebegrandine C 1, was isolated from the leaves of Phoebe grandis (Nees) Merr. Its structural elucidation was carried out using spectroscopic techniques, notably 2D NMR.     

Development of an optical refractometer by analysis of one-dimensional photonic bandgap structures with defects

A theoretical analysis of an optical fiber photonic-bandgap-based refractometer is presented. The design is based on a quarter-wave reflector with one defect. By modifying both the real and the imaginary parts of the index of refraction of the defects we begin to change either the frequency or the amplitude of the localized optical mode. So we could fabricate a specific optical fiber refractometer by combining all the variables: index of refractive index of the defects and the rest of layers, thickness of the defect, number of layers, etc. to yield a large set of design possibilities, for example, detecting wider or thinner ranges of refractive indices, or controlling the detection accuracy. Some rules for the practical implementation of the refractometer are given.     

Surface plasmon resonance and Raman scattering effects studied for layers deposited on Spreeta sensors

The possibility to detect and prospectively to characterize deposited organic layers directly on Spreeta sensors by Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy was studied. A special holder of sensors that enabled measurement of FT Raman spectra was developed. The effects of various angles of incidence of the laser beam on the sensor surface were studied with respect to the intensity of Raman spectra and to the risks of artifacts. No effect of measurement of FT Raman spectra on SPR functionality of sensors was proven. The key role of the surface morphology of the sensing gold layer on repeatability of SPR curves and the possibility to check the surface by optical microscopy was demonstrated.     

Statistical Mechanics of a Simplified Bipartite Matching Problem: An Analytical Treatment

We perform an analytical study of a simplified bipartite matching problem in which there exists a constant matching energy, and both heterosexual and homosexual pairings are allowed. We obtain the partition function in a closed analytical form and we calculate the corresponding thermodynamic functions of this model. We conclude that the model is favored at high temperatures, for which the probabilities of heterosexual and homosexual pairs tend to become equal. In the limits of low and high temperatures, the system is extensive, however this property is lost in the general case. There exists a relation between the matching energies for which the system becomes more stable under external (thermal) perturbations. As the difference of energies between the two possible matches increases the system becomes more ordered, while the maximum of entropy is achieved when these energies are equal. In this limit, there is a first order phase transition between two phases with constant entropy.