Phase formation and magnetic anomalies in RuSr2RECu2O8 (RE=Eu, Gd, Ho) samples

We have synthesized bulk RuSr₂RECu₂O₈ (RE=Eu, Gd and Ho) compounds using the ammonium nitrate melt technique. The phase purity of the samples decreases as the ionic radii of the RE element decreases. For RE=Ho, magnetic Sr₂HoRuO₆ and CuO were formed instead of the 1212 phase. The magnetization vs. temperature curves of the samples are similar to those of the samples prepared using the solid-state reaction method. The magnetic anomalies observed in M-T curves are discussed.     

THE EFFECT OF BILINEAR BEHAVIOUR ON THE DIRECTION AND MAGNITUDE OF THE PEELING MOMENT IN A BI-MATERIAL BEAM

In this work a bi-material beam exhibiting partly bilinear behaviour under a uniform temperature change is analyzed. The essence of solution is based on the approach of Timoshenko’s mechanics of materials. The main aim of the present analysis is to understand the effect of the bilinear behaviour on the peeling moment. This theoretical mechanics model mentioned here can give us useful insights to improve the resistance against the delamination.     

Building an Iron Chromophore Incorporating Prussian Blue Analogue for Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation

The replacement of traditional ruthenium-based photosensitizers with low-cost and abundant iron analogs is a key step for the advancement of scalable and sustainable dye-sensitized water splitting cells. In this proof-of-concept study, a pyridinium ligand coordinated pentacyanoferrate(II) chromophore is used to construct a cyanide-based CoFe extended bulk framework, in which the iron photosensitizer units are connected to cobalt water oxidation catalytic sites through cyanide linkers. The iron-sensitized photoanode exhibits exceptional stability for at least 5 h at pH 7 and features its photosensitizing ability with an incident photon-to-current conversion capacity up to 500 nm with nanosecond scale excited state lifetime. Ultrafast transient absorption and computational studies reveal that iron and cobalt sites mutually support each other for charge separation via short bridging cyanide groups and for injection to the semiconductor in our proof-of-concept photoelectrochemical device. The reorganization of the excited states due to the mixing of electronic states of metal-based orbitals subsequently tailor the electron transfer cascade during the photoelectrochemical process. This breakthrough in chromophore-catalyst assemblies will spark interest in dye-sensitization with robust bulk systems for photoconversion applications.     

Conversion of carbon dioxide to cyclic carbonates using diimine Ru(II) complexes as catalysts

Cationic diimine Ru(II) complexes were synthesized and tested as catalysts for the formation of cyclic organic carbonates from CO₂ and liquid epoxides (propylene oxide, epichlorohydrine, 1,2‐epoxybutane and styrene oxide) which served as both reactant and solvent. The reaction rates not only depended on the type of ligand, but also on reaction conditions such as temperature, pressure, base, the epoxide substrates and the use of an additional solvent. Reaction rates in terms of turnover frequencies up to 4050 mol_product mol_cat.^?1 h^?1 at 99% selectivity were achieved by optimizing the diimine ligand as well as the reaction temperature and CO₂ pressure. Consistent with CV measurements, the electron donating group on the p‐position of the aryl ring accelerated the reaction rate. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolytes in terms of hole fraction

A theoretical model to interpret the conductivity of ions through polymer electrolytes is established in terms of the temperature and pressure‐dependent hole fraction computed from Simha‐Somcynsky hole theory. The model successfully linearizes the logarithm of PPG and PEG conductivity data with NaCF₃SO₃ in a 20:1 ratio for a broad range of temperature and pressure. The conductivity parameter and transmission coefficient with an additive hole fraction constant are discussed and compared for both species. The derivative of the logarithm of conductivity with respect to the hole fraction decreases inversely with the hole fraction and saturates at about 0.08 and 0.12 hole fractions for PPG and PEG, respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2249–2254, 2008     

Fabrication of SERS active gold nanorods using benzalkonium chloride,and their application to an immunoassay for potato virus X

The authors report on a robust method for the synthesis of gold nanorods (AuNRs) with tunable dimensions and longitudinal surface plasmon resonance. The method relies on seed-mediated particle growth in the presence of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) in place of the widely used surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). Uniform AuNRs were obtained by particle growth in solution, and BAC is found to stabilize the AuNRs for >1 year. The SERS activity of the resulting AuNRs is essentially identical to that of CTAB-protected nanorods. The SERS activity of the BAC protected nanorods was applied to the quantitative analysis of potato virus X (PVX). The calibration plot for PVX is linear in the 10 to 750 ng?mL^?1 concentration range, and the detection limit is 2.2 ng?mL^?1.

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Graphical abstract SERS-active gold nanorods (AuNRs) have been prepared by using benzalkonium chloride as stabilization agent. Effects of chemical parameters on AuNRs have been explored and AuNRs were used in quantitative analysis of potato virus X (PVX).

     

Role of the n+1 amino acid residue on the deamidation of asparagine in pentapeptides

Deamidation plays an important role in biochemical phenomena such as aging. The role of the n + 1 residue on the deamidation of asparagine (asparagine being the nth residue) in three pentapeptide chains (GGNGG, GGNMG and GGNIG) has been analysed with hybrid computational tools. Potentials of mean force at 300 K were calculated from the MD/replica exchange simulations using weighted histogram analysis (WHAM) in explicit water. The snapshots were clustered taking into account the requirements of the plausible deamidation mechanisms, as such the tautomerisation of the asparagine side chain as initial step has been confirmed, based on the proximity of water to the deamidation site. The ultimate goal being to gain an insight on the peptide backbone N-H acidity, quantum mechanical calculations have been carried out. For this purpose, the distribution of Φ/Ψ, Φ₂/Ψ and end-to-end distances deduced from the WHAM diagrams have been considered and a total of 110 structures have been sampled. These neutral pentapeptides as well as their corresponding anions have been optimised (B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p)) in implicit water in order to gain an insight on the peptide backbone N-H acidity. In this study, we have shown that the open conformations of the neutrals and the anions, which display a β sheet like structure are well populated and their pK_as rank in the same order as the deamidating half-lives, that is the peptides that deaminate fastest can more readily access conformations that are more acidic.     

Application of computer algebra to Jones polynomials

In this paper we apply computer algebra (Maple) techniques to calculate Jones polynomial of graphs of K(2,q)-Torus knots. For this purpose, a computer program was developed. When a positive integer q is given, the program calculate Jones polynomial of graph of K(2,q)-Torus knots.     

SERS-based sandwich immunoassay using antibody coated magnetic nanoparticles for Escherichia coli enumeration

A method combining immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was developed to enumerate Escherichia coli (E. coli). Gold-coated magnetic spherical nanoparticles were prepared by immobilizing biotin-labeled anti-E. coli antibodies onto avidin-coated magnetic nanoparticles and used in the separation and concentration of the E. coli cells. Raman labels have been constructed using rod shaped gold nanoparticles coated with 5,5-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) and subsequently with a molecular recognizer. Then DTNB-labeled gold nanorods were interacted with gold-coated magnetic spherical nanoparticle-antibody-E. coli complex. The capture efficiency and calibration graphs were obtained and examined in different E. coli concentrations (10(1)-10(7) cfu mL(-1)). The correlation between the concentration of bacteria and SERS signal was found to be linear within the range of 10(1)-10(4) cfu mL(-1) (R(2) = 0.992). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values of the developed method were found to be 8 and 24 cfu mL(-1), respectively. The selectivity of the developed immunoassay was examined with Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter dissolvens, and Salmonella enteriditis which did not produce any significant response. The ability of the immunoassay to detect E. coli in real water samples was also investigated and the results were compared with the experimental results from plate-counting methods. There was no significant difference between the methods that were compared (p > 0.05). This method is rapid and sensitive to target organisms with a total analysis time of less than 70 min.     

Approximation properties of the generalized Szasz operators by multiple Appell polynomials via power summability method

In this paper some properties of the generalized Szasz operators by multiple Appell polynomials are given, using into consideration the power summability method. In the first section are given some direct estimation related to the generalized Szasz operators by multiple Appell polynomials, including Korovkin type theorem. In the second section, we give some results related to the weighted spaces of continuous functions and Voronovskaya type theorem. In the third section, we have proved some results related to the statistical convergence of the generalized Szasz operators by multiple Appell polynomials, using into consideration the A− transformation. At the end of the paper are given some illustrative computational examples which make such summability methods (for example, power series method) more useful and fruitful for applications of functional analysis in approximation theory.