Effect of nano‐polystyrene (nPS) on thermal,rheological, and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)

Polystyrene nanoparticles (nPS) in the range of 10–100 nm with spherical shape were synthesized by oil/water (o/w) microemulsion process. In this process ammonium persulfate (APS) as an initiator, sodium dodecyl sulphate as a surfactant and n‐pentanol as cosurfactant were used. Isolated nPS was characterized by FTIR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. DSC studies of nPS showed higher T_g as compared to bulk PS. The effect of lower weight percentage (wt%) of nPS on the mechanical, rheological, and thermal properties of PP was investigated. The blends were prepared individually on brabender plastograph by incorporating nPS of ～60 nm with different wt% of loading (i.e., 0.10–0.5%). It was shown from the experimental results that thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties were increased as the polymer particles blended with PP. Blends with 0.25 wt% loading of nPS exhibit better properties compared with that of other wt% loadings. The improvements in properties were due to the close packing of PP chains as recorded by improvement in crystallinity of PP with the addition of nPS as shown by SEM. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two-photon nano-PEBBLE sensors: subcellular pH measurements

Intracellular pH mapping is of great importance as it plays a critical role in many cellular events. Also, in tissue, pH mapping can be an indicator for the onset of cancer. Here we describe a biocompatible, targeted, ratiometric, fluorescent, pH sensing nano-PEBBLE (Photonic Explorer for Biomedical use with Biologically Localized Embedding) that is based on two-photon excitation. Two-photon excitation minimizes the photobleaching and cell autofluorescence drastically, leading to an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio. PEBBLE nanosensors provide a novel approach for introducing membrane impermeant dyes, like HPTS, into cells. We use both non-targeted and F3 peptide targeted PEBBLE nanosensors for intracellular pH measurement of 9L cells. The intracellular measurements suggest that the non-targeted nanosensors are mostly trapped in endosomes, whereas the F3 peptide targeting enables them to escape/avoid these acidic compartments. Combining the advantages of pH sensitive PEBBLE nanoparticles, including their specific targeting, with the advantages of two-photon microscopy provides an attractive and promising prospect for non-invasive real-time monitoring of pH inside cancer cells and tissues.     

Vector bundles over iterated suspensions of stunted real projective spaces

Let $X^{k}_{m,n}=\Sigma^{k} (\mathbb{R}\mathbb{P}^{m}/\mathbb{R}\mathbb{P}^{n})$ . In this note we completely determine the values of k, m, n for which the total Stiefel–Whitney class w(ξ)=1 for any vector bundle ξ over  $X^{k}_{m,n}$ .     

A study of the oscillating corner meniscus in a vertical constrained vapor bubble system

A vertical constrained vapor bubble, VCVB, made of fused silica was used to study the stability and oscillations of an evaporating wetting film of HFE- 7000^® in a corner. The film thickness profile was measured as a function of time and axial position using an advanced form of image analyzing interferometry. The curvature, apparent contact angle, and pressure profiles for the evaporating film were calculated from the measured film thickness profiles. Oscillation of the liquid film was observed and profiles for both the advancing and receding films were obtained. These are the first such detailed profiles obtained for an oscillating meniscus below a thickness of 0.1 μm.The film thickness profiles demonstrated the spreading of the meniscus during advance as well as the presence of a curvature gradient near the contact line region. The maximum curvature decreased for the advancing menisci and increased with time for the receding menisci. An increase in the adsorbed film thickness was associated with the advancing stage and a decrease with the receding stage. Pressure profiles were measured as a function of position indicating the potential for driving the flow of the fluid toward or away from the contact line. As the film advances or recedes, the pressure gradients change as a function of position fueling the next oscillation cycle.     

Chromium removal technologies

Chromium can exist in different oxidation states (e.g. 0, III, VI). Chromium can be both beneficial and toxic to animals and humans depending on its oxidation state and concentration. At low concentration, Cr(III) is essential for animal and human health. Chromium(VI) compounds are highly soluble, mobile and bioavailable compared to trivalent chromium. Chromium(VI) is dangerous for humans due to its toxicity and carcinogenic properties. The presence of hexavalent chromium in waste water is a potential hazard to aquatic animals and humans. Various methods are adopted for the removal of hexavalent chromium from industrial effluents. Among these different techniques, biosorption is the most promising one. In this process, the various components present in biomaterial reduce the toxic hexavalent chromium to non-toxic trivalent chromium. Algae, fungi and bacteria have biosorption properties, and cell walls are responsible for biosorption of dead biomaterial. But this process removes chromium from waste water very slowly. So for chemical modification of biosorbents, optimization of biosorption parameters is required to increase the effectiveness of this process.     

Choice of a suitable hetero-aromatic nitrogen base as promoter for chromic acid oxidation of dl-mandelic acid in aqueous media at room temperature

Chromic acid oxidation of dl-mandelic acid in the presence and absence of different promoters has been studied in aqueous media under the kinetic conditions [mandelic acid]_T ? [Cr(VI)]_T and [promoter]_T ? [Cr(VI)]_T at 30 °C. The promoters used in this oxidation reaction, picolinic acid (PA), 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), are strong chelating ligands which form complexes with most transition metal ions. The reaction is first-order with regard to [H⁺], [mandelic acid]_T, and [Cr(VI)]_T and also has first-order dependence on [promoter]_T. HCrO₄ ^? was found to be kinetically active in the absence of promoters; in the presence of promoters the Cr(VI)–promoter complexes were believed to be the active oxidants. In this path the Cr(VI)-promoter complex in each case undergoes nucleophilic attack by the mandelic acid to form a ternary complex which subsequently undergoes redox decomposition involving 3e transfer as the rate-determining step. Among the three promoters oxidation is much faster with 1,10-phenanthroline.     

Carbon Dots Integrated NiCo2O4 Hierarchical Nanoneedle Arrays Supported on Ni Foam as Efficient and Stable Electrode for Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Reactions

The production of hydrogen and oxygen via water electrolysis has become a sustainable and encouraging pathway for the establishment of new energy sources. Herein, we report the successful growth of hierarchical NiCo₂O₄‐carbon dots (CDs) nanoneedle arrays supported on nickel foam through a simple and environmentally benign hydrothermal self‐assembly technique. The designed material acts as a binder free electrode and shows bifunctional electrocatalytic activity for both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) as well as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline medium. An electrocatalyst sample with an optimal loading of CDs (25 mg) requires a low overpotential of 146 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA/cm² for the HER in an alkaline medium, whereas it requires an overpotential of 390 mV to achieve a current density of 50 mA/cm² for the OER in the same alkaline medium. The excellent electrocatalytic activities of the sample with loading of CD can be ascribed due to the presence of large number of exposed active sites offered by CD/NiCo₂O₄ and the enhanced electron transfer processes occurring as a result of hierarchical structure composed of three‐dimensional nickel foam and the NiCo₂O₄?CDs nanoneedle arrays. Thus, the synthesis method introduced in this present work is a facile and cost‐effective approach for the construction of bifunctional electrocatalysts with high reactivity and excellent durability.     

Making or Breaking Metal-Dependent Catalytic Activity: The Role of Stammers in Designed Three-Stranded Coiled Coils

While many life-critical reactions would be infeasibly slow without metal cofactors, a detailed understanding of how protein structure can influence catalytic activity remains elusive. Using de novo designed three-stranded coiled coils ( TRI and Grand peptides formed using a heptad repeat approach), we examine how the insertion of a three residue discontinuity, known as a stammer insert, directly adjacent to a (His)₃ metal binding site alters catalytic activity. The stammer, which locally alters the twist of the helix, significantly increases copper-catalyzed nitrite reductase activity (CuNiR). In contrast, the well-established zinc-catalyzed carbonic anhydrase activity (p-nitrophenyl acetate, pNPA) is effectively ablated. This study illustrates how the perturbation of the protein sequence using non-coordinating and non-acid base residues in the helical core can perturb metalloenzyme activity through the simple expedient of modifying the helical pitch adjacent to the catalytic center.     

Three-dimensional visualization and characterization of morphology and internal microstructural features of primary silicon crystals in a cast Al–Si base alloy

Primary Si crystals are usually present in the cast microstructures of near-eutectic, eutectic, and hyper-eutectic Al–Si base alloys. Three-dimensional digital images of individual primary Si crystals present in a permanent mold cast unmodified Al-12 wt% Si-1 wt% Ni base alloy are reconstructed using a combination of montage serial sectioning and three-dimensional digital image processing techniques. Octahedral, prismatic, and plate-like three-dimensional morphologies of the primary Si crystals are present in the microstructure. Some of the primary Si crystals contain interior regions/islands of Al-alloy that are completely enclosed in the corresponding Si crystals indicating certain variations in the crystal growth velocities during the evolution of these crystals. The boundaries of these interior regions/islands are non-faceted smooth and curved indicating re-melting of the Al-rich islands and re-dissolution of some Si near these internal boundaries in the Al-alloy as a result of the heat generated by liquid-to-solid transformation of Si away from the islands.