Calorimetric studies of poly (2-phenoxyethylacrylate)/5CB mixtures

The thermophysical properties of mixtures of poly (2-phenoxyethylacrylate) and 4-cyano-4′-pentyl-biphenyl, 5CB, are investigated using polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The polymer has a molar mass M _w = 181 000 g mol ^-1 the low molecular mass liquid crystal exhibits a nematic to isotropic transition at 35.3°C and crystallizes below 23°C. The phase diagram exhibits miscibility gaps in certain regions of temperature and composition where coexisting nematic and isotropic phases are found. From a practical point of view when considering the electro-optical applications of these systems, it proves to be useful to know precisely the amount of small liquid crystal molecules dissolved in the polymer matrix and the concentration of polymer in the nematic phase. The former quantity has a mechanical impact due to a plasticizing effect, an optical impact since it changes the polymer refractive index, while the polymer in the nematic phase shifts the transition temperatures influencing the electro-optical response of the liquid crystal. The present work addresses these important aspects using POM and DSC.     

Novel Copolymers of Difluoro Ring-substituted 2-Phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethylenes with 4-Fluorostyrene: Synthesis,Structure and Dielectric Study

Copolymerization of fluorine ring-substituted 2-phenyl-1,1-dicyanoethenes, RC₆H₃CH?C(CN)₂ (R is 2,3-F,F, 2,4-F,F, 2,5-F,F, 2,6-F,F, and 4-CF₃) with 4-fluorostyrene were prepared in the presence of a radical initiator (ABCN) at 70°C. The composition of the copolymers was calculated from nitrogen analysis, and the copolymers were characterized by IR, ¹H and ¹³C-NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA. The monomer reactivity ratios for 4-fluorostyrene (M₁), r₁ = 0.6 and 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-dicyanoethene (M₂), r₂ = 0 were determined from Fineman-Ross plot. The order of relative reactivity (1/r₁) for difluoro-substituted monomers is 2,4-F,F (0.31) > 2,3-F,F (0.25) > 2,5-F,F (0.22) > 2,6-F,F (0.10). DSC curves showed that the copolymers were amorphous with high T _g in comparison with that poly(4-fluorostyrene) indicating a substantial decrease in chain mobility of the copolymer due to the high dipolar character of the trisubstituted ethylene monomer units. From the thermogravimetric analysis, the copolymers began to degrade in the range 214–260°C. The copolymer of 4-fluorostyrene and 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-dicyanoethene and poly(4-fluorostyrene) were dielectrically characterized in the range 25–200°C. The dominating relaxation process detected in both materials was the α-relaxation, associated with the dynamic glass transition. The relationship polarity-permittivity was discussed.     

Vibrational Study of Dipotassium Zinc Bis(Dihydrogendiphosphate) Dihydrate,K2ZN(H2P2O7)2·2H2O

Abstract

Infrared and Raman spectra of dipotassium zinc bis(dihydrogendiphosphate) dihydrate, K₂Zn(H₂P₂O₇)₂ .2H₂O have been collected and interpreted using factor group analysis. Noncoincidence of the Raman and infrared spectra bands confirms a centrosymmetric structure for K₂Zn(H₂P₂O₇)₂ .2H₂O previously investigated by X-ray structural study, as well as the joint appearance of ν_as POP and ν_s POP point to a bent POP configuration.     

A numerical spatial carrier for single fringe pattern analysis algorithm

Hilbert transform and continuous wavelet transform are combined to form an algorithm for the analysis of a single fringe pattern with open or closed fringes. Only one recorded fringe pattern is needed to extract the phase information. A second π/2 phase shifted fringe pattern should first be generated from the other using Hilbert transform to superpose numerically the spatial carrier. Several phase extraction techniques are conceived to demodulate fringe patterns. In this paper, the wavelet technique is used to obtain the required phase distribution. The algorithm offers an advantage that it is appropriate when the spatial carrier is impossible to be added experimentally. Finally, a simulation was carried out to validate the algorithm, giving good results.     

Polyphenols contents,heavy metals analysis and in vitro antibacterial activity of extracts from Cladanthus arabicus and Bubonium imbricatum of Moroccan Origin

Abstract

Aim of this study was to evaluate polyphenols and major and trace elements of Cladanthus arabicus and Bubonium imbricatum, along with their in vitro antibacterial activity against six multidrug resistant Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia coli S33/16, E. coli S34/16, Proteus mirabilis S32/16, Klebsiella pneumoniae S12/16, Enterobacter cloacae S5/16, and Salmonella sp S12/14). UV spectrophotometry, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were used to evaluate total polyphenol content, quali-quantitative profile of single polyphenols and inorganic elements of the extract. The antibacterial activity was investigated by standard methods. Twelve polyphenols were identified in both plants and these were more concentrated in B. imbricatum than C. arabicus extracts. High levels of minerals, essential trace elements and tolerable levels of heavy metals (Cd, As and Pb) were found. Furthermore, the extracts showed also a strong in vitro antibacterial activity, particularly versus E. coli S33/16 (MIC, 0.125?mg ml^?1).     

Selective Detection of Dopamine in Presence of Ascorbic Acid by Use of Glassy‐Carbon Electrode Modified with Amino‐β‐Cyclodextrin and Carbon Nanotubes

A glassy carbon electrode modified with per‐6‐amino‐β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CDNH₂) and functionalized single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT‐COOH) was elaborated. This structure was investigated for the detection of dopamine acid (DA) in presence of ascorbic acid (AA). The sensor behavior was studied by cyclic voltammetry, square wave voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The analysis results show that the electrode modification with CD derivative improves the sensitivity and selectivity of the DA recognition; the electrochemical response was further improved by introduction of SWCNT‐COOH. The sensor shows good and reversible linear response toward DA within the concentration range of 7×10^?7–10^?4 M with a detection limit of 5×10^?7 M.     

Design and analysis of DC gain and transconductance boosted recycling folded cascode OTA

A new technique for improving the transconductance and low frequency output impedance of recycling folded cascode (RFC) amplifiers is presented. This enhancement was achieved by using a positive feedback and upgrading the recycling structure. The new structure profits from better transconductance, slew rate, and DC gain in comparison with conventional folded cascode (FC) amplifier. Moreover, the input referred noise is reduced and the phase-margin improved. The enhanced amplifier, simulated in 0.18 μm CMOS technology, exhibits a DC gain enhancement of 16.3 dB as well as 115.5 MHz increase in gain bandwidth compared to conventional FC configuration. The amplifier consumes 360 μW @ 1.2 V which makes it suitable for low-voltage applications.     

Some inequalities involving quadratic forms of operator means

Let T and S be two self-adjoint positive invertible operators of a complex Hilbert space H. In this paper, we investigate some inequalities involving the quadratic forms of the weighted arithmetic and harmonic means of T and S. Application for operator entropies is also discussed.     

Inversion transformation of Stokes flows bounded by parallel planes

The positive inversion transformation applied to a two-dimensional Stokes flow around bodies leads alike to a Stokes flow. This fact can be exploited to find new two-dimensional Stokes flow solutions around inverse bodies. Some features of this method, such as the relations between the reference and inverse fluid velocity fields, are presented followed by an application to examples of cellular flow between two parallel plates induced by rotating or translating cylinder. Thus hydrodynamic characteristics of flow around circular bodies obtained by inversion of the plates are straightforward deduced. Typical fluid flow patterns around two circular cylinders in contact placed in the centre of a rotating or a translating circular cylinder are thus illustrated.     

Stability of the Kaluza-Klein wormhole soliton

We show that the electrically charged wormhole soliton solution of sourceless five-dimensional general relativity is classically stable against radial perturbations, except in the special case of a massless soliton.On leave of absence from: Département de Physique Théorique, Université de Constantine, Constantine, Algeria