Norbornene derivatives from a metal‐free,strain‐promoted cycloaddition reaction: New building blocks for ring‐opening metathesis polymerization reactions

The preparation of new ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) monomers using a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition between aryl azides and norbornadiene is described. Various norbornenetriazolines, obtained through a solvent‐and catalyst‐free reaction, can subsequently be incorporated into polymer backbones through ROMP reactions. Furthermore, thermal decomposition of the triazoline moiety can allow for further polymer functionalization. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2357–2362     

New developments in X-ray storage phosphors

We found a significant PSL effect in Eu²⁺-doped fluorozirconate glasses (ZBLAN) which were additionally doped with Br⁻ or Cl⁻ ions. The PSL is attributed to the characteristic emission of Eu²⁺ present in nano-crystallites of BaBr₂ or BaCl₂, which form in the glass upon annealing. The metastable hexagonal form of BaX₂ (X=Br,Cl) is always formed first before it is converted into the stable orthorhombic form. The particle size increases upon annealing and so does the PSL efficiency of the glass ceramic. However, there is a saturation of the PSL efficiency, which is for Br⁻ doping about 9% and for Cl⁻-doping about 80% of the Eu-doped BaFBr standard. The particle size was determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM results show a clear tendency for bigger particles for longer annealing at the expense of its number. The particle size for the most efficient phosphor is about 100 nm.     

Crystallization of Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C N-(1-D-carboxyethyl)-L-norvaline dehydrogenase and its complex with NAD+

The novel NAD+-linked opine dehydrogenase from a soil isolate Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C belongs to an enzyme superfamily whose members exhibit quite diverse substrate specificites. Crystals of this opine dehydrogenase, obtained in the presence or absence of co-factor and substrates, have been shown to diffract to beyond 1.8 ? resolution. X-ray precession photographs have established that the crystals belong to space group P21212, with cell parameters a = 104.9, b = 80.0, c = 45.5 ? and a single subunit in the asymmetric unit. The elucidation of the three-dimensional structure of this enzyme will provide a structural framework for this novel class of dehydrogenases to enable a comparison to be made with other enzyme families and also as the basis for mutagenesis experiments directed towards the production of natural and synthetic opine-type compounds containing two chiral centres.     

Optical waveguide sensors in analytical chemistry: today’s instrumentation, applications and trends for future development

Current concepts for chemical and biochemical sensing based on detection with optical waveguides are reviewed. The goals are to provide a framework for classifying such sensors and to assist a designer in selecting the most suitable detection techniques and waveguide arrangements. Sensor designs are categorized on the basis of the five parameters that completely describe a light wave: its amplitude, wavelength, phase, polarization state and time-dependent waveform. In the fabrication of a successful sensor, the physical or chemical property of the determined species and the particular light wave parameter to detect it should be selected with care since they jointly dictate the sensitivity, stability, selectivity and accuracy of the eventual measurement. The principle of operation, the nature or the detected optical signal, instrumental requirements for practical applications, and associated problems are analyzed for each category of sensors. Two sorts of sensors are considered: those based on direct spectroscopic detection of the analyte, and those in which the analyte is determined indirectly through use of an analyte-sensitive reagent. Key areas of recent study, useful practical applications, and trends in future development of optical waveguide chemical and biochemical sensors are considered.     

Automated measurement of dye coverage in photographic negatives by flow-injection analysis

A system was designed to automate the determination of three image dyes in an instant photographic material. The method involves extracting negative samples with dimethylsulfoxide and filtering the extract, followed by quantitating the dye coverage (dye per unit area of negative) through a spectrophotometric flow-injection procedure. Significant spectral overlap exists among the dyes, and as a result calculation of coverage requires solving three simultaneous equations. A microcomputer and data acquisition system were employed for controlling the detector and flow-injection system, acquiring and integrating the detector response, calculating coverage, producing and displaying control charts, and automatically transferring results to a VAX based corporate database. In addition to automating sample preparation and measurement steps as much as possible, the goal of this project was to automate the data manipulation and transfer steps.     

TEM and SNMS studies of protective alumina scales on NiCrAlY-alloys

The effect of Si addition on the oxidation behaviour of NiCrAlY alloys in the temperature range 950 bis 1100 degrees C has been investigated. During isothermal oxidation oxide growth rates were practically independent of the Si-content. However during cyclic oxidation Si additions were beneficial. Si additions of 1-2(m)/(0) appeared to shift the onset for spallation to longer times. It was found that Si stabilizes the beta-phase and probably it suppresses the formation of metastable Al(2)O(3) modifications.     

Stereochemical assignments of the 7-phenyl-3-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptanes

A method for making stereochemical assignments based on nmr data for the 7-phenyl-3-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]-heptanes is described.     

Trace elemental analysis of automotive paints by laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS)

Paints and coatings are frequently encountered as types of materials that are submitted to forensic science laboratories as a result of trace evidence transfers. The aim of this study was to develop a method to complement the commonly used techniques in a forensic laboratory in order to better characterize these samples for forensic purposes. A laser ablation method has been used to simultaneously sample several layers directly prior to introduction into an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer for the detection and quantification of the trace metals present in the layer(s). Time-resolved analysis plots displaying the elemental response and quantification of selected metals are compared to associate/discriminate paint samples. Matrix-matched standards were successfully incorporated into the analysis scheme for quantification of lead in the solid paint samples. Preparation of new matrix-matched standards for quantification of additional elements developed for this study are also presented. A sample set of eighteen (18) survey automotive paint samples have been analyzed with the developed method in order to determine the utility of LA-ICP-MS for trace element analysis of paints.     

A class of Hamiltonian regular graphs

In this paper, we show that n ? 4 and if G is a 2-connected graph with 2n or 2n?1 vertices which is regular of degree n?2, then G is Hamiltonian if and only if G is not the Petersen graph.     

Experimentally determined oscillator strengths and linewidths for the Schumann-Runge band system of molecular oxygen—II. The (2-0) to (5-0) bands

Experimental oscillator strengths and predissociation linewidths have been measured at room temperature for the (2-0) to (5-0) Schumann-Runge bands of molecular oxygen using the Adelaide 6 m vacuum ultraviolet monochromator operated at a resolution of about 0.06 Å. Photoelectric detectors were used to measure the ultraviolet absorption at normally two different gas pressures for 37 groups of rotational lines, and the resulting data were interpreted using an equivalent width type of analysis. The variation with N″ of the oscillator strengths within each band was found to be smaller than that measured earlier for the higher vibrational bands. Measured oscillator strengths agree well with previously accepted values except for the (3-0) band, while the linewidths of the present work agree well with recent theoretical values for the (3-0) and (4-0) bands but are larger for the (2-0) and (5-0) bands. A modification was performed on the parameters of a recent theoretical predissociation model to produce excellent overall agreement between experimental and theoretical linewidths from ν' = 2 to 14. The present work provides results which can be used to construct accurate synthetic absorption profiles for studies of the atmospheric absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the Schumann-Runge bands.