Thermal characteristics of polyurethane foams incorporated with phase change materials

Thermal energy storage plays an important role in heat management because of the demand for developed energy conservation, and has applications in diverse areas, from building heating/cooling systems which enable solar energy incorporation into the structure, to textiles and clothings providing an enhanced thermal comfort. In this study, we aimed to improve thermal characteristics of polyurethane rigid foams that have been widely used for thermal insulation as the ultimate energy savers due to their ability to form sandwich structures with various facer materials. Through a laboratory-scale work, two paraffin waxes acting as phase change materials, namely n-hexadecane and n-octadecane, each of which is capable of managing large heat storage/release, were directly incorporated into the polyurethane foams at different ratios. Polymerization modified by means of n-alkane addition could be achieved without any adverse effect. In order to determine both structural and thermal characteristics, seven types of foams produced were examined by FT-IR, SEM, DSC analyses, calorimeter bomb and mechanical tests. Results show that polyurethane foams can be designed as thermal insulators equipped with an improved buffering function against temperature changes.     

Prevention of ultraviolet-B radiation damage by resveratrol in mouse skin is mediated via modulation in survivin

Nonmelanoma skin cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in the United States, and multiple exposures to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation (particularly its UV-B component, 290-320 nm), is its major cause. 'Chemoprevention' by naturally occurring agents is being appreciated as a newer dimension in the management of neoplasia including skin cancer. We recently demonstrated that resveratrol (trans-3, 5, 4-trihydroxystilbene), an antioxidant found in grapes, red wines and a variety of nuts and berries, imparts protection from acute UV-B-mediated cutaneous damages in SKH-1 hairless mice. Understanding the mechanism of resveratrol-mediated protection of UV responses is important. We earlier demonstrated that resveratrol imparts chemopreventive effects against multiple UV-exposure-mediated modulations in (1) cki-cyclin-cdk network, and (2) mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK)-pathway. This study was conducted to assess the involvement of inhibitor of apoptosis protein family Survivin during resveratrol-mediated protection from multiple exposures of UV-B (180 mJ/cm(2); on alternate days; for a total of seven exposures) radiations in the SKH-1 hairless mouse skin. Our data demonstrated that topical pre-treatment of resveratrol (10 micromol in 200 microl acetone/mouse) resulted in significant inhibition of UV-B exposure-mediated increases in (1) cellular proliferations (Ki-67 immunostaining), (2) protein levels of epidermal cyclooxygenase-2 and ornithine decarboxylase, established markers of tumor promotion, (3) protein and messenger RNA levels of Survivin, and (4) phosphorylation of survivin in the skin of SKH-1 hairless mouse. Resveratrol pretreatment also resulted in (1) reversal of UV-B-mediated decrease of Smac/DIABLO, and (2) enhancement of UV-B-mediated induction of apoptosis, in mouse skin. Taken together, our study suggested that resveratrol imparts chemopreventive effects against UV-B exposure-mediated damages in SKH-1 hairless mouse skin via inhibiting Survivin and the associated events.     

Synthesis, characterization, catalytic, electrochemical and thermal properties of tetradentate Schiff base complexes

In this study, the Schiff base ligands H₂L¹–H₂L³ and their Cu^II, Co^II, Ni^II, Fe^III Ru^III and VO^IV complexes have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic and analytical techniques. All the complexes are mononuclear. Keto-enol tautomeric forms of the ligands have been investigated in polar and apolar solvents. The ligands favor the keto-form in the C₇H₈ and C₆H₁₄. The C–C coupling reaction of the 2,6-di-t-butylphenol has been investigated by the Co^II and Cu^II complexes. Thermal properties of the complexes have been assessed using thermal techniques and similar properties were found. In the Fe^III and Ru^III complexes, firstly, the coordinated water molecule is lost from the complex; in the second step, the chloride ion leaves the molecule in the 300–350 °C temperature range. Finally, the complexes decompose to the appropriate metal oxide at the higher temperature ranges. The electrochemical properties of the complexes have been studied in the two different solvents (DMF and CH₃CN).     

N,S-Substituted Dienes from Mono(arylthio)substituted- and S-, S,S-Substituted Dienes

Mono(thio)substituted dienes 1a-1b gave compounds 3a-c and 5d-g with piperazine and piperidine derivatives in dichloromethane. Compounds 8 , 9 , and 10 were obtained from the reactions of perchlorobutadiene ( 6 ) with 1,4-butanedithiol ( 7 ) in ethanol in the presence of sodium hydroxide. Compounds 12a-b , 13a-b were obtained from the reactions of perchlorobutadiene ( 6 ) with allylmercaptan (CH 2 =CH--CH 2 --SH) and mercaptoethanol (HO--CH 2 --CH 2 --SH).     

FTIR investigation of the O-H[middle dot][middle dot][middle dot]Xe interaction in simple carboxylic acids in solid xenon

The O-H stretching region of the infrared spectra of a series of carboxylic acids in Xe matrices was investigated as a function of temperature. Upon increasing the temperature, the νO-H band site-components undergo reversible frequency blue-shifts, which are larger for the lowest-frequency components. This unprecedented observation indicates both that different types of O-H[middle dot][middle dot][middle dot]Xe specific interactions occur, depending on different trapping sites, and the prevalence of stronger interactions of this type for molecules trapped in sites corresponding to lower frequency νO-H band site-components. These results are in agreement with previous investigations pointing to an increased stabilization and larger νO-H frequency red-shifts in carboxylic acid∕Xe complexes bearing a specific H-bond like O-H[middle dot][middle dot][middle dot]Xe interaction. O-H[middle dot][middle dot][middle dot]Xe interaction energies were obtained theoretically and also estimated from the spectroscopic data. Changes in the interaction energies upon temperature variation were also evaluated.     

Einige Neue N,S-Substituierte 2-Nitrodienverbindungen Aus Reaktionen Von Mono(p-fluorarylthio)substituierten Dienen Mit Aminen

2-Nitrodiene compound 1 was stirred with p-fluorothiophenol for a long time and compound 3 was obtained. Compound 1 gave bis(thio)substituted 2-nitrodiene compound 4 and tris(thio)substituted compound 5 with 2 moles of p-fluorothiophenol in the presence of NaOH in ethanol. The compounds 9a–g have been prepared from 8a–g and 3. Compound 7 was obtained from the reaction of mono(thio)substituted 2-nitrodiene with morpholine. Compound 3 gives 11a–d in the reaction with piperidines in CH₂Cl₂ (or ether). Compound 13a–b have been obtained from the reaction of compound 3 with primary amines 12a–b. Compound 3 gives 15 and 16 in the reaction with 2,5-dimethylpiperazine in CH₂Cl₂.

     

Synthesis of Novel Thioethers from Polyhalobutadienes and Thiols

Abstract

Substituted perchlorobutadienes were synthesized from the reactions of hexachloro-1,3-butadiene with some thiols in ethanol in the presence of sodium hydroxide. The oxidation products were obtained from the reactions of thioethers with m-chloroperbenzoic acid. The structures of the new compounds were characterized by microanalysis and spectroscopic data.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT