Effects of different composition ratio on the dielectric relaxation and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(ω‐dodecalactam‐co‐ε‐caprolactam‐co‐propylene oxide) copolymers

The molecular dynamics of new poly (ω‐dodecalactam‐co‐ε‐caprolactam‐co‐propylene oxide) copolymers (DL/CL/PAC) has been investigated by using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) measurements. The copolymers were synthesized via anionic polymerization of relevant lactams activated with carbamoyl derivatives of telechelic hydroxyl terminated polypropylene oxide with isophorone diisocyanate (PAC). The calorimetric, X‐ray diffraction, and DMTA measurements were performed to recognize the influence of the composition ratio and the type of PAC on the physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the synthesized copolymers. The DRS was used to study the frequency dependence of the dielectric permittivity of some isotherms from ?110 to 145 °C. Copolymerization of ε‐caprolactam with about 10 wt % ω‐dodecalactam results in a copolymer that has lower water absorption, a melting point close to that of polyamide 6 and has a high enough degree of crystallinity in respect to high storage modulus. Five dielectric relaxations have been observed in the dielectric spectra, three at lower temperature and two at higher temperature. The copolymers have two glass transition temperatures for polyamide segments and polyether blocks, indicating microphase separation in the copolymers. Other studies directed toward molecular dynamics of polyamide DL/CL/PAC copolymers have not been reported. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2010     

Chemical and electrochemical reduction of polyarene manganese tricarbonyl cations: hapticity changes and generation of syn- and anti-facial bimetallic eta4,eta6-naphthalene complexes

(Eta6-naphthalene)Mn(CO)(3)(+) is reduced reversibly by two electrons in CH(2)Cl(2) to afford (eta4-naphthalene)Mn(CO)(3)(-). The chemical and electrochemical reductions of this and analogous complexes containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) coordinated to Mn(CO)(3)(+) indicate that the second electron addition is thermodynamically easier but kinetically slower than the first addition. Density functional theory calculations suggest that most of the bending or folding of the naphthalene ring that accompanies the eta6 --> eta4 hapticity change occurs when the second electron is added. As an alternative to further reduction, the 19-electron radicals (eta6-PAH)Mn(CO)(3) can undergo catalytic CO substitution when phosphite nucleophiles are present. Chemical reduction of (eta6-naphthalene)Mn(CO)(3)(+) and analogues with one equivalent of cobaltocene affords a syn-facial bimetallic complex (eta4,eta6-naphthalene)Mn(2)(CO)(5), which contains a Mn-Mn bond. Catalytic oxidative activation under CO reversibly converts this complex to the zwitterionic syn-facial bimetallic (eta4,eta6-naphthalene)Mn(2)(CO)(6), in which the Mn-Mn bond is cleaved and the naphthalene ring is bent by 45 degrees . Controlled reduction experiments at variable temperatures indicate that the bimetallic (eta4,eta6-naphthalene)Mn(2)(CO)(5) originates from the reaction of (eta4-naphthalene)Mn(CO)(3)(-) acting as a nucleophile to displace the arene from (eta6-naphthalene)Mn(CO)(3)(+). Heteronuclear syn-facial and anti-facial bimetallics are formed by the reduction of mixtures of (eta6-naphthalene)Mn(CO)(3)(+) and other complexes containing a fused polycyclic ring, e.g., (eta5-indenyl)Fe(CO)(3)(+) and (eta6-naphthalene)FeCp(+). The great ease with which naphthalene-type manganese tricarbonyl complexes undergo an eta6 --> eta4 hapticity change is the basis for the formation of both the homo- and heteronuclear bimetallics, for the observed two-electron reduction, and for the far greater reactivity of (eta6-PAH)Mn(CO)(3)(+) complexes in comparison to monocyclic arene analogues.     

Estimation of slow diffusion rates in confined systems: CCl4 in zeolite NaA

Often the rate of passage of gaseous molecules through model zeolites is too small to be computed directly. An estimate for the rate of passage of CCl₄ through the 8-ring window in a model of zeolite A has been obtained by combining a direct evaluation of the free energy profile and an adaptation of the rare events method. First the free energy profile is found from a direct evaluation of the canonical partition function at high dilution and the transition state theory rate constant obtained. The dynamic correction factor is then estimated from molecular dynamics runs and used to compute the actual rate k_eff. The method is used to estimate the rate of passage through the 8-ring window in a rigid model of zeolite A, and the results are compared with those obtained from rigid models with expanded windows and from the flexible model. Even a small expansion in the 8-ring window diameter increases the rate significantly, but the changes associated with a flexible cage are small.     

Experimental studies of using wireless energy transmission for powering embedded sensor nodes

A major challenge impeding the deployment of wireless sensor networks for structural health monitoring (SHM) is developing a means to supply power to the sensor nodes in an efficient manner. In this paper, we explore possible solutions to this challenge by using a mobile-host based wireless energy transmission system to provide both power and data interrogation commands to sensor nodes. The mobile host features the capability of wirelessly transmitting energy to sensor nodes on an as-needed basis. In addition, it serves as a central data repository and processing center for the data collected from the sensing network. The wirelessly transmitted microwave energy is captured by a receiving antenna, transformed into DC power by a rectifying circuit, and stored in a storage medium to provide the required energy to the sensor node. The application of wireless energy transmission is targeted toward SHM sensor nodes that have been recently developed by the authors, which can be used to collect peak mechanical displacements or piezoelectric impedance measurements. This paper will describe considerations needed to design such energy transmission systems, experimental procedure and results, method of increasing the efficiency, energy conditioning circuits and storage medium, and target applications. Experimental results from a field test on the Alamosa Canyon Bridge in southern New Mexico will also be presented.     

Antibacterial Activity and Synergistic Effect of Biosynthesized AgNPs with Antibiotics Against Multidrug-Resistant Biofilm-Forming Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Clinical Samples

Silver nanoparticles form promising template for designing antimicrobial agents against drug resistant pathogenic microorganisms. Thus, the development of a reliable green approach for the synthesis of nanoparticles is an important aspect of current nanotechnology research. In the present investigation, silver nanoparticles synthesized by a soil Bacillus sp. were characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, and EDS. The antibacterial potential of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles, standard antibiotics, and their conjugates were evaluated against multidrug-resistant biofilm-forming coagulase-negative S. epidermidis strains, S. aureus, Salmonella Typhi, Salmonella Paratyphi, and V. cholerae. Interestingly, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) showed remarkable antibacterial activity against all the test strains with the highest activity against S. epidermidis strains 145 and 152. In addition, the highest synergistic effect of AgNPs was observed with chloramphenicol against Salmonella typhi. The results of the study clearly indicate the promising biomedical applications of biosynthesized AgNPs.     

Quantum chromodynamics results from HERA and JLAB

Recent QCD results from electron?Cproton interactions at HERA and JLAB are presented. Inclusive cross-section measurements as well as studies of the hadronic final state like jet production or the production of heavy quarks are discussed. The results are compared with perturbative QCD predictions and their impact on the determination of the parton density functions of the proton as well as of the strong coupling ?? _s is discussed.     

Development of capacitance-based and impedance-based wireless sensors and sensor nodes for structural health monitoring applications

A field demonstration of a new and hybrid wireless sensing network paradigm for structural health monitoring (SHM) is presented. In this paradigm, both power and data interrogation commands are conveyed via a mobile agent that is sent to each sensor node to perform individual interrogations, which can alleviate several limitations of traditional sensing networks. This paper will discuss such prototype systems, which will be used to interrogate capacitive-based and impedance-based sensors for SHM applications. The capacitive-based wireless sensor node is specifically built to collect peak displacement measurements. In addition, a wireless sensor node for collecting electromechanical impedance data has also been developed. Both sensor nodes are specifically designed to accept various power sources and to be wirelessly triggered on an as-needed basis so that they can be used for the hybrid sensing network approach. The capabilities of these miniaturized and portable devices are demonstrated in the laboratory and the field, which was performed at the Alamosa Canyon Bridge in southern New Mexico.     

Combined 1H NMR and DFT study of the solvent effects on the iron pentacarbonyl‐catalyzed photo‐assisted isomerization of allyl alcohol

The relative rates of iron pentacarbonyl‐catalyzed photo‐induced isomerization of allyl alcohol to propanal in various solvents have been measured using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The reactions were run in linear and cyclic alkanes, alcohols, and amines in order to investigate solvent effects on the isomerization mechanism upon ultraviolet irradiation. The isomerization was efficient in nonane, hexane, cyclohexane, and benzene. The isomerization was very slow or completely suppressed in ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, triethylamine, and pyridine. Density functional theory calculations predicted thermodynamically favorable (ΔG^o < 0) formation of Fe(CO)₄–solvent compounds in the suppressing alcohol/amine solvents and unfavorable (ΔG^o > 0) formation in the hydrocarbon solvents. The strong solvent ligation likely prevents formation of Fe(CO)₃●(η²‐alkene) necessary for isomerization. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.