Acousto-optic mode coupling of partially coherent light in two-mode optical fibers

An acoustic pulse propagating on a two-mode fiber can act as a beam splitter in a scanning interferometer. When this device is employed in white-light interferometry, the effects of distributed coupling and dispersive interferometer arms need to be considered. A theory suitable for treating acousto-optic interaction of partially coherent light in a moving interaction region was developed. It was found that differential optical dispersion should be negligible and the acoustic pulse length short. Also the coherence time should be short but long compared to the intermodal group delay difference over a pulse length. Experiments with long acoustic pulses were performed, and fairly good agreement with theory was obtained.     

Efficacious and sustained release of an anticancer drug mitoxantrone from new covalent organic frameworks using protein corona

Solid porous and crystalline covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are characterized by their higher specific BET surface areas and functional pore walls, which allow the adsorption of various bioactive molecules inside the porous lattices. We have introduced a perylene-based COF, PER@PDA-COF-1, which acts as an effective porous volumetric reservoir for an anticancer drug, mitoxantrone (MXT). The drug-loaded COF (MXT–PER@PDA-COF-1) exhibited zero cellular release of MXT towards cancer cells, which can be attributed to the strong intercalation between the anthracene-dione motif of the drug and the perylene-based COF backbone. Here, we have introduced a strategy involving the serum-albumin-triggered intracellular release of mitoxantrone from MXT–PER@PDA-COF-1. The serum albumin acts as an exfoliating agent and as a colloidal stabilizer in PBS medium (pH = 7.4), rapidly forming a protein corona around the exfoliated COF crystallites and inducing the sustained release of MXT from the COF into tumorigenic cells.

Solid porous and crystalline covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are characterized by their higher specific BET surface areas and functional pore walls, which allow the adsorption of various bioactive molecules inside the porous lattices.     

Speciation of 30 % tri-n-butyl phosphate solvent during extraction of nitric acid

Several solutions of 30 % TBP/n-dodecane were equilibrated with different concentrations of aqueous nitric acid solutions at 298.15 K at a phase ratio of unity. The resultant equilibrated aqueous and organic solutions were analyzed for acidity. A three-solvate model with molecular HNO₃ based mechanism was assumed for nitric acid extraction by TBP. With nonlinear chemometric methods, the coefficients were evaluated. With the set of optimized coefficients, derived on the basis of experiments reported in this work, the estimated solvate species and free-TBP species in the TBP containing organic phase were found to be in good agreement with the reported concentrations in the literature.     

Imparting Multifunctionality by Utilizing Biporosity in a Zirconium‐Based Metal–Organic Framework

In this work, we have synthesized nanocomposites made up of a metal–organic framework (MOF) and conducting polymers by polymerization of specialty monomers such as pyrrole (Py) and 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) in the voids of a stable and biporous Zr‐based MOF ( UiO‐66 ). FTIR and Raman data confirmed the presence of polypyrrole ( PPy ) and poly3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene ( PEDOT ) in UiO‐66‐PPy and UiO‐66‐PEDOT nanocomposites, respectively, and PXRD data revealed successful retention of the structure of the MOF. HRTEM images showed successful incorporation of polymer fibers inside the voids of the framework. Owing to the intrinsic biporosity of UiO‐66 , polymer chains were observed to selectively occupy only one of the voids. This resulted in a remarkable enhancement (million‐fold) of the electrical conductivity while the nanocomposites retain 60–70 % of the porosity of the original MOF. These semiconducting yet significantly porous MOF nanocomposite systems exhibited ultralow thermal conductivity. Enhanced electrical conductivity with lowered thermal conductivity could qualify such MOF nanocomposites for thermoelectric applications.     

Majorization for certain classes of analytic functions defined by fractional derivatives

Here we investigate a majorization problem involving starlike function of complex order belonging to a certain class defined by means of fractional derivatives. Relevant connections of the main results obtained in this paper with those given by earlier workers on the subject are also pointed out.     

Thermal decomposition of red-oil/nitric acid mixtures in adiabatic conditions

Formation and thermal decomposition of red-oil during unit operations of nuclear fuel cycle process flowsheets is a severe risk. In the literature, red-oil formation has been investigated thoroughly in general and in detail after Tomsk-7 incident on 6th April 1993. However there is no information on the thermal decomposition of formed red-oil. In this work, results of unique experiments on adiabatic thermal decomposition of red-oil, red-oil equilibrated with excess of 4N nitric acid and 100% TBP equilibrated with excess of 4N nitric acid have been discussed.     

Thermal stability of UNEX/HCCD-PEG diluent FS-13

Phenyl trifluoromethyl sulfone (FS-13) is an inert diluent used in HCCD/PEG process for isolation and recovery of cesium and strontium from highly radioactive raffinate waste. There is no experimental data available in open literature describing pressurization due to the thermal decomposition of FS-13 at elevated temperatures. Experiments were conducted for determination of flash point and heating of FS-13 under pressurized closed-vent conditions in an adiabatic calorimeter. During adiabatic experiments, negligible pressurization was observed.     

Probing the Effects of Antimicrobial-Lysozyme Derivatization on Enzymatic Degradation of Poly(ε-caprolactone) Film and Fiber

Surface derivatization is essential for incorporating unique functionalities into biodegradable polymers. Nonetheless, its precise effects on enzymatic biodegradation still lack comprehensive understanding. In this study, a facile solution-based method is employed to surface derivatize poly(ε-caprolactone) films and electrospun fibers with lysozyme, aiming to impart antimicrobial properties and examine the impact on enzymatic degradation. The derivatized films and fibers have shown high antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Through gravimetric analysis, it is observed that the degradation rate experiences a slight decrease upon lysozyme derivatization. However, this reduction is effectively countered by the inclusion of Tween-20, as affirmed by isothermal titration calorimetry. Comparing films and fibers, the latter undergoes degradation at a more accelerated pace, coupled with a rapid decline in molecular weight. This study provides valuable insights into the factors influencing the degradation of surface-derivatized biopolymers through electrospinning, offering a simple strategy to mitigate biomaterial-associated infections.     

Effect of group velocity dispersion on femtosecond pulse evolution in quantum well waveguide structures

The paper deals with the theoretical investigation of ultrafast-pulse evolution in a semiconductor quantum well (QW). Semiconductor Bloch equations are used to obtain the polarization induced in the medium due to incident Gaussian electromagnetic beam. The partial differential equation with finite group velocity dispersion (GVD) is then used to analyze the effect of induced polarization on the pulse. The role of GVD on femtosecond pulse evolution in GaAs/AlGaAs waveguide is studied, giving due consideration to the intensity dependent group velocity of the medium.