Prediction of CL-20 chemical degradation pathways,theoretical and experimental evidence for dependence on competing modes of reaction

Highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energies, formation energies, bond lengths and FTIR spectra all suggest competing CL-20 degradation mechanisms. This second of two studies investigates recalcitrant, toxic, aromatic CL-20 intermediates that absorb from 370 to 430?nm. Our earlier study (Struct. Chem., 15, 2004) revealed that these intermediates were formed at high OH^? concentrations via the chemically preferred pathway of breaking the C–C bond between the two cyclopentanes, thereby eliminating nitro groups, forming conjugated π bonds, and resulting in a pyrazine three-ring aromatic intermediate. In attempting to find and make dominant a more benign CL-20 transformation pathway, this current research validates hydroxylation results from both studies and examines CL-20 transformations via photo-induced free radical reactions. This article discusses CL-20 competing modes of degradation revealed through: computational calculation; UV/VIS and SF spectroscopy following alkaline hydrolysis; and photochemical irradiation to degrade CL-20 and its byproducts at their respective wavelengths of maximum absorption.     

Efficient barrier properties of mechanically enhanced agro-extracted cellulosic biocomposites

The objective of this work was to prepare the mechanically stable hydrophobic biocomposites by incorporating the cellulose fibers into the polymer matrices for their applications in biomedical and food packaging. Herein, two different types of biocomposites were prepared by mixing polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) with the agro-extracted cellulose, separately at 170 °C. The influence of the cellulose fibers on the thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties of polymer matrices (PLA and PHB) was observed. With an increase in the cellulose content in PLA and PHB, the tensile strength of the biocomposite materials significantly improved with the enhancement of 24.45% and 32.08%, respectively, compared with the pure PLA and PHB. Furthermore, a decrease of 74.16% and 73.49% in the water vapor transmission rate and oxygen transmission rate, respectively, was observed for cellulose/PHB biocomposites. This study highlights that adding cellulose fibers significantly improves the mechanical and the barrier properties of PLA and PHB, suggesting their biocomposites for use in biodegradable polymer industries.     

Three-dimensional mixed convection flow with variable thermal conductivity and frictional heating

In this article,three-dimensional mixed convection flow over an exponentially stretching sheet is investigated.Energy equation is modelled in the presence of viscous dissipation and variable thermal conductivity.Temperature of the sheet is varying exponentially and is chosen in a form that facilitates the similarity transformations to obtain self-similar equations.Resulting nonlinear ordinary differential equations are solved numerically employing the Runge-Kutta shooting method.In order to check the accuracy of the method,these equations are also solved using bvp4c built-in routine in Matlab.Both solutions are in excellent agreement.The effects of physical parameters on the dimensionless velocity field and temperature are demonstrated through various graphs.The novelty of this analysis is the self-similar solution of the threedimensional boundary layer flow in the presence of mixed convection,viscous dissipation and variable thermal conductivity.     

Identification of an S5n allele in Oryza rufipogon Griff. and its effect on embryo sac fertility

Oryza rufipogon exhibits abundant genetic diversity and contains many elite genes. In this work, a total of 441 accessions of O. rufipogon were genetically examined using the functional marker S5n, revealing that 18 accessions carried the S5n allele with a heterozygous genotype (S5nS5i/j). Of these accessions, 14 were from Guangdong Province, 2 from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 1 from Hainan Province and 1 from Jiangxi Province. Further sequence analysis spanning both sides of the deletion in S5n allel...     

Calibration and evaluation of optical systems for full-field strain measurement

The design and testing of a reference material for the calibration of optical systems for strain measurement is described, together with the design and testing of a standardized test material that allows the evaluation and assessment of fitness for purpose of the most sophisticated optical system for strain measurement. A classification system for the steps in the measurement process is also proposed and allows the development of a unified approach to diagnostic testing of components or sub-systems in an optical system for strain measurement based on any optical technique. The results described arise from a European study known as SPOTS whose objectives were to begin to fill the gap caused by a lack of standards.     

Cohirsine - a novel isoquinolone alkaloid from

A novel alkaloid, cohirsine (1) was isolated from . Its structure has been investigated by extensive NMR studies including 2D NMR experiments. Its stereochemistry has been determined by 2D NOESY and NOE difference measurements.     

Global QSAR models of skin sensitisers for regulatory purposes

Background

The new European Regulation on chemical safety, REACH, (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of CHemical substances), is in the process of being implemented. Many chemicals used in industry require additional testing to comply with the REACH regulations. At the same time EU member states are attempting to reduce the number of animals used in experiments under the 3 Rs policy, (refining, reducing, and replacing the use of animals in laboratory procedures). Computational techniques such as QSAR have the potential to offer an alternative for generating REACH data. The FP6 project CAESAR was aimed at developing QSAR models for 5 key toxicological endpoints of which skin sensitisation was one.

Results

This paper reports the development of two global QSAR models using two different computational approaches, which contribute to the hybrid model freely available online.

Conclusions

The QSAR models for assessing skin sensitisation have been developed and tested under stringent quality criteria to fulfil the principles laid down by the OECD. The final models, accessible from CAESAR website, offer a robust and reliable method of assessing skin sensitisation for regulatory use.

     

MHD flow and heat transfer over permeable stretching sheet with slip conditions

The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow and heat transfer characteristics for the boundary layer flow over a permeable stretching sheet are considered. Velocity and thermal slip conditions are taken into account. Problem formulation is developed in the presence of thermal radiation. Governing non‐linear problem is solved by a homotopy analysis method. Convergence of the derived solutions is studied. Numerical values of skin‐friction coefficient and local Nusselt number are tabulated. Effects of pertinent parameters on the velocity and temperature profiles are discussed. Comparison between the present and previous limiting results is shown. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel Bis(2‐(5‐((5‐phenyl‐1H‐tetrazol‐1‐yl)methyl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)phenoxy)Alkanes: Synthesis and Characterization

In this study, 10 different substituted aromatic bis‐benzaldehydes were synthesized by treating hydroxy benzaldehydes with various dihaloalkanes. Bis aldehydes 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i , 5j were treated with 2‐(5‐phenyl‐1H‐tetrazole‐1‐yl)acetohydrazide ( 3 ) in acidic medium and in the presence of ammonium acetate to yield a series of new isomeric bis(2‐(5‐((5‐phenyl‐1H‐tetrazol‐1‐yl)methyl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)phenoxy)alkanes ( 6a , 6b , 6c , 6d , 6e , 6f , 6g , 6h , 6i , 6j ) in excellent to good yield. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by the available spectroscopic analysis.