Block copolymer nanoparticles of controlled sizes via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization

This article describes the formation and characterization of self‐assembled nanoparticles of controlled sizes based on amphiphilic block copolymers synthesized by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization. We synthesized a novel hydrophobic derivative of norbornene; this monomer could be polymerized using Grubbs' catalyst [Cl₂Ru(CHPh)(PCy₃)₂] forming polymers of controlled molecular weight. We synthesized amphiphilic block copolymers of controlled composition and showed that they assemble into nanoparticles of controlled size. The nanoparticles were characterized using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Tuning the composition of the block copolymer enables the tuning of the diameters of the nanoparticles in the 30‐ to 80‐nm range. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3352–3359, 2004     

Complexation of Ni (II) and Zn(II) ions by 3-(1-naphthyI)-2-mercaptopropenoic acid

The complexation equilibria between Ni(II) and Zn(II) metal ions with 3-(1-naphthyl)-2-mercaptopropenoic acid (H₂NMP) were studied by glass electrode potentiometry, at 25 °C and 1.0 mol·dm^–3 in NaClO₄ as constant ionic medium in 50% (v/v) water-ethanol solutions. Formation constants for the complexes Ni(NMP), Ni(NMP) ₂ ^2– , Zn(NMP) and Zn(NMP) ₂ ^2– , refined by the MINIGLASS program, are reported.     

Zeroes of complete polynomial vector fields

We prove that a complete polynomial vector field on has at most one zero, and analyze the possible cases of those with exactly one which is not of Poincaré-Dulac type. We also obtain the possible nonzero first jet singularities of the foliation at infinity and the nongenericity of completeness. Connections with the Jacobian Conjecture are established.

     

Dynamical structure of linearizedGL(4) gravities

The physical content of the three more natural models ofGL(4) gravity is analyzed, for the case of weak fields. The first model we deal with is the linearized version of Yang's onetensor-field gravity. It is shown that this is a scalar-tensor theory, with its scalar part contained in the symmetric tensorh , instead of appearing explicitly, externally to the symmetric tensorh , as happens in Brans-Dicke type of scalar-tensor theories. The second and the third linearized models, which can both be derived from the fourth-order action postulated by Yang, turn out to be two-tensor decoupled systems. In both cases one of the tensors is the symmetric weak metric gravity tensor field. The second tensor appearing in these two models, representing theGL(4)-gauge field, is either a linearized symmetric affinity (in the second model) or a linearized but nonsymmetric affinity (for the third model). It is shown that in these last two cases the affinity contains a helicity-3 propagating field. The connection is also given between the fourth-order system which determines the dynamical structure (for the last two models) of the metric tensor and the third-order Yang model of gravity. Owing to the presence of helicity-3 fields we show that it is better to regard Yang's action as an action for a two-tensor system instead of trying to recover from it a pure gravity (one-tensor-field) action. Finally, it is shown what is the dynamical structure of the second and third linearized two-tensor models which can be derived from Yang's action.On leave of absence from the Universidad Simón Bolívar.     

Structural transformation of MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanobelts into MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanotubes

The structural transformation of MoO₃ nanobelts into MoS₂ nanotubes using a simple sulfur source has been reported. This transformation has been extensively investigated using electron microscopic and spectroscopic techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction (ED), and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDAX and TEM-EDX). The method described in this report will serve as a generic route for the transformation of other oxide nanostructures into the chalcogenide nanostructures.     

Romanovski polynomials in selected physics problems

We briefly review the five possible real polynomial solutions of hypergeometric differential equations. Three of them are the well known classical orthogonal polynomials, but the other two are different with respect to their orthogonality properties. We then focus on the family of polynomials which exhibits a finite orthogonality. This family, to be referred to as the Romanovski polynomials, is required in exact solutions of several physics problems ranging from quantum mechanics and quark physics to random matrix theory. It appears timely to draw attention to it by the present study. Our survey also includes several new observations on the orthogonality properties of the Romanovski polynomials and new developments from their Rodrigues formula.     

Optical Absorption in Periodic Graphene Superlattices: Perpendicular Applied Magnetic Field and Temperature Effects

A detailed study of the magneto‐optical absorption is presented for graphene superlattices (SLs) subjected to a perpendicular magnetic field. For a given temperature, this quantity exhibits a resonant peak structure whose characteristics depend on the magnetic field regime, circular polarization of light and SL barrier height. For the intermediate field regime, we demonstrated that the resonant peak structure of is directly correlated to the partial joint density of states. Specifically, the latter exhibits van Hove‐like singularities and peaks at energies where takes its maximum values. We also investigated the magnetoabsorption in the weak field regime for SLs exhibiting one and extra Dirac points in the absence of the field. It was found that for SLs with only one Dirac point, the absorption spectra consist of resonant peaks satisfying the same circular polarization dependent selection rule as that for pristine graphene, except for one of them. For SLs with extra Dirac points, the resonant peaks arise from transitions between singlet subbands or between doublet subbands and satisfy a circular polarization and peak intensity dependent selection rule. It was also found that the resonant structure of can be observed experimentally at room temperature in clean SLs.     

A new approach for modelling the damped Helmholtz oscillator:applications to plasma physics and electronic circuits

In this paper,a new approach is devoted to find novel analytical and approximate solutions to the damped quadratic nonlinear Helmholtz equation(HE)in terms of the Weiersrtrass elliptic function.The exact solution for undamped HE(integrable case)and approximate/semi-analytical solution to the damped HE(non-integrable case)are given for any arbitrary initial conditions.As a special case,the necessary and sufficient condition for the integrability of the damped HE using an elementary approach is reported.In general,a new ansatz is suggested to find a semi-analytical solution to the non-integrable case in the form of Weierstrass elliptic function.In addition,the relation between the Weierstrass and Jacobian elliptic functions solutions to the integrable case will be derived in details.Also,we will make a comparison between the semi-analytical solution and the approximate numerical solutions via using Runge-Kutta fourth-order method,finite difference method,and homotopy perturbation method for the first-two approximations.Furthermore,the maximum distance errors between the approximate/semi-analytical solution and the approximate numerical solutions will be estimated.As real applications,the obtained solutions will be devoted to describe the characteristics behavior of the oscillations in RLC series circuits and in various plasma models such as electronegative complex plasma model.     

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering and density functional theory studies of bis(4‐aminophenyl)sulfone

Raman and surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of dapsone by using colloidal silver nanoparticles have been recorded. Density functional theory was used for the optimization of ground state geometries and simulation of the vibrational spectrum of this molecule. The SERS spectrum with a large silver cluster as a model metallic surface was simulated for the first time. Taking into account the experimental and calculated Raman as well as the SERS normal modes and the corresponding assignments, along with the modeling of the free dapsone and the one in the presence of the colloidal silver nanoparticles, the importance of the sulfone group on the SERS effect in dapsone was inferred. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Refinements of the Weyl Pure Geometrical Thick Branes From Information‐Entropic Measure

This work aims to analyse the so‐called configurational entropy in the Weyl pure geometrical thick brane model. The Weyl structure plays a prominent role in the brane thickness of this model. We find a set of parameters associated to the brane width where the configurational entropy exhibits critical points. The information‐theoretical measure sets bounds into parameter of Weyl pure geometrical brane model. In addition, we also argue that a similar approach can be useful to analyze the corrections to Newtonian and Coulombian potentials in Weyl scenarios.