Synthesis of Small‐Sized,Porous, and Low‐Toxic Magnetite Nanoparticles by Thin POSS Silica Coating

In this communication, we report the synthesis of small‐sized (<10 nm), water‐soluble, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), which contain either polyethylene glycol (PEG) or octa(tetramethylammonium) (OctaTMA) as functional groups. The POSS‐coated MNPs exhibit superparamagnetic behavior with saturation magnetic moments (51–53 emu g^?1) comparable to silica‐coated MNPs. They also provide good colloidal stability at different pH and salt concentrations, and low cytotoxicity to MCF‐7 human breast epithelial cells. The relaxivity data and magnetic resonance (MR) phantom images demonstrate the potential application of these MNPs in bioimaging.     

Palladium-catalysed three component synthesis of α,β-unsaturated amidines and imidates

Palladium-catalysed three component coupling of an alkenylbromide, isonitrile and an amine or alkoxide/phenoxide affords α,β-unsaturated-amidines and -imidates.     

Intermittency in the Slow Particle Emission During Hadron–Nucleus Interactions

The study of the angular distribution of slow particles during high energy hadron-nucleus interaction indicates that emission of slow particles takes place from a thermally non-equilibrated system. This evidence has come out from the presence of intermittency - a phenomenon that reveals a fractal structure and represents a self-similarity in the particle production process. Hence, this study highlights inadequacy of cascade-evaporation model and advocates the need of its refinement.     

A numerical study of time-dependent schr?dinger equation for multiphoton vibrational interaction of NO molecule, modelled as Morse oscillator, with intense far-infrared femtosecond lasers

For the NO molecule, modelled as a Morse oscillator, time-dependent (TD) nuclear Schr?dinger equation has been numerically solved for the multiphoton vibrational dynamics of the molecule under a far-infrared laser of wavelength 10503 nm, and four different intensities,I = 1 × 10⁸, 1 × 10¹³, 5 × 10¹⁶, and 5 × 10¹⁸ W cm⁻² respectively. Starting from the vibrational ground state at zero time, various TD quantities such as the norm, dissociation probability, potential energy curve and dipole moment are examined. Rich high-harmonics generation (HHG) spectra and above-threshold dissociation (ATD) spectra, due to the multiphoton interaction of vibrational motions with the laser field, and consequent elevation to the vibrational continuum, have been obtained and analysed. Dedicated to Professor C N R Rao on his 70th birthday An erratum to this article is available at .     

Fluctuation study of pionisation in ultrarelativistic nucleus-nucleus interaction

The scaled factorial moments and the multifractal moments have been investigated in differentη-intervals to study the dynamical fluctuation of pions produced in 200 AGeV³²S-Ag/Br interaction. In order to investigate the detail characteristics of intermittency behaviour, theF-moments are extracted up to the eighth order of moments in differentM-intervals. The analysis indicates a non-thermal phase transition and different regime of particle production during the hadronisation process.     

A simple and sensitive analytical method for the determination of antimony in environmental and biological samples.

The results of a study and application of leucocrystal violet for the determination of antimony in parts per million levels is described here. The proposed method is based on the reaction of antimony(III) with acidified potassium iodate to liberate iodine. The liberated iodine selectively oxidizes leucocrystal violet to crystal violet dye. The formed dye shows maximum absorbance at 590 nm. The color system obeys Beer's law in the concentration range from 0.4 - 3.6 microg antimony per 25 ml of final solution. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity were found to be 7.32 x 10(5) l mol(-1) cm(-1) and 0.0016 microg cm(-2), respectively. All variables were studied in order to optimize the reaction. The proposed method is satisfactorily applicable for the analysis of antimony in various environmental and biological samples. The method is simple, highly sensitive, accurate and reliable.     

A shape-optimization technique for the capillary surface problem

Summary The problem of the construction of an equilibrium surface taking the surface tension into account leads to Laplace-Young equation which is a nonlinear elliptic free-boundary problem. In contrast to Orr et al. where an iterative technique is used for direct solution of the equation for problems with simple geometry, we propose here an alternative approach based on shape optimization techniques. The shape of the domain of the liquid is varied to attain the optimality condition. Using optimal control theory to derive expressions for the gradient, a numerical scheme is proposed and simple model problems are solved to validate the scheme.     

Study on kinetics of copolymerisation of styrene and maleic anhydride in dioxane

Kinetics of the copolymerisation of styrene and maleic anhydride have been studied in dioxane at 50° using azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. Explanation of the kinetic behaviour has been attempted in terms of the participation in propagation of a charge-transfer complex between the monomers along with propagation via free monomers. It is found that the complex model is able to explain most features of the copolymerisation of these monomers. It has been possible to determine the constants δ₁, δ₂, k_1c/k₁₂, k_2c/k₂₁ and Φ where k_1c/k₁₂ and k_2c/k₂₁ represent the specific rate constants of reaction of a particular type of radical with a dissimilar monomer site of the complex relative to that with a dissimilar free monomer. They are reviewed on the basis of available literature data. The cross-termination factor Φ is found to play an important role in the present system. An approximate value of $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{t}}{}^{0.5}\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{p}}$ for maleic anhydride could also be found and this probably represents the first reported value for this constant from copolymerisation. The applicability of the generalised penultimate model is also briefly discussed.     

Development and Validation of a Liquid Chromatographic Method for Determination of Efavirenz in Human Plasma

A simple, rapid, and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for estimation of efavirenz in human plasma has been developed and validated. Chromatography was performed with C₁₈ analytical column and 50:50 acetonitrile–phosphate buffer (pH 3.5) as mobile phase. Compounds were monitored by UV detection at 247 nm. The retention time for efavirenz was 6.45 min and that for the internal standard, nelfinavir, was 2.042 min. Response was a linear over the concentration range of 0.1 μg–10 μg mL⁻¹ in human plasma. The method was simple, specific, precise and accurate and was useful for bioequivalence and pharmacokinetic studies of efavirenz.