Search Results (8)

Main-chain conjugated and non-conjugated polyelectrolytes are an important class of materials that have many technological applications ranging from fire-retardant materials to carbon-nanotube composites, nonlinear optical materials, electrochromic materials for smart windows, and optical sensors for biomolecules. Here, we describe a series of poly(pyridinium salt)s-fluorene containing 9,9-bis(4-aminophenyl)fluorene moieties with various organic counterions that were synthesized using ring-transmutation polymerization and metathesis reactions, which are non-conjugated polyelectrolytes. Their chemical structures were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), proton (¹H) and fluorine 19 (¹⁹F) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers, and elemental analysis. They exhibited polyelectrolytic behavior in dimethyl sulfoxide. Their lyotropic liquid-crystalline phases were examined by polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies. Their emission spectra exhibited a positive solvatochromism on changing the polarity of solvents. They emitted greenish-yellow lights in polar organic solvents. They formed aggregates in polar aprotic and protic solvents with the addition of water (v/v, 0–90%), whose λ_em peaks were blue shifted. Full article

Bone minerals may be more complex than the prevailing opinion suggests. Understanding its biomaterial properties in health and disease may address fundamental geo/biomorphological ambiguities recurrent within its calcified cancellous hierarchy of macro-, micro-, and nano-skeletal networks. (i) There is evidence that the outer mineral macroskeleton of interconnected trabeculae (150 µm diameter) is modulated according to axes of tensile stress by permeating arrays of periosteal Sharpey’s fibres (collagen type III/VI, 5–25 µm thick) studded with tenascin organiser protein. (ii) Its substructural mineral microskeleton is a reticulation of bridged and deformable calcium phosphate/carbonate microspheres (about 1 µm diameter). These organically enshrouded (e.g., bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin, osteopontin) objects, configured by the adhesive organiser protein fibronectin and tempered by trace elements (e.g., Si, Mg, Fe, Al), display differential histochemistry (e.g., acid phosphatase, carbonic anhydrase) and anomalous traits (tetracycline binding, gram-positive microbial staining and nucleic acid staining affinity). The calcified microspheres are intracellular fabrications of osteocyte cohorts developed within “switched on” Golgi cisternae prior to aggregation at the extracellular calcification front in chains and looped assemblies. (iii) Within each microsphere, a less dense centre is encircled by a mineral nanoskeleton of beaded filaments (5 nm in diameter) transmutable in electron density, with a trait for lateral fusion into ladder-like struts, stays and senescent fenestrated plates, constituting domains of microparticle slip and crystal fracture. The evidence suggests a bone mineral biosystem of integrated complexity within which a particulate assemblage at the animate: inanimate calcification front resembles a colonial construct of prokaryote-like, Golgi-fabricated objects calcified with phosphate and harbouring a resident biochemistry. A self-contained “Petrified Microbiome” is proposed to be orchestrated according to a biodynamic primordial paradigm. Full article

This paper focuses on the highly radioactive, long-lasting nuclear waste produced by the currently operating fission reactors and on the sensitive issue of spent fuel reprocessing. Also included is a short description of the fission process and a detailed analysis of the more hazardous radioisotopes produced either by secondary reactions occurring in the nuclear installations or by decay of the fission fragments. The review provides an overview of the strategies presently adopted to minimize the harmfulness of the nuclear waste to be disposed, with a focus on the development and implementation of methodologies for the spent fuel treatments. The partitioning-conditioning and partitioning-transmutation options are analyzed as possible solutions to decrease the presence of long-lived highly radioactive isotopes. Also discussed are the chemical/physical approaches proposed for the recycling of the spent fuel and for the reusing of some technologically relevant isotopes in industrial and pharmaceutical areas. A brief indication is given of the opportunities offered by innovative types of reactors and/or of new fuel cycles to solve the issues presently associated with radioactive waste. Full article

A novel discrete Poisson mixing probability distribution with two parameters has been developed by combining the Poisson distribution with the transmuted moment exponential distribution. It is possible to deduce several mathematical properties, such as the moment-generating function, ordinary moments, moments about the mean, skewness, kurtosis, and the dispersion index. The maximum likelihood estimation method is utilized to estimate the model’s parameters. A thorough simulation study is utilized to determine the behavior of the generated estimators. Estimating model parameters using a Bayesian methodology is another primary topic of this research. The behavior of Bayesian estimates is evaluated by first charting the trace, then generating 1,005,000 iterations of the Markov chain Monte Carlo method. In addition to this, we suggest a new count regression model that uses Poisson and negative binomial models in an alternating fashion. In conclusion, asymmetric datasets derived from various research areas are utilized for practical applications. Full article

In this paper, we present a trajectory period folding method for numerical modelling of nuclear transformations. The method uses the linear chain method, commonly applied for modelling of isotopic changes in matter. The developed method folds two consecutive periods of time and forms linear chain representations. In the same way as in the linear chain method, the mass flow of straight nuclide-to-nuclide transitions following the formation of nuclide transmutation chains in every step is considered over the total period of interest. Therefore, all quantitative data about the isotopic transformations for the period beyond a particular calculation step are preserved. Moreover, it is possible to investigate the formation history of any isotope from the beginning of irradiation to the arbitrary time step, including cooling periods and multi-recycling for any designed nuclear fuel cycle. We present a case study for the transition from ²³⁸U to ²³⁹Pu and define the properties of the developed method and its possible applications in reactor physics calculations. Full article

A series of poly(pyridinium salt)s-fluorene main-chain ionic polymers with various organic counterions were synthesized by using ring-transmutation polymerization and metathesis reactions. Their chemical structures were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), proton (¹H), and fluorine 19 (¹⁹F) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers. These polymers showed a number-average molecular weight (M_ns) between 96.5 and 107.8 kg/mol and polydispersity index (PDI) in the range of 1.12–1.88. They exhibited fully-grown lyotropic phases in polar protic and aprotic solvents at different critical concentrations. Small-angle X-ray scattering for one polymer example indicates lyotropic structure formation for 60–80% solvent fraction. A lyotropic smectic phase contains 10 nm polymer platelets connected by tie molecules. The structure also incorporates a square packing motif within platelets. Thermal properties of polymers were affected by the size of counterions as determined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis measurements. Their ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectra in different organic solvents were essentially identical, indicating that the closely spaced π-π* transitions occurred in their conjugated polymer structures. In contrast, the emission spectra of polymers exhibited a positive solvatochromism on changing the polarity of solvents. They emitted green lights in both polar and nonpolar organic solvents and showed blue light in the film-states, but their λ_em peaks were dependent on the size of the counterions. They formed aggregates in polar aprotic and protic solvents with the addition of water (v/v, 0–90%), and their λ_em peaks were blue shifted. Full article

The theoretical aspects of the linear chain method for the numerical modelling of nuclear transmutation systems, and particularly regarding the transmutation trajectory analysis (TTA), are presented. The theoretical background of the TTA method, as an advanced version of the linear chain method, with the detailed description of the applied mathematical set-up and graphical visualisation of transformation chains, is shown. As the TTA method was initially developed at the AGH University of Science and Technology almost 25 years ago, several numerical implementations were introduced worldwide, yet the mathematical improvements or alternative forms of solutions and numerical algorithms were reported since then. The method was also implemented and tested by different research groups, also in confrontation with alternative approaches to the nuclear transformation problem known as the matrix method. The aim of the paper is to present the background of the developed method and its advantages, clarify misunderstandings in the method perception and suggest unexplored options in numerical algorithm implementation. Full article

Two commodity polymers, polystyrene (PS) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), were irradiated by high-energy He ion beams at low fluence to examine the wettability changes at different fluences. The water contact angles of the PS and HDPE surfaces were reduced from 78.3° to 46.7° and 81.5° to 58.5°, respectively, upon increasing the fluence from 0 to 1 × 10¹³ He²⁺/cm² for irradiation durations ≤4 min. Surface analyses were performed to investigate these wettability changes. Surface texture evaluations via scanning electron and atomic force microscopies indicated non-remarkable changes by irradiation. However, the chemical structures of the irradiated polymer surfaces were notable. The high-energy He ions induced nuclear transmutation of C to N, leading to C–N bond formation in the polymer chains. Further, C–O and C=O bonds were formed during irradiation in air because of polymer oxidation. Finally, amide and ester groups were generated by irradiation. These polar groups improved hydrophilicity by increasing surface energies. Experiments with other polymers can further elucidate the correlation between polymer structure and surface wettability changes due to high-energy low-fluence He ion irradiation. This method can realize simple and effective utilization of commercial cyclotrons to tailor polymer surfaces without compromising surface texture and mechanical integrity. Full article