Electrochemical polymerization of an electron deficient fluorene derivative bearing ethylenedioxythiophene side groups

A new low band gap polyfluorene derivative, poly(2,7-bis-(2,3-dihydro-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-fluoren-9-one) (PEFE), containing ethylenedioxythiophene as donor and fluorenone (FO) as an acceptor groups was electrochemically synthesized. Electrochemical polymerization of 2,7-bis-(2,3-dihydro-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-fluoren-9-one (EFE) was achieved in dichloromethane with 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium-hexafluorophosphate both via and potentiostatic methods. The polymer was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques. Spectroelectrochemical and electrochemical analysis revealed that the polymer film is both p- and n-dopable and can be successfully cycled and switched between its neutral and oxidized/reduced states. Furthermore, PEFE shows electrochromic behavior by a color change from brown to blue with a switching time of 1.65 s during oxidation with a high coloration efficiency (250 cm²/C). Fluorescence studies were also performed.     

Sensory and Physico‐Chemical Properties of Cold Press‐Produced Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) Seed Oils

In this study, roasted and unroasted (control) tomato seeds were cold pressed and the seeds, oils, and seed presscakes (meals) were analyzed. Some physicochemical properties, total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, thermal properties, mineral contents, fatty acids, sterols and tocopherols compositions, volatile compounds and sensory evaluation of the tomato seed oils were determined. The tomato seeds contained 3.3 % of ash, 17.3 % of oil and 27.2 % of protein. The cold press oil recovery rate was 7.2 and 10.28 % for control and roasted seeds, respectively. There were eight sensory terms defining the oils together with 34 different aromatic compounds quantified. The volatile compounds furfural, hexanal, benzaldehyde and 2‐isobutylthiazole were found with the highest frequency in the samples. Roasted, green and tomato were defined as characteristic sensory terms for tomato seeds oils. Fifteen different minerals, melting and crystallization temperatures and enthalpies of the oil samples were also quantified. This study provides important data for the tomato seed oils, and proves that pre‐roasted tomato seed oils are high quality, nutritious and aromatics oils with higher levels of consumer acceptability.     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of maneb and its main degradation product, ethylenethiouera, in fruit juice

Ethylenethiourea (ETU), a possible human carcinogen and an antithyroid compound, is the main degradation product of the fungicide, maneb, which is widely used in agriculture. In this study, a rapid and accurate method for the determination of maneb and ETU in various fruit juices (tomato, grape and apple) was developed requiring minimal clean-up of sample extract, no derivatization prior to injection and no specialized LC detectors. Samples were cleaned up using silica and octadecylsilica (C18) cartridges before injection into liquid chromatography (LC) with diode-array detection (DAD). Recoveries ranged between 90 and 101% with relative standard deviations from 0.7 to 3.8%. The limits of determination of maneb and ETU were 0.1 and 0.01 mg l(-1), respectively. The proposed method was used to monitor the presence of maneb and ETU in commercial samples taken from different markets of Istanbul, Turkey. Maneb was found in one tomato juice sample at a concentration of 0.45 mg l(-1) but ETU was below the LOQ. Two tomato juices had no detectable maneb residue but contained ETU at levels of 0.08 and 0.11 mg l-(1).     

A systematic study on MOS type radiation sensors

Radiation sensors based on metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) structure are useful because of their superior sensitivity as well as excellent compatibility with the existing microelectronic technology. In this paper, a systematic study of MOS capacitors built on p- and n-type Si substrates with different SiO₂ thicknesses (10 nm, 50 nm, 100 nm and 240 nm) is presented. MOS device response to gamma radiation up to 256 Gray have been studied from the sensor application point of view. Variation of the radiation induced device response with oxide thickness, substrate type, applied bias and post annealing have been measured and discussed. Radiation induced charge in MOS devices is shown to be a strong function of the oxide thickness as expected. Application of a positive bias to the gate is found to enhance the device sensitivity for both n- and p-type devices. This is explained in terms of the involvement of the interface states in the sensing process. Devices have also been studied after repeated cycles of irradiation and annealing treatment under hydrogen atmosphere. Each cycle consists of gamma irradiation with 60 Gray dose and an anneal at 200 °C for 30 min. The charging-discharging mechanism during these cycles is discussed.     

Diode Polarization and Resistive Switching in Metal/TlGaSe2 Semiconductor/Metal Devices

Semiconductors - The influence of electric field and current flow on the current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of TlGaSe2 layered semiconductor was investigated by using a two-point...     

Design of electrochemical biosensor systems for the detection of specific DNA sequences in PCR-amplified nucleic acids related to the catechol-O-methyltransferase Val108/158Met polymorphism based on intrinsic guanine signal

Psychiatric disorders are common and complex diseases that show polygenic and multifactorial heredity. A single nucleotide polymorphism (Val108/158Met) in the catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) gene is related to many psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Schizophrenia is a complex disorder and a single nucleotide polymorphism (Val108/158Met) at the COMT gene is related to schizophrenia susceptibility. A novel hybridization-based disposable electrochemical DNA biosensor for the detection of a common functional polymorphism in the COMT gene from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons has been described without using an external label. This developed technology combined with a disposable carbon graphite electrode and differential pulse voltammetry was performed by using short synthetic oligonucleotides and PCR amplicons in length 203 bp to measure the change of guanine oxidation signal obtained at approximately +1.0 V after DNA hybridization between probe and target (synthetic target or denatured PCR samples). COMT-specific oligonucleotides were immobilized onto the carbon surface with a simple adsorption method in two different modes: (a) Guanine-containing targets were attached or (b) inosine-substituted probes were attached onto an electrode. By controlling the surface coverage of the target DNA, the hybridization event between the probes and their synthetic targets or specific PCR products was optimized. The wild-type or polymorphic allele-specific probes/targets were also interacted with an equal amount of noncomplementary and one-base mismatch-containing DNAs in order to measure the sensor selectivity. The decrease or appearance in the intrinsic guanine signal simplified the detection procedure and shortened the assay time because protocol eliminates the label-binding step. The nonspecific binding effects were minimized by using sodium dodecyl sulfate with different washing methods. The Val108/158Met COMT genotype detection were performed with real samples containing wild-type (healthy controls), polymorphic (mutant type), and heterozygous PCR products. The detection limit (S/N = 3) of the biosensor was 2.44 pmol of target sequence in the 30-muL samples. Analytical performance of the sensor is described, along with future prospects.     

The promotion of ignition in a supersonic H2-air mixing layer by laser-induced excitation of O2 molecules: Numerical study

A possibility of a considerable enhancement of ignition in a diffusion mode in a supersonic non-premixed H₂-air flow by means of the laser-induced excitation of O₂ molecules to the electronic state is investigated on the base of numerical simulation. It is shown that for significant shortening the induction zone length it is sufficient to expose only a thin air layer (with thickness of 1-2 cm) to resonance laser radiation with a small input radiation energy 5 × 10⁻³-2 × 10⁻² J/cm³. Even a small amount of radiation energy transmitted to the air flow makes it possible to arrange a stable combustion at a short distance (?1 m) from the irradiation region at a relatively low temperature of the air (T = 800 K). Shortening the induction zone length, in this case, is due to intensification of chain-branching via excitation of O₂ molecules by laser radiation and penetration of excited molecules into the shear layer.     

Sunflower Oil–Beeswax Oleogels Are Promising Frying Medium for Potato Strips

Sunflower oil–beeswax oleogels at 3% (BWO-3) and 8% (BWO-8) organogelator concentration are prepared to evaluate oleogels as frying medium for potato strip frying against commercial sunflower oil (SO). Rheological and thermal analyses of oleogels prove that the samples are fully solid (20±3 °C) and totally liquid (180 °C), and thermoreversible. Fresh and used (after frying) fat analyses show that free fatty acidity (FFA), peroxide value (PV) and total polar materials (TPM) are enhanced in all samples at the 7th h, but the relative enhancement levels are lower in oleogel samples. Potato strips fried in oleogels absorb significantly less oil (11.97% and 12.07%) than the control sample (15.20%). Potatoes fried in oleogels are also more bright and yellower than the control sample. Textural profile of the fried potatoes indicates that the samples fried in oleogels are harder, springier, and gummier than that of the control sample. Sensory analysis shows that oleogel fried potatoes get higher sensory scores. Also, overall acceptability of potatoes fried in BWO-8 sample is the highest (8.50) among all. The prepared oleogels are found quite promising frying medium in this study. Further studies with other types of oleogels in extended period frying of various foods are suggested. Practical applications: The development of innovative frying techniques to produce healthier products with lower fat and calorie values are still a remarkable research area. Oleogelation is an emerging strategy used for solid-like oil designing and based on the formation of 3D networks by the addition of organogelators. Oleogelation is accepted as a healthy strategy to structure liquid oils into solid consistency, and oleogels have great edible applications in processed foods, and can be used as a frying medium. This work can guide the use of sunflower oil–beeswax oleogels as a frying medium and allow the development of more healthy fried snacks.     

Synthesis of antibacterial N-halamine acryl acid copolymers and their application onto cotton

A series of N-halamine copolymers are synthesized by reacting hydantoinylacrylamide (HA) with acrylic acid (AA) in several mole ratios. The synthesized copolymers are characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ¹H NMR and coated onto cotton fabrics. The coated cotton fabrics are rendered antibacterial by chlorinating with dilute household bleach solution. The ultraviolet (UVA) light stabilities of the resulting copolymers on the coated cotton fabrics are investigated; the results show that UVA exposure has minimal effect on the structure of the copolymers but can cause partial loss of the chlorine loading on the coated cotton fabrics. The coated cotton fabrics exhibit excellent antibacterial efficacies achieving inactivations of about six logs of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7 within 1 min of contact time. The cotton fabrics coated with the copolymers would best be employed in disposable fabric applications because of lack of washing fastness due to the weak bonding interaction between the AA unit and cellulose. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47426.