Mapping the polarization pattern of plasmon modes reveals nanoparticle symmetry

We study the wavelength and polarization dependent plasmon resonances of single silver and gold nanorods, triangles, cubes, and dimers with a novel single particle spectroscopy method (RotPOL). In RotPOL, a rotating wedge-shaped polarizer encodes the full polarization information of each particle within one image. This reveals the symmetry of the particles and their plasmon modes, allows analyzing inhomogeneous samples and the monitoring of particle shape changes during growth in situ.     

Complex Diagnostics of Non-Specific Intellectual Developmental Disorder

Intellectual development disorder (IDD) is characterized by a general deficit in intellectual and adaptive functioning. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in studying the genetic structure of IDD. Of particular difficulty are patients with non-specific IDD, for whom it is impossible to establish a clinical diagnosis without complex genetic diagnostics. We examined 198 patients with non-specific IDD from 171 families using whole-exome sequencing and chromosome microarray analysis. Hereditary forms of IDD account for at least 35.7% of non-specific IDD, of which 26.9% are monogenic forms. Variants in the genes associated with the BAF (SWI/SNF) complex were the most frequently identified. We were unable to identify phenotypic features that would allow differential diagnosis of monogenic and microstructural chromosomal rearrangements in non-specific IDD at the stage of clinical examination, but due to its higher efficiency, exome sequencing should be the diagnostic method of the highest priority study after the standard examination of patients with NIDD in Russia.     

Stabilization of immiscible polymer blends using structure directing metal organic frameworks (MOFs)

We have developed a novel approach for compatibilizing immiscible polymer blends using metal organic frameworks (MOFs). For the first time we demonstrated that the droplet diameter of the dispersed phase in a 1:1 immiscible polymer blend composed of 6FDA-DAM:DABA [copolymer of 4,4-hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride (6FDA), 2,4,6-trimethyl-1,3-phenylenediamine and 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid (DABA)], and polybenzimidazole (PBI), is dramatically reduced obtaining a uniform microstructure with the incorporation of as low as 5% (w/w) of the zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8). This indicates a large improvement in the compatibility of the immiscible polymers with the inclusion of ZIF-8. As the ZIF-8 loading was further increased to 10% (w/w), the droplet diameter further decreased resulting in even higher compatibility. The compatibilizing effect can be attributed to a reduction in the interfacial energy of the immiscible polymers due to the interfacial localization of ZIF-8. This MOF based compatibilization of immiscible polymer blends can open up opportunities for the combination of different properties of polymers in membrane-based separations and in more applications.     

Emission Phenomena Accompanying the Triboelectrification Process in Vacuum

It was experimentally found that the triboelectrification of a dielectric is accompanied by the intense emission of high-energy electrons, both in the rolling friction and in the sliding friction. A detailed study was done in the electron emission during the course of triboelectrification in the process of mutual rolling of two dielectric rolls. The experimental results have shown that in triboelectrification the parameters of electron emission depend on the physico-chemical properties of the surfaces of contacting bodies.