Synthesis and characterisation of Acylhydrazinatometallomesogens

Previous work at this institute involved the synthesis and characterisation of Ni2 complexes based on the N-alkylideneacylhydrazine ligand. The primary aims of this project were to synthesise and characterise a series of metallomesogens based on the N-allcylideneacylhydrazine ligand by studying the alternation of mesophase to mesophase and mesophase to isotropic phase transition temperatures whilst ascending a homologous series. The N-alkylideneacylhydrazinato metallomesogens were synthesised and later characterised spectroscopically. The effects of structural change on mesophase character was deternthed by polarising microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The structural alterations were, varying the alkoxy chain length of known acylhydrazinato-metallomesogens to give odd chain length homologues and the introduction of the 4-phenylazo moiety into acylhydrazinato-metallomesogens. The synthesis of bis[N-methylidene(4'-n-a1koxybenzoyl)hydrazinatonickel(ll) complexes proved successful, exhibiting nematic phases at short chain lengths and smectic C at longer chain lengths. The variation of chain length produced an odd-even effect in mesogen to mesogen and mesogen to isotropic transition temperatures, which decreased as the homolgous series was ascended. bis[N-Methylidene(4-(4'-n-alkoxyphenylazo)benzoyl)hydrazinato]nickel(II) complexes were synthesised successfully, their transition temperatures were significantly higher than their alkoxy analogues and they only exhibited the nematic mesophase, with significant decomposition and without reaching their clearing temperatures. The variation of chain length proved successful in exhibiting an oddeven effect in mesogen to mesogen and mesogen to isotropic transition temperatures which was much more pronounced with the bis[N-methylidene(4-(4'-n-alkoxyphenylazo) benzoyl)hydrazinato]nickel(II) complexes than with the bis[N-methylidene(4'-n-alkoxybenzoyl)hydrazinato]nickel(ll) complexes

Fluorogenic dansyl-ligated gold nanoparticles for the detection of sulfur mustard by displacement assay

The dansyl fluorophore ligated to gold nanoparticles via imidazole and amine groups affords conjugates capable of detecting micromolar concentrations of the chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard by a fluorescence switching 'ON' displacement assay. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry

Avian influenza in Australia: a summary of 5 years of wild bird surveillance

Background: Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are found worldwide in numerous bird species, causing significant disease in gallinaceous poultry and occasionally other species. Surveillance of wild bird reservoirs provides an opportunity to add to the understanding of the epidemiology of AIVs.\ud \ud Methods: This study examined key findings from the National Avian Influenza Wild Bird Surveillance Program over a 5-year period (July 2007-June 2012), the main source of information on AIVs circulating in Australia.\ud \ud Results: The overall proportion of birds that tested positive for influenza A via PCR was 1.90.1%, with evidence of widespread exposure of Australian wild birds to most low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) subtypes (H1-13, H16). LPAI H5 subtypes were found to be dominant and widespread during this 5-year period.\ud \ud Conclusion: Given Australia's isolation, both geographically and ecologically, it is important for Australia not to assume that the epidemiology of AIV from other geographic regions applies here. Despite all previous highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in Australian poultry being attributed to H7 subtypes, widespread detection of H5 subtypes in wild birds may represent an ongoing risk to the Australian poultry industry