Numbers of faces in disordered patches

It has been shown that the boundary structure of patches with all faces of the same size k, all interior vertices of the same degree m and all boundary vertices of degree at most m determines the number of faces of the patch (Brinkmann et al., Graphs and discovery, 2005; Guo et al., Discrete Appl Math 118(3):209–222, 2002). In case of at least two defective faces, that is faces with degree k′ ≠ k, it is well known that this is not the case. The most famous example for this is the Endo–Kroto C ₂-insertion (Endo and Kroto, J Phys Chem 96:6941–6944, 1992). Patches with alimited amount of disorder are especially interesting for the case k = 6, m = 3 and k′ = 5. This case corresponds to polycyclic hydrocarbons with a limited number of pentagons and to subgraphs of fullerenes. The last open question was the case of exactly one defective face or vertex. In this paper we generalize the results of Brinkmann et al. (2005) and Guo et al. (2002) and in some cases corresponding to Euclidean lattices also deal with patches that have vertices of degree larger than m on the boundary, have sequences of degrees on the boundary that are identical only modulo m and have vertex and face degrees in the interior that are multiples of m, resp. k. Furthermore we prove that in case of at most one defective face with a degree that is not a multiple of k the number of faces of a patch is determined by the boundary. This result implies that fullerenes cannot grow by replacing patches of a restricted size.     

A new look at the reduced-gradient-following path

 The mathematical structure of the reduced-gradient-following (RGF) path introduced by Quapp et al. (1988 J. Comput. Chem. 19:1087) is reviewed and analyzed. We report two new algorithms to evaluate the RGF path. The RGF path is also compared mathematically and computationally with the gradient extremals path. An example of the evaluation of the RGF path is also reported. Received: 21 May 2001 / Accepted: 27 September 2001 / Published online: 9 January 2002     

Preparation of micelles with azo dye and UV absorbent at their cores or coronas using non-amphiphilic block copolymers

Micelles with azo dye and UV absorbent at their cores or coronas were prepared from non-amphiphilic random diblock copolymers by α,ω-diamine. Poly[4-(phenylazophenoxymethyl)styrene-ran-4-(2-hydroxybenzophenoxymethyl)styrene-ran-vinylphenol]-block-polystyrene (P(AS-r-HBS-r-VPh)-b-PSt) and poly(vinylphenol)-block-poly[4-(phenylazophenoxymethyl)styrene-ran-4-(2-hydroxybenzophenoxymethyl)styrene-ran-styrene] (PVPh-b-P(AS-r-HBS-r-St)) diblock copolymers were prepared by living radical polymerization mediated by 4-methoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl. The former copolymer had a molecular weight of Mn[P(AS-r-HBS-r-VPh)-b-PSt] = 10,000-b-250,000 by ¹H NMR and a molar ratio of AS:HBS:VPh = 0.01:0.01:0.98, while the latter had a molecular weight of Mn[PVPh-b-P(AS-r-HBS-r-St)] = 10,000-b-111,000 and a molar ratio of AS:HBS:St = 0.02:0.03:0.95. The copolymers showed no self-assembly in 1,4-dioxane because this solvent was non-selective to the copolymers. Dynamic light scattering demonstrated that the copolymers formed micelles in the solvent in the presence of α,ω-diamine. The hydrodynamic radii of the micelles slightly increased with the copolymer concentration decrease, while the aggregation numbers were almost independent of the copolymer concentration. It was found that P(AS-r-HBS-r-VPh)-b-PSt formed smaller micelles with a lower aggregation number than PVPh-b-P(AS-r-HBS-r-St) because of the steric hindrance of the AS and HBS units present at the micellar coronas.     

Analysis of photocurrent spectra at polybithienyl film coated on Pt

Photoelectrochemical measurements have been performed at a polybithienyl (PBT) film (doping level of 1 × 10¹⁸/cm³) deposited on a platinum electrode. The cathodic photocurrents and negative slope of the Mott-Schottky plot indicate that the PBT film has the features of a p-type semiconductor. The cathodic photocurrents are interpreted in terms of the Gaertner-Butler model on the basis of the theory of the semiconductor|solution interface. The (i _ph hν)^2/n vs. hν plots taken from the photocurrent spectra show two linearities for n=1 in the wavelength range from 460 nm to 490 nm and for n=4 in the wavelength range λ > 490 nm. The band gaps of the PBT film were determined to be 2.05 ± 0.05 eV for n=1 and 1.55 ± 0.05 eV for n=4. The flat-band potential is 0.33 V (vs SCE). From the slope of the Mott-Schottky plot at the modulation frequency of 3 kHz, the dielectric constant ɛ of the film and the thickness of the depletion layer W ₀ of the PBT film were determined to be 7.4 and 0.29 μm, respectively. Received: 6 January 1999 / Accepted: 6 June 1999     

Photocurrent and differential capacity measurements at polybithienyl and poly(3-butylthiophene) films

Photocurrent and differential capacity measurements have been carried out at polybithienyl (PBT) and poly(3-butylthiophene) (PBuT) films on platinum. The photocurrents are cathodic, similar to inorganic p-type semiconductors. The band gap energy was determined from the photocurrent spectra (E _g=1.7 eV for PBT and E _g=1.9 eV for PBuT). The dependence of the differential capacity on the potential could be presented as Mott-Schottky plot, at least in a limited potential region. The flatband potential was determined (E _fb= 0.67 V for PBT and E _fb=0.58 V for PBuT). Received: 9 June 1998 / Accepted: 22 August 1998     

Preparation and Crystal Structure of K2Ag12Te7

Summary.  Single crystals of K₂Ag₁₂Te₇ (a = 11.460(2), c = 4.660(1) ?; V = 530.01 ?³; space group: P6₃/m; Z = 1) were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions at 250°C in concentrated aqueous KOH solution from elementary silver and tellurium. The crystal structure is characterized by trigonal prismatic KTe₆ polyhedra, connected via two common faces to KTe₃ rods parallel to [001]. These rods are combined by two crystallographically independent Ag atoms, each coordinated to four Te and three Ag atoms (Ag–Te and Ag–Ag < 3.1 ?) to a framework of the formula (K₂Ag₁₂Te₆)^2 + and with channels parallel to the sixfold axis. These channels are statistically occupied by one further Te atom per unit cell, distributed over two independent positions. Received May 17, 2001. Accepted (revised) July 3, 2001     

Preparation and Crystal Structure of K2Ag12Te7

 Single crystals of K₂Ag₁₂Te₇ (a = 11.460(2), c = 4.660(1) ?; V = 530.01 ?³; space group: P6₃/m; Z = 1) were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions at 250°C in concentrated aqueous KOH solution from elementary silver and tellurium. The crystal structure is characterized by trigonal prismatic KTe₆ polyhedra, connected via two common faces to KTe₃ rods parallel to [001]. These rods are combined by two crystallographically independent Ag atoms, each coordinated to four Te and three Ag atoms (Ag–Te and Ag–Ag < 3.1 ?) to a framework of the formula (K₂Ag₁₂Te₆)^2 + and with channels parallel to the sixfold axis. These channels are statistically occupied by one further Te atom per unit cell, distributed over two independent positions.     

A note on the cyclical edge-connectivity of fullerene graphs

A fullerene graph is a 3-regular (cubic) and 3-connected spherical graph that has exactly 12 pentagonal faces and other hexagonal faces. The cyclical edge-connectivity of a graph G is the maximum integer k such that G cannot be separated into two components, each containing a cycle, by deletion of fewer than k edges. Došlić proved that the cyclical edge-connectivity of every fullerene graph is equal to 5. By using Euler’s formula, we give a simplified proof, mending a small oversight in Došlić’s proof. Further, it is proved that the cyclical connectivity of every fullerene graph is also equal to 5.     

Thermal stability of recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFPuv) at various pH values

The thermal stability of the recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFPuv) expressed by Escherichia coli cells and isolated by three-phase partitioning extraction with hydrophobic interaction chromatography was studied. The GFPuv (3.5–9.0 μg of GFPuv/mL) was exposed to various pH conditions (4.91–9.03) and temperatures (75–95°C) in the 10 mM buffers: acetate (pH 5.0–7.0), phosphate (pH 5.5–8.0), and Tris-HCl (pH 7.0–9.0). The extent of protein denaturation (loss of fluorescence intensity) was expressed in decimal reduction time (D-value), the time exposure required to reduce 90% of the initial fluorescence intensity of GFPuv. For pH 7.0 to 8.0, the thermostability of GFPuv was slightly greater in phosphate buffer than in Tris-HCl. At 85°C, the D-values (pH 7.1–7.5) ranged from 7.24 (Tris-HCl) to 13.88 min (phosphate) The stability of GFPuv in Tris-HCl (pH>8.0) was constant at 90 and 95°C, and the D-values were 7.93 (pH 8.38–8.92) and 6.0 min (pH 8.05–8.97), respectively. The thermostability of GFPuv provides the basis for its potential utility as a fluorescent biologic indicator to assay the efficacy of moist-heat treatments at temperatures lower than 100°C.     

A novel polycondensation method for the synthesis of a two-faced β-1,4-glucan

Abstract  

The stereospecific synthesis of a chitosan derivative repeating 2-azido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-d-glucopyranose, which has two distinguishing faces, was achieved by polycondensation of the sole starting disaccharide, trichloroacetimidoyl 2-azido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-d-glucopyranoside in a short and efficient way.     

Volumetric properties of glucose in aqueous HCl solutions at temperatures from 278.15 to 318.15 K

Densities have been measured for Glucose + HCl +Water at 10-degree intervals from 278.15 to 318.15 K. The apparent molar volumes (V _Φ,G) and standard partial molar volumes (V _Φ,G ⁰ ) for Glucose in aqueous solution of 0.2, 0.4, 0.7, 1.1, 1.6, 2.1 mol·kg⁻¹ HCl have been calculated as well as volumetric interaction parameters (V _EG) for Glucose — HCl in water and standard partial molar expansion coefficients (∂V _Φ,G ⁰ / ∂T)_p. Results show that (1) the apparent molar volume for Glucose in aqueous HCl solutions increases lineally with increasing molality of Glucose and HCl; (2) V _Φ,G/0 for Glucose in aqueous HCl solutions increases lineally with increasing molality of HCl; (3) the volumetric interaction parameters for Glucose — HCl pair in water are small positive and vary slightly with temperature; (4) the relation between V _Φ,G ⁰ and temperature exists as V _Φ,G ⁰ = a ₀ + a ₁(T − 273.15 K)^2/3; (5) values of (∂V _Φ,G ⁰ / ∂T)_p are positive and increase as temperatures rise, and at given temperatures decrease slightly with increasing molalities of HCl, indicating that the hydration of glucose decreases with increasing temperature and molality of HCl. These phenomena are interpreted successfully by the structure interaction model. Translated from Acta Chimica Sinica, 2006, 64(16): 1635–1641 (in Chinese)     

Thermodynamic surface properties of single crystal faces of xenon calculated by employing the Einstein model of crystalline solids

By broadening the scope of the Einstein statistical-mechanical treatment of a crystalline solid to cover also low-index faces, and using the Lennard-Jones interaction potential and, in addition, adopting an approximate monolayer-nearest-neighbor model, we have calculated the thermodynamic properties of (100) and (111) single crystal faces of Xe(s) in the temperature range 20–80 K. The reversible cleavage work (that corresponds to the Gibbs σ-quantity of interfaces) was found to be on the order of 20–30 mJ m⁻² and is largely due to reduction of the pair-wise dispersion interactions for monolayer atoms as compared with the atoms in the bulk of the crystal. For an unstrained crystal, σ diminishes slightly with temperature for both energetic as well as entropic reasons. On the other hand, the differential work of stretching a solid interface, γ, is a negative quantity (−5 to −30 mN m⁻¹), corresponding to surface pressure, the main reason being that upon (elastic, homogeneous) stretching, the vibration energy levels of the top monolayer are shifted upward, at the same time becoming more closely spaced. It is shown that such a stretching operation causes the T × surface excess entropy term to increase at a faster rate than the corresponding surface energy term, which accounts for the negative sign found for γ. On the same basis, we can also verify that the general, though sometimes questioned, Shuttleworth relation, is necessarily fulfilled for an ideally terminated (metastable) Xe crystal face with a filled monolayer of immobile Xe atoms. As a matter of fact, this equation merely represents an alternative mathematical disguise of the basic energy differential expression for the monolayer.     

Partition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">π</Emphasis>-electrons between faces of polyhedral carbon aggregates

We report for the trivalent regular and semiregular polyhedra (three Platonic and seven Archimedean carbon polyhedra) the π-electron partition between rings of various sizes based on considering all their resonance structures. It was found that small odd-membered (3-and 5-membered) faces are assigned a lower share of π-electrons than that corresponding to equipartition (i.e., 1/3 of an electron for carbon atoms shared between three rings). In contrast, 4-membered rings obtain a larger share of π-electrons than that corresponding to equipartition.     

Global geometry optimization of small silicon clusters at the level of density functional theory

By an application to small silicon clusters Si _N (with N = 4,5,7,10) it is shown that truly global geometry optimization on an ab initio or density functional theory level can be achieved, at a computational cost of approximately 1–5 traditional local optimization runs (depending on cluster size). This extends global optimization from the limited area of empirical potentials into the realm of ab initio quantum chemistry. Received: 24 February 1998 / Accepted: 6 March 1998 / Published online: 17 June 1998     

Determination of thiocyanate ions at nanolevel in real samples using coated graphite electrode based on synthesised macrocyclic Zn(II) complex

The electrode characteristics and selectivities of PVC-based thiocyanate selective polymeric membrane electrode (PME) incorporating the newly synthesized zinc complex of 6,7:14,15-Bzo₂-10,11-(4-methylbenzene)-[15]-6,8,12,14-tetraene-9,12-N₂-1,5-O₂ (I ₁ ) and zinc complex of 6,7:14,15-Bzo₂-10,11-(4-methylbenzene)-[15]-6,14-diene-9,12-dimethylacrylate-9,12-N₂-1,5-O₂ (I ₂ ) are reported here. The best response was observed with the membrane having a composition of I₂:PVC:o-NPOE:HTAB in the ratio of 6:33:59:2 (w/w; milligram). This electrode exhibited Nernstian slope for thiocyanate ions over working concentration range of 4.4 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻² mol L⁻¹ with detection limit of 2.2 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. The performance of this electrode was compared with coated graphite electrode (CGE), which showed better response characteristics w.r.t Nernstian slope 59.0 ± 0.2 mV decade⁻¹ activity, wide concentration range of 8.9 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.0 × 10⁻² mol L⁻¹ and detection limit of 6.7 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹. The response time for CGE and PME was found to be 8 and 10 s, respectively. The proposed electrode (CGE) was successfully applied to direct determination of thiocyanate in biological and environmental samples and also as indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of SCN⁻ ion.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of nitrite at a terpyridine manganese(II) complex modified carbon past electrode

A carbon past electrode modified with [Mn(H₂O)(N₃)(NO₃)(pyterpy)], ( \textpyterpy = 4￠- ( 4 - \textpyridyl ) - 2,2￠:\text6￠,\text2￠￠- \textterpyridine ) \left( {{\text{pyterpy}} = 4\prime - \left( {4 - {\text{pyridyl}}} \right) - 2,2\prime:{\text{6}}\prime,{\text{2}}\prime\prime - {\text{terpyridine}}} \right) complex have been applied to the electrocatalytic oxidation of nitrite which reduced the overpotential by about 120 mV with obviously increasing the current response. Relative standard deviations for nitrite determination was less than 2.0%, and nitrite can be determined in the ranges of 5.00 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.55 × 10⁻² mol L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 8 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. The treatment of the voltammetric data showed that it is a pure diffusion-controlled reaction, which involves one electron in the rate-determining step. The rate constant k′, transfer coefficient α for the catalytic reaction, and diffusion coefficient of nitrite in the solution, D, were found to be 1.4 × 10⁻², 0.56× 10⁻⁶, and 7.99 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹, respectively. The mechanism for the interaction of nitrite with the Mn(II) complex modified carbon past electrode is proposed. This work provides a simple and easy approach to detection of nitrite ion. The modified electrode indicated reproducible behavior, anti-fouling properties, and stability during electrochemical experiments, making it particularly suitable for the analytical purposes.     

Electrochemical behaviors of ofloxacin and its voltammetric determination at carbon nanotubes film modified electrode

A multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)-Nafion film-coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was fabricated and the electrochemical behavior of ofloxacin on the MWNTs-Nafion film-coated GCE were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The oxidation peak current of ofloxacin increased significantly on the MWNTs-Nafion film modified GCE compared with that using a bare GCE. This nano-structured film electrode exhibited excellent enhancement effects on the electrochemical oxidation of ofloxacin. A well-defined oxidation peak attributed to ofloxacin was observed at 0.97 V and was applied to the determination of ofloxacin. The oxidation peak current was proportional to ofloxacin concentration in the ranges 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L and 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 2.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L. A detection limit of 8.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol/L was obtained for 400 s accumulation at open circuit (S/N = 3). This method for the detection of ofloxacin in human urine was satisfactory. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Chemistry, 2007, 24(5): 540–545 [译自: 应用化学]     

Synthesis of a chito-tetrasaccharide β-1,4-GlcNAc-β-1,4-GlcN repeating unit

Abstract  

tert-Butyldimethylsilyl (4-O-acetyl-2-azido-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1 → 4)-3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranoside (Kawada and Yoneda [MOCHEM-D-09-00120], 2009), designed as a repeating disaccharide unit in a β-glucan having two different faces, was converted into a glycosyl donor and an acceptor. The glycosyl acceptor was glycosylated with the donor to afford a chito-tetrasaccharide derivative in good yield. Phthalimido and azido groups in the tetrasaccharide were successively converted into acetamido and free amino groups, and all other protecting groups were cleaved to obtain the chito-tetrasaccharide (2-amino-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1 → 4)-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1 → 4)-(2-amino-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1 → 4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranose.     

Conformation of poly(L-glutamic acid) in aqueous solutions of linear amphiphiles with a cationic group at both ends

The conformations of poly(l-glutamic acid) [P(Glu)] in solutions of the bipolar amphiphile 1,20-icosanediylbis(alkylammonium chloride) [C20(RA)₂], where RA includes trimethylammonium (TMA), dimethylammonium (DMA), or methylammonium (MA), were investigated with measurements of the circular dichroism spectra at 10–35 °C. All C20(RA)₂ induced an α-helix of P(Glu) in the aqueous solutions. The residue molar ellipticity at 222 nm showed a similar dependence on the amphiphile concentration (C _s) below 0.5 of the ratio of 2C _s to the residue concentration (C _p) of P(Glu), but it separated into three directions at 2C _s/C _p>0.5. C20(MA)₂ induced an α-helix of P(Glu) at 2C _s/C _p<0.5 followed by a helix aggregate at 2C _s/C _p>0.5. C20(DMA)₂ and C20(TMA)₂ also induced an α-helix, but a helix aggregate. C20(TMA)₂ indicated a strong temperature dependence and did not induce a complete α-helix at 35 °C. Received: 20 June 2001 Accepted: 6 September 2001     

Non-isothermal degradation-based solid state kinetics study of copper (II) Schiff base complex,at different heating rates

The coordination complex of Cu (II) with the Schiff base derived from 4-chloroaniline with salicylaldehyde have been synthesized and characterized by micro analytical data; FT–IR, UV–Vis, FAB-mass and thermal analysis studies. Thermal data show degradation of complexes. We carried out thermal analysis at three different heating rates viz. 5, 10 and 20 °C per min. The activation thermodynamic parameters, such as activation energy (E*), entropy of activation (ΔS*), enthalpy of activation (ΔH*) and Gibbs free energy (ΔG*) have been calculated with the help of TG, DTA and DTG curves using Coats–Redfern method. The stoichiometry of the complexes are in 1:2 (M:L) molar ratio. Synthesized complex has been tested for their reactivity and substitution behaviour.