A new layered perovskite,KSrNb2O6F,by powder neutron diffraction

The structure of a new layered oxyfluoride, viz. potassium strontium diniobium hexaoxide fluoride, KSrNb₂O₆F, was refined from powder neutron diffraction data in the orthorhombic space group Immm. The oxyfluoride compound is an n = 2 member of the Dion–Jacobson‐type family of general formula A[A′_n−1B_nX_3n+1], which consists of double layered perovskite slabs, [SrNb₂O₆F]⁻, between which K⁺ ions are located. Within the perovskite slabs, the NbO₅F octahedra are significantly distorted and tilted about the a axis. A bond‐valence‐sum calculation gives evidence for O/F ordering in KSrNb₂O₆F, with the F⁻ ions located in the central sites of the corner‐sharing NbO₅F octahedra along the b axis. All atoms lie on special positions, namely Nb on m, Sr on mmm, K on m2m, F on mm2, and O on sites of symmetry m and m2m.     

Diffusion control in radiation graft polymerization with varying dependence of rate on monomer concentration

The quantitative effect of diffusion control on the rate of radiation-initiated graft polymerization has been studied theoretically for systems in which the diffusion-free reaction may show various dependencies of rate on monomer concentration other than the usual first-order dependence. The study is also very general in that it can be applied to systems involving a variety of different modes of initiation and termination. Whether the grafting process is diffusion-free or diffusion-controlled has been analyzed in terms of the interaction of the initiation rate R_i, the propagation and termination rate constants k_p and k_t, the equilibrium solubility M of the monomer in the polymer, the polymer film thickness L, the diffusivity D of the monomer in the polymer, and the diffusion-free kinetic order of dependence v of the grafting rate on monomer concentration. The dependence of the grafting rate for both the diffusion-free and diffusion-controlled reactions on these parameters is expressed both by mathematical experssions and graphically. Diffusion control is shown to occur at a critical value of the parameter A which is proportional to L(k_pR_i^w/k_t^zD)^1/2M^(ε?1)/2 where w, z, and v have different values depending on the specific modes of initiation, propagation and termination in a particular grafting system. The grafting rate is shown to vary with the value of A according to specific mathematical expressions. In comparing diffusion-free to diffusion-controlled reaction, it is shown that the former is independent of L and D while the latter is directly dependent on L and inversely on D^1/2. Further, the change from diffusion-free to diffusion-controlled reaction involves a change in the dependence of rate on monomer from v-order to [(v ? 1)/2]-order. The nonsteady-state as well as the steady-state reaction rates have been analyzed.     

The forcing number of toroidal polyhexes

The forcing number, denoted by f(G), of a graph G with a perfect matching is the minimum number of independent edges that completely determine the perfect matching of G. In this paper, we consider the forcing number of a toroidal polyhex H(p,q,t) with a torsion t, a cubic graph embedded on torus with every face being a hexagon. We obtain that f(H(p,q,t)) ≥ min{p,q}, and equality holds for p ≤ q or p > q and t∈{ 0,p−q,p−q + 1,..., p−1}. In general, we show that f(H(p,q,t)) is equal to the side length of a maximum triangle on H(p,q,t). Based on this result, we design a linear algorithm to compute the forcing number of H(p,q,t).     

A complete characterization for <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis>-resonant Klein-bottle polyhexes

A hexagonal tessellation K(p, q, t) on Klein bottle, a non-orientable surface with cross-cap number 2, is a finite-sized elemental benzenoid which can be produced from a p × q-parallelogram of hexagonal lattice with usual identifications of sides and with torsion t. Unlike torus, Klein bottle polyhex K(p, q, t) is not transitive except for some degenerated cases. We shall show, however, that K(p, q, t) does not depend on t. Accordingly, criteria for K(p, q, t) to be k-resonant for every positive integer k will be given. Moreover, we shall show that K(3, q, t) of 3-resonance are fully-benzenoid.      

Melting points and other properties of ionic liquids,with emphasis on the pressure dependence

The focus of this letter is on melting points (T _m) of ‘green’ ionic liquids, which have values of T _m around room temperature. To aid in their chemical interpretation, we place some emphasis on T _m as a function of pressure p, in cases where such experimental information is available. Finally, some comments are made on the effects of pressure via isothermal compressibility κ _T and the velocity v _s of sound. Some measurements of κ _T and v _s as a function of p are invoked.     

Concise Synthesis of P-Glycosyl Alkenylphosphonates and P,C-di and P,P,C tri-Glycosyl Phosphonates

A direct access to P-glycosyl-, P, P-di-glycosyl alkenylphosphonates and P, C-glycosyl phosphonates is described. The method involves the Horner reaction of an anion derived from P-monoglycosyl and P ¹, P′-diglycosyl methylenediphosphonates either on the exocyclic aldehyde group of carbohydrates or on the masked aldehydic form of the furanose hemiacetals. In this last case, the carbonyl olefination, followed by an intramolecular cyclization, leads to P,C-di and P,P,C-triglycosyl phosphonates.     

Retention behaviour of model solutes on mixed silica-magnesia adsorbents by TLC. Comparison with the adsorption properties of Florisil

Summary The retention behaviour of positional isomers (phenols, aniline derivatives, quinoline bases) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons on mixed silica-magnesia layers is examined using various binary eluents (ethyl acetate, dioxane or 2-propanol in n-heptane). The influence of magnesia content in mixed adsorbents and concentration of polar modifier in the eluent on retention were investigated. Results obtained in chosen systems were compared with retention of solutes on Florisil layers using the same eluents by theR _{M Florisil} vsR _{M mix} correlations. Analysis of the structural effects of solutes and the position of points onR _{M Florisil} vsR _{M mix} diagrams enables comparison of chemical character and distribution of active centers on Florisil and mixed adsorbent surfaces.     

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oils from Senecio nutans,Senecio viridis,Tagetes terniflora and Aloysia gratissima against toxigenic Aspergillus and Fusarium species

Abstract

Essential oils from aerial parts of Senecio nutans, Senecio viridis, Tagetes terniflora and Aloysia gratissima were analysed by GC-MS and their antifungal activities were assayed on toxigenic Fusarium and Aspergillus species. Sabinene (27.6?±?0.1%), α-phellandrene (15.7?±?0.3%), o-cymene (9.6?±?0.2%) and β-pinene (6.1?±?0.2%) in S. nutans, 9,10-dehydrofukinone (92.7?±?0.2%) in S. viridis, β-thujone (36.1?±?0.1%), α-thujone (32.2?±?0.2%), 1,8-cineol (10.7?±?0.1%) and sabinene (6.2?±?0.2%) in A. gratissima, and cis-tagetone (33.6?±?0.2%), cis-β-ocimene (17.1?±?0.2%), trans-tagetone (17.0?±?0.1%), cis-ocimenone (8.0?±?0.2%) and trans-ocimenone (8.2?±?0.1%) in T. terniflora. The oils showed moderate antifungal activity (1.2?mg/mL?>?MIC >0.6?mg/mL) on the Fusarium species and a weak effect on Aspergillus species. The antifungal activity was associated on F. verticillioides to the high content of cis-tagetone, trans-tagetone, cis-β-ocimene, cis-ocimenone, trans-ocimenone and on F. graminearum due to the total content of oxygenated sesquiterpenes and 9,10- dehydrofukinone. The oil of S. viridis synergized the effect of fungicides and food preservatives on F. verticillioides.

     

Evaluation of the Thermodynamic Parameters for the Adsorption of Some Hydrocarbons on Chemically Treated-Bentonites by Inverse Gas Chromatography

Inverse gas chromatography has been used to evaluate the adsorption parameters (ΔH_a, ΔH_st, ΔS_a and ΔG_a) of some probe molecules, each representing a class of organic (n-hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, n-octane, 1-octene and isooctane) on bentonite and chemically treated-bentonites. The adsorption parameters of the probes on the bentonite samples were determined in infinite dilution region. Adsorption of the organic species was investigated in the temperature range of 200–275^∘C, using a flame ionization detector, and nitrogen as a carrier gas. The net retention volumes (V_n) of the probes were determined by the help of the retention times (t_R) observed on gas chromatograms for each probe. Injection was made at least three times for each probe, obtaining reproducible results of ± 0.5%. It was found that benzene exhibits more negative ΔH than for n-hexane and cyclohexane on all of the adsorbents. In addition, it was found that 1-octene exhibits more negative ΔH than for n-octane and isooctane on the chemically treated-bentonites, whereas n-octane exhibits more negative ΔH than for 1-octene and isooctane on the natural bentonite. Also, interactions of benzene with the natural- and chemically treated-bentonites were found to be stronger than those of n-hexane and cyclohexane with the same carbon number. Again, interactions of the 1-octene with the chemically treated-bentonites were found to be stronger those of n-octane and isooctane with the same carbon number. On the contrary, interactions of n-octane with the untreated-bentonite were found to be stronger than those of 1-octene and isooctane.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic analysis of the hydroformylation of isobutylene catalyzed by cobalt hydrocarbonyl

The values of the variable component of chemical affinity (A-A ₀) are calculated and the relation between W (a kinetic parameter) and A-A ₀ (a thermodynamic parameter) are established on the basis of experimental data on rates of the hydroformylation reaction (W) of isobutylene catalyzed by cobalt hydrocarbonyl, and of data on compositions of the gas and liquid phases of the reaction mixture. The linear phenomenological relations of nonequilibrium thermodynamics are found to describe the dependence of W on A-A ₀ quite well at a conversion level of isobutylene of ≥50%.     

Detection of Pesticides in the Environment Using Biosensors Based on Cholinesterases

Abstract

Amperometric biosensors based on acetylcholinesterase or butyrylcholinesterase were used for the kinetic determination of organophosphate and carbamate pesticides. The current of the biosensor I_ss was measured continuously with substrate; the addition of samples with pesticides resulted in the time decrease of the current dl/dt. The relative inhibition RI=(dl/dt)I_ss was used as the signal for evaluations. For several pesticides, different calibration curves (dependencies of RI on concentration c) were obtained depending on the affinity of the individual pesticide to the cholinesterase used. This affinity was described using the bimolecular inhibition constant k_i. The single calibration curve independent on the type of pesticide was obtained as the dependence of RI on the product k_ic, thus indicating the effects of both concentration and inhibiting properties on the response of the biosensor. The relative inhibition was used to characterise anticholinesterase toxicity of the sediments collected from the Morava River and its tributary streams. The influence of both point (large cities) and nonpoint (agriculture) sources of pollution was identified.     

Microstructure and rheological properties of polybutadienes

The viscosities, rubbery deformations, densities, and their dependence on temperature have been measured for several series of polybutadienes with molecular weights ranging from 5,000 to 400,000 and differing in proportions of cis and trans structures (cis content from 40 to 95%). On the basis of the viscosity measurements the critical molecular weight M_c has been determined, corresponding to a sharp change in the nature of the viscosity versus molecular weight dependence. Rubbery deformations are displayed pronouncedly in specimens with M > M_c and are closely related to the appearance of non-Newtonian flow. The value of M_c depends on the relative content of cis and trans forms. When M > M_c, the initial viscosity is a parameter sensitive to the microstructure of polybutadienes, so that with at a single molecular weight, depending on the ratio of cis and trans units, the viscosity may vary over a more than tenfold range. The glass transition temperature and activation energy of viscous flow rise regularly with increasing trans content in the polymer chain, these parameters becoming independent of the molecular weight for specimens with M > M_c within a series of polybutadienes of equal microtacticity. Thermomechanical investigations of polybutadienes also made it possible to define more accurately the boundaries of the crystallization region and the dependence of the melting point on the microtacticity. The results obtained are discussed on the basis of modern ideas of polymer structure.     

The Effect of Ge Incorporation on the Brønsted Acidity of ZSM‐5

The effect of the isomorphous substitution of some of the Si atoms in ZSM‐5 by Ge atoms on the Brønsted acid strength has been investigated by i) DFT calculations on cluster models of the formula ((HO)₃SiO)₃‐Al‐O(H)‐T‐(OSi(OH)₃)₃, with T=Si or Ge, and ((HO)₃SiO)₃‐Al‐O(H)‐Si‐(OGe(OH)₃)(OSi(OH)₃)₂, ii) a ³¹P NMR study of zeolite samples contacted with trimethyl phosphine oxide probe molecules and iii) a X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study of ZSM‐5 and Ge‐ZSM‐5 samples. The calculations reveal that the effect of Ge incorporation on the framework acidity strongly depends on the degree of substitution and on the exact T‐atom positions that are occupied by Ge. High Ge concentrations allow for enhanced stabilisation of the deprotonated Ge‐ZSM‐5 through structural relaxation, resulting in a slightly higher acidity as compared to ZSM‐5. This structural relaxation is not achievable in Ge‐ZSM‐5 with a low Ge content, which therefore has a slightly lower acidity than ZSM‐5. The NMR study indicates no difference between the Brønsted acidity of ZSM‐5(47) and Ge(0.09)ZSM‐5(36). Instead, evidence for the presence of a substantial amount of Ge? OH groups in the Ge‐containing samples was obtained from the NMR results, which is consistent with earlier FTIR studies. The XPS results do not point to an effect of Ge on the framework acidity of ZSM‐5(47), instead, the results can be best interpreted by assuming the presence of additional Ge? OH and Si? OH groups near the surface of the Ge(0.08)ZSM‐5(47) sample.     

Effects of Magnolia officinalis compatibility with Polygala tenuifolia on mitochondrial metabolism in rats’ liver based on bio-thermodynamics

Polygala tenuifolia (Yuanzhi in Chinese) has gastrointestinal toxicity which can be significantly alleviated by Magnolia officinalis (Houpo in Chinese) due to the heat production of mitochondria based on our previous study. In this paper, we have compared the different effects of M. officinalis, P. tenuifolia and their compatibility group on the mitochondrial metabolism in rats liver based on bio-thermodynamics. According to the growth thermogenic curves, we could obtain the exponential growth parameters to reflect the effect of reduced toxicity affected by M. officinalis. We also compared the further functional characteristics of M. officinalis, P. tenuifolia and their compatibility by means of statistical methods. The different experiment concentrations on mitochondrial metabolism were analyzed by principle component analysis (PCA). By analyzing the effect of different experiment concentrations on mitochondrial growth rate, we found that the metabolism rate K of mitochondria in P. tenuifolia group reduced in doses dependently. We obtained the exponential growth constant K and depicted the metabolism thermal power-time curve information of mitochondria at the same time. Our results showed that with the increased concentration of P. tenuifolia extracts, there was significant promotion of heat production by mitochondria while inhibition of M. officinalis extracts and their compatibility extracts. Analyzed by PCA, M. officinalis group distributed more scattered and had far influence on mitochondrial metabolism when compared to M. officinalis group and their compatibility group. It showed that P. tenuifolia’s gastrointestinal side effect was related to the change of mitochondrial energy metabolism.

     

Stereoselective Formation of Ternary Copper(II) Complexes of (S)-Amino-acid Amides and (R)- or (S)-Histidine and (R)- or (S)-Tyrosine in Aqueous Solution

Formation constants of ternary complexes of Cu^II with (S)-amino-acid amides ((S)-phenylalaninamide, (S)-prolinamide, and (S)-tryptophanamide) and (R)- or (S)-histidine and (R)- or (S)-tyrosine were determined potentiometrically in aqueous solution. Significant stereoselectivity was presented by all three amides towards histidine, the diastereoisomeric complexes with ‘heterochiral’ ligands being more stable than those with ‘homochiral’ ligands (see Table 3). The stereoselectivity observed with (S)-phenylalaninamide and (S)-tryptophanamide may be explained on the basis of hydrophobic stacking interactions between 1H-imidazole and the aromatic side chain, favoured by the terdentate behaviour of histidine (see Fig.2), whereas repulsive effects seem to be prevalent with (S)-prolinamide. Only (S)-prolinamide and (S)-phenylalaninamide show appreciable stereoselectivity with tyrosine, which is bidentate, probably on account of repulsive interactions. The present results on the stability of ternary complexes in solution allow to draw some conclusions on the mechanism of chiral discrimination performed by Cu^II complexes of (S)-amino-acid amides added to the mobile phase in HPLC (reversed phase).     

Polymerization in catalyst particles: Calculation of molecular weight distribution

Factors which affect and broaden molecular weight distributions are investigated for polymerizations in catalyst particles which are accumulating polymer, such as Ziegler polymerizations of olefins. Expressions for the Q value, or ratio of weight-average to number-average molecular weight, are derived for simple, but important linear models. These expressions are of the form Q = FSX for a kinetic scheme in which polymer chains have an infinite growing lifetime, and Q = 2FGSX for a kinetic scheme in which termination by hydrogen is dominant and each site produces many chains. The factors F, G, S, and X are equal to or greater than unity: F depends on particle geometry and the nature of diffusion and reaction; G depends on environmental history of the particle; S depends on the distribution of site activities; and X depends on the distribution of particle sizes. Effects of reactor type are also studied quantitatively.     

Identification and characterization of proanthocyanidins of 16 members of the Rhododendron genus (Ericaceae) by tandem LC–MS

The proanthocyanidins of the leaves of 16 taxa of the Rhododendron genus (Ericaceae) [Rhododendron ‘Catawbiense Grandiflorum’, Rhododendron ‘Cunningham's White’, Rhododendron smirnowii Trautv., Rhododendron calophytum Franch., Rhododendron dichroanthum ssp. scyphocalyx (Balf. f. & Forrest ) Cowan, Rhododendron micranthum Turcz., Rhododendron praevernum Hutch., Rhododendron ungernii Trautv., Rhododendron kaempferi Planch., Rhododendron degronianum ssp. heptamerum var. hondoense ( Nakai ) H. Hara, Rhododendron fortunei Lindl., Rhododendron ponticum L., Rhododendron galactinum Balf. f. ex Tagg., Rhododendron oreotrephes W. W. Sm., Rhododendron brachycarpum ssp. brachycarpum D. Don ex G. Don, and Rhododendron insigne Hemsl. & E. H. Wilson ] were investigated qualitatively by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry in series. Twenty‐nine dimeric proanthocyanidins based on (epi)catechin and (epi)gallocatechin were detected and characterized on the basis of their unique fragmentation pattern in the negative ion mode tandem mass spectrometry spectra. All of them were extracted for the first time from these sources, and ten of them were not reported previously in nature. The position of the galloyl residue was assigned on the basis of the retro‐Diels–Alder fragmentation and the dehydrated retro‐Diels–Alder fragmentation; it resulted from the loss of gallic acid as a neutral loss in the negative ion mode. Furthermore, four caffeoylquinic acids, six p‐coumaroylquinic acids, epigallocatechin, gallocatechin, catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, catechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, gallocatechin gallate, two quercetin‐O‐hexosides, quercetin‐O‐galloyl‐hexoside, quercetin‐O‐pentoside, quercetin‐O‐rhamnoside, quercetin‐O‐pentoside‐O‐hexoside, quercetin‐O‐rhamnoside‐O‐hexoside, quercetin‐O‐feruloyl‐hexoside, quercetin‐O‐(p‐hydroxy)benzoyl‐hexoside, taxifolin‐O‐pentoside, myricetin‐O‐rhamnoside, two myricetin‐O‐pentosides, three myricetin‐O‐hexosides, and two myricetin‐O‐galloyl‐hexosides were detected and shown to possess characteristic tandem mass spectrometry spectra and were tentatively assigned on the basis of their retention time. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study on Self-assembly of Poly(ethylene glycol)- block-poly(γ-benzyl L -glutamate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) Copolymer and Poly(γ-benzyl L -glutamate)- block-poly(ethylene glycol) Copolymer in Ethanol

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG) copolymer was synthesized by the ester exchange reaction of poly(γ-benzyl L-glutamate)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PBLG-block-PEG) copolymer with PEG chain, and PBLG-block-PEG copolymer was prepared by a standard N-carboxyl-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate anhydride (NCA) method. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to confirm the components of PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG. The self-association behaviors of PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG in ethanol were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic laser scattering (DLS), and viscometry. The experimental results revealed that the different molecular structures could exert marked effects on the self-assembly behaviors of PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG in ethanol. PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG could self-assemble to form polymeric micelles with a core-shell structure in the shapes of plump spherical and regular rice-like, respectively. Effects of the introduction of PBLG homopolymer on the average particle diameter of the micelles of PBLG-block-PEG and PEG-b-PBLG-g-PEG and influence of testing temperature on the critical micelle concentration of different copolymers were studied.     

Simulation study on the coil‐globule transition of adsorbed polymers

Coil‐globule transition of adsorbed polymers on attractive surface is simulated by using dynamic Monte Carlo simulation. The effect of surface attraction strength E_PS and intrachain attraction strength E_PP on polymer phases is investigated. The coil‐globule transition point is dependent on E_PS, while the globule conformation is dependent on both E_PS and E_PP. At small E_PS, the conformation of adsorbed polymer is three‐dimensional layer structure. While at large E_PS, the conformation of adsorbed polymer is roughly two‐dimensional (2D) at E_PP = 0, and we observe a 2D coil‐globule transition at E*_PP and a layer‐forming transition from 2D conformation to three‐dimensional layer structure at E*_PP,L > E*_PP. The layer‐forming transition point E*_PP,L increases with E_PS as E*_PP,L = E_PS ? 1.4. In addition, we find that the adsorption suppresses the coil‐globule transition, i.e., the coil‐globule transition point E*_PP increases with the increase in E_PS. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 2359–2367     

Combined effects of blockage and yield stress on drag and heat transfer from an in-line array of three spheres

This work reports results on the drag and heat transfer from an in-line array of three isothermal spheres falling in a cylindrical confinement filled with Bingham plastic fluids. The effects of dimensionless parameters, such as the Reynolds number (1 ≤ Re?≤?100), Prandtl number (1 ≤ Pr?≤?100), Bingham number (0 ≤ Bn?≤?100), blockage ratio (2 ≤ β?≤?4) and sphere-to-sphere distance (1.5 ≤ t?≤?6) have been elucidated. The flow and heat transfer characteristics were analysed in terms of yielded/unyielded regions, streamline and isotherm contours, drag coefficient, pressure coefficient, and local and average Nusselt number. Broadly, the drag coefficient shows a positive dependence on Bn and sphere-to-sphere distance (t) while it exhibits an inverse dependence on Re and β. On the other hand, the Nusselt number shows a positive dependence on Re, Pr, Bn and β; and a complex dependence on t for each sphere. Simple predictive expressions for the average Nusselt number for each sphere are formulated, thereby enabling its prediction in a new application.