Stable bundles on hypercomplex surfaces

A hypercomplex manifold is a manifold equipped with three complex structures I, J, K satisfying the quaternionic relations. Let M be a 4-dimensional compact smooth manifold equipped with a hypercomplex structure, and E be a vector bundle on M. We show that the moduli space of anti-self-dual connections on E is also hypercomplex, and admits a strong HKT metric. We also study manifolds with (4,4)-supersymmetry, that is, Riemannian manifolds equipped with a pair of strong HKT-structures that have opposite torsion. In the language of Hitchin’s and Gualtieri’s generalized complex geometry, (4,4)-manifolds are called “generalized hyperkähler manifolds”. We show that the moduli space of anti-self-dual connections on M is a (4,4)-manifold if M is equipped with a (4,4)-structure.     

Deciphering the Structure and Chemical Composition of Drug Nanocarriers: From Bulk Approaches to Individual Nanoparticle Characterization

Drug nanocarriers (NCs) with sizes usually below 200 nm are gaining increasing interest in the treatment of severe diseases such as cancer and infections. Characterization methods to investigate the morphology and physicochemical properties of multifunctional NCs are key in their optimization and in the study of their in vitro and in vivo fate. Whereas a variety of methods has been developed to characterize “bulk” NCs in suspension, the scope of this review is to describe the different approaches for the NC characterization on an individual basis, for which fewer techniques are available. The accent is put on methods devoid of labelling, which could lead to artefacts. For each characterization method, the principles and approaches to analyze the data are presented in an accessible manner. Aspects related to sample preparation to avoid artefacts are indicated, and emphasis is put on examples of applications. NC characterization on an individual basis allows gaining invaluable information in terms of quality control, on: i) NC localization and fate in biological samples; ii) NC morphology and crystallinity; iii) distribution of the NC components (drugs, shells), and iv) quantification of NCs’ chemical composition. The individual characterization approaches are expected to gain increasing interest in the near future.     

Resonant shattering of neutron star crusts

The resonant excitation of neutron star (NS) modes by tides is investigated as a source of short gamma-ray burst (SGRB) precursors. We find that the driving of a crust-core interface mode can lead to shattering of the NS crust, liberating ～10{46}-10{47} erg of energy seconds before the merger of a NS-NS or NS-black-hole binary. Such properties are consistent with Swift/BAT detections of SGRB precursors, and we use the timing of the observed precursors to place weak constraints on the crust equation of state. We describe how a larger sample of precursor detections could be used alongside coincident gravitational wave detections of the inspiral by Advanced LIGO class detectors to probe the NS structure. These two types of observations nicely complement one another, since the former constrains the equation of state and structure near the crust-core boundary, while the latter is more sensitive to the core equation of state.     

Understanding the Anion-Templated,OSDA-Free,Interzeolite Conversion Synthesis of High Silica Zeolite ZK-5**

High silica zeolite ZK-5 (framework Si/Al=4.8) has been prepared by interzeolite conversion from ultrastable zeolite Y via a co-templating route using alkali metal cations and nitrate anions but without organic structure directing agents. The mechanism, which involves zeolite framework – alkali metal cation – nitrate anion ordering, has been established by a combination of chemical and thermal analyses, Raman spectroscopy, computational modelling, and X-ray powder diffraction. Ammonium exchange gives ZK-5 with occluded ammonium nitrate and subsequent heating gives microporous zeolite ZK-5.     

BioMOFs: Metal–Organic Frameworks for Biological and Medical Applications

The class of highly porous materials called metal–organic frameworks offer many opportunities for applications across biology and medicine. Their wide range of chemical composition makes toxicologically acceptable formulation possible, and their high level of functionality enables possible applications as imaging agents and as delivery vehicles for therapeutic agents. The challenges in the area encompass not only the development of new solids but also improvements in the formulation and processing of the materials, including tailoring the morphology and surface chemistry of the frameworks to fit the proposed applications.     

Oligonuclear 3d-4f complexes as tectons in designing supramolecular solid-state architectures: impact of the nature of linkers on the structural diversity

Heteronuclear cationic complexes, [LCuLn]3+ and [(LCu)2Ln]3+, were employed as nodes in designing high-nuclearity complexes and coordination polymers with a rich variety of network topologies (L is the dianion of the Schiff base resulting from the 2:1 condensation of 3-methoxysalycilaldehyde with 1,3-propanediamine). Two families of linkers have been chosen: the first consists of exo-dentate ligands bearing nitrogen-donor atoms (bipyridine (bipy), dicyanamido (dca)), whereas the second consists of exo-dentate ligands with oxygen-donor atoms (anions derived from the acetylenedicarboxylic (H2acdca), fumaric (H2fum), trimesic (H3trim), and oxalic (H2ox) acids). The ligands belonging to the first family prefer copper(II) ions, whereas the ligands from the second family interact preferentially with oxophilic rare-earth cations. The following complexes have been obtained and crystallographically characterized: [LCu(II)(OH2)Gd(III)(NO3)3] (1), [{LCu(II)Gd(III)(NO3)3}2(mu-4,4'-bipy)] (2), 1infinity[LCu(II)Gd(III)(acdca)(1.5)(H2O)2].13H2O (3), 2infinity[LCu(II)Gd(III)(fum)(1.5)(H2O)2].4H2O.C2H5OH (4), 1infinity[LCu(II)Sm(III)(H2O)(Hfum)(fum)] (5), 1infinity[LCu(II)Er(III)(H2O)2(fum)]NO3.3H2O (6), 2infinity[LCu(II)Sm(III)(fum)(1.5)(H2O)2].4H2O.C2H5OH (7), [{(LCu(II))2Sm(III)}2fum2](OH)2 (8), 1infinity[LCu(II)Gd(III)(trim)(H2O)2].H2O (9), 2infinity[{(LCu(II))2Pr(III)}(C2O4)(0.5)(dca)]dca.2H2O (10), [LCu(II)Gd(III)(ox)(H2O)3][Cr(III)(2,2'-bipy)(ox)2].9H2O (11), and [LCuGd(H2O)4{Cr(CN)6}].3H2O (12). Compound 1 is representative of the whole family of binuclear Cu(II)-Ln(III) complexes which have been used as precursors in constructing heteropolymetallic complexes. The rich variety of the resulting structures is due to several factors: 1) the nature of the donor atoms of the linkers, 2) the preference of the copper(II) ion for nitrogen atoms, 3) the oxophilicity of the lanthanides, 4) the degree of deprotonation of the polycarboxylic acids, 5) the various connectivity modes exhibited by the carboxylato groups, and 6) the stoichiometry of the final products, that is, the Cu(II)/Ln(III)/linker molar ratio. A unique cluster formed by 24 water molecules was found in crystal 11. In compounds 2, 3, 4, 9, and 11 the Cu(II)-Gd(III) exchange interaction was found to be ferromagnetic, with J values in the range of 3.53-8.96 cm(-1). Compound 12 represents a new example of a polynuclear complex containing three different paramagnetic ions. The intranode Cu(II)-Gd(III) ferromagnetic interaction is overwhelmed by the antiferromagnetic interactions occurring between the cyanobridged Gd(III) and Cr(III) ions.     

The effect of electron irradiation on electrophysical properties of CdS,CdSe and ZnTe thin films

The effect of electron irradiation on electrophysical properties of CdS, CdSe and ZnTe thin films and CdS-PbTe and CdS-Te heterojunctions were studied. It was found that the effect of irradiation on thin films and devices strongly depend on the electron-irradiation doses and the preparation conditions.