A class of means and related inequalities

The aim of this paper is two-fold: First we describe a certain class of strictly positive, continuous functions u:I defined on certain intervals I]0,+[, and demonstrate that each function u of this class permits the definition of an associated mean M_u (a₁,...,a_n) for any finite number a₁,...,a_n of numbers in I. The arithmetic and the geometric mean are special cases of these u-means M_u. -Thereafter, we improve the classical inequality between the geometric and the arithmetic mean and derive from it a corresponding inequality between certain u-means and the arithmetic mean.     

X-ray structure and variable temperature NMR spectra of [meso-triarylcorrolato]copper(III)

The diamagnetic square planar d(8) complexes [meso-arylcorrolato]copper(III) become paramagnetic upon warming, indicative of the equilibrium between the [corrolato]copper(III) and the [corrolato](+)* copper(II) forms of the complex. [meso-Triphenylcorrolato]copper(III) was structurally characterized and found to be saddled.     

Reactions of Molecules with Two Equivalent Functional Groups. 5. Anomalous Reactivity of 1,10-Cyclooctadecanedione. Crystal and Molecular Structures of cis,cis-1,10-Diphenyl-1,10-cyclooctadiene and the Stereoisomers of 1,10-Diphenyl-1,10-cyclooctadecanediol(1)

The reaction of the title diketone (3) with phenyl Grignard produces (with rate constant k(1)) the conjugate base (6-M) of 10-hydroxy-10-phenylcyclooctadecanone (6), which is subsequently converted (with rate constant k(2)) to the conjugate base of the title diol, as a mixture of the cis (7, 55%) and trans (8, 45%) isomers. The ratio k(2)/k(1), 2.2 +/- 0.4, indicates that the carbonyl group in 6-M is 4.4 times as reactive as each carbonyl in 3. Competition experiments further demonstrate that the relative rates (per carbonyl) for addition of phenylmagnesium bromide to 3, 10-methylenecyclooctadecanone (11), and cyclopentadecanone (12) are 1.0:0.60:1.92. Possible reasons for this order of reactivity are discussed. Diols 7 and 8 undergo facile double dehydration to form the title diene 13, which is predicted by molecular mechanics calculations to be the most stable of the four possible symmetrical diene isomers. The structures of 7, 8, and 13 were secured by single-crystal X-ray studies.     

In situ layer-by-layer film formation kinetics under an applied voltage measured by optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy

Layer-by-layer (LbL) thin film assembly occurs via the alternate adsorption of positively and negatively charged macromolecular species. We investigate here the control of LbL film growth through the electric potential of the underlying substrate. We employ optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy (OWLS) to obtain in situ kinetic measurements of poly(allylamine hydrochloride)/poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PAH/PSS) and poly(L-lysine)/dextran sulfate (PLL/DXS) multilayer film formation in the presence of an applied voltage difference (deltaV) between the adsorbing substrate, an indium tin oxide- (ITO-) coated waveguiding sensor chip, and a parallel platinum counterelectrode. We find initial layer adsorption to be significantly enhanced by an applied potential for both polyelectrolyte systems: the mass and thickness of (positively charged) PAH and PLL layers on ITO are about 60% and 500% larger, respectively, at deltaV = 2 V than at open circuit potential (OCP), in apparent violation of electrostatics. A kinetic analysis reveals the initial attachment rate constant to decrease with voltage, in agreement with electrostatics. To reconcile these results, we propose a more coiled and loosely bound adsorbed polymer conformation at higher applied potential. Following 10 adsorption steps, the mass and thickness of a PAH/PSS film grown under deltaV = 2 V are about 15% less than those of a comparable film grown under OCP, reflecting a lower degree of complexation between adsorbing polyanions and more highly coiled adsorbed polycations. Following 14 adsorption steps, the mass and thickness of a PLL/DXS film grown under deltaV = 2 V are about 70% greater than those of a comparable film grown under OCP, reflecting the increased charge overcompensation in the initial layer. We find the scaling of film mass () with the number of adsorption steps (n) to be linear in the PAH/PSS system and exponential (i.e., approximately eyn) in the PLL/DXS system, irrespective of applied voltage. We observe to decrease with applied voltage and to exhibit a crossover to a smaller value around n = 5. Extrapolation reveals PLL/DXS multilayer films to be suppressed by increased voltage in the limit of large n: the mass of films grown at OCP and deltaV = 1 V would surpass that of a film grown under deltaV = 2 V at about the 23rd and 18th adsorption steps, respectively. The formation kinetics of PLL/DXS, but not PAH/PSS, change qualitatively under voltage: PLL adsorption is slow to reach a plateau, possibly due to the formation of secondary structure, and a decrease in film mass occurs toward the end of each DXS adsorption step, suggesting spontaneous removal of some PLL/DXS complexes from the film.     

Nanostructure investigations with the analytical transmission electron microscope

Concerning the conventional TEM-imaging as well as the analytical procedures the capabilities are pointed out: electron diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The possibilities of investigation of both nanocrystalline materials and multilayers are discussed, accompanied by examples of current investigations: At alloys, produced by intense milling, at single nanocrystals the imaging by diffraction contrast was successful, the analysis has failed because of the sample thickness. By means of energy spectroscopic imaging multilayers from Fe-SiB/NbCu and Fe/Cr as well as Al₂O₃/TiN have been characterized. Received: 15 July 1997 / Revised: 16 February 1998 / Accepted: 21 February 1998     

Infrared Evidence for Hoffman Reaction During Calcination of Surfactant-Templated Silica Films and Analysis of the Resulting Surface Sites

Fourier Transform Infrared transmission spectroscopy is used to characterize surfactant-templated silica films on glass. The calcination process is followed in situ and evidence for the removal of the surfactant along the Hoffman reaction is given. Once calcined, the surface of the pores of the mesoporous films is proven by deuteration experiment to be hydroxylated. Bands are attributed to isolated and hydrogen-bonded silanols. Silylation reaction with hexamethyldisilazane only occurs with isolated silanol groups.     

EFFECT OF MOLYBDENUM PROMOTER ON THE Cu-Co BASED CATALYSTS

The synthesis of mixed alcohols (C1-C5) from syngas has been studied at 6. 0 MPa over modified Co/CuLaZr catalysts. The molybdenum addition enhanced greatly the activity and the selectivity to alcohols. The improvement of hydrogenation capacity of the system via a reversible spillover effect of hydrogen could explain this effect, together with a great capacity of CO insertion, illustrated by the effect of C2H4 addition as a probe to syngas. Under our experimental conditions, a mixed alcohol production of 147.1g/kg. cat/h containing a proportion of 33. 1% of higher alcohols (C2 OH) was obtained with a selectivity to ROH of 52. 8%.     

Acidité dans le nitrométhane: III. Détermination électrochimique de la basicité du nitrométhane — Corrélation Dn/Eo(Hs+/H2/

The use of the complex acid HAlCl₄ (HCl+AlCl₃) permits the detemrination of the standard potential of the hydrogen electrode in nitromethane. The result (E₀(H_s⁺/H₂)=0.5 V vs. Fc/Fc⁺, Fc=ferrocene) shows that nitromethane is very weakly basic. This measurement is confirmed by showing that the standard potential of the hydrogen electrode in various solvents is linked to Gutmann's donor numbers of these solvents. The E₀(H_s⁺/H₂) value obtained in nitromethane belongs to the correlation line.     

cis-UROCANIC ACID FAILED TO AFFECT in vitro HUMAN LANGERHANS CELL ALLOSTIMULATORY FUNCTION

Abstract— -Urocanic acid (UCA) represents the major ultraviolet B (UVB, 290–320 nm)-absorbing component of the skin. Trans-UCA is naturally produced in the stratum corneum and converts to the cis isomer upon UVB irradiation. In this study, we examined the effect of purified cis -UCA (about 99% of cis isomer) on the human Langerhans cell (LC) allostimulatory function by using the mixed epidermal cell-lymphocyte reaction (MELR). We found that addition of increasing amounts (6.5–400 μg/mL) of purified cis-UCA or (rara-UCA did not modify the T-cell response supported by enriched LC (eLC: 8–25% LC) as well as purified LC (pLC: 70–90% LC) suspensions. Because cis-UCA had no effect on the allostimulatory function of untreated LC, we investigated whether this compound could modify T-cell proliferation induced by UVB-irradiated LC. The UVB exposure of eLC or pLC to 100 J/m² significantly inhibited the capacity of both suspensions to mount a T-cell response. However, addition of cis- UCA did not potentiate this UVB-induced immunosuppression. The eLC or pLC were then incubated with cis-UCA for 18 h at 37°C and washed before adding to allogeneic T cells. The obtained proliferative response was similar to that induced by control LC incubated in medium alone, demonstrating that pretreatment with cis -UCA did not alter human LC function. In conclusion, these results strongly suggest that cis-UCA has no direct effect on human LC antigen-presenting function.