Solving the Continuous <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Dispersion Problem Using Non-linear Programming

The problem of locating p maximally dispersed points in a convex space is considered. This problem is formulated as a non-linear programming problem. It is shown that this problem, in a square, is equivalent to the problem of packing the square with p equal circles of largest possible radius. Computational experience with the non-linear programming formulation of the dispersion problem is reported. Four of the solutions found are superior to the best known solutions in the literature for the corresponding circle-packing problem.     

Miniature organic transistors with carbon nanotubes as quasi-one-dimensional electrodes

As the dimensions of electronic devices approach those of molecules, the size, geometry, and chemical composition of the contact electrodes play increasingly dominant roles in device functions. It is shown here that single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) can be used as quasi-one-dimensional (1D) electrodes to construct organic field effect transistors (FET) with molecular scale width ( approximately 2 nm) and channel length (1-3 nm). An important feature owing to the quasi-1D electrode geometry is the favorable gate electrostatics that allows for efficient switching of ultra-short organic channels. This affords room temperature conductance modulation by orders of magnitude for organic transistors that are only several molecules in length, with switching characteristics superior to similar devices with lithographically patterned metal electrodes. With nanotubes, covalent carbon-carbon bonds could be utilized to form contacts to molecular materials. The unique geometrical, physical, and chemical properties of carbon nanotube electrodes may lead to various interesting molecular devices.     

(Z)‐6‐{[1,3‐Dihydroxy‐2‐(hydroxy­methyl)propan‐2‐ylamino]methyl­ene}‐2‐methoxy‐4‐[(E)‐o‐tolyl­diazenyl]­cyclo­hexa‐2,4‐dienone

The title compound, C₁₉H₂₃N₃O₅, adopts the keto–amine tautomeric form with the hydr­oxy H atom located on the N atom, where it is involved in a strong intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bond. The compound exhibits trans geometry with respect to the azo N=N double bond, with a dihedral angle between the two benzene rings of 38.03 (6)°. The packing of the mol­ecules in the crystal structure is determined by O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. A comparison with closely related compounds is given.     

An investigation of the mechanisms of electronic sensing of protein adsorption on carbon nanotube devices

It has been reported that protein adsorption on single-walled carbon nanotube field effect transistors (FETs) leads to appreciable changes in the electrical conductance of the devices, a phenomenon that can be exploited for label-free detection of biomolecules with a high potential for miniaturization. This work presents an elucidation of the electronic biosensing mechanisms with a newly developed microarray of nanotube "micromat" sensors. Chemical functionalization schemes are devised to block selected components of the devices from protein adsorption, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of methoxy(poly(ethylene glycol))thiol (mPEG-SH) on the metal electrodes (Au, Pd) and PEG-containing surfactants on the nanotubes. Extensive characterization reveals that electronic effects occurring at the metal-nanotube contacts due to protein adsorption constitute a more significant contribution to the electronic biosensing signal than adsorption solely along the exposed lengths of the nanotubes.     

Photochemistry of 6,6-Dimethyl- and 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-2H,6H-pyran-3-one

The title compounds 1a and 1b have been synthesized in two steps from the saturated pyran-3-ones 2a and 2b , respectively. Upon irradiation (254 nm or 350 nm) in dilute solutions (10^?3?10^?2M ), compounds 1 undergo a formal [4 + 2] cycloreversion from the excited triplet state to give (2-methylprop-1-enyl)ketene ( 11 ) and either formaldehyde or acetone, ketene 11 being trapped by H₂O or MeOH to afford 4-methylpent-3-enoic acid ( 5 ) or its methyl ester 4 in 75–85% isolated yield. In this (monomolecular) photoreaction, heterocycles 1 differ from their alicyclic counterparts, i.e., 4,4-dimethylcyclohex-2-enone ( 10a ) and 4,4,6,6-tetramethylcyclohex-2-enone ( 10b ), as no rearrangement to a 4-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-one occurs. On the other hand, the photochemical behavior of pyranone 1a in bimolecular reactions (cyclodimerization, [2 + 2] cycloaddition to 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene) resembles that of enone 10a .     

PM3 semiempirical study and its comparison with X-ray crystal structure of 2-methyl-4-(4-methoxyphenylazo)phenol

The crystal and molecular structure of 2-methyl-4-(4-methoxyphenylazo)phenol have been determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction technique. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a=9.7763(8) Å, b=11.3966(8) Å, c=11.9531(8) Å and β=108.752(6)°. In addition to the molecular geometry from X-ray experiment, its optimized molecular structure has been obtained with the aid of PM3 semiempirical quantum mechanical method, and then the corresponding geometric parameters were compared with those of X-ray crystallography. To determine conformational flexibility and crystal packing effects on the molecules, molecular energy profile of the title compound was obtained with respect to two selected degrees of torsional freedom, which were varied from ?180° to +180° in steps of 10°. Crystal structure of the title compound is a fibroid structure constructed by C–H···O and O–H···N type intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The most favorable conformer of the title compound has been determined by the crystal packing effects and there is no steric hindrance during rotation around the selected torsion angles.     

An amperometric biosensor based on multiwalled carbon nanotube-poly(pyrrole)-horseradish peroxidase nanobiocomposite film for determination of phenol derivatives

An amperometric biosensor based on horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and carbon nanotube (CNT)/polypyrrole (PPy) nanobiocomposite film on a gold surface has been developed. The HRP was incorporated into the CNT/PPy nanocomposite matrix in one-step electropolymerization process without the aid of cross-linking agent. Amperometric response was measured as a function of concentration of phenol derivatives, at a fixed bias voltage of -50 mV. Optimization of the experimental parameters was performed with regard to pH and concentration of hydrogen peroxide. The linear range, sensitivity and detection limit of the biosensor were investigated for eighteen phenol derivatives. The sensitivity in the linear range increased in this order: 4-methoxyphenol>2-aminophenol>guaiacol=m-cresol>2-chlorophenol=4-chlorophenol=hydroquinone=pyrocatechol>2,6-dimethoxyphenol>3-chlorophenol>p-cresol>p-benzoquinone=4-acetamidophenol>catechol>phenol=pyrogallol=2,4-dimethylphenol. CNTs was shown to enhance the electron transfer as a mediator and capable to carry higher bioactivity owing to its intensified surface area. The biosensor exhibited low detection limits with a short response time (2s) for the tested phenolics compared to the reported working electrodes. It retained 70% of its initial activity after using for 700 measurements in 1 month.     

The single-ion anisotropy effects in the mixed-spin ternary-alloy

The effect of single-ion anisotropy on the thermal properties of the ternary-alloy in the form of $A{B}_p{C}_{1?p}$ is investigated on the Bethe lattice (BL) in terms of exact recursion relations. The simulation on the BL consists of placing A atoms (spin-1/2) on the odd shells and randomly placing B (spin-3/2) or C (spin-5/2) atoms with concentrations p and $1?p$, respectively, on the even shells. The phase diagrams are calculated in possible planes spanned by the system parameters: temperature, single-ion anisotropy, concentration and ratio of the bilinear interaction parameters for $z=3$ corresponding to the honeycomb lattice. It is found that the crystal field drives the system to the lowest possible state therefore reducing the temperatures of the critical lines in agreement with the literature.     

The crystal-field dependency of sound attenuation in the spin-3/2 ising model

The effects of crystal-field (D) on sound attenuation are considered for the spin-3/2 Ising model by using Onsager theory of irreversible thermodynamics. It is assumed that the sound wave couples to the order-parameter fluctuations, therefore, it decays mainly via order-parameter relaxation process. The order-parameters, magnetization and quadrupole moment, are defined in terms of exact recursion relations (ERR) on Bethe lattice (BL). After our analysis, two relaxation times are obtained and they are used to calculate the sound attenuation coefficient (α). Consequently, the critical behaviors of sound attenuation coefficient are investigated in terms of frequency (w) and Onsager coefficient (γ) for the coordination numbers q=3, 4 ad 6 near the second-order (T_c) and first-order (T_t) phase transition temperatures in the ferromagnetic phase regions for the negative and positive D values and the results are presented on the (k_BT/J, α) planes. It is found that the peaks about T_t’s are observed at the same temperature, but the peaks about T_c’s are observed shifted to lower and higher temperatures in increasing (w)’s and (γ)’s, respectively. In addition, the peaks are also obtained near the tricritical points for all q.