Critical Behavior in a Quasi D Dimensional Spin Model

We study a classical spin model (more precisely a class of models) with O(N) symmetry that can be viewed as a simplified D dimensional lattice model. It is equivalent to a non-translationinvariant one dimensional model and contains the dimensionality D as a parameter that need not be an integer. The critical dimension turns out to be 2, just as in the usual translation invariant models. We study the phase structure, critical phenomena and spontaneous symmetry breaking. Furthermore we compute the perturbation expansion to low order with various boundary conditions. In our simplified models a number of questions can be answered that remain controversial in the translation invariant models, such as the asymptoticity of the perturbation expansion and the role of super-instantons. We find that perturbation theory produces the right asymptotic expansion in dimension D2 only with special boundary conditions. Finally the model allows a test of the percolation ideas of Patrascioiu and Seiler.     

The polymerization of ethylene with a highly active Ziegler-Natta catalyst

A soluble ethylene catalyst were obtained by mixing a methylene dichloride solution of dichlorobis(γ-cyclopentadienyl) titanium (Cp₂TiCl₂) with a heptane solution of ethylaluminium sesquichloride (Al₂Et₃Cl₃) or of diethylaluminium chloride (AlEt₂Cl). Ethylene was polymerized using these catalysts; the solution was examined by electron spin resonance technique before the polymerization and during the reaction. The catalyst activity remained constant for a long period, and the polymerization went on at the same rate for 6–8 hr. The mechanism of the reaction is discussed.     

Covalent Immobilization and Characterization of a Novel Pullulanase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fontibacillus</Emphasis> sp. Strain DSHK 107 onto Florisil® and Nano-silica for Pullulan Hydrolysis

A novel pullulanase partially purified from Fontibacillus sp. was covalently immobilized on Florisil® and nano-silica through both glutaraldehyde and (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane spacer arms. The pullulanase immobilized on Florisil® and nano-silica through glutaraldehyde spacer arm showed 85 and 190 % activity of its free form, respectively, whereas no activity was observed when it was immobilized on the same supports through (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane spacer arm. The maximum working pHs of both the immobilized pullulanases on Florisil® and nano-silica through glutaraldehyde spacer arm were determined as 5.0; however, the maximum working pH of the free pullulanase was pH 6.0. The maximum temperatures of all the pullulanase preparations were determined as 35 °C. The apparent K _m values were 1.49, 1.54, and 0.59 mg/mL pullunan, respectively, for the free and immobilized pullulanases on Florisil® and nano-silica. The corresponding apparent V _max values were 0.59, 1.53, and 1.57 U mg prot.^?1?min.^?1. Thermal stability of pullulanases immobilized on Florisil® and nano-silica was enhanced 6.5- and 15.6-folds, respectively at 35 °C and 6.6- and 16.0-folds, respectively, at 50 °C. The pullulanases immobilized on Florisil® and nano-silica protected 71 and 90 % of their initial activities after 10 reuses.     

Chemoenzymatic polycondensation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">para</Emphasis>-benzylamino phenol

para-Benzylamine substituted oligophenol was synthesized via enzymatic oxidative polycondensation of 4-(benzylamino)phenol (BAP). Polymerization involved only the phenolic moiety without oxidizing the sec-amine (benzylamine) group. Chemoselective polycondensation of BAP monomer using HRP enzyme yielded oligophenol with sec-amine functionality on the side-chain. Effects of various factors including solvent system, reaction pH and temperature on the polycondensation were studied. Optimum polymerization process with the highest yield (63 %) and molecular weight (M_n = 5000, degree of polymerization ≈ 25) was achieved using the EtOH/ buffer (pH 5.0; 1: 1 vol. ratio) at 25°C in 24 h under air. Characterization of the oligomer was accomplished by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The polymerization process involved the elimination of hydrogen from BAP, and phenolic-OH end groups of the oligo(BAP), confirmed using ¹H NMR and FT-IR analyses. The oligomer backbone possessed phenylene and oxyphenylene repeat units, and the resulting oligomer was highly soluble in common organic solvents such as acetone, CHCl₃, 1,4-dioxane, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), tetrahydrofurane (THF) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Oligo(BAP) was thermally stable and exhibited 5 % and 50 % mass loss determined by thermogravimetric analysis at 247°C and 852°C, respectively.     

Structure and dynamics of a discotic liquid-crystalline charge-transfer complex.

The structure of the charge-transfer complex hexakis(n-hexyloxy)triphenylene-2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone (HAT6-TNF) has been characterized by neutron scattering, X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy, and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). On the basis of these data and the 1:1 stoichiometry, a consistent structure for the complex is proposed. This structure differs markedly from structures previously proposed for similar materials, because the TNF molecules are found to be situated between the discotic columns rather than sandwiched between the discotic molecules of a given column. The addition of TNF to HAT6 is found to stiffen the structure, and quasi-elastic neutron scattering shows that the local dynamics of the discotic molecules in HAT6-TNF is slowed by the presence of the TNF molecules. This scenario is consistent with the observation of two VFT-type (VFT=Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman) dielectric relaxation processes that relate to the columnar glass transition and a polyethylene-like hindered glass transition originating from the nano-phase-separated fraction of the aliphatic tails.     

Study of the effect of uranium and thorium on the growing of pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum var. longum</Emphasis>) and cucumber (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis sativus</Emphasis>) plants

The transportation rate of uranium and thorium to different plants grown in soils having high level of these elements varies closely with the plant characteristics. In this study, the pepper (Capsicum annuum var. longum) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants were chosen as vegetables which are commonly consumed over different regions by different populations. The results obtained can be summarized as follows. (1) High uranium concentration in the soil prevents the growing of the plants. Only the plants in the pot having the uranium concentration of about 263 ppm grew significantly. The plants in other pots having a higher concentration turned pale and died in a few weeks. (2) In the pot having thorium level of about 263 ppm, the plants were well grown and fruited in comparison to the control plants, but the increase of thorium concentration inversely influenced their growing. (3) The gross activities measured in different parts of the plants were not particularly high, however, in both cases the maximum activities were measured in the stems rather than in the fruits and leaves. (4) The plants grown in soils having thorium content lived longer than the control plants and at the greenhouse conditions indicated above, all plants lived more than one whole year flowering and fruiting.     

Norcaradiene-cycloheptatriene substituted in position 7: Investigation of the valence isomerization equilibrium

Summary The valence isomerism of a series of noncaradiene-cycloheptatriene compounds is investigated. Geometry and energy calculations allow to explain the nature of the transitions. Peculiarities of equilibrium shifts between different structures depending on the substituent at position 7 (X=CH₃, NH₂, CHO, CN) are discussed. Th nature of the interaction between the substituentX and the ring (- or -interaction) is investigated.

---

Norcaradiene-Cycloheptatrien mit Substituenten in Position 7: Untersuchungen der Valenzisomeriegleichgewichte (Kurze Mitt.)

Zusammenfassung Es wurden Gleichgewichte zwischen Norcaradien und Cycloheptatrien mit Hilfe der semiempirischen Methoden MNDO und AM1 untersucht. Die Elektronendichteverteilungen und H _f-Werte der untersuchten Verbindungen werden in Abhängigkeit der Substituenten diskutiert.

     

Quasi-Steady State Kinetics of Simple Sequential Multienzyme Reactions with Single Substrates

Applications of computer algebra technique to kinetic analysis of multienzyme reaction including two and three distinct enzymes were described in the literature, which mainly depend on Gröbner Basis theory. In the present study, we have applied the same methodology to a hypothetical system with four enzymes. After deriving a composite rate law for a reaction system with four distinct enzymes using the computer algebra system MAPLE, the composite rate law was fitted to simulated data for time versus product concentration to yield estimates of the kinetic parameters.