Mesophase Formation in Solutions of Diblock Copolymers Simulated Using the Bond Fluctuation Model

The behavior of symmetric diblock copolymer chains of two different lengths at different concentrations is simulated by means of the bond fluctuation model. Two alternative sets of energies between interacting neighbors are proposed. In one of the sets, attractions between monomers of the same type are considered. In the other set, repulsions between monomers of different types are considered. The collective scattering of the simulation boxes is computed for different values of the reduced energy interaction parameter and the total polymer volume fraction. The analysis of this property is used to locate the transition associated with the formation of mesophases (lamellae) as a function of these two variables. A comparison between the results corresponding to the two different models is performed. When the significant excluded volume corrections are introduced in the model with repulsive interactions, both sets of data agree, except for the most dilute samples. The agreement with the self‐consistent field theory is only fair, and important differences are observed in the intermediate concentration regime. These differences were expected, since the theoretical treatment is only rigorously valid for very long chains.

Comparison of the simulation data for the transition points with the prediction of the self‐consistent field theory (solid line).     

Lipase production by Penicillium restrictum using solid waste of industrial babassu oil production as substrate

Lipase, protease, and amylase production by Penicillium restrictum in solid-state fermentation was investigated. The basal medium was an industrial waste of babassu oil (Orbignya oleifera) production. It was enriched with peptone, oliveoil, and Tween-80. The supplementation positively influenced both enzyme production and fungal growth. Media enriched with Tween-80 provided the highest protease activity (8.6 U/g), whereas those enriched with peptone and olive oil led to the highest lipase (27.8 U/g) and amylase (31.8 U/g) activities, respectively.     

Bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐N,N′)(thiosulfato‐O,S)­nickel(II)–water–methanol (1/0.92/1.4) and bis(2,2′‐bi­pyridyl‐N,N′)(thiosulfato‐O,S)nickel(II)–water–methanol (1/2/0.55)

The title compounds, [Ni(S₂O₃)­(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂]·­0.92H₂O·­1.4CH₄O and [Ni(S₂O₃)­(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂]·­2H₂O·­0.55CH₄O, are monomeric, containing nickel(II) in a distorted octahedral coordination environment provided by the four N atoms of two bidentate bipy or phen groups and one S and one O atom from a chelating thio­sulfate anion. The crystals are highly unstable outside their mother liquors and are stabilized in solution by a not fully determined number of water and methanol solvate mol­ecules. The phenanthroline structure includes two independent moieties related by a non‐crystallographic inversion center. The thio­sulfate anions display the usual S—O lengthening found when the anion acts in a bidentate mode.     

Numerical Continuation of Homoclinic Orbits to Non-Hyperbolic Equilibria in Planar Systems

In this paper we develop numerical algorithms for thecontinuation of degenerate homoclinic orbits to non-hyperbolicequilibria in planar systems. The first situation corresponds to asaddle-node equilibrium (a zero eigenvalue) and the second one is theso-called cuspidal loop (double-zero eigenvalue). The methods proposedmay deal with codimension-two and -three homoclinic connections.Application of the algorithms to several examples supports its validityand demonstrates its usefulness.     

Characterization of a crystal grown from Ocimum Basilicum leaves and branches

Leaves and branches of Ocimum Basilicum were dried, reduced to coarse powder and extracted in aqueous metanol and aqueous hexane. This paper discusses the X‐ray diffraction and FT‐Raman spectra measured at room temperature. The data obtained have been used to propose a general assignment of the vibrational fundamentals on the base of frequencies assigned in other related single crystals. From the results we can conclude that the crystal has a high symmetry. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Dynamic Jahn-teller effect in a Fe-N6 cage molecule

Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of [Fe(di(amH)-sar)](NO₃)_4·H₂O where di(amH)-sar represents 1,8 diamino 3,6,10,13,16,19-hexaza bicyclo [6,6,6] icosane in the temperature range of 4.2 to 300 K suggest that it undergoes a dynamic Jahn-Teller effect as revealed from the plots of temperature dependent quadrupole coupling constant, chemical shift and line width values. The spectrum down to 4.2 K, shows a quadrupole doublet with no magnetic hyperfine splitting.     

Dynamic Axial-to-Helical Communication Mechanism in Poly[(allenylethynylenephenylene)acetylene]s under External Stimuli

Helix inversion in chiral dynamic helical polymers is usually achieved by conformational changes at the pendant groups induced through external stimuli. Herein, a different mechanism of helix inversion in poly(phenylacetylene)s (PPAs) is presented, based on the activation/deactivation of supramolecular interactions. We prepared poly[(allenylethynylenephenylene)acetylene]s (PAEPAs) in which the pendant groups are conformationally locked chiral allenes. Therefore, their substituents are placed in specific spatial orientations. As a result, the screw sense of a PAEPA is fixed by the allenyl substituent with the optimal size/distance relationship to the backbone. This helical sense command can be surpassed by supramolecular interactions between another substituent on the allene and appropriate external stimuli, such as amines. So, a helix inversion occurs through a novel axial-to-helical communication mechanism, opening a new scenario for taming the helices of chiral dynamic helical polymers.     

Relaxation of flexible chains in dilute and non‐dilute systems. Dynamic Monte Carlo results for linear and star chains

A dynamic Monte Carlo algorithm is employed to investigate the dynamics of flexible linear and star chains on a cubic lattice at different concentrations. Some results for similar systems are also obtained with an off‐lattice algorithm. Diffusion coefficient, relaxation times and mean size data are combined into friction‐independent ratios in good agreement with the theoretical predictions from the Rouse theory. The relaxation times and amplitudes corresponding to the Rouse normal modes are analyzed in terms of their variation with the mode order. The end‐to‐end vector correlation times obtained from the simulations for linear chains are compared with the theoretical expression obtained from the Rouse theory. Deviations from this theory are observed for the contribution of the different modes in the non‐dilute systems. Finally, the time correlation function corresponding to a subchain's end‐to‐end vector is investigated. The results also show deviations from the Rouse theory, which are in qualitative agreement with the features observed in data from dielectric relaxation experiments of block copolymers.