Two-dimensional assembly of [Mn(III)₂Mn(II)₂] single-molecule magnets and [Cu(pic)₂] linking units (Hpic = picolinic acid)

In an attempt to develop novel coordination networks of SMMs, a Cu(II) picolinate complex has been used to coordinate S(T) = 9 tetranuclear Mn-based SMMs resulting in an intriguing 2D framework exhibiting a magnet-like behavior at low temperature.     

Microstructure of Polyelectrolyte Nanoaggregates Studied by Fluorescence Probe Method

The microstructure of water soluble nanoaggregates based on polyelectrolyte complex formed by the cationic comb-type copolymer poly(acrylamide -co-[3- (methacryloyl-amino)propyl] trimethylammonium chloride)-graft- polyacrylamide [P(AM-co-MAPTAC)-g-PAM] and the anionic linear polyelectrolyte sodium polyacrylate (NaPA) was investigated using the fluorescence probe technique. The fluorescence probe were 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid (ANS), pyrene (Py) and 1,10-bis(1-pyrene) decane (PD). The fluorescence properties in polyelectrolyte complex solutions, which are sensitive to either micropolarity (ANS, Py) or microviscosity (PD), were related to the quantities obtained in different pure or mixed solvents. Micropolarities were quantified utilizing the polarity common index (Reichardt) E _T(30). ANS and Py showed a variation of the micropolarity with the charge ratio of the two polymers, with the lowest polarity reached at the complex neutralization. The PD probe, by its excimer-to-monomer fluorescence intensities ratio, enabled us to evidence the effect of the composition and the comb-type copolymer grafting density on the microviscosity of the interpolyelectrolytes aggregates. It has been found that the microviscosity increased with the density of the grafting PAM chains.     

On the contact interfaces in sonic composites

The paper analyses the effect of normal contact with friction on the generation of full band-gaps in sonic composites. The behavior of contact interfaces are computed by using LISA (local interaction simulation approach). LISA is an efficient tool for numerical simulation of the acoustic wave propagation in heterogeneous material specimens, in particular those with contact interfaces between different materials, like in sonic composites. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Temperature dependence of the density of calamitic and discotic nematic lyotropic liquid crystals containing sodium lauryl sulphate/decanol/water

Experimental results for the temperature dependence of density at normal pressure for two compositions of sodium lauryl sulphate/decanol/water solutions, exhibiting either a calamitic or a discotic lyotropic nematic phase at room temperature, are presented. Within the limits of experimental precision (±1 ×10^-5 g cm^-3), the systems show no jump in density at the nematic to isotropic phase transition. Over the studied temperature range, the mean thermal expansion coefficients were also evaluated.     

Antioxidant activity of rosemary extracts in solution and embedded in polymeric systems

The rosemary extract was encapsulated in polyethylene or in covalently-based network gels. The covalent gels were obtained by the reaction of isocyanate end-capped polyethylene glycol (PEG) with β-cyclodextrin or glycerol. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity (AA) of rosemary extract entrapped in polymeric structures and in ethanol or water solutions. The AA of the rosemary extract was determined using a DPPH radical for samples prepared in ethanol, and a water-soluble derivative, the sulphonated DPPH radical (DPPH-SO₃Na), for the rosemary extract in water. Formulation of the rosemary extract in polymeric gels ensures a rapid release which determines the AA values similar to those in solution.     

Radially symmetric systems with a singularity and asymptotically linear growth

We prove the existence of infinitely many periodic solutions for radially symmetric systems with a singularity of repulsive type. The nonlinearity is assumed to have a linear growth at infinity, being controlled by two constants which have a precise interpretation in terms of the Dancer-Fu?ik spectrum. Our result generalizes an existence theorem by Del Pino et al. (1992) [4], obtained in the case of a scalar second order differential equation.     

Thermal behaviour of some new complexes with bismacrocyclic ligands as potential biological active species

Novel complexes of type [M₂LCl₄]·nH₂O ((1) M:Ni, n = 5; (2) M:Cu, n = 0 and (3) M:Zn, n = 2; L: ligand resulted from 1,2-phenylenediamine, 3,6-diazaoctane-1,8-diamine and formaldehyde template condensation) were synthesised and characterised. The features of complexes have been assigned from microanalytical, IR and UV–Vis data. The thermal analyses have evidenced the thermal intervals of stability and also the thermodynamic effects that accompany them. Processes as water or hydrochloric acid elimination as well as oxidative degradation of the organic ligand were observed. Complexes display a different thermal behaviour as result of dissimilar chemical interaction of metal ions with chloride anions. The final product of decomposition was metal(II) oxide as powder X-ray diffraction indicated.