Localization of diffusion sources in complex networks with sparse observations

Locating sources in a large network is of paramount importance to reduce the spreading of disruptive behavior. Based on the backward diffusion-based method and integer programming, we propose an efficient approach to locate sources in complex networks with limited observers. The results on model networks and empirical networks demonstrate that, for a certain fraction of observers, the accuracy of our method for source localization will improve as the increase of network size. Besides, compared with the previous method (the maximum–minimum method), the performance of our method is much better with a small fraction of observers, especially in heterogeneous networks. Furthermore, our method is more robust against noise environments and strategies of choosing observers.     

Theory of nematic–smectic phase separation in thin twisted liquid crystal cells

Recently it has been shown experimentally by the authors that a highly twisted thin nematic cell at low temperatures can separate into a smectic A region in the middle of the cell surrounded by twisted nematic layers at the boundaries. In this case the twist is expelled into the nematic layers and the nematic–smectic A transition temperature is strongly depressed. We present a thermodynamic theory of such a phase transition in a twisted nematic cell, taking into account that the smectic A slab inside the nematic cell can be stable only if the decrease of free energy in the smectic region overcomes the increase in distortion energy of the twist deformation in the nematic layers plus the energy of the nematic–smectic A interface. In such a system the equilibrium thickness of the smectic A slab corresponds to the minimum of the total free energy of the whole cell, which includes all the bulk and surface contributions. Existing experimental data are at least qualitatively explained by the results of the present theory. This opens a unique possibility to study the properties of the nematic–smectic interface which is perpendicular to the smectic layers.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Tandem Cycloisomerization–Halogenation of Chiral Homopropargyl Sulfonamides

Two new gold‐catalyzed tandem cycloisomerization–halogenation reactions of chiral homopropargyl sulfonamides have been developed. Various enantioenriched 3,3‐diiodopyrrolidin‐2‐ols and 3‐fluoropyrrolidin‐2‐ols were obtained in moderate‐to‐good yields with excellent enantio‐ and diastereoselectivity.     

Parallel detection and quantitative analysis of specific binding of proteins by oblique-incidence reflectivity difference technique in label-free format

In this work, we parallelly detected the specific binding between microarray targets including 12 different kinds of proteins and the probe solution containing five corresponding antibodies and quantitatively analyzed the interactions between CDH13 and solution phase anti-CDH13 at six different probe concentrations by oblique-incidence reflectivity difference (OIRD) method in label-free format. The detection sensitivity reached 10 ng/mL. The experimental results indicate that the OIRD method is a promising and competing technique not only in research work but also in clinic.     

Successive stepwise evolution of host layer‐stacking framework upon the intercalation of mobile vapor guests within side‐chain layers

For the ordered phases of hairy‐rod semiconductive poly(2,5‐bis(3‐tetradecylthiophene‐2‐yl)thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene) (PBTTT) sandwiched in between crystalline platelets of hexamethylbenzene, the successive stepwise evolution of layer‐stacking framework upon guest intercalation has been studied in this research. The direct consequence of the guest intercalation into side‐chain layers is evaluated to cause the lateral shift of thiophene backbones along π–π stacking, resulting in stepwise shift of ultraviolet absorption wavelength. The thermal motions of vapor guests within disordering side‐chain layers subsequently cause progressive expansion of host stacking framework. With the increase in side‐chain length, thicker layers of disordering side chains in liquid crystals (LCs) accommodate additional vapor guests and larger amplitudes of thermal motions of guests, hence promoting the level of reversible d‐spacing change. The mixing between mobile vapor guests and aliphatic side chains is clarified as the mechanism of guest intercalation, which rationalizes successive guest intercalation during heating and the contribution of disordering side‐chain layers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1448–1456     

Structural and electronic properties of type-I and type-VIII Ba8Ga16Sn30 clathrates under compression

The total energy and electronic structures for type-I (β phase) and type-VIII (α phase) Ba₈Ga₁₆Sn₃₀ clathrates under hydrostatic pressure have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. It was found that the type-VIII phase is more stable than the type-I one at ambient conditions and that β→α phase transition can not occur under hydrostatic pressure. The band structures show that the type-I and type-VIII Ba₈Ga₁₆Sn₃₀ are indirect semiconductors with band gaps of 0.24 eV and 0.19 eV, respectively. The results suggested that type-I clathrate Ba₈Ga₁₆Sn₃₀ has a larger value of the thermoelectric (TE) power than that of type-VIII clathrate. We found that pressure tuning changes the k-point of conduction band minimum (CBM) in the Brillouin zone for β-phase, but it is not the case for α-phase. Furthermore, the results show that the pressure can change the interaction between guest atoms and the host lattice, and consequently results in the decrease of the band gap of β-phase and the increase of the band gap of α-phase, indicating that the pressure effect can play an important role in the magnitude of the TE power.     

Preparation and solution properties of a novel cationic hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide for enhanced oil recovery

Abstract

A novel cationic water-soluble monomer allyldimethylisooctylammonium bromide (ADIAB) containing a short-chain alkane was synthesized successfully. This monomer was copolymerized with acrylamide and sodium acrylate to produce hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide (HMPAM) using solution polymerization without surfactants. The structures of monomer ADIAB and HMPAM were characterized with infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Influence of preparation condition on viscosities of products was studied. The aqueous solution viscosity of the terpolymer was also investigated as functions of concentration, temperature and salinity. The results showed that when the temperature exceeds the 60?°C and NaCl concentration exceeds about 2000?mg/L, the temperature and salt tolerance characters of terpolymer were demonstrated. The enhanced oil recovery tests were initially carried out using homogeneous sandpack models.     

Microwave solid phase synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial activity of 3,5-diiodo-salicylalidene-glycine-cobalt(II)

One mononuclear complex, C₉H₇I₂NO₄Co(II) (I) with 3,5-diiodo-salicylalidene, glycine and Co(CH₃COO)₂ · 4H₂O were microwave solid synthesized. The complex was characterized by X-ray crystallography, UV, IR, ESI-MS, and elemental analyses. In addition, further investigation revealed that the central cobalt(II) atom in complex is five-coordinated by one nitrogen atom and four oxygen atoms. The complex was assayed for antibacterial (B. subtilis, S. aureus, S. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and E. cloacae) activities by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl trtrazolium bromide) method. Complex I showed favorable antimicrobial activity with MICs of 3.125, 6.25, 6.25, 6.25, 3.125, and 6.25 μg/mL against B. subtilis, S. aureus, S. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and E. cloacae, respectively.     

Pt/MIL-101(Cr)在肉桂醛选择性加氢反应中的催化性能

采用简单易行的浸渍法将Pt纳米粒子负载到MIL-101(Cr)上, 制备了Pt/MIL-101(Cr)催化剂, 并对其在肉桂醛选择性加氢反应的催化性能进行了研究。XRD、N₂吸附、TEM和催化性能的研究结果表明, Pt的负载量对负载于MIL-101(Cr)上Pt纳米粒子的尺寸及所制备催化剂对肉桂醇的选择性有很大影响。低Pt负载量(1.0wt%)的Pt/MIL-101(Cr)较其他MOFs和无机材料在肉桂醛选择性加氢反应中表现出了高的催化性能, 在优化的反应条件下肉桂醛转化率和对肉桂醇的选择性可分别达96.5%和86.2%。Pt/MIL-101(Cr)催化剂具有良好的稳定性。Pt/MIL-101(Cr)所表现出的优良的催化性能同MIL-101(Cr)载体的孔道结构及其表面性质密切相关。