Crystallography Aided by Atomic Core-Level Binding Energies: Proton Transfer versus Hydrogen Bonding in Organic Crystal Structures

Ionic bond or hydrogen bridge? Br?nsted proton transfer to nitrogen acceptors in organic crystals causes strong N1s core-level binding energy shifts. A study of 15 organic cocrystal and salt systems shows that standard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) can be used as a complementary method to X-ray crystallography for distinguishing proton transfer from H-bonding in organic condensed matter.     

Homo- and heterochiral alkylzinc fencholates: linear or nonlinear effects in dialkylzinc additions to benzaldehyde

Scalemic mixtures of chiral anisyl fenchols with different ortho-substituents (X) in the anisyl moieties [X = H (1), Me (2), SiMe3 (3) and tBu (4)] are employed as pre-catalysts in enantioselective additions of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde. While a remarkable asymmetric depletion is apparent for X = H and Me, a linear relationship between the enantiomeric purity of the chiral source and the product 1-phenylpropanol is observed for X = SiMe3 and tBu. X-ray single crystal analyses show that racemic methylzinc fencholates obtained from 1 (X = H) and 2 (X = Me) yield homochiral dimeric complexes, while for 3 (X = SiMe3) and 4 (X = tBu) the heterochiral dimeric alkylzinc structures are formed. The enantiopure fenchols 1-4 all yield homochiral dimeric methylzinc complexes. Computed relative energies of homo- and heterochiral fencholate dimers with X = H and Me reveal an intrinsic preference for the formation of the homochiral dimers, consistent with the observed negative NLE. In contrast, similar stabilities are computed for homo- and heterochiral complexes of ligands 3 (X = SiMe3) and 4 (X = tBu), in agreement with the absence of a nonlinear effect for bulky ortho-subsituents.     

The isolation of a metastable conglomerate using a combined computational and controlled crystallization approach

While the use of additives to control the crystallization of polymorphs is well known, similar methodology to promote the crystallization of a metastable conglomerate over a stable racemic compound in enantiomeric systems has not been reported. Here we demonstrate this phenomenon in the case of 2-chloromandelic acid.     

Integrated experimental and computational approach for nanoparticle flow analysis

We report a new method combining computational fluid dynamics and flow experiments with customized channels to understand the transport of nanoparticles. Iron oxide nanoparticles, being highly attractive for biomedical research are chosen as model nanoparticles for the transport studies. Four different polyvinyl pyrrolidone and polyethyleneimine coated iron oxide nanoparticles of hydrodynamic sizes ranging from 45–178 nm were synthesized. These nanoparticles were adjusted to different target mass concentrations and ran through a bent tube to determine flow velocity and mass loss, specific to the nanoparticles. Computational predictions were made for velocity and mass loss of fully developed flow of nanoparticles through bent channel, which compared well with experimental measurements. A diffusion dominated nanoparticle flow is predicted, based on our results. This work will provide a breakthrough for further experimental and computational research to help understand the nanoparticle targeted delivery and the design of nanoparticles for optimal delivery in biomedical applications.     

Electrochemical Monitoring of Saos‐2 Cell Differentiation on Pyrolytic Carbon Electrodes

In this study we establish an electrochemical platform based on two dimensional (2D) pyrolytic carbon electrodes for in vitro analysis of osteoblast differentiation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to monitor cell adhesion and proliferation, while an electrochemical assay based on square wave voltammetry (SWV) was applied to measure the activity of the differentiation marker alkaline phosphatase (ALP). 2D pyrolytic carbon electrodes were fabricated and used to monitor Saos‐2 cell differentiation for a period of up to 21 days. With this method it was possible to detect a faster increase of ALP activity for cells cultured in medium supplemented with differentiation factors compared to cells cultured in growth medium. This was confirmed by the results obtained with Alizarin Red staining, showing that cells subjected to osteogenic medium went through the entire differentiation process, from proliferation to mineralization. Finally, for the first time, real‐time monitoring of ALP activity combined with continuous EIS monitoring of the same cell culture was achieved using the pyrolytic carbon electrodes.     

Mn3O4包覆对LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4正极材料界面电化学性能的提高

本文采用化学湿磨法，首次将金属氧化物Mn₃O₄包覆于LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄颗粒表面，使得电极材料的电子电导率从1.53×10^-7 S/cm 提高到3.15×10^-5 S/cm. 电化学测试结果表明Mn₃O₄包覆大大提高LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄正极材料的倍率性能和高温循环稳定性. 最佳包覆样品为2.6wt% Mn₃O₄包覆的LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄，在10 C倍率下具有108 mAh/g的高放电容并且在55 °C下100次循环后仍有78%的容量保持率，远大于未包覆样品67%的容量保持率.     

Certain Results for the 2-Variable Peters Mixed Type and Related Polynomials

In this article, the 2-variable general polynomials are taken as base with Peters polynomials to introduce a family of 2-variable Peters mixed type polynomials.These polynomials are framed within the context of monomiality principle and their properties are established. Certain summation formulae for these polynomials are also derived. Examples of some members belonging to this family are considered and numbers related to some mixed special polynomials are also explored.     

A novel approach to benz[e]indenes

A number of benz[e]indene derivatives have been prepared at room temperature in good to excellent yields by treating 3-(2-formyl-cycloalkenyl)-acrylic acid esters with diphosphorus pentasulfide. An azulene derivative was also synthesized by this simple method.     

On the Gauge and BRST Invariance of the Chiral QED with Faddeevian Anomaly

Chiral Schwinger model with the Faddeevian anomaly is considered. It is found that imposing a chiral constraint this model can be expressed in terms of chiral boson. The model when expressed in terms of chiral boson remains anomalous and the Gauss law of which gives anomalous Poisson brackets between itself. In spite of that a systematic BRST quantization is possible. The Wess-Zumino term corresponding to this theory appears automatically during the process of quantization. A gauge invariant reformulation of this model is also constructed. Unlike the former one gauge invariance is done here without any extension of phase space. This gauge invariant version maps onto the vector Schwinger model. The gauge invariant version of the chiral Schwinger model for a=2 has a massive field with identical mass however gauge invariant version obtained here does not map on to that.     

Molecular complexes of aspirin with humic acid extracted from shilajit and their characterization

Aspirin possesses antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-aggregatory activity. The acetylsalicylic acid molecule has a carboxyl group and an ester group. The ester group can be easily hydrolyzed, which reduces the medicinal value and causes side effects on humans. The aim of the present study was to prepare solid complexes between aspirin and humic by lyophilization and solvent evaporation technique in the molar ratio 1:1 and 1:2. Molecular interaction between aspirin and humic acid were studied by DSC, XRD, FT-IR and scanning electron microscopy. This technique clearly demonstrated the existence of solid inclusion complex formation. The lyophilized complex in the molar ratio 1:2 showed enhanced stability and dissolution rates of aspirin significantly. A highly significant (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory action of the treatment of optimized freeze dried (1:2) aspirin complex with humic acid was evidenced by inhibition of rat paw edema and anti-ulcerogenic action was measured by lowest score (0.63 ± 0.10) with significant reduction in ulceration as compared to aspirin alone.