Basic Theory in Construction of Boolean Functions with Maximum Possible Annihilator Immunity

So far there is no systematic attempt to construct Boolean functions with maximum annihilator immunity. In this paper we present a construction keeping in mind the basic theory of annihilator immunity. This construction provides functions with the maximum possible annihilator immunity and the weight, nonlinearity and algebraic degree of the functions can be properly calculated under certain cases. The basic construction is that of symmetric Boolean functions and applying linear transformation on the input variables of these functions, one can get a large class of non-symmetric functions too. Moreover, we also study several other modifications on the basic symmetric functions to identify interesting non-symmetric functions with maximum annihilator immunity. In the process we also present an algorithm to compute the Walsh spectra of a symmetric Boolean function with O(n²) time and O(n) space complexity. We use the term “Annihilator Immunity” instead of “Algebraic Immunity” referred in the recent papers [3–5, 9, 18, 19]. Please see Remark 1 for the details of this notational change     

Depth profiling of Irganox‐3114 nanoscale delta layers in a matrix of Irganox‐1010 using conventional Cs+ and O2+ ion beams

Depth profiling of an organic reference sample consisting of Irganox 3114 layers of 3 nm thickness at depths of 51.5, 104.5, 207.6 and 310.7 nm inside a 412 nm thick Irganox 1010 matrix evaporated on a Si substrate has been studied using the conventional Cs⁺ and O₂⁺ as sputter ion beams and Bi⁺ as the primary ion for analysis in a dual beam time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometer. The work is an extension of the Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards project on depth profiling of organic multilayer materials. Cs⁺ ions were used at energies of 500 eV, 1.0 keV and 2.0 keV and the O₂⁺ ions were used at energies of 500 eV and 1.0 keV. All four Irganox 3114 layers were identified clearly in the depth profile using low mass secondary ions. The depth profile data were fitted to the empirical expression of Dowsett function and these fits are reported along with the full width at half maxima to represent the useful resolution for all the four delta layers detected. The data show that, of the conditions used in these experiments, an energy of 500 eV for both Cs⁺ beam and O₂⁺ beam provides the most useful depth profiles. The sputter yield volume per ion calculated from the slope of depth versus ion dose matches well with earlier reported data. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fabrication and electrochemical performance of nanofibrous micro-frameworks of α-MnO_2

A facile solid-phase conversion route is proposed to fabricate a micro-framework of α-MnO_2 with a nanofibrous structure and high porosity.The fabrication is achieved by a three-step process using a preformed manganese tartrate with a rectangular framework as the precursor followed by thermal annealing and hydrothermal oxidation to form the final nanofibrous structure.Evolution of the phase and the morphology are characterized by FESEM,XRD,TG-DTA,and TEM measurements.The electrochemically active material α-MnO_2 exhibits both attractive stability of the Coulombic efficiency after long-term cyclic charging/discharging and acceptable specific capacitance.     

Biochar as a precursor of activated carbon

Biochar was evaluated as a precursor of activated carbon. This product was produced by chemical activation using potassium hydroxide. The effects of operating conditions of activation process, such as temperature, activating agent to biochar mass ratio, and nitrogen flow rate, on the textural and chemical properties of the product were investigated. Activated carbon produced by this method has internal surface area at least 50 times than that of the precursor and is highly microporous, which is also confirmed by scanning electron microscopy analysis. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed development of aromatization in the structure of activated carbon. X-ray diffraction data indicated the formation of small, two-dimensional graphite-like structure at high temperatures. Thermogravimetric study showed that when potassium hydroxide to biochar mass ratio was more than one, the weight loss decreased.     

Highly enantioselective synthesis of chiral allenes by sequential creation of stereogenic center and chirality transfer in a single pot operation

Chiral allenes are readily accessed in a single pot operation in the reaction of terminal alkynes, aldehydes, chiral secondary amines, and zinc halides in good yields (up to 77% yield) and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee) in toluene at 120 °C. The reaction proceeds through initial formation of chiral propargylamine intermediates with creation of a new stereogenic center and subsequent chirality transfer via an intramolecular hydride shift to produce chiral allenes with high enantiomeric purities.     

Facile fabrication of porous ZnO by a template free method

In this paper, a template free method has been employed to fabricate porous ZnO. Brick shaped precursor was first synthesized by a mild hydrothermal process. Accompanied with the decomposition of the precursor during the subsequent annealing treatment, porous ZnO with the inherited morphology of the precursor was obtained. The as‐prepared products were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It exhibited that the porous hierarchical frame consists of nano‐sheets with wurtzite‐type. The size of the pores as well as the size of the particles varied with the annealing temperature. Mechanism speculation showed that the crystal‐aggregation in the growth process of the precursor is the key to the establishment of pore structure. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Sensing of Zn2+ion by N-Furfurylsalicylaldimine Based on CHEF Process†

The recognition ability of N-Furfurylsalicylaldimine (HL) toward various cations (Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺, Ba²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ag⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, K⁺, Sr²⁺, and Na⁺) has been studied by UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The compound showed highly selective fluorescence signaling behaviour for Zn²⁺ ions in methanol-water medium based on CHEF process and is capable of distinguishing Zn²⁺ from Cd²⁺ ion. From single crystal X-ray analysis it is revealed that a Zn²⁺ ion binds two ligand molecules through imine nitrogen and phenolate oxygen atom.

Chitosan‐g‐polycaprolactone copolymer fibrous mesh scaffolds and their related properties

Chitosan‐g‐polycaprolactone copolymers (CPCs) with desired composition proportions were synthesized by carefully controlling the weight ratio of polycaprolactone side chains changing approximately between 45 and 48 wt% so that the obtained CPCs could be further processed via different processing techniques. Aqueous acetic acid solutions and dimethyl sulfoxide were respectively employed as solvents to fabricate CPCs into fibrous mesh scaffolds that had nearly similar parameters characterized by the average porosity and pore‐size of scaffolds as well as the average diameter of filaments under optimal processing conditions. The swelling index, surface group analysis, antibacterial activity and tensile mechanical properties of these mesh scaffolds were investigated in several ways, and the scaffolds showed quite different properties due to the different processing methods employed, although the same type of CPC was used. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of Zn2SnO4 nanorods in the diameter regime of sub-5 nm and their properties

Single crystalline Zn(2)SnO(4) (ZTO) nanorods 2-4 nm in diameter and around 20 nm in length were successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal process with use of hydrazine hydrate as an alkaline mineralizer instead of NaOH or NH(3).H(2)O. By analyzing the UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum, the optical band gap (E(g)) of the nanorods was found to be 3.87 eV, which indicates a blue shift of 0.27 eV from that of bulk ZTO (3.6 eV). In situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction was employed to study the thermal expansion coefficient and the variation of lattice parameter with temperature of the product. Furthermore, we discussed the chemical mechanism and key factors to the hydrothermal formation of the sub-5 nm ZTO nanorods.     

Preparation of ZnO particle with novel nut-like morphology by ultrasonic pretreatment and its luminescence property

Novel nut-like zinc oxide crystal has been prepared by a low temperature hydrothermal method with the presence of Cu²⁺ ion. It seemed that the ultrasonic pretreatment was the key factor during the preparation process. SEM observations revealed that the as-prepared ZnO crystal exhibited nut shape showing well-defined crystallographic facets. The cross-section of the ZnO crystal was hexagonal of about 800 nm–1 μm in diameter, and the aspect ratio was a little smaller than 1:1. The room temperature photoluminescence behavior of the nut-like zinc oxide crystal was much stronger than the reference samples.