Synthesis of waterborne acrylic/clay nanocomposites by controlled surface initiation from macroinitiator modified montmorillonite

The nitroxide mediated controlled surface initiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA)/butyl acrylate (n-BA) was carried out with a macroinitiator modified montmorillonite. The macroinitiator was synthesized by the nitroxide mediated polymerization of vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride (VBTMACl), methylmethacrylate (MMA) and styrene (S) at 90 °C using BlocBuilder®. The macroinitiator was exchanged with the sodium cations of the montmorillonite, to yield surface modified reactive montmorillonite. The bulk polymerizations of BA/MMA from the clay surface produced controlled molecular weight polymers that were able to exfoliate the clay. This controlled polymer/clay nanocomposite was used as masterbatch and further dispersed in monomers and miniemulsified to perform miniemulsion polymerization of BA/MMA (90/10 wt.%) at 30 wt.% solids content at low emulsifier concentration. The adhesive properties of the nanocomposites prepared with the masterbatch were proved to be better than those prepared with an organically modified clay.     

Dynamic asset allocation with loss aversion in a jump-diffusion model

This paper investigates a dynamic asset allocation problem for loss-averse investors in a jumpdiffusion model where there are a riskless asset and N risky assets. Specifically, the prices of risky assets are governed by jump-diffusion processes driven by an m-dimensional Brownian motion and a(N- m)-dimensional Poisson process. After converting the dynamic optimal portfolio problem to a static optimization problem in the terminal wealth, the optimal terminal wealth is first solved. Then the optimal wealth process and investment strategy are derived by using the martingale representation approach. The closed-form solutions for them are finally given in a special example.     

A two-dimensional Zn(II) coordination polymer with a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture comprising 5-dimethylamino-isophthalic acid and 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane

A new zinc coordination polymer, [Zn(L)(bpp)·H₂O]_n, was synthesized using 5-dimethylamino-isophthalic acid (H₂L) and 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane (bpp) as organic linkers. In the complex, adjacent Zn²⁺ ions are linked by L^2? anions to form a one-dimensional (1D) [ZnL]_n chain. Then bpp ligands expand the 1D chains into a corrugated two-dimensional (2D) layer network by linking neighboring Zn²⁺ ions. These adjacent layers are further stacked together by direct C?H···π supramolecular interactions, generating a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structure. From the viewpoint of topology, the 2D network can be rationalized to a uninodal four-connected non-interpenetrated sql/Shubnikov tetragonal plane net with {4⁴.6²} topology. Moreover, the solid state properties such as thermogravimetric analysis and luminescence were also investigated.     

On geodesic mappings of equidistant generalized Riemannian spaces

In this paper geodesic mappings of equidistant generalized Riemannian spaces are discussed. It is proved that each equidistant generalized Riemannian space of basic type admits non-trivial geodesic mapping with preserved equidistant congruence. Especially, there exists non-trivial geodesic mapping of equidistant generalized Riemannian space onto equidistant Riemannian space. An example of geodesic mapping of an equidistant generalized Riemannian spaces is presented.     

Examination of Template Structural Effects on CEC Chiral Separation Performance of Molecule Imprinted Polymers Made by a Generalized Preparation Protocol

Some acidic chiral templates were used to prepare open tubular (OT) molecule imprinted polymer (MIP) capillary columns to explore the effects of molecular structures of templates on chiral recognition capabilities and to verify the feasibility of the general MIP preparation protocol introduced in the previous study. The templates are phenyl carboxylic acids and their derivatives. Optimization was carried out for chiral separation of template enantiomers for each MIP column through varying pH and composition of eluent. It was found that the preparation protocol can be successfully applied for the appropriate templates with functional groups fulfilling the three-points interaction rule. The chiral separation performances were quite satisfactory for MIPs of such templates although they are yet inferior to the separation performances of the MIP columns fabricated with the templates of profen drugs (2-arylpropionic acids with a large substituent on the phenyl ring). Subtle variations of the template molecular structures have been found to be critical to enhance chiral recognition ability of the resultant MIP column.     

Cycling performance of LiNi<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript>Mn<Subscript>2 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> prepared by the solid-state reaction

In order to improve the cycling performance of LiMn₂O₄, a part of Mn in LiMn₂O₄ was replaced by Ni. LiNi _y Mn_{2 − y} O₄ (y = 0.02, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20) were synthesized by preheating a mixture of LiOH, MnO₂ (CMD), and NiO at 400°C for 10 h and then calcining at 850°C for 48 h in air with intermediate grinding. The voltage vs. discharge capacity curves at a current density of 300 μA/cm² between 3.5 and 4.3 V showed two plateaus, but the plateaus became unclear as the value of y increased. The sample with y = 0.02 had the largest first discharge capacity of 118.1 mA h/g. The LiNi_0.10Mn_1.90O₄ sample had a relatively large first discharge capacity of 95.0 mA h/g and snowed an excellent cycling performance.     

Synthesis of 3,5-Dichloro-4-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy)phenyl Containing 1,2,3-Thiadiazole Derivatives via Ugi Reaction and Their Biological Activities

A series of novel 3,5‐dichloro‐4‐(1,1,2,2‐tetrafluoroethoxy)phenyl containing 4‐methyl‐1,2,3‐thiadiazole derivatives were designed and synthesized via Ugi reaction. Their structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and high‐resolution mass spectroscopy. The preliminary bioassay results indicated that some title compounds had good fungicide activity at 50 µg/mL; most of the compounds presented a certain degree of direct inhibition activity, good inactivation and curative activity against tobacco mosaic virus at 500 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL; some compounds showed good larvicidal activity against Plutella xylostella L. at 200 µg/mL and excellent larvicidal activities against Culex pipiens pallens at 2 µg/mL.