Investigation of the Homologous Series of 4-Acetyl-4′-n-Alkanoyloxyazobenzenes by X-ray Diffraction

This paper reports an investigation by X-ray diffraction of the homologous series of liquid crystalline 4-acetyl-4′-n-alkanoyloxyazobenzenes. By using two independent parameters, namely the temperature and the paraffinic chain length, it was possible to obtain some structural information on two solid phases for comparison with a previously reported model for the S_A phase of the same series. In particular, the molecular layer thickness and, by using previously reported dilatometric data, the aromatic sublayer thickness, the methylene group thickness, the molecular area and the aromatic stem inclination angle were obtained for the different phases.     

Crystallographic Studies of Clathrate Hydrates. Part I

Low-temperature neutron and X-ray diffraction studies show the gas hydrates of oxygen and nitrogen to be structure II (Fd3m), as recently found also for the hydrates of the small argon and krypton molecules. New lattice parameters of three structure I and 14 structure II hydrates from powder X-ray diffraction at 170 K are reported. The thermal expansion coefficient of tetrahydrofuran hydrate was determined from X-ray diffraction at some 50 temperatures between 18 and 263 K and found to be three times as great as for ice near 100 K and 30% higher near 250 K. Lattice parameters qf 40 type II clathrate hydrates are compared at 0°C and found to lie within 0.10 Å of 17.30 Å.     

Phragmen–lindelöf principle for weak subsolutions and cooperative reaction–diffusion systems

One of the principal techniques for treating sustems of reaction–diffusion equations is based on a comparison method using sub and super–solutions. In practice this method is much more effective if non–smooth subsolutions are allowed. In this note we extend the analysis in [2,3] for cooperative systems and prove a comparison principle for a natural and rather general class of weak subsolutions satisfying a Phragmen–Lindelöf condition. An application is then given to a biological model in involving a pair of mutualists.     

Changes in the Cross-Linking Density of Three-Dimensional Macromolecular Networks

Equations are suggested for the strand concentration in three-dimensional macromolecular networks and for their number-average molecular weight. Concepts of time dependences of spatial cross-linking density have been referred to. The kinetics of physical cross-linking has been studied. Complex values are introduced for describing the frequency dependences of network strands concentration and their corresponding number-average molecular weights.     

Exhaled breath condensate: Determination of non-volatile compounds and their potential for clinical diagnosis and monitoring. A review

Exhaled breath condensate is a promising, non-invasive, diagnostic sample obtained by condensation of exhaled breath. Starting from a historical perspective of early attempts of breath testing towards the contemporary state-of-the-art breath analysis, this review article focuses mainly on the progress in determination of non-volatile compounds in exhaled breath condensate. The mechanisms by which the aerosols/droplets of non-volatile compounds are formed in the airways are discussed with methodological consequences for sampling. Dilution of respiratory droplets is a major problem for correct clinical interpretation of the measured data and there is an urgent need for standardization of EBC. This applies also for collection instrumentation and therefore various commercial and in-house built devices are described and compared with regard to their design, function and collection parameters. The analytical techniques and methods for determination of non-volatile compounds as potential markers of oxidative stress and lung inflammation are scrutinized with an emphasis on method suitability, sensitivity and appropriateness. The relevance of clinical findings for each group of possible non-volatile markers of selected pulmonary diseases and methodological recommendations with emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration that is essential for future development into a fully validated clinical diagnostic tool are given.     

Synthesis, Structure and Photoluminescence of a New Cd(Ⅱ)Coordination Polymer Based on 4-(Carboxymethoxy)-benzoic Acid and 1,10-Phenanthroline Derivative

A new 1D coordination polymer, [Cd2(L1)2(L2)2]·H2O (1, H2L1 = 4-(carboxy-methoxy)benzoic acid and L2 = 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline), has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in triclinic, space group Pī with a = 9.985(5), b = 10.768(5), c = 12.512(5), α = 68.959(5), β = 80.354(5), γ = 79.663(5)°, V = 1227.4(10) 3, Z = 1, C56H36Cd2F2N8O11, Mr = 1259.73, Dc = 1.704 g/cm3, F(000) = 630, μ(MoKa) = 0.949 mm-1, R = 0.0261 and wR = 0.0655. The L1 anions link the neighboring Cd(II) atoms to form a 1D double chain structure. The L2 ligands are alternately located on both sides of the double chains. More interestingly, the lateral L2 ligands from adjacent double chains are paired to furnish strong π-π interactions, yielding a 2D supramolecular layer. N-H···O, O-H···N and O-H···O hydrogen bonds further stabilize the structure of 1. The luminescent property of 1 was studied in solid state at room temperature.     

A field-reversal method for measuring the parameters of a ferroelectric liquid crystal

A method for measuring the spontaneous polarization P _s, the switching time, the rotational viscosity γ_φ, and the d.c. conductivity σ is presented. The possibilities of estimating the azimuthal angle φ₀, the dielectric anisotropy δε and the dielectric permittivity ε_⊥ in the same experiment are also discussed. It is explicitly shown that the switching delay, though primarily dependent on the material and the applied field, is also dependent on the geometry of the cell.     

Liquid crystalline properties of 4‐hexyloxybenzylidene‐4′‐alkyloxyanilines

The liquid‐crystalline polymorphism of the homologous series of 4‐hexyloxybenzylidene‐4′‐alkyloxyanilines is investigated. Basing on the polarization microscopy (POM, TOA), the DSC calorimetry and miscibility studies the following mesophases were detected: nematic, smectic A, smectic C and smectic I. The phase diagrams of the compounds of these series with 4‐hexyloxybenylidene‐4′‐pentylaniline (as the standard of mesophases) show induction of the smectic F mesophases. Their dependence on the alkyl chain length and mole fraction is shown.