Paradigms and Paradoxes: Fractional and Other Non-integer Charges in Chemistry—an Understanding of Aromaticity

Structural Chemistry - In the current study, the energetics of fractionally (and indeed arbitrary non-integer) charged species is explicitly discussed for the enhanced understanding of aromaticity...     

Imprisoned lightning: charge transport in trehalose-derived sugar glasses

Trehalose is a naturally occurring disaccharide noted for its ability to preserve the biological function of proteins and cell membranes during periods of stress—such as water deprivation or extreme temperature—by stabilizing the conformations of the macromolecules within a glassy matrix. This phenomenon makes use of the propensity for trehalose to interact strongly with protein functional groups and solvent water molecules via hydrogen bonding. Previously, it has been shown that trehalose sugar glasses also support long-range charge transport in oxidation-reduction reactions occurring between spatially separated donors and acceptors. Here, through the use of bulk Arrhenius DC-conductivity measurements, we infer that this anomalously high carrier mobility is due to proton hopping along a hydrogen bonding network formed by sorbed “water wires,” a process known as the Grotthuss mechanism. Additionally, we find that the apparent activation energy of the conductivity depends non-monotonically on the bias voltage. The possibility is raised for novel photovoltaic devices based on the entrapment of photosynthetic proteins within these glasses.     

Design and experimental validation of a nonlinear controller for underactuated surface vessels

Nonlinear Dynamics - This paper addresses the problem of trajectory tracking control of an underactuated surface vessel moving in a two-dimensional space in the presence of unknown disturbances. In...     

When does every definable nonempty set have a definable element?

The assertion that every definable set has a definable element is equivalent over $\mathsf{ZF}$ to the principle $\mathbf{V}=\mathbf{HOD}$, and indeed, we prove, so is the assertion merely that every Π₂‐definable set has an ordinal‐definable element. Meanwhile, every model of $\mathsf{ZFC}$ has a forcing extension satisfying $\mathbf{V}\ne \mathbf{HOD}$ in which every Σ₂‐definable set has an ordinal‐definable element. Similar results hold for $\mathbf{HOD}(\mathbb{R})$ and $\mathbf{HOD}({\mathrm{Ord}}^{\omega })$ and other natural instances of $\mathbf{HOD}(X)$.     

Interplay of thermochemistry and Structural Chemistry,the journal (volume 29, 2018, issues 3–4) and the discipline

The contents of issues 3 and 4 of Structural Chemistry from the calendar year 2018 are summarized in the present review. A brief thermochemical commentary and recommendations for future research have been added to the summary of each paper.

     

Development and analysis of a malaria transmission mathematical model with seasonal mosquito life-history traits

In this paper, we develop and analyze a malaria model with seasonality of mosquito life-history traits: periodic-mosquitoes per capita birth rate, -mosquitoes death rate, -probability of mosquito to human disease transmission, -probability of human to mosquito disease transmission, and -mosquitoes biting rate. All these parameters are assumed to be time dependent leading to a nonautonomous differential equation system. We provide a global analysis of the model depending on two threshold parameters and (with ). When , then the disease-free stationary state is locally asymptotically stable. In the presence of the human disease-induced mortality, the global stability of the disease-free stationary state is guarantied when . On the contrary, if , the disease persists in the host population in the long term and the model admits at least one positive periodic solution. Moreover, by a numerical simulation, we show that a sub-critical (backward) bifurcation is possible at . Finally, the simulation results are in accordance with the seasonal variation of the reported cases of a malaria-epidemic region in Mpumalanga province in South Africa.     

Flat Curves

We characterize the sextic trefoil among plane curves of low degree: first as a complex curve with compact, flat geometry; and then as a curve with meromorphic arc length parameterization.     

Materials Space-Tectonics: Atomic-level Compositional and Spatial Control Methodologies for Synthesis of Future Materials

Reactions occurring at surfaces and interfaces necessitate the creation of well-designed surface and interfacial structures. To achieve a combination of bulk material (i.e., framework) and void spaces, a meticulous process of “nano-architecting” of the available space is necessary. Conventional porous materials such as mesoporous silica, zeolites, and metal–organic frameworks lack advanced cooperative functionalities owing to their largely monotonous pore geometries and limited conductivities. To overcome these limitations and develop functional structures with surface-specific functions, the novel materials space-tectonics methodology has been proposed for future materials synthesis. This review summarizes recent examples of materials synthesis based on designing building blocks (i.e., tectons) and their hybridization, along with practical guidelines for implementing materials syntheses and state-of-the-art examples of practical applications. Lastly, the potential integration of materials space-tectonics with emerging technologies, such as materials informatics, is discussed.