A generalization of regular convolutions and Ramanujan sums

The Ramanujan Journal - Regular convolutions of arithmetical functions were first defined by Narkiewicz (Colloq Math 10:81–94, 1963). Useful identities regarding generalizations of the...     

Identification of pyrrolo-pyridine derivatives as novel class of antibacterials

Molecular Diversity - A series of 5-oxo-4H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine derivatives was identified as novel class of highly potent antibacterial agents during an extensive large-scale high-throughput...     

Determination of Aluminum, Calcium, and Magnesium in Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and Red Spruce Foliage and Soil from the Southern and Middle Appalachians

Spruce–fir forests form unique ecosystems in the eastern United States and Canada. These forests are composed of Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) and red spruce (Picea rubens) in the Southern Appalachians, and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and red spruce in the middle and northern Appalachians. Decline of spruce–fir forests has been observed since the 1960s that has been attributed, at least in part, to acidic deposition. Acidic deposition has been reported to decrease the availability of calcium and increase the availability of aluminum and induce decline of red spruce at high elevation sites above 1800 m. Aluminum, calcium, and magnesium were determined in Fraser fir, balsam fir, and red spruce foliage and soil from sites in the southern and middle Appalachians in order to evaluate whether acidic deposition may play a role in the decline of the conifers. Our nutrient studies did not provide any evidence that acidic deposition was affecting the conifers.     

Interparticle potential and drag coefficient in nematic colloids

Magneto-optic tweezers were used for measurements of liquid-crystal-mediated forces between spherical beads with tangential anchoring in thin nematic samples. Repulsive force, which results from the quadrupolar symmetry of defects around the immersed beads, decreases proportionally to 1/x6, with x being the bead separation. The velocity with which the particles are pushed apart also follows the same separation dependence. We thus find the effective drag coefficient gamma(eff) independent of x for surface-to-surface distances as small as 10% of the bead diameter.     

The application of (Z)-3-aryl-3-haloenoic acids to the synthesis of (Z)-5-benzylidene-4-arylpyrrol-2(5H)-ones

Studies directed at the synthesis of (Z)-5-benzylidene-4-arylpyrrol-2(5H)-ones from (Z)-3-aryl-3-haloenoic acids are described. The successful strategy relies on the preparation of (Z)-3-aryl-3-haloenoic acids from acetophenones through the corresponding (Z)-3-aryl-3-haloenals and the conversion of the (Z)-3-aryl-3-haloenoic acids to (Z)-5-benzylidene-4-aryl-5H-furan-2-ones. The furanones were subsequently treated with primary amines and dehydrated to the corresponding (Z)-5-benzylidene-4-arylpyrrol-2(5H)-ones.     

Characterization of incipient cavitation in axial valve by hydrophone and visualization

As the effects of cavitation in valves are devastating, the choice of the correct valve for a given operating range is crucial. For this, the valve characteristic is needed, whereby one side of the operating range depends on the determination of the incipient cavitation.In this paper, the visualization method for incipient cavitation detection is presented. For the purpose of comparison, pressure oscillations inside the pipeline were simultaneously measured with a hydrophone. The effect of operating pressure was studied for two different openings of the valve.For each operating point of incipient cavitation, corresponding points were measured for developed cavitation and no-cavitation state, based on a constant-portion change of volumetric flow rate with regard to the incipient cavitation volumetric flow rate. The visualization and hydrophone signals were compared.The visualization method proved efficiency over hydrophone measurements because it is more sensitive to cavitation and the signal is independent of the operating pressure. The main drawback is the preparation of the observation window.     

Observation of condensed phases of quasiplanar core-softened colloids

We experimentally study the condensed phases of repelling core-softened spheres in two dimensions. The dipolar pair repulsion between superparamagnetic spheres trapped in a thin cell is induced by a transverse magnetic field and softened by suitably adjusting the cell thickness. We scan a broad density range and we materialize a large part of the theoretically predicted phases in systems of core-softened particles, including expanded and close-packed hexagonal, square, chainlike, stripe or labyrinthine, and honeycomb phase. Further insight into their structure is provided by Monte Carlo simulations.     

Laser trapping of small colloidal particles in a nematic liquid crystal: clouds and ghosts

We show that, contrary to intuition, small (< or =1 microm) transparent particles can be trapped and manipulated in a nematic liquid crystal using an intense laser beam, although their index of refraction is lower than both refractive indices of the surrounding birefringent fluid. Two mechanisms are identified that are responsible for this anomalous trapping: (i) surface-induced distortion of the birefringent media around the particle, creating a high-index "cloud" around the colloid, and (ii) laser-induced distortion or (partial) melting of a nematic, creating a ghost colloid.     

Influence of triplet state multidimensionality on excited state lifetimes of bis-tridentate RuII complexes: a computational study

Calculated triplet excited state potential energy surfaces are presented for a set of three bis-tridentate Ru(II)-polypyridyl dyes covering a wide range of room temperature excited state lifetimes: [Ru(II)(tpy)(2)](2+), 250 ps; [Ru(II)(bmp)(2)](2+), 15 ns; and [Ru(II)(dqp)(2)](2+), 3 μs (tpy is 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine, bmp is 6-(2-picolyl)-2,2'-bipyridine, and dqp is 2,6-di(quinolin-8-yl)pyridine). The computational results provide a multidimensional view of the (3)MLCT-(3)MC transition for the investigated complexes. Recently reported results of significantly prolonged (3)MLCT excited state lifetimes of bis-tridentate Ru(II)-complexes, for example [Ru(II)(dqp)(2)](2+), are found to correlate with substantial differences in their triplet excited state multidimensional potential energy surfaces. In addition to identification of low-energy transition paths for (3)MLCT-(3)MC conversion associated with simultaneous elongation of two or more Ru-N bonds for all investigated complexes, the calculations also suggest significant differences in (3)MLCT state volume in the multidimensional reaction coordinate space formed from various combinations of Ru-N bond distance variations. This is proposed to be an important aspect for understanding the large differences in experimentally observed (3)MLCT excited state lifetimes. The results demonstrate the advantage of considering multidimensional potential energy surfaces beyond the Franck-Condon region in order to predict photophysical and photochemical properties of bis-tridentate Ru(II)-polypyridyl dyes and related metal complexes.