Self-Duality of Polytopes and its Relations to Vertex Enumeration and Graph Isomorphism

We study the complexity of determining whether a polytope given by its vertices or facets is combinatorially isomorphic to its polar dual. We prove that this problem is Graph Isomorphism hard, and that it is Graph Isomorphism complete if and only if Vertex Enumeration is Graph Isomorphism easy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first problem that is not equivalent to Vertex Enumeration and whose complexity status has a non-trivial impact on the complexity of Vertex Enumeration irrespective of whether checking Self-duality turns out to be strictly harder than Graph Isomorphism or equivalent to Graph Isomorphism. The constructions employed in the proof yield a class of self-dual polytopes that are interesting on their own. In particular, this class of self-dual polytopes has the property that the facet-vertex incident matrix of the polytope is transposable if and only if the matrix is symmetrizable as well. As a consequence of this construction, we also prove that checking self-duality of a polytope, given by its facet-vertex incidence matrix, is Graph Isomorphism complete, thereby answering a question of Kaibel and Schwartz.     

Recent advancement in inorganic-organic electron transport layers in perovskite solar cell: current status and future outlook

Organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite solar cells have captured significant attention in recent years due to low processing costs and unprecedented development in power conversion efficiency (PCE). It has appeared from 2009 with PCE of 3.8% to being claimed more than 25.2% PCE in a very short span of time, showing their future prospective toward the fabrication of less expensive and stable solar cells. The incredible advancement in this technology encourages at one end, whereas several hurdles restricting its complete utilization for commercial purposes at another end. Although the selection of perovskite structure is limited with planar and mesoporous electron transport layers (ETLs), but identification of appropriate ETLs necessitates excellent effort to improve the surface morphology of absorber and obtain enhanced PCE with higher stability. In the present review, we have investigated various inorganic-organic ETLs with different device configurations of PSCs, primarily focusing on crystallization and morphology control techniques of ETL thin films. Numerous strategies such as surface functionalization, doping, and addition of interfacial layer are adopted for ETLs, and their effect on device efficiency, performance, and hysteresis is also discussed in detail. Additionally, designs of PSCs with different device configurations are discussed as well, providing future guidelines for significant progress in PSCs structure with different ETLs.     

Growth mechanism and optoelectronic properties of nanocrystalline In2O3 films prepared by chemical spray pyrolysis of metal-organic precursor

Thin films of indium oxide, In₂O₃, were deposited by chemical spray pyrolysis technique, using aqueous alcoholic solutions of indium acetylacetonate (In-acac) precursor, on glass substrates kept at temperatures between 300 and 500 °C. The structural, optical, and electrical properties have been investigated as a function of deposition temperature, precursor concentration, carrier gas pressure, and substrate-to-nozzle distance. X-ray diffraction studies showed that the formation of nanocrystalline In₂O₃ films is preferentially oriented along (2 2 2) plane. The surface morphological modifications with substrate temperature were observed using scanning electron and atomic force microscopic studies. Optical transmittance behavior of the films in the visible and IR region was strongly affected by the deposition parameters. The optical band gap values observed are between 3.53 and 3.68 eV. The long wavelength limit of refractive index is 1.83. The Hall mobility is found to vary from 23 to 37 cm²/V s and carrier density is found nearly constant at about 10²⁰ cm⁻³.     

Mechanisms of intrinsic bioremediation of gas condensate hydrocarbons in saturated soil

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - The addition of gas condensate hydrocarbons to saturated soil from a gas production site stimulated sulfate reduction under anaerobic and oxygen-limiting...     

Vesicle Structures from Bolaamphiphilic Biosurfactants: Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies on the Effect of Unsaturation on Sophorolipid Self‐Assemblies

The formation of giant‐vesicle‐like structures by self‐assembling linolenic acid sophorolipid (LNSL) molecules is revealed. Sophorolipids belong to the class of bolaamphiphilic glycolipid biosurfactants. Interestingly, the number of double bonds present in the hydrophobic core of sophorolipids is seen to have a great influence on the type of self‐assembled structures formed. Dye encapsulation results establish the presence of an aqueous compartment inside the LNSL vesicles. Molecular dynamics simulation (MD) studies suggest the existence of two possible conformations of LNSLs inside the self‐assembled structures and that LNSL molecules arrange in layered structures.     

The aftermath of the interplay between the endoplasmic reticulum stress response and redox signaling

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an essential organelle of eukaryotic cells. Its main functions include protein synthesis, proper protein folding, protein modification, and the transportation of synthesized proteins. Any perturbations in ER function, such as increased demand for protein folding or the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the ER lumen, lead to a stress response called the unfolded protein response (UPR). The primary aim of the UPR is to restore cellular homeostasis; however, it triggers apoptotic signaling during prolonged stress. The core mechanisms of the ER stress response, the failure to respond to cellular stress, and the final fate of the cell are not yet clear. Here, we discuss cellular fate during ER stress, cross talk between the ER and mitochondria and its significance, and conditions that can trigger ER stress response failure. We also describe how the redox environment affects the ER stress response, and vice versa, and the aftermath of the ER stress response, integrating a discussion on redox imbalance-induced ER stress response failure progressing to cell death and dynamic pathophysiological changes.Subject terms: Mechanisms of disease, Cell biology     

Raman spectroscopic study of medieval Indian art of 17th century

We report the first Raman spectroscopic investigations of medieval Indian art of 17th century. Three miniature paintings, belonging to Mogul and Rajput schools from the collections of the Madras Museum, were investigated by micro‐Raman spectroscopy using different excitation wavelengths. Many areas in the paintings exhibited rich spectra containing several intense Raman bands. The Raman bands were assigned on the basis of the reported reference spectra of the pigments. Evidences for the presence of massicot, red‐lead, lead‐white, vermilion, litharge, Indian yellow and anatase are found. In addition, tentative assignments of some of the Raman bands to atacamite and orpiment are also made. The present studies suggest that several mineral‐based unique pigments were popular among the Indian artists of this period. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Second-sphere coordination in hexaamminecobalt(III) salt with organic sulphonate anion: Synthesis, characterisation and X-ray crystal structure of [Co(NH3)6](CH3SO3)3

Reaction of hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride with the silver salt of methanesulphonic acid in aqueous medium (1:3 molar ratio) forms hexaamminecobalt(III) methanesulphonate, [Co(NH₃)₆](CH₃SO₃)₃, in high yield. This cobalt(III) complex has been characterized by spectroscopic techniques (UV/visible, IR and NMR) and its solubility product determined. The X-ray crystal structure shows that the [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺ cations interact at the second sphere by sharing edges with the anions, via N–H  O hydrogen bonds. The structure is related to that of [Co(NH₃)₆]Cl(CH₃SO₃)₂, but is modified to accommodate additional anions in place of Cl⁻.     

Base-catalyzed cross coupling of secondary alcohols and aryl-aldehydes with concomitant oxidation of alcohols to ketones: An alternative route for synthesis of the Claisen-Schmidt condensation products

Base-catalyzed C–C cross coupling of secondary alcohols and aryl-aldehydes was achieved, when an alcoholic solution of an aryl-aldehyde was stirred under reflux for 45 h in the presence of a catalytic (20 mol%) amount of K₂CO₃. The consistent formation of α,α′-bis-(benzylidene) alkanones was obtained in moderate to good yields using various secondary alcohols and substituted aryl-aldehydes. Herein, α,α′-bis-(benzylidene)alkanones, which are the classical products of Claisen-Schmidt (cross aldol) condensation, have been synthesized via an alternative strategy using secondary alcohols. Bis-(benzylidene) alkanones are an integral part of various drug regimes and the production of bis-(benzylidene) alkanones without using any precious metal is a major outcome of the present reaction.     

Synthesis and characterisation of bis(pentafluorophenyl)antimony(V) cations, [(C6F5)2SbL3]

Pentacoordinate complex cations of the general formula [(C₆F₅)₂SbL₃]³⁺ stabilized as solid salts in combination with tetraphenylborate (BPh₄), tetrafluorobroate (BF₄) anions, where L=DMSO, Ph₃AsO, PyO, DMF, α-, β- and γ-picoline have been isolated. The newly formed complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance measurements, solid-state IR and and NMR. From these results, a five-fold coordination around antimony was required.