UV-Vis, fluorescence and NMR spectroscopic investigations on inclusion properties of a designed tetrahomocalix[8]arene with fullerenes C60 and C70 in solution

The present article reports the spectroscopic investigations on non-covalent interaction of fullerenes C(60) and C(70) with a macrocyclic receptor molecule, namely, 1,3,5,7-tetrahomo-p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene (1) in toluene. Jobs method of continuous variation reveals 1:1 stoichiometry for the fullerene complexes of 1. The most fascinating feature of the present study is that 1 binds selectively C(60) compared to C(70) as obtained from binding constant (K) data of C(60)-1 (K(C60-1)) and C(70)-1 (K(C70-1)) complexes which are enumerated to be 265,000 dm(3) mol(-1) and 63,43 dm(3) mol(-1), respectively, and selectivity in binding (K(C60-1)/K(C70-1)) is estimated to be 4.18 as obtained from UV-Vis study. Steady state fluorescence studies reveal quenching of fluorescence of 1 in presence of fullerenes and the K value of the C(60)-1 and C(70)-1 complexes are estimated to be 80,760 and 68,780 dm(3) mol(-1), respectively, with selectivity in binding (K(C60-1)/K(C70-1)) ~1.18. (1)H NMR analysis provides very good support in favor of strong binding between C(60) and 1. The high value of K value for C(60)-1 complex indicates that 1 forms an inclusion complex with C(60).     

Wrapping the walls of n-TiO2 nanotubes with p-CuInS2 nanoparticles using pulsed-electrodeposition for improved heterojunction photoelectrodes

The CuInS(2) (CIS) nanoparticles were wrapped uniformly throughout the inner and outer walls of TNTs (TNT) by using square wave pulsed-electrodeposition. This structure enables the CuInS(2)-TiO(2) (CIS-TNT) to exhibit p-n junction diode behavior and enhanced photoelectrochemical properties.     

Kaempferol and kaempferol rhamnosides with depigmenting and anti-inflammatory properties

The objective of this study was to examine the biological activity of kaempferol and its rhamnosides. We isolated kaempferol (1), a-rhamnoisorobin (2), afzelin (3), and kaempferitrin (4) as pure compounds by far-infrared (FIR) irradiation of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) leaves. The depigmenting and anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds was evaluated by analyzing their structure-activity relationships. The order of the inhibitory activity with regard to depigmentation and nitric oxide (NO) production was kaempferol (1) > a-rhamnoisorobin (2) > afzelin (3) > kaempferitrin (4). However, a-rhamnoisorobin (2) was more potent than kaempferol (1) in NF-kB-mediated luciferase assays. From these results, we conclude that the 3-hydroxyl group of kaempferol is an important pharmacophore and that additional rhamnose moieties affect the biological activity negatively.     

Visible light-induced charge storage, on-demand release and self-photorechargeability of WO3 film

Tungsten oxide (WO(3)) electrodes subjected to a positive bias are self-photorecharged with alkali cations in the electrolyte during visible light illumination. Upon photoexcitation, part of the photogenerated charges generated by WO(3) is stabilized by the cations and stored in situ within the WO(3) framework. This light-induced storage of charges is subsequently utilized in dark conditions in an on-demand manner and is able to be recharged in the successive illumination cycles. The amount of charges stored is shown to be dependent on the cation ionic radii and the presence of these intercalated cations is verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). This self-photorecharge and on-demand charge-release phenomena demonstrate the ability of WO(3) to supply photoexcited charges under dark condition in a photoelectrochemical reaction with greater flexibility.     

Cessation of Aggregate Growth

Various methods are available for reducing or ceasing growth of aggregating suspensions including the addition of highly charged adsorbents (such as gelatin), reduction of ionic strength by dilution, increase in surface charge by alteration in pH and reduction in suspension temperature. The effectiveness of each of these methods in stopping the aggregation of colloidalhematite without altering the aggregate size distribution is examined in this study. Reduction in aggregate temperature is found to be a particularly effective way of stopping the aggregation of hematite while preserving size distribution information.     

A Parallel Interior Point Method and Its Application to Facility Location Problems

We present a parallel interior point algorithm to solve block structured linear programs. This algorithm can solve block diagonal linear programs with both side constraints (common rows) and side variables (common columns). The performance of the algorithm is investigated on uncapacitated, capacitated and stochastic facility location problems. The facility location problems are formulated as mixed integer linear programs. Each subproblem of the branch and bound phase of the MIP is solved using the parallel interior point method. We compare the total time taken by the parallel interior point method with the simplex method to solve the complete problems, as well as the various costs of reoptimisation of the non-root nodes of the branch and bound. Computational results on two parallel computers (Fujitsu AP1000 and IBM SP2) are also presented in this paper.     

Brownian motion in a quantizing magnetic field

A model previously discussed by the author to study Brownian motion of charged carriers in a quantizing magnetic field is extended to include a Landau level-dependent friction parameter. A phase-space Fokker-Planck equation is used to derive a generalized diffusion equation describing spatial diffusion of the carriers, coupled with random jumps between adjacent Landau levels. This partial differential-difference equation is solved analytically. The longitudinal “global” diffusion coefficient is calculated and shown to be enhanced over the value in the extreme quantum limit.     

Some comments on fuzzy variables

Nahmias introduced the concept of a fuzzy variable as a possible axiomatic framework from which a rigorous theory of fuzziness may be constructed. In this paper we attempt to shed more light on fuzzy variables in analogy with random variables. In particular, we study the problem: if X₁, X₂,…,X_n are mutually unrelated fuzzy variables with common membership function μ and α₁, α₂,…,α_n are real numbers satisfying α_i ? o for every i and Σ_i=1ⁿα_i=1, when does does Z = Σ_{i = 1}ⁿα_iX_i have the same membership function μ?     

The linear response of a one-dimensional electron gas

A not widely used method is employed to calculate the static dielectric function of an electron gas. A specific calculation is presented for a one- dimensional electron system surrounded by a medium of dielectric constant ?₀. The asymptotic, oscillatory, two-body interaction decays more slowly than in the three-dimensional case.