beta-Sheet mediated self-assembly of dipeptides of omega-amino acids and remarkable fibrillation in the solid state

Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies show that the extended structure of dipeptide Boc-beta-Ala-m-ABA-OMe (m-ABA: meta-aminobenzoic acid) self-assembles in the solid state by intermolecular hydrogen bonding to create an infinite parallel beta-sheet structure. In dipeptide Boc-gamma-Abu-m-ABA-OMe (gamma-Abu: gamma-aminobutyric acid), two such parallel beta-sheets are further cross-linked by intermolecular hydrogen bonding through m-aminobenzoic acid moieties. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) studies reveal that both the peptides and form amyloid-like fibrils in the solid state. The fibrils are also found to be stained readily by Congo red, a characteristic feature of the amyloid fiber whose accumulation causes several fatal diseases such as Alzheimer's, prion-protein etc.     

Laser-induced forward transfer technique for maskless patterning of amorphous V2O5 thin film

A laser-induced forward transfer technique has been applied for the maskless patterning of amorphous V₂O₅ thin films. A sheet beam of a frequency doubled (SHG) Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was irradiated on a transparent glass substrate (donor), the rear surface of which was pre-coated with a vacuum-deposited V₂O₅ 180 nm thick film was either in direct contact with a second glass substrate (receiver) or a 0.14 mm air-gap was maintained between the donor film and the receiving substrate. Clear, regular stripe pattern of the laser-induced transferred film was obtained on the receiver. The pattern was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), etc.     

Testing the accuracy of employee-reported data: An inexpensive alternative approach to traditional methods

Although Information Technology (IT) solutions improve the collection and validation of operational data, Operations Managers must often rely on self-reported data from workers to make decisions. The problem with this data is that they are subject to intentional manipulation, thus reducing their suitability for decision-making. A method of identifying manipulated data, digital analysis, addresses this problem at low cost. In this paper, we demonstrate how one uses this method in real-world companies to validate self-reported data from line workers. The results of our study suggest that digital analysis estimates the accuracy of employee reported data in operations management, within limited contexts. These findings lead to improved operating performance by providing a tool for practitioners to exclude inaccurate information.     

A new type of symmetrical banana-shaped material based on N-methyldiphenylamine as a core moiety exhibiting an Ad→A2 transition

The synthesis and characterization of a homologous series of Schiff bases consisting of an N-methyldiphenylamine moiety as the central core is reported, which exhibits smectic A phase and transitions from the partial bilayer SmA_d phase to the bilayer SmA₂ phase as the temperature is lowered.     

Solvable lattice gas models of random heteropolymers at finite density: II. Dynamics and transitions to compact states

The European Physical Journal E - In this paper we analyse both the dynamics and the high density physics of the infinite dimensional lattice gas model for random heteropolymers recently introduced...     

Allenyl esters as quenching agents for ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts

In the attempt to synthesize substituted allenyl esters through a metathesis coupling of unsubstituted allenyl esters and alkenes using a variety of ruthenium catalysts, it was discovered that allenyl esters themselves cleanly arrested the activity of the catalysts. Further studies suggests possible utility of allene esters as general quenching agents for metathesis reactions. To explore this idea, several representative olefin metathesis reactions, including ring closing, were successfully terminated by the addition of simple allenyl esters for more convenient purification.     

Understanding how both the partitions of a bipartite network affect its one-mode projection

It is a well-known fact that the degree distribution (DD) of the nodes in a partition of a bipartite network influences the DD of its one-mode projection on that partition. However, there are no studies exploring the effect of the DD of the other partition on the one-mode projection. In this article, we show that the DD of the other partition, in fact, has a very strong influence on the DD of the one-mode projection. We establish this fact by deriving the exact or approximate closed-forms of the DD of the one-mode projection through the application of generating function formalism followed by the method of iterative convolution. The results are cross-validated through appropriate simulations.