Preliminary investigations on the antibacterial activity of zinc oxide nanostructures

We have fabricated electroactive multilayer thin films containing ferritin protein cages. The multilayer thin films were prepared on a solid substrate by the alternate electrostatic adsorption of (apo)ferritin and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-2-carboxyisopropylacrylamide) (NIPAAm-co-CIPAAm) in pH 3.5 acetate buffer solution. The assembly process was monitored using a quartz crystal microbalance. The (apo)ferritin/poly(NIPAAm-co-CIPAAm) multilayer thin films were then cross-linked using a water-soluble carbodiimide, 1-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-3-ethylcarbodiimide. The cross-linked films were stable under a variety of conditions. The surface morphology and thickness of the multilayer thin films were characterized by atomic force microscopy, and the ferritin iron cores were observed by scanning electron microscopy to confirm the assembly mechanism. Cyclic voltammetry measurements showed different electrochemical properties for the cross-linked ferritin and apoferritin multilayer thin films, and the effect of stability of the multilayer film on its electrochemical properties was also examined. Our method for constructing multilayer films containing protein cages is expected to be useful in building more complex functional inorganic nanostructures.     

The impact of smooth W-grids in the numerical solution of singular perturbation two-point boundary value problems

This paper develops a semi-analytic technique for generating smooth nonuniform grids for the numerical solution of singularly perturbed two-point boundary value problems. It is based on the usual idea of mapping a uniform grid to the desired nonuniform grid. We introduce the W-grid, which depends on the perturbation parameter ? ? 1. For problems on [0, 1] with a boundary layer at one end point, the local mesh width h_i = x_i+1 − x_i, with 0 = x₀ < x₁ < ? < x_N = 1, is condensed at either 0 or 1. Two simple 2nd order finite element and finite difference methods are combined with the new mesh, and computational experiments demonstrate the advantages of the smooth W-grid compared to the well-known piecewise uniform Shishkin mesh. For small ?, neither the finite difference method nor the finite element method produces satisfactory results on the Shishkin mesh. By contrast, accuracy is vastly improved on the W-grid, which typically produces the nominal 2nd order behavior in L², for large as well as small values of N, and over a wide range of values of ?. We conclude that the smoothness of the mesh is of crucial importance to accuracy, efficiency and robustness.     

Ultrasound promoted efficient and green synthesis of β-amino carbonyl compounds in aqueous hydrotropic medium

Ultrasound promoted synthesis of β-amino carbonyl compounds in aqueous hydrotropic medium at ambient temperature is reported. The remarkable features of the new procedure are shorter reaction time, excellent yields in aqueous medium, cleaner reaction profile and simple experimental and work-up procedure.     

On the quantization of the Kowalevskaya top

The equations of motion of a heavy top can be integrated for three different combinations of the parameters of the system. Historically, the discovery of these three integrable cases is attributed to Euler, Lagrange and Kowalevskaya, respectively. While the quantization of the first two cases can be performed in a straightforward way, the quantum integrability of the Kowalevskaya top is far from trivial. We show here how one can recover quantum integrability for this case as well.     

On the discrete form of the Fokas–Ablowitz equation

The Fokas–Ablowitz equation, quadratic in the second derivative, is obtained from Painlevé VI by a Miura transformation. We present here two different discretisations in terms of difference- and multiplicative, q-, equations.     

Integrability of the Hirota-Satsuma equations: Two tests

We examine the Hirota-Satsuma equation from the point of view of integrability. We show that the equation satisfies the Painlevé criterion, which according to the Ablowitz-Ramani-Segur conjecture makes it a candidate for integrability. Moreover we show that the two different kinds of solitons discovered by Hirota and Satsuma can be freely added, another indication of integrability.     

Highly selective oxidative cleavage of beta-cyclodextrin-epoxide/aziridine complexes with IBX in water

Water, an environmentally friendly reaction medium, has been utilized for the reaction of IBX with various epoxides 1 and aziridines 2 as their beta-cyclodextrin complexes to afford for the first time alpha-hydroxyketones 3 and alpha-aminoketones 4, respectively.     

Unraveling the Role of Site Isolation and Support for Semihydrogenation of Phenylacetylene

Intermetallic compounds (IMCs) composed of transition metals and post‐transition metals function as superior heterogeneous catalysts in comparison to their monometallic and bimetallic alloy counterparts. Rendering IMCs in their nanomaterial iterations further enhances their efficiency. Herein, we demonstrate the role of PdIn as well‐dispersed intermetallic nanoparticles (IMNPs) for the semihydrogenation of phenylacetylene selectively to styrene at ambient conditions. Higher selectivity of PdIn was explained with the help DOS calculations. We have explored the role of a few well‐known silica‐based supports such as SBA‐15 and MCM‐41, providing insight into how they affect catalysis. As an additional support we have explored previously reported JNC‐1, a mesoporous carbon material obtained via a templated strategy using SBA‐15. PdIn supported on SBA‐15 and JNC‐1 displayed the best dispersion, while also exhibiting the most catalytic activity due to the unique nature of the porous structure.     

Surfactant-induced Marangoni eddies alter the coffee-rings of evaporating colloidal drops

The influence of the small ionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the evaporation of drying colloidal droplets is quantitatively investigated. The addition of SDS leads to a significantly more uniform deposition of colloidal particles after evaporation (i.e., the so-called "coffee-ring effect" is dramatically altered). We understand this phenomenon in the context of circulating radial Marangoni flows induced by the variation of SDS concentration along the air-water interface. Video microscopy permits the direct visualization of the colloidal particles involved in these flows, revealing a surprisingly stable "Marangoni eddy" that prevents particle deposition at the drop perimeter.