Anion recognition by functionalized single wall carbon nanotubes

Amidoferrocenyl-functionalised single wall carbon nanotubes (Fc-SWNT) are efficient exoreceptors for the redox recognition of H2PO4-.     

Synthesis,Spectral Properties,and Crystal Structure of {Methoxo[4-phenylbutane-2,4-dione(p-nitrobenzoyl) hydrazonato(2-)]oxovanadium(V)}

The hydrazino complex {methoxo[4-phenylbutane-2,4-dione(p-nitrobenzoyl)hydrazonato(2-)]oxovanadium(V)}, VO(p-NO₂bhbzac)OCH₃, (1), has been prepared by the direct reaction of bis(benzoylacetonato) oxovanadium(IV), VO(bza)₂, with p-NO₂-C₆H₄C(O)NHNH₂, p-NO₂bh, in CH₃OH. The resulting compound contains benzoylacetone-(p-NO₂)benzoyl hydrazone as tridentate Schiff base-type ligand and OCH₃ group as Lewis base, both ligated to vanadium. The crystals are orthorhombic, with Z = 8, space group Pbca, a = 11.699(5) Å, b = 14.035(5) Å, c = 22.564(5) Å, R1 = 0.0756 and wR2 = 0.1302. The crystal structure demonstrated the square-pyramidal geometry of the VO_oxo(ONO)O coordination sphere with the oxo ligand at the apical position. The electronic absorption spectra revealed a ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) band in the near UV region at _max = 23,700 cm^–1 (B = 5640 dm³ mol^–1 cm^–1) in CH₃CN, _max = 23,420 cm^–1 (B = 5550 dm³ mol^–1 cm^–1) in DMSO, and _max near 26,950 (sh) cm^–1 (B = 10,550 dm³ mol^–1 cm^–1) in CH₂Cl₂. The FT-IR spectra of (1) show the characteristic strong (V = O) stretching vibration at 993 cm^–1 and support the view that the oxovanadium complex is pentacoordinated and monomeric.     

Self-assembled structures of alkanethiols on gold-coated cantilever tips and substrates for atomic force microscopy: Molecular organisation and conditions for reproducible deposition

Measurements of surface-liquid interactions (contact-angle goniometry) and tip-surface adhesion forces (atomic force microscopy) combined with infrared spectroscopic studies have been used to investigate surface-preparation and solution-deposition conditions for the reproducible formation of self-assembled molecular structures on gold-coated tips and substrates for atomic force microscopy. Preliminary data show that surface-saturated self-assembled monolayers form reproducibly on prolonged (>20 h) exposure of gold-coated glass substrates to ethanolic solutions of ω-functionalised alkanethiols in the concentration range 80-160 mmol dm⁻³. The data also show that exposure for 16 h to alkanethiol concentrations in the range 160-240 mmol dm⁻³ promote bilayer formation whereas concentrations of 240-320 mmol dm⁻³ result in the deposition of multilayers, the average orientation of which is parallel to that of the first molecular layer; the use of parent 1-undecanethiol solutions at concentrations of 1-80 mmol dm⁻³ results in incomplete monolayer coverage.     

Optimal stochastic scheduling of two interconnected queues with varying service rates

We consider two-stage tandem queueing systems attended by two specialized and one flexible server, where all servers have time varying rates. Assuming exponential processing times and linear holding costs, we derive properties of server allocation policies that minimize expected costs over an infinite time horizon.     

Disposable highly ordered pyrolytic graphite-like electrodes: Tailoring the electrochemical reactivity of screen printed electrodes

We demonstrate that the electron transfer properties of disposable screen printed electrodes can be readily tailored via the introduction of a polymeric formulation into the ink used to fabricate these electrochemical platforms. This approach allows the role of the binder on the underpinning electrochemical properties to be explored and allows the electrochemical reactivity of the screen printed electrodes to be tailored from that of edge plane to basal plane of highly ordered pyrolytic graphite.     

Pták function and symmetry

We investigate subadditivity of Pták function as a sufficient and necessary condition for symmetry in the class of involutive spectrally bounded algebras. Among others it is proved an analogue of Raikov's criterion for complete lmc^*-algebras in which the hermitian elements have finite spectral radius.     

Application of Complexity Theory to an Information Processing Model in Science Education

The current work examines the role of working-memory capacity in problem solving in science education. It treats an information-processing model with tools of complexity theory. Nonlinear methods are used to correlate the subjects' achievement scores with working-memory capacity. Data have been taken from the achievement scores in simple organic-synthesis chemical problems. The subjects (N = 319) were in grade twelve (age 17–18). Problems of various Z-demands (that is the number of steps needed to solve the problem) from two to eight were used. Rank-order sequences of the subjects, according to their scores, were generated, and each score was then replaced by the value of subject's working memory capacity measured by the digit backward span test. Then the sequences were mapped onto a one-dimensional random walk model and when treated as dynamic flows were found to possess fractal geometry with characteristics depending on the Z-demand of the problem. The findings were interpreted using concepts from complexity theory, such as correlation exponents, fractal dimensions and entropy. The null hypothesis was tested with surrogate data.