Nanoscale deformation of a liquid surface

We study the interaction between a solid particle and a liquid interface. A semianalytical solution of the nonlinear equation that describes the interface deformation points out the existence of a bifurcation behavior for the apex deformation as a function of the distance. We show that the apex curvature obeys a simple power-law dependency on the deformation. Relationships between physical parameters disclose the threshold distance at which the particle can approach the liquid before capillarity provokes a "jump to contact." A prediction of the interface original position before deformation takes place, as well as the attraction force measured by an approaching probe, are produced. The results of our analysis agree with the force curves obtained from atomic force microscopy experiments over a liquid puddle.     

A genetic algorithm for the automated generation of small organic molecules: Drug design using an evolutionary algorithm

Rational drug design involves finding solutions to large combinatorial problems for which an exhaustive search is impractical. Genetic algorithms provide a novel tool for the investigation of such problems. These are a class of algorithms that mimic some of the major characteristics of Darwinian evolution. LEA has been designed in order to conceive novel small organic molecules which satisfy quantitative structure-activity relationship based rules (fitness). The fitness consists of a sum of constraints that are range properties. The algorithm takes an initial set of fragments and iteratively improves them by means of crossover and mutation operators that are related to those involved in Darwinian evolution. The basis of the algorithm, its implementation and parameterization, are described together with an application in de novo molecular design of new retinoids. The results may be promising for chemical synthesis and show that this tool may find extensive applications in de novo drug design projects.     

Strain hardening and fracture of heat-set fractal globular protein gels

Non-linear mechanical behavior at large shear deformation was been investigated for heat-set beta-lactoglobulin gels at pH 7 and 0.1 M NaCl using both oscillatory shear and shear flow. These gels have a self-similar structure at length scales smaller than the correlation length of the gel with fractal dimension d(f)=2. Strain hardening is observed that can be well described using the model proposed by Gisler et al. [T.C. Gisler, R.C. Ball, D.A. Weitz, Phys. Rev. Let. 82 (1999) 1064] for fractal colloidal gels. The increase of the shear modulus normalized by the low strain value (G(0)) is independent of G(0). For weak gels the elasticity increases up to a factor of ten, while for strong gels the increase is very small. At higher deformation irreversible fracture occurs, which leads eventually to macroscopic failure of the gel. For weak gels formed at low concentrations the deformation at failure is about 2, independent of the shear modulus. For strong gels fracture occurs at approximately constant stress (2 x 10(3) Pa).     

Photoinduced magnetization in copper octacyanomolybdate

This article describes the studies of a photomagnetic cyanide-bridged Cu-Mo bimetallic assembly, Cu(II)(2)[Mo(IV)(CN)(8)].8H(2)O (Cu(II), S = (1)/(2); Mo(IV), S = 0) (1), which has an intervalence transfer (IT) band from Mo(IV)-CN-Cu(II) to Mo(V)-CN-Cu(I) around 480 nm. Wide-angle X-ray scattering and X-ray spectroscopic studies provide precise information about the 3D connectivity and the local environment of the transition metal ions. Irradiating with blue light causes solid 1 to exhibit a spontaneous magnetization (Curie temperature = 25 K). The thermal reversibility is carefully studied and shows the long-time stability of the photoinduced state up to 100 K. Photoreversibility is also observed; i.e., the magnetization is induced by irradiation with light below 520 nm, while the magnetization is reduced by irradiation with light above 520 nm. The UV-vis absorption spectrum after irradiation shows a decrease of the IT band and the appearance of the reverse-IT band in the region of 600-900 nm (lambda(max) = 710 nm). This UV-vis absorption spectrum is recovered to the original spectrum by irradiation with 658-, 785-, and 840-nm light. In this photomagnetic effect, the excitation of the IT band causes an electron transfer from Mo(IV) to Cu(II), producing a ferromagnetic mixed-valence isomer of Cu(I)Cu(II)[Mo(V)(CN)(8)].8H(2)O (Cu(I), S = 0; Cu(II), S = (1)/(2); Mo(V), S = (1)/(2)) (1'). 1' returns to 1 by irradiation of the reverse-IT band, which obeys the scheme for the potential energy surface in mixed-valence class II compounds.     

Ethylene oligomerisation and polymerisation with nickel phosphanylenolates bearing electron-withdrawing substituents: Structure-reactivity relationships

Three SHOP-type catalysts, in which the C=C(O) double bond was substituted by electron-withdrawing substituents, [Ni{Ph2PC(R1)=C(R2)O}Ph(PPh3)] (2: R1,R2 = -C(Me)=NN(Ph)-; 3: R1 = CO2Et, R2 = Ph; 4: R1 = CO2Et, R2 = CF3), were assessed as ethylene-oligomerisation and -polymerisation catalysts and compared to Keim's complex, [Ni{Ph2PCH=C(Ph)O}Ph(PPh3)] (1). A rationale for the influence of the double-bond substituents of the P,O-chelate unit on the catalytic properties is proposed, on the basis of X-ray diffraction studies, spectroscopic data and DFT-B3 LYP calculations. Whatever their relative electron-withdrawing strength, the R1 and R2 substituents induce an increase in activity with respect to catalyst 1. For those systems in which the basicity of the oxygen atom is decreased relative to that of the phosphorus atom, the chain-propagation rate increases with respect to that for catalyst 1. Reduction of the basicity of the P relative to that of the O, however, induces higher chain-termination rates.     

Terpyridine Zn(II), Ru(III), and Ir(III) complexes: the relevant role of the nature of the metal ion and of the ancillary ligands on the second-order nonlinear response of terpyridines carrying electron donor or electron acceptor groups

Coordination of 4'-(C6H4-p-X)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridines [X = NO2, NBu2, (E)-CH=CH-C6H4-p-NBu2, (E,E)-(CH=CH)2-C6H4-p-NMe2] to Zn(II), Ru(III), and Ir(III) metal centers induces a significant enhancement of the absolute value of the second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) response of the terpyridine, measured by means of both electric field induced second harmonic generation and solvatochromic methods. By varying the nature of the metal center, the enhanced second-order NLO response shifts from positive to negative. Such a shift is controlled by electronic charge-transfer transitions, such as metal-to-ligand or ligand-to-metal transitions, in addition to the intraligand charge transfer. The enhancement generated by coordination is also controlled by the chelation effect and by fine-tuning of the ancillary ligands.     

Influence of P‐Bonded Bulky Substituents on Electronic Interactions in Ferrocenyl‐Substituted Phospholes

2,5‐Diferrocenyl‐1‐Ar‐1H‐phospholes 3 a – e (Ar=phenyl ( a ), ferrocenyl ( b ), mesityl ( c ), 2,4,6‐triphenylphenyl ( d ), and 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl ( e )) have been prepared by reactions of ArPH₂ ( 1 a – e ) with 1,4‐diferrocenyl butadiyne. Compounds 3 b – e have been structurally characterized by single‐crystal XRD analysis. Application of the sterically demanding 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl group led to an increased flattening of the pyramidal phosphorus environment. The ferrocenyl units could be oxidized separately, with redox separations of 265 ( 3 b ), 295 ( 3 c ), 340 ( 3 d ), and 315 mV ( 3 e ) in [NnBu₄][B(C₆F₅)₄]; these values indicate substantial thermodynamic stability of the mixed‐valence radical cations. Monocationic [ 3 b ]⁺–[ 3 e ]⁺ show intervalence charge‐transfer absorptions between 4650 and 5050 cm^?1 of moderate intensity and half‐height bandwidth. Compounds 3 c – e with bulky, electron‐rich substituents reveal a significant increase in electronic interactions compared with less demanding groups in 3 a and 3 b .     

Photomagnetic properties of an iron(II) low-spin complex with an unusually long-lived metastable LIESST state

A comprehensive study of the photomagnetic behavior of the [Fe(L222N5)(CN)2].H2O complex has been carried out. This complex is characterized by a low-spin (LS) iron(II)-metal center up to 400 K and exhibits at 10 K the well-known Light-Induced Excited Spin State Trapping (LIESST) effect. The critical LIESST temperature (T(LIESST)) has been measured to be 105 K. The kinetics of the transition from the metastable high-spin (HS) state to the low-spin state have been determined and used for reproducing the experimental T(LIESST) curve. This study represents a second example of a fully low-spin iron(II)-metal complex up to 400 K, which can be photoexcited at low temperature with an atypical long-lived metastable HS state. This underlines the preponderant role of the inner coordination sphere for stabilizing the lifetime of the photoinduced HS state.     

A Lead‐Selective Membrane Electrode Based Upon a Phosphorylated Hexahomotrioxacalix[3]Arene

Solvent extraction of a mixture of Pb^II, Mn^II, Fe^III, Co^II, Ni^II and Cd^II in aqueous perchlorate medium by a phosphorylated hexahomotrioxacalix[3]arene (calix‐3) in dichloromethane shows a significant selectivity towards lead ions. The ligand can also be incorporated into a membrane to provide a new lead ion‐selective electrode (Pb^II‐ISE). A plasticized PVC membrane containing 30% PVC, 53.5% ortho‐nitrophenyloctylether (NPOE), 4.5% sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) and 12% ionophore was directly coated on a graphite rod. This sensor gave a good Nernstian response of 29.7 ± 0.7 mV decade^?1 over a concentration range of 1 × 10^?8 – 1 × 10^?4 M of lead ions, independent of pH in the range 3‐7, with a detection limit of 0.4 × 10^?8 M. The dynamic response time of the electrode to achieve a steady potential was very fast and found to be less than 7 s. The selectivity relative to Ag⁺, NH₄⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe³⁺, La³⁺, Sm³⁺, Dy³⁺, Er³⁺, Y³⁺ and Th⁴⁺ was examined. The electrode exhibits adequate stability with good reproducibility (with a slope of 29.6 ± 1.5 mV for 8 weeks). The characteristics of the sensor are compared with those of a tetraphosphorylated calix[4]arene (calix‐4) based Pb^II‐ISE, reported recently. The electrode was successfully used as an indicator electrode for a potentiometric titration of a lead solution using a standard solution of EDTA. The applicability of the sensor for lead ion measurements in various synthetic samples was also investigated.     

Implementation of an integrated glucose POCT system

In response to a change of the Belgian National Directives whereby hospital laboratories became responsible for all point-of-care testing (POCT) performed within hospital walls a standardized and automated POC glucose-testing system was implemented in our hospital. The system consists of 50 AccuCheck Inform instruments (Roche Diagnostics, Vilvoorde, Belgium), 50 docking stations, a DataCare Server, and connections to the medical laboratory information system (MOLIS, Sysmex, Barchon, Belgium) and to the hospital information system. Implementation involved many parties and extensive preparation and communication. Key issues were bar-coded patient and user identification, training, and responsibilities. One year after the hospital wide implementation of this system the quality of POC glucose testing has significantly increased, thereby improving patient safety. This study describes a stepwise change over involving the medical laboratory and with a focus on hands-on quality.Presented at the ninth conference on Quality in the Spotlight, 18–19 March 2004, Antwerp, Belgium.