Oracle Complexity Separation in Convex Optimization

Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications - Many convex optimization problems have structured objective functions written as a sum of functions with different oracle types (e.g., full...     

Portable sensors for hydrogen analysis

Presently available methods for the determination of hydrogen in the gas phase are analyzed. Various procedures for the detection of hydrogen both at pre-explosion and at very low (less than 50 ppm) concentrations by means of thermocatalytic, semiconductor, amperometric, and potentiometric electrochemical sensors are considered.     

Synergetic Effect of Mo6 Clusters and Gold Nanoparticles on the Photophysical Properties of Both Components

Photodynamic and photothermal therapies (PDT, and PTT, respectively) are promising candidates for multimodal anticancer therapies (i.e., combinations of therapies), since their action is based on mechanisms that generally cannot be resisted by cancer cells, that is, generation of highly oxidizing oxygen species and high temperature, respectively. Herein, hybrid materials that combine octahedral molybdenum clusters as potential PDT agents and plasmonic spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as PTT agents are reported. Partial overlap of the photoemission spectrum of the cluster and the surface plasmon resonance band of the AuNPs facilitates energy transfer between the photoactive components, which resulted in synergetic enhancement of their photophysical properties. Specifically, by careful selection of the spacing between the cluster and the gold nanoparticle, a significant increase in luminescence and photosensitizing properties of the cluster was achieved in comparison with similar, but gold-free, particles. On the other hand, the cluster complex facilitated energy conversion to heat by gold particles and hence increased the heating rate under laser irradiation.     

Molecular Design of Silicon-Containing Diazenes: Absorbance of E and Z Isomers in the Near-Infrared Region

The effective use of photochromic systems based on azo compounds in a number of applications, especially biomedical and pharmacological ones, is impeded by the unresolved problem of their E⇆Z isomerization in the near-IR region, NIR (780–1400 nm). We have demonstrated at the TD-DFT, STEOM-DLPNO-CCSD and CASSCF-NEVPT2 levels of theory that the presence of a silylated diazene core −Si−N=N−Si− with three-, tetra- or five-coordinated silicon atoms practically guarantees the absorption of the E and Z forms of such derivatives in NIR and the amazing (185–400 nm) separation of their first absorption bands. In particular, the maximum λ₁ of the first n→π* band of the E isomer of azosilabenzene ASiB is at ∼1030 nm, while for the Z isomer λ₁≅1340 nm. Based on the found bistable azo compounds ( ASiB , bis(silyl)- SiD and bis(silatranyl)- SaD diazenes) and their derivatives with E and Z absorption in NIR, unique photoswitches can be created for a number of applications, in particular, for photothermal therapy.     

Synthesis and antihypotensive properties of 2-amino-2-thiazoline analogues with enhanced lipophilicity

In a search of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors with prolonged vasoconstrictive activity, a series of lipophilic cyclohexafused 2-amino-2-thiazolines was obtained via cyclization of tert-butyl- or benzoyl-substituted N-(cyclohex-2-en-1-yl)thioureas. The crystal structure of intermediate N-[(3aRS,7aSR)- 3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl]benzamide hydrobromide was determined by X-ray analysis. One compound was found to cause pronounced and prolonged vasoconstrictive effect after single injection to the Wystar rats with lipopolysaccharide induced acute endotoxic (vasodilatation) shock.     

Unsymmetrical donor–acceptor oligothiophenes end-capped with triphenylamine and phenyldicyanovinyl units

Highly stable unsymmetrical donor–acceptor oligothiophenes equipped with terminal electron-donating triphenylamine and an electron-withdrawing phenyldicyanovinyl groups have been synthesized. An influence of the length of conjugated oligothiophene π-spacer between the donor and acceptor blocks on solubility, thermal, optical and electrochemical properties of such compounds has been revealed.     

Synthesis and Reactions of Functionally Substituted 2-(Adamantan-1-yl)oxiranes

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry - Functionally substituted oxiranes were synthesized by epoxidation of unsaturated compounds of the adamantane series with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid....     

CdS formation upon decomposition of Cd(n-BuOCS2)2 in EtOH and DMF and the crystal structure of Cd(Ph3P)(n-BuOCS2)2 · Ph3P

The thermal decomposition of the chelate Cd(n-BuOCS₂)₂ (I) in EtOH and DMF, either in the absence or in the presence of Ph₃P, yields finely disperse CdS particles. Mixed-ligand complex Cd(Ph₃P)(n-BuOCS₂)₂ (II) has been synthesized. Cd(Ph₃P)(n-BuOCS₂)₂ · Ph₃P (III) single crystals have been grown. By X-ray crystallography, the crystal structure of III is built of [Cd(Ph₃P)(n-BuOCS₂)₂] mononuclear complex molecules and uncoordinated Ph₃P molecules, which reside inside channels formed by complex II molecules. The coordination polyhedron around a Cd atom is a tetragonal pyramid where the base is formed by the four S atoms of the two bidentate chelating ligands n-BuOCS₂⁻ and the P atom of the Ph₃P ligand is at the axial vertex. In the structure of III, there are supramolecular assemblies of two complex II molecules.     

The synthesis and transport properties of the cuprates La<Subscript>2 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sr<Subscript>1 + <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cu<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6 + δ</Subscript>

The cuprates La_{2 ? x} Sr_{1 + x} Cu₂O_{6 + δ}(x = 0, 0.1, 0.2) are synthesized by solid-state method. Their dc conductivity was studied over the 373 to 1173 K temperature range and 10 to 2.1 × 10⁴ Pa oxygen partial pressure range by using four-probe technique. It is shown that the cuprate conductivity in air is maximal at ～673 K; it is 60 S/cm for La₂SrCu₂O_6.09; 68 S/cm, for La_1.9Sr_1.1Cu₂O_6.18; and 81 S/cm, for La_1.8Sr_1.2Cu₂O_6.10. The thermal expansion coefficient of La₂SrCu₂O_6.09 is determined by thermomechanical method and high-temperature X-ray diffraction method; its value (16 ppm K^?1) shows that the material is compatible with the ceria-based solid electrolytes during the thermal cycling.