B2-PPW91: a promising double-hybrid density functional for the electric response properties

A new double-hybrid density functional, termed B2-PPW91, is presented which includes the Becke88 (B88) exchange in conjunction with Perdew-Wang91 (PW91) gradient-corrected correlation functional. The fitting parameters are obtained by minimization of mean absolute error of the static dipole polarizability of 4d transition metal monohalides against the CCSD(T)∕aug-cc-pVTZ∕SDD results. The performance of proposed functional has been assessed for estimation of other response properties, such as dipole moment and excitation energy, for the same species. We then proceed to explore the validity of B2-PPW91 method for calculation of the dipole polarizability of some 5d transition metal monofluorides. In all cases, the improvement compared to common density functional methods and even previously reported double-hybrid functionals such as B2-PLYP and mPW2-PLYP has been observed. This indicates that the utility of double-hybrid density functional methods can be further extended to study linear and non-linear optical properties of transition metal containing molecules.     

Computational insight into the static and dynamic polarizabilities of aluminum nanoclusters

The static and dynamic polarizabilities for the lowest-energy structures of pure aluminum clusters up to 31 atoms have been investigated systematically within the framework of density functional theory. The size evolution of several electronic properties such as ionization potential, electron affinity, the energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, and chemical hardness have also been discussed for aluminum clusters. Our primary focus in this article, however, has been upon the study of polarizability of aluminum clusters, although we also looked at the role of other electronic properties. From the energetics point of view, the relative stability of aluminum clusters at different sizes is studied in terms of the calculated second-order difference in the total energy of cluster and fragmentation energy, exhibiting that the magic numbers of stabilities are n = 7, 13, and 20. Moreover, the minimum polarizability principle is used to characterize the stability of aluminum clusters. The results show that polarizabilities and electronic properties can reflect obviously the stability of clusters. Electronically, the size dependence of ionization potential and electron affinity of clusters is determined. On the basis of the Wood and Perdew model these quantities converge asymptotically to the value of the bulk aluminum work function.     

Duboscic acid: a potent α-glucosidase inhibitor with an unprecedented triterpenoidal carbon skeleton from Duboscia macrocarpa

Duboscic acid (1), a triterpenoid with a unique carbon backbone, was isolated from Duboscia macrocarpa Bocq. It is the first member of a new class of triterpenoids, for which the name "dubosane" is proposed. Duboscic acid has a potent α-glucosidase inhibition, and its structure was unambiguously deduced by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study.     

From density functional steric analysis and molecular electrostatic potential to the estimation of etherification rate constant

This research extends our more recent work on the application of molecular electrostatic potential as an effective approach in describing the influence of substituent on etherification reaction rate constant of phenol derivatives. Here, in addition to electronic factor, the steric effects have also been considered for our purpose. To analyze steric effects on etherification rate constant, we use the novel energy partition scheme proposed recently by Liu [S. B. Liu, J. Chem. Phys. 2007, 126, 244103], where the total electronic energy is decomposed into three independent components: steric, electrostatic, and fermionic quantum. In this scheme, the steric potential has also been introduced. We first derive a relationship on the basis of density functional theory to show that the etherification rate constant should be proportional to the electrostatic potential on the atomic sites. Then, a bilinear function of molecular electrostatic potential and steric energy or steric potential is proposed for estimation of etherification reaction rate constants. Taking the experimental kinetics data of 30 substituted phenols, the validity of the proposed approach has been verified in position and momentum spaces. It is worth noting that the remarkable good performance of the momentum densities, which for the first time used in calculations of steric energy for a reaction, has been observed. Finally, using the relationship between new energy partition scheme and information theory, applicability of the Shannon entropy as one of the information theoretic measures is also tested for our goal and considerable results were obtained. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Time-dependent density functional theory benchmarking for the calculations of atomic spectra: efficiency of exc-ETDZ basis set

We present a time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) benchmarking of recently constructed basis set, namely exc-ETDZ (Guevara et al. in J Chem Phys 131: 064104, 2009) for predicting the atomic spectra of the first-row atoms. A systematic testing with 31 density functional methods has been performed to see whether convincing performance of this basis set carries over the TD-DFT formalism. The efficiency of exc-ETDZ basis set for reproducing atomic spectra has been compared with Pople- and Dunning-style basis sets. We focused on the atomic low-lying valence excited states with single excitation character for our benchmarking, and the calculated excitation energies were compared to experimental data. On average, the functionals providing the best match with exc-ETDZ basis are BMK, BH&HLYP and ωB97. Moreover, on the basis of comparison between the results of these superior functionals with CIS(D) estimates, it turned out that TD-DFT and CIS(D) errors are of the same order of magnitude, once the exc-ETDZ basis set is used. Finally, the results of present study indicate that different functionals show results that are highly dependent on the atomic configuration as well as the basis set.     

Antimicrobial nanocomposite films made of poly(lactic acid)–cellulose nanocrystals (PLA–CNC) in food applications—part B: effect of oregano essential oil release on the inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes in mixed vegetables

Antimicrobial nanocomposite films containing oregano essential oil (EO) were prepared by solvent casting. Film matrix was composed of supramolecular poly(lactic acid)–cellulose nanocrystals (PLA–CNC) nanocomposite. Bioactive PLA–CNC–oregano films were prepared by incorporating oregano EO as an antimicrobial agent. Resulting films were then converted into packaging applied on mixed vegetables as a food model and stored for 14 days at 4 °C to determine their antimicrobial capacity against Listeria monocytogenes, their physico-chemical/structural properties and their total phenols (TP) release during storage, in order to evaluate the effect of oregano EO. It was observed the addition of oregano EO did not affect the water vapor permeability (WVP) of films, but increased their elongation at break (Eb) and reduced their tensile strength (TS) and tensile modulus (TM) at day 0. However, TS, TM, Eb and WVP values of control and bioactive films were increased slightly after 14 days of storage. FTIR analysis allowed characterizing the molecular interactions of oregano EO with PLA–CNC matrix via the identification and interpretation of their respective vibration bands. Microbiological analysis of mixed vegetables inoculated with L. monocytogenes (3 log CFU g^?1) indicated that PLA–CNC–oregano films induced a quasi-total inhibition of bacteria in vegetables at day 14 and therefore demonstrated a strong antimicrobial capacity in situ. The percentage of TP release from bioactive films was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu’s method and results showed that TP release increased continuously from day 0 to day 14, up to 16.6 % at day 14. These results allowed demonstrating the strong antimicrobial capacity of PLA–CNC–oregano films for food packaging applications in vegetable produce.     

A new Monte Carlo code for absorption simulation of laser-skin tissue interaction

In laser clinical applications, the process of photon absorption and thermal energy diffusion in the target tissue and its surrounding tissue during laser irradiation are crucial. Such information allows the selection of proper operating parameters such as laser power, and exposure time for optimal therapeutic. The Monte Carlo method is a useful tool for studying laser-tissue interaction and simulation of energy absorption in tissue during laser irradiation. We use the principles of this technique and write a new code with MATLAB 6.5, and then validate it against Monte Carlo multi layer (MCML) code. The new code is proved to be with good accuracy. It can be used to calculate the total power bsorbed in the region of interest. This can be combined for heat modelling with other computerized programs.     

pH Dependence of the size and crystallographic orientation of the gold nanoparticles prepared by seed-mediated growth

The effect of the pH of the growth solution on the size and crystallographic orientation of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) was studied during the course of the preparation of surface-confined spherical GNPs following a two-step protocol (electrochemical and chemical). GNPs were first electrodeposited onto a clean glassy carbon (GC) electrode and these GNPs were used as seeds. Seed-mediated growth of the electrodeposited GNPs was performed in a solution of H[AuCl(4)] at various pHs (5.0 to 0.5) using NH(2)OH as a reducing agent. The thus-prepared GNPs were characterized by electrochemical, UV-visible absorption spectral, SEM, and TEM studies. The nucleation (i.e., formation of the new seeds) was found to dominate over growth (i.e., enlargement of the seed particles) process at higher pH during NH(2)OH seeding, whereas only growth was recognized at low pH (0.5). Nonspherical byproducts were noticed when the seed-mediated growth was performed at higher pHs, but at pH 0.5 only spherical GNPs were observed. The present method provides a way out for the preparation of GNPs with homogeneous shape resolving the problem of simultaneous formation of nonspherical byproducts during the seed-mediated growth as well as for the preparation of GNPs with a Au(111) facet ratio as high as 97%. On the basis of the obtained results, the mechanism of the growth process at low pH is also discussed. Interestingly, an enhanced electrochemical response was obtained for the oxidation of H(2)O(2) using the GNPs prepared at pH 0.5.     

Nonenzymatic dopamine biosensor based on tannin nanocomposite

A dopamine (DA) biosensor was developed based on polypyrrole/tannin/cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (PPy/TA/CTAB) nanocomposite and central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was employed for the optimization of conditions. Chemical polymerization of the PPy/TA in the presence of a cationic surfactant, CTAB, reduced the particle size of composite and a rod-like structure with a lumpy surface and high porosity was observed for nanocomposite justifying the highest current response for the modified electrode. Amperometry and differential pulse voltammetry analyses were applied for all electrochemical measurements and DA detection in the range of 0.5–100 μM. The good adhesion of nanocomposite on the electrode surface, as well as porosity and high surface area of the modified electrode, enhanced the diffusion of DA molecules inside the matrix. Amperometry analysis of the Screen printed carbon electrode/PPy/TA/CTAB modified electrode displayed a good sensitivity of 0.039 μA (μM)⁻¹ toward DA with the limit of detection of 2.9 × 10^–7 M. The modified biosensor also excludes the interfering species of ascorbic acid and uric acid which makes this sensor appropriate for DA determination. The proposed biosensor showed an acceptable reproducibility and repeatability with low relative standard deviations of 4.8% and 4.4%, respectively.     

An inimitable and ecological pleasant technique for the assessment of trace amount of copper (II) in tangible samples with new complexing reagent

A simple and rapid spectrophotometric technique has been designed for the trace copper analysis employing 1-(2-Thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol (TAN) reagent in aqueous micellar solution of cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a surfactant. Copper complexed with 1-(2-Thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol to form bis[1-(2-Thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol]copper. The present spectrophotometric technique was very important since the micellar system was used in place of the toxic, high cost and time-consuming solvent extraction steps. The technique showed an enhanced detection efficiency, specificity, and molar absorptivity. It was found that the molar absorption coefficient and sensitivity of Sandel were ε 2.45 × 10⁴ L mol^?1cm^?1 and 2.6 ngcm^?2 at λ_max 578.4 nm. A linear calibration plot in the range 0.12–5.0 μg mL^?1 was obtained; a stoichiometric metal ligand ratio [M:L] of 1:2 was found for the formation of Cu-[TAN]₂. The complex was formed at pH 9.5 and was stable up to 24 h. The proposed technique has been employed to study copper from different alloys, biological, environmental and pharmaceutical samples.