Minimal homogeneous Steiner 2-(v,3) trades

A Steiner 2-$(v,3)$ trade is a pair $(T_1,T_2)$ of disjoint partial Steiner triple systems, each on the same set of $v$ points, such that each pair of points occurs in $T_1$ if and only if it occurs in $T_2$. A Steiner 2-$(v,3)$ trade is called d-homogeneous if each point occurs in exactly d blocks of $T_1$ (or $T_2$). In this paper we construct minimal d-homogeneous Steiner 2-$(v,3)$ trades of foundation $v$ and volume $\mathit{dv}/3$ for sufficiently large values of $v$. (Specifically, $v>3(1.75d^2+3)$ if $v$ is divisible by 3 and $v>d(4^{d/3+1}+1)$ otherwise.)     

Fractal interpolation on the Sierpinski Gasket

We prove for the Sierpinski Gasket (SG) an analogue of the fractal interpolation theorem of Barnsley. Let V₀={p₁,p₂,p₃} be the set of vertices of SG and the three contractions of the plane, of which the SG is the attractor. Fix a number n and consider the iterations uw=uw₁uw₂?uwn for any sequence w=(w₁,w₂,…,wn)∈n{1,2,3}. The union of the images of V₀ under these iterations is the set of nth stage vertices Vn of SG. Let F:Vn→R be any function. Given any numbers αw(w∈n{1,2,3}) with 0<|αw|<1, there exists a unique continuous extension of F, such that

f(uw(x))=αwf(x)+hw(x)     

Experimental and theoretical studies of acridine orange as corrosion inhibitor for copper protection in acidic media

The corrosion process commonly limits the use of copper in practical applications. The use of corrosion inhibitors is one of the effective methods to reduce the corrosion rate of copper. In this research, the inhibition effect of acridine orange (3,6-bis(dimethylamine)acridine) (AcO) for the protection of copper in 0.5 ?M ?H₂SO₄ solution was studied. For this aim, the change of open circuit potential with exposure time (E_ocp-t), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), linear polarization resistance (LPR), anodic and cathodic potentiodynamic polarization measurements (PP) and chronoamperometry (CA) techniques were used. Some quantum chemical parameters (E_HOMO, E_LUMO and dipole moment) were calculated and discussed. The AcO film formed over the copper surface was examined by SEM, EDX, AFM and contact angle measurements. The electrochemical data showed that AcO is an effective corrosion inhibitor even at low concentrations (ranging between 99.1% and %99.4 ?at concentrations from 0.01 ?mM to 1 ?mM). The corrosion rate of copper decreases in the presence of the inhibitor by reducing both anodic and cathodic rates, which is depended on its concentration. This compound behaves as mixed-type corrosion inhibitors with predominantly cathodic type. Its adsorption on the copper surface obeys Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The value of adsorption equilibrium constant (K_ads) and the standard free energy of adsorption were ΔG_ads 1.298 x 10³ ?M^?1 and -27.71 ?kJ/mol in the case of 0.5 ?M ?H₂SO₄ solution containing 1.0 ?mM AcO, which shows the adsorption is high and spontaneous. The adsorbed inhibitor film over the metal increase contact angle of the surface, which suggests the more hydrophobic properties of the surface are increasing coming from the orientation of hydrophobic sites to the electrolyte. The zero charge potential (E_pzc) studies showed that the surface charge of the metal is positive in the corrosive media containing the inhibitor. Quantum chemical calculations showed that the binding of inhibitor molecules to the metal surface takes place through N atoms of the inhibitor.     

Synthesis,characterization and microwave‐assisted catalytic activity of novel benzimidazole salts bearing piperidine and morpholine moieties in Heck cross‐coupling reactions

A mixture of novel benzimidazole salts (2a–f), Pd(OAc)₂ and K₂CO₃ in DMF? H₂O catalyzes, in high yield, the Heck cross‐coupling reaction assisted by microwave irradiation in a short time. All synthesized novel benzimidazole derivatives were characterized by elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy. In addition, the molecular structure of 2a was determined by X‐ray crystallography. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of hexane on magnetic blocking behavior of FePt nanoparticles

In this work effect of the carrier fluid, hexane, on the magnetic properties of 4.7 nm sized FePt nanoparticles is investigated. Nanoparticles are synthesized by chemical method. Structural and magnetic characterizations confirmed that samples are monodispersed with disordered face centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure and, magnetically, exhibit two blocking behaviors; the first is at 27 K and second at 110 K. Carrier fluid of particles, hexane, is found to influence the blocking of 7% of the total magnetic moments in the system by freezing at low temperatures resulting in a two blocking phenomena even for nanoparticles that are monodispersed with narrow particle size distribution.     

New iminophosphine–Ru(II) complexes and their application in hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation

Ruthenium complexes [RuCl₂L₂] were prepared by treating [RuCl₂(p‐cymene)]₂ with structurally similar N‐(2‐(diphenylphosphino)benzylidene)‐3‐methylpyridin‐2‐amine, 4‐(2‐(diphenylphosphino)benzylideneamino)‐3‐methylphenol and 4‐(2‐(2‐(diphenylphosphino)benzylideneamino)ethyl)phenol refluxed in toluene. These complexes were used as catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenones in 2‐propanol and for the direct hydrogenation of styrenes under hydrogen pressure. The results of the catalytic studies provide evidence that these complexes function as excellent catalysts for hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Carboligation reactivity of benzaldehyde lyase (BAL,EC 4.1.2.38) covalently attached to magnetic nanoparticles

Epoxy-functionalized Fe₃O₄–SiO₂ core–shell magnetic nanoparticles (epoxy-M-support) were prepared by modification with glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) methods. Pure histidine-tagged recombinant benzaldehydelyase (BAL, EC 4.1.2.38) was efficiently immobilized onto the epoxy-M-support with covalent binding. An immobilized BAL epoxy-M-support system was tested to catalyze the self and cross condensation reactions of aldehydes, and the kinetic resolution of racemic acyloins. The acyloin products were obtained in high yield and with high enantiomeric excesses (?98% ee). The carboligation reactivity of the immobilized enzyme was comparable to that of free enzyme-catalyzed reactions. The covalent immobilization offers high enzyme activity and stability (at least 5 repeats without losing its activity).     

Polymer electrolyte membranes based on p‐toluenesulfonic acid doped poly(1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole): Synthesis,thermal and proton conductivity properties

Throughout this work, the synthesis, thermal as well as proton conducting properties of acid doped heterocyclic polymer were studied under anhydrous conditions. In this context, poly(1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole), PVTri was produced by free radical polymerization of 1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole with a high yield. The structure of the homopolymer was proved by FTIR and solid state ¹³C CP‐MAS NMR spectroscopy. The polymer was doped with p‐toluenesulfonic acid at various molar ratios, x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, with respect to polymer repeating unit. The proton transfer from p‐toluenesulfonic acid to the triazole rings was proved with FTIR spectroscopy. Thermogravimetry analysis showed that the samples are thermally stable up to ～250 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry results illustrated that the materials are homogeneous and the dopant strongly affects the glass transition temperature of the host polymer. Cyclic voltammetry results showed that the electrochemical stability domain extends over 3 V. The proton conductivity of these materials increased with dopant concentration and the temperature. Charge transport relaxation times were derived via complex electrical modulus formalism (M*). The temperature dependence of conductivity relaxation times showed that the proton conductivity occurs via structure diffusion. In the anhydrous state, the proton conductivity of PVTri1PTSA and PVTri2PTSA was measured as 8 × 10^?4 S/cm at 150 °C and 0.012 S/cm at 110 °C, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1016–1021, 2010