PP-waves in the generalized Einstein theories

We present pp-waven solution to the generalized Einstein-Maxwell field theory introduced by Horndeski and to Mansouri-Chang theory of gravitation.     

The first metal complex of p-nitrobenzoxasulfamate. Synthesis, spectral and structural characterization of triaquabis(p-nitrobenzoxasulfamato)copper(II) monohydrate

The local structure of molten LaCl₃ was investigated by X-ray absorption fine structure of the La K-edge. The nearest La³⁺-Cl⁻ distance and coordination number were 2.89±0.01 Å and 7.4±0.5 from the curve fitting of the first peak in the Fourier transform magnitude |FT|. The coordination number larger than 6 suggests that the local structure of molten LaCl₃ is not a simple octahedral coordination (LaCl₆)³⁻, but 7-fold (LaCl₇)⁴⁻ and/or 8-fold (LaCl₈)⁵⁻ complexes. The first La³⁺-La³⁺ distance, of which correlation was observed as a weak second peak in the |FT|, was evaluated to be 4.9 Å. It suggests that the distorted corner-sharing connection of the complex species is predominant in the melt, in contrast with molten YCl₃ in which the edge-sharing connection of the 6-fold (YCl₆)³⁻ mainly exists.     

Synthesis of R-(-)-2-ethyl-N-benzyl (benzo-monoaza-15-crown-5) and the Crystal Structure of Its Sodium Perchlorate Complex

A new complex of a chiral monoaza-crown ether, [R-(-)-2-ethyl-N-benzyl-4,7,10,13-tetraoxa-8,9-benzo-1-azacyclopentadec-8-ene...NaClO₄], has been prepared and studied by x-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in space group P2₁ with cell dimensions a = 8.721(1), b = 16.318(2), c = 8.905(1) Å, = 100.80(1)°. The sodium cation is heptacoordinated and located significantly out of the best plane of the macrocycle ring. The donor atoms of the macrocycle are in the half-chair arrangement.     

Synthesis of chiral crown ethers and complexation with chiral protonated amine compounds: X-ray crystal and nuclear magnetic resonance studies of perchlorate salt of chiral benzo-monoaza-15-crown-5 and chiral monoaza-15-crown-5

The X-ray crystal structure of IX, perchlorate salt of R-(?-2-ethyl-N-benzyl-4,7,19,13-tetraoxa-8,9-benzo-1-azacyclopentadec-8-ene has been determined. In the molecule, the protonated nitrogen atom participates in two N-H?O hydrogen bonds. The unusually high proton affinity of aza crown ether leads to the formation of diastreomer instead of complex formation with chiral R-(+)-1-phenyl ethyl ammonium perchlorate and S-(?)-1-phenyl ethyl ammonium perchlorate. The complex ability of host ethers was evaluated in terms of structural modification.     

New copper(II), manganese(III), nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexes with a chiral quadridentate Schiff base

A chiral Schiff base ligand (H₂L) was obtained by condensing 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1-carbaldehyde with substituted (1R,2R)-(–)-diaminocyclohexane. Chiral Schiff base complexes [CuL], [NiL], [ZnL] and [MnLOH] have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, _M, i.r., u.v.–vis. and ¹H-n.m.r. and magnetic measurements.     

EPR study of gamma-irradiated 2-Bromo-4′-methoxyacetophenone single crystals

The gamma-irradiated single crystals of 2-Bromo-4′-methoxyaceto-phenone (2B4MA) were investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. Density-functional theory calculations were employed to investigate and identify the radicals that have been assumed to be formed upon irradiation of 2B4MA single crystals. The EPR spectra of 2B4MA were recorded at different orientations in the magnetic field at room temperature. Taking into account the chemical structure and experimental spectra of irradiated single crystal of 2B4MA, it was assumed that at least two different radicals were produced in the sample. Following this assumption, six possible radicals were modeled and EPR parameters were calculated by using the DFT, B3LYP/6-311+G(d), for the modeled radicals individually. The calculated hyperfine coupling constants and g-tensors were used as initial values for simulation studies. The three crystallographic axes on the simulated spectra were well matched with experimental spectra for the two modeled radicals. Thus, we identified the R1 type radical and R4 type radical as paramagnetic species produced in gamma-irradiated 2B4MA.     

Biological activities,phenolic profiles and essential oil components of Tanacetum cilicicum (BOISS.) GRIERSON

Tanacetum species are consumed as tea in Turkey. We comparatively evaluated the phytochemical potentials and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanolic extracts of Tanacetum cilicicum. The chemical constitutes of T. cilicicum essential oil and antioxidant activity of this species was analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method. Bicyclo (3,1,1) hept-2-en-4-ol (21.92%), camphor (15.56%) and 1,8-cineole (13.45%) which are oxygenated monoterpenes were found as the major constituents. Phenolic acids and flavonoids were quantificated by HPLC–UV. Catechin was found as the main component. The essential oils and methanolic extracts were evaluated by antioxidant activities. The leaves exhibited significant metal chelation activity with a value of 20.75 ± 4.63 μg/mL.     

A comparative analysis of machine learning techniques and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to determine the tacit knowledge criteria

Knowledge management is widely considered as a strategic tool to increase firm performance by enabling the reuse of organizational knowledge. Although many have studied knowledge management in a variety of business settings, the concept of tacit knowledge, especially the individual one, has not been explored in due detail. The objective of this study is to identify and prioritize individual tacit knowledge criteria and to explain their effects on firm performance. In the proposed methodology, first, the most prevalent individual tacit knowledge variables are identified by means of knowledge elicitation and feature selection methods. Then, the extracted variables were prioritized using machine learning methods and fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Support vector machine (SVM), logistic regression, and artificial neural networks are used as the first approach, followed by fuzzy AHP as the second approach. Based on the comparative analysis results, SVM (as the best-performed machine-learning technique) and fuzzy AHP methods were identified for the subsequent analysis. The results showed that both SVM and fuzzy AHP determined time efficiency of employees, communication between employees and supervisors, and innovative capability of employees as the most important tacit knowledge criteria. These findings are mostly supported by the extant literature, and collectively shows the synergistic nature of the utilized analytics approaches in determining individual tacit knowledge criteria.

     

Nickel electrodes as a cheap and versatile platform for studying structure and function of immobilized redox proteins

Practical use of many bioelectronic and bioanalytical devices is limited by the need of expensive materials and time consuming fabrication. Here we demonstrate the use of nickel electrodes as a simple and cheap solid support material for bioelectronic applications. The naturally nanostructured electrodes showed a surprisingly high electromagnetic surface enhancement upon light illumination such that immobilization and electron transfer reactions of the model redox proteins cytochrome b₅ (Cyt b₅) and cytochrome c (Cyt c) could be followed via surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy. It could be shown that the nickel surface, when used as received, promotes a very efficient binding of the proteins upon preservation of their native structure. The immobilized redox proteins could efficiently exchange electrons with the electrode and could even act as an electron relay between the electrode and solubilized myoglobin. Our results open up new possibility for nickel electrodes as an exceptional good support for bioelectronic devices and biosensors on the one hand and for surface enhanced spectroscopic investigations on the other hand.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic and spectrophotometric study of BODIPY appended crown ether sensor for ion detection

A novel fluoroionophore compound was synthesized from a boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) fluorophore and 4′-formylbenzo-15-crown-5 ionophore groups. Photophysical properties of the BODIPY-crown compound were studied with UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The effect of metalic cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Al³⁺, Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ag⁺, Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺) on the absorption and fluorescence spectra of compound 2 was investigated. Blue shifts were detected in UV–Vis spectra upon addition of some metal ions (Al³⁺ > Fe³⁺ > Na⁺). At the same time, the emission intensity of this complex increased due to binding of Na⁺ ion to the benzo crown cavity. Additionally, a decrease in the intensity of the 630 nm emission peak and an increase in the intensity of the 570 nm emission peak was observed in the fluorescence emission spectra following addition of Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions.