Ferrocenyl D-π-A conjugated polyenes with 3-dicyanomethylidene-1-indanone and 1,3-bis(dicyanomethylidene)indane acceptor groups: Synthesis, linear and second-order nonlinear optical properties and electrochemistry

Second-order nonlinear optical chromophores incorporating the ferrocenyl group as an electron donor and 3-dicyanomethylidene-1-indanone and 1,3-bis(dicyanomethylidene)indane acceptor groups, connected by a conjugated polyenic bridge of varied length (2[n] and 3[n], respectively) have been synthesized. The electronic absorption spectra of these compounds display in the visible region bands attributable to π-π* and metal-to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions. The energies of these transitions are close to those reported earlier for ferrocenyl D-π-A chromophores with the strongest acceptor groups, e.g., with the 3-dicyanomethylidene-2,3-dihydrobenzothiophene-1,1-dioxide group (1[n]) [V. Alain, M. Blanchard-Desce, C.-T. Chen, S.R. Marder, A. Fort, M. Barzoukas, Synt. Met. 81 (1996) 133]. The solid-state structure of 2[3], determined by X-ray diffraction shows a significant reduction of the bond length alternation (BLA), 0.05 Å, suggesting high first hyperpolarizability. However, a centrosymmetrical packing of molecules of this compound in the crystal excludes its second harmonic generation ability. The μβ values of 2[n] and 3[n], determined by the EFISH technique at 1907 nm are high and increase with the increasing length of the conjugated π-bridge. The highest value of μβ (8720 × 10⁻⁴⁸ esu) was determined for 3[4], which is close to that reported for 1[4] (11 200 × 10⁻⁴⁸ esu), the highest value found for a ferrocenyl D-π-A chromophore until now.     

Adaptive control of anti-aircraft missile launcher mounted on a mobile base

This paper presents the problem of control of anti-aircraft missile launcher mounted on a moving carrier-vehicle. Direct excitations on the vehicle from the road cause adverse vibrations of the launcher. In order to increase the precision of the guiding system in the conditions of self-propelled movement of the setup on a bumpy road, the adaptive control algorithm was proposed. Some research results of computer simulation are presented in a graphical form.     

Optimum TLC system for identification of phenothiazines and tri- and tetracyclic antidepressants

The TLC separation of twelve drugs from three pharmaceutical groups: phenothiazines and tri and tetracyclic antidepressants is presented. Three kinds of eluents and two types of solid phases (RP 18 and Silica gel 60) were used. The composition of mobile phases was optimized by the Simplex method. In the basic optimization criterion the differences betweenR _f values of the spots corresponding to individual drugs were taken into account. An auxiliary criterion was based on the colour of the spots, which were developed with appropriate reagents. The experimental data obtained during optimization were interpreted using a matrix presentation. In the optimal conditions the differences between positions of the spots enable identification of ten of the examined drugs, but two remained unresolved.Parts of this paper were presented at the 33rd International Congress on Forensic Toxicology, August 27–31, 1995, Thessaloniki, Greece, and the Vth Polish Conference on Analytical Chemistry, September 3–8, 1995, Gdansk     

On Multiple Criteria Decision Support for Suppliers on the Competitive Electric Power Market

As an active participant of a competitive energy market, the generator (the energy supplier) challenges new management decisions being exposed to the financial risk environment. There is a strong need for the decision support models and tools for energy market participants. This paper shows that the stochastic short-term planning model can be effectively used as a key analytical tool within the decision support process for relatively small energy suppliers (price-takers). A self-scheduling method for the thermal units on the energy market is addressed. A schedule acquired for given preferences can be used as a desired pattern for bidding process. The uncertainty of the market prices is modeled by a set of possible scenarios with assigned probabilities. Several risk criteria are introduced leading to a multiple criteria optimization problem. The risk criteria are well appealing and easily computable (by means of linear programming) but they meet the formal risk aversion standards. The aspiration/reservation based interactive analysis applied to the multiple criteria problem allows us to find an efficient solution (generation scheme) well adjusted to the generator preferences (risk attitude).     

Prediction of Physical Properties of Dimethacrylate Polymer Networks by a Group Contribution Approach

In this work, the correlation between experimental and theoretical values of density (ρ) and glass transition temperature (T _g ) of dimethacrylate polymer networks is elaborated. The developed methodologies are based on the additive principle of the known monomer chemical structures. The predicted values of ρ differed by a maximum of 1% from the experimental values. The methodology developed for T _g prediction is based on the assumption that dimethacrylate structural units are treated as main chains between ?CH₂C(CH₃)? tri-functional volumeless cross-links. Three-quarters of the calculated T _g values differed less than 20 K from the experimental ones.     

Synthesis,structure and biological activity of four new picolinohydrazonamide derivatives

Four new picolinohydrazonamide derivatives, namely, 6‐methyl‐N′‐(morpholine‐4‐carbonothioyl)picolinohydrazonamide, C₁₂H₁₇N₅OS, 6‐chloro‐N′‐(morpholine‐4‐carbonothioyl)picolinohydrazonamide methanol monosolvate, C₁₁H₁₄ClN₅OS·CH₃OH, 6‐chloro‐N′‐(4‐phenylpiperazine‐1‐carbonothioyl)picolinohydrazonamide, C₁₇H₁₉ClN₆S, and 6‐chloropicolinohydrazonamide, C₆H₇ClN₄, have been synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal low‐temperature X‐ray diffraction. In addition, their antibacterial and anti‐yeast activities have been determined. The first three compounds adopt the zwitterionic form in the crystal structure regardless of the presence or absence of solvent molecules in the structure. They also adopt the same symmetry, i.e. P2₁/c (P2₁/n), unlike the fourth structure which is chiral and has the space group P2₁2₁2₁. For all the studied cases, intermolecular N—H…O and N—H…N hydrogen bonds play an essential role in the formation of the structures.     

“What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger”: Future Applications of Amyloid Aggregates in Biomedicine

Amyloid proteins are linked to the pathogenesis of several diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, but at the same time a range of functional amyloids are physiologically important in humans. Although the disease pathogenies have been associated with protein aggregation, the mechanisms and factors that lead to protein aggregation are not completely understood. Paradoxically, unique characteristics of amyloids provide new opportunities for engineering innovative materials with biomedical applications. In this review, we discuss not only outstanding advances in biomedical applications of amyloid peptides, but also the mechanism of amyloid aggregation, factors affecting the process, and core sequences driving the aggregation. We aim with this review to provide a useful manual for those who engineer amyloids for innovative medicine solutions.     

Stannylation of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds by tin tetrachloride

The reactions of tin tetrachloride and four terminal alkynes (PhCCH, ^tBuCCH, ⁿBuCCH, HOCH₂CCH), norbornene, and norbornadiene in dichloromethane or chloroform solution lead to the formation of stannylation products, which were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy. Virtually complete α-regioselectivity was obtained in reaction of all four alkynes without any effect of the relative steric bulk of the substituent R at the triple bond of alkyne RC_βC_αH. The reaction of norbornene and norbornadiene with SnCl₄ is stereoselective, giving an exo stannylation product.     

The influence of crystalline structure of cellulose in chitosan-based biocomposites on removal of Ca(II), Mg(II), Fe(III) ion in aqueous solutions

Cellulose - In this work, the influence of the supermolecular structure of cellulosic fillers in chitosan matrix on the process of adsorption of calcium, magnesium and iron metal ion was analyzed,...