Gold Nanoparticles as Effective ion Traps in Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Cross-Linked by Metal-Ligand Coordination

At this time, the development of advanced elastic dielectric materials for use in organic devices, particularly in organic field-effect transistors, is of considerable interest to the scientific community. In the present work, flexible poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) specimens cross-linked by means of ZnCl₂-bipyridine coordination with an addition of 0.001 wt. %, 0.0025 wt. %, 0.005 wt. %, 0.04 wt. %, 0.2 wt. %, and 0.4 wt. % of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were prepared in order to understand the effect of AuNPs on the electrical properties of the composite materials formed. The broadband dielectric spectroscopy measurements revealed one order of magnitude decrease in loss tangent, compared to the coordinated system, upon an introduction of 0.001 wt. % of AuNPs into the polymeric matrix. An introduction of AuNPs causes damping of conductivity within the low-temperature range investigated. These effects can be explained as a result of trapping the Cl⁻ counter ions by the nanoparticles. The study has shown that even a very low concentration of AuNPs (0.001 wt. %) still brings about effective trapping of Cl⁻ counter anions, therefore improving the dielectric properties of the investigated systems. The modification proposed reveals new perspectives for using AuNPs in polymers cross-linked by metal-ligand coordination systems.     

Antiviral Activity of a Cyclic Pro-Pro-β3-HoPhe-Phe Tetrapeptide against HSV-1 and HAdV-5

The core of Cyclolinopeptide A (CLA, cyclo(LIILVPPFF)), responsible for its high immunosuppressive activity, contains a Pro-Pro-Phe-Phe sequence. A newly synthesized cyclic tetrapeptide, cyclo(Pro-Pro-β³-HoPhe-Phe) (denoted as 4B8M) bearing the active sequence of CLA, was recently shown to exhibit a wide array of anti-inflammatory properties in mouse models. In this investigation, we demonstrate that the peptide significantly inhibits the replication of human adenovirus C serotype 5 (HAdV-5) and Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) in epithelial lung cell line A-549, applying Cidofovir and Acyclovir as reference drugs. Based on a previously established mechanism of its action, we propose that the peptide may inhibit virus replication by the induction of PGE2 acting via EP2/EP4 receptors in epithelial cells. In summary, we reveal a new, antiviral property of this anti-inflammatory peptide.     

The Synthesis And Chemical Properties Of N-D-Pentopyranosylamines,Derivatives Of Tryptamine And Tyramine.

Abstract

The synthesis and structure of N-D-pentopyranosylamines derived from the amines tiyptamine tyramine and the pentoses D-xylose, D-arabinose and D-lyxose are presented. NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry were used to verify the proposed α,β-D-pentopyranosylamine structures.     

An interesting property of the isotropic and homogeneous cosmological models

It is shown by using covariant expressions that in the framework of the isotropic and homogeneous cosmology the gravitational energy and matter energy, the gravitational and matter linear and angular momentum, cancel each other out locally, resulting in the corresponding global quantities being zero.     

Speciation of functional groups formed on the surface of ammoxidised carbonaceous materials by XPS method

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to investigate the fate of nitrogen functional groups present in carbonaceous materials obtained from European plum (Prunus domestica) stones and modified by ammonia-air mixture at 250 or 300 °C. Peaks have been found in the XPS patterns, corresponding to different nitrogen functional forms i.e. pyrrolic, pyridinic, pyridone, amine and chemisorbed nitrogen oxides. It has been found that the distribution of nitrogen functional forms changes as a result of the modification processes.     

Sulphur isotope compositions of components of coal and S-isotope fractionation during its combustion and flue gas desulphurization

Sulphur isotope compositions were determined in two different Polish coals (hard coal and lignite) and by-products originating from their combustion. The desulphurization process was also investigated. It was demonstrated that desulphurization changes the isotopic composition of sulphur emitted in the form of SO(2) to the atmosphere even if the process is conducted in a different way (wet lime technology and electron beam method). This fact has to be considered in the studies regarding anthropogenic sulphur genesis and its fate in the environment.     

Construction of a side pumped double-clad fiber using polished couplers

The paper presents a new way of side pumping double-clad fibers. Elaborated asymmetric polished couplers are presented. By using these couplers in pumping power set-ups of double-clad fiber very good pumping efficiency a very good efficiency was attained. The experimental and numerical optimizations of designed couplers are presented.     

Entropy correlation distance method. The Euro introduction effect on the Consumer Price Index

The idea of entropy was introduced in thermodynamics, but it can be used in time series analysis. There are various ways to define and measure the entropy of a system. Here the so called Theil index, which is often used in economy and finance, is applied as it were an entropy measure. In this study the time series are remapped through the Theil index. Then the linear correlation coefficient between the remapped time series is evaluated as a function of time and time window size and the corresponding statistical distance is defined. The results are compared with the the usual correlation distance measure for the time series themselves. As an example this entropy correlation distance method (ECDM) is applied to several series, as those of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in order to test some so called globalisation processes. Distance matrices are calculated in order to construct two network structures which are next analysed. The role of two different time scales introduced by the Theil index and a correlation coefficient is also discussed. The evolution of the mean distance between the most developed countries is presented and the globalisation periods of the prices discussed. It is finally shown that the evolution of mean distance between the most developed countries on several networks follows the process of introducing the European currency — the Euro. It is contrasted to the GDP based analysis. It is stressed that the entropy correlation distance measure is more suitable in detecting significant changes, like a globalisation process than the usual statistical (correlation based) measure.     

On characterization of Poisson and Jacobi structures

We characterize Poisson and Jacobi structures by means of complete lifts of the corresponding tensors: the lifts have to be related to canonical structures by morphisms of corresponding vector bundles. Similar results hold for generalized Poisson and Jacobi structures (canonical structures) associated with Lie algebroids and Jacobi algebroids.     

On subadditive functions and ψ-additive mappings

In [4], assuming among others subadditivity and submultiplicavity of a function ψ: [0, ∞)→[0, ∞), the authors proved a Hyers-Ulam type stability theorem for “ψ-additive” mappings of a normed space into a normed space. In this note we show that the assumed conditions of the function ψ imply that ψ=0 and, consequently, every “ψ-additive” mapping must be additive