The correlations of finite Desarguesian planes, Part II: The classification (I)

This paper continues the classification of the correlations of planes of odd nonsquare order. Part I (Generalities) – see reference [1]-included introductory definitions and results (Section 1), algebraic preliminaries (Section 2), as well as a discussion of equivalent correlations (Section 3) and of their general properties (Section 4). The classification proper revolves around a special polynomial which can have one, two, or q + 1 zeros, or no zeros at all, and each of these four possibilities leads to different families of correlations. The present article contains Section 5, devoted to the cases in which the correlation is defined by a diagonal matrix (Subsection 5.1) or the polynomial in the preceding paragraph possesses q + 1 zeros (Subsection 5.2), one zero (Subsection 5.3) and two zeros (Subsection 5.4). Subsection 5.5 presents certain results to be used in the subsequent sections.     

On nonlinear wave equations with degenerate damping and source terms

In this article we focus on the global well-posedness of the differential equation , where is a sub-differential of a continuous convex function . Under some conditions on and the parameters in the equations, we obtain several results on the existence of global solutions, uniqueness, nonexistence and propagation of regularity. Under nominal assumptions on the parameters we establish the existence of global generalized solutions. With further restrictions on the parameters we prove the existence and uniqueness of a global weak solution. In addition, we obtain a result on the nonexistence of global weak solutions to the equation whenever the exponent is greater than the critical value , and the initial energy is negative. We also address the issue of propagation of regularity. Specifically, under some restriction on the parameters, we prove that solutions that correspond to any regular initial data such that , are indeed strong solutions.

     

Partitions of finite affine geometries into caps

In a finite geometry of order q² we define a (q^mq^r)-affine cap to be a set of cardinality q^m which is a disjoint union ot q^m affine subgeometrics AG(r,q). such that no three points are coliinear unless contained in the same AG(r,q).

Given a PG(n,q²), where n = 2t + 1 or 2t + 2, and an n + 1 by n + 1 Hermitian matrix H over Gh(q²) with minimal polynomial (x - λ)^{n + 1}. we show that H induces a partition of the AG(n, q²) obtained by deleting a distinguished hyperplane from the PG, into (qⁿ,q^{l + 1})-affine caps; these caps can be viewed as the "large points" of an AG (n,q) with a natural incidence relation. It is also shown that H induces another partition of AG(n,q²), into q^{n - l 1}-caps, constituting the "large points" of an affine geometry AG(n + t + 1,q).

Also, the collineation C of PG(n, q²) given by x^c = H^Tx induces collineations on the AG(n,q) and AG(n + t + 1,q).     

Thermal degradation of vinyl alcohol/vinyl acetate copolymers. III. Study of the reaction products

The thermal decomposition of vinyl alcohol/vinyl acetate copolymers have been studied at p = 10⁻²–10⁻⁴ Torr and T = 0–600°C. The decomposition products (solids, liquids, and gases) have been characterized by infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy, gas chromatography, vapor pressure osmometry, and elemental analysis. It has been ascertained on the basis of the obtained data that the decomposition mechanism of the vinyl alcohol/vinyl acetate copolymers depends on the chemical composition and sequence distribution of comonomers.     

Photophysical and photobiological behavior of antimalarial drugs in aqueous solutions

This article describes the results of a combined photophysical and photobiological study aimed at understanding the phototoxicity mechanism of the antimalarial drugs quinine (Q), quinacrine (QC) and mefloquine (MQ). Photophysical experiments were carried out in aqueous solutions by stationary and time-resolved fluorimetry and by laser flash photolysis to obtain information on the various decay pathways of the excited states of the drugs and on transient species formed on irradiation. The results obtained showed that fluorescence and intersystem crossing account for all the adsorbed quanta for Q and MQ (quantum yield of about 0.1 and 0.9, respectively) and only for 24% in the case of QC, which has a negligible fluorescence quantum yield (0.001). Laser flash photolysis experiments evidenced, for QC and MQ, the occurrence of photoionization processes leading to the formation of the radical cations of the drugs. The effects of tryptophan and histidine on the excited states and transient species of the three drugs were also investigated. In parallel, the photoactivity of the antimalarial drugs was investigated under UV irradiation on various biological targets through a series of in vitro assays in the presence and in the absence of oxygen. Phototoxicity on 3T3 cultured fibroblasts and lipid photoperoxidation were observed for all the drugs. The photodamage produced by the drugs was also evaluated on proteins by measuring the photosensitized cross-linking of spectrin. The combined approaches were proven to be useful for understanding the mechanism of phototoxicity induced by the antimalarial drugs.     

Photophysical properties and antibacterial activity of meso-substituted cationic porphyrins

A series of derivatives of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-N-methylpyridyl)-porphine, where one N-methyl group was replaced by a hydrocarbon chain ranging from C6 to C22, were characterized for their photophysical and photosensitizing properties. The absorption and fluorescence features of the various compounds in neutral aqueous solutions were typical of largely monomeric porphyrins, with the exception of the C22 derivative, which appeared to be extensively aggregated. This was confirmed by the very low triplet quantum yield and lifetime of the C22 derivative as compared with 0.2-0.7 quantum yields and 88-167 micros lifetimes for the other porphyrins. The photophysical properties and photosensitizing activity toward N-acetyl-L-tryptophanamide of the C22 porphyrin became comparable to those typical of the other derivatives in 2% aqueous sodium dodecyl sulfate, where the C22 compound is fully monomerized. All the porphyrin derivatives exhibited at micromolar concentrations photoinactivation activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, even though the gram-negative bacteria were markedly less photosensitive. The photosensitizing efficiency was influenced by (1) the amount of cell-bound porphyrin, which increased with increasing length of the hydrocarbon chain; and (2) the tendency to undergo partial aggregation in the cell, which seems to be especially important for the C22 derivative.     

The use of leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis L. as samplers for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Assessment of air quality in the area of Palermo

The quantitative analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in vegetables and animals allows us to evaluate the quality of air, in a determined geographic area, without the need of making long samplers with complicate instrumentation. In this work, Rosmarinus officinalis leaves have been used as passive samplers. In particular, this plant was chosen because it is widespread in the Mediterranean area and it is commonly found both in the metropolitan and in the peripheral areas of the city of Palermo. Results for the concentration of total polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (the sum of the 22 compounds) and the PAHs distribution in leaves from Rosmarinus officinalis are presented. Purified extracts were analyzed by GC-MS.     

Imine polymers containing chiral nanohoops in the backbone obtained through [2 + 2] cyclocondensation

A simple method for synthesis of polymers containing shape persistent imine macrocycles as nanohoops in the main chain is studied. It is based on the cyclocondensation reaction carried out in solution and room temperature of triphenylamine-based tetraaldehyde compounds with (R,R)-trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. The pristine polymer P1 bearing long alkyl groups is soluble during the synthesis but becomes insoluble after precipitation due to the strong and multiple C H/π and π-π stacking intermolecular interactions from arene–arene species and entanglement and interpenetrating of flexible alkyl groups inside of rigid macrocycle hollow. Polymer without any solubilizing groups ( P2 ) separates during the polymerization as an insoluble material. Both polymers are amorphous and have good thermal and environmental stability. They have a low surface area because discrete nanovoids introduced by macrocycles are disconnected in the amorphous polymers and non-accessible for gas adsorption. Polymers have inherent luminescent properties due to triphenylamine groups and chirality derived from (R,R)-conformation of the cyclohexane skeleton. In presence of picric acid (PA), the polymer fluorescence in solid state or suspension is strongly quenched, thus the polymers can work as efficient fluorescent probes toward nitrophenolic compounds. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2565–2573