Discrete Curves in and the Toda Lattice

In this paper, we investigate flows on discrete curves in     , and     . A novel interpretation of the one-dimensional Toda lattice hierarchy and reductions thereof as flows on discrete curves are given.     

Versatile Aerogel Fabrication by Freezing and Subsequent Freeze‐Drying of Colloidal Nanoparticle Solutions

A versatile method to fabricate self‐supported aerogels of nanoparticle (NP) building blocks is presented. This approach is based on freezing colloidal NPs and subsequent freeze drying. This means that the colloidal NPs are directly transferred into dry aerogel‐like monolithic superstructures without previous lyogelation as would be the case for conventional aerogel and cryogel fabrication methods. The assembly process, based on a physical concept, is highly versatile: cryogelation is applicable for noble metal, metal oxide, and semiconductor NPs, and no impact of the surface chemistry or NP shape on the resulting morphology is observed. Under optimized conditions the shape and volume of the liquid equal those of the resulting aerogels. Also, we show that thin and homogeneous films of the material can be obtained. Furthermore, the physical properties of the aerogels are discussed.     

1 + 1 = 3: Coupling μ-XRD<Superscript>2</Superscript> and DTA New insights in temperature-dependent phase transitions

The article shows how additional information can be obtained from coupling a self constructed DTA-system with a commercially available BRUKER D8 DISCOVER GADDS XRD²-microdiffractometer. The dehydration process of gypsum to anhydrite in the temperature range from room temperature up to 723 K is used as an example. Due to the short measurement times of 10 s for each diffraction pattern the three phase transformations from gypsum to anhydrite (anhydrite II) via the hemihydrate bassanite, a water-free bassanite structure (γ-anhydrite, anhydrite III) were resolved in detail by recording the thermal signal and the diffraction pattern simultaneously. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first observation of a completely reversible dehydration/rehydration process of the bassanite/γ-anhydrite-structure around 373 K which is studied by coupled XRD and differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements.     

Photoswitchable architecture transformation of a DNA-hybrid assembly at the microscopic and macroscopic scale

Molecular recognition-driven self-assembly employing single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) as a template is a promising approach to access complex architectures from simple building blocks. Oligonucleotide-based nanotechnology and soft-materials benefit from the high information storage density, self-correction, and memory function of DNA. Here we control these beneficial properties with light in a photoresponsive biohybrid hydrogel, adding an extra level of function to the system. An ssDNA template was combined with a complementary photo-responsive unit to reversibly switch between various functional states of the supramolecular assembly using a combination of light and heat. We studied the structural response of the hydrogel at both the microscopic and macroscopic scale using a combination of UV-vis absorption and CD spectroscopy, as well as fluorescence, transmission electron, and atomic force microscopy. The hydrogels grown from these supramolecular self-assembly systems show remarkable shape-memory properties and imprinting shape-behavior while the macroscopic shape of the materials obtained can be further manipulated by irradiation.

Molecular recognition-driven self-assembly employing single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) as a template is a promising approach to access complex architectures from simple building blocks.     

13-Chloro-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosylsolstitialin from Leontodon palisae: the first genuine chlorinated sesquiterpene lactone glucoside

Apart from a number of known sesquiterpenoids, a novel chlorinated sesquiterpene lactone glucoside--13-chloro-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosylsolstitialin--has been isolated from the Southwestern European plant Leontodon palisae (Asteraceae, tribe Lactuceae). The structure has been established by high resolution mass spectrometry and 1D as well as 2D NMR spectroscopy. The compound represents the first naturally occurring chlorinated sesquiterpene lactone glucoside. The cytotoxicity of the new compound and related ones was evaluated using the MTT assay.     

Nitroaniline Derivatives of 2-Oxo-1-naphthylideneamines—Molecular Self-Assembling <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> C—H⋯O Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonds and Stabilization of O—H⋯N and N—H⋯O Tautomers in Solution and Solid State

Three Schiff-bases of the Ar—CH—N—Ar type were synthesized from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and o- (1), m- (2), and p-nitroaniline (3) in order to investigate the shift of the keto-amine/enol-imine tautomeric equilibrium that arises by the introduction of the electron-withdrawal nitro group. The compounds have been investigated experimentally, in the solid state and in the solution, by IR, NMR, UV spectroscopy, and X-ray single crystal analysis, and theoretically by using density functional theory (DFT). The tautomeric equilibrium is strongly shifted towards the keto-amine form despite of the nitro group position at N-phenyl ring in the solid state of molecular structures of 1, 2, and 3 (especially indicated by C—O and C—N bond distances). The keto-amine tautomeric form of the compounds is characterized by a strong, resonance assisted hydrogen bond (RAHB) of the N—H O type (the N O distances are 2.530(8), 2.554(2) and 2.555(5) Å in 1, 2, and 3, respectively). The molecules are assembled in the crystalline state into a 3D HB network (1), centrosymmetrical dimers (2) or infinite chains (3) by the C—H O intermolecular hydrogen bonds. In contrast, UV/VIS spectra of the chloroform solution of the title compounds reveal predominance of the enol-imine form. The molecular geometries and relative stabilities of the compounds determined by using DFT find good agreement with the experimental data.     

Pyrethroid and Etofenprox Resistance in Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii from Vegetable Farms in Yaoundé, Cameroon: Dynamics,Intensity and Molecular Basis

Previous studies have indicated widespread insecticide resistance in malaria vector populations from Cameroon. However, the intensity of this resistance and underlying mechanisms are poorly known. Therefore, we conducted three cross-sectional resistance surveys between April 2018 and October 2019, using the revised World Health Organization protocol, which includes resistance incidences and intensity assessments. Field-collected Anopheles gambiae s.l. populations from Nkolondom, Nkolbisson and Ekié vegetable farms in the city of Yaoundé were tested with deltamethrin, permethrin, alpha-cypermethrin and etofenprox, using 1× insecticide diagnostic concentrations for resistance incidence, then 5× and 10× concentrations for resistance intensity. Subsamples were analyzed for species identification and the detection of resistance-associated molecular markers using TaqMan® qPCR assays. In Nkolbisson, both An. coluzzii (96%) and An. gambiae s.s. (4%) were found together, whereas only An. gambiae s.s. was present in Nkolondom, and only An. coluzzii was present in Ekié. All three populations were resistant to the four insecticides (<75% mortality rates―MR1×), with intensity generally fluctuating over the time between mod-erate (<98%―MR5×; ≥98%―MR10×) and high (76–97%―MR10×). The kdr L995F, L995S, and N1570Y, and the Ace-1 G280S-resistant alleles were found in An. gambiae from Nkolondom, at 73%, 1%, 16% and 13% frequencies, respectively, whereas only the kdr L995F was found in An. gambiae s.s. from Nkolbisson at a 50% frequency. In An. coluzzii from Nkolbisson and Ekié, we detected only the kdr L995F allele at 65% and 60% frequencies, respectively. Furthermore, expression levels of Cyp6m2, Cyp9k1, and Gste2 metabolic genes were highly upregulated (over fivefold) in Nkolondom and Nkolbisson. Pyrethroid and etofenprox-based vector control interventions may be jeopardized in the prospected areas, due to high resistance intensity, with multiple mechanisms in An. gambiae s.s. and An. coluzzii.