Mechanical and optical properties of SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> thin films deposited on glass

The optical and mechanical properties of amorphous SiO₂ films deposited on soda-lime silicate float glass by reactive RF magnetron sputtering at room temperature were investigated in dependence of the process pressure. The densities of the films are strongly influenced by the process pressure and vary between 2.38 and 1.91 g cm^?3 as the pressure changes from 0.27 to 1.33 Pa. The refractive indices of the films shift between 1.52 and 1.37, while the residual compressive stresses in the deposited films vary in the range from 440 to 1 MPa. Hardness and reduced elastic modulus values follow the same trend and decline with the increase of process pressure from 8.5 to 2.2 GPa and from 73.7 to 30.9 GPa, respectively. The abrasive wear resistance decreases with the density of the films.     

Synthesis of 2-alkenyl-3-hydroxyquinolin-4(1H)-ones as promising antimicrobial and fluorescent agents

2-Alkenyl-3-hydroxyquinolin-4(1H)-ones were prepared by the rearrangement of anthranilic acid esters synthesized by two alternative methods. The prepared derivatives were screened for their antimicrobial activities against representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, displaying notable minimum inhibitory concentration values against specific strains. The emission spectra of the target quinolines exhibited two well-separated emission bands, and the maximum excitation wavelengths of the selected compounds were detected at relatively high values.     

Unconditional convergence and error estimates for bounded numerical solutions of the barotropic Navier–Stokes system

We consider a mixed finite‐volume finite‐element method applied to the Navier–Stokes system of equations describing the motion of a compressible, barotropic, viscous fluid. We show convergence as well as error estimates for the family of numerical solutions on condition that: (a) the underlying physical domain as well as the data are smooth; (b) the time step and the parameter of the spatial discretization are proportional, ; and (c) the family of numerical densities remains bounded for . No a priori smoothness is required for the limit (exact) solution. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 33: 1208–1223, 2017     

Experimental test of the quantum non-Gaussian character of a heralded single-photon state

We report on the experimental verification of quantum non-Gaussian character of a heralded single-photon state with a positive Wigner function. We unambiguously demonstrate that the generated state cannot be expressed as a mixture of Gaussian states. Sufficient information to witness the quantum non-Gaussian character is obtained from a standard photon anticorrelation measurement.     

Crystallographic report: The [bis(η5‐cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV)‐bis(L‐methionine)] dichloride

The structure of ionic complex [Cp₂Ti(L -Met)₂]²⁺[Cl⁻]₂ (where Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅) possessing C₂ symmetry is presented. Discrete cationic units with distorted tetrahedral geometry around the central titanium atom are connected through intermolecular H···Cl bonds between ammonium group protons of α-amino acid ligands and chloride anions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modified stepwise method for determining heat capacity by DSC

The methods of heat capacity data determination from differential scanning calorimetry measurements are described. The negative effects increasing uncertainty of heat capacity determination are mentioned. Modified stepwise method was described and verified using molybdenum, copper, and gold standards. Modified stepwise method provides better accuracy of C _p values compared to continuous and stepwise method.     

Carbon nitride–TiO2 hybrid modified with hydrogenase for visible light driven hydrogen production

A system consisting of a [NiFeSe]–hydrogenase (H₂ase) grafted on the surface of a TiO₂ nanoparticle modified with polyheptazine carbon nitride polymer, melon (CN_x) is reported. This semi-biological assembly shows a turnover number (TON) of more than 5.8 × 10⁵ mol H₂ (mol H₂ase)^–1 after 72 h in a sacrificial electron donor solution at pH 6 during solar AM 1.5 G irradiation. An external quantum efficiency up to 4.8% for photon-to-hydrogen conversion was achieved under irradiation with monochromatic light. The CN_x–TiO₂–H₂ase construct was also active under UV-free solar light irradiation (λ > 420 nm), where it showed a substantially higher activity than TiO₂–H₂ase and CN_x–H₂ase due, in part, to the formation of a CN_x–TiO₂ charge transfer complex and highly productive electron transfer to the H₂ase. The CN_x–TiO₂–H₂ase system sets a new benchmark for photocatalytic H₂ production with a H₂ase immobilised on a noble- and toxic-metal free light absorber in terms of visible light utilisation and stability.     

Response to Comment on ‘Preconditioning of matrices partitioned in 2 × 2 block form: Eigenvalue estimates and Schwarz DD for mixed FEM’

As has been pointed out in a study by Cao, there is an erroneous omission in the study by Axelsson, Corollary 3.2 and Proposition 3.2, and the authors thank Zhi‐hao Cao for pointing this out. We mention, however, that these are side results and do not influence the major result of the paper ‘Preconditioning of matrices partitioned in 2 by 2 block form: Eigenvalue estimates and Schwarz DD for mixed FEM’. In this reply, we give a short background to the relations between inverses of saddle point matrices, thereby providing justified references to previous publications of the topic and present a corrected and extended version of Proposition 3.2. This gives an alternative presentation of the statements in the study by Cao, which might be useful for readers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polypyrrole-Coated and Polysulfate-Modified CE Capillaries

Fused-silica capillaries covalently coated with polypyrrole offer some interesting properties for capillary electrophoresis. The polymeric, surface-bonded coating is chemically stable and reduces the adsorptive properties of the silica surface. At the same time, the weak positive surface charges offer the possibility of creating a strongly anionic surface when poly-sulfates are used as counter-ions. This affords an electroosmotic flow which is largely independent of pH. With sodium dodecyl sulfate in the background electrolyte, this effect is further enhanced. The potential of the approach is demonstrated with the separation of herbicides by micellar electrokinetic chromatography. Repeatability of electroosmotic mobility of less than 1% RSD is achieved.