Analysis of spatially extended excitable Izhikevich neuron model near instability

The dynamic response and bifurcations of high-dimensional systems endowed with hysteretic restoring forces in all degrees of freedom are investigated. Two types of hysteresis models are considered, namely the Bouc–Wen model and a differential version of the so-called exponential model of hysteresis. The numerical technique tailored for tackling high-dimensional hysteretic systems is based on an enhanced pathfollowing approach based on the Poincaré map. In particular, a five-dof mass-spring-damper-like system, with each rheological element described by the Bouc–Wen or the exponential model of hysteresis enriched by cubic and quintic nonlinear elastic terms, is investigated and a rich variety of nonlinear responses and bifurcations is found and discussed.

     

Atomic force microscopy force mapping in the study of supported lipid bilayers

Investigating the structural and mechanical properties of lipid bilayer membrane systems is vital in elucidating their biological function. One route to directly correlate the morphology of phase-segregated membranes with their indentation and rupture mechanics is the collection of atomic force microscopy (AFM) force maps. These force maps, while containing rich mechanical information, require lengthy processing time due to the large number of force curves needed to attain a high spatial resolution. A force curve analysis toolset was created to perform data extraction, calculation and reporting specifically in studying lipid membrane morphology and mechanical stability. The procedure was automated to allow for high-throughput processing of force maps with greatly reduced processing time. The resulting program was successfully used in systematically analyzing a number of supported lipid membrane systems in the investigation of their structure and nanomechanics.     

Solvent-Assisted Naked Eye Sensing of Hg2+ by a Chemoreceptor Derived from Diazocoupling of Sulfathiazole with Diethyl Malonate

Abstract

2-{[4-(Thiazol-2-ylsulfamoyl)-phenyl]-hydrazono}-malonic acid diethyl ester (R1) and 2-{[4-(5-methyl-isoxazol-3-ylsulfamoyl)-phenyl]-hydrazono}-malonic acid diethyl ester (R2) were synthesized through diazocoupling of sulfathiazole and sulfamethoxazole, respectively, with diethyl malonate. They were characterized through various spectroscopic and mass spectral studies. R2 was also characterized through a single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) study. Only R1 selectively recognized Hg²⁺ from a wide range of metal ions through naked-eye change. A color change from orange to olive green was observed upon addition of 1.0 equivalent of Hg²⁺ as its chloride salt to the 1 × 10^?3 M DMSO solution of R1. The role of DMSO in the sensing process appears to be the crucial one, because the solvent-assisted band of R1 at 482 nm observed in its UV-Vis spectrum in DMSO did not appear in its spectra recorded in nujol or in a polar aprotic solvent. The UV-Vis and ¹H NMR titrations revealed that the formation of six-membered 1:1 chelate between R1 and Hg²⁺ triggering the desolvation of R1

as the key step towards its sensing activity. The determination of binding stoichiometry between R1 and Hg²⁺ along with binding constant has also been discussed.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT      

Hydroxo‐Bridged Dimers of Oxo‐Centered Ruthenium(III) Triangle: Synthesis and Spectroscopic and Theoretical Investigations

The homometallic hexameric ruthenium cluster of the formula [Ru^III₆(μ₃‐O)₂(μ‐OH)₂((CH₃)₃CCO₂)₁₂(py)₂] ( 1 ) (py=pyridine) is solved by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Magnetic susceptibility measurements performed on 1 suggest that the antiferromagnetic interaction between the Ru^III centers is dominant, and this is supported by theoretical studies. Theoretical calculations based on density functional methods yield eight different exchange interaction values for 1 : J₁=?737.6, J₂=+63.4, J₃=?187.6, J₄=+124.4, J₅=?376.4, J₆=?601.2, J₇=?657.0, and J₈=?800.6 cm^?1. Among all the computed J values, six are found to be antiferromagnetic. Four exchange values (J₁, J₆, J₇ and J₈) are computed to be extremely strong, with J₈, mediated through one μ‐hydroxo and a carboxylate bridge, being by far the largest exchange obtained for any transition‐metal cluster. The origin of these strong interactions is the orientation of the magnetic orbitals in the Ru^III centers, and the computed J values are rationalized by using molecular orbital and natural bond order analysis. Detailed NMR studies (¹H, ¹³C, HSQC, NOESY, and TOCSY) of 1 (in CDCl₃) confirm the existence of the solid‐state structure in solution. The observation of sharp NMR peaks and spin‐lattice time relaxation (T1 relaxation) experiments support the existence of strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the metal centers. A broad absorption peak around 600–1000 nm in the visible to near‐IR region is a characteristic signature of an intracluster charge‐transfer transition. Cyclic voltammetry experiments show that there are three reversible one‐electron redox couples at ?0.865, +0.186, and +1.159 V with respect to the Ag/AgCl reference electrode, which corresponds to two metal‐based one‐electron oxidations and one reduction process.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the ruthenium(III)-catalysed oxidation of aminoalcohols by chloramine-T in perchloric acid

Summary The kinetics of the ruthenium(III) catalysed oxidation of 2-aminoethanol, 3-aminopropanol, diethanolamine and triethanolamine by chloramine-T in HClO₄ medium have been studied. The reactions exhibits first order rate dependence with respect to the oxidant and to the catalyst, and are zeroth order with respect to the substrate. The rate of oxidation is proportional to k[HClO₄]/{k+k'[HClO₄]} where k, k and k' are constants (a mixture of elementary rate constants and equilibrium constants). A suitable mechanism consistent with the observed kinetic data is proposed.     

First-order phase transformation and structural studies in Se<Subscript>85</Subscript>In<Subscript>15−x</Subscript>Zn<Subscript>x</Subscript> chalcogenide glasses

Present research work describes the crystallization kinetics and structural studies in Se₈₅In_15?xZn_x chalcogenide glasses. Bulk alloys of Se₈₅In_15?xZn_x were synthesized by melt-quenching procedure. High resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) was used to confirm the amorphous nature of synthesized samples. Non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements were performed at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 K min^?1 heating rates to study kinetics of crystallization in Se₈₅In_15?xZn_x. Various crystallization parameters such as glass transition (T _g), onset crystalline (T _c), peak crystallization (T _p) and melting temperature (T _m) were calculated from DSC curves. The activation energies of structural relaxation (ΔE _t) and crystallization (ΔE _c) were determined by using Kissinger, Moynihan and Ozawa approaches. ΔE _t is found to be the lowest for Se₈₅In₆Zn₉ sample which shows this sample has the highest probability of escape to a state of lower configurational energy and has greater stability. Thermal stability of various compositions was studied and found to vary with Zn content. Further, HRXRD and field emission scanning electron microscope were used for the study of first phase transformation in Se₈₅In_15?xZn_x samples.     

Benzyl isobornyl amines: a simple and practical class of NMR discriminating agents for effective chiral recognition of acids

The design and synthesis of a few simple N-benzyl derivatives of isobornyl amine is presented. The derivatives have been assessed as chiral solvating agents for effective discrimination of the signals of some acids in NMR analysis. The single crystal X-ray analysis of the salts of (R)-mandelic acid with two of the title derivatives help to understand the supramolecular interactions and assign the induced chemical shifts in ¹H NMR analysis. The title derivative is found to be suitable for quantitative determination of the enantiomeric excess of unknown enantiomeric purity as well as being efficient in resolving racemic mandelic acid.     

Fractional-order excitable neural system with bidirectional coupling

Fractional-order dynamics is applicable to biological excitable systems with strong interactions or systems with long-term memory effect. The activity of neural membrane voltage depends on the long-range correlations of ionic conductances. Such a behavior of the membrane voltage with long-range correlation can be better described with a fractional-order dynamics. A fractional-order coupled modified three-dimensional (3D) Morris–Lecar (M–L) neural system has been presented to show the variations in the firing patterns from resting state \( \rightarrow \) oscillatory pattern \( \rightarrow \) bursting and the synchronous behavior by designing a bidirectional coupling mechanism. The fractional exponents are lying between 0 and 1. The predominant controller of the changes of firing behavior is the fractional exponent. The stability of synchronization and nature of the fractional system dynamics have been analyzed. To make the investigations more convincing and biologically plausible, we consider a network of M–L oscillators with bidirectional synaptic coupling functions using global type connections and present the effectiveness of the coupling scheme.