Crystal structure and fast ionic conduction of TIZrF5

TlZrF₅ crystallizes in the monoclinic system with unit cell dimensions a = 8.112(1) Å, b = 7.927(3) Å, c = 7.929(1) Å, β = 123.99(1)° and space group P2₁/c (n^o 14); Z = 4. The structure was solved by conventional Patterson and Fourier methods and refined by full-matrix least-squares techniques to a conventional R of 0.057 (R_ω = 0.063). The structure consists of sheets of (ZrF₅)^? that may be described as edge-shared and corner-shared bicapped trigonal prisms (ZrF₈). The sheets run parallel to the y0z plan and are bonded together by the Tl ions which are surrounded by 12 F^? ions. The ionic conductivity of TlZrF₅ and TlHfF₅ has been investigated by complex impedance measurements and the relationships between structure and fast-ionic conduction are discussed.     

Study of the ionic conductivity of some fluorides of monovalent and tetravalent elements

Recently some interest has attached to ionic conductivity in the fluorides of metals with large cation radius because of the high fluorine mobility in these materials.A.c. conductivity measurements using the complex impedance method were carried out on sintered samples and showed that some binary fluorides of monovalent elements (M^I = K, Rb, Tl) and tetravalent elements (M^IV = Zr,Hf, Th, U) exhibit an appreciable ionic conductivity at moderate temperature : σ at 200°C (Ω^?1 cm^?1) Tl₃ZrF₇ 3.5 × 10^?3 Tl₂ZrF₆ 1.1 × 10^?2 Tl ZrF₅ 5 × 10^?4A single crystal study of Tl₃ZrF₇ shows that this compound crystallizes in the cubic system with space group Fm3m and cell parameter a = 9.34 Å. Therefore its crystal structure may be related to that of (NH₄)₃ZrF₇ [1 to 3] which is characterized by the presence of (ZrF₇)^3? ions with a pentagonal bipyramid as probable configuration. There are two crystallographically independent fluorine ions in position (96 j) of the space group Fm3m with a percentage of occupancy of 20.8 and 8.3 respectively. Thus Tl₃ZrF₇ is an example of fluoride where a three dimensional ionic conductivity occurs due to an incomplete occupation of a special symmetry position and where temperature increase might create rotation of (ZrF₇)^3? polyhedra giving rise to an important anionic disorder.In order to determine the origin of the ionic conductivity in TlZrF₅ we have undertaken the determination of the crystal structure of this fluoride from X-ray intensity measurements made with the aid of an automatic four circle diffractometer.TlZrF₅ cristallizes in the monoclinic system with unit-cell dimensions a = 8.112(1)Å, b = 7.927(3)Å, c = 7.929(1)Å, β = 123.99(1)° and space group P2 /c (No 14), Z = 4.In this structure, the Zr⁴⁺ ion is surrounded by eight F^? ions, the coordination polyhedron being a bicapped trigonal prism. This crystal structure consists of sheets (ZrF₅)^? that may be described as edge-shared and corner-shared bicapped trigonal prisms (ZrF₈). The sheets run parallel to the yOz plane and are bonded together by the Tl⁺ ions which are surrounded by twelve F^?ions. This arrangement produces relatively open tunnels in the b direction delimited by the cations. Of the five independent fluorine atoms, two of them, namely F(1) and F(4) are different from the other from the point of view of bonding and are located in these tunnels. Thus they are probably primarily responsible for the high conductivity of this material [4].With regard to Tl₂ZrF₆, it is the best as far as ionic conductivity is concerned. However its crystal structure is still unknown and its determination is actually under investigation in our laboratory.All this materials are good electronic insulators and their transport properties due to the high fluorine ion mobilities allow us to think that some of them hold considerable promise for use as solid electrolytes.     

Amino acid catalyzed reactions. A facile route to some heteroarylbispyrazoles

This newly designed route assembled a pyrazole ring with an aldehydic functionality over another pyrazole moiety. Further, formyl group was exploited in different routes such as condensation reactions, imidazole and pyrimidone/thione synthesis. The present reactions were performed with glycine, a facile catalyst, and the results were compared well with those of conventional methods.     

Walk-off reduction,using an external optical plate and Bessel–Gaussian interaction

To reduce the walk-off angle of the extraordinary third-harmonic ultraviolet wave at 355 nm generated by type ⅡKTiOPO_4 and type I β-BaB_2O_4 optical crystals,and the Gaussian output beam of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser,a simple theoretical model was developed based on a rotatable BK7 plate of variable thickness.By rotating the plate up to 35°along the beam direction,we reduced the walk-off angle up to ~ 13%.The same phenomenon is predicted by the model,confirming the performance of the model.It is found that,due to the walk-off effect,the intensity profile of the thirdharmonic generation beam is slightly degraded.To compensate for the observed phenomena and further reduce the walkoff,we used a combination of a convex lens and an axicon to transform the beam profile of the interacting fundamental and second-harmonic generation waves to the zero-order Bessel-Gaussian form.As a result,the walk-off is decreased to~ 48.81 mrad,providing ~ 30%relative reduction.By using the same BK7 plate rotated up to 35° along the third-harmonic beam direction,the walk-off angle is further reduced to 38.9 mrad.Moreover,it is observed that the beam profile of the emerged Bessel-Gaussian third-harmonic generation beam remains unchanged with no degradation.     

An In Vitro Study of the Interaction of Copper(II) Salicylates with Genomic DNA Using Gel Electrophoresis and Gel Permeation Chromatography

This papers describes the in vitro interaction of copper(II) acetylsalicylate and copper(II) salicylate with genomic DNA isolated from human blood. The two drug substances were found to bind to DNA after incubation with whole blood over night. Bonding was confirmed by detection of separated DNA electrophoresis bands for copper, copper(II) acetylsalicylate, copper(II) salicylate, acetylsalicylic acid and salicylic acid. Drug–DNA interactions were observed during electrophoresis in the form of fragmentation by formation of two bands when compared to controls. Gel permeation chromatography parameters also confirmed the occurrence of fragmentation. The use of gel permeation chromatography parameters as a measure of fragmentation of DNA is discussed. The fragmentation of genomic DNA after incubation with copper(II) acetylsalicylate and copper(II) salicylate suggested that these drug substances might be responsible for cytotoxicity in vivo.     

Improved Full-Newton Step <Emphasis Type=Italic>O</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type=Italic>nL</Emphasis>) Infeasible Interior-Point Method for Linear Optimization

We present several improvements of the full-Newton step infeasible interior-point method for linear optimization introduced by Roos (SIAM J. Optim. 16(4):1110–1136, 2006). Each main step of the method consists of a feasibility step and several centering steps. We use a more natural feasibility step, which targets the μ ⁺-center of the next pair of perturbed problems. As for the centering steps, we apply a sharper quadratic convergence result, which leads to a slightly wider neighborhood for the feasibility steps. Moreover, the analysis is much simplified and the iteration bound is slightly better.     

Theranostic Nanoplatforms for MRSA Detection and Destruction from Whole Blood

Bloodstream infection with methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other drug‐resistant bacteria kill several million people in the world every year. Detection of drug‐resistant bacteria in the blood stream is clinically important to save lives. Driven by this need, multifunctional theranostic nanoplatforms have been developed for simultaneous targeted imaging and multimodal photodestruction of MRSA in a whole‐blood sample. Experimental data for the whole‐blood sample spiked with MRSA show that the theranostic nanoplatform can be used for fluorescence imaging after magnetic separation even in a 10^?5:1 ratio. A targeted photodynamic and photothermal combined treatment shows that the multimodal treatment regime can dramatically enhance the possibility of destroying MRSA in vitro. Therefore, our developed theranostic nanoplatform have a great potential as a fluorescent marker and as a light absorber for combined therapy in clinical settings. The possible mechanisms and operating principles are discussed for targeted imaging and combined therapeutic actions using theranostic nanoplatform.     

Near-Edge Soft X-ray Absorption Mass Spectrometry of Protonated Melittin

We have investigated the photoionization and photofragmentation yields of gas-phase multiply protonated melittin cations for photon energies at the K-shell absorption edges of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Two similar experimental approaches were employed. In both experiments, mass selected [melittin+qH]^q+ (q=2–4) ions were accumulated in radiofrequency ion traps. The trap content was exposed to intense beams of monochromatic soft X-ray photons from synchrotron beamlines and photoproducts were analyzed by means of time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Mass spectra were recorded for fixed photon energies, and partial ion yield spectra were recorded as a function of photon energy. The combination of mass spectrometry and soft X-ray spectroscopy allows for a direct correlation of protein electronic structure with various photoionization channels. Non-dissociative single and double ionization are used as a reference. The contribution of both channels to various backbone scission channels is quantified and related to activation energies and protonation sites. Soft X-ray absorption mass spectrometry combines fast energy deposition with single and double ionization and could complement established activation techniques.

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