Ultrasonic Study of Basic α‐Amino Acids in Different Acetate Salt Solutions at Different Temperatures

The ultrasonic velocity (U), has been measured for three α‐amino acids, namely L‐lysine monohydrochloride, L‐arginine and L‐histidine in solutions (1 mol/L aqueous) of sodium acetate (SA), potassium acetate (PA) and calcium acetate (CA) at different temperatures (303.15, 308.15, 313.15, 318.15 and 323.15 K). With the help of these results various ultrasonic derived parameters, viz. isentropic compressibility (κ_s), change in isentropic compressibility (Δκ_s), relative change in isentropic compressibility (Δκ_r), specific acoustic impedance (Z), relative association (RA), and apparent molal compressibility (?) have been estimated. The results have been interpreted in the light of intermolecular interactions between solute and solvent.     

Surface and micellar properties of some amphiphilic drugs in various salt solutions

In this work the effect adding of various electrolytes on the solution properties of three amphiphilic drugs was investigated. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) values, determined on the basis of surface tension measurements, were found to decrease with the increasing salt concentration; this decrease was dependent upon the nature of added ion. Coions (K⁺ and Na⁺) remained in the aqueous phase and were almost equally efficient in decreasing the cmc. Counterions (Cl^? and Br^?) concentrated on the micellar surface and reduced electrostatic repulsion. The smaller the hydrated counterions, the stronger they interacted with the micellar surface. The decrease of cmc was therefore more pronounced for Br^? ions than that for Cl^? ones. The observed changes in A _min and Γ_max were explained in terms of the cmc behavior. The values of both ΔG _m ^pO and ΔG _ads ^pO suggest that the drugs tend to form micelles more readily in the presence of salts.     

Thermodynamic aspect: kinetics of the reduction of dicyanobis(phen)iron(III) by acetylferrocene and methylferrocenemethanol

Protonation plays an important role in the redox reactions. We observed this leading role during the reduction of [Fe^III(phen)₂(CN)₂]⁺ by FcCOMe and FcCHOHMe. The kinetic data showed that the reaction(s) followed a complex kinetics due to the formation of protonated acetylferrocene (FcC⁺OHMe), and or, protonated α-methylferrocenemethanol (FcCHO⁺H₂Me) in aqueous dioxane (80% v/v). Our results helped us to conclude that the reactions were completed in three phases. An overall zeroth order was observed in the first phase of the reactions. In the second phase, the kinetic data showed an overall second order reaction. The third phase was a complex phase where the rate of redox reactions and the insolubility of the neutral product ([Fe^II(phen)₂(CN)₂]) competed with each other. We studied the effect of different factors to identify the reacting entities, which take part in the rate-determining step of each reaction in the second phase. Consequently, we determined the effects of selected factors upon the observed pseudo-first order rate constant(s) (k′ _obs) of each reaction. The value of k′ _obs increased upon addition of protons in the reaction mixture in case of FcCOMe, and it decreased during the oxidation of FcCHOHMe. Meanwhile, upon enhancing the ionic strength, we observed an increase in k′ _obs for FcCOMe, and no change in the value of k′ _obs during the reaction of FcCHOHMe. However, a decrease in k′ _obs was noticed upon increasing the dielectric constant of the reaction mixture when the reductant was FcCOMe, and no effect was observed in case of FcCHOHMe. Together, these results suggested oxidation of FcC⁺OHMe and FcCHOHMe in the slow-step, and FcCOMe and FcCHO⁺H₂Me during the fast-step. We refined our results by estimating the thermodynamic parameters of activation. The low values of activation energy and enthalpy of activation confirmed that the reduction of [Fe^III(phen)₂(CN)₂]⁺ hardly depends upon temperature when the reducing agent is FcCOMe. The outcomes justified that the rate of reaction depends upon the unsaturated FcC⁺OHMe. This intermediate species contain a ‘carbonium ion’, which is very reactive and energetic. We obtained comparatively high values of the activation energy and enthalpy of activation for the reaction between [Fe^III(phen)₂(CN)₂]⁺ and FcCHOHMe. The results show that FcCHOHMe is a saturated and stable compound that leads the slow-step and controls the rate of reaction.     

Mixing Behavior of Conventional and Gemini Cationic Surfactants

Micellization behavior of cationic monomeric surfactants, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB), and dimeric (gemini) cationic surfactant pentamethylene‐1, 5‐bis(hexadecyldimethylammonium bromide) with formula C₁₆H₃₃(CH₃)₂N⁺(CH₂)₅N⁺(CH₃)₂C₁₆H₃₃ · 2Br^?, abbreviated as 16‐5‐16, in mixed states (binary) have been studied by conductivity. The micellar compositions, activities of the components, and their mutual interactions have been estimated from Rubingh's theory. The mixtures show nonideal behavior with favorable interactions.     

Multi-Trace Superpotentials vs. Matrix Models

We consider ᵊ9=1 supersymmetric U(N) field theories in four dimensions with adjoint chiral matter and a multi-trace tree-level superpotential. We show that the computation of the effective action as a function of the glueball superfield localizes to computing matrix integrals. Unlike the single-trace case, holomorphy and symmetries do not forbid non-planar contributions. Nevertheless, only a special subset of the planar diagrams contributes to the exact result. In addition, the computation of the superpotential localizes to doing matrix integrals. In view of the results of Dijkgraaf and Vafa for single-trace theories, one might have naively expected that these matrix integrals are related to the free energy of a multi-trace matrix model. We explain why this naive identification does not work. Rather, an auxiliary single-trace matrix model with additional singlet fields can be used to exactly compute the field theory superpotential. Along the way we also describe a general technique for computing the large-N limits of multi-trace Matrix models and raise the challenge of finding the field theories whose effective actions they may compute. Since our models can be treated as ᵊ9=1 deformations of pure ᵊ9=2 gauge theory, we show that the effective superpotential that we compute also follows from the ᵊ9=2 Seiberg-Witten solution. Finally, we observe an interesting connection between multi-trace local theories and non-local field theory.     

Adapting Japanese Lesson Study to enhance the teaching and learning of geometry and spatial reasoning in early years classrooms: a case study

Increased efforts are needed to meet the demand for high quality mathematics in early years classrooms. Despite the foundational role of geometry and spatial reasoning for later mathematics success, the strand receives inadequate instructional time and is limited to concepts of static geometry. Moreover, early years teachers typically lack both content knowledge and confidence in teaching geometry and spatial reasoning. We describe our attempt to deal with these issues through a research initiative known as the Math for Young Children project. The project integrates effective features of both design research and Japanese Lesson Study and is designed to support teachers in developing content knowledge and new approaches for teaching geometry and spatial reasoning. Central to our Professional Development model is the integration of four adaptations to the Japanese Lesson Study model: (1) teachers engaging in the mathematics, (2) teachers designing and conducting task-based clinical interviews, (3) teachers and researchers co-designing and carrying out exploratory lessons and activities, and (4) the creation of resources for other educators. We present our methods and the results of our adaptations through a case study of one Professional Learning Team. Our results suggest that the adaptations were effective in: (1) supporting teachers’ content knowledge of and comfort level with geometry and spatial reasoning, (2) increasing teachers’ perceptions of young children’s mathematical competencies, (3) increasing teachers’ awareness and commitment for the inclusion of high quality geometry and spatial reasoning as a critical component of early years mathematics, and (4) the creation of innovative resources for other educators. We conclude with theoretical considerations and implications of our results.     

Synthesis of Steroidal Spiro-1′,2′,4′-triazolidine-3′-thiones

Steroidal ketone thiosemicarbazones (4–6), obtained from the corresponding ketones(1–3), on oxidative cyclization with H₂O₂ at 0°C provide title compounds (7–9), respectively. The structures of these compounds have been established on the basis of their elemental analytical and spectral data.     

F-X and G-X systems of K2

Absorption spectra of K₂ in the UV region of 3480 Å to 3700 Å have been recorded in the second order of a 3.4 meter Ebert Spectrograph giving a reciprocal dispersion of 2.6 Å/mm. This region consisting of F-X and G-X band systems has been found to contain 37 new bands. The vibrational analysis is performed and the molecular constants are evaluated using computer methods.     

Neutron and gamma ray doses from a 252Cf brachytherapy source in a water phantom

Axial and radial doses of Neutrons and gamma rays from an Isotron ²⁵²Cf Brachytherapy source were calculated in a Water phantom using Maienshein’s prompt fission gamma rays data and Maxwellian neutron energy spectrum. It was observed that neutron dose due to the source casing thickness does not contribute significantly to the total dose. Further the calculated secondary gamma ray dose rate is very small compared to the calculated primary gamma dose rate. Neutron and secondary gamma ray dose calculated in this study agree with the published data. Results of this study will be presented here.