Tetra[2,3-thienylene]: a building block for single-molecule electromechanical actuators

Tetra(2,3-thienylene) is a thiophene-fused [8]annulene capable of undergoing redox-induced dimensional changes. The feasibility of efficiently translating this intrinsic function into a single polymeric electromechanical actuator is investigated by both experiment and density functional theory (B3LYP 6-31G[d,p]). A study of tetra(2,3-thienylene) and its homodimer reveal that redox-induced conformational change is conserved upon dimerization, a result that implicates similar behavior in the corresponding polymer. Theoretical predictions yield a maximum redox-induced dimensional change of 5.92% per repeat unit for the homodimer. Cyclic voltammetry reveals complete reversibility for the corresponding redox cycle. The latter two facts establish tetra(2,3-thienylene) as a suitable building block for single-molecule electromechanical actuators.     

Remarks on Leray's self‐similar solutions to the 3D magnetohydrodynamic equations

In this note, we examine small self‐similar solutions of the 3D incompressible magnetohydrodynamic equations in homogenous function spaces and show the uniqueness of self‐similar solutions when the velocity field is small in some homogeneous function spaces. This extend the recent results given by C. He and Z. Xin. “On the self‐similar solutions of the magneto‐hydro‐dynamic equations. Acta Mathematica Scientia, série B English Edition 2009; 29 (3): 583–598”. It is a natural way to extend the space widely and improve the previous results. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Entangled coherent states for quantum information processing

Entangled coherent states (ECSs) with relative phase equal to the phase shift between two coherent states are constructed. We study the degree of entanglement and the nonclassical features exhibited by the so-constructed states keeping in view their role in quantum information processing (QIP).     

First-principles calculations of structural,electronic and thermal properties of Zn1−x Mg x S ternary alloys

Structural, electronic and thermal properties of Zn_1?x Mg _x S ternary alloys are studied by using the full potential-linearized augmented plane wave method (FP-LAPW) within the density functional theory (DFT). The Wu-Cohen generalized gradient approximation (WC-GGA) is used in this approach for the exchangecorrelation potential. Moreover, the modified Becke-Johnson approximation (mBJ) is adopted for band structure calculations. The dependence of the lattice constant, bulk modulus and band gap on the composition x showed that the first exhibits a small deviation from the Vegard’s law, whereas, a marginal deviation of the second from linear concentration dependence (LCD). The bowing of the fundamental gap versus composition predicted by our calculations agrees well with the available theoretical data. The microscopic origins of the gap bowing are explained by using the approach of Zunger and co-workers. Thermal effects on some macroscopic properties of Zn_1?x Mg _x S alloys are also investigated using the quasi-harmonic Debye model, in which the phononic effects are considered. As, this is the first quantitative theoretical prediction of the thermal properties of Zn_1?x Mg _x S alloys, no other calculated results and furthermore no experimental studies are available for comparison.     

The Lorenz model for single-mode homogeneously broadened laser: analytical determination of the unpredictable zone

We have applied harmonic expansion to derive an analytical solution for the Lorenz-Haken equations. This method is used to describe the regular and periodic self-pulsing regime of the single mode homogeneously broadened laser. These periodic solutions emerge when the ratio of the population decay rate ? is smaller than 0:11. We have also demonstrated the tendency of the Lorenz-Haken dissipative system to behave periodic for a characteristic pumping rate “2C _P ”[7], close to the second laser threshold “2C _2th ”(threshold of instability). When the pumping parameter “2C” increases, the laser undergoes a period doubling sequence. This cascade of period doubling leads towards chaos. We study this type of solutions and indicate the zone of the control parameters for which the system undergoes irregular pulsing solutions. We had previously applied this analytical procedure to derive the amplitude of the first, third and fifth order harmonics for the laser-field expansion [7, 17]. In this work, we extend this method in the aim of obtaining the higher harmonics. We show that this iterative method is indeed limited to the fifth order, and that above, the obtained analytical solution diverges from the numerical direct resolution of the equations.     

Functional 2-benzyl-1,2-dihydro[60]fullerenes as acceptors for organic photovoltaics: facile synthesis and high photovoltaic performances

A new series of functional 2-benzyl-1,2-dihydro[60]fullerenes, BnHCs, were synthesized efficiently via co-catalyzed selective monofunctionalization of C₆₀ with functional benzyl bromides. Photophysical and electrochemical properties of the new BnHCs were investigated. PSCs based on 2-MeO–4-CO₂Me–BnHC as new acceptor and P3HT as donor showed a power conversion efficiency of 3.75%, which is comparable to that of PC₆₁BM under the same device conditions.     

Development of an In Situ Detachment Protocol of Vero Cells Grown on Cytodex1 Microcarriers Under Animal Component-Free Conditions in Stirred Bioreactor

Subcultivation of Vero cells grown in a proprietary animal component-free medium named IPT-AFM, on microcarriers, was studied. TrypLE Select, a non-animal-derived protease, was used as an alternative to trypsin for cell passaging. We first studied the effect of increasing concentrations of TrypLE Select toward cell growth and then studied the inactivation of the protease using either soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI) or the soy hydrolysate Hypep 1510, in six-well plates. Data showed that cell growth was impaired by residual level of TrypLE Select; STI was identified as an efficient agent to neutralize this effect. To restore cell growth and inactivate TrypLE Select, STI should be added to the medium at least at 0.2 g L^?1. Cells were also grown in spinner flask on 2 g L^?1 Cytodex1 in IPT-AFM. In these conditions, the cell detachment yield was equal to 78?±?8 %. Furthermore, cells exhibited a typical growth profile when using the dislodged cells to seed a new culture. A cell detachment yield of 70?±?19 % was also achieved when the cells were grown in a 2-L stirred bioreactor in IPT-AFM, on 3 g L^?1 Cytodex1. This protocol can be of great interest to scale-up the process of Vero cells cultivation in IPT-AFM on Cytodex1 from one stirred bioreactor culture to another.