Soliton with valence quarks in the chiral invariant σ-model

The chiral invariant σ-model is used to obtain bound states (solitons) of valence quarks. A hedgehog shape is assumed for the pion field. A soluble model is presented and compared to a self-consistent calculation. The results are discussed in the light of the possible effective baryon number carried by the chiral fields.     

Properties of tetra-N-glycidyl-4,4′-diamino diphenyl methane (TGDDM) cured thick films

Thick films of tetra-N-glycidyl epoxy resin of p,p′-diaminodiphenyl methane (TGDDM) were prepared using p,p′-diaminodiphenyl methane (DDM), p,p′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) and diethylene triamine (DETA) as curing agent with or without the epoxy fortifiers PGEHA and VCDRC (at 20 phr level). These thick films were used to evaluate various physical, mechanical, chemical resistant and dielectric properties.     

Investigating the vortex melting phenomenon in BSCCO crystals using magneto-optical imaging technique

Using a novel differential magneto-optical imaging technique we investigate the phenomenon of vortex lattice melting in crystals of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈ (BSCCO). The images of melting reveal complex patterns in the formation and evolution of the vortex solid-liquid interface with varying field (H)/temperature (T). We believe that the complex melting patterns are due to a random distribution of material disorder/inhomogeneities across the sample, which create fluctuations in the local melting temperature or field value. To study the fluctuations in the local melting temperature/field, we have constructed maps of the melting landscape T _m(H, r), viz., the melting temperature (T _m) at a given location (r) in the sample at a given field (H). A study of these melting landscapes reveals an unexpected feature: the melting landscape is not fixed, but changes rather dramatically with varying field and temperature along the melting line. It is concluded that the changes in both the scale and shape of the landscape result from the competing contributions of different types of quenched disorder which have opposite effects on the local melting transition.     

Energy dependence of multiplicity in proton-nucleus collisions and models of multiparticle production

This is a continuation of our earlier investigation (Gurtuet al 1974Phys. Lett. 50 B 391) on multiparticle production in proton-nucleus collisions based on an exposure of emulsion stack to 200 GeV/c beam at the NAL. It is found that the ratioR _em = 〈n _s〉/〈n _ch〉, where 〈n _ch〉 is the charged particle multiplicity in pp-collisions, increases slowly from about 1 at 10 GeV/c to 1·6 at 68 GeV/c and attains a constant value of 1·71 ± 0·04 in the region 200 to 8000 GeV/c. Furthermore,R _em = 1·71 implies an effectiveA-dependence ofR _A =A ^0.18,i.e., a very weak dependence. Predictions ofR _em on various models are discussed and compared with the emulsion data. Data seem to favour models of hadron-nucleon collisions in which production of particles takes place through adouble step mechanism,e.g., diffractive excitation, hydrodynamical and energy flux cascade as opposed to models which envisage instantaneous production.     

Mechanism of the oxidation of hydrazoic acid by tetrachloroaurate(III) ion

The oxidation of hydrazoic acid in perchloric acid in the absence of added chloride under pseudo first-order conditions ([HN₃] » [AuCl ₄ ^? ]) is first order in [Au(III)]. Michaelis–Menten type of dependence (linear plots of k _obs ^?1 vs [HN₃]^?1) is observed with respect to [HN₃]. The k _obs is independent of ionic strength and the plot between k _obs ^?1 and [H⁺] is linear. The inner-sphere mechanism is consistent with the formation of an axial complex (K = 25 dm³ mol^?1) between AuCl₃(HO)^? ion and HN₃ prior to its rate determining decomposition (k = 0.0182 s^?1). It is inferred that the free radicals N ₃ ^? do not oxidise Au(II). The reaction becomes outer-sphere in the presence of added Cl^? ions which are inferred to form a cage around the hydronium ion surrounding the AuCl ₄ ^? ions. The penetration of N ₃ ^? through the cage is rate controlling and within the cage, the electron transfer from N ₃ ^? ion to AuCl ₄ ^? is fast. The value of the rate determining constant k ₂ is 0.547 dm³ mol^?1 s^?1 and the equilibrium constant K _Cl for the cage formation is 5 dm³ mol^?1 at 25 °C. It is calculated that the minimum HN₃ concentration required before the reaction exhibits zero-order dependence in HN₃ is 0.31 mol dm^?3 when [H⁺] = 0.18 mol dm^?3 at 25 °C.     

Atomistic Simulations of Hydrated Sulfonated Polybenzophenone Block Copolymer Membranes

We present a classical molecular dynamics simulations study on the nanostructures of the sulfonated polybenzophenone (SPK) block copolymer membranes at 300 K and 353 K. The results of the radial distribution function (RDF) show that the interactions of the sulfonate groups of the membrane with the hydronium ions are more significant than those of water due to the strong electrostatic attraction over the hydrogen bonding. However, the effect of temperatures on the RDF profile seems insignificant. Furthermore, the spatial distribution function (SDF) portrays that the sulfonate groups of the hydrophilic components are preferential binding sites for hydronium ions against the hydrophobic counterpart of the SPK membrane. The mobility of the H₃O⁺ ions at 300 K and 353 K is two (or three) times lower than that of Nafion/Aciplex. However, the diffusion coefficients for water molecules closely agree with Nafion/Aciplex. This study suggests that water clusters are more localized around the sulfonate groups in the SPK membranes. Thus, the molecular modeling study of SPK block copolymer membranes is warranted to design better-performing membrane electrolytes.     

Exploring structural feature of aldose-reductase inhibition by 5-[[2-(omega-carboxyalkoxy)aryl]methylene]-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidine derivatives employing Fujita-Ban and Hansch approach

Designing of a highly selective, potent and safe inhibitor of aldose reductase (ALR) capable of potentially blocking the excess glucose flux through the polyol pathway that prevails under diabetic condition has been a long standing challenge. In our study, we did quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis, based on Fujita-Ban and classical Hansch approach, on 5-[[2-(omega-carboxyalkoxy)aryl]methylene]-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidine derivatives. Study gave structural insight into the binding mode of the molecules to the aldose reductase enzyme. The Fujita-Ban approach revealed that benzylidene thiazolidine nucleus is more potent as compare to naphthyl-methylene thiazolidine analogs. The bulkierness of naphthyl-methylene might be inquisitive with receptor. Hansch approach suggested that electron-withdrawing groups are conducive to aldose reductase inhibitory activity.     

Advancement in synthetic strategies of bisdimedones: Two decades study

Bisdimedones have emerged as an important and versatile moiety in the field of synthetic and medicinal chemistry. It is screened as a precursor for the synthesis of several heterocycles such as acridinediones, xanthenediones, thioxanthenes, and benzopyrans that exhibited immense pharmacological as well as industrial applications. Its extensive characteristics have attracted the scientists to develop various protocols for the synthesis of bisdimedones and their derivatives from the reaction of dimedone with several aldehydes under different environmental conditions using various types of catalysts. This review encapsulates the recent progress in the synthesis of bisdimedone derivatives under several reaction protocols such as the use of nanoparticles, ionic liquids, metal salts, simple organic compounds, and catalyst-free conditions, and so forth in the last 20 years.     

Click chemistry-inspired design,synthesis, and molecular docking studies of biscoumarin derivatives using carbon-based acid catalyst

A green and eco-benign synthesis of biscoumarin derivatives using carbon sulfonic acid, a solid support catalyst has been described. The reaction involved a one-pot two-component reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin and aldehyde using carbon sulfonic acid involving Knoevenegal-Michael condensation. A series of aromatic (bearing electron withdrawing and releasing group) and heteroaromatic aldehydes has been converted to biscoumarins with excellent isolated yields. The reaction is in compliance with green principles, that is, inexpensive catalyst, easy to prepare, nontoxic, easy handling, reusable up to five recycle runs, easy separation, short reaction time, no need of time consuming column purification, high yielding, and so on. The synthesized catalyst and biscoumarin derivatives were well characterized by spectral analysis. The molecular modeling studies showed that the designed molecular scaffolds (3a-j) showed outstanding interaction with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) proteins. It was noticed that 3f (−17.55 kJ/mol) and 3d (−26.23 kJ/mol) showed the highest docking score against CYP3A4 and MTHFR proteins, respectively.