Photophysical and theoretical insights on non-covalently linked fullerene-zinc phthalocyanine complexes

The photo-physical aspects of non-covalently linked assemblies of a series of fullerenes, namely, C60, C70, tert-butyl-(1,2-methanofullerene)-61-carboxylate (1) and [6,6]-phenyl C70 butyric acid methyl ester (2) with a designed zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc), viz., zinc-1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octabutoxy-29H,31H-phthalocyanine (3) in toluene medium are studied employing absorption spectrophotometric, steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopic measurements. Of central interest in these investigations is the preferential binding of various fullerenes with ZnPc in toluene. The ground state interaction between fullerenes and 3 is first evidenced from UV-Vis measurements. Steady state fluorescence experiment reveals efficient quenching of the excited singlet state of 3 in presence of both underivatized and derivatized fullerenes. K values for the complexes of C60, C70, 1 and 2 with 3 are determined to be 6500, 22,230, 47,800 and 54,770 dm3 mol(-1), respectively. The magnitude of K suggests that 3 preferentially binds C70 and derivatized C70 in comparison to C60 and 1. Time resolved emission measurements establish that C(70)-3 and 2-3 complexes are stabilized much more in comparison to C(60)-3 and 1-3 systems in terms of charge separation process. Semi empirical calculations employing third parametric method substantiate the strong binding of C70 and its derivative with 3 in terms of heat of formation values of the respective complexes, and at the same time, determine the orientation of bound guest (here fullerenes) with the molecular plane of 3.     

Surface Coating Rescues Proteins from Magnetite Nanoparticle Induced Damage

The presence of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) in physiological systems induces toxicity through its effects on mitochondrial function and reactive oxygen species (ROS) imbalance. Magnetic NP induced cytotoxicity has been elaborately evaluated for impending threats, however, a detailed investigation is lacking. It is shown that the interaction of Fe₃O₄ NPs with cytochrome c can lead to different events based on the NPs to protein ratio, the solution conditions, and the type of surface protection. At low NPs concentration, rapid binding and subsequent electron transfer are the preferred events while at higher concentration slow oxidative modification of the protein is initiated. The slow event of protein modification yields conformational disorientation, loss of stability, and formation of amyloid‐like structures with cytochrome c. The possibility that the NP induced oxidative stress and age can work in concert to compromise different aspects of cellular quality control processes is discussed. Suitable surface modifications of the NPs inhibit their direct binding to the protein molecules and minimize NP induced toxicity.     

A stochastic manpower planning model under varying class sizes

Solution related to different types of manpower planning problems arising in different industries and organizations are very much helpful for proper planning and implementation of different objectives. Previously those type of problems are mostly solved under the deterministic set up. Gradually several scientists have developed different types of stochastic models appropriate for solving such types of problems. The present study is an attempt to develop a stochastic manpower planning model under the set up where the classes are of varying sizes and promotion occurs only on the basis of seniority. The work of second author was supported by a research fellowship from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (Sanction No. 9/28(611)/2003-EMR-I), India.     

Effect of energy distribution of interface states on the electrical characteristics of semiconductor heterojunction diode

An energy distribution of interface states has been considered to study the electrical characteristics of an anisotype semiconductor heterojunction. Various electrical quantities such as the surface potential, current, conductance and ideality factor of the device have been studied. The current-voltage and conductance-voltage characteristics are found largely sensitive to the parameters controlling the distribution profile of interface states. A new expression for the ideality factor of the device has been derived, which predicts appreciable voltage dependence due to the distributive nature of the interface states. It has been found that the experimental I-V data of p-InP/n-CdS heterojunction reported by earlier workers can be satisfactorily explained with the help of the present model if the effect of shunt resistance of the device is included in the evaluation scheme.     

Optical Generation of mm-Wave Signal Through Optoelectronic Phase-Locked Loop

In this paper, we propose a scheme for the generation of low phase noise tunable mm-wave signal by beating two lightwaves in a photodiode. These two lightwaves are made phase coherent by an optoelectronic phase locked loop.Calculated mm-wave power at a frequency of 60 GHz is found to be -4 dBm.     

Synthesis, crystal structure determination, spectroscopic and electrochemical studies of trans-[Ru(PPh3)2(bbpH2)Cl]Cl·CHCl3·H20 (bbpH2=2,6-bis(benzimidazolyl) pyridine) – an infinite double columnar supramolecule in the solid state

The synthesis, crystal structure, redox and spectroscopic properties of trans-[Ru(bbpH₂)(PPh₃)₂Cl]Cl are reported. In the crystalline solvate trans-[Ru(bbpH₂)(PPh₃)₂cCl]Cl CHCl₃ H₂O, the molecular components are connected by strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding to form an infinite double column.     

Investigation of the boundary value problem corresponding to a generalized Skyrme lagrangian

A detailed numerical analysis of the boundary value problem resulting from the most general Skyrme type lagrangian containing up to quartic terms in field gradients is presented. The additional parameters in the lagrangian can be related to pion-pion scattering lengths. It is found that solutions to the boundary value problem does not exist for all values of the parameters and in particular, for the values predicted from pion-pion scattering data. Physical quantities of the nucleon are calculated for the highest possible values of the parameters admitting a solution and are compared with the corresponding values for the Skyrme model and experimental values.     

An improved theoretical model of the dc characteristics of metal-semiconductor field effect transistors

Received: 15 August 1997/Accepted: 13 November 1997