On regularity of block triangular fuzzy matrices

Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the regularity of block triangular fuzzy matrices. This leads to characterization of idempotency of a class of triangular Toeplitz matrices. As an application, the existence of group inverse of a block triangular fuzzy matrix is discussed. Equivalent conditions for a regular block triangular fuzzy matrix to be expressed as a sum of regular block fuzzy matrices is derived. Further, fuzzy relational equations consistency is studied.     

Pulse EPR Methods for Studying Chemical and Biological Samples Containing Transition Metals

This review discusses the application of pulse EPR to the characterization of disordered systems, with an emphasis on samples containing transition metals. Electron nuclear double‐resonance (ENDOR), electron‐spin‐echo envelope‐modulation (ESEEM), and double electron–electron resonance (DEER) methodologies are outlined. The theory of field modulation is outlined, and its application is illustrated with DEER experiments. The simulation of powder spectra in EPR is discussed, and strategies for optimization are given. The implementation of this armory of techniques is demonstrated on a rich variety of chemical systems: several porphyrin derivatives that are found in proteins and used as model systems, otherwise highly reactive aminyl radicals stabilized with electron‐rich transition metals, and nitroxide–copper–nitroxide clusters. These examples show that multi‐frequency continuous‐wave (CW) and pulse EPR provides detailed information about disordered systems.     

Enhanced dielectric and magnetic properties of Cr / Co and Mn co-doped single phase multiferroic bismuth ferrite nanoparticles

Multiferroic nanoparticles of single-phase bismuth ferrite (BiFeO₃ or BFO) by choosing transition metal ions of chromium (Cr)/cobalt (Co) in A-sites and manganese (Mn) in B-sites were synthesized by using sol-gel autocombustion method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data reveal the existence of rhombohedrally distorted perovskite structure for all the samples. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) studies were carried out to estimate the particle size, morphology along with the chemical purity of the samples. Dielectric studies as a function of frequency and temperature resemble typical space charge polarization with almost negligible dielectric losses in the doped samples. Magnetic measurements using vibrating sample magnetometer reveals the considerable enhancement in the magnetic order in Co/Cr and Mn co-doped samples. The obtained structural, microstructural, dielectric and magnetic results were well recommended that the influence of co-doping in BFO will certainly modify its spin cycloid structure and hence enhanced properties in these doped samples. Thus, these co-doped samples were suggested to be well suitable for the multifunctional based devices such as spintronic, multifunctional memories, and for sensors.     

Structural tuning of low band gap intermolecular push/pull side-chain polymers for organic photovoltaic applications

A series of novel low band gap donor-acceptor (D-A) type organic co-polymers (BT-F-TPA,BT-CZ-TPA and BT-SI-TPA) consisting of electron-deficient acceptor blocks both in main chains (M1) and at the pendant (M2) were polymerized with different electron rich donor (M3-M5) blocks,i.e.,9,9-dihexyl-9H-fluorene,N-alkyl-2,7-carbazole,and 2,6-dithinosilole,respectively,via Suzuki method.These polymers exhibited relatively low band gaps (1.65-1.88 eV) and broad absorption ranges (680-740 nm).Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells incorporating these polymers as electron donors,blended with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) or [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) as electron-acceptors in different weight ratios were fabricated and tested under 100 mW/cm2 of AM 1.5 with white-light illumination.The photovoltaic device containing donor BT-SI-TPA and acceptor PC71BM in 1:2 weight ratio showed the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) value of 1.88％,with open circuit voltage (Voc) =0.75 V,short circuit current density (Jsc) =7.60 mA/cm2,and fill factor (FF) =33.0％.     

Radical chemistry of glucosamine naphthalene acetic acid and naphthalene acetic acid: a pulse radiolysis study

Free radical‐induced oxidation reactions of glucosamine naphthalene acetic acid (GNaa) and naphthalene acetic acid (Naa) have been studied using pulse radiolysis. GNaa was synthesized by covalently attaching Naa on glucosamine. Hydroxyl adduct (from the reaction of hydroxyl radicals (^●OH) at the naphthalene ring) was identified as the major transient intermediate (suggesting that the ^●OH reaction is on the naphthalene ring) and is characterized by its absorption maxima of 340 and 400 nm. Both GNaa and Naa undergo similar reaction pattern. The bimolecular rate constants determined for the reactions are 4.8 × 10⁹ and 8.9 × 10⁹ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1 for GNaa and Naa respectively. The mechanism of reaction of ^●OH with GNaa was further confirmed using steady‐state method. Radical cation of GNaa was detected as an intermediate during the reaction of sulfate radical (SO₄^●?) with GNaa (k₂ = 4.52 × 10⁹ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1). This radical cation transforms to a ^●OH adduct at higher pH. The radical cation of GNaa is comparatively long lived, and a cyclic transition state by neighboring group participation accounts for its stability. The oxy radical anion (O^●?) reacts with GNaa (k₂ = 1.12 × 10⁹ dm³ mol^?1 s^?1) mainly by one‐electron transfer mechanism. The reduction potential values of Naa and GNaa were determined using cyclic voltammetric technique, and these are 1.39 V versus NHE for Naa and 1.60 V versus NHE for GNaa. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and spectral studies of an iron(III) complex [Fe(Pranthas)2][FeCl4] derived from 2-acetylpyridine-N(4), N(4)-(butane-1, 4-diyl) thiosemicarbazone (HPranthas)

A novel iron(III) complex of 2-acetylpyridine N(4), N(4)-(butyl-1, 4-diyl) thiosemicarbazone (HPranthas), [Fe(Pranthas)₂]FeCl₄ was synthesized and physico-chemically characterized by means of partial elemental analysis, magnetic measurements (polycrystalline state), UV-Vis and IR spectroscopies. The presence of spin-paired iron(III) cation with ground state is revealed by the EPR and Mössbauer spectral data. Structure of the free ligand HPranthas and the complex [Fe(Pranthas)₂]FeCl₄ were solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The framework of iron(III) complex consists of a discrete monomeric cationic entity containing low spin iron(III) in a slightly distorted octahedral environment. The metal ion is bonded to one sulfur and two nitrogens of each thiosemicarbazone molecule. The tetrachloroferrate(III) ion acts as counterion.     

Solution combustion derived nanocrystalline Zn(2)SiO(4):Mn phosphors: a spectroscopic view

Manganese doped nanocrystalline willemite powder phosphors Zn(2-x)Mn(x)SiO(4) (0.1(6)A(1) ground state. The mechanism involved in the generation of a green emission has been explained in detail. The effect of Mn content on luminescence has also been studied.     

Asymptotics of work distributions in a stochastically driven system

We determine the asymptotic forms of work distributions at arbitrary times T, in a class of driven stochastic systems using a theory developed by Nickelsen and Engel (EN theory) [D. Nickelsen and A. Engel, Eur. Phys. J. B 82, 207 (2011)], which is based on the contraction principle of large deviation theory. In this paper, we extend the theory, previously applied in the context of deterministically driven systems, to a model in which the driving is stochastic. The models we study are described by overdamped Langevin equations and the work distributions in path integral form, are characterised by having quadratic augmented actions. We first illustrate EN theory, for a deterministically driven system – the breathing parabola model, and show that within its framework, the Crooks fluctuation theorem manifests itself as a reflection symmetry property of a certain characteristic polynomial, which also determines the exact moment-generating-function at arbitrary times. We then extend our analysis to a stochastically driven system, studied in references [S. Sabhapandit, EPL 89, 60003 (2010); A. Pal, S. Sabhapandit, Phys. Rev. E 87, 022138 (2013); G. Verley, C. Van den Broeck, M. Esposito, New J. Phys. 16, 095001 (2014)], for both equilibrium and non-equilibrium steady state initial distributions. In both cases we obtain new analytic solutions for the asymptotic forms of (dissipated) work distributions at arbitrary T. For dissipated work in the steady state, we compare the large T asymptotic behaviour of our solution to the functional form obtained in reference [New J. Phys. 16, 095001 (2014)]. In all cases, special emphasis is placed on the computation of the pre-exponential factor and the results show excellent agreement with numerical simulations. Our solutions are exact in the low noise (β →?∞) limit.     

Antimicrobial and Antimalarial Activity of Novel Synthetic Mononuclear Ruthenium(II) Compounds

The present work was aimed that the two Ruthenium compounds namely, [Ru(A)₂(B)]Cl₂, where A = 1,10‐phenanthroline; B = 2‐NO₂‐phenyl thiosemicarbazone (Compound R₁)/2‐OH‐phenyl thiosemicarbazone (Compound R₂) have been tested for antibacterial activity at the concentrations of 1 mg/mL against various Gram‐Positive organisms (Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus pyrogenes, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus & Bacillus megatarium) and Gram‐Negative organisms (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter aerogenes, Salmonella paratyphi, Klebsiella pneumonia & Proteus mirabilis). The compounds were also tested for antifungal activity against Aspergillus clavatus, Aspergillus niger, Colletotrichum & Penicillium notatum by using agar diffusion assay and antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum (Strain 3D7) using MTT assay. The results concluded that the compound R₁ exhibited significant antibacterial activity than R₂ against Gram‐Negative bacteria with zones of inhibition ranging from 15‐20 mm. and mild antibacterial activity against Gram‐Positive bacteria in comparison to tetracycline, streptomycin and rifampicin. These complexes were found to have moderate antifungal activity with no activity was however observed against Aspergillus niger. The compound, R₁ exhibited antimalarial activity at 10 μg/mL, whereas R₂ did not show antimalarial activity upto 50 μg/mL. Sensitivity to the compounds was greatest in the gram‐negative bacteria, followed by the gram‐positive bacteria and fungi.     

LC–ESI–MS/MS determination of copanlisib,a novel PI3K inhibitor,in mouse plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in mice

A sensitive, selective and rapid LC–ESI–MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the quantification of copanlisib in mouse plasma using enasidenib as an internal standard (IS) as per regulatory guideline. Copanlisib and the IS were extracted from mouse plasma using ethyl acetate as an extraction solvent and chromatographed using an isocratic mobile phase (0.2% formic acid–acetonitrile; 25:75, v/v) on a HyPURITY C₁₈ column. Copanlisib and the IS eluted at ~0.95 and 2.00 min, respectively. The MS/MS ion transitions monitored were m/z 481.1 → 360.1 and m/z 474.0 → 456.0 for copanlisib and the IS, respectively. The calibration range was 3.59–3588 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐batch accuracy and precision (RE and RSD) across quality controls met the acceptance criteria. Stability studies showed that copanlisib was stable in mouse plasma for one month. This novel method has been applied to a pharmacokinetic study in mice.