Contrasting friction and diffusion in molecularly thin confined films

We study, using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, translational diffusion in molecularly thin liquids confined within a surface forces apparatus. The diffusion coefficient decreases exponentially from the edges towards the center of the Hertzian contact and further suggests the presence of a small number of distinct diffusion processes. This holds alike a crystallizable fluid (OMCTS) and a glass-former (1,2-propane diol), both of which displayed static friction. We conclude that friction, the average of an ensemble of molecules, masked massively heterogeneous molecular mobility.     

Experimental and molecular modeling investigation of (E)-N-{2-[(2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino]phenyl}benzenesulfonamide

The Schiff base compound (E)-N-{2-[(2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino]phenyl}benzenesulfonamide has been synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR and Uv-vis spectroscopies, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. In addition, quantum chemical calculations employing density functional theory (DFT) method with the 6–311++G(d,p) basis set were performed to study the molecular, spectroscopic and some electronic structure properties of the title compound, and the results were compared with the experimental findings. There exists a good correlation between experimental and theoretical data. Enol-imine/keto-amine tautomerization mechanism was investigated in the gas phase and in solution phase using the polarizable continuum model (PCM) approximation. The energetic and thermodynamic parameters of the enol-imine?→?keto-amine transfer process show that the single proton exchange is thermodynamically unfavored both in the gas phase and in solution phase. However, the reverse reaction seems to be feasible with a low barrier height and is supported by negative values in enthalpy and free energy changes both in the gas phase and in solution phase. The solvent effect is found to be sizable with increasing polarity of the solvents for the reverse reaction. The predicted nonlinear optical properties of the compound are found to be much greater than those of urea.     

Preparation and Characterization of Electroactive Anion‐Exchange Acrylic Polymer–Gold Composites

The characteristics and performance of an ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC), prepared with an anion‐exchange acrylic copolymer, was examined. The acrylic copolymer was synthesized by the radical copolymerization of fluoroalkyl methacrylate and 2‐(dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate(AMA). Effects of the AMA repeating unit's content in the copolymer and effects of the anion type present on the actuation of the IPMC were observed. The optimal content of 19.4 wt% AMA in the IPMC copolymer yielded the best actuation. The actuation also improved according to the type of anion present in the composite, in the following order: Br^???4 ^?.     

Clinical Analysis of Voice Change as a Parameter of Premenstrual Syndrome

We have evaluated the relationship between voice change and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) by comparing acoustic measurements made during the follicular phase and the premenstrual phase. Twenty-eight women were followed for 2 months for this study. Each participant was asked to produce an /a/ sound for 5 seconds at the midfollicular phase of the menstrual cycle and then 2-3 days before menstruation. Each voice sample was stored and analyzed by the Dr. Speech Science program. The voice data collected from all subjects during the two phases were compared. After that, the subjects were divided into a PMS-positive and PMS-negative group according to the criteria cited in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV); the voice data from each group were compared separately between the two phases. There was no significant difference in the acoustic parameters between the two phases in all subjects (N = 28). In the PMS-positive group (N = 16), jitter was significantly increased during the premenstrual phase compared to the follicular phase (p = 0.048). The patient's PMS score was not correlated with the severity of voice change. We conclude that the change of voice parameter was objectively identified in the PMS-positive group, therefore more careful voice habituation is required during the premenstrual phase in that group.     

Sensitive determination of adenosine disodium triphosphate in soil,milk, and pharmaceutical formulation by enoxacin–europium (III) fluorescence complex in solution

A new spectroflurometric method for the determination of adenosine disodium triphosphate (ATP) is developed. Fluorometric interaction between ATP and enoxacin (ENX)–Eu³⁺ complex was studied using UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Weak luminescence spectra of Eu³⁺ were enhanced after complexation with ENX at 589 nm and 614 nm upon excitation at 395 nm due to energy transfer from the ligand to the lanthanide ion. It was observed that luminescence spectrum of Eu³⁺ was strongly enhanced further at 614 nm after incorporation of ATP into the ENX–Eu³⁺ complex. Under optimal conditions, the enhancement of luminescence at 614 nm was responded linearly with the concentration of ATP. The linearity was maintained in the range of 1.5×10^?10–1.15×10^?8 M (R=0.9973) with the limit of detection (3σ) of 4.71×10^?11 M. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for 9 repeated measurements of 1×10^?9  M ATP was 1.25%. Successful determinations of ATP in soil, milk, and a pharmaceutical formulation with the proposed method were demonstrated.     

Enhanced coercivity in sponge magnets with three dimensionally ordered nanopores

Nanoporous magnets are new promising materials particularly useful in biological assays and ion separations. This letter deals with a simple method for making porous magnets composed of cobalt ferrite, where polymer colloidal spheres were used as sacrificial templates. Compared with the bulk congener the porous cobalt ferrite shows enhancements in coercive field and magnetization, which could be associated with the presence of nanopores ordered three dimensionally. Using the sponge magnet complete removal of magnetic Cu and Fe ions was achieved while partial removal was observed with porous silicate having the same size of nanopores.     

Solid phase synthesis of benzamidine-derived sulfonamide libraries

Using solid phase synthesis, a library has been constructed of benzamidine-derived sulfonamides which have strong inhibitory activity against blood coagulant thrombin. The library compounds were obtained in good yield and high purity. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Quantum Dynamics of Systems Connected by a Canonical Transformation

Quantum Hamiltonian systems corresponding to classical systems related by a general canonical transformation are considered. The differential equation to find the unitary operator, which corresponds to the canonical transformation and connects quantum states of the original and transformed systems, is obtained. The propagator associated with their wave functions is found by the unitary operator. Quantum systems related by a linear canonical point transformation are analyzed. The results are tested by finding the wave functions of the under-, critical-, and over-damped harmonic oscillator from the wave functions of the harmonic oscillator, free-particle system, and negative harmonic potential system, using the unitary operator to connect them, respectively.