Phase-incoherent superconducting pairs in the normal state of Ba(Fe(1-x)Co(x))₂As₂

The normal state properties of the recently discovered ferropnictide superconductors might hold the key to understanding their exotic superconductivity. Using point-contact spectroscopy we show that Andreev reflection between an epitaxial thin film of Ba(Fe(0.92)Co(0.08))?As? and a silver tip can be seen in the normal state of the film up to temperature T～1.3T(c), where T(c) is the critical temperature of the superconductor. Andreev reflection far above T(c) can be understood only when superconducting pairs arising from strong fluctuation of the phase of the complex superconducting order parameter exist in the normal state. Our results provide spectroscopic evidence of phase-incoherent superconducting pairs in the normal state of the ferropnictide superconductors.     

On some results for a class of meromorphic functions having quasiconformal extension

We consider the class \(\Sigma (p)\) of univalent meromorphic functions f on \({\mathbb D}\) having a simple pole at \(z=p\in [0,1)\) with residue 1. Let \(\Sigma _k(p)\) be the class of functions in \(\Sigma (p)\) which have k-quasiconformal extension to the extended complex plane \({\hat{\mathbb C}}\), where \(0\le k < 1\). We first give a representation formula for functions in this class and using this formula, we derive an asymptotic estimate of the Laurent coefficients for the functions in the class \(\Sigma _k(p)\). Thereafter, we give a sufficient condition for functions in \(\Sigma (p)\) to belong to the class \(\Sigma _k(p).\) Finally, we obtain a sharp distortion result for functions in \(\Sigma (p)\) and as a consequence, we obtain a distortion estimate for functions in \(\Sigma _k(p).\)     

On data complexity of distinguishing attacks versus message recovery attacks on stream ciphers

We revisit the different approaches used in the literature to estimate the data complexity of distinguishing attacks on stream ciphers and analyze their inter-relationships. In the process, we formally argue which approach is applicable (or not applicable) in what scenario. To our knowledge, this is the first kind of such an exposition. We also perform a rigorous statistical analysis of the message recovery attack that exploits a distinguisher and show that in practice there is a significant gap between the data complexities of a message recovery attack and the underlying distinguishing attack. This gap is not necessarily determined by a constant factor as a function of the false positive and negative rate, as one would expect. Rather this gap is also a function of the number of samples of the distinguishing attack. We perform a case study on RC4 stream cipher to demonstrate that the typical complexities for message recovery attack inferred in the literature are but under-estimates and the actual estimates are quite larger.     

Boat-like Au nanoparticles embedded mesoporous γ-Al2O3 films: an efficient SERS substrate

A new water-dispersible nanostructure based on magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and usnic acid (UA) was prepared in a well-shaped spherical form by a precipitation method. Nanoparticles were well individualized and homogeneous in size. The presence of Fe₃O₄@UA was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The UA was entrapped in the magnetic nanoparticles during preparation and the amount of entrapped UA was estimated by thermogravimetric analysis. Fabricated nanostructures were tested on planktonic cells growth (minimal inhibitory concentration assay) and biofilm development on Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) reference strains. Concerning the influence of Fe₃O₄@UA on the planktonic bacterial cells, the functionalized magnetic nanoparticles exhibited a significantly improved antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis and E. coli, as compared with the Fe₃O₄ control. The UA incorporated into the magnetic nanoparticles exhibited a very significant inhibitory effect on the biofilm formed by the S. aureus and E. faecalis, on a wide range of concentrations, while in case of the Gram-negative microbial strains, the UA-loaded nanoparticles inhibited the E. coli biofilm development, only at high concentrations, while for P. aeruginosa biofilms, no inhibitory effect was observed. The obtained results demonstrate that the new water-dispersible Fe₃O₄@UA nanosystem, combining the advantages of the intrinsic antimicrobial features of the UA with the higher surface to volume ratio provided by the magnetic nanocarrier dispersible in water, exhibits efficient antimicrobial activity against planktonic and adherent cells, especially on Gram-positive strains.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Crystal Structure of [3,3':3',3'-Terindolin]-2'-One Bis(dimethyl Sulfoxide)

Crystallography Reports - The indole derivative [3,3':3',3''-terindolin]-2'-one bis(dimethyl sulfoxide), C24H17N3O ⋅ 2(C2H6OS) has been synthesized using green protocol in...     

Solvent‐Mediated Functionalization of Benzofuroxan on Electron‐Rich Ruthenium Complex Platform

An unprecedented reactivity profile of biochemically relevant R‐benzofuroxan (R=H, Me, Cl), with high structural diversity and molecular complexity on a selective {Ru(acac)₂} (acac=acetylacetonate) platform, in conjugation with EtOH solvent mediation, is revealed. This led to the development of monomeric [Ru^III(acac)₂(L^1R)] ( 1 a – 1 c ; L^1R=2‐nitrosoanilido derivatives) and dimeric [{Ru^II(acac)₂}₂(L^2R)] ( 2 a – 2 b ; L^2R=(1E,2E)‐N¹,N²‐bis(2‐nitrosophenyl)ethane‐1,2‐diimine derivatives) complexes in one pot with a change in the metal redox conditions. The functionalization of benzofuroxan in 1 and 2 implied in situ reduction of N=O to NH^? in the former and solvent‐assisted multiple N?C coupling in the latter. The aforesaid transformation processes were authenticated through structural elucidation of representative complexes, and evaluated by their spectroscopic/electrochemical features, along with C₂D₅OD labeling and monitoring of the impact of substituents (R) in the benzofuroxan framework on the product distribution process. The noninnocent potential of newly developed L¹ and L² in 1 and 2 , respectively, was also probed by spectroelectrochemistry in combination with DFT calculations.     

Elementary abelian 2-group actions on flag manifolds and applications

Let denote the unoriented cobordism ring. Let and let denote the equivariant cobordism ring of smooth manifolds with smooth -actions having finite stationary points. In this paper we show that the unoriented cobordism class of the (real) flag manifold is in the subalgebra generated by , where , and . We obtain sufficient conditions for indecomposability of an element in . We also obtain a sufficient condition for algebraic independence of any set of elements in . Using our criteria, we construct many indecomposable elements in the kernel of the forgetful map in dimensions , for , and show that they generate a polynomial subalgebra of .

     

A fluorescent fluoride ion probe based on a self-organized ensemble of 5-hydroxyflavone-Al(III) complex

In the presence of Al(III) ions, 5-hydroxyflavone (5HF) through a complexation reaction in MeOH, shows dual fluorescence, characterized by a newly developed peak at 554nm upon excitation at 363nm. In this communication, the subsequent ligand exchange reaction of the complex with fluoride ion causing a fluorescence enhancement followed by a decrease in fluorescence intensity involving an intermediate mechanistic pathway, delivering a quantitative estimation route for fluoride ion in the concentration range from 5x10(-5) to 7x10(-4)M, has been reported. The ligand exchange reaction, without interference from other common anions, has been investigated by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies combined with the AM1 semi-empirical self-consistent field quantum chemical calculations within UHF formalism in their ground state.     

Anthracene coupled trans-pyridylcinnamide: a new fluororeceptor for selective sensing of dicarboxylates

trans-Pyridylcinnamide has been established as an alternative hydrogen bonding synthon, in place of urea for carboxylate binding. This alternative motif has been used in the design and synthesis of new fluorescent ‘On-Off’ signalling chemical sensor 1, which is found to bind aliphatic dicarboxylates with moderate binding constants. The recognition ability has been established by fluorescence, UV-vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopic methods. The receptor is found to be selective for long chain pimelate.