Dithienylethene-Based Single Molecular Photothermal Linear Actuator

By employing a mechanically controllable break junction technique, we have realized an ideal single molecular linear actuator based on dithienylethene (DTE) based molecular architecture, which undergoes reversible photothermal isomerization when subjected to UV irradiation under ambient conditions. As a result, open form (compressed, UV OFF) and closed form (elongated, UV ON) of dithienylethene-based molecular junctions are achieved. Interestingly, the mechanical actuation is achieved without changing the conductance of the molecular junction around the Fermi level over several cycles, which is an essential property required for an ideal single molecular actuator. Our study demonstrates a unique example of achieving a perfect balance between tunneling width and barrier height change upon photothermal isomerization, resulting in no change in conductance but a change in the molecular length, which results in mechanical actuation at the single molecular level.     

Trifaceted Mickey Mouse Amphiphiles for Programmable Self-Assembly,DNA Complexation and Organ-Selective Gene Delivery

Instilling segregated cationic and lipophilic domains with an angular disposition in a trehalose-based trifaceted macrocyclic scaffold allows engineering patchy molecular nanoparticles leveraging directional interactions that emulate those controlling self-assembling processes in viral capsids. The resulting trilobular amphiphilic derivatives, featuring a Mickey Mouse architecture, can electrostatically interact with plasmid DNA (pDNA) and further engage in hydrophobic contacts to promote condensation into transfectious nanocomplexes. Notably, the topology and internal structure of the cyclooligosaccharide/pDNA co-assemblies can be molded by fine-tuning the valency and characteristics of the cationic and lipophilic patches, which strongly impacts the transfection efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Outstanding organ selectivities can then be programmed with no need of incorporating a biorecognizable motif in the formulation. The results provide a versatile strategy for the construction of fully synthetic and perfectly monodisperse nonviral gene delivery systems uniquely suited for optimization schemes by making cyclooligosaccharide patchiness the focus.     

Asymptotic stability at infinity for differentiable vector fields of the plane

Let be a differentiable (but not necessarily C¹) vector field, where σ>0 and . Denote by R(z) the real part of z∈C. If for some ?>0 and for all , no eigenvalue of DpX belongs to , then: (a) for all , there is a unique positive semi-trajectory of X starting at p; (b) it is associated to X, a well-defined number I(X) of the extended real line [−∞,∞) (called the index of X at infinity) such that for some constant vector v∈R² the following is satisfied: if I(X) is less than zero (respectively greater or equal to zero), then the point at infinity ∞ of the Riemann sphere R²∪{∞} is a repellor (respectively an attractor) of the vector field X+v.     

Foliations and polynomial diffeomorphisms of $${\mathbb{R}^{3}}$$

Let be a C ² map and let Spec(Y) denote the set of eigenvalues of the derivative DY _p , when p varies in . We begin proving that if, for some ϵ > 0, then the foliation with made up by the level surfaces {k = constant}, consists just of planes. As a consequence, we prove a bijectivity result related to the three-dimensional case of Jelonek’s Jacobian Conjecture for polynomial maps of The first author was supported by CNPq-Brazil Grant 306992/2003-5. The first and second author were supported by FAPESP-Brazil Grant 03/03107-9.     

On the existence of equilibria in discontinuous games: three counterexamples

We study whether we can weaken the conditions given in Reny [4] and still obtain existence of pure strategy Nash equilibria in quasiconcave normal form games, or, at least, existence of pure strategy ɛ-equilibria for all ɛ>0. We show by examples that there are:1. quasiconcave, payoff secure games without pure strategy ɛ-equilibria for small enough ɛ>0 (and hence, without pure strategy Nash equilibria),2. quasiconcave, reciprocally upper semicontinuous games without pure strategy ɛ-equilibria for small enough ɛ>0, and3. payoff secure games whose mixed extension is not payoff secure.The last example, due to Sion and Wolfe [6], also shows that non-quasiconcave games that are payoff secure and reciprocally upper semicontinuous may fail to have mixed strategy equilibria.I wish to thank the editor, an associate editor and an anonymous referee for very helpful comments. I thank also John Huffstot for editorial assistance. Any remaining error is, of course, mine     

Nanotopography Engineering on Homopolymeric Surfaces Using Cold Plasma Generated Charges

Summary : Cold plasma as source for charged particles was used to induce nanotopographies on homopolymeric surfaces (nylon 12, PMMA, PMA, etc.). Hydrogen and helium plasmas were successfully used for surface nanoengineering of polymers using inductively coupled or atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium barrier discharge reactors. AFM analyses reveal the presence of nanotopographies on the treated surfaces. Physical factors control the process below the T_g and chemical factors dominate the process above T_g. Pyrolysis GC/MS analyses have been performed in order to obtain more information about the plasma processes. Cold plasma chemical processes, including charges effects are discussed as tools that open-up new ways for nanoengineering of the polymers' surfaces with specific functionalities and / or topography. Future nanomanufacturing techniques can generate anti-scratch, superhydrophobic or superhydrophilic properties on surface of every day use polymeric products by simple and convenient plasma enhanced processes.     

Manifestation of electrode surface states in molecular conduction

We present a conduction mechanism across molecular junctions which derives from conductance resonances that are not associated with particular molecular orbitals. Instead, the resonances are induced by states localized at the surface of the electrodes. To this end, we studied the conductance of a C₆₀ molecule bridging two carbon nanotubes. A simple tight-binding model is employed to investigate analytically the basic features of the effect.     

Etude d'une resine epoxy chargee avec un noir de carbone

We studied the electrical conductivity σ and the glass transition temperature Tg of an epoxy resin filled with a carbon black. It could be shown that σ and Tg depend on the volume concentration of carbon black and that the concentration dependence of Tg is sensitive to the thermal conditions of polymerization.