The Inverse Conjecture for the Gowers Norm over Finite Fields in Low Characteristic

We establish the inverse conjecture for the Gowers norm over finite fields, which asserts (roughly speaking) that if a bounded function f : V ? \mathbbC{f : V \rightarrow \mathbb{C}} on a finite-dimensional vector space V over a finite field \mathbbF{\mathbb{F}} has large Gowers uniformity norm ||f||_U^s+1(V){{\parallel{f}\parallel_{U^{s+1}(V)}}} , then there exists a (non-classical) polynomial P: V ? \mathbbT{P: V \rightarrow \mathbb{T}} of degree at most s such that f correlates with the phase e(P) = e ^2πiP . This conjecture had already been established in the “high characteristic case”, when the characteristic of \mathbbF{\mathbb{F}} is at least as large as s. Our proof relies on the weak form of the inverse conjecture established earlier by the authors and Bergelson [3], together with new results on the structure and equidistribution of non-classical polynomials, in the spirit of the work of Green and the first author [22] and of Kaufman and Lovett [28].     

Electrochemical Fluorescence Switching from a Patternable Poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazole) Thin Film

A highly soluble poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazole) (POD) substituted with long alkyl chains was examined for electrochemical fluorescence switching. The high solubility of the polymers enabled a simple fabrication of an electrochemical cell, which showed reversible fluorescence switching between dark (n‐doping) and bright (neutral) states with a maximum on/off ratio of 2.5 and a cyclability longer than 1 000 cycles. Photochemical cleavage of the oxadiazole in POD allowed photo‐patterning of the POD film upon exposure to UV source. The patterned POD films displayed patterned image reversibly under a step potential of +1.8/−1.8 V.

     

Triplet topology of self-assembled zinc porphyrin-pyridylfullerene complex

This work extends a recent EPR study on light-driven electron and energy transfer in a self-assembled zinc porphyrin-pyridylfullerene (ZnP-PyrF) complex. We report on a triplet line shape analysis of the photoexcited PyrF monomer and the ZnP-PyrF complex dissolved in isotropic and anisotropic matrixes of different polarity, namely, toluene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and the nematic liquid crystals (LCs), E-7 and ZLI-4389. The line shape of the unbound *(3)PyrF obtained in both isotropic matrixes exhibits triplet parameters similar to those obtained for other monoadducts of C(60) under similar experimental conditions. On the other hand, 8(3)PyrF oriented in the LCs shows a complicated line shape, which is attributed to two conformers: (a) an axial dominant (85%) configuration characterized by triplet parameters, similar to those obtained in the isotropic matrixes and (b) a bent configuration associated with spin density localized about the poles accompanied by sign reversal of the ZFS parameter D of the *(3)C(60) moiety. Further, since in both LCs the ZnP-PyrF complex mainly exhibits a conformation with axial symmetry, the differences between the electron and the energy transfer routes in each LC are attributed to their different polarity. This study reflects the strength of LC matrixes to serve as a topological tool, enabling us to determine the conformers' distribution and to differentiate between electron and energy transfer routes.     

Protic ionic liquids: solvents with tunable phase behavior and physicochemical properties

The phase behavior, including glass, devitrification, solid crystal melting, and liquid boiling transitions, and physicochemical properties, including density, refractive index, viscosity, conductivity, and air-liquid surface tension, of a series of 25 protic ionic liquids and protic fused salts are presented along with structure-property comparisons. The protic fused salts were mostly liquid at room temperature, and many exhibited a glass transition occurring at low temperatures between -114 and -44 degrees C, and high fragility, with many having low viscosities, down to as low as 17 mPa.s at 25 degrees C, and ionic conductivities up to 43.8 S/cm at 25 degrees C. These protic solvents are easily prepared through the stoichiometric combination of a primary amine and Br?nsted acid. They have poor ionic behavior when compared to the far more studied aprotic ionic liquids. However, some of the other physicochemical properties possessed by these solvents are highly promising and it is anticipated that these, or analogous protic solvents, will find applications beyond those already identified for aprotic ionic liquids. This series of protic fused salts was employed to determine the effect of structural changes on the physicochemical properties, including the effect of hydroxyl groups, increasing alkyl chain lengths, branching, and the differences between inorganic and organic anions. It was found that simple structural modifications provide a mechanism to manipulate, over a wide range, the temperature at which phase transitions occur and to specifically tailor physicochemical properties for potential end-use applications.     

Coherent spectroscopy in dissipative media: time-domain studies of channel phase and signal interferometry

We extend a recently formulated coherence spectroscopy of dissipative media [J. Chem. Phys. 122, 084502 (2005)] from the stationary excitation limit to the time domain. Our results are based on analytical and numerical solutions of the quantum Liouville equation within the Bloch framework. It is shown that the short pulse introduces a new, controllable time scale that allows better insight into the relation between the coherence signal and the phase properties of the material system. We point to the relation between the time-domain coherence spectroscopy and the method of interferometric two-photon photoemission spectroscopy, and propose a variant of the latter method, where the two time-delayed excitation pathways are distinguishable, rather than identical. In particular, we show that distinguishability of the two excitation pathways introduces the new possibility of disentangling decoherence from population relaxation.     

Coherent control approaches to light guidance in the nanoscale

Concepts of coherent control are extended to manipulate light in subdiffraction length scales via nanoparticle arrays. Phase and polarization control are first introduced and applied to control the pathway of electromagnetic energy through multiple branching nanoarray intersections, leading to an ultrafast optical nanoswitch below the diffraction limit. The genetic algorithm is next generalized to provide a systematic design tool, wherein both the properties of the excitation field and the structural parameters of the material system are optimized so as to make nanodevices with desired functionality. The scheme is used to gain insight into the interplay between the interactions that underlies the coherent propagation of electromagnetic energy via nanoparticle arrays. Implications to several research fields, including single molecule spectroscopy, spatially confined chemistry, optical logic, and nanoscale sensing, are envisioned.     

Microbead chemical switches: an approach to detection of reactive organophosphate chemical warfare agent vapors

In this article, we describe the preparation and application of microbeads that exhibit a "turn on" fluorescence response within seconds of exposure to diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP) vapor. This sensing approach is modeled after the mechanism for acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity inhibition and uses a specific and irreversible reaction between phosphoryl halides and a fluorescent indicator. The microbeads are fabricated by adsorbing fluoresceinamine (FLA) onto carboxylate-functionalized polymer microbeads coated with poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PVP). When the microbeads are subjected to DCP vapor, the conversion of FLA into a phosphoramide causes a rapid and intense fluorescence increase. The PVP layer provides a high density of proton-accepting pyridine nitrogen sites that neutralize the HCl released during the reaction, thereby maintaining high product fluorescence, even after vapor exposure. No significant response is observed when the microbeads are subjected to other nerve agent simulants, a mustard gas simulant, and volatile organics. The size, sensitivity, and subsecond response of these microbeads make them suitable for nerve agent vapor detection and inclusion into microbead sensor arrays.     

High performance poly(styrene-b-diene-b-styrene) triblock copolymers from a hydrocarbon-soluble and additive-free dicarbanionic initiator

A new hydrocarbon-soluble (additive-free) dicarbanionic organolithium initiator, obtained by a simple halogen-lithium exchange reaction (Gilman's reaction) from a diarylhalide containing a side C15 alkyl chain, has been designed and used to initiate the anionic polymerization of butadiene and styrene. The dilithiated species formed afford well-defined poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) (SBS) triblock copolymers with a high percentage of 1,4-microstructure polybutadiene (91%) and excellent mechanical properties, such as ultimate tensile strength higher than 30 MPa and elongation at a break of 1000%. This represents a breakthrough in the synthesis of SBS polymers, one of the most used thermoplastic elastomers.     

Nilfactors of ℝ m and configurations in sets of positive upper density in ℝ m

We use ergodic theoretic tools to solve a classical problem in geometric Ramsey theory. LetE be a measurable subset of ℝ ^m , with . LetV = {0,v ₁,...,v _k} ⊂ ℝ^m. We show that fort large enough, we can find an isometric copy oftV arbitrarily close toE. This is a generalization of a theorem of Furstenberg, Katznelson and Weiss [FuKaW] showing a similar property form=k=2.     

Ru(III)-catalyzed oxidation of pyridoxine and albuterol in pharmaceuticals

Ru(III) complexes with coordinated amide were synthesized and characterized by elemental, IR, mass, electronic, ESR spectral analysis, magnetic and conductance measurements and octahedral structures have been proposed. These complexes were used as catalysts for the oxidation of pyridoxine and albuterol in pharmaceuticals in presence of hydrogen peroxide. The role of co-oxidant and the effect of reaction time on the yields of oxidation products which were spectrophotometrically determined by condensing them with sulfanilic acid in acid medium were investigated. Structures of the oxidation products were established with the help of IR and NMR spectral analysis.