Cartesian currents,weak diffeomorphisms and existence theorems in nonlinear elasticity

Summary In this paper we introduce some new classes of functions, among these a class of weak diffeomorphisms. In these classes we prove by direct methods the existence of minimizers for several kinds of variational integrals. In particular, we prove the existence of one-to-one orientation-preserving maps that minimize suitable energies associated with hyperelastic materials. The minimizers are also proved to satisfy equilibrium equations. Finally radial deformations are discussed in connection with cavitation.     

The CeCl3·7H2O-NaI system as promoter in the synthesis of functionalized trisubstituted alkenes via Knoevenagel condensation

The arylidene malonates with two different geminal carboxylate functions, a suitable class of substrates of several synthetic and pharmacological studies, are easily available through Knoevenagel condensation of ethyl tert-butyl malonate and different aromatic aldehydes. The results have increased the potentialities of CeCl₃·7H₂O-NaI system as a type of water-tolerant green Lewis acid promoter for carbon-carbon bond forming procedures.     

CHEMILUMINESCENCE FROM THE OXIDATION OF AUXIN DERIVATIVES

Abstract— The thiophenyl ester of indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-acetonitrile produce chemiluminescence in aerated dimethylsulfoxide in the presence of potassium t -butoxide. The emitter is the aromatic aldehyde. In the case of acetonitrile, the other product expected from the cleavage of an intermediate dioxetane, cyanate/isocyanate, has also been identified. Other auxins also chemiluminesce under similar conditions, but the emitters have not been properly identified.
These systems are models for the peroxidase catalyzed oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid to indole-3-carboxaldehyde and as such support the earlier inference (Vidigal et al , 1975) that the excited aldehyde is generated in the enzymic process.
An additional result is the observation of an exciplex between excited indole-3-carboxaldehyde and the thiophenylester of indole-3-acetic acid. This appears to be the first case of chemical generation of an exciplex by a route other than radical ion reaction, presumably by the dioxetane route.     

Shape recognition of alkylammonium ions by 1,3-bridged calix[5]arene crown-6 ethers: endo- vs exo-cavity complexation

A series of tri-O-substituted 1,3-bridged calix[5]arene crown-6 ethers bearing alkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxycarbonylmethyl residues at the lower rim and either (t)()Bu or H substituents at the upper rim have been synthesized. (1)H NMR studies have shown that p-tert-butylcalix[5]crowns, irrespective of the size and nature of their lower rim pendant groups, adopt preorganized conelike conformations, whereas p-H-calix[5]crowns with bulky substituents preferentially exist in solution as partial cone conformers (C(1) symmetry). Calix[5]crown derivatives behave as mono- or ditopic receptors for isomeric butylammonium ions, forming endo-cavity (inside the calixarene cup) and/or exo-cavity (at the crown ether moiety) 1:1 complexes according to the shape of the guest. These two binding modes can be clearly distinguished and monitored by (1)H NMR titration experiments.     

Effect of some organic solvents and acids on the laser-induced atomic fluorescence of tin in air-hydrogen flames

The effects of some organic solvents and acids on the atomic fluorescence of tin in air-hydrogen flames have been examined. Ketones and alcohols greatly reduced the florescence sensitivity in fuel rich air-hydrogen flame whereas organic acids generally enhanced the fluorescence signal. The depressive effect of organic solvents was found to be highly dependent on the fuel to oxidant ratio in the flame. An attempt has been made to explain these effects, on the basis of possible reactions occurring in the flame.On leave from Institute of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, PakistanOn leave from Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain     

Relationship between cohesive energy density and hydrophobicity

It has been recently claimed that the large cohesive energy density of water is the ultimate cause of the poor solubility of nonpolar compounds in water. In order to test the validity of this idea, we analyze the difference in solubility between light water and heavy water of several nonpolar compounds. Even though the cohesive energy density of D(2)O is larger than that of H(2)O, nonpolar compounds are slightly more soluble in D(2)O than H(2)O. In such case experimental data do not support the correctness of the large cohesive energy density as the ultimate cause of hydrophobicity. We show that D(2)O is a slightly better solvent than H(2)O for nonpolar compounds because it is slightly less costly to create a cavity in the former liquid. This is because there is slightly more void volume in heavy water than in light water.     

INTERACTION OF ENZYME-GENERATED SPECIES WITH CHLOROPHYLL-a AND PROBES BOUND TO SERUM ALBUMINS

Abstract— The interaction of serum albumin-bound acceptors with enzyme-generated and protected triplet species was studied in two types of systems. Chlorophyll-a bound to bovine and human serum albumins is efficiently excited by enzymatically generated triplet acetone and acetaldehyde. When the Chl-a concentration is much lower than that of the albumin the interaction occurs with chlorophyll in an aggregate in which one Chl-a is surrounded by several protein molecules. When the Chl-a concentration is higher than that of the protein, the aggregate contains the proteins and fluorescent chlorophylls in a 1:1 ratio. The excess chlorophylls, although able to interact with the donors, are not fluorescent.
In another study, probes bound to various specific sites of serum albumins were used as quenchers of the enzymatically generated triplet acetone. The efficiency of quenching by all the bound probes is equal and in one case even stronger than for the free probes.
A model for the interaction of the excited species contained in the enzyme with the acceptor(s) located in the protein is proposed.
The present results provide further evidence that enzyme-generated and protected triplet carbonyl species can interact through a collisional process with acceptors bound to or constituents of macromolecules.     

Simulation of aerated lagoon using artificial neural networks and multivariate regression techniques

The aim of this study was to develop an empirical model that provides accurate predictions of the biochemical oxygen demand of the output stream from the aerated lagoon at International Paper of Brazil, one of the major pulp and paper plants in Brazil. Predictive models were calculated from functional link neural networks (FLNNs), multiple linear regression, principal components regression, and partial least-squares regression (PLSR). Improvement in FLNN modeling capability was observed when the data were preprocessed using the PLSR technique. PLSR also proved to be a powerful linear regression technique for this problem, which presents operational data limitations.     

Novel bifluorene based conjugated systems: synthesis and properties

A series of novel bifluorene based systems was synthesised by a convergent approach by means of a Suzuki cross-coupling between 7,7′-bis-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-9,9,9′,9′-tetraoctyl-2,2′-bifluorene and suitable aryl-bromides. All the oligomers have been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, UV-vis, PL spectroscopy and mass analyses. In particular, it has been demonstrated that the presence of strong electron donor (amines) or withdrawing (carboxylic esters) groups causes a bathochromic shift of the optical properties with respect to those of unsubstituted molecules. The effects of these functional groups on the HOMO-LUMO energy levels were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Remarkably, the LUMO energy level of 7,7′-bis-[5′-carbodecaoxy-2,2′-bithiophen-5-yl]-9,9,9′,9′-tetraoctyl-2,2′-bifluorene (−3.07 eV) is strongly influenced by the presence of the ester functional group.