Correction to: Plasma processed carbon thin films applied to dye-sensitized solar cells

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The authors regret an error in the Experimental section of the published article:     

A novel [Cu II 4] cluster from the assembly of two [Cu II 2L]+ units by a central mu4-1,1,2,2 perchlorate ligand

A perchlorate ligand in the rare mu4-1,1,2,2 binding mode is seen for the first time as the sole support for the assembly of two cationic [Cu II 2L]+ fragments (H3L = a dinucleating ligand) in the formation of a magnetically-exchanged tetranuclear cluster.     

Theoretical study of oligomeric alumatranes present in the chemistry of materials from micro to mesoporous molecular sieves and alumina composites

Quantum chemical calculations using density functional theory have been carried out to investigate molecular precursors based on alumatranes which are one of the components with silatranes for the preparation of mesoporous aluminosilicate materials. In the same way, some oligomeric alumatranes of this study take part in chemical syntheses related to materials such as zeolites and alumina composite. Gas phase and solution equilibrium geometries of the alumatrane precursors were fully optimized at B3LYP level, modeling solvent effects using a self-consistent reaction field (SCRF). From these optimized geometries, calculations of the ¹H, ¹³C and ²⁷Al NMR chemical shifts at GIAO/B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory have also been performed. This study has shown that the assumed conformations of the alumatrane precursors that have been derived from a previous work on a FAB-MASS analysis (Fast Atomic Bombardment Mass Spectroscopy) are confirmed by DFT calculations. All the conformations of alumatranes show that there would have transannular Al–N bond. Oligomeric alumatranes are composed of one or more two-membered Al₂O₂ rings where tricoordinated oxygen would be present. A good agreement between the experimental NMR data and the theoretical study on the chemical shifts of nucleus as ¹³C, ¹H and ²⁷Al from full geometry optimizations of the alumatrane precursors seems to corroborate the presence of the alumatrane precursors in the “atrane route”.     

A novel Ni(4) complex exhibiting microsecond quantum tunneling of the magnetization

A highly asymmetric Ni(II) cluster [Ni(4)(OH)(OMe)(3)(Hphpz)(4)(MeOH)(3)](MeOH) (1) (H(2)phpz=3-methyl-5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)pyrazole) has been prepared and its structure determined by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction by using synchrotron radiation. Variable-temperature bulk-magnetization measurements show that the complex exhibits intramolecular-ferromagnetic interactions leading to a spin ground state S=4 with close-lying excited states. Magnetization and high-frequency EPR measurements suggest the presence of sizable Ising-type magnetic anisotropy, with zero-field splitting parameters D=-0.263 cm(-1) and E=0.04 cm(-1) for the spin ground state, and an isotropic g value of 2.25. The presence of both axial and transverse anisotropy was confirmed through low-temperature specific heat determinations down to 300 mK, but no slow relaxation of the magnetization was observed by AC measurements down to 1.8 K. Interestingly, AC susceptibility measurements down to temperatures as low as 23 mK showed no indication of slow relaxation of the magnetization in 1. Thus, despite the presence of an anisotropy barrier (U approximately 4.21 cm(-1) for the purely axial limit), the magnetization relaxation remains extremely fast down to the lowest temperatures. The estimated quantum tunneling rate, Gamma>0.667 MHz, makes this complex a prime candidate for observation of coherent tunneling of the magnetization.     

Heart rate variability analysis by chaotic global techniques in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by decreased attention span, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. Autonomic nervous system imbalance was previously described in this population. We aim to compare the autonomic function of children with ADHD and controls by analyzing heart rate variability (HRV). Children with ADHD (22 boys, mean age 9.964 years) and 28 controls (15 boys, mean age 9.857 years) rested in supine position with spontaneous breathing for 20 min. Heart rate was recorded beat by beat. HRV analysis was performed by use of chaotic global techniques. ADHD promoted an increase in the chaotic forward parameter. The algorithm which applied all three chaotic global parameters was only the second optimum statistically measured by Kruskal–Wallis (P < 0.0001) and low standard deviations. It was also highly influential by principal component analysis with almost all variation covered by the first two components. The third algorithm which lacked the (high spectral Detrended Fluctuation Analysis) parameter performed best statistically. However, we chose the algorithm which applied all three chaotic globals due to previous studies mentioned in the text—forward and inverse problems. Comparison of the autonomic function by analyzing HRV with chaotic global techniques suggests an increase in chaotic activity in children with ADHD in relation to the control group. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 412–419, 2016     

A new continuous dependence result for impulsive retarded functional differential equations

We consider a large class of impulsive retarded functional differential equations (IRFDEs) and prove a result concerning uniqueness of solutions of impulsive FDEs. Also, we present a new result on continuous dependence of solutions on parameters for this class of equations. More precisely, we consider a sequence of initial value problems for impulsive RFDEs in the above setting, with convergent right-hand sides, convergent impulse operators and uniformly convergent initial data. We assume that the limiting equation is an impulsive RFDE whose initial condition is the uniform limit of the sequence of the initial data and whose solution exists and is unique. Then, for sufficient large indexes, the elements of the sequence of impulsive retarded initial value problem admit a unique solution and such a sequence of solutions converges to the solution of the limiting Cauchy problem.     

Non-destructive method for determination of hydroxyl value of soybean polyol by LS-SVM using HATR/FT-IR

This paper presents the use of least-squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) for quantitative determination of hydroxyl value (OHV) of hydroxylated soybean oils by horizontal attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (HATR/FT-IR) spectroscopy. A least-squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) calibration model for the prediction of hydroxyl value (OHV) was developed using the range 1805.1-649.9 cm(-1). Validation of the method was carried out by comparing the OHV of a series of hydroxylated soybean oil predicted by the LS-SVM model to the values obtained by the AOCS standard method. A correlation coefficient equal to 0.989 and RMSEP = 4.96 mg of KOH/g was obtained. This study demonstrates a better prediction ability of the LS-SVM technique to determine OHV in hydroxylated soybean oil samples by HATR/FT-IR spectra.     

Preparation and structure of three solvatomorphs of the polymer [Co(dbm)2(4ptz)]n: spin canting depending on the supramolecular organization

The syntheses and X-ray structures of three isomeric 1D coordination polymers are reported. The complex [Co(dbm)2(MeOH)2] (1) was used as a precursor in these reactions. The preparation and structure of 1 is also presented; this mononuclear complex is in the cis configuration because this allows the formation of a network of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the solid state. Reaction of 1 with 2,4,6-tris-(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (4ptz) yields the polymers [Co(dbm)2(4ptz)]n.nTHF (2a), [Co(dbm)2(4ptz)]n.0.75nTHF.0.5nEt2O (2b), and [Co(dbm)2(4ptz)]n.3nDMF (2c) in the form of zigzag chains, instead of the expected honeycomb architectures. This is because of the establishment of extended pi-pi stacking throughout these solids, which could not have occurred otherwise. Compounds 2a, 2b, and 2c are solvatomorphs, and formation of either one of them depends on the exact conditions of crystallization, which lead to significant differences in the supramolecular organization of the chains. Bulk magnetic measurements on 2a reveal weak antiferromagnetic exchange within the chains and small ordering throughout the solid that results in the manifestation of the phenomenon of spin canting, whereas for 2c the different supramolecular organization causes the antiferromagnetic exchange not to result in spin canting.     

Chemical Analysis and In Vitro Bioactivity of Essential Oil of Laurelia sempervirens and Safrole Derivatives against Oomycete Fish Pathogens

In this study, the essential oil (EO) from Laurelia sempervirens was analyzed by GC/MS and safrole (1) was identified as the major metabolite 1, was subjected to direct reactions on the oxygenated groups in the aromatic ring and in the side chain, and eight compounds (4 to 12) were obtained by the process. EO and compounds 4–12 were subjected to biological assays on 24 strains of the genus Saprolegnia, specifically of the species 12 S. parasitica and 12 S. australis. EO showed a significant effect against Saprolegnia strains. Compound 6 presents the highest activity against two resistant strains, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum oomyceticidal concentration (MOC) values of 25 to 100 and 75 to 125 µg/mL, respectively. The results show that compound 6 exhibited superior activities compared to the commercial controls bronopol and azoxystrobin used to combat these pathogens.