Grafting of Vinyl Monomers onto Nylon

Polymer chemists have been successful in applying polymerization techniques to develop copolymers of natural and synthetic macromolecules [l]. The literature abounds with examples of the successful formation of copolymers from natural and synthetic macromolecules [2–5]. Copolymerization is attractive to chemists as a means of modifying macromolecules since, in general, degradation can be minimized. Despite the heterogeneity and complexity of these copolymers, much has been achieved in their characterization. The desirable properties of the polymer are retained and additional properties are acquired through the added polymer. The desired material may be formed in situ by polymerization of a monomer or monomers, by condensation of reactants, or by the decomposition of a preformed polymer.     

Linear‐dendritic block copolymer hosts for the encapsulation of electro‐optic chromophores via H‐Bonding

Linear‐dendritic block copolymer hosts were synthesized by end‐functionalizing poly(methylmethacrylate) with dendrons that acted as hydrogen‐bonding acceptors for nonlinear optical chromophores. Second harmonic generation experiments indicate that the d₃₃ coefficients and maximum chromophore loading are increased in linear‐dendritic block copolymer hosts over comparable homopolymer hosts. Transmission electron microscopy shows 5–10 nm chromophore domains, confirming the effective spatial dispersion of the chromophores. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5017–5026, 2009     

Effect of finite chemical potential on QGP-Hadron phase transition in a statistical model of fireball formation

We study the effect of finite chemical potential for the QGP constituents in the Ramanathan et al. statistical model [Phys. Rev. C70, 027903, (2004)]. While the earlier computations using this model with vanishing chemical potentials indicated a weakly first order phase transition for the system in the vicinity of 170 MeV [Pramana 68 757 (2007)], the introduction of finite values for the chemical potentials of the constituents makes the transition a smooth roll over of the phases, while allowing fireball formation with radius of a few ‘fermi’ to take place. This seems to be in conformity with the latest consensus on the nature of the QGP-Hadron phase transition.     

Superflow in a toroidal Bose-Einstein condensate: an atom circuit with a tunable weak link

We have created a long-lived (≈40 s) persistent current in a toroidal Bose-Einstein condensate held in an all-optical trap. A repulsive optical barrier across one side of the torus creates a tunable weak link in the condensate circuit, which can affect the current around the loop. Superflow stops abruptly at a barrier strength such that the local flow velocity at the barrier exceeds a critical velocity. The measured critical velocity is consistent with dissipation due to the creation of vortex-antivortex pairs. This system is the first realization of an elementary closed-loop atom circuit.     

Local realism of macroscopic correlations

We identify conditions under which correlations resulting from quantum measurements performed on macroscopic systems (systems composed of a number of particles of the order of the Avogadro number) can be described by local realism. We argue that the emergence of local realism at the macroscopic level is caused by an interplay between the monogamous nature of quantum correlations and the fact that macroscopic measurements do not reveal properties of individual particles.     

Ramanujan-Fourier series and the conjecture D of Hardy and Littlewood

We give a heuristic proof of a conjecture of Hardy and Littlewood concerning the density of prime pairs to which twin primes and Sophie Germain primes are special cases. The method uses the Ramanujan-Fourier series for a modified von Mangoldt function and the Wiener-Khintchine theorem for arithmetical functions. The failing of the heuristic proof is due to the lack of justification of interchange of certain limits. Experimental evidence using computer calculations is provided for the plausibility of the result. We have also shown that our argument can be extended to the m-tuple conjecture of Hardy and Littlewood.     

Ramanujan — Fourier series and a theorem of Ingham

Given two arithmetical functions f, g, we derive, under suitable conditions, asymptotic formulas for the convolution sums ∑ _n≤N f (n) _g (n + h) for a fixed number h. To this end, we develop the theory of Ramanujan expansions for arithmetical functions. Our results give new proofs of some old results of Ingham proved by him in 1927 using different techniques.     

Conformationally rigid chiral ferrocene derivative: Synthesis,resolution and stereochemical assignment

A conformationally rigid chiral molecule LB-I with Lewis basic site has been designed and synthesized in racemic form from ferrocene via Lewis acid mediated diastereoselective cyclization of hydroxy lactam. Both isomers were successfully obtained in enantiomerically pure form through classical resolution using dibenzoyl-d-tartaric acid as the chiral resolving agent in acetone. The nature of the diastereomeric salt formed in the resolution process was investigated by single crystal X-ray crystallographic studies. The absolute configuration of (+)-LB-I was unambiguously assigned as (S,R_p) by single crystal analysis of the salt I obtained from precipitate fraction containing (+)-LB-I and dibenzoyl-d-tartaric acid.     

Electric field assisted annealing effects on microstructure and ionic conductivity in ceria/YSZ oxide heterostructures

The effect of electric field assisted annealing on the microstructure, composition and ionic conductivity properties in CeO₂/YSZ oxide heterostructures have been investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Amorphization–recrystallization steps were performed with and without external electric field of strength 10?MV/cm along three different orientations: in-plane (YZ), normal (X) and 45° resultant (XY) with respect to the oxide heterointerfaces. The microstructural and compositional differences at the interfaces and in the interior of the oxide heterolayers were evaluated and were found to show a clear correlation with the orientations of the applied field. In particular, the XY configuration displayed a compressive lattice strain of ～9% along with a reduced oxygen vacancy concentration when compared to the others. Ionic density profiles suggest pronounced segregation (～60% higher compared to the average value in the interior) of yttrium ions closer to the YSZ/CeO₂ interface for the XY configuration. Other configurations exhibit minimal to no such variations. These microstructural differences are found to affect the number of mobile charge carriers and the activation barriers associated with ionic migration through the oxide lattice and consequently, influence the ionic conductivity.     

Synthesis,characterization, electrochemical,catalytic and antimicrobial activity studies of hydrazone Schiff base ruthenium(II) complexes

Four tridentate O, N, O donor Schiff base ligands were prepared by the reaction of substituted benzhydrazide and appropriate salicylaldehyde. The complexes of these ligands were synthesized by refluxing the ligands with ruthenium(II) starting complexes of the formula [RuHCl(CO)(EPh₃)₂B] in benzene, where E = P or As; B = PPh₃ or AsPh₃ or pyridine. The newly synthesized complexes were characterized by elemental, spectral (FT‐IR, UV and NMR) and electrochemical data. On the basis of the above studies, an octahedral structure has been proposed for all the complexes. The catalytic efficiency of the complexes in aryl–aryl couplings and oxidation of alcohols was examined and their inhibition activity against the growth of the micro‐organisms was also examined. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.