Organotellurium-bridged cyclodextrin dimers as artificial glutathione peroxidase models

To elucidate the importance of the goodness of fit in complexes between substrates and glutathione peroxidise (GPX) mimics, we examined the decomposition of a variety of structurally distinct hydroperoxides at the expense of glutathione (GSH) catalyzed by 2,2′-ditellurobis(2-deoxy-γ-cyclodextrin) (2-Te-γ-CD), and by the corresponding derivatives of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and α-cyclodextrin. The good fit of the cumene group into the γ-CD binding cavity reflected the result of well-defined reaction geometry, leading to the most excellent peroxidase activity with high substrate specificity. Furthermore, the catalytic constant and the combination with the best binding also exhibited the highest regioselectivity in the substrate decomposition. Saturation kinetics were observed and the catalytic reaction agreed with a ping-pong mechanism, in analogy with natural GPX, and might exert its thiol peroxidase activity via tellurol, tellurenic acid, and tellurosulfide. The stoichiometry of the inclusion complex was determined to be of 2:1 host-to-guest. The value of stability constant K _c for (2-Te-γ-CD)₂/GSH at room temperature was calculated to be 3.815?×?10⁴?M^?2, which suggested that 2-Te-γ-CD had a moderate ability to bind GSH. Importantly, the proposed mode of the (2-TeCD)₂/GSH complex was the possible important noncovalent interactions between enzymes and substrates in influencing catalysis and binding.     

Synthesis and photovoltaic properties of organic sensitizers containing electron-deficient and electron-rich fused thiophene for dye-sensitized solar cells

Diverse fused thiophenes with electron-rich and electron-deficient blocks have been synthesized and employed as the π-conjugated spacers of organic dyes for the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The effects of these fused thiophenes were investigated by their absorption spectra, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties. For a typical device a maximum power conversion efficiency of 6.11% was obtained under simulated AM 1.5 irradiation (100 mW cm^?2): a short-circuit current (J_SC) of 14.47 mA cm^?2, an open-circuit voltage (V_OC) of 670 mV, and a fill factor (FF) of 0.63.     

New approach to the preparation of bicyclo octane derivatives via the enantioselective cascade reaction catalyzed by chiral diamine-Ni(OAc)2 complex

A highly efficient catalyst system assembled from enantiomerically pure diaminocyclohexane and Ni(OAc)(2) is, for the first time, used to catalyze the cascade Michael-Henry reaction of various diones and substituted nitroalkenes. A series of polyfunctionalized bicyclo[3.2.1]octane derivatives containing four stereogenic centers are prepared with excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to 50 : 1 dr) with high yields. In addition, via this chiral diamine-Ni(OAc)(2) catalyst system, the base-induced epimerization leading to the decrease of stereoselectivity can be prevented.     

Pairs of partitions without repeated odd parts

We prove two identities related to overpartition pairs. One of them gives a generalization of an identity due to Lovejoy, which was used in a joint work by Bringmann and Lovejoy to derive congruences for overpartition pairs. We apply our two identities on pairs of partitions where each partition has no repeated odd parts. We also present three partition statistics that give combinatorial explanations to a congruence modulo 3 satisfied by these partition pairs.     

Geometrical form factor calculation using Monte Carlo integration for lidar

We proposed a geometrical form factor (GFF) calculation using Monte Carlo integration (GFF–MC) for lidar that is practical and can be applied to any laser intensity distribution. Theoretical results have been calculated with our method based on the functions of measured, uniform and Gaussian laser intensity distribution. Two experimental GFF traces on clear days are obtained to verify the validity of the theoretical results. The results indicated that the measured distribution function outperformed the Gaussian and uniform functions. That means that the deviation of the measured laser intensity distribution from an ideal one can be too large to neglect. In addition, the theoretical GFF of the uniform distribution had a larger error than that of the Gaussian distribution. Furthermore, the effects of the inclination angle of the laser beam and the central obstruction of the support structure of the second mirror of the telescope are discussed in this study.     

Synthesis and Fungicidal Activity of (1Z, 3Z)‐4,4‐Dimethyl‐1‐substitutedphenyl‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)‐pent‐1‐en‐3‐one O‐[2,4‐dimethylthiazole(or 4‐methyl‐1,2,3‐thiadiazole)]‐5‐carbonyl Oximes

A series of novel (Z)‐1‐tert‐butyl (or phenyl)‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)‐ethanone O‐[2,4‐dimethylthiazole (or 4‐methyl‐1,2,3‐thiadiazole) ?5‐carbonyl] oximes 5a – 5c and (1Z, 3Z)‐4,4‐dimethyl‐1‐substitutedphenyl‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)‐pent‐1‐en‐3‐one O‐[2,4‐dimethylthiazole (or 4‐methyl‐1,2,3‐thiadiazole)‐5‐carbonyl] oximes 6a – 6e were synthesized by the condensations of (Z)‐1‐tert‐butyl (or phenyl)‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)‐ethanone oximes 3 or (1Z, 3Z)‐4,4‐dimethyl‐1‐substitutedphenyl‐2‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)‐pent‐1‐en‐3‐one oximes 4 with 2,4‐dimethylthiazole‐5‐carbonyl chloride or 4‐methyl‐1,2,3‐thiadiazole‐5‐carbonyl chloride in the basic condition. Their structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, mass spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. The results of preliminary bioassays showed the title compounds 5 and 6 exhibited moderate to good fungicidal activities. For example, compound 6c possessed 86.4% inhibition against Fusarium oxysporum, and compound 6b exhibited 86.4 and 100% inhibition against Fusarium oxysporum and Cercospora arachidicola Hori at the concentration of 50 mg/L, respectively.     

Partial Molar Volumes of Hexaamminecobalt(III) Nitrate in Proteated and Deuterated Water

The partial molar volumes (V ₂) for hexaamminecobalt(III) nitrate in proteated and deuterated water were determined at 0.00 (for H₂O only), 5.00, 10.00, 15.00, and 20.00?°C. The increase of the solute??s partial molar volume with increasing concentration and the negative second derivative of the solute??s partial molar volume at infinite dilution with respect to temperature were interpreted in terms of the solvent structure breaking property of the solute. In addition, the difference at each temperature between the solute??s partial molar volume at infinite dilution for proteated and deuterated water was used to estimate the solvent coordination number at each temperature.     

Responsive Polyelectrolyte Multilayers Assembled at High Ionic Strength with an Unusual Collapse at Low Ionic Strength

Responsive polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) of poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) and poly(styrene sodium sulfonate) (PSS) with thicknesses between 350 and 400 nm for 11 deposited polyelectrolyte layers were fabricated assembling the polyelectrolytes at 3 M NaCl. When the 3 M NaCl bulk solution is replaced by water, the PEMs release water, approximately a 46% of the total mass, and experience a thickness reduction of more than 200 nm. Changes in thickness and water content are fully reversible. The film recovers its original thickness and water content when it is exposed again to a 3 M NaCl solution. A responsive polymer film is achieved with the capability of swelling at high ionic strength and collapsing in water with variations in thickness of hundred of nanometers.     

Fluid model driven by an M/M/1 queue with multiple vacations and N-policy

This paper studies a fluid model driven by an M/M/1 queue with multiple exponential vacations and N-policy. The expression for the Laplace transform of the joint steady-state distribution of the fluid model is of a simple matrix power function form or matrix factorial form. Based on this fact, we introduce a new method of fluid model??modified matrix geometric solution method. The Laplace transform and Laplace-Stieltjes transform of the steady-state distribution of the buffer content are concisely expressed through the minimal positive solution to a crucial quadratic equation. Finally, we give concise expression for the performance measure??mean buffer content, which is useful in parameter design of fluid model and various practical applications.     

Design of shaped piezoelectric modal sensors for cantilever beams with intermediate support by using differential transformation method

In this paper a solution to the problem of finding the shape of piezoelectric modal sensors for a cantilever beam with intermediate support is proposed by using the differential transformation method (DTM). A general expression for designing the shape of a piezoelectric modal sensor is presented, in which the output signal of the designed sensor is proportional to the response of the target mode. Other modes are filtered out. The modal sensor shape is expressed as a linear function of the second spatial derivative of the structural mode shape function. By using boundary condition and continuity condition equations at intermediate support, the closed-form series solution of the second spatial derivative of the mode shapes can be determined based on DTM. Then the shapes of the designed modal sensors are obtained. Finally, numerical examples are given to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed modal sensors for the cantilever beam with intermediate support.