trans‐Bis­[N‐(2‐hydroxy­ethyl)­ethyl­ene­di­amine‐κ2N,N′]­bis­(iso­thio­cyanato‐κN)­nickel(II)

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Ni(NCS)₂(C₄H₁₂N₂O)₂], has two crystallographically independent half‐mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, with each Ni atom residing on a centre of symmetry. The two mol­ecules exhibit similar coordination geometry but display differences with regard to other structural features. Each Ni^II centre is octahedrally coordinated by two mutually trans chelating hydroxy­ethyl­ethyl­ene­di­amine ligands and two mutually trans iso­thio­cyanate ions. The two independent mol­ecules form chains through different types of non‐covalent interactions. In the case of one of the mol­ecules, only NCS and free OH groups participate in hydrogen bonding, while in the chain based on the second mol­ecule, the NCS, NH, NH₂ and free OH groups are involved in intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The two chains interact with one another through hydrogen bonding, forming planar sheets. The third packing direction is mediated only by van der Waals interactions.     

Representations of Positive Integers by a Direct Sum of Quadratic forms

The number of representation of positive integers by quadratic forms $ F_{1}=x_{1}^{2}+3x_{1}x_{2}+8x_{2}^{2} $ and $ G_{1}=2x_{1}^{2}+3x_{1}x_{2}+4x_{2}^{2} $ of discriminant —23 are given. Moreover, a basis for the cusp form space S ₄(Γ₀(23), 1) are constructed. Furthermore, formulas for the representation of positive integers by direct sum of copies of F ₁ and G ₁, i.e. formulas for $ r(n; F_{4}), r(n; G_{4}), r(n; F_{3} \oplus G_{1}), r(n; F_{2} \oplus G_{2}), {\rm and}\ r(n; F_{1} \oplus G_{3}) $ , are derived using the elements of the space S ₄(Γ(23), 1).     

A multi-objective genetic algorithm for a bi-objective facility location problem with partial coverage

In this study, we present a bi-objective facility location model that considers both partial coverage and service to uncovered demands. Due to limited number of facilities to be opened, some of the demand nodes may not be within full or partial coverage distance of a facility. However, a demand node that is not within the coverage distance of a facility should get service from the nearest facility within the shortest possible time. In this model, it is assumed that demand nodes within the predefined distance of opened facilities are fully covered, and after that distance the coverage level decreases linearly. The objectives are defined as the maximization of full and partial coverage, and the minimization of the maximum distance between uncovered demand nodes and their nearest facilities. We develop a new multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) called modified SPEA-II (mSPEA-II). In this method, the fitness function of SPEA-II is modified and the crowding distance of NSGA-II is used. The performance of mSPEA-II is tested on randomly generated problems of different sizes. The results are compared with the solutions of the most well-known MOGAs, NSGA-II and SPEA-II. Computational experiments show that mSPEA-II outperforms both NSGA-II and SPEA-II.     

Studies of phononlike low-energy excitations of protein molecules by inelastic x-ray scattering

Molecular dynamics simulations and neutron scattering experiments have shown that many hydrated globular proteins exhibit a universal dynamic transition at TD = 220 K, below which the biological activity of a protein sharply diminishes. We studied the phononlike low-energy excitations of two structurally very different proteins, lysozyme and bovine serum albumin, using inelastic x-ray scattering above and below TD. We found that the excitation energies of the high-Q phonons show a marked softening above TD. This suggests that the large amplitude motions of wavelengths corresponding to this specific Q range are intimately correlated with the increase of biological activities of the proteins.     

Soluble alkyl substituted poly(3,4‐propylenedioxyselenophene)s: A new platform for optoelectronic materials

Optical and electrochemical properties of regiosymmetric and soluble alkylenedioxyselenophene‐based electrochromic polymers, namely poly(3,3‐dibutyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐selenopheno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxephine) (PProDOS‐C₄), poly(3,3‐dihexyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐selenopheno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxephine) (PProDOS‐C₆), and poly(3,3‐didecyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐selenopheno[3,4‐b][1,4]dioxephine) (PProDOS‐C₁₀), are highlighted. It is noted that these unique polymers have low bandgaps (1.57–1.65 eV), and they are exceptionally stable under ambient atmospheric conditions. Polymer films retained 82–97% of their electroactivity after 5000 cycles. The percent transmittance of PProDOS‐C_n (n = 4, 6, 10) films found to be between 55 and 59%. Furthermore, these novel soluble PProDOS‐C_n polymers showed electrochromic behavior: a color change form pure blue to highly transparent state in a low switching time (1.0 s) during oxidation with high coloration efficiencies (328–864 cm² C^?1) when compared to their thiophene analogues. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Aspects of fatigue failure mechanisms in polymer fuel cell membranes

The swelling‐driven fatigue behavior of polymer fuel cell membranes during relative humidity (RH) cycling is investigated. In particular, swelling‐induced membrane stresses are obtained from a numerical model simulating fuel cell RH cycle tests, and compared to the lifetimes obtained experimentally from tests conducted in the absence of electrochemical effects. A strong correlation between the lifetimes of the membranes in the actual tests and model results is obtained. In general, higher RH (or swelling) amplitude results in larger stress amplitudes and shorter lifetime, that is, fewer cycles to failure. Tensile stresses are needed for forming local cavities in the membrane, which may eventually lead to craze formation. Cavitation is less likely to occur in compressed membrane at high humidities. The stress–lifetime plots for polymer fuel cell membranes exhibit similar features to those observed for other polymers. The crazing criterion for polymers suggests that craze initiation during RH cycling is more likely to occur in the low compression regions, such as under the channels, which is in agreement with experimental observations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 1506–1517, 2011     

Bis­(acesulfamato)­tetra­aqua­cobalt(II)

The crystal structure of the first acesulfame–metal complex, namely tetra­aqua­bis­[6‐methyl‐1,2,3‐oxa­thia­zin‐4(3H)‐onato 2,2‐dioxide‐κN]­cobalt(II), [Co(C₄H₄NO₄S)₂(H₂O)₄], is re­ported. The Co^II ion resides on a twofold axis and is coordinated by four aqua ligands defining the basal plane and by two monodentate acesulfamate ligands, via their ring N atoms, in the axial positions. Two intra‐ and three intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions stabilize the crystal structure and form an infinite three‐dimensional lattice.     

Novel phthalocyanines with naphthalenic substituents

Phthalocyanines with four naphthyl-malonic ester groups on the periphery were synthesized by cyclotetramerization of 4-(1,1-dicarbethoxy-2-(1-naphthyl)-ethyl)-phthalonitrile. The new compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The electronic spectra exhibit intense π–π* transitions from the naphthyl moiety together with the characteristic Q and B bands of the phthalocyanine core. The electrochemical properties of the 2,9,17,23-tetra-(1,1-(dicarbethoxy)-2-(1-naphthyl)-ethyl) phthalocyaninato copper(II) complex were studied by cyclic voltammetry.     

Diffraction of sound waves by a rigid cylindrical cavity of finite length with an internal impedance surface

A rigorous solution is presented for the problem of diffraction of plane harmonic sound waves by a cavity formed by a terminated rigid cylindrical waveguide of finite length whose interior surface is lined by an acoustically absorbent material. The solution is obtained by a modification of the Wiener-Hopf technique and involve an infinite series of unknowns, which are determined from an infinite system of linear algebraic equations. Numerical solution of this system is obtained for various values of the parameters of the problem and their effects on the diffraction phenomenon are shown graphically.Received: December 12, 2001     

Efficient synthesis of some oxalacetic acid and pyruvic acid derivatives from the reactions of 2,3-furandiones with 2-phenylindole

Oxalacetic acid and pyruvic acid derivatives have been synthesized efficiently in high yields by the treatment of 4-ethoxycarbonyl-5-phenyl-2,3-furandione and 4-benzoyl-5-phenyl-2,3-furandione with 2-phenylindole at room temperature and converted to simple derivatives such as an ester or a hydrazone.