pH‐Triggered Sustained Drug Delivery from a Polymer Micelle having the β‐Thiopropionate Linkage

The synthesis, micellar aggregation, and pH‐triggered intracellular drug delivery ability of an amphiphilic statistical copolymer (P2) are studied. Two methacrylate derivatives, one containing a hydrophilic pendant and the other containing a hydrophobic pendant chain, are copolymerized to produce P2. The hydrophobic pendant chain is linked to the polymer backbone by a β‐thiopropionate linkage, known to undergo slow hydrolysis at mild acidic pH. P2 forms a multimicellar cluster in water with a critical aggregation concentration of 0.02 mg mL⁻¹ and encapsulates a hydrophobic guest such as pyrene, Nile red, or the anti‐cancer drug doxorubicin (Dox). Sustained release of the entrapped Dox (80% after 100 h) is noticed at pH 5.2, while release is significantly slower (35% after 100 h) at pH 7.4. Acidic hydrolysis of the β‐thiopropionate linkage leading to the reduction of the hydrophobicity is established as the cause for micellar disassembly and triggered drug release. Cell‐culture studies with the human breast cancer cell line, MCF‐7, reveal biocompatibility of P2 (below 150 μg mL⁻¹). It is further tested for intracellular delivery of Dox. MCF‐7 cells remain healthy at pH 7.4 but become unhealthy at pH 5.2 when treated with a Dox‐loaded P2 micelles.

     

Gelatin-based protonic electrolyte for electrochromic windows

Proton-conducting gel polymer electrolytes based on gelatin plasticized with glycerol and containing acetic acid were investigated, characterized, and applied to electrochromic window. For glycerol contents varying from 7% to 48%, the conductivity of the uniform and predominantly amorphous gel electrolyte was found to follow a Vogel–Tamman–Fulcher behavior with the temperature. Typically, for the electrolyte chosen to make 7 × 2 cm² electrochromic smart window with the configuration: glass/fluor-doped tin oxide (FTO)/WO₃/gelatin electrolyte/CeO₂–TiO₂/FTO/glass and containing 28% of glycerol, the conductivities were found to be of the order of 5 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm at room temperature and 3.6 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm at 80 °C. The device was characterized by spectroelectrochemical techniques and was tested up to 10,000 cycles showing a fast coloring/bleaching behavior, where the coloring process was achieved in 10 s and the bleaching in 2 s. The transmission variation at the wavelength of 550 nm was about 15%. The cyclic voltammograms showed a very good reversibility of the cathodic/anodic processes, and the charge density was about 3.5 mC/cm². The memory tests showed that the transmittance in the colored state increased by 8% in 90 min after removing the potential.     

The 20-Tungsto-4-Tellurate(IV) [H2Te4W20O80]22− and the 15-Tungstotellurate(IV) [NaTeW15O54]13−

The 20-tungsto-4-tellurate(IV) polyanion [H₂Te₄W₂₀O₈₀]^22? (1) has been synthesized and isolated in the form of its hydrated sodium salt Na₂₂[H₂Te₄W₂₀O₈₀]·64H₂O (Na-1). Na-1 has been characterized in the solid state by FTIR and TGA. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that Na-1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P ${\bar 1}The 20-tungsto-4-tellurate(IV) polyanion [H₂Te₄W₂₀O₈₀]²²⁻ (1) has been synthesized and isolated in the form of its hydrated sodium salt Na₂₂[H₂Te₄W₂₀O₈₀]·64H₂O (Na-1). Na-1 has been characterized in the solid state by FTIR and TGA. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that Na-1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P , with a = 12.741(2) ?, b = 16.842(3) ?, c = 17.197(4) ?, α = 93.961(10)°, β = 107.466(8)°, γ = 108.548(8)°, V = 3281.5(11) ?³ and Z = 1. The polyanion 1 comprises two [HTe₂W₁₀O₄₀]¹¹⁻ fragments, connected through Te−O–W μ₂-oxo bridges, and each containing a pair of face-shared WO₆ octahedra. Furthermore, the 15-tungstotellurate(IV) polyanion [NaTeW₁₅O₅₄]¹³⁻ (2) was synthesized and crystallized as a sodium salt in the orthorhombic space group Pccn, with a = 11.8841(5) ?, b = 20.8934(11) ?, c = 31.801(2) ?, V = 7896.3(7) ?³ and Z = 4. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Dedicated to Professor C. N. R. Rao on the occasion of his 75th birthday     

The impact of constant effort harvesting on the dynamics of a discrete‐time contest competition model

In this paper, we study a general discrete‐time model representing the dynamics of a contest competition species with constant effort exploitation. In particular, we consider the difference equation x _{n +1}=x _n f (x _{n ?k} )?h x _n where h >0, k ∈{0,1}, and the density dependent function f satisfies certain conditions that are typical of a contest competition. The harvesting parameter h is considered as the main parameter, and its effect on the general dynamics of the model is investigated. In the absence of delay in the recruitment (k =0), we show the effect of h on the stability, the maximum sustainable yield, the persistence of solutions, and how the intraspecific competition change from contest to scramble competition. When the delay in recruitment is 1 (k =1), we show that a Neimark‐Sacker bifurcation occurs, and the obtained invariant curve is supercritical. Furthermore, we give a characterization of the persistent set.     

Tolerance Factors of A2ScNbO7 (A3+ = Pr,Nd, Eu,Gd, Dy) Pyrochlore Type Oxide

Crystallography Reports - In this work, we apply the concept of tolerance factors to pyrochlore solid solution, especially when the B-site contains two different ions with different masses (as well...     

Results on L-functions and certain uniqueness questions of Gross

In this paper, we study the value distribution of L-functions in the Selberg class and concentrate on the uniqueness questions of L-functions that share one or two sets with an arbitrary meromorphic function. The results obtained in this paper improve the recent results due to Q.-Q. Yuan, X.-M. Li, and H.-X. Yi [Value distribution of L-functions and uniqueness questions of F. Gross, Lith. Math. J., 58(2):249–262, 2018] and also extend a result due to B.Q. Li [A result on value distribution of L-functions, Proc. Am. Math. Soc., 138(6):2071–2077, 2010].

     

Free vibration characteristics of a functionally graded beam by finite element method

This paper presents the dynamic characteristics of functionally graded beam with material graduation in axially or transversally through the thickness based on the power law. The present model is more effective for replacing the non-uniform geometrical beam with axially or transversally uniform geometrical graded beam. The system of equations of motion is derived by using the principle of virtual work under the assumptions of the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. The finite element method is employed to discretize the model and obtain a numerical approximation of the motion equation. The model has been verified with the previously published works and found a good agreement with them. Numerical results are presented in both tabular and graphical forms to figure out the effects of different material distribution, slenderness ratios, and boundary conditions on the dynamic characteristics of the beam. The above mention effects play very important role on the dynamic behavior of the beam.     

UV–Vis and NMR spectroscopic investigations on effective and selective non-covalent interactions between fullerenes and calix[6]arene

Ground state non-covalent interactions between a macro cyclic calixarene receptor, namely, 4-tert-butylcalix[6]arene (1), and fullerenes (C₆₀ and C₇₀) were studied in toluene medium by absorption spectrophotometric method. Absorption band due to the charge transfer (CT) transition have been observed in the visible region between fullerenes and 1. Utilizing the CT absorption bands, various important physicochemical parameters like oscillator strength, resonance energy, transition dipole strength of the fullerene-1 complexes and ionization potential of 1 is determined in present investigations. From Jobs method of continuous variation, it is observed that both C₆₀ and C₇₀ form stable 1:1 complexes with 1. The most fascinating feature of the present study is that 1 binds selectively C₇₀ compared to C₆₀ as obtained from binding constant (K) data of C₆₀–1 (K_C60–1) and C₇₀–1 (K_C70–1) complexes, i.e., K_C60–1 = 32,400 dm³·mol^? 1 and K_C70–1 = 110,000 dm³.mol^? 1 and selectivity (K_C70–1/K_C60–1) = 3.4. ¹H NMR analysis provides very good support in favor of strong binding between C₇₀ and 1.     

Fluorescence Blinking Beyond Nanoconfinement: Spatially Synchronous Intermittency of Entire Perovskite Microcrystals

Abrupt fluorescence intermittency or blinking is long recognized to be characteristic of single nano‐emitters. Extended quantum‐confined nanostructures also undergo spatially heterogeneous blinking; however, there is no such precedent in dimensionally unconfined (bulk) materials. Herein, we report multi‐level blinking of entire individual organo–lead bromide perovskite microcrystals (volume=0.1–3 μm³) under ambient conditions. Extremely high spatiotemporal correlation (>0.9) in intracrystal emission intensity fluctuations signifies effective communication amongst photogenerated carriers at distal locations (up to ca. 4 μm) within each crystal. Fused polycrystalline grains also exhibit this intriguing phenomenon, which is rationalized by correlated and efficient migration of carriers to a few transient nonradiative traps, the nature and population of which determine blinking propensity. Observation of spatiotemporally correlated emission intermittency in bulk semiconductor crystals opens the possibility of designing novel devices involving long‐range (mesoscopic) electronic communication.