Effects of MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nano-particles on the conductivity of PMMA-PEO-LiClO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-EC polymer electrolytes

Li-ion rechargeable batteries based on polymer electrolytes are of great interest for solid state electrochemical devices nowadays. Many studies have been carried out to improve the ionic conductivity of polymer electrolytes, which include polymer blending, incorporating plasticizers and filler additives in the electrolyte systems. This paper describes the effects of incorporating nano-sized MnO₂ filler on the ionic conductivity enhancement of a plasticized polymer blend PMMA–PEO–LiClO₄–EC electrolyte system. The maximum conductivity achieved is within the range of 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ by optimizing the composition of the polymers, salts, plasticizer, and filler. The temperature dependence of the polymer conductivity obeys the VTF relationship. DSC and XRD studies are carried out to clarify the complex formation between the polymers, salts, and plasticizer.     

Interaction of push–pull tert-enamines with phenylglyoxal

Abstract  

The reaction of push–pull enamines with 1,2-biselectrophilic phenylglyoxal was investigated. Phenylglyoxal was found to react depending on the structure of the push–pull enamine, affording either a hydroxyalkylation product at the methyl group or the cyclic product via participation of the methyl group and the β-carbon of the enamine.     

On (non-) monotonicity of cooperative solutions

Aggregate monotonicity of cooperative solutions is widely accepted as a desirable property, and examples where certain solution concepts (such as the nucleolus) violate this property are scarce and have no economic interpretation. We provide an example of a simple four-player game that points out at a class of economic contexts where aggregate monotonicity is not appealing.     

Aqua(nitrilo­triacetato)­(1,10‐phenanthroline)iron(III) monohydrate: a seven‐coordinate iron(III) complex

Reaction of 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) with iron trichloride in the presence of sodium nitrilo­tri­acetate (NTA) resulted in the formation of red crystals of the title complex, [Fe(C₆H₆NO₆)(C₁₂H₈N₂)(H₂O)]·H₂O. The Fe atom has a distorted capped trigonal prismatic coordination comprised of one tetradentate NTA, one bidentate phen molecule and a water mol­ecule. Intermolecular O—H?O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into infinite chains. The chains are crosslinked by hydrogen bonds involving the solvent water mol­ecule, leading to an infinite ladder packing mode.     

Effective learning in the presence of adaptive counterparts

Adaptive learning algorithms (ALAs) is an important class of agents that learn the utilities of their strategies jointly with the maintenance of the beliefs about their counterparts' future actions. In this paper, we propose an approach of learning in the presence of adaptive counterparts. Our Q-learning based algorithm, called Adaptive Dynamics Learner (ADL), assigns Q-values to the fixed-length interaction histories. This makes it capable of exploiting the strategy update dynamics of the adaptive learners. By so doing, ADL usually obtains higher utilities than those of equilibrium solutions. We tested our algorithm on a substantial representative set of the most known and demonstrative matrix games. We observed that ADL is highly effective in the presence of such ALAs as Adaptive Play Q-learning, Infinitesimal Gradient Ascent, Policy Hill-Climbing and Fictitious Play Q-learning. Further, in self-play ADL usually converges to a Pareto efficient average utility.     

Nonspecular total internal reflection of spatial solitons at the interface between highly birefringent media

We investigate total internal reflection of nonlocal spatial optical solitons at the interface between two differently oriented regions of a highly birefringent nematic liquid crystal. The solitons survive the interaction with an induced index mismatch and undergo nonspecular reflection, with an emerging angle differing appreciably from the incidence angle.     

Insights into the Pamamycin Biosynthesis

Pamamycins are macrodiolides of polyketide origin with antibacterial activities. Their biosynthesis has been proposed to utilize succinate as a building block. However, the mechanism of succinate incorporation into a polyketide was unclear. Here, we report identification of a pamamycin biosynthesis gene cluster by aligning genomes of two pamamycin‐producing strains. This unique cluster contains polyketide synthase (PKS) genes encoding seven discrete ketosynthase (KS) enzymes and one acyl‐carrier protein (ACP)‐encoding gene. A cosmid containing the entire set of genes required for pamamycin biosynthesis was successfully expressed in a heterologous host. Genetic and biochemical studies allowed complete delineation of pamamycin biosynthesis. The pathway proceeds through 3‐oxoadipyl‐CoA, a key intermediate in the primary metabolism of the degradation of aromatic compounds. 3‐Oxoadipyl‐CoA could be used as an extender unit in polyketide assembly to facilitate the incorporation of succinate.     

Determination of phytic acid and inositolphosphates in barley

Phytic acid (PA) and lower inositolphosphates (InsP(n) ) is the main storage form of phosphorus in grains or seeds. The content of PA and InsP(n) in different varieties of barley was analyzed by capillary isotachophoresis and online-coupled capillary isotachophoresis with CZE. The electrolytes (in demineralized water) for the isotachophoretic analysis consisted of 10?mM HCl, 14?mM glycylglycine, and 0.1% 2-hydroxyethylcellulose (leading) and 10?mM citric acid (terminating). The optimized electrolytes for the online coupling isotachophoresis with zone electrophoresis analysis were mixtures of 5?mM HCl, 7?mM glycylglycine, and 0.1% 2-hydroxyethylcellulose (leading), 20?mM citric acid, 10?mM glycylglycine, and 0.1% 2-hydroxyethylcellulose (background) and 10?mM citric acid (terminating). PA and all studied InsP(n) were separated within 25?min and detected by a conductivity detector. Simple sample preparation (acidic extraction), sufficient sensitivity, speed of analysis, and low running cost are important attributes of the electrophoretic methods. The method was used for the determination of PA and InsP(n) in barley varieties within an ongoing research project.     

Convergence and relative compactness in distribution of sequences of random hypermeasures

Let Φ be a compact set in a vector space equipped with a convergence which is metrizable in Φ but not certainly in the whole space. We endow the space of continuous on Φ linear functionals on span Φ with the norm \( {\left\| u \right\|_\Phi } = \sup \varphi \in \Phi \left| {u\varphi } \right| \) and call the elements of the completion of Φ hypermeasures. We prove theorems on the convergence in probability or in distribution and relative compactness in distribution of a sequence of random hypermeasures.