Enhanced coding for exponentially distributed signals using suprathreshold stochastic resonance

Our previous work on stochastic resonance (SR) in threshold based systems proved that the SR effect is dependent on the nature of the input signal distribution; more specifically, for certain types of signal distribution SR is not observed [Das A, Stocks NG, Nikitin A, Hines EL. Quantifying stochastic resonance in a single threshold detector for random aperiodic signals. Fluctuation Noise Lett 2004;4:L247–65]. Here we show that suprathreshold stochastic resonance (SSR) – a novel and distinct form of SR – removes this limitation and hence leads to the conclusion that SSR can probably enhance the transmission of signals of any distribution and amplitude. SSR effects are studied in a parallel array of identical nonlinear threshold based devices. A double exponential signal distribution is chosen because this distribution did not demonstrate conventional SR effects in a single threshold device [Das A, Stocks NG, Nikitin A., Hines EL. Quantifying Stochastic resonance in a single threshold detector for random aperiodic signals. Fluctuation and Noise Letters 2004;4:L247-L265.]. SSR as a possible mechanism for enhancing transmission of speech signals in the human ear is also discussed.     

Hexavalent Chromium-Thioacetamide Redox System Initiated Polymerization of Acrylonitrile

Polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by the Cr⁶⁺/thioacetamide redox system was studied in nitrogen atmosphere in the temperature range 35–45°C. The rate of polymerization and the rate of Cr⁶⁺ ion disappearance were measured. The effect of certain water-miscible organic solvents, neutral electrolytes, and complexing agents on the rate of polymerization was investigated. Chromic acid alone did not initiate the polymerization under deaerated and undeaerated conditions. Depending on the results obtained, a suitable kinetic scheme was proposed and various rate parameters were evaluated.     

Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate: Kinetics of the Reaction Initiated by the Mn(III)-1,2-Propanediol Redox System

Kinetics of polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by Mn³⁺/1,2-propanedlol has been investigated in aqueous sulfuric acid at the temperature range of 25–35°C. The rate of polymerization (R_p) and the rate of manganic ion disappearance (-R_Mn) have been computed. The effects of organic solvents, certain cationic and anionic detergents, added electrolytes on the initial rate of polymerization, and maximum conversion have been examined. Depending on the kinetic results, a reaction scheme has been suggested involving the formation of a complex between Mn³⁺ and the alcohol, which subsequently decomposed in an unimolecular step to generate the initiating free-radical which initiates polymerization and termination of the growing polymer chain by metal ion.     

Nanoalloy Based on Clays: Intercalated‐Exfoliated Layered Silicate in High Performance Elastomer

A novel method is described for the preparation of nanocomposites comprising a high performance rubber for tire application and layered silicates clay. In this work nanocomposites of solution‐styrene butadiene rubber (S‐SBR) with montmorillonite layered silicate were prepared with carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR), a polar rubber, as a compatibilizer. A sufficient amount of organomodified layered silicate was loaded in carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR) and this compound was blended as a master batch in the S‐SBR. Mixed intercalated/exfoliated morphologies in the nanocomposite are evinced by X‐ray diffraction measurements and transmission electron microscopy. Dynamic mechanical analysis also supports the compatibility of the composites. A good dispersion of the layered silicate in the S‐SBR matrix was reflected from the physical properties of the nanocomposites, especially in terms of tensile strength and high elongation properties.     

Ethylene spacer-linked bis-acetamidopyridine for dicarboxylic acid recognition and polymeric new wave-like anti-perpendicular arrangement of a host–guest in the solid state

In this paper, 1,2-bis(2-acetamido-6-pyridyl)ethane, receptor 1, having an ethylene spacer is reported to recognise dicarboxylic acids. The binding study in the solution phase is carried out using ¹H NMR (1:1) and UV–vis experiments and in the solid phase by single-crystal X-ray analysis. In ¹H NMR, the downfield shifts of specific amide protons of receptor 1 in 1:1 complexes of receptor and guest diacids, and in the UV–vis experiment, the appearance of an isosbestic point as well as significant binding constants are observed, which thus unambiguously support the complexation of receptor 1 with dicarboxylic acids in solution. Receptor 2, simple 2-acetamido-6-methylpyridine, has lower binding constants than receptor 1 due to cooperative binding of two pyridine amide groups with two acid groups of diacids. In the solid phase, the ditopic receptor 1 shows a grid-like polymeric hydrogen-bonded network that changes to a polymeric wave-like 1:1 anti-perpendicular network instead of the syn–syn polymeric 1:1 (Goswami, S.; Dey, S.; Fun, H.-K.; Anjum, S.; Rahman, A.-U. Tetrahedron Lett. 2005 (a) Goswami, S., Ghosh, K. and Dasgupta, S. 2000. J. Org. Chem., 65: 1907–1914. (b) Goswami, S.; Ghosh, K.; Mukherjee, R. Tetrahedron2001, 57, 4987–4993. (c) Goswami, S.; Ghosh, K.; Halder, M. Tetrahedron Lett.1999, 40, 1735–1738. (d) Goswami, S.; Dey, S.; Fun, H.-K.; Anjum, S.; Rahman, A.-U. Tetrahedron Lett.2005, 46, 7187–7191. (e) Goswami, S.; Jana, S.; Dey, S.; Razak, I.A.; Fun, H.-K. Supramol. Chem.2006, 18, 571–574. (f) Goswami, S.; Jana, S.; Fun, H.-K. Cryst. Eng. Comm.2008, 10, 507–517. (g) Goswami, S.; Jana, S.; Dey, S.; Sen, D.; Fun, H.-K.; Chantrapromma, S. Tetrahedron2008,64, 6426–6433. (h) Goswami, S.; Dey, S.; Jana, S. Tetrahedron2008, 64, 6358–6363 [Google Scholar], 46, 7187–7191), anti–anti polymeric 1:1 (Goswami, S.; Jana, S.; Dey, S.; Razak, I.A.; Fun, H.-K. Supramol. Chem. 2006 (a) Goswami, S., Ghosh, K. and Dasgupta, S. 2000. J. Org. Chem., 65: 1907–1914. (b) Goswami, S.; Ghosh, K.; Mukherjee, R. Tetrahedron2001, 57, 4987–4993. (c) Goswami, S.; Ghosh, K.; Halder, M. Tetrahedron Lett.1999, 40, 1735–1738. (d) Goswami, S.; Dey, S.; Fun, H.-K.; Anjum, S.; Rahman, A.-U. Tetrahedron Lett.2005, 46, 7187–7191. (e) Goswami, S.; Jana, S.; Dey, S.; Razak, I.A.; Fun, H.-K. Supramol. Chem.2006, 18, 571–574. (f) Goswami, S.; Jana, S.; Fun, H.-K. Cryst. Eng. Comm.2008, 10, 507–517. (g) Goswami, S.; Jana, S.; Dey, S.; Sen, D.; Fun, H.-K.; Chantrapromma, S. Tetrahedron2008,64, 6426–6433. (h) Goswami, S.; Dey, S.; Jana, S. Tetrahedron2008, 64, 6358–6363 [Google Scholar], 18, 571–574; Goswami, S.; Jana, S.; Fun, H.-K. Cryst. Eng. Comm. 2008, 10, 507–517; Goswami, S.; Jana, S.; Dey, S.; Sen, D.; Fun, H.-K.; Chantrapromma, S. Tetrahedron 2008, 64, 6426–6433), syn–syn 2:2 (Karle, I.L.; Ranganathan, D.; Haridas, V. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997 (a) Garcia-Tellado, F., Goswami, S., Chang, S.K., Geib, S.J. and Hamilton, A.D. 1990. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 112: 7393–7394. (b) Geib, S.J.; Vicent, C.; Fan, E.; Hamilton, A.D. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl.1993, 32, 119–121. (c) Garcia-Tellado, F.; Geib, S.J.; Goswami, S.; Hamilton, A.D. J. Am. Chem. Soc.1991, 113, 9265–9269. (d) Karle, I.L.; Ranganathan, D.; Haridas, V. J. Am. Chem. Soc.1997, 119, 2777–2783. (e) Moore, G.; Papamicaël, C.; Levacher, V.; Bourguignon, J.; Dupas, G. Tetrahedron2004, 60, 4197–4204. (f) Korendovych, I.V.; Cho, M.; Makhlynets, O.V.; Butler, P.L.; Staples, R.J.; Rybak-Akimova, E.V. J. Org. Chem.2008, 73, 4771–4782. (g) Ghosh, K.; Masanta, G.; Fröhlich, R.; Petsalakis, I.D.; Theodorakopoulos, G. J. Phys. Chem. B2009, 113, 7800–7809 [Google Scholar], 119, 2777–2783) or top–bottom-bound 1:1 (Garcia-Tellado, F.; Goswami, S.; Chang, S.K.; Geib, S.J.; Hamilton, A.D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990 (a) Goswami, S., Ghosh, K. and Dasgupta, S. 2000. J. Org. Chem., 65: 1907–1914. (b) Goswami, S.; Ghosh, K.; Mukherjee, R. Tetrahedron2001, 57, 4987–4993. (c) Goswami, S.; Ghosh, K.; Halder, M. Tetrahedron Lett.1999, 40, 1735–1738. (d) Goswami, S.; Dey, S.; Fun, H.-K.; Anjum, S.; Rahman, A.-U. Tetrahedron Lett.2005, 46, 7187–7191. (e) Goswami, S.; Jana, S.; Dey, S.; Razak, I.A.; Fun, H.-K. Supramol. Chem.2006, 18, 571–574. (f) Goswami, S.; Jana, S.; Fun, H.-K. Cryst. Eng. Comm.2008, 10, 507–517. (g) Goswami, S.; Jana, S.; Dey, S.; Sen, D.; Fun, H.-K.; Chantrapromma, S. Tetrahedron2008,64, 6426–6433. (h) Goswami, S.; Dey, S.; Jana, S. Tetrahedron2008, 64, 6358–6363 [Google Scholar], 112, 7393–7394) co-crystals.

     

Association reaction between SiH3 and H2O2: a computational study of the reaction mechanism and kinetics

The association reaction between silyl radical (SiH₃) and H₂O₂ has been studied in detail using high-level composite ab initio CBS-QB3 and G4MP2 methods. The global hybrid meta-GGA M06 and M06-2X density functionals in conjunction with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set have also been applied. To understand the kinetics, variational transition-state theory calculation is performed on the first association step, and successive unimolecular reactions are subjected to Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus calculations to predict the reaction rate constants and product branching ratios. The bimolecular rate constant for SiH₃–H₂O₂ association in the temperature range 250–600 K, k(T) = 6.89 × 10^?13 T ^?0.163exp(?0.22/RT) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 agrees well with the current literature. The OH production channel, which was experimentally found to be a minor one, is confirmed by the rate constants and branching ratios. Also, the correlation between our theoretical work and experimental literature is established. The production of SiO via secondary reactions is calculated to be one of the major reaction channels from highly stabilized adducts. The H-loss pathway, i.e., SiH₂(OH)₂ + H, is the major decomposition channel followed by secondary dissociation leading to SiO.     

Colorimetric Enzyme Sensing Assays via In Situ Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles

We report a successful facile and novel approach for in situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via enzymatic dephosphorylation reaction at room temperature. Fmoc-tyrosine phosphate and cytidine-5-mono phosphate are used to sense the activities of an enzyme alkaline phosphatase. Formation of AuNps is highly selective towards biomolecules and it is readily detected colorimetrically and UV–Vis analysis. In this procedure, dephosphorylated product plays both roles as reducing and stabilizing agent to direct the formation of AuNPs in aqueous media. Transmission electron microscopic study reveales that hexagonal AuNPs were synthesized by using Fmoc-tyrosine phosphate and alkaline phosphatase. Wide angle X-ray scattering data confirms the formation of AuNPs. FT-IR studies confirm that biomolecules play crucial role to stabilize the AuNPs by molecular interactions with the surface of AuNPs. In situ synthesized AuNPs are applied for the sensing of enzyme activity.     

Effect of surface roughness and chemical composition on the wetting properties of silicon-based substrates

The article reports on the wetting properties of silicon-based materials as a function of their roughness and chemical composition. The investigated surfaces consist of hydrogen-terminated and chemically modified atomically flat crystalline silicon, porous silicon and silicon nanowires. The hydrogenated surfaces are functionalized with 1-octadecene or undecylenic acid under thermal conditions. The changes occurring upon surface functionalization are characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectroscopy and water contact angle measurements. By increasing the surface roughness, the static water contact angle increases. The combination of high surface roughness with chemical functionalization with water repellent coating (1-octadecene) enables reaching superhydrophobicity (water contact angle greater than 150°) for silicon nanowires.     

Copper(II) Complexes of 3,4,5‐Trisubstituted Pyrazolates: In Situ Formation of Pyrazole Rings from Different Carbon Centers

The synthesis and characterization of two pyrazolate‐bridged dicopper(II) complexes, [Cu₂(L¹)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 1 , HL¹=3,5‐dipyridyl‐4‐(2‐keto‐pyridyl)pyrazole) and [Cu₂(L²)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ ( 2 , HL²=3,5‐dipyridyl‐4‐benzoylpyrazole), are discussed. These copper(II) complexes are formed from the reactions between pyridine‐2‐aldehyde, 2‐acetylpyridine (for compound 1 ) or acetophenone (for compound 2 ), and hydrazine hydrate with copper(II) perchlorate hydrate under ambient conditions. The single‐crystal X‐ray structure of compound 1? 2 H₂O establishes the formation of a pyrazole ring from three different carbon centers through C? C bond‐forming reactions, mediated by copper(II) ions. The free pyrazoles (HL¹ and HL²) are isolated from their corresponding copper(II) complexes and are characterized by using various analytical and spectroscopic techniques. A mechanism for the pyrazole‐ring synthesis that proceeds through C? C bond‐forming reactions is proposed and supported by theoretical calculations.