Global Forcing Number of Benzenoid Graphs

A global forcing set in a simple connected graph G with a perfect matching is any subset S of E(G) such that the restriction of the characteristic function of perfect matchings of G on S is an injection. The number of edges in a global forcing set of the smallest cardinality is called the global forcing number of G. In this paper we prove several results concerning global forcing sets and numbers of benzenoid graphs. In particular, we prove that all catacondensed benzenoids and catafused coronoids with n hexagons have the global forcing number equal to n, and that for pericondensed benzenoids the global forcing number is always strictly smaller than the number of hexagons.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of two polyphilic mesogenic compounds

Three homologous series of semi-perfluorinated liquid crystals: 4-(2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluoro-butyloxycarbonyl)phenyl, 4-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentyloxycarbonyl)phenyl and 4-(3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyloxycarbonyl)phenyl 4-[(n-perfluoroalkyl)alkyloxy]benzoates have been synthesized. Their mesomorphic properties were studied by DSC, microscopic observation and X-ray diffraction. Their layer spacings are smaller than the molecular length (L). The ratio d_SA/L is about 0.7. The crystal structure of two derivatives of the first family have also been investigated. In both structures the molecules pack in smectic C-like sheets where neighbouring molecules are antiparallel, interacting through dipolar and van der Waals forces. The interactions between contiguous sheets, through the ends of perfluorinated chains are very weak. The X-ray diffraction results on the mesophases and on the crystalline structures of two compounds of the first family are compared. From this, we propose a model of the smectic phases with a zig-zag structure.     

Review of time lag permeation technique as a method for characterisation of porous media and membranes

The time lag permeation technique has proven to bean effective method for characterisation. Because of the simple nature of the permeation experiment, transport parameters can be directly obtained from experimental data hence avoiding the intensive mathematical treatment required by other techniques. The method has historically been applied to diffusion and adsorption in porous membranes and diffusion in polymer membranes. Since its origins in 1920, interest in the time lag method has expanded because of its value in characterising simple permeation processes and also complex systems of diffusion with simultaneous adsorption and surface diffusion. This review focuses on presenting the asymptotic solution of the mass balance diffusion equations and includes applications of time lag analysis, in order to give a critical and broad perspective of this method as a tool for characterisation. It includes much of the previously published literature in order to show that for most cases the asymptotic solution of the transport equations is simple, and for more complex cases that an analytical solution is possible hence avoiding cumbersome numerical techniques.     

Removal of methyl violet from aqueous solution by perlite

The use of perlite for the removal of methyl violet from aqueous solutions at different concentration, pH, and temperature has been investigated. Adsorption equilibrium is reached within 1 h. The capacity of perlite samples for the adsorption of methyl violet was found to increase with increasing pH and temperature and decrease with expansion and increasing acid-activation. The adsorption isotherms are described by means of the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption isotherm was measured experimentally at different conditions and the experimental data were correlated reasonably well by the adsorption isotherm of Langmuir. The order of heat of adsorption corresponds to a physical reaction. It is concluded that the methyl violet is physically adsorbed onto the perlite. The removal efficiency (P) and dimensionless separation factor (R) have shown that perlite can be used for removal of methyl violet from aqueous solutions, but unexpanded perlite is more effective.     

On lower bounds of number of perfect matchings in fullerene graphs

Couting perfect matchings in graphs is a very difficult problem. Some recently developed decomposition techniques allowed us to estimate the lower bound of the number of perfect matchings in certain classes of graphs. By applying these techniques, it will be shown that every fullerene graph with p vertices contains at least p/2+1 perfect matchings. It is a significant improvement over a previously published estimate, which claimed at least three perfect matchings in every fullerene graph. As an interesting chemical consequence, it is noted that every bisubstituted derivative of a fullerene still permits a Kekulé structure.     

Synthese de diterpenes tetracycliques du type hibane

Hibaone has been synthesized from manool through a photochemical cycloaddition of Δ⁸⁽¹⁴⁾ podocarpene-13-one to ethylene or 1,2 dichloroethylene.     

Phospholipase D is involved in oxidative stress-induced migration of vascular smooth muscle cells via tyrosine phosphorylation and protein kinase C

Oxidative stress has been implicated in mediation of vascular disorders. In the presence of vanadate, H(2)O(2) induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLD1, protein kinase C-alpha (PKC-alpha), and other unidentified proteins in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Interestingly, PLD1 was found to be constitutively associated with PKC-alpha in VSMCs. Stimulation of the cells by H(2)O(2) and vanadate showed a concentration-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the proteins in PLD1 immunoprecipitates and activation of PLD. Pretreatment of the cells with the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of H(2)O(2)-induced PLD activation. PKC inhibitor and down-regulation of PKC abolished H(2)O(2)-stimulated PLD activation. The cells stimulated by oxidative stress (H(2)O(2)) caused increased cell migration. This effect was prevented by the pretreatment of cells with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, PKC inhibitors, and 1-butanol, but not 3-butanol. Taken together, these results suggest that PLD might be involved in oxidative stress-induced migration of VSMCs, possibly via tyrosine phosphorylation and PKC activation.     

The use of a thermally reversible bond for molecular imprinting of silica spheres

A silica monomer-estrone complex (EstSi) having a thermally cleavable urethane bond and a cross-linkable triethoxysilane group was synthesized. From EstSi and TEOS, spherical silica particles with sizes of 1.5-3 mum were prepared. The template molecules were removed from the silica matrix by heating at 180 degrees C in DMSO in the presence of water, generating a cavity with an amino group. The control silica particles that had the same sizes and shapes were obtained with aminopropyl triethoxysilane and TEOS. When ethylene glycol was added in place of H2O, an ethyl alcoholic group was formed in the cavity. Their recognition ability and specific binding for estrone were characterized by uptake experiments. The estrone-imprinted silica particles showed a much higher recognition ability than the control silica particles and higher selectivity for estrone than testosterone propionate.     

Kneser-type oscillation criteria for self-adjoint two-term differential equations

It is proved that the even-order equationy ⁽²ⁿ⁾ +p(t)y=0 is (n,n) oscillatory at if

K3 et formules de Riemann-Hurwitzp-adiques

The well-known formula of Riemann-Hurwitz gives the change of genuses in ann-fold covering of compact connected Riemann surfaces. In Iwasawa theory, there existp-adic analogues which give the change of certain ^±-invariants in ap-extension ofCM number fields. Using functorial and arithmetical properties ofK ₃, we extend such Riemann-Hurwitzp-adic formulas to non-CM fields, assuming some restrictive hypotheses on the capitulation ofK ₂.