Existence of (2, 8) GWhD( v) and (4, 8) GWhD( v) with $${ v \equi v 0,1 (mod 8)}$$

(2, 8) Generalized Whist tournament Designs (GWhD) on v players exist only if . We establish that these necessary conditions are sufficient for all but a relatively small number of (possibly) exceptional cases. For there are at most 12 possible exceptions: {177, 249, 305, 377, 385, 465, 473, 489, 497, 537, 553, 897}. For there are at most 98 possible exceptions the largest of which is v = 3696. The materials in this paper also enable us to obtain four previously unknown (4, 8)GWhD(8n+1), namely for n = 16,60,191,192 and to reduce the list of unknown (4, 8) GWhD(8n) to 124 values of v the largest of which is v = 3696.      

CHILDREN'S PROPORTIONAL REASONING AND TENDENCY FOR AN ADDITIVE STRATEGY: THE ROLE OF MODELS

In this paper we report on 10 –14 year old children's strategies while solving two versions of ratio and proportion tasks: one ‘with models’ thought to facilitate proportional reasoning and one ‘without’. Rasch methodology was used to develop ‘with’ and ‘without models’ test versions which were given to a linked sample involving 673 children. We examine the pupils’ additive errors, their effect on ratio reasoning and how contingent on ‘model’ presentation this is. First, we provide a single scale on which pupils, item-difficulty and additive errors can be located. We then provide a new scale constructed from the error prone items, which we name the ‘tendency for additive strategy’. The measurement data is supported by qualitative data showing that the presence of ‘models’ can sometimes affect children's strategies, both positively and negatively but rarely makes a significant measurement difference on this, untutored, sample.     

Formation of the serine octamer: Ion evaporation or charge residue

The mechanism of formation for clusters of serine generated by electrospray ionization is hypothesized to play a critical role in determining their ultimate properties. Under carefully manipulated electrospray source conditions, two distinct and well-separated distributions of clusters can be observed. The characteristics of the two cluster populations are consistent with different formation mechanisms, namely ion evaporation and charge residue. Upon further inspection, it is proposed that the magic number intensity, homochiral selectivity, and unique formation of the serine octamer are best explained within the context of the ion evaporation mechanism. As a consequence, solution phase properties of the octamer become important, particularly in relation to interface effects present on the surface of the charged droplet. In contrast, other clusters of serine, including the B form of the octamer, are probably generated by the charge residue mechanism and may have no connection to condensed phase phenomena.     

Synthesis and optical characterization of new ketocyanine dyes with extended polymethine chaines

New symmetrical and unsymmetrical near-infrared absorbing ketocyanine-type dyes are synthesized and their optical characterization is done. The relationships between their structure and optical properties are discussed. The synthesized ketocyanine dyes show a positive solvatochromism and are poorly fluorescent. A new procedure for the preparation of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylvinamidinium perchlorate, which was a very useful reagent for the synthesis of various heterocyclic compounds as well as for the preparation of cyanine dyes is developed.     

Tubular Structures of Calcium Carbonate: Formation,Characterization, and Implications in Natural Mineral Environments

Chemical gardens are self-assembled tubular precipitates formed by a combination of osmosis, buoyancy, and chemical reaction, and thought to be capable of catalyzing prebiotic condensation reactions. In many cases, the tube wall is a bilayer structure with the properties of a diaphragm and/or a membrane. The interest in silica gardens as microreactors for materials science has increased over the past decade because of their ability to create long-lasting electrochemical potential. In this study, we have grown single macroscopic tubes based on calcium carbonate and monitored their time-dependent behavior by in situ measurements of pH, ionic concentrations inside and outside the tubular membranes, and electrochemical potential differences. Furthermore, we have characterized the composition and structure of the tubular membranes by using ex situ X-ray diffraction, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, as well as scanning electron microscopy. Based on the collected data, we propose a physicochemical mechanism for the formation and ripening of these peculiar CaCO₃ structures and compare the results to those of other chemical garden systems. We find that the wall of the macroscopic calcium carbonate tubes is a bilayer of texturally distinct but compositionally similar calcite showing high crystallinity. The resulting high density of the material prevents macroscopic calcium carbonate gardens from developing significant electrochemical potential differences. In the light of these observations, possible implications in materials science and prebiotic (geo)chemistry are discussed.     

Synthesis,structure and catalytic properties of bis[2‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]silanediol

A novel trifluoromethylaryl‐substituted disilanol, bis[(2‐trifluoromethyl)phenyl] silanediol, was prepared by hydrolysis of the precursor dichloride and fully characterized. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction indicates doubly linked hydrogen bonded dimers and also hydrogen bonding to tetrahydrofuran solvent. The acidity of the silanol functions is enhanced by the presence of the trifluoromethyl groups and the compound is found to be active in promoting a standard Diels–Alder reaction, increasing yields by a factor of three.     

Catenation and Aggregation of Multi‐Cavity Coordination Cages

A series of metal‐mediated cages, having multiple cavities, was synthesized from Pd^II cations and tris‐ or tetrakis‐monodentate bridging ligands and characterized by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X‐ray methods. The peanut‐shaped [Pd₃L¹₄] cage deriving from the tris‐monodentate ligand L¹ could be quantitatively converted into its interpenetrated [5Cl@Pd₆L¹₈] dimer featuring a linear {[Pd‐Cl‐]₅Pd} stack as an unprecedented structural motif upon addition of chloride anions. Small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments showed that the cigar‐shaped assembly with a length of 3.7 nm aggregates into mono‐layered discs of 14 nm diameter via solvophobic interactions between the hexyl sidechains. The hepta‐cationic [5Cl@Pd₆L¹₈] cage was found to interact with polyanionic oligonucleotide double‐strands under dissolution of the aggregates in water, rendering the compound class interesting for applications based on non‐covalent DNA binding.     

Salt bridge stabilization of charged zwitterionic arginine aggregates in the gas phase

The discovery of several new unusually stable aggregates of arginine that are intermolecularly bound by salt bridges is reported. Quadrupole ion-trap mass spectrometry provides evidence for the stability of arginine in the zwitterionic state, where the protonated guanidinium group of one arginine interacts strongly with the carboxylate of another to form stable noncovalent complexes, coordinated to either a cation or anion. Clusters of arginine with itself, sodium, potassium, lithium, magnesium, chloride, fluoride, bromide, iodide, and nitrate are observed. DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G level are used to assess the structures and energetics of particularly prominent clusters. An examination of mixtures of D-arginine with isotopically labeled L-arginine indicates that the stability of these clusters does not depend on arginine enantiomeric purity. The cyclic trimers of arginine, capped with either Cl(-) or NO(3)(-), possess exceptional stability.