Physicochemical Characteristics of Styrene-Butadiene Latex- modified Mortar Composite vis-à-vis Preferential Interactions

The interaction between styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) film and the ions from C₂S and C₃S hydration of Portland cement mortar composites has been evaluated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and the morphology of the composites characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The specimen used was cured for 28 days. FTIR spectrum supports the interaction of SBR with cement in the composite. Compressive strength, bulk density and water absorption properties of the cured composites were tested. Addition of SBR latex in Portland cement mortar increases the compressive strength and decreases the water absorption. Bulk density study revels interface formation in the composite. The role of the interface in relation to compressive strength of the composite has been discussed. A simple Matrix System model is shown to account composition dependence of bulk density.     

Molecular Switching Behavior in Isosteric DNA Base Pairs

The structures and proton‐coupled behavior of adenine–thymine (A‐T) and a modified base pair containing a thymine isostere, adenine–difluorotoluene (A‐F), are studied in different solvents by dispersion‐corrected density functional theory. The stability of the canonical Watson–Crick base pair and the mismatched pair in various solvents with low and high dielectric constants is analyzed. It is demonstrated that A‐F base pairing is favored in solvents with low dielectric constant. The stabilization and conformational changes induced by protonation are also analyzed for the natural as well as the mismatched base pair. DNA sequences capable of changing their sequence conformation on protonation are used in the construction of pH‐based molecular switches. An acidic medium has a profound influence in stabilizing the isostere base pair. Such a large gain in stability on protonation leads to an interesting pH‐controlled molecular switch, which can be incorporated in a natural DNA tract.     

Incoherent spatial optical solitons in photorefractive crystals

In this paper we have presented a theoretical investigation on the propagation properties of incoherent solitons in photorefractive media which is characterized by noninstantaneous saturating nonlinearity. Using mutual coherence function approach, we have obtained the equation of existence curve for such solitons. We have discussed the coherence characteristics of these solitons. We have found that solitons with a particular radius can possess two different critical powers. The dynamical evolution of these solitons has been discussed in detail by both analytical and numerical simulation.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Two Discrete Ln10 Nanoscopic Ladder‐Type Cages: Magnetic Studies Reveal a Significant Cryogenic Magnetocaloric Effect and Slow Magnetic Relaxation

Two unique lanthanide‐based cages [Ln₁₀( L )₅(μ₂‐OH)₆(H₂O)₂₂](Cl)₄?7 H₂O ([Gd₁₀] and [Dy₁₀]) have been synthesized by using a hydrazone‐based ligand H₄ L (H₄ L =2,6‐bis[(3‐methoxysalicylidene)hydrazinecarbonyl]pyridine) and LnCl₃?x H₂O. Structural characterization of [Gd₁₀] reveals an aesthetically pleasing self‐assembly of five L ^4? and ten Gd³⁺ ions forming a 2×[1×5] rectangular array. The ladder‐shaped cage consists of three “rungs” and two “rails” that are occupied by five ligands. Six out of ten gadolinium centers act as rung locks. Further analysis revealed that three chloride ions are encapsulated inside each discrete [Gd₁₀] molecule through hydrogen bonding and other noncovalent interactions. Both the complexes ([Gd₁₀] and [Dy₁₀]) were characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis, which shows that they are isostructural in nature. Magnetic investigations reveal that [Gd₁₀] is a good candidate for magnetic refrigeration with a significant entropy change (?ΔS_m) of 37.4 J kg^?1 K^?1 for an applied field of 7 T and at 3 K. Whereas [Dy₁₀] shows single‐molecule‐magnet‐like behavior.     

Synthesis and characterization of high nuclearity iron(III) phosphonate molecular clusters

Three new phosphonic acid ligands (4- (t)butylphenyl phosphonic acid, 3,5-dimethylphenyl phosphonic acid, and diphenylmethylphosphonic acid) have been synthesized and employed in search of high molecularity iron(III) clusters. The cluster compounds are characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. The solvothermal reaction of FeCl 3.6H 2O with diphenylacetic acid and p- (t)butylphenyl phosphonic acid resulted in an unprecedented dodecanuclear cluster [Fe 12(mu 2-O) 4(mu 3-O) 4(O 2CCHPh 2) 14(4- (t)buPhPO 3H) 6]( 1) having a double butterfly like core structure. [Fe 12(mu 2-O) 4(mu 3-O) 4(O 2CPh) 14(C 10H 17PO 3H) 6]( 2), another dodecanuclear cluster having core structure similar to 1, has been synthesized in a reaction between [Fe 3O(O 2CPh) 6(H 2O) 3]Cl and camphylphosphonic acid in the presence of triethylamine at ambient condition. 3,5-Dimethylphenyl phosphonic acid on reacting solvothermally with an oxo-centered iron triangle [Fe 3O(O 2CCMe 3) 6(H 2O) 3]Cl gives a nonanuclear cluster [Fe 9(mu 3-O) 4(O 3PPh(Me) 2) 3(O 2CCMe 3) 13]( 3) having icosahedral type core structure where three positions of the iron atoms have been replaced by phosphorus. Another nonanuclear [Fe 9(O) 3(OH) 3(O 3PCHPh 2) 6(O 2CCMe 3) 6(H 2O) 9] ( 4), having a distorted cylindrical core structure, has been synthesized in a similar solvothermal reaction between [Fe 3O(O 2CCMe 3) 6(H 2O) 3]Cl and biphenylmethyl phosphonic acid. All compounds are characterized by IR spectra, elemental analysis, as well as single crystal X-ray analysis. Magnetic measurements for all the compounds reveal that there are antiferromagnetic interactions between the metal centers.     

Synthesis and characterization of four metal-organophosphonates with one-, two-, and three-dimensional structures

A series of metal-organic hybrid compounds were synthesized using two new phosphonic acids, pyridyl-4-phosphonic acid and p-xylylenediphosphonic acid (H(2)O(3)PCH(2)C(6)H(4)CH(2)PO(3)H(2)). The phosphonic acid ligands have been synthesized from their corresponding bromides following two different types of reactions. The reaction of pyridyl-4-phosphonic acid with three different divalent metal salts results in the formation of molecular structures of different dimensionality. The reaction of Cu(II) with the phosphonic acid under hydrothermal conditions yields a three-dimensional (3D) open framework structure having the molecular formula [Cu(4)(NC(5)H(4)-PO(3))(4)(H(2)O)(10)] (1). The reactions with Mn(II) and Zn(II) salts with the same phosphonic acid resulted in a two-dimensional layered and a dinuclear compound with molecular formulas [Mn(3)(NC(5)H(4)-PO(3))(4)(H(2)O)(6)(ClO(4))(2)] (2) and [Zn(2)(NHC(5)H(4)-PO(3)H)(2)Cl(4)] (3), respectively. Compound 1 crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system having space group P with structural parameters a = 7.4564(15) Angstrom, b = 9.1845(19) Angstrom, c = 11.582(2) Angstrom, alpha = 100.842(3) degrees, beta = 104.303(3) degrees, gamma = 94.774(3) degrees, and Z = 1. Compound 2 crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system, space group P, with structural parameters a = 7.6871(14) Angstrom, b = 10.576(2) Angstrom, c = 14.470(3)Angstrom, alpha = 81.340(3) degrees, beta = 81.561(3) degrees, gamma = 68.757(3) degrees, and Z = 2, whereas compound 3 crystallizes in a monoclinic crystal system with space group P2(1)/n. The structural parameters are as follows: a = 8.4969 (5) Angstrom, b = 9.3911 (5) Angstrom, c = 12.3779 (6) Angstrom, beta = 90.860(17) degrees, and Z = 4. The pyridylphosphonate ligand shows different ligation behavior toward the three divalent metal ions. On the other hand, p-xylylenediphosphonic acid on reaction with Co(II) formed a 3D compound [Co(2)(O(3)PCH(2)C(6)H(4)CH(2)PO(3))(2)(H(2)O)(2)] (4) with a layered and pillared structure. Compound 4 crystallizes in an orthorhombic crystal system with space group Pnma. The structural parameters are a = 21.744(4) Angstrom, b = 5.6744(10) Angstrom, c = 4.7927(9) Angstrom, and Z = 4.     

Alkali metal ion mediated self-assembly of vanadium(V) ions and pyrazole based polydentate ligands leading to the formation of helix, double helix and supramolecular cage-like structures

The anionic cis-dioxovanadium(V) complex species LVO₂⁻ and L₁VO₂⁻ of two tridentate ONO ligands (H₂L and H₂L₁) can bind alkali metal ions in a bis-monodentate fashion like a bridging carboxylate group. Here H₂L (N′-[(E)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole-5-carbohydrazide) and H₂L₁ (N′-[(1E)-1-(2-hydroxyphenyl) ethylidene]-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole-5-carbohydrazide) are Schiff base ligands generated by the condensation of 5-methyl 3-pyrazole carbohydrazide with salicylaldehyde and o-hydroxy acetophenone. The six products thus obtained are water soluble polymeric compounds in which the complementary units are held together by the simultaneous use of hydrogen bonding and coulombic interactions. [L₁VO₂Li(H₂O)₂]_∞ (2), [LVO₂Na(H₂O)₂]_∞ (3) and [LVO₂K(H₂O)₂]_∞ (5) have been crystallographically characterized. Crystallographic characterization reveals that 2 and 3 are polymeric helicates and 5 is a polymeric cluster with L₁VO₂⁻ or LVO₂⁻ units bridging the labile alkali metal ions which occupy positions on the axis of the polymeric chain.     

Adiabatic phase variation for optical Gaussons

This paper studies the adiabatic phase variation of optical Gaussons in the presence of perturbation terms. The modified conservation law of phase variation is used to carry out this analysis.     

Mass restricting variables in semi-invisible production at the LHC

We outline some of the popular mass restricting variables for the semi-invisible productions at the Large Hadron Collider. In this context, heavy resonating mass, if produced through antler decay topology may already be detectable. New mass variables constructed by applying this mass constraint proved to have an array of interesting properties, including a new kink solution at the true masses of the produced particles. This enables one to measure the mass of the invisible particle and the parent particle simultaneously. This variable in turn can also be applied in reconstructing such events with the momenta of invisible particles. This feature is further demonstrated with the Higgs boson decaying into a pair of third-generation tau-lepton (\(\tau \)) and thus exploring direct Higgs coupling with the leptonic sector. Dominant discovery signatures rely upon the hadronic decay of tau which is associated with a pair of invisible neutrinos. Exploiting the already measured Higgs mass bound, present technique is capable of providing unique event reconstruction. Moreover, a significant efficiency enhancement is demonstrated in comparison with the existing methods.