Bis(Saccharinato)Nickel(II) Complexes with 2-Aminomethyl and -Ethylpyridines. Syntheses,Crystal Structures,Spectral and Thermal Analyses of trans-[Ni(sac-N)2(ampy-N,N′)2] and trans-[Ni(sac-O)2(aepy-N,N′)2]

The trans-bis(saccharinato)nickel(II) complexes with 2-aminomethylpyridine (ampy) and 2-aminoethylpyridine (aepy) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, i.r., u.v.–vis., magnetic measurements and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Both structures consist of discrete molecules of the title complexes, in which the nickel(II) ion lies on an inversion centre and is octahedrally coordinated by two bidentate (N,N) ampy or aepy ligands and two anionic sac ligands, occupying trans positions. The most interesting feature of the complexes is the coordination of sac. In [Ni(sac)₂(ampy)₂], sac is N-bonded, whereas it is O-coordinated in [Ni(sac)₂(aepy)₂]. The i.r. spectra and thermal behaviour of both complexes are discussed in detail.     

Observation of a narrow charm-strange meson D(+)(sJ)(2632)-->D(+)(s)eta and D(0)K(+)

We report the first observation of a charm-strange meson D(+)(sJ)(2632) at a mass of 2632.5+/-1.7 MeV/c(2) in data from SELEX, the charm hadro-production experiment E781 at Fermilab. This state is seen in two decay modes, D(+)(s)eta and D0K+. In the D(+)(s)eta decay mode we observe a peak with 101 events over a combinatoric background of 54.9 events at a mass of 2635.4+/-3.3 MeV/c(2). There is a corresponding peak of 21 events over a background of 6.9 at 2631.5+/-2.0 MeV/c(2) in the decay mode D0K+. The decay width of this state is <17 MeV/c(2) at 90% confidence level. The relative branching ratio Gamma(D0K+)/Gamma(D(+)(s)eta) is 0.14+/-0.06. The mechanism that keeps this state narrow is unclear. Its decay pattern is also unusual, being dominated by the D(+)(s)eta decay mode.     

Discontinuous Boundary Value Problems with Retarded Argument and Eigenparameter-Dependent Boundary Conditions

In this paper we study the asymptotic formulas for the eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions of discontinuous boundary value problems with retarded argument and eigenparameter-dependent boundary conditions.     

Synthesis,Molecular Structure,Optical Properties and Electrical Conductivity of Zwitterionic Ferrocenyldithiophosphonates

Ferrocenyldithiodiphosphetane [FcPS(μ‐S)]₂ [Fc = Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(η⁵‐C₅H₅)] reacts with the aminoethanol derivatives 1‐ethyl‐3‐pyrrolidinol and 2‐(piperazin‐1‐yl)ethanol to give the zwitterionic (O‐ethylammonium)ferrocenyldithiophosphonates ( 2 ) and ( 3 ), which were fully characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The optical and electrical properties of 2 and 3 as well as those of the previously reported [FcP(S)S(OC₂H₄NHEt₂)] ( 1 ) were studied. A molecular structure determination of 1 is also reported.     

Temperature-triggered micellization of block copolymers on an ionic liquid surface

In situ neutron reflectivity was used to study thermally induced structural changes of the lamellae-forming polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) block copolymer thin films floating on the surface of an ionic liquid (IL). The IL, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate, is a nonsolvent for PS and a temperature-tunable solvent for P2VP, and, as such, micellization can be induced at the air-IL interface by changing the temperature. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning force microscopy were used to investigate the resultant morphologies of the micellar films. It was found that highly ordered nanostructures consisting of spherical micelles with a PS core surrounded by a P2VP corona were produced. In addition, bilayer films of PS homopolymer on top of a PS-b-P2VP layer also underwent micellization with increasing temperature but the micellization was strongly dependent on the thickness of the PS and PS-b-P2VP layers.     

Theoretical study of hydrolysis of an imine oxime in aqueous solution and crystal structure and spectroscopic characterization of a platinum(II) complex containing the hydrolysis product

The hydrolysis of an imine oxime (ppeieoH) in neutral and acidic aqueous solutions was studied using DFT at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level. The rate-determining step at the neutral and acidic aqueous solutions is the nucleophilic attack of the water molecules to the neutral or protonated imine C atom of ppeieoH. The activation energy is much lower in the acidic hydrolysis. The hydrolysis of ppeieoH results in the parent carbonyl oxime (inapH) and amine compounds with ΔG _cal values of 8.66 and 11.02 kJ mol^?1 in the neutral and acidic solutions, respectively. The hydrolysis of ppeieoH was observed experimentally during its reaction with K₂[PtCl₄] in an aqueous solution. The reaction yielded [PtCl(inap)(DMSO)], which contains only the hydrolysis product inap. The new platinum(II) complex was characterized spectroscopic techniques and X-ray diffraction. The platinum(II) ion is coordinated by chlorido, carbonyl oxime (inap), and DMSO ligands forming a distorted square-planar arrangement. The molecules of the platinum(II) complex were connected by weak non-conventional C–H···O and C–H···π hydrogen bonds.     

A multi-methodological approach for shipping registry selection in maritime transportation industry

Selecting the most suitable registry alternative for shipping fleets has become a highly complex strategic activity for ship owners in the maritime transportation industry, and necessitates consideration of both internal and external environmental factors, which can be both qualitative and quantitative. The aim of this paper is to propose an originally structured multi-methodological approach based on the systematic application of the SWOT analysis, the AHP and the TOPSIS methods to support the critical decision process on shipping registry selection under multiple criteria. In the proposed approach, the SWOT analysis is utilized to determine the key assessment factors on the shipping registry decision and to structure the decision hierarchy. While the AHP is used to measure the relative importance of evaluation criteria in this decision hierarchy, the TOPSIS is applied to rank the shipping registry alternatives. As a case study, major open registries are analyzed to select the most suitable of them for the fleet that is operated by a worldwide ship owner. The results show that the proposed multi-methodological approach takes the advantages of the SWOT analysis, the AHP and the TOPSIS to select the most suitable shipping registry. The proposed approach also provides a relatively simple and very well suited decision-making tool for this type of strategic decision making problem.