Singular crystalline beta'-layered topologies directed by ribbons of self-complementary amide...amide ring motifs in [EDT-TTF-(CONH(2))(2)](2)X (X = HSO(4)(-), ClO(4)(-), ReO(4)(-), AsF(6)(-)): coupled activation of ribbon curvature, electron interactions, and magnetic susceptibility

The deliberate design of a series of single crystals of conducting two-dimensional radical cation salts of o-bis(amide)-appended ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalene, beta'-[EDT-TTF-(CONH(2))(2)](2)X (X = HSO(4)(-), ClO(4)(-), ReO(4)(-), or AsF(6)(-)) and of their parent monocomponent solid EDT-TTF-(CONH(2))(2) is demonstrated and allows us to reach a level of prediction of the structure of molecular conductors. Their conductivity is activated with a gap of 1650 K and a sizable room-temperature conductivity of 0.15 S.cm(-)(1) (for X = ClO(4)(-)) and a singular spin susceptibility for a beta'-type salt that, in addition, changes very remarkably with the anion. The key design element is that of a recurrent, puckered ribbon constructed out of self-complementary, hydrogen-bonded amide...amide ring motifs whose minute modulations of curvature and shape throughout the series have been shown to correlate to very remarkable differences in the intrastack beta(HOMO)(-)(HOMO) interaction energies and changes in the density of states at the Fermi level and on to important differences of spin susceptibility behavior in a system where electron correlations are significant. The coupled activation of structure, electron interactions, and magnetic susceptibility discovered and discussed throughout the paper is unprecedented and is seen as a genuine expression of interfacial hydrogen-bond interactions onto the collective electronic properties.     

Heterogeneity in styrene-butadiene latex films

Low-Tg styrene-butadiene (SB) latex films were investigated by noncontact atomic force microscopy and scanning electric potential microscopy, revealing a number of different morphologies and electric potential patterns across films cast from the same SB latex dispersions under the same conditions. Surface leveling and charge dispersion throughout the films are, thus, restrained even at temperatures above Tg and the minimum film-formation temperature. An unprecedented electric pattern is observed, in which the particle cores are more positive than the contacting particle outer layers. Different packing patterns, including cubic and hexagonal arrays, coexist in neighboring areas. Zonal centrifugation of the SB latex in sucrose density gradient shows that particles cover a broad range of densities. Thus, film surface heterogeneity is at least partly due to particle heterogeneity. Fractal dimensions of topographic profiles are lower than those of the electric potential profiles, showing that charge mobility is much more restrained than polymer chain motion at the film surface and that it imposes a limit to the charged chain-ends motion.     

On the complexity of the Unit Commitment Problem

Annals of Operations Research - This article analyzes how the Unit Commitment Problem (UCP) complexity evolves with respect to the number n of units and T of time periods. A classical reduction...     

The effect of subcritical carbon dioxide on the dissolution of cellulose in the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate

The ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([emim][OAc]) readily dissolves high concentrations of cellulose. However, the high viscosity of [emim][OAc] (162 cP at 20 °C) could limit its use as a solvent for cellulose. Dissolved CO₂ has been shown to decrease the viscosity of ILs. In this study, a 50 psi CO₂ environment was applied for the dissolution of cellulose in [emim][OAc] to determine if the cellulose dissolution could be enhanced. Dissolution profiles of 4 wt% cellulose dissolved in [emim][OAc] were obtained over a 24 h period. A 75% increase in the amount of dissolved cellulose was observed with the application of a 50 psi CO₂ environment.     

Kinetic Study on Models of the Tetrabutqxyzirconium-Catalyzed Reaction Between α, ω -Dicarboxypolyamide-11 and α, ω -Dihydroxypolyoxyethylene

The kinetics of the tetrabutoxyzirconium-catalyzed esterifications between 11-dodecylamideundecanoic acid and 1-dodecanol, 2-tridecanol, a-dodecyl-ω-hydroxypolyoxyethylene are studied and compared to that of α, ω-dicarboxypolyamide-l 1 and α, ω-dihydroxypolyoxyethylene. The reaction with 2-tridecanol is characterized by an autoacceleration phenomenon. In the other cases the reaction rate is not greatly affected by catalyst concentration. An explanation involving the formation of catalyst condensates at the very beginning of the reaction is put forward.     

Effect of β-cyclodextrin on spectroscopic properties of ochratoxin A in aqueous solution

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin produced by several fungal species, mainly Aspergillus ochraceus, A. carbonarius and Penicillium verrucosum. It contaminates many foodstuffs, particularly cereals and their derivatives, coffee, beer, wine and cocoa, and represents a serious health threat both to humans and animals. Spectroscopic properties of OTA solutions depend on the pH, solvent polarity and can be influenced by the presence of cyclodextrins (CDs). In this work, the effect of β-CD on spectroscopic properties of OTA in aqueous solutions has been investigated by means of absorption and steady-state fluorescence at different pHs (range 3.5–9.5). Binding constants of OTA/β-CD inclusion complexes have been determined by applying modified Benesi-Hildebrand equation. A 1:1 stoichiometry of OTA/β-CD complexes has been observed at all tested pHs.     

Modulation of the unpaired spin localization in Pentavalent Uranyl Complexes

The electronic structure of various complexes of pentavalent uranyl species, namely UO₂⁺, is described, using DFT methods, with the aim of understanding how the structure of the ligands may influence the localisation of the unpaired 5f electron of uranium (V) and, finally, the stability of such complexes towards oxidation. Six complexes have been inspected: [UO₂py₅]⁺ (1), [(UO₂py₅)KI₂] (2), [UO₂(salan-^tBu₂)(py)K] (3), [UO₂(salophen-^tBu₂)(thf)K] (4), [UO₂(salen-^tBu₂)(py)K] (5), [and UO₂-cyclo[6]pyrrole]^1? (6), chosen to explore various ligands. In the five first complexes, the UO₂⁺ species is well identified with the unpaired electron localized on the 5f uranium orbital. Additionally, for the salan, salen and salophen ligands, some covalent interactions have been observed, resulting from the presence of both donor and acceptor binding sites. In contrast, the last complex is best described by a UO₂²⁺ uranyl (VI) coordinated by the anionic radical cyclopyrrole, the highly delocalized π orbitals set stabilizing the radical behaviour of this ligand.     

Characterization,stoichiometry, and stability of salivary protein–tannin complexes by ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS

Numerous protein–polyphenol interactions occur in biological and food domains particularly involving proline-rich proteins, which are representative of the intrinsically unstructured protein group (IUP). Noncovalent protein–ligand complexes are readily detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), which also gives access to ligand binding stoichiometry. Surprisingly, the study of interactions between polyphenolic molecules and proteins is still an area where ESI-MS has poorly benefited, whereas it has been extensively applied to the detection of noncovalent complexes. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry has been applied to the detection and the characterization of the complexes formed between tannins and a human salivary proline-rich protein (PRP), namely IB5. The study of the complex stability was achieved by low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) measurements, which are commonly implemented using triple quadrupole, hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight, or ion trap instruments. Complexes composed of IB5 bound to a model polyphenol EgCG have been detected by ESI-MS and further analyzed by MS/MS. Mild ESI interface conditions allowed us to observe intact noncovalent PRP–tannin complexes with stoichiometries ranging from 1:1 to 1:5. Thus, ESI-MS shows its efficiency for (1) the study of PRP–tannin interactions, (2) the determination of stoichiometry, and (3) the study of complex stability. We were able to establish unambiguously both their stoichiometries and their overall subunit architecture via tandem mass spectrometry and solution disruption experiments. Our results prove that IB5·EgCG complexes are maintained intact in the gas phase.