Weight distributions of a class of cyclic codes with arbitrary number of nonzeros in quadratic case

Cyclic codes are an important class of linear codes, whose weight distribution have been extensively studied. So far, most of previous results obtained were for cyclic codes with no more than three nonzeros. Recently, the authors of [37] constructed a class of cyclic codes with arbitrary number of nonzeros, and computed the weight distribution for several cases. In this paper, we determine the weight distribution for a new family of such codes. This is achieved by introducing certain new methods, such as the theory of Jacobi sums over finite fields and subtle treatment of some complicated combinatorial identities.     

A Self‐contained Two‐electrode Nanosensor for Electrochemical Analysis in Aqueous Microenvironments

We describe the development, fabrication, and characterization of a novel two‐electrode nanosensor contained within the tip of a needle‐like probe. This sensor consists of two, vertically aligned, carbon structures which function as individual electrodes. One of the carbon structures was modified by silver electrodeposition and chlorination to enable it to function as a pseudo‐reference electrode. Performance of this pseudo‐reference electrode was found to be comparable to that of commercially available Ag/AgCl reference electrodes. The unmodified carbon structure was employed as a working electrode versus the silver‐plated carbon structure to form a two‐electrode sensor capable of characterizing redox‐active analytes. The nanosensor was demonstrated to be capable of electrochemically characterizing the redox behavior of para‐aminophenol (PAP) in both bulk solutions and microenvironments. PAP was also measured in cell lysate to show that the nanosensor can detect small concentrations of analyte in heterogenous environments. As the working and reference electrodes are contained within a single nanoprobe, there was no requirement to position external electrodes within the electrochemical cell enabling analysis within very small domains. Due to the low‐cost manufacturing process, this nanoprobe has the potential to become a unique and widely accessible tool for the electrochemical characterization of microenvironments.     

A multi-axial, multimechanism based constitutive model for the comprehensive representation of the evolutionary response of SMAs under general thermomechanical loading conditions

We present a fully general, three dimensional, constitutive model for Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs), aimed at describing all of the salient features of SMA evolutionary response under complex thermomechanical loading conditions. In this, we utilize the mathematical formulation we have constructed, along with a single set of the model’s material parameters, to demonstrate the capturing of numerous responses that are experimentally observed in the available SMA literature. This includes uniaxial, multi-axial, proportional, non-proportional, monotonic, cyclic, as well as other complex thermomechanical loading conditions, in conjunction with a wide range of temperature variations. The success of the presented model is mainly attributed to the following two main factors. First, we use multiple inelastic mechanisms to organize the exchange between the energy stored and energy dissipated during the deformation history. Second, we adhere strictly to the well established mathematical and thermodynamical requirements of convexity, associativity, normality, etc. in formulating the evolution equations governing the model behavior, written in terms of the generalized internal stress/strain tensorial variables associated with the individual inelastic mechanisms. This has led to two important advantages: (a) it directly enabled us to obtain the limiting/critical transformation surfaces in the spaces of both stress and strain, as importantly required in capturing SMA behavior; (b) as a byproduct, this also led, naturally, to the exhibition of the apparent deviation from normality, when the transformation strain rate vectors are plotted together with the surfaces in the space of external/global stresses, that has been demonstrated in some recent multi-axial, non-proportional experiments.     

Saiyutones A-D: four new unusual biflavones from Desmos chinensis

Four new unusual biflavones, saiyutones A-D, were isolated from the leaves of Desmos chinensis together with 16 known compounds. Their structures were determined on the basis of UV, IR, NMR, and MS analysis, and by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported. Saiyutones A and B had a unique biflavone skeleton with a 3-6″ linkage through a methylene group. It was proposed that the formation of a cyclic hemiketal was the key step in the biosynthetic pathway of saiyutones C and D.     

Rhenium complex-catalyzed acylative cleavage of ethers with acyl chlorides

It was found that rhenium complex was an efficient catalyst for the acylative cleavage of C-O bond of ethers with acyl chlorides. When acyclic ethers were allowed to react with acyl chlorides in the presence of a catalytic amount of ReBr(CO)₅, acylative cleavage of C-O bond of acyclic ethers smoothly proceeded to give the corresponding esters in moderate to good yields. Similarly, cyclic ethers were acylative cleaved by acyl chlorides to give the corresponding chloro substituted esters in good yields by the use of Re₂O₇ catalyst.     

Indium triflate mediated tandem acetalisation-acetal exchange reactions under solvent-free conditions

Acyclic acetals and ketals undergo exchange reactions in the presence of catalytic quantities of indium(III) triflate and diols to generate the corresponding cyclic acetals and ketals in excellent yield. The protocol is rapid, employs mild conditions and can be adapted to employ solvent-free reaction conditions. We have further developed this methodology to encompass a tandem acetalisation-acetal exchange protocol which provides facile access to cyclic ketals from unreactive ketones also under very mild, solvent-free reaction conditions.     

Insight into Amyloid Formation Using Congo Red as the Electrochemical Probe

The amyloid‐β (Aβ) aggregation pathway is an important target for the discovery of drugs that can prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The electrochemistry of Congo Red (CR) represents a particularly promising tool for screening of Aβ‐binding therapeutics in a rapid and cost‐effective format. The results of the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) measurements were confirmed using simultaneous UV‐vis analysis of the same incubated Aβ samples. The early changes in the electrochemical signals were attributed to the interaction of the Aβ oligomers with CR. The electrochemical approach, in principle, allowed monitoring small molecule‐Aβ interactions on the time scale of aggregation.     

Asymmetric Cyclic Phosphorothonamides Containing Substituted Pyridine

In order to find high-acitivity and low-toxicity pesticidal lead compounds, a type of novel, asymmetric cyclic phosphorothonamides containing substituted pyridine were synthesized via the condensation reactions of 2-chloro-4-substitutedphenyl-5,5-dimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinane 2-sulfide with 3-aminomethylpyridine. The cis and trans isomers of the products were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel. The structures of the products were characterized by ¹ H NMR, ³¹ P NMR, MS, and elemental analyses. The configuration of 3a was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The results of the preliminary bioassay showed that the new compounds possess potential fungicidal activities.     

N-heterocyclic carbene based ruthenium complexes for selective β-C(sp3)-H functionalization of N-fused saturated cyclic amines

Herein, a series of new ruthenium(II) complexes with the general molecular formula [RuCl₂(arene)(NHC)], (arene?=?η⁶-p-cymene, NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) were synthesized from in situ prepared silver(I)-NHCs by the transmetallation method. These complexes were fully characterized by analytical and spectral methods. Ruthenium(II) complexes were tested as promising catalyst for selective β-C(sp³)-H functionalization of N-methylpiperidine with various aldehydes through hydrogen transfers in presence of external acidic additive. These eco-friendly cross-dehydrogenative couplings enable the production of C(3)-alkylated N-methylpiperidine derivatives without enamines with only carbon dioxide and water as benign by-product.     

Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates from CO2 and Epoxides Catalyzed by Hexaalkylguanidinium Halides

Hexaalkylguanidinium halides exhibit an efficient catalytic activity in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide. By this method cyclic carbonates can be obtained in a high yield and a high selectivity at a low temperature and atmospheric pressure. This procedure is easy for the product isolation and recycling of the catalyst.