2‐connected 7‐coverings of 3‐connected graphs on surfaces

An m‐covering of a graph G is a spanning subgraph of G with maximum degree at most m. In this paper, we shall show that every 3‐connected graph on a surface with Euler genus k ≥ 2 with sufficiently large representativity has a 2‐connected 7‐covering with at most 6k ? 12 vertices of degree 7. We also construct, for every surface F² with Euler genus k ≥ 2, a 3‐connected graph G on F² with arbitrarily large representativity each of whose 2‐connected 7‐coverings contains at least 6k ? 12 vertices of degree 7. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 43: 26–36, 2003     

Epoxy based coatings on glass: strengthening mechanisms

Glass may be strengthened by epoxy coatings although the strengthening mechanisms remain unclear. Possible strengthening mechanisms are reviewed and are used to analyse strength data for both a solvent based and a water based coating system. The coatings either fill (solvent based coatings), or partially fill (water based coatings) surface cracks and it is shown that closure stresses arising from the thermal expansion mismatch of the coating within these cracks can account for the observed degrees of strengthening. It is also demonstrated that other suggested mechanisms such as flaw healing cannot fully account for the observed degree of strengthening.     

1H and 13C NMR assignments of abietane diterpenes from Aegiphila lhotzkyana

An NMR study of one new and several known abietane diterpenes isolated from the roots of Aegiphila lhotzkyana is described. In addition to 1D NMR, several 2D shift‐correlated NMR pulse sequences (¹H–¹H‐COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC) were used to establish all the structures, and unambiguously perform the ¹H and ¹³C chemical shift assignments of the new natural diterpene and three derivatives, the NMR data for which have not been reported previously. Revision of current data assignment for teuvincenone H is also suggested. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microwave‐improved polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone initiated by carboxylic acids

The ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL), initiated by carboxylic acids such as benzoic acid and chlorinated acetic acids under microwave irradiation, was investigated; with this method, no metal catalyst was necessary. The product was characterized as poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. The polymerization was significantly improved under microwave irradiation. The weight‐average molecular weight (M_w) of PCL reached 44,800 g/mol, with a polydispersity index [weight‐average molecular weight/number‐average molecular weight (M_w/M_n)] of 1.6, when a mixture of ε‐CL and benzoic acid (25/1 molar ratio) was irradiated at 680 W for 240 min, whereas PCL with M_w = 12,100 and M_w/M_n = 4.2 was obtained from the same mixture by a conventional heating method at 210 °C for 240 min. A degradation of the resultant PCL was observed during microwave polymerization with chlorinated acetic acids as initiators, and this induced a decrease in M_w of PCL. However, the degradation was hindered by benzoic acid at low concentrations. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 13–21, 2003     

Crack path instabilities in DCDC experiments in the low speed regime

We studied the low speed fracture regime (10⁻⁴-10⁻⁹ m s⁻¹) in different glassy materials (soda-lime glass, glass ceramics) with variable but controlled length scale of heterogeneity. The chosen mechanical system enabled us to work in pure mode I (tensile) and at a fixed load on double cleavage drilled compression specimen. The internal residual stresses of studied samples were carefully relaxed by appropriate thermal treatment. By means of optical and atomic force microscopy techniques fracture surfaces have been examined. We have shown for the first time that the crack front line underwent an out-of-plane oscillating behavior as a result of a reproducible sequence of instabilities. The wavelength of such a phenomenon is in the micrometer range and its amplitude in the nanometer range. These features were observed for different glassy materials providing that a typical length scale characterizing internal heterogeneities was lower than a threshold limit estimated to few nanometers. This effect is the first clear experimental evidence of crack path instabilities in the low speed regime in a uniaxial loading experiment. This phenomenon has been interpreted by referring to the stability criterion for a straight crack propagation as presented by Adda-Bedia et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 76 (1996) 1497].     

Characterization of reduced iso‐α‐acids derived from hops (Humulus lupulus) by NMR

Reduced forms of iso‐α‐acids (isohumulones), used in modern beer brewing were separated and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Components from mixtures of rho‐iso‐α‐acids, tetrahydro‐iso‐α‐acids, and hexahydro‐iso‐α‐acids were isolated using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and analyzed by use of one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR experiments. The data presented assign the identities of the main peaks in the HPLC traces for the reduced iso‐α‐acids. Previous tentative assignments regarding the cis and trans configurations and the structures of the acyl residues of the reduced iso‐α‐acids were confirmed and extensive NMR assignments were made. Furthermore, the previously unknown stereochemistry in the C‐4 side‐chain of the rho‐ and hexahydro‐iso‐α‐acids was assigned. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Foams and surface rheological properties of β-casein, gliadin and glycinin

Interfacial rheological properties and their suitability for foam production and stability of two vegetable proteins were studied and compared to β-casein. Proteins used ranged from flexible to rigid/globular in the order of β-casein, gliadin and soy glycinin. Experiments were performed at pH 6.7. Network forming properties were characterised by the surface dilational modulus (determined with the ring trough) and the critical falling film length (L_still) at which a stagnant protein film will break. Gliadin had the highest dilational modulus, followed by glycinin and β-casein, whereas glycinin formed the strongest film against fracture in the overflowing cylinder. The rate of decrease in the surface tension was studied at the air–water (Wilhelmy plate method) and the oil–water interface (bursting membrane) and the dynamic surface tension during compression and expansion in the caterpillar. Gliadin had the lowest equilibrium interfacial tensions and β-casein the lowest dynamic surface tension during expansion. Hardly any foam could be formed at a concentration of 0.1 g/l by shaking. At a concentration of 1.4 g/l most foam was formed by β-casein, followed by gliadin and glycinin. It seems that in the first place the rate of adsorption is important for foam formation. For the vegetable proteins, adsorption was slow. This resulted in lower foamability, especially for glycinin.     

Co-cliques and star complements in extremal strongly regular graphs

Suppose that the positive integer μ is the eigenvalue of largest multiplicity in an extremal strongly regular graph G. By interlacing, the independence number of G is at most 4μ² + 4μ − 2. Star complements are used to show that if this bound is attained then either (a) μ = 1 and G is the Schläfli graph or (b) μ = 2 and G is the McLaughlin graph.     

Contributions to the synthesis of some ferrocene-containing antibiotics

This Review discusses the synthesis and characterization by our Group of new antibiotics belonging to the class of penicillins, cephalosporins and rifamycins with ferrocenyl and 1, 1′-ferrocenilene residues in the molecule. As reactants for 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) and 7-aminocephalosporanic acid (7-ACA) the following were used: 1, 1-bis(chlorocarbonyl)ferrocene, ferrocenyl sulfochloride, 1, 1′-ferrocenylenedisulfochloride and thioglycolic acids S-modified with ferrocene. In the synthesis of rifamycins, the hydrazides of the thioglycolic acids, S-modified with ferrocene, were employed as nucleophilic agents. The synthesized intermediates were characterized by elemental analysis, TLC, IR, UV and ¹H NMR spectra. The characterization of new antibiotics was made by TLC, IR and UV spectral analysis. Biological activity was tested on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Good activity is reported towards Gram-positive bacteria in the case of derivatives containing residues of thioglycolic acid S-modified with ferrocene, the antibacterial activity being similar to that of amoxicillin, carbenicillin and cephalothin. All compounds are inactive towards Gram-negative bacteria.