Conjugation and proton exchange equilibria I. Significant role of proton exchange and homoconjugation equilibria in protonic hetero systems

The significant role of the proton exchange and homoconjugation (formation of AHA^– and A₁HA ₁ ^– complexes) equilibria in protonic hetero systems (HA+A ₁ ^– ) has been shown from analysis of published data and from my own simple experiments. It is concluded that there is a need to reconsider some basic hydrogen bond problems. One of these problems-the existence of heteroconjugates in polar solvents — has been verified and illustrated with suitable experimental evidence (IR and UV-VIS spectra). The most accepted experimental evidence for the double minimum potential in the hydrogen bridge has been questioned as being in disagreement with the equilibrium law. A simple relation between the heteroconjugation constant, the parent homoconjugation constants and the proton exchange constant is also postulated. This relation fulfills important theoretical requirements, however, it is not applicable in extreme cases.To the memory of Bogdan Przybyszewski.     

Generation of low-density plasma by two-step photoionization of barium and its evolution in electric field

Two-color, two-step resonant photoionization has been used to produce low-density (∼10⁶ – 10⁷cm⁻³) barium photoplasma in an atomic beam. The two-photon induced specific absorption coefficient at 355nm for the photoionization process has been measured. The motion of the finite size photoplasma bounded by vacuum is experimentally studied in a static electric field in parallel-plate electrode configuration. It is observed that at sufficiently high electric fields all electrons leave the plasma and the evolution of the left over ion bunch is understood on the basis of independent particle motion.     

Two-step single-colour photoionization spectroscopy of atomic uranium

The single-colour photoionization spectrum of atomic uranium is recorded in the spectral region from 366 to 371 nm. Most of the 43 observed resonances are found to be associated with the two-step photoionization process. Based on known energy levels seven new transitions have been proposed. Three of these transitions originate either from the ground state or the lowest metastable state at 620 cm^–1.     

Preparative isolation and separation of a novel and two known flavonoids from Patrinia villosa Juss by high-speed counter-current chromatography

Preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully used for isolation and separation three flavonoids including bolusanthol B, a novel compound named 5,7,2',6'-tetrahydroxy-6,8-di(gamma,gamma-dimethylallyl) flavanone and tetrapterol I from Patrinia villosa Juss using two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water at the volume ratio of 10:11:11:8 (v/v). A total of 25.4 mg bolusanthol B, 52.5 mg 5,7,2',6'-tetrahydroxy-6,8-di(gamma,gamma-dimethylallyl) flavanone and 50.2 mg tetrapterol I were obtained from 250 mg crude extract with purities of 96.8%, 99.2% and 99.3%, respectively determined by HPLC in one single operation and less than 5 h. The structure identification was performed by UV, IR, MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and 2D NMR. Among then, bolusanthol B and tetrapterol I were obtained from the plant of Patrinia genius for the first time, and 5,7,2',6'-tetrahydroxy-6,8-di(gamma,gamma-dimethylallyl) flavanone was a novel prenylated flavonoid and discovered from nature for the first time.     

N-乙烯酰胺的活性自由基聚合进展*

本文总结了N-乙烯酰胺类单体的活性自由基聚合进展。该类非共轭单体的活性自由基聚合一度是十分困难,但近年该领域取得了可喜的进展,如黄原酸酯和二硫代氨基甲酸酯家族的某些成员能成功的以加成-断裂链转移（RAFT）聚合或黄原酸酯交换法（MADIX）控制其分子量,在特定条件下还可以同时控制其立体结构。近年发现的有机铋、有机锑和有机碲化合物也成功应用于该类单体的（共）聚合,从而扩大了聚合物的结构谱。此外,原子转移自由基聚合（ATRP）中的某些体系也能在一定程度上控制该类单体的活性聚合。     

Biclosure and bistability in a balanced bipartite graph

The k-biclosure of a balanced bipartite graph wiht color classes A and B is the graph obtained from G by recursively joining pairs of nonadjacent vertices respectively taken in A and B whose degree sum is at least k, until no such pair remains. A property P defined on all the balanced bipartite graphs of order 2n is k-bistable if whenever G + ab has property P and d_G(b) ≧ k then G itself has property P. We present a synthesis of results involving, for some properties, P, the bistability of P, the k-biclosure of G, the number of edges and the minimum degree. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Clinical decision support system for dental treatment

BackgroundIn this research, a decision making system, based on fuzzy inference mechanism as proposed by Mamdani, is presented. Literature suggests that there is a lack of consistency among dentists in choosing treatment plan(s). So, this research work aims to facilitate the dentist decide the treatment plan(s) of the broken tooth.MethodsAn expert system based on fuzzy logic has been designed to accept inaccurate and vague values of dental signs and symptoms associated with the broken tooth. We designed a knowledge base with 60 rules and used Mamdani inference algorithm to decide the possible one or more treatment(s) and suggest the same to the dentist.ResultsThe results proposed by the system are compared with the dentists’ suggestions. The Chi-square test of homogeneity is conducted on 100 randomly generated sample cases with the help of three professional dentists. It is found that the results produced by the system are consistent with the treatment plan(s) proposed by the dentists. Chi-square value of the test is 3.843565 which is less than the critical value which is 12.592. Hence, we are unable to reject the null hypothesis that assumes the two populations are homogeneous with respect to treatments.ConclusionsThe accuracy of the proposed decision support system for the treatment of broken tooth enhances the confidence level of the dentists while making decision regarding the treatment plan(s). Simple and interactive GUI makes it easy to use.     

Nanocomposites of polyamide‐11 and carbon nanostructures: Development of microstructure and ultimate properties following solution processing

There is growing interest in the incorporation of nanoparticles into engineering polymers to improve various functional properties. However, ultimate properties of nanocomposites are affected by a large number of factors including the microstructural distributions that are generated during processing. In this work, polyamide‐11 (PA‐11) (also known as nylon‐11) nanocomposites are generated with carbon nanostructures employing a solution crystallization technique at multiple polymer and nanoparticle concentrations, followed by drying, molding, uniaxial stretching and the analysis of the microstructural distributions and tensile properties of the nanocomposites. The morphology of crystals of PA‐11 encapsulating the nanoparticles changed from nano‐hybrid shish‐kebabs at low polymer concentration (0.02 wt % PA‐11 in solvent) to spherulites at high polymer concentration (10 wt % PA‐11 in solvent). The drawing down of nanocomposite films at draw ratios ranging from 2 to 5 at 100 °C resulted in a shift of the PA‐11 polymorph from the generally‐encountered α phase to the technologically interesting γ phase (which is the crystal phase attributed to the piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of PA‐11). The drawing down also increased of the tensile modulus and yield stress of the nanocomposite films. In contrast, the α phase was conserved at a drawdown temperature of 150 °C, which was attributed to the resulting smaller normal force, i.e., the normal stress difference and the higher temperature allowing the partial relaxation of some of the macromolecules. These findings illustrate how PA‐11 can be structured in the presence of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers to achieve enhanced functionality, which could broaden the application areas and utility of this polymer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 49: 1311–1321, 2011     

Controlled radical polymerization of N‐vinylcaprolactam mediated by xanthate or dithiocarbamate

Controlled radical polymerization of N‐vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization or macromolecular design via the interchange of xanthate (MADIX) was described, employing 2‐diphenylthiocarbamoylsulfanyl‐2‐methyl‐propionic acid (CTA1), ((O‐ethylxanthyl)methyl)benzene (CTA2) and (1‐(O‐ethylxanthyl)ethyl)benzene (CTA3) as chain transfer agents (CTA). It was found that all the CTAs led to controlled radical polymerization of NVCL, with the molecular weight increased along with the conversion of monomer and a relatively narrow molecular weight distribution could be obtained, as determined with matrix‐assisted laser desorption and ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC), the polydispersity indices, as determined by MALDI‐TOF, were typically on the order of 1.24, but the polymerization did not proceed in a strictly living manner. The chain transfer ability of these CTAs was in the following order: CTA1 ≈ CTA2 < CTA3. MALTI‐TOF measurement showed that the major population of polymer retained the chain‐end functional group, but minor population deactivated by radical coupling. In preparation of the block copolymer of NVCL and vinyl acetate (VAc) by sequential polymerization, the sequence of monomer addition was important. Using VAc as the first monomer could lead to a block copolymer presenting a unimodal GPC trace and a narrow PDI index, and if NVCL was used as the first monomer, the polymerization was less well controlled. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3756–3765, 2008