An isochore versal deformation theorem

We introduce a cohomological approach to isochore deformation problems. We use this formulation in order to prove an isochore versal deformation theorem for holomorphic function germs.     

Structure,Chirality, and Formation of Giant Icosahedral Fullerenes and Spherical Graphitic Onions

We describe the topology, structure, and stability of giant fullerenes exhibiting various symmetries (I, I _h , D _2h , T). Our results demonstrate that it is possible to create two new families of nested chiral icosahedral (I) fullerenes namely C₂₆₀@C₅₆₀@C₉₈₀@C₁₅₂₀@, ...,and C₁₄₀@C₃₈₀@C₇₄₀@C₁₂₂₀@ ..., which exhibit interlayer separations of ca. 3.4 Å. These chiral fullerenes are thought to possess metalliclike conduction properties. We discuss in detail the transformation of polyhedral graphitic particles into quasispherical nested giant fullerenes by reorganization of carbon atoms, which result in the formation of additional pentagonal and heptagonal carbon rings. These spherical structures are metastable and we believe they could be formed under extreme conditions, such as those produced by high-energy electron irradiation. There is circumstantial experimental evidence for the presence of heptagonal rings within these spherical fullerenes.     

Cation transport by a redox-active synthetic ion channel

The synthesis, cation binding and transmembrane conductive properties of a novel group of synthetic ion channels containing a redox-active centre are described. Experiments using a black lipid membrane preparation revealed that these compounds function effectively as ion channels. Subsequent 23Na NMR spectroscopy studies focused on a synthesized ion channel with a ferrocene centre. When incorporated in vesicular bilayers, this channel was demonstrated to support a Na+ flux that was at least six times faster than ion transport by monensin. Since oxidation of the ferrocene moiety completely inhibited the Na+ transport, the redox-active centre provides a potential mechanism for controlling ion flux.     

Do solid surface potential barriers retard convoy peak electrons?

Using a coaxial cylindric electron spectrometer and an electrostatic ion energy analyzer in tandem, a direct measurement of the difference of the energy of convoy peak electron and the electron equivalent ion energy of protons emerging from the downstream surface of C, Au and Al foils is performed in the proton energy range from 60 to 250 keV. This measurement is made possible using the accepted evidence that for a gas target these energies are equal. It is found that also for the beam foil convoy peak electrons, within an experimental average uncertainty of about ±0.1 eV, there is no difference between these energies. If one accepts that the origin of convoy electrons is from inside the solid, the conclusion is that no retardation by the solid surface potential barrier, which is of the order of a few eV, is observed. This is attributed to the strong electron-ion Coulomb interaction which almost completely overshadows the force exerted on the electron by the field of the surface barrier.     

Ethylene polymerization over supported MAO/(nBuCp)2ZrCl2 catalysts: Influence of support properties

The catalytic system methylaluminoxane (MAO) and bis(n-butylcyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride ((nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂) was immobilized on commercial silica, silica-alumina and aluminophosphate calcined at different temperatures. The properties of the supports were determined by using N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms at 77 K, FT-IR spectroscopy and SEM. After aluminium and zirconium impregnation, the catalysts were analyzed by ICP-AES, FT-IR and UV-vis spectroscopy. Ethylene polymerizations were carried out in a Schlenk tube at 70 °C and 1.2 bar of ethylene pressure. The polyethylene obtained was characterized by GPC, DSC and SEM.Catalysts supported on silica-alumina exhibited higher polymerization activity than those supported on silica and aluminophosphate. Besides, the activity of MAO/(nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂ catalytic system supported on silica-alumina and aluminophosphate decreased strongly with support calcination temperature, while remained almost constant when silica was employed as support. All these experimental features suggest a role of the support acid properties and hydroxyl group population in the generation of active polymerization species.     

Study of the 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone-yttrium(III) complex in solution and in the solid state

The photometric and fluorometric characteristics of the complex formed by 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone with Y(III) in 20–80% water-ethanol solution are described by the study of several variables. The stoichiometry and stability constant of the complex in the solution are 1:1 and log K = 4.57, respectively. The 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone-Y(III) solid complex has been prepared and studied by infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The thermal behavior of this compound has been studied using thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry techniques and the residue verified by X-ray diffraction.     

Self-interaction-corrected electronegativities and hardness for atoms

Electronegativity χ and hardness η for 54 atoms and their positive and negative ions are calculated by means of self-interaction-corrected DFT including correlation terms. The exchange potential energy is treated by local spin density approximation corrected to account for self-interaction effects as suggested by Rae. The highest occupied orbital eigenvalues for ions are identified to the chemical potential μ^± for positive and negative charged atoms depending upon the developing charge process. Values of χ^±δ and η^± for the different ionic species are given for several values of δ. Average values for 〈χ〉 and 〈η〉 in the sense of Mulliken finite formula for neutral atoms are also tabulated and compared with Mulliken values from experimental data. The agreement among them is almost quantitative.     

Dramatic changes in geometry after ionization: experimental and theoretical studies on the electronic properties of fluorocarbonyl (mono-, di-, and tri-) sulfur compounds

In this work, we present a complete study on He I photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) for the fluorocarbonyl mono-, di-, and trisulfur compounds FC(O)SCl, FC(O)SSCH(3), and FC(O)SSSC(O)F. After optimizations of the structure for stable conformers at different levels of theory, a complete theoretical study involving the calculation of the ionization energies using orbital valence Green's functional (OVGF) was performed. Calculations of radical-cationic forms were carried out in order to compare their properties with those of the neutral molecules. The first IP values are 10.7, 9.0, and 10.5 eV for FC(O)SCl, FC(O)SSCH(3), and FC(O)SSSC(O)F, respectively. The groups bonded to the S atom mainly influence the ionizations originating from the sulfur lone pairs. A wide electronic delocalization in the FC(O)S moiety can be deduced from experimental and theoretical results, which leads to a strong energetic stabilization of the n' '(S) (sulfur lone pair pi orbital). Other conclusions relate to effects on the substituents attached to the S atom and the importance of the molecular planarity in the orbital stabilization of the FC(O)S moiety for the neutral molecules. It is worthwhile mentioning that FC(O)SCl retains its planar structure after ionization, but drastic changes occur in the geometry of both FC(O)SSCH(3) and FC(O)SSSC(O)F. The FC(O)SSCH(3) molecule adopts a heavy atom planar structure after ionization. The FC(O)SSS moiety becomes a planar form after the ionization of the FC(O)SSSC(O)F molecule, whereas the second C(O)F group maintains its original conformation with respect to the SSS group.     

Mass spectrometric characterization of two novel inflammatory peptides from the venom of the social wasp Polybia paulista

The social wasp P. paulista is relatively common in southeast Brazil causing many medically important stinging incidents. The seriousness of these incidents is dependent on the amount of venom inoculated by the wasps into the victims, and the characteristic envenomation symptoms are strongly dependent on the types of peptides present in the venom. In order to identify some of these naturally occurring peptides available in very low amounts, an analytical protocol was developed that uses a combination of reversed-phase and normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of wasp venom for peptide purification, with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight post-source decay mass spectrometry (MALDI-Tof-PSD-MS) and low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (QTof-MS/MS) instrument for peptide sequencing at the sub-picomole level. The distinction between Leu and Ile was achieved both by observing d-type fragment ions obtained under CID conditions and by comparison of retention times of the natural peptides and their synthetic counterparts (with different combinations of I and/or L at N- and C-terminal positions). To distinguish the isobaric residues K and Q, acetylation of peptides was followed by Q-Tof-MS analysis. The primary sequences obtained were INWLKLGKMVIDAL-NH(2) (MW 1611.98 Da) and IDWLKLGKMVMDVL-NH(2) (MW 1658.98 Da). Micro-scale bioassay protocols characterized both peptides as presenting potent hemolytic action, mast cell degranulation, and chemotaxis of polymorphonucleated leukocyte (PMNL) cells. The primary sequences and the bioassay results suggest that these toxins constitute members of a new sub-class of mastoparan toxins, directly involved in the occurrence of inflammatory processes after wasp stinging.