Non-gravitating scalars and spacetime compactification

We discuss role of partially gravitating scalar fields, scalar fields whose energy–momentum tensors vanish for a subset of dimensions, in dynamical compactification of a given set of dimensions. We show that the resulting spacetime exhibits a factorizable geometry consisting of usual four-dimensional spacetime with full Poincaré invariance times a manifold of extra dimensions whose size and shape are determined by the scalar field dynamics. Depending on the strength of its coupling to the curvature scalar, the vacuum expectation value (VEV) of the scalar field may or may not vanish. When its VEV is zero the higher-dimensional spacetime is completely flat and there is no compactification effect at all. On the other hand, when its VEV is nonzero the extra dimensions get spontaneously compactified. The compactification process is such that a bulk cosmological constant is utilized for curving the extra dimensions.     

Structural and transport properties of Sn–Mg alloys

In this work, the structural and transport properties of Mg-doped Sn-based alloys have been investigated. The temperature-dependent transport and structural properties of Sn–Mg alloys were investigated for five different samples (Pure Sn, Sn-1.0 wt% Mg, Sn-2.0 wt% Mg, Sn-6.0 wt% Mg and Pure Mg). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray analysis measurements were carried out in order to clarify the structural properties of the samples. It was found that the samples had tetragonal crystal symmetry, except for pure Mg which had hexagonal crystal symmetry. We also found that the cell parameters changed slightly with the addition of Mg element. The SEM micrographs of the samples showed that they had smooth surfaces with a clear grain boundary. The electrical and thermal conductivity of the samples were measured by four-point probe and the radial heat flow method, respectively. The electrical resistivity of the samples increased almost linearly with the increasing temperature. The thermal conductivity values ranged between 0.60 and 1.00 W/Km, while they decreased slightly with temperature and increased with Mg composition. The thermal conductivity values of the alloys were in between the values of pure Sn and Mg. The thermal conductivity results of the alloys were compared with other available results, and a good agreement was seen between the results. In addition, the temperature coefficients of electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity were determined; these were independent of the composition of the alloying elements.     

Asymmetrically tetra-substituted phthalocyanine derivatives: synthesis,photophysical and photochemical properties

Transition Metal Chemistry - The syntheses of highly soluble asymmetrically substituted metal free and zinc phthalocyanine derivatives bearing three 4-(4-(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)phenoxy) and...     

Characterization of chemically deposited ZnSe/SnO2/glass films: Influence of annealing in Ar atmosphere on physical properties

The Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) thin films have been deposited on SnO₂/glass substrates by a simple and inexpensive chemical bath deposition (CBD). The structural, optical and electrical properties of ZnSe films have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX), optical absorption spectroscopy, and four point probe techniques, respectively. The films have been subjected to different annealing temperature in Argon (Ar) atmosphere. An increase in annealing temperature does not cause a complete phase transformation whereas it affects the crystallite size, dislocation density and strain. The optical band gap (E_g) of the as-deposited film is estimated to be 3.08 eV and decreases with increasing annealing temperature down to 2.43 eV at 773 K. The as-deposited and annealed films show typical semiconducting behaviour, dρ/dT > 0. Interestingly, the films annealed at 373 K, 473 K, and 573 K show two distinct temperature dependent regions of electrical resistivity; exponential region at high temperature, linear region at low temperature. The temperature at which the transition takes place from exponential to linear region strongly depends on the annealing temperature.     

Syntheses,characterization of and studies on the electrochemical behaviour of ferrocenyl dithiophosphonates and 4-methoxyphenyl dithiophosphonates

Some 1,3-dithiadiphosphetane 2,4-disulfides (X₂P₂S₄, X: Fc, FcLR; X: CH₃O?C₆H₄?, LR) were allowed to react with alcohols to obtain dithiophosphonic acids (X(OR)PS₂H). These were converted to the corresponding ammonium salts. The salts were of the structures [Fc(OR)PS₂]^?[NH₄]⁺, R: 3-methyl-1-butyl- for I; 1-phenyl-1-propyl- for II; 3-pentyl- for III; 3-phenyl-1-propyl- for IV and [CH₃O?C₆H₄(OR)PS₂]^?[NH₄]⁺, R: 3-methyl-1-butyl- for V and 1-phenyl-1-propyl- for VI. To the best of our knowledge, all the compounds except V were prepared for the first time.

The compounds synthesized were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P), MS, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopies. Electrochemical behaviors of I–VI at disposable pencil graphite electrode (PGE) were investigated by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV). Adsorption and diffusion patterns of all the compounds on the PGE were also studied.

Two electroactive groups were identified in the compounds I–IV and only one in V and VI. The ferrocenyl groups of I-IV were oxidized at around 0.4 V. The same compounds display a second, more intense CV band at 0.8 V. The corresponding band for the compounds V–VI appears at around 0.6 V with a much weaker intensity. It is suggested that the ferrocenyl group introduced into the structures stabilizes the radical species formed as the product of the oxidation of the dithiophosphonato group.     

Synthesis, characterization and comparative studies on the photophysical and photochemical properties of metal-free and zinc(II) phthalocyanines with phenyloxyacetic acid functionalities

The synthesis and characterization of new peripherally and non-peripherally tetra-substituted metal-free and zinc(II) phthalocyanines with 2-, 3- and 4-phenyloxyacetic acid functionalities are described for the first time in this study. The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis, MALDI-TOF and ¹H-NMR spectra. Photodegradation, singlet oxygen and fluorescence quantum yields, and fluorescence lifetimes of these compounds are studied in dimethylformamide (DMF). The influence of the substituent position on the phthalocyanine framework (non-peripherally or peripherally), central metal ion (metal-free or zinc) and the position of the COOH group (2-, 3- or 4-position on the phenyloxyacetic acid) on the spectroscopic, photophysical and photochemical properties have been investigated. Non-peripherally zinc(II) phthalocyanines (1b and 2b) and peripherally zinc(II) phthalocyanine (4b) gave good singlet oxygen quantum yields (Φ_Δ) (0.37, 0.39 and 0.38, respectively) which indicate the potential of the complexes as photosensitizers in applications of PDT.     

Reconstruction and crosstalk of protein-protein interaction networks of Wnt and Hedgehog signaling in Drosophila melanogaster

In the last few years, researchers have an intense interest in the evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways which have crucial roles during embryonic development. The most intriguing factor of this interest is that malfunctioning of these signaling pathways (Hedgehog, Notch, Wnt etc.) leads to several human diseases, especially to cancer. This study deals with the β-catenin dependent branch of Wnt signaling and the Hedgehog signaling pathways which offer potential targeting points for cancer drug development. The identification of all proteins functioning in these signaling networks is crucial for the efforts of preventing tumor formation. Here, through integration of protein-protein interaction data and Gene Ontology annotations, Wnt/β-catenin and Hedgehog signaling networks consisting of proteins that have statistically high probability of being biologically related to these signaling pathways were reconstructed in Drosophila melanogaster. Next, by the structural network analyses, the crucial components functioning in these pathways were identified. The proteins Arm, Frizzled receptors (Fz and Fz2), Arr, Apc, Axn, Ci and Ptc were detected as the key proteins in these networks. Futhermore, the hub protein Mer having tumor suppressor function may be proposed as a putative drug target for cancer and deserves further investigation via experimental methods. Finally, the crosstalk analysis between the reconstructed networks reveals that these two signaling networks crosstalk to each other.