π1-classification of real arrangements with up to eight lines

One of the open questions in the geometry of line arrangements is to what extent does the incidence lattice of an arrangement determine its fundamental group. Line arrangements of up to 6 lines were recently classified by K.M. Fan (Michigan Math. J. 44(2) (1997) 283), and it turns out that the incidence lattice of such arrangements determines the projective fundamental group. We use actions on the set of wiring diagrams, introduced in (Garber et al. (J. Knot Theory Ramf.), to classify real arrangements of up to 8 lines. In particular, we show that the incidence lattice of such arrangements determines both the affine and the projective fundamental groups.     

Flow in a waterfall with large Froude number

An approximate method is developed to solve the full nonlinear equations governing two-dimensional irrotational flow in a free waterfall, falling under the influence of gravity, at high Froude number based on conditions far upstream. Schwarz—Christoffel transformation is used to map the region, in the complex potential-plane, onto the upper half-plane. The Hilbert transformation as well as the perturbation technique, for large Froude number, are used as a basis for the approximate solution of the problem. A complete solution, up to second-order approximation, for the downstream free-surfaces profiles, for different Froude number, is discussed and illustrated. The obtained approximate solutions are compared with those of other authors. Favourable agreement with other results suggests that this method is effective in dealing with flow problems strongly influenced by gravity and high Froude number. The results obtained by this method are sufficiently accurate for practical purposes.     

Study of interactions of various ionic species with solvents toward the design of receptors

In earlier studies, the interactions of isolated ionic species with various solvents were investigated using ab initio calculations. The ionic species investigated included cations (proton, hydronium, ammonium, and metal cations) and anions (single electron, hydroxide, and halide anions). However in the present study, we investigate the interactions of these ionic species with the solvent in the presence of other competing ionic species. We also elaborate on how the information obtained from these extensive studies have been employed in designing and synthesizing various kinds of novel ionophores and receptors.     

Mass-analyzed threshold ionization study of vinyl bromide cation in the first excited electronic state using vacuum-ultraviolet radiation generated by four-wave mixing in Hg

The vibrational spectrum of the vinyl bromide cation in the first excited electronic state A 2A' was obtained by one-photon mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy. The use of an improved vacuum-ultraviolet radiation source based on four-wave sum frequency mixing in Hg resulted in excellent sensitivity for MATI signals. From the MATI spectrum, the ionization energy to the A 2A' state of the cation was determined to be 10.9150+/-0.0006 eV. Nearly complete vibrational assignments for the MATI peaks were possible by utilizing the vibrational frequencies and Franck-Condon factors calculated at the density-functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT/B3LYP levels with the 6-311+G(df,p) basis set.     

Role of axial ligand on the electronic structures of active intermediates in cytochrome P-450, peroxidase and catalase

DFT method (B3LYP) with 6-31G^* basis set was utilized in the computation of a fully optimized structure, net atomic charges and spin densities of the intermediate of cytochrome P-450-oxoiron(IV) porphyrin cation radical, compound I – in the presence of axial ligand such as thiolate (SMe⁻) imidazole (IM), phenoxide (OPh⁻), methoxide (OMe⁻) and chloride (Cl⁻). The results show doublet states in compound I are about 2–4 kcal/mol more stable than quartet states for all aforementioned ligands, and the doublet state is the ground state in all cases. However, electron donor ability of the ligands are in the order of SMe⁻ > IM > OMe⁻ > OPh⁻ > Cl⁻. Also the active oxidant intermediate of cytochrome P-450 between different mesomeric structures select sulfur oxygen radical type structure and can be viewed as (RS^↓)Fe^↑(IV)(O^↑)(Por). In horseraddish peroxidase (HRP) and peroxidase with histidine axial ligand π cation radical character of porphyrin ring is preferred (Im)Fe^↑(IV)(O^↑)(Por^↓). For the ligands such as OMe⁻, OPh⁻ and Cl⁻ oxidation mainly took place on the iron and the active intermediate can be viewed as (L)Fe^↑(V)(O)(Por) with one unpaired electron localized on the iron.     

Catalytic Method for Synthesis of Aspirin by a Green,Efficient and Recyclable Solid Acid Catalyst (Preyssler's Anion) at Room Temperature

Synthesis of aspirin at room temperature via O‐acetylation of salicylic acid in the presence of Preyssler type heteropolyacids has been investigated in order to contribute toward clean technology, which is the most important need of the society. All of the catalysts are recyclable and reusable.     

Biocompatible hydrogels based on chitosan,cellulose/starch,PVA and PEDOT:PSS with high flexibility and high mechanical strength

Fabricating mechanically strong hydrogels that can withstand the conditions in internal tissues is a challenging task. We have designed hydrogels based on multicomponent systems by combining chitosan, starch/cellulose, PVA, and PEDOT:PSS via one-pot synthesis. The starch-based hydrogels were homogeneous, while the cellulose-based hydrogels showed the presence of cellulose micro- and nanofibers. The cellulose-based hydrogels demonstrated a swelling ratio between 121 and 156%, while the starch-based hydrogels showed higher values, from 234 to 280%. Tensile tests indicated that the presence of starch in the hydrogels provided high flexibility (strain at break?>?300%), while combination with cellulose led to the formation of stiffer hydrogels (elastic moduli 3.9–6.6 MPa). The ultimate tensile strength for both types of hydrogels was similar (2.8–3.9 MPa). The adhesion and growth of human osteoblast-like SAOS-2 cells was higher on hydrogels with cellulose than on hydrogels with starch, and was higher on hydrogels with PEDOT:PSS than on hydrogels without this polymer. The metabolic activity of cells cultivated for 3 days in the hydrogel infusions indicated that no acutely toxic compounds were released. This is promising for further possible applications of these hydrogels in tissue engineering or in wound dressings.

Graphical abstract

     

Light-Responsive Hexagonal Assemblies of Triangular Azo Dyes

The rational design of small building block molecules and understanding their molecular assemblies are of fundamental importance in creating new stimuli-responsive organic architectures with desired shapes and functions. Based on the experimental results of light-induced conformational changes of four types of triangular azo dyes with different terminal functional groups, as well as absorption and fluorescence characteristics associated with their molecular assemblies, we report that aggregation-active emission enhancement (AIEE)-active compound (1) substituted with sterically crowded tert-butyl (t-Bu) groups showed approximately 35% light-induced molecular switching and had a strong tendency to assemble into highly stable hexagonal structures with AIEE characteristics. Their sizes were regulated from nanometer-scale hexagonal rods to micrometer-scale sticks depending on the concentration. This is in contrast to other triangular compounds with bromo (Br) and triphenylamine (TPA) substituents, which exhibited no photoisomerization and tended to form flexible fibrous structures. Moreover, non-contact exposure of the fluorescent hexagonal nanorods to ultraviolet (UV) light led to a dramatic hexagonal-to-amorphous structure transition. The resulting remarkable variations, such as in the contrast of microscopic images and fluorescence characteristics, were confirmed by various microscopic and spectroscopic measurements.