Vinyl polymerization of acrylonitrile by the Ce(IV)-glucose redox system

Aqueous polymerization of acrylonitrile (M) initiated by the Ce(IV)-glucose (R) redox system has been studied under nitrogen in the temperature range of 30–40 °C. The rate of polymerization (Rp) is proportional to [M]², [R] and inversely proportional to [Ce(IV)]. The rate of ceric ion disappearance is proportional to [R] and [Ce(IV)]. The end group in the polymer is characterised by IR spectra. A suitable kinetic scheme has been proposed and explained in the light of these experimental findings.     

Elastic constants of lead-bismuth alloys

A study of ultrasonic velocities and internal friction has been carried out in Pb-Bi alloys in the concentration range of 0 to 49.5 atomic % Bi using the composite oscillator technique. From the velocity and density data a set of elastic constants namely, Young’s modulus, rigidity modulus, bulk modulus and Poisson’s ratio are estimated. The results are interpreted in terms of the phase changes occurring in the alloy system. Internal friction is found to be more sensitive than the elastic constants to the phase changes.     

On the predictive ability of narrative disclosures in annual reports

We investigate whether narrative disclosures in 10-K and 10K-405 filings contain value-relevant information for predicting market performance. We apply text classification techniques from computer science to machine code text disclosures in a sample of 4280 filings by 1236 firms over five years. Our methodology develops a model using documents and actual performance for a training sample. This model, when applied to documents from a test set, leads to performance prediction. We find that a portfolio based on model predictions earns significantly positive size-adjusted returns, indicating that narrative disclosures contain value-relevant information. Supplementary analyses show that the text classification model captures information not contained in document-level features of clarity, tone and risk sentiment considered in prior research. However, we find that the narrative score is not providing information incremental to traditional predictors such as size, market-to-book and momentum, but rather affects investors’ use of price momentum as a factor that predicts excess returns.     

Ultrasonic studies on bismuth single crystals

Studies of ultrasonic velocities and attenuation are carried out in bismuth single crystals along the trigonal axis and perpendicular to the trigonal axis and the results are interpreted in terms of the changes in carrier concentration with change of direction. Temperature dependence of ultrasonic attenuation is also reported.     

Investigation of molar sound velocity in melts and solutions

Ultrasonic velocity studies are carried out in organic solutions of six low melting point organic solids and the melts of these solids. The constancy ofR is established over a wide range of temperature in the melt state. It is found thatR is strictly linear with concentration expressed in mole fraction of the solute and the average extrapolated value for 100% concentration of the solute is compared with that from the melt state and also with the theoretical computed values due toRao's atomic increment method andLagemann's bond increment method.     

Correlation of fine structural characteristics and textile properties of silk fiber

The small-angle, x-ray scattering method was applied to evaluate macromolecular parameters of defated proteinous silk fibers like Eri, Muga, Tussah, and raw silk. For the experimental measurement of scattering intensities the small-angle Kratky camera, coupled with an automatic-step scanning device, pulse-height discriminator, and counter attachment was used. Macromolecular parameters like specific inner surface, percentage of void, length of coherence, range of inhomogeneity, and transversal length were evaluated by using the theories of Kratky, Porod and Debye, and Bueche. The physical properties of these defated fibers were also evaluated with Scott's IP₂-inclined plane tester. The correlation of the tertiary structural parameters with textile properties like average breaking strength of the proteinous fibers indicated a dependence of physical properties on certain macromolecular parameters.     

Behaviour of Ultrasonic Velocity in Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

Ultrasonic velocities (V) have been determined, employing a fixed path double crystal interferometer, in three cholesteric liquid crystals, namely cholesteryl propionate, cholesteryl laurate and cholesteryl myristate in their isotropic and anisotropic phases including the region of the phase transition. The variation of specific volume (v) is also studied in the same temperature range by a special dilatometer constructed for this purpose. Anomalous behaviour of ultrasonic velocity is observed near the isotropic-cholesteric phase transition in all three compounds. In the two polymesomorphic liquid crystals, namely cholesteryl laurate and cholesteryl myristate, contrary to the ultrasonic behaviour of cholesteryl stearate, prominent velocity dips are observed at cholesteric-smectic transition temperatures. The parameters adiabatic compressibility (β_ad) and molar sound velocity (R) are estimated and they are found to exhibit sudden jumps at cholesteric-smectic and isotropic-cholesteric transitions. The thermal expansion and temperature co-efficient of compressibility are found to show abnormal increase near the phase transition indicating the existence of large-magnitude pre-transitional effects near the phase transition. A comparative study of the ultrasonic behaviour of six aliphatic esters of cholesterol has shown that the magnitude of the velocity dip observed at the isotropic-cholesteric transition increased with increase of molecular weight and only cholesteryl acetate shows deviation.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Structure of Quinoline‐based Benzimidazole Derivatives

Quinoline‐based benzimidazole compounds have been successfully synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques like FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectral analysis, and the structures have been authenticated by single crystal X‐ray diffraction method. Here, we report an economical, mild, and efficient procedure that involves condensation of 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐2‐carbaldehyde with various diamines as substrates to give bis‐imines. A systematic study towards both aliphatic and aromatic bis‐imines has been conducted to investigate the ring‐closure reaction that generates the benzimidazole moiety in the heterocyclic compounds discussed in this study. Aliphatic bis‐imines does not undergo cyclization; however, the bis‐imines derived from o‐phenylenediamine and derivatives generates heterocyclic compounds with benzimidazole moiety. In contrast to synthetic procedures reported earlier for benzimidazoles, the reaction conditions herein reported are simpler. Path for reactions holds initial condensation with one equivalent of 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐2‐carbaldehyde to form mono‐imine followed by immediate intramolecular ring closure. The subsequent nupleophilic attack to another equivalent of 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐2‐carbaldehyde and migration of hydride generates the benzimidazole moiety and the active methylene group. The ─CH₂ group was confirmed from ¹H and ¹³C NMR, wherein the two hydrogens appeared at around 6.40–6.52 ppm and the carbon center appeared at 51.54–51.77 ppm. The single crystal X‐ray diffraction also confirmed the formation of benzimidazole moiety and the active methylene group in the heterocyclic compounds discussed in this study.