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Two star‐shaped mesogens with a (meso‐tetraphenylporphinato) zinc (II) core and bithiophene conjugated arms with 3,4,5‐trisdodecyloxyphenyl periphery were synthesized. One of these molecules was decorated with four fullerenes via an aliphatic spacer. This is the sterically overcrowded compound with an octapodal morphology. The other star lacks the fullerenes and provides free space between the conjugated arms. This mesogen does not aggregate in solution, but in solid state it forms a hexagonal columnar and a highly ordered oblique helical columnar phase, while the octopus molecule assembles in an amorphous solid. Photophysical studies of the octapodal compound in solution and the solid thin film reveal the formation of J‐type aggregates, in which the interaction between donors (porphyrin) and acceptors (fullerene) dominates leading to absorption bands in the NIR region of the spectra. The mixture of both compounds results in a self‐assembly which is called the Click procedure. Fullerenes of the octopus nanosegregate in the pockets of the star mesogens generating hexagonal columnar structures with a regular stacking along the columnar axis. Thus providing free space is a tool to control the competition between supramolecular interactions and nanosegregation. Such liquid‐crystalline donor‐acceptor structures may play a role in future LC photovoltaic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New ionic mesogens have been prepared based on a cyanoborate head group, which is tethered to a lipophilic periphery via a short flexible spacer. As counter ions, either tetra-n-butyl ammonium cations or sodium and potassium cations stabilized by 18-crown-6 have been used. Although all compounds exhibit SmA enantiotropic mesomorphism, X-ray diffraction, modelling and solid-state NMR uncover distinct self-assembly of the LC materials in double layers. While the ammonium ions are located between the borate anions and are in contact with spacers and aromatic units, the crown ethers with the coordinated alkali metal cations are completely nanosegregated between two borate anion layers. Homogenous and homeotropic alignment has been achieved. Electrical impedance spectroscopy reveals ionic conductivity values in the single-ion conductor that are two to three orders of magnitude higher in the correctly-aligned samples. Values of ca. 104 S cm1 in the SmA phase at 85 1C and 105 S cm1 at 40 1C have been obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A unique gyroid cubic phase has been discovered for a discotic star mesogen with three covalently attached DNA bases. In this cubic Ia3‾d ${Ia\bar{3}d}$ phase, the conjugated core of the mesogens and the thymine pseudo guests self‐assemble in mirror image continuous networks, representing a semiconducting material with three‐dimensional transport pathways. The hole carrier mobilities are found to be in the typical range of poly(phenylenevinylene) scaffolds. This structure is stabilized by a weak hydrogen bonding between the thymine bases and can be switched to a columnar liquid crystal – thermally and by the addition of complementary adenine guests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to relapsing nature of melasma with significant impact on quality of life, an objective measurement score is warranted, especially to follow‐up the patients with melasma and their therapy response in a quantitative and precise manner. Aims: To prove concordance of skin hyperpigmentation index (SHI) with well‐established scores in melasma and demonstrate its superiority regarding inter‐rater reliability. Development of SHI mapping for its integration in common scores. Methods: Calculation of SHI and common melasma scores by five dermatologists. Inter‐rater reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and concordance by Kendall correlation coefficient. Results: Strong concordance of SHI with melasma area and severity index (MASI)‐Darkness (0.48; 95% CI: 0.32, 0.63), melasma severity index (MSI)‐Pigmentation (0.45; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.61), and melasma severity scale (MSS) (0.6; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.74). Using step function for mapping SHI into pigmentation scores showed an improvement of inter‐rater reliability with a difference in (ICC of 0.22 for MASI‐Darkness and 0.19 for MSI‐Pigmentation), leading to an excellent agreement. Conclusion: Skin hyperpigmentation index could be an important additional cost‐and time‐conserving assessment method, to follow‐up the patients with melasma undergoing brightening therapies in clinical studies, as well as in routine clinical practice. It is in strong concordance with well‐established scores but superior regarding inter‐rater reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid crystalline polymer networks (LCN) with azobenzene monomers bend reversibly under UV‐light irradiation, combining photomechanical and photothermal effects. However, the harmful nature of UV‐light limits their use in biology and soft robotics. Although visible light‐absorbing tetra‐ortho‐fluoro‐substituted azobenzenes exist, liquid crystalline monomers have never been prepared. Previously, such azobenzenes were added as photoactive additives (up to 10%) to otherwise passive liquid crystalline polymer networks. In this work, a molecular design of a liquid crystalline, polymerizable azobenzene switchable by visible light is presented. The monomer assembles in a highly fluid nematic phase, but polymerizes in a layered smectic C phase. The films are produced solely from the monomer without additional liquid crystalline components and are actuated with visible light. Bending experiments in air and under water differentiate photomechanical and photothermal effects. Remarkably, a 60 µm splay aligned film maintains its deformation for hours, slowly reverting over days. Monomer liquid crystallinity is characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), and polarized optical microscopy (POM); polymer films are analyzed using WAXS and DSC on a homogeneously aligned film. The synthetic procedure is high yielding and polymer film fabrication is scalable, which enables the use of safe and efficient photomechanical LCNs in soft robotics, engineering and biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, we make the case for the introduction of uniform rules on liability for incorrect or incomplete prospectuses relating to financial instruments offered in the European Union (EU). We set out the reasons for such uniformisation, in particular the need to complete the Capital Markets Union, the insoluble conflict-of-laws problems created by prospectus liability, and the discriminatory treatment of investors resulting from the application of different national laws to the issue. We show that uniform rules are possible, drawing a parallel to the recently adopted Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) and other EU texts. We also demonstrate that the EU has the competence to adopt such rules, and that concerns about subsidiarity and proportionality are unfounded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article proposes the multilateralization of judicial deference for reforming global financial law. It discusses manifestations of deference in jurisdictions, its design and shortcomings including unilateral perspective, deviating methods relating to comparability assessment, political influences, unequal access, market fragmentation and excessive costs. Factors to deference include sovereignty, open markets, competition policy, investor protection, financial stability and political economy.

The Hague Conference on Private International Law is currently working towards a new instrument on jurisdiction and parallel proceedings. But critics ask if we need another instrument, in addition to the Hague Choice of Court Convention of 2005 and the Hague Judgments Convention of 2019. This article gives reasoned arguments for a "yes" and explores possibilities for the substantive content of the new instrument. It does so by looking back and contextualising the new instrument with regard to the two preceding Conventions, and by looking forward to what is still to come, ie the interpretation and application of all three instruments. On this basis, it argues that a holistic approach is required to avoid the risk of a piecemeal result. Only such a holistic approach will avoid contradictions between the three instruments and allow for their coherent interpretation. If this advice is heeded, incremental law-making may well become a success and perhaps even a model for future negotiations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structure elucidation via residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) relies on alignment media. We report on lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) of poly-γ-p-biphenyl(2′-methoxy-2-methyl)methyl- L -glutamate (PBPM3LG). Temperature dependent atropisomerism within the biphenyl group enables the acquisition of multiple RDC-datasets within one sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sterically crowded, shape-persistent star mesogens with three oligophenylenevinylene arms provide free space in which Blatter radical guests are incorporated by covalent bonds (esters) or supramolecular interactions (hydrogen bonds). The radical guests transform these compounds to paramagnetic liquid crystalline (LC) materials. The LC molecules are demonstrated to self-assemble into several types of columnar phases, a process that is controlled by the binding mode and the size of the star mesogen cavity. The conjugated scaffold remains stable in the presence of these radicals. Magnetic investigations by means of solid-state VT-EPR and SQUID experiments reveal that these materials are paramagnetic with weak antiferromagnetic interactions. In contrast to the covalent mesogens, the supramolecular systems do not only possess much lower clearing temperatures, but also radical guests exhibit mobility independent of the phase transition leading to soft paramagnetic materials with tunable magnetic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Current theories of conflict of laws have one common feature: they all consider the question of the applicable law in terms of a conflict between states. Legal systems are [...]

A joint theoretical and experimental study of the electronic and structural properties of liquid crystalline metal-free pthalocyanines bearing a strong potential for charge and exciton transport was performed. It was synthesized two metal-free phthalocyanines with different branched aliphatic chains on the gram scale to allow for a full characterization of their solid-state properties.

The use of metal coordination has allowed the preparation of polycatenar oxazoline complexes that show columnar mesophases with a helical organization within the column. A significant example of a successful combination of coordination chemistry and liquid crystal self-organization processes to achieve and control supramolecular helical architectures.