Absolute measurement of hadronic branching fractions of the Ds+ meson

The branching fractions of D(s)(+/-) meson decays serve to normalize many measurements of processes involving charm quarks. Using 298 pb(-1) of e(+)e(-) collisions recorded at a center of mass energy of 4.17 GeV, we determine absolute branching fractions for eight D(s)(+/-) decays with a double tag technique. In particular we determine the branching fraction B(D(s)(+)-->K(-)K(+}pi(+))=(5.50+/-0.23+/-0.16)%, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. We also provide partial branching fractions for kinematic subsets of the K(-)K(+)pi(+) decay mode.     

Quest for precision in hadronic cross sections at low energy: Monte Carlo tools vs. experimental data

We present the achievements of the last years of the experimental and theoretical groups working on hadronic cross section measurements at the low-energy e ⁺ e ^? colliders in Beijing, Frascati, Ithaca, Novosibirsk, Stanford and Tsukuba and on τ decays. We sketch the prospects in these fields for the years to come. We emphasise the status and the precision of the Monte Carlo generators used to analyse the hadronic cross section measurements obtained as well with energy scans as with radiative return, to determine luminosities and τ decays. The radiative corrections fully or approximately implemented in the various codes and the contribution of the vacuum polarisation are discussed.     

Reynolds-Averaged,Scale-Adaptive and Large-Eddy Simulations of Premixed Bluff-Body Combustion Using the Eddy Dissipation Concept

A lean premixed propane/air bluff-body stabilized flame (Volvo test rig) is calculated using the Scale-Adaptive Simulation turbulence model (SAS) and Large-Eddy simulations (LES) as well as the conventional Reynolds-averaged approach (RAS). RAS and SAS are closed by the standard k-?? and the k-ω Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence models, respectively. The conventional Smagorinsky and the k-equation sub-grid scales models are used for the LES closure. Effects of the sub-grid scalar flux modeling using the classical gradient hypothesis and Clark’s tensor diffusivity closures both for the inert and reactive LES flows are discussed. The Eddy Dissipation Concept (EDC) is used for the turbulence-chemistry interaction. It assumes that molecular mixing and the subsequent combustion occur in the ’fine structures’ (smaller dissipative eddies, which are close to the Kolmogorov scales). Assuming the full turbulence energy cascade, the characteristic length and velocity scales of the ’fine structures’ are evaluated using different turbulence models (RAS, SAS and LES). The finite-rate chemical kinetics is taken into account by treating the ’fine structures’ as constant pressure and adiabatic homogeneous reactors, calculated as a system of ordinary-differential equations (ODEs) described by a Perfectly Stirred Reactor (PSR) concept. Several further enhancements to model the PSRs are proposed, including a new Livermore Solver (LSODA) for integrating stiff ODEs and a new correction to calculate the PSR time scales. All models have been implemented as a stand-alone application \(\text {edcPisoFoam}\) based on the OpenFOAM technology. Additionally, several RAS calculations were performed using the Turbulence Flame Speed Closure model in Ansys Fluent to assess effects of the heat losses by modeling the conjugate heat transfer between the bluff-body and the reactive flow. Effects of the turbulence Schmidt number on RAS results are discussed as well. Numerical results are compared with available experimental data. Reasonable consistency between experimental data and numerical results provided by RAS, SAS and LES is observed. In general, there is satisfactory agreement between present LES-EDC simulations, numerical results by other authors and measurements without any major modification to the EDC closure constants, which gives a quite reasonable indication on the adequacy and accuracy of the method and its further application for turbulent premixed combustion simulations.     

渣油中沥青质分子颗粒尺寸及其胶粒模型研究

分别以苯和硝基苯为溶剂测定了大庆、胜利、孤岛和辽河减压渣油沥青质、胶质和芳香分的分子量；依据球形分子模型计算了这些物质的分子尺寸；构筑了渣油中沥青质胶粒（胶团）模型，并依此计算了渣油中沥青质胶粒尺寸。结果表明，以硝基苯为溶剂所测沥青质分子量更能反应沥青质化学结构的实质；就原始沥青质来说，以苯为溶剂测得的沥青质分子直径为3.8 nm～5.0 nm,以氯代苯为溶剂测得的分子直径为3.2 nm～3.7 nm,以硝基苯为溶剂测得的分子直径为2.8 nm～3.2 nm；辽河、胜利与大庆减压渣油中沥青质的胶粒直径为10.0 nm～11.0 nm，孤岛减压渣油中沥青质的胶粒直径为9.0 nm～10.0 nm。     

Antimicrobial Activity of Gemini Surfactants with Ether Group in the Spacer Part

Due to their large possibility of the structure modification, alkylammonium gemini surfactants are a rapidly growing class of compounds. They exhibit significant surface, aggregation and antimicrobial properties. Due to the fact that, in order to achieve the desired utility effect, the minimal concentration of compounds are used, they are in line with the principle of greenolution (green evolution) in chemistry. In this study, we present innovative synthesis of the homologous series of gemini surfactants modified at the spacer by the ether group, i.e., 3-oxa-1,5-pentane-bis(N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylammonium bromides). The critical micelle concentrations were determined. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of the synthesized compounds were determined against bacteria Escherichia coli ATCC 10536 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538; yeast Candida albicans ATCC 10231; and molds Aspergillus niger ATCC 16401 and Penicillium chrysogenum ATCC 60739. We also investigated the relationship between antimicrobial activity and alkyl chain length or the nature of the spacer. The obtained results indicate that the synthesized compounds are effective microbicides with a broad spectrum of biocidal activity.     

Solution of the three‐dimension wave equation by using wave polynomials

The paper demonstrates a specific power series expansion technique to solve the three‐dimensional wave equation. As solving functions, so‐called wave polynomials are used. The presented method is useful for a finite body of certain shape geometry without strength restrictions. The wave polynomials are defined. Recurrent formulas for the wave polynomials and their derivatives are obtained. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Altered Glycosylation of Human Alpha-1-Acid Glycoprotein as a Biomarker for Malignant Melanoma

A high-resolution HILIC-MS/MS method was developed to analyze anthranilic acid derivatives of N-glycans released from human serum alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP). The method was applied to samples obtained from 18 patients suffering from high-risk malignant melanoma as well as 19 healthy individuals. It enabled the identification of 102 glycan isomers separating isomers that differ only in sialic acid linkage (α-2,3, α-2,6) or in fucose positions (core, antenna). Comparative assessment of the samples revealed that upregulation of certain fucosylated glycans and downregulation of their nonfucosylated counterparts occurred in cancer patients. An increased ratio of isomers with more α-2,6-linked sialic acids was also observed. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) combining 10 variables with the highest discriminatory power was employed to categorize the samples based on their glycosylation pattern. The performance of the method was tested by cross-validation, resulting in an overall classification success rate of 96.7%. The approach presented here is significantly superior to serological marker S100B protein in terms of sensitivity and negative predictive power in the population studied. Therefore, it may effectively support the diagnosis of malignant melanoma as a biomarker.     

Chemistry in Hungary

The following brief survey of the status of chemistry in Hungary focuses on chemistry education at Hungarian universities, the role of the chemical industry in the Hungarian economy, chemical research at university departments, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and its major research areas. Chemical cooperation with institutions in other countries is also outlined, with emphasis on joint projects with German institutions.     

Synthesis by ATRP of triblock copolymers with densely grafted styrenic end blocks from a polyisobutylene macroinitiator

A macroinitiator was prepared from a triblock copolymer of polyisobutylene (PIB) with end blocks of poly(p‐methylstyrene) (P(p‐MeS)) by bromination to obtain initiating bromomethyl groups for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Controlled polymerization of styrene and p‐acetoxystyrene yields new triblock copolymer structures with densely grafted end blocks. Simultaneously, however, thermally initiated polymerizations can be observed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) which were also controlled yielding low molecular weight polymers with narrow distributions. A tendency to crosslinking can be suppressed by selection of the polymerization conditions.