Distinguishing between Dirac and Majorana neutrinos in neutral-current reactions

We calculate cross sections for neutral-current reactions initiated by massive Dirac and Majorana neutrinos and analyze such reactions as a possible new method of distinguishing between these types of neutrinos.     

Retro carotenoids with substituted 2,5-oxa-bicycloheptane end groups

BF₃-mediated formation of a 2,5-oxygen bridge from carotenoids with 2-hydroxy-β-type end groups accompanied by dehydrogenation and $\text{retro}$ shift of the polyene system is reported. The configuration of the Δ6,6′ double bonds are established by ¹H NMR.     

Synthèse des pyrido[2,3-d] el [3,2-d] -s-triazolo[3,4-f] pyrimidines el de (pyrazolyl-1')-4 pyrido[2,3-d] et [3,2-d] pyrimidines

The synthesis of two new heterocycles is described: pyrido-[2,3-d]-.s-triazolo[ 3,4-f] pyrimidine and pyrido[3,2-d]-.s-triayzolo-[3,4-f] pyrimidine. 4-[I'-Pyrazolyl]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines and 4-[1′-pyrazoly1] pyrido[ 3,2-d] pyrimidine are obtained by the action of 4-hydrazinopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine and 4-hydrazinopyrido-[3,2-d]pyrimidine with several β-diketones.     

Photon splitting into two photons in a Coulomb field

We explore the possibility of using neutral weak interactions to see whether neutrinos may flip their helicity. Experiments ranging from low-energy neutrino-nucleus scattering to high-energy inclusive reactions are discussed as tests for the presence of helicity-flipping scalar, pseudoscalar and tensor interactions.     

The developmental pattern of stimulus and response interference in a color-object Stroop task: an ERP study

Background

Several studies have shown that Stroop interference is stronger in children than in adults. However, in a standard Stroop paradigm, stimulus interference and response interference are confounded. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether interference at the stimulus level and the response level are subject to distinct maturational patterns across childhood. Three groups of children (6–7 year-olds, 8–9 year-olds, and 10–12 year-olds) and a group of adults performed a manual Color-Object Stroop designed to disentangle stimulus interference and response interference. This was accomplished by comparing three trial types. In congruent (C) trials there was no interference. In stimulus incongruent (SI) trials there was only stimulus interference. In response incongruent (RI) trials there was stimulus interference and response interference. Stimulus interference and response interference were measured by a comparison of SI with C, and RI with SI trials, respectively. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured to study the temporal dynamics of these processes of interference.

Results

There was no behavioral evidence for stimulus interference in any of the groups, but in 6–7 year-old children ERPs in the SI condition in comparison with the C condition showed an occipital P1-reduction (80–140 ms) and a widely distributed amplitude enhancement of a negative component followed by an amplitude reduction of a positive component (400–560 ms). For response interference, all groups showed a comparable reaction time (RT) delay, but children made more errors than adults. ERPs in the RI condition in comparison with the SI condition showed an amplitude reduction of a positive component over lateral parietal (-occipital) sites in 10–12 year-olds and adults (300–540 ms), and a widely distributed amplitude enhancement of a positive component in all age groups (680–960 ms). The size of the enhancement correlated positively with the RT response interference effect.

Conclusion

Although processes of stimulus interference control as measured with the color-object Stroop task seem to reach mature levels relatively early in childhood (6–7 years), development of response interference control appears to continue into late adolescence as 10–12 year-olds were still more susceptible to errors of response interference than adults.     

Studies of the facetting of the polished (100) face of CaF2

The present paper deals with studies of the facetting of the polished (1 0 0) surface of CaF₂ during annealing and growth in UHV using low energy electron diffraction (LEED), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). First morphological modifications of the polished surfaces become visible at temperatures of T=874 K. Surfaces annealed at T=974 K exhibit a micro-roughening with pyramidal protrusions and corresponding depressions. LEED studies indicate the evolution of {1 1 1} facets. Reflexes from the (1 0 0) surface are not seen. After growth of about 660 monolayers of CaF₂ at T=1093 K and a saturation ratio S=33 from the vapor phase, larger pyramid-like or hip roof-like crystallites are developed. The results of AFM height profiles as well as of the LEED investigations indicate again the formation of {1 1 1} facets as proved by their angles of 54.7 ^o with the base (1 0 0) surface. This shows that the crystallites are homoepitaxially grown on the underlying CaF₂ substrate.     

First Order LSFEM for Fluid‐Structure Problems

The Least‐Squares Finite Element Method (LSFEM) is an interesting alternative to the standard variational principles, which are used to solve partial differential equations. Advantages of the LSFEM are its robustness and the resulting symmetric positive definite matrices, which allow the use of robust iterative solvers like the CG method. In this paper we consider the application of the LSFEM for Fluid‐Structure Interaction (FSI) problems. Our model uses the LSFEM for the discretisation of the instationary incompressible Navier‐Stokes equations, which is coupled with a standard Galerkin FEM model for a linear elastic structure. The results for a simple model problem agree well with results obtained by other authors with different numerical schemes. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Designing new Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases using restricted CASTing

This paper outlines the design and execution of the first mini-evolution of cyclopentanone monooxygenase (CPMO). The methodology described is a relatively inexpensive and rapid way to obtain mutant enzymes with the desired characteristics. Several successful mutants with enhanced enantioselectivities were identified. For example, mutant-catalyzed oxidation of 4-methoxycyclohexanone gave the corresponding lactone with 92% entantiometric excess (ee) compared to the 46% ee achieved with wild-type cyclohexanone monoxygenase (WT-CHMO). The original design of the mini-evolution and the following evaluation of mutants can provide valuable insights into the active site's construction and dynamics and can suggest other catalytically profitable mutations within the putative active site.     

Experimental and theoretical investigation on the microstructure of aluminum alloys during extrusion

The purpose of this work is the investigation of the material behavior of aluminum alloys during extrusion and cooling. In particular, the alloys of the 6000 series (Al–Mg–Si) and 7000 series (Al–Zn–Mg) are relevant here. Under the corresponding conditions, their behavior is controlled mainly by dynamic recovery during the extrusion and static recrystallization during cooling. For the development of a suitable material model EBSD measurements are done on different parts of an extruded Al6060 specimen. For this sample a microstructure picture is generated and a statistical analysis is performed. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)