Flavor changing neutral currents and multileptons in e+e- and vμN,vμN

New quarks and new flavor-changing neutral currents give multiple lepton plus hadron final states in e⁺e^-, $\text{v}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{N,}\text{v}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{N}$. We observe that (i) e⁺e^- is a favored place to search for their effects through inclusive ratios σ(e⁺e^-+x:σ (μ⁺μ^- +x): σ(e±μ±+x) and same sign leptons e±e±+x, μ±μ±+x,e±μ±+x. Above a new flavor threshold four charged lrpton final states may become important. (ii) Trilepton final states in $\text{v}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{N,}\text{v}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{N}$ are not sensitive to the presence of flavor-changing neutral currents. Much more sensitive are the processes $\text{v}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{N}$ are ⁺e^-+βand (for charm changing neutral currents) $\text{v}{}_{\mathrm{\mu }}\text{N→e}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{β}$.     

Examples of cell-like decompositions of the infinite-dimensional manifolds σ and Σ

Denote by σ the subspace of Hilbert space {(x_i)?l₂:x_i=0 for all but finitely many i}. Examples of cell-like decompositions of σ are constructed that have decomposition spaces that are not homeomorphic to σ. At one extreme is a cell-like decomposition G of σ produced using ghastly finite dimensional examples such that the decomposition space σ?G contains no embedded 2-cell but (σ?G)×$\text{R}$ is homeomorphic to σ. At the other extreme is a cell-like decomposition G of σ satisfying: (a) the nondegeneracy set N_G={g?G:g≠point} consists of countably many arcs (necessarily tame); (b) the nondegeneracy set N_G is a closed subset of the decomposition space σ?G; (c) each map f:B²→σ?G of a 2-cell into σ?G can be approximated arbitrarily closely by an embedding; (d) σ?G is not homeomorphic to σ but (σ?G)×$\text{R}$ is homeomorphic to σ. The fact that both conditions (a) and (b) can be satisfied (and have (d) hold) is directly attributable to σ’s incompleteness as a topological space.     

Multijet structure in quantum chromodynamics

Field theories naturally give rise to multiple jets of hadrons in short-distance processes, such as e⁺ e^? annihilation. In particular, a low-energy jet of hadrons distributed in some cone of opening angle δ would be naively expected to evolve at high energies into multiple jets within the angle δ. We explore to what extent this will happen in quantum chromodynamics.     

Determining a helical protein structure using peptide pixels

The residual dipolar coupling-periodicity planarity correlation makes it possible to determine peptide plane orientations in regular periodic protein secondary structure elements. Each peptide plane orientation represents a "pixel" of protein structure, and is expressed in terms of three angles referred to as tilt, phase, and pitch angles. In this report, we present the novel "3P" (periodicity, planarity, and pixels) method that allows one to determine secondary and tertiary structure of alpha-helical proteins. We demonstrate the 3P method by determining the structure of domain 1 of the receptor-associated protein (RAP) to a backbone accuracy of 1.0 Angstrom using RDCs measured in a single alignment medium, together with a minimal number of NOE distance restraints, using a new Xplor-NIH module.     

Bridging the Length Scales: Micromechanics of Granular Media

Aristotle's statement that the whole is more than the sum of its parts aptly describes the essence of a granular material's rich and complex behaviour, which ultimately arises from internal mechanisms developed on many length scales. Recently, non-invasive experimental studies have given remarkable insight into the evolution of these mechanisms, thereby providing benchmarks and a unique opportunity for the theoretical modelling of these systems. This paper focuses on the challenges of capturing these multiscale mechanisms within the framework of continuum theory. In particular, a new approach toward developing a non-local micropolar constitutive model of granular media using micromechanics and internal variable theory is discussed. To demonstrate the predictive potential of these models, we present their application in the analysis of two fundamental problems to the mechanics of granular media: (i) formation and evolution of shear bands (the precursors of material failure), (ii) the classical Flamant problem. Finally, we briefly discuss the computational challenges in bridging the gap between micromechanical studies of granular media and the applications of continuum theory on the macro-scale via a finite element analysis of the flat punch problem. In practice, this problem is used to assess the load bearing capacity of a material and is fundamental to civil and structural engineering.     

Dynamic kinetic resolution of atropisomeric amides

[reaction: see text] Using L-proline as catalyst in the asymmetric aldol reaction and a series of benzamides and naphthamides, we have accomplished a dynamic kinetic resolution that simultaneously establishes the stereochemistry of the atropisomeric amide's chiral axis and a stereogenic center. The enantioselectivities ranged from 82% to 95% and the diastereoselectivities from 2.1:1 to 7.0:1.     

Comparison of Tm : ZBLAN and Tm : silica fiber lasers; Spectroscopy and tunable pulsed laser operation around 1.9 μm

Tm-doped ZBLAN and Tm-doped silica glass are compared spectroscopically and the fiber lasing of the Tm ³F₄³H₆ transition around 1.9 m in ZBLAN and silica fibers is compared. The spectroscopy of these materials indicates that Tm:ZBLAN possesses advantages over Tm:silica glass due to the lower phonon energies. The phonon energy in these glass hosts influences both the pump manifold lifetime, the Tm ³H₄, and the upper laser manifold lifetime, the Tm ³F₄. The maximum phonon energy in Tm:ZBLAN, 500 cm^-1 , compared to Tm:silica, 1100 cm^-1, leads to better Tm–Tm self quenching towards populating the Tm ³F₄, as well as better Tm ³F₄³H₆ quantum efficiency. A spectroscopic analysis using the Judd–Ofelt theory and measured lifetimes are used to assess the merits of Tm:ZBLAN over Tm:silica as a fiber laser material. Diode-pumped fiber lasing experiments show that Tm:ZBLAN possesses advantages over Tm:silica that are believed to be due to a lower phonon energy. Data is presented for launched pump energy versus laser energy, fiber length versus slope efficiency, and output mirror reflectivity versus slope efficiency. Tm:ZBLAN is demonstrated to possess higher slope efficiencies and lower thresholds, than Tm:silicate. A grating tuned Tm:ZBLAN laser is also demonstrated for tunable operation between 1.893 m and 1.955 m. PACS 42.55.Wd; 42.55.Xi; 42.62.Fi; 78.55.Qr     

Exact solution of Maxwell's equations for optical interactions with a macroscopic random medium

We report what we believe to be the first rigorous numerical solution of the two-dimensional Maxwell equations for optical propagation within, and scattering by, a random medium of macroscopic dimensions. Our solution is based on the pseudospectral time-domain technique, which provides essentially exact results for electromagnetic field spatial modes sampled at the Nyquist rate or better. The results point toward the emerging feasibility of direct, exact Maxwell equations modeling of light propagation through many millimeters of biological tissues. More generally, our results have a wider implication: Namely, the study of electromagnetic wave propagation within random media is moving toward exact rather than approximate solutions of Maxwell's equations.     

Crystal engineering of the composition of pharmaceutical phases

The carboxylic acid-pyridine supramolecular heterosynthon can be exploited to predictably generate binary crystalline phases involving rac-ibuprofen, rac-flurbiprofen or aspirin.