DYNAMIC NUCLEAR POLARIZATION OF ORGANIC COMPOUND DOPED WITH FREE RADICALS

For those organic compounds which lack free radicals, a doping approach named melting-liquid-nitrogen-quench was developed in order to perform dynamic nuclear polarization(DNP)-nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. By using this method, the ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N DNP enhancements were observed with free-radical-doped dibenzofuran and benzamide. The enhancement mechanism and relation between the concentration of unpaired electrons and the maximum DNP enhancement are discussed.     

A PREDICTIVE MODEL TO INFORM ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT OF DOUBLE‐CRESTED CORMORANTS AND FISHERIES IN MICHIGAN

The proliferation of double‐crested cormorants (DCCOs; Phalacrocorax auritus) in North America has raised concerns over their potential negative impacts on game, cultured and forage fishes, island and terrestrial resources, and other colonial water birds, leading to increased public demands to reduce their abundance. By combining fish surplus production and bird functional feeding response models, we developed a deterministic predictive model representing bird–fish interactions to inform an adaptive management process for the control of DCCOs in multiple colonies in Michigan. Comparisons of model predictions with observations of changes in DCCO numbers under management measures implemented from 2004 to 2012 suggested that our relatively simple model was able to accurately reconstruct past DCCO population dynamics. These comparisons helped discriminate among alternative parameterizations of demographic processes that were poorly known, especially site fidelity. Using sensitivity analysis, we also identified remaining critical uncertainties (mainly in the spatial distributions of fish vs. DCCO feeding areas) that can be used to prioritize future research and monitoring needs. Model forecasts suggested that continuation of existing control efforts would be sufficient to achieve long‐term DCCO control targets in Michigan and that DCCO control may be necessary to achieve management goals for some DCCO‐impacted fisheries in the state. Finally, our model can be extended by accounting for parametric or ecological uncertainty and including more complex assumptions on DCCO–fish interactions as part of the adaptive management process.     

On the use of reduced-order models and simulation data in control-system design

This note extends some results on robust control and approximation,to provide a systematic framework for the use of reduced-ordermodels of single-input single-output systems in control systemsdesign where data from a finite number of simulations of theoriginal open-loop system can be used to assess the stabilityand performance of the implemented closed-loop scheme and substantiallyreduce conservatism during the design stage without the needfor a full closed-loop plant simulation.     

Effects of size polydispersity on depletion interactions

The depletion potentials between two infinite planes, and between two large spheres, due to polydisperse mixtures of non-interacting polymer coils and of interacting small hard spheres, are calculated over a wide range of polydispersities and of polymer or colloid concentrations. The case of non-interacting polymers can be treated analytically within a generalization of the Asakura-Oosawa model. The more difficult case of a polydisperse bath of hard spheres is treated within Rosenfield's ‘fundamental measure’ formulation of density functional theory. Polydispersity is found to have little effect on the depletion attraction, but to strongly reduce the repulsive barrier due to correlation and to damp the subsequent oscillations in the depletion potential.     

The importance of the asymptotic exchange-correlation potential in density functional theory

The importance to density functional theory (DFT) of the integer discontinuity in the exchange-correlation potential is reiterated and further examined. It follows that if generalized gradient approximation (GGA) functional are used, then the asymptotic value of the exchange-correlation potential must be a positive system-dependent constant. Our previously introduced asymptotic correction (AC), which forces the correct behaviour of the potential in the asymptotic region, is further discussed. Three examples are given that demonstrate the importance of the analysis; (i) HOMO eigenvalues lie well above the negative of the ionization energy when GGA functionals are used—this is not detrimental to GGA DFT; (ii) an independent calculation of the GGA asymptotic potentials for some molecules is presented, based on the determination of parametrized GGA functionals; (iii) Rydberg states of He⁺ and H⁺ ₂ are studied, demonstrating that essentially exact Rydberg potential energy curves can be determined if the AC is used, even though the valence curves may be incorrect.     

Calculation of potential energy curves for Rb2 including relativistic effects

All-electron relativistic calculations have been performed on the Rb₂ molecule. The molecular orbitals are optimized within a spin-free no-pair Hamiltonian formalism and spin-orbit coupling is treated using quasi-degenerate perturbation theory. Potential curves of the ground state and several excited states are calculated, and the spectroscopic constants T _e, D _e, R _e and ω_e are in good agreement with experimental values. The spin-orbit splittings at the 5p and 6p asymptotic limits are found to be underestimated by about 30%. Large perturbations in the spectra from the 1¹Σ⁺ _u(A) state are predicted due to an avoided crossing with a 1 ³Π_ub state caused by spin-orbit interaction. The predissociation dynamics of the 2 ¹Π_uC and 3 ¹Π_uD states is discussed. The calculations support the observation that a (1) ³ Δ_u state causes the fast predissociation of the ^{3 1}Π_uD state but rule out the (2)³Σ⁺ _u state as causing the slow predissociation at the lower part of the 3 ¹Π_uD potential energy curve.     

Intermolecular and intramolecular contributions to the relaxation process in sorbitol and maltitol

Molecular mobility in sorbitol and maltitol is studied with spectroscopic techniques and molecular dynamics simulations in order to evaluate the relative contributions of the intermolecular and intramolecular interactions involved in the relaxation processes. The results of the molecular dynamics simulations performed on the polyols in the bulk or in vacuum compares well with the results of the analysis of the relaxation diagrams in the framework of the Perez et al. model. They both imply that the difference in the relative contributions of the intermolecular and intramolecular interactions associated with the different chemical architectures of the two polyols must be taken into account. The intermolecular interactions cannot be neglected and they are stronger in sorbitol than in maltitol in relation with the linear structure of this polyol. The intramolecular barrier, higher in the maltitol molecule with a more complex structure, could be at the origin of the higher junction temperature between the α and β relaxation processes.     

Optical Single-Sideband Modulators and Their Applications

We review our recent work in the implementation of optical single-sideband (OSSB) modulation and in the application of this modulation format to microwave photonics and optical testing systems. We have developed an enhanced OSSB modulator for wide-band operation, the so-called bidirectional OSSB modulator, and a simplification of this scheme for narrow-band applications. These OSSB modulators are based on the use of a standard single-electrode Mach-Zehnder electro-optic modulator (MZ-EOM) and passive fiber-optic components. In both designs, the OSSB operation is shown to be independent of the MZ-EOM bias. Therefore, the optical modulation depth at the output of the device can be enhanced using minimum transmission biasing to provide suppression of the optical carrier. Finally, we demonstrate the application of OSSB modulators to the improvement of microwave/millimeter-wave subcarrier multiplexing fiber-optic links and to narrow-band fiber radio systems. In addition, we analyzed the feasibility and the limitations of an optical vector network analysis technique based on OSSB modulation that can provide sub-picometer wavelength resolution.     

Resonance Raman investigation of the short-time dynamics of the ultraviolet photodissociation of bromoform

We report ultraviolet resonance Raman spectra of bromoform (CHBr₃) in cyclohexane solution. The resonance Raman spectra show significant intensity in the overtones of the nominal Br-C-Br symmetric bend (v ₆), the nominal H-C-Br asymmetric bend (v3), the nominal Br-C-Br symmetric stretch (v ₂) and the nominal Br-C-Br asymmetric stretch (v ₅) vibrational modes suggesting that the short-time photodissociation dynamics have noticeable multidimensional character. The lack of strong combination bands between several of the Franck-Condon active modes suggests that more than one electronic transition contribute to the resonance Raman spectra. We briefly discuss the ultraviolet short-time photodissociation dynamics of bromoform and the potential implications for the secondary photodissociation reactions of the initially formed CHBr₂ radical.     

Energetics,electronic structures and geometries of didehydroazines

When calibrated against the available experimental data for didehydrobenzenes, RB3LYP/cc-pVTZ, QCISD/cc-pVTZ, CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ, and G3 electronic structure calculations provide reliable predictions of standard enthalpies and singlet—triplet splittings in all possible isomers of didehydroazines that (with a possible exception of 2,6-didehydropyridine) possess singlet ground states. Singlet didehydroazines with larger numbers of nitrogen atoms turn out to be more prone to ring opening, as indicated by the fact that out of the 6, 11, 6 and 3 possible didehydropyridines, didehydrodiazines, didehydrotriazines, and didehydrotetrazines, respectively, 5, 7, 2 and none are actually found. Immediate proximity of the nitrogen atom to the formally triple carbon—carbon bond confers decreased thermodynamic stabilities and smaller singlet—triplet splittings on the species of the 1,2-didehydro type. Some of the aza analogues of singlet 1,3-didehydrobenzene are as stable as their 1,2-didehydro counterparts. The only existing aza analogue of singlet 1,4-didehydrobenzene is 2,5-didehydropyrazine, which is particularly stable and possesses a large singlet—triplet splitting, making it a feasible synthetic target. The present calculations indicate that the experimental standard enthalpies of formation of pyrimidine and pyrazine are in error.