Computational Homogenization of Damage in the Hardened Cement Paste due to Alkali Silica Reaction

In this contribution, the model of the concrete deterioration due to the alkali silica reaction(ASR) at the microscale is set up. Based on a three-dimensional micro computer-tomography, a finite-element mesh is constructed at the micrometer length scale and 3D coupled Chemo-Themo-Mechanics model in the hardened cement paste(HCP) and computational homogenization of damage are addressed in this contribution. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Structural design, solid-phase synthesis and activity of membrane-anchored β-secretase inhibitors on Aβ generation from wild-type and Swedish-mutant APP

Covalent coupling of β-secretase inhibitors to a raftophilic lipid anchor via a suitable spacer by using solid-phase peptide synthesis leads to tripartite structures displaying substantially improved inhibition of cellular secretion of the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ). Herein, we describe a series of novel tripartite structures, their full characterization by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, and the analysis of their biological activity in cell-based assays. The tripartite structure concept is applicable to different pharmacophores, and the potency in terms of β-secretase inhibition can be optimized by adjusting the spacer length to achieve an optimal distance of the inhibitor from the lipid bilayer. A tripartite structure containing a transition-state mimic inhibitor was found to be less potent on Aβ generation from Swedish-mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP) than from the wild-type protein. Moreover, our observations suggest that specific variants of Aβ are generated from wild-type APP but not from Swedish-mutant APP and are resistant to β-secretase inhibition. Efficient inhibition of Aβ secretion by tripartite structures in the absence of appreciable neurotoxicity was confirmed in a primary neuronal cell culture, thus further supporting the concept.     

Spiro,ansa-derivatives of cyclotetraphosphazenes with a tetrafluorobutane-1,4-diol

The reaction of the octachlorocyclotetraphosphazene, N₄P₄Cl₈ (1), in three stoichiometries (1:1, 1:2 and 1:3) with the sodium derivative of the fluorinated diol, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorobutane-1,4-diol (2), in THF solution at room temperature produced seven products, whose structures have been characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, ¹H, ¹⁹F, ³¹P NMR spectroscopy and by X-ray crystallography, where suitable single crystals were obtained: the mono-spiro compound, N₄P₄Cl₆(OCH₂CF₂CF₂CH₂O) (3), its ansa isomer (4), cis- and trans-bis-spiro derivatives N₄P₄Cl₄(OCH₂CF₂CF₂CH₂O)₂ (5 and 6), tris-spiro compound N₄P₄Cl₂(OCH₂CF₂CF₂CH₂O)₃ (7), its mono-spiro-bis-ansa isomer (8) and tetrakis-spiro compound N₄P₄(OCH₂CF₂CF₂CH₂O)₄, (9). X-ray crystallographic studies confirmed that the structure of the mono-spiro-bis-ansa isomer (8) has been reported as a first example in the literature. The results of all reactions were compared with previous work on the reaction of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene, N₃P₃Cl₆ with the sodium derivative of the diol (2), in a 1:1.2 mole ratio in the in the same solvent, THF, and with the reaction of octafluorocyclotetraphosphazene, N₄P₄F₈, with the silyl derivative of the diol (2), (Me₃SiOCH₂CF₂)₂, in a 1:0.4 mole ratio in THF.     

Dynamic Trapping as a Selective Route to Renewable Phthalide from Biomass-Derived Furfuryl Alcohol

A novel route for the production of the versatile chemical building block phthalide from biorenewable furfuryl alcohol and acrylate esters is presented. Two challenges that limit sustainable aromatics production via Diels–Alder (DA) aromatisation—an unfavourable equilibrium position and undesired regioselectivity when using asymmetric addends—were addressed using a dynamic kinetic trapping strategy. Activated acrylates were used to speed up the forward and reverse DA reactions, allowing for one of the four DA adducts to undergo a selective intramolecular lactonisation reaction in the presence of a weak base. The adduct is removed from the equilibrium pool, pulling the system completely to the product with a fixed, desired regiochemistry. A single 1,2-regioisomeric lactone product was formed in up to 86 % yield and the acrylate activating agent liberated for reuse. The lactone was aromatised to give phthalide in almost quantitative yield in the presence of Ac₂O and a catalytic amount of strong acid, or in 79 % using only catalytic acid.     

Multiscale modeling for ferroelectric materials: a transition from the atomic level to phase-field modeling

To link the atomic level and the mesoscale within a knowledge-based multiscale modeling approach for ferroelectric materials, a method is suggested to transfer results from first-principles calculations into a phase-field model. DFT calculations and atomistic simulations are applied and provide a set of intrinsic and extrinsic material properties for PbTiO₃ and tetragonal Pb(Zr_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃. The Helmholtz free energy of the phase-field model that contains all crystallographic and domain wall information is discussed in detail, and a sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the coefficients of the energy function. Then, a method is developed to adjust the coefficients of the Helmholtz free energy solely based on results from first-principles calculations. Full sets of adjusted energy coefficients for PbTiO₃ and Pb(Zr_0.5Ti_0.5)O₃ are presented and discussed, as well the limits of the suggested adjustment method.     

Structural,magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of $$\hbox {Ni}_{54}\hbox {Mn}_{14}\hbox {Ga}_{27}\hbox {Fe}_{5}$$ Ni 54 Mn 14 Ga 27 Fe 5 : the impact of annealing time

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of $$\hbox {Ni}_{54}\hbox {Mn}_{14}\, \hbox {Ga}_{27}\hbox {Fe}_{5}$$ Heusler alloy as a...     

An elementary proof of the Fritz-John and Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions in nonlinear programming

In this note we give an elementary proof of the Fritz-John and Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions for nonlinear finite dimensional programming problems with equality and/or inequality constraints. The proof avoids the implicit function theorem usually applied when dealing with equality constraints and uses a generalization of Farkas lemma and the Bolzano-Weierstrass property for compact sets.     

Transition metals in organic synthesis. Part 108: first total synthesis of ekeberginine

Using a palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative cyclization and a regioselective nickel-mediated prenylation as key steps, the first total synthesis of the 1-oxygenated carbazole alkaloid ekeberginine has been achieved in six steps and in 63% overall yield.