Modelling of magnetic fields to enhance the performance of an in-plane EMAT for laser-generated ultrasound

A new magnetic arrangement is described for use with an in-plane electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) for detecting laser-generated ultrasound. The magnetic flux density was modelled and validated. Modelling was accomplished in 3D using finite element software to predict new magnet spatial distributions. A configuration was found which increased the magnetic flux density by a factor of 1.8+/-0.2, compared to magnetic configurations previously used in conventional designs. Model predictions were implemented and confirmed experimentally. As a result, laser ultrasound Rayleigh waves have been used to verify the performance of this sensor system. It was establish that the EMAT's in-plane sensitivity increased, while the frequency bandwidth improvement factor was about 1.9+/-0.2. The resonant frequency increased from 6.5 MHz and 16.4 MHz, with both exhibiting an extended frequency response well beyond the resonant values. For maximum frequency response, it was demonstrated that added elements such as cables may have a deleterious effect. In particular the length of the cable, which in turn adds capacitance to the overall circuit, will decrease the frequency response of the EMAT. The frequency response was compared with a previous sensor, to provide an increased resonant frequency factor of 2.5+/-0.2.     

A procedure for turbulent structure convection velocity measurements using time-correlated images

This paper describes the development of a technique used to determine the convection velocity of large-scale turbulent structures captured in time-correlated images. The crux of the procedure centers on a cross-correlation routine that is used to determine the convection distance of eddies during the time separation between the image acquisitions. The convection velocity is then estimated as the convection distance divided by the time separation of the image-pair. This cross-correlation routine is capable of analyzing very large data sets in a completely automated manner, thereby improving the accuracy and objectivity of the results over manual or partially automated procedures. Guidelines for optimizing the experimental and computational components of this technique are also presented. Received: 27 March 1998/Accepted: 11 August 1998     

An extremal bandwidth problem for bipartite graphs

This paper discusses the problem of finding the maximum number of edges E(m, n, B) in a bipartite graph having partite set sizes m and n and bandwidth B. Exact values for E(m, n, B) are found for many cases. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 35: 278–289, 2000     

ENERGY TRANSFER IN A LIGHT-HARVESTING CAROTENOID-CHLOROPHYLL c-CHLOROPHYLL a-PROTEIN OF PHAEODACTYLUM TRICORNUTUM

Abstract— The marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum was readily disrupted in 0.1 N Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.8, in a Braun Model MSK cell homogenizer at 0-5°C. Treatment of the suspension with sodium lauryol sarcosinate (3 molecules per 10000 daltons of protein) at 5°C in the dark and subsequent centrifugations produced a pigmented, protein fraction whose excitation spectrum exhibited energy transfer from carotenoids to chlorophyll a (Chi a ). Disruption of the pigment-protein complex by heating in 1% sodium dodecylsulfate resulted in loss of energy transfer. For each Chi a molecule this fraction had 1 Chi c , 4 fucoxanthin, and 6.7 accessory pigment molecules. Presence of the accessory complex of Photosystem II in this preparation is suggested by the high xanthophyll content. Further, based on Chl a concentrations, this fraction had about 18 times more apparent fluorescence emission at 680 nm when excited at 470 nm than the intact cells.     

Quantitation of trace components in liquid process streams by direct liquid sampling mass spectrometry

This paper describes the development of a liquid sampling approach for trace analysis by electron impact ionization magnetic sector mass spectrometry, with no chromatographic separation. Development of a liquid sample introduction interface based on the principle of Programmable Temperature Vaporizing (PTV) GC injection is shown. A univariate procedure for the analysis of trace (mg kg(-1)) propanoic acid in acetic acid was developed. Results from the laboratory-based analysis of acetic acid are presented and compared with conventional GC analysis. The detection limit was 16 mg l(-1) and the speed of analysis was employed to acquire 30 scans per minute thus reducing the confidence intervals of the results and potentially allowing production plants to run much closer to sales specifications. For the analysis of more complex samples where the analytes contained no unique ions, multivariate analysis was employed and up to three scans per minute were acquired. Results from the analysis of an ester for six trace impurities are shown. Calibration was by partial least squares regression. The detection limits for these components were 20-30 mg kg(-1), well within the required product specifications. The system proved to be robust and easy to operate, with analyses being carried out over a period of several months requiring no maintenance of the spectrometer and only cleaning of the injection liner of the PTV injector on a monthly basis.     

Mechanism of aerobic decomposition of Angeli's salt (sodium trioxodinitrate) at physiological pH

The recent determination that Angeli's salt may have clinical application as a nitrogen oxide donor for treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure has led to renewed interest in the mechanism and products of thermal decomposition of Angeli's salt under physiological conditions. In this report, several mechanisms are evaluated experimentally and by quantum mechanical calculations to determine whether HNO is in fact released from Angeli's salt in neutral, aerobic solution. The mechanism of product autoxidation is also considered.     

Amphiphilic 4-helix bundles designed for biomolecular materials applications

Artificial peptides previously designed to possess alpha-helical bundle motifs have been either hydrophilic (i.e., soluble in polar media) or lipophilic (i.e., soluble in nonpolar media) in overall character. Realizations of these bioinspired bundles have succeeded in reproducing a variety of biomimetic functionality within the appropriate media. However, to translate their functionality into any biomolecular device applications at the macroscopic level, the bundles must be oriented in an ensemble, for example, at an interface. This goal has been realized in a new family of alpha-helical bundle peptides which are amphiphilic; namely, they assemble into 4-helix bundles with well-defined hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains. These peptides are capable of binding metalloporphyrin prosthetic groups at selected locations within these domains. We describe here the realization of one of the first members of this family, AP0, successfully designed for vectorial incorporation into soft interfaces between polar and nonpolar media.     

Sigmatropic Rearrangement of Vinyl Aziridines: Expedient Synthesis of Cyclic Sulfoximines from Chiral Sulfinimines

A novel rearrangement of 2‐vinyl aziridine 2‐carboxylates to unusual chiral cyclic sulfoximines is described herein. The method allows the synthesis of substituted cyclic sulfoximines in high yields with complete stereocontrol, and tolerates a wide substrate scope. A one‐pot process starting directly from sulfinimines provides access to complex chiral sulfoximines in only two steps from commercially available aldehydes. A mechanistic hypothesis and synthetic application in the formal synthesis of trachelanthamidine, by transformation of a cyclic sulfoximine into a pyrroline, is also disclosed.     

Hydrogen bond-free flavin redox properties: managing flavins in extreme aprotic solvents

We report a simple, single step reaction that transforms riboflavin, which is insoluble in benzene, to tetraphenylacetyl riboflavin (TPARF), which is soluble in this solvent to over 250 mM. Electrochemical analysis of TPARF both alone and in complexes with two benzene-soluble flavin receptors: dibenzylamidopyridine (DBAP) and monobenzylamidopyridine (MBAP), prove that this model system behaves similarly to other previously studied flavin model systems which were soluble only in more polar solvents such as dichloromethane. Binding titrations in both benzene and dichloromethane show that the association constants of TPARF with its ligands are over an order of magnitude higher in benzene than dichloromethane, a consequence of the fact that benzene does not compete for H-bonds, but dichloromethane does. The alteration induced in the visible spectrum of TPARF in benzene upon the addition of DBAP is very similar to the difference produced by transfer to dichloromethane, further indicating that the flavin head group engages in a similar degree of hydrogen bonding with dichloromethane as with its ligands. This work underlines the importance of using a truly nonpolar solvent for the analysis of the effects of hydrogen bonding on the energetics of any biomimetic host-guest model system.