Analysis of effective service time with age dependent interruptions and its application to optimal rollback policy for database management

A stochastic model is developed describing a service system subject to inhomogeneous Poisson interruptions with age dependent interruption periods. By studying the probabilistic flow of the underlying multivariate Markov process, the Laplace transform of the effective service time is explicitly obtained. For general renewal interruptions, only the expected effective service time is derived. As an application, an optimal checkpoint policy is examined for database management. It is shown that an optimal policy maximizing the ergodic availability of the database is to implement a checkpoint as soon as the cumulative uptime of the database reaches a prespecified constantk ^*. A computational procedure is then developed for findingk ^* and numerical results are exhibited.This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. ECS-8600992 and by the IBM Program of Support for Education in the Management of Information Systems.     

Molecular distortion effect on ff-emission in a Pr(III) complex with 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline.

The electronic and structural behaviour of a Pr(III) complex with 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, [Pr(bathophen)(2)(NO(3))(3)], is investigated with respect to the effect of configuration changes on the Pr(III) centre. [Pr(bathophen)(2)(NO(3))(3)] luminesces from the excited states of the ligand and the metal ion. The fluorescence, ff-emission ((1)D(2)-->(3)H(4)), and phosphorescence bands appear at 394, 608.2 and 482 nm, respectively, in the solid state. In acetonitrile, the complex also shows multiple emissions. From the time-resolved emission and the lifetime measurements, the excitation energy-transfer in [Pr(bathophen)(2)(NO(3))(3)] is clarified, that is, the upper excited triplet level of the ligand acts as an energy donor, while the (1)D(2) levels of Pr(III) is the acceptor. Additionally, the emission phenomena of the complex can be modified by molecular distortion, particularly by rotation of the phenyl groups in the ligand.     

Effective Synthesis of N‐Arylformamide from α‐Halo‐N‐arylacetamides

A convenient synthetic method for N‐arylformamide derivatives was successfully developed by reacting α‐iodo‐N‐arylacetamides with formamide. This method was applicable to α‐iodo‐N‐arylacetamide substrates bearing electron‐donating or electron‐withdrawing groups, N‐(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol‐5‐yl)‐2‐iodoacetamide, 2‐iodo‐N‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)acetamide, and 2‐iodo‐N‐(naphthalen‐4‐yl)acetamide to give the corresponding N‐arylformamides in moderate to excellent yields (65–94%). A plausible mechanism was proposed to account for the new transformation.     

Antimutagenic activity of ent-kaurane diterpenoids from the aerial parts of Isodon japonicus

From the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of Isodon japonicus, two new ent-kaurane diterpenes, isodonterpenes I and II, were isolated together with 10 known diterpenes. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. The absolute configuration of isodonterpene I was elucidated by Cu-Kα X-ray crystallographic analysis. Antimutagenic activities of the major diterpenes were evaluated by the Ames test. This study represents the first evaluation of the antimutagenic activities of ent-kaurane diterpenes.     

Nickel-catalyzed hydrosilylation/cyclization of difluoro-substituted 1,6-enynes

Ni-catalyzed hydrosilylative cyclization of difluoro-substituted 1,6-enynes can be carried out. The presence of a geminal-difluoromethylene group at an alkene terminus in enynes is essential for the reaction to proceed.     

Highly durable Pd metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells; coverage of Pd metal with silica

Pd cathode catalysts for polymer electrolyte fuel cells have been covered with silica layers a few nanometres thick. The silica-coated Pd catalysts showed high activity and excellent durability for the oxygen reduction under the severe cathode conditions of PEFCs, while Pd catalysts without silica-coating were seriously deactivated under the same conditions. The coverage of Pd metal with silica prevents the diffusion of Pd species out of the silica layers.     

A new method for the stereoselective construction of angular methyl group of fuzed cyclic ethers

A convenient method for the stereoselective construction of angular methyl group of fuzed cyclic ethers is described. Reactions of mixed thioacetals with Me₂Zn/Zn(OTf)₂ afforded the corresponding methylated products in good yields. Various protective groups such as MOM ether, benzylidene acetal, TBS ether, and pivaloyl group were stable under the reaction conditions.