Extensions of Modules over Schur Algebras, Symmetric Groups and Hecke Algebras

We study the relation between the cohomology of general linear and symmetric groups and their respective quantizations, using Schur algebras and standard homological techniques to build appropriate spectral sequences. As our methods fit inside a much more general context within the theory of finite-dimensional algebras, we develop our results first in that general setting, and then specialize to the above situations. From this we obtain new proofs of several known results in modular representation theory of symmetric groups. Moreover, we reduce certain questions about computing extensions for symmetric groups and Hecke algebras to questions about extensions for general linear groups and their quantizations.     

Synthesis of 2-pyrone-4-carboxaldehydes from acetylene dicarboxaldehyde monoacetal

Reaction of acetylene dicarboxaldehyde monoacetal with substituted Meldrum’s acid leads good yields in 2-pyranones-4-carboxaldehydes substituted in position 3.     

Evidences of phase separation in moisture‐cured poly(urethane urea)s by means of temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry

The degree of phase separation in several moisture‐cured poly(urethane urea)s (PUUs) was studied by FTIR spectroscopy, wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), and temperature‐modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC). This latter technique was shown to be particularly useful in analysing the degree of phase separation in PUU polymers. Both phase mixing and phase segregation coexisted in the PUUs and the degree of phase separation increased as the urea hard segment (HS) content in the PUU increased. The maximum solubility of urea HSs into the polyol soft segments (SSs) was achieved for 50 wt % urea HS content in diol‐based PUUs, whereas for triol‐based PUUs the highest solubility between HS and SS was reached for lower urea HS amount. Finally, the higher the urea HS content the higher the extent of phase separation in the PUU. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 3034–3045, 2007     

Magnetic poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) microspheres by dispersion and inverse emulsion polymerization

The aim of this study was to develop novel thermally responsive polymer microspheres with magnetic properties. Dispersion and inverse emulsion copolymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBAAm) was investigated in the presence of γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. The resulting microspheres were characterized in terms of morphology, size, polydispersity, iron content, and temperature‐dependent swelling using optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, QELS, and AAS. The effects of several variables, such as the concentration of γ‐Fe₂O₃, MBAAm crosslinking agent, Span 80 surfactant, 2,2′‐azobis(2‐methyloctanenitrile) (AMON) initiator, and polymerization temperature on the properties of the microspheres were studied. Swelling and thermoresponsive behavior of the microspheres containing γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were also investigated. The microspheres contained about 8 wt % of iron. The presence of magnetic nanoparticles and their concentration changes did not have any significant effect on the temperature sensitivity of the composites. The particles gradually shrink into an increasingly collapsed state when the temperature is raised to 40 °C since the increase in temperature weakens the hydration and PNIPAAm chains gradually become more hydrophobic, which leads to the collapse of the particles. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 5884–5898, 2007     

Gauss-Manin connections for arrangements, III Formal connections

We study the Gauss-Manin connection for the moduli space of an arrangement of complex hyperplanes in the cohomology of a complex rank one local system. We define formal Gauss-Manin connection matrices in the Aomoto complex and prove that, for all arrangements and all local systems, these formal connection matrices specialize to Gauss-Manin connection matrices.

     

Magnetic poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres prepared by dispersion polymerization in the presence of electrostatically stabilized ferrofluids

Fine magnetite nanoparticles, both electrostatically stabilized and nonstabilized, were synthesized in situ by precipitation of Fe(II) and Fe(III) salts in alkaline medium. Magnetic poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) microspheres with core‐shell structure, where Fe₃O₄ is the magnetic core and PGMA is the shell, were obtained by dispersion polymerization initiated with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), 4,4′‐azobis(4‐cyanovaleric acid) (ACVA), or ammonium persulfate (APS) in ethanol containing poly(vinylpyrrolidone) or ethylcellulose stabilizer in the presence of iron oxide ferrofluid. The average microsphere size ranged from 100 nm to 2 μm. The effects of the nature of ferrofluid, polymerization temperature, monomer, initiator, and stabilizer concentration on the PGMA particle size and polydispersity were studied. The particles contained 2–24 wt % of iron. AIBN produced larger microspheres than APS or ACVA. Polymers encapsulating electrostatically stabilized iron oxide particles contained lower amounts of oxirane groups compared with those obtained with untreated ferrofluid. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5827–5837, 2004     

Design and synthesis of labeling reagents (MS probes) for highly sensitive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and their application to the detection of carbonyl, alcohol, carboxylic acid and primary amine samples.

Novel labeling reagents, called MS probes, which possess a positively charged quaternary amine moiety and can transform a neutral analyte into a charged compound by simply mixing with the analyte and allowing the mixture to stand from several minutes to 30 min at room temperature or while heating to 50 degrees C, were designed and synthesized for the highly sensitive detection of carbonyl, alcohol, carboxylic acid and primary amine samples by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The positively charged products can be detected with high sensitivity in an ESI-MS system, which is the most popular liquid MS instrument. All of the labeled products showed a remarkably large increase in the molecular-ion peak abundance detection sensitivity of over 500-fold at picomolar concentration levels compared to that of unlabeled analytes in an ESI-MS system. These MS probes, used together with liquid MS detection, are widely applicable as a convenient method for the highly sensitive detection of less than picomolar levels of analytes, and therefore greatly enhance the power of ESI-MS analysis.     

The interfacial conformation of polypropylene glycols and foam behaviour

The foam behaviour of low molecular weight polypropylene glycols (PPG) was investigated as a function of concentration and molecular weight (190–2000 g mol⁻¹). For each polypropylene glycol, foam stability increases with concentration and passes through a maximum, beyond which foamability is suppressed as the solubility limit of the glycol is exceeded and droplets of glycol form. Light-scattering data as well as static and dynamic surface tension results provide the key information leading to these interpretations. A maximum in foamability was observed for the PPG molecules with increasing molecular weight (caused by a change in molecular conformation at the interface). This suppresses the Marangoni effect and leads to a decrease in foam stability.