Synthesis of poly-substituted nitrobenzene derivatives from Baylis-Hillman adducts via [3+3] annulation protocol

Poly-substituted nitrobenzenes were synthesized from Baylis-Hillman adducts via the [3+3] annulation strategy as the key step. 1,3-Dinitroalkanes served as the 1,3-dinucleophilic component and the Baylis-Hillman acetates as a 1,3-dielectrophilic part.     

Cellulose dimethylphenylcarbamate-bonded carbon-clad zirconia for chiral separation in high performance liquid chromatography.

Porous zirconia particles are very robust material and have received considerable attention as a stationary phase support for HPLC. We prepared cellulose dimethylphenylcarbamate-bonded carbon-clad zirconia (CDMPCCZ) as a chiral stationary phase (CSP) for separation of enantiomers of a set of 14 racemic compounds in normal phase (NP) and reversed-phase (RP) liquid chromatography. Retention and enantioselectivity on CDMPCCZ were compared to those on CDMPC-coated zirconia (CDMPCZ) to see how the change in immobilization method of the chiral selector affects the retention and chiral selectivity. In NPLC, retention was longer and the number of resolved racemates was smaller on CDMPCCZ than on CDMPCZ. However, chiral selectivity factors for some resolved racemates were better on CDMPCCZ than on CDMPCZ. The longer retention on CDMPCCZ is likely due to strong, non-chiral discriminating interactions with the carbon layer on CDMPCZ. In RPLC only two racemates were resolved on CDMPCCZ, but retention times were shorter than, and resolutions were comparable to, those in NPLC, indicating a potential for improving chromatographic performance of the CDMPCCZ column in RPLC with optimized column preparation and separation conditions.     

Study of the peak effect phenomenon in single crystals of 2H-NbSe2

The weakly pinned single crystals of the hexagonal 2H-NbSe₂ compound have emerged as prototypes for determining and characterizing the phase boundaries of the possible order-disorder transformations in the vortex matter. We present here a status report based on the ac and dc magnetization measurements of the peak effect phenomenon in three crystals of 2H-NbSe₂, in which the critical current densities vary over two orders of magnitude. We sketch the generic vortex phase diagram of a weakly pinned superconductor, which also utilizes theoretical proposals. We also establish the connection between the metastability effects and pinning.     

Temperature effect on deposition rate of silicon nitride films

Temperature effects on deposition rate of silicon nitride films were characterized by building a neural network prediction model. The silicon nitride films were deposited by using a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition system and process parameter effects were systematically characterized by 2⁶⁻¹ fractional factorial experiment. The process parameters involved include a radio frequency power, pressure, temperature, SiH₄, N₂, and NH₃ flow rates. The prediction performance of generalized regression neural network was drastically improved by optimizing multi-valued training factors using a genetic algorithm. Several 3D plots were generated to investigate parameter effects at various temperatures. Predicted variations were experimentally validated. The temperature effect on the deposition rate was a complex function of parameters but N₂ flow rate. Larger decreases in the deposition rate with the temperature were only noticed at lower SiH₄ (or higher NH₃) flow rates. Typical effects of SiH₄ or NH₃ flow rate were only observed at higher or lower temperatures. A comparison with the refractive index model facilitated a selective choice of either SiH₄ or NH₃ for process optimization.     

Synchronization of Genesio chaotic system via backstepping approach

Backstepping design is proposed for synchronization of Genesio chaotic system. Firstly, the control problem for the chaos synchronization of nominal Genesio systems without unknown parameters is considered. Next, an adaptive backstepping control law is derived to make the error signals between drive Genesio system and response Genesio system with an uncertain parameter asymptotically synchronized. Finally, the approach is extended to the synchronization problem for the system with three unknown parameters. The stability analysis in this article is proved by using a well-known Lyapunov stability theorem. Note that the approach provided here needs only a single controller to realize the synchronization. Two numerical simulations are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed chaos synchronization scheme.     

In situ observations of domain wall motion in Mn–Zn and Ni–Zn ferrites by Lorentz microscopy and electron holography

Domain wall motion in Mn–Zn and Ni–Zn ferrites with applied magnetic fields is investigated by in situ observations with Lorentz microscopy and electron holography. It is found that both Mn–Zn and Ni–Zn ferrites have a mean grain size of approximately 10 μm and several pores with sizes ranging from 0.2 to 1.1 μm. In situ observations by Lorentz microscopy with an applied magnetic field reveals that in Mn–Zn ferrite, the domain walls move easily across the grain boundary, while in Ni–Zn ferrite, the domain walls move along the grain boundary but are pinned at the grain boundary and pores. From in situ observations of Ni–Zn ferrite by electron holography, it is clarified that domain wall pinning at the grain boundary retards a sensitive increase in magnetic flux parallel to the applied field direction, which is considered to result in high hysteresis loss.     

Analysis of the manufacturing lead time in a production system with non-renewal batch input,threshold policy and post-operation

In this paper, we analyze the manufacturing lead time in a production system with BMAP (Batch Markovian Arrival process) input and post-operation operated under the N-policy. We use the factorization principle to derive the waiting time distribution (hence the manufacturing lead time) and the mean performance measures. A numerical example is provided.     

Synthesis and electrical characteristics of polyaniline nanoparticles and their polymeric composite

Monodisperse polyaniline nanoparticles (PAPSSA) were synthesized from an oxidative dispersion polymerization using poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSSA) as both a polymeric stabilizer and a dopant agent due to its acidity. The nanoparticles were being stabilized with two different molecular weight of PSSA. Size effect of PAPSSA particles were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The d.c. electrical conductivity of composite films on the glass substrate was measured by a four-probe method. It was found that the electrical properties of the composite films are affected by the content of nano-sized polyaniline and different molecular weights of stabilizer in the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix.     

Logarithmic Sobolev trace inequality

A logarithmic Sobolev trace inequality is derived. Bounds on the best constant for this inequality from above and below are investigated using the sharp Sobolev inequality and the sharp logarithmic Sobolev inequality.