Hypericin and Pseudohypericin. Purity Criteria and Quantitative Determination in Extracts of Saint John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Summary. Hypericin and pseudohypericin in extracts of St. Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum) are assayed using UV-Vis, measuring the absorbance at 588nm of a methanolic solution of the compounds. The value of the absorption coefficient is difficult to define insofar as none of the routine purity criteria can be applied to these two compounds. Analysis of the entire UV-Vis spectrum from 220 to 740nm would seem to be a reliable way of comparing different samples. A UV-Vis spectrum was recorded for each of the compounds using a Photodiode array detection system. A more accurate way of determining the levels of hypericin and pseudohypericin in extracts of St. Johns Wort using these reference spectra is described.     

Exclusion limits on the WIMP-nucleon cross section from the cryogenic dark matter search

The Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) employs Ge and Si detectors to search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) via their elastic-scattering interactions with nuclei while discriminating against interactions of background particles. CDMS data, accounting for the neutron background, give limits on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon elastic-scattering cross section that exclude unexplored parameter space above 10 GeV/c2 WIMP mass and, at >75% C.L., the entire 3sigma allowed region for the WIMP signal reported by the DAMA experiment.     

Non-linear actuation of cantilevers using giant magnetostrictive thin films

In the present paper, we report the first results concerning a centimetre cantilever driven through non-linear effects in thin magnetostrictive films. Bimorph centimetre beams (24 mm x 5 mm) were designed using 160 microns thick glass and 0.4 micron thick multilayer TbFe/Fe films deposited via RF sputtering, using several sputtering conditions. Dynamic magneto-elastic excitations were studied experimentally on the few eigenresonance modes of the cantilevers. Sub-harmonic excitation at half or one-third of the frequency of an eigenresonance mode has been achieved near the spin reorientation transition and the efficiency is as good as for eigenfrequency excitation. Specific magnetic properties of the samples led to a model of the thermodynamic potentials and behaviour of the excited resonator.     

Multiscale hygroviscoelastic approach to predicting the internal stresses in composite materials

A self-consistent approach is used to estimate the internal stresses induced by moisture absorption in composite materials with a viscoelastic matrix and linear elastic fibers. A strong influence of the behavior of the viscoelastic matrix and humidity on the internal stresses in the structures at macroscopic and local scales is found to exist.     

Two-dimensional problem of a two-temperature generalized thermoelastic half-space subjected to ramp-type heating

In this work, we will consider a half-space filled with an elastic material, which has constant elastic parameters. The governing equations are taken in the context of the theory of two-temperature generalized thermoelasticity. A linear temperature ramping function is used to more realistically model thermal loading of the half-space surface. The medium is assumed initially quiescent. Laplace and Fourier transform techniques are used to obtain the general solution for any set of boundary conditions. The general solution obtained is applied to a specific problem of a half-space subjected to ramp-type heating. The inverse Fourier transforms are obtained analytically while the inverse Laplace transforms are computed numerically using a method based on Fourier expansion techniques. Some comparisons have been shown in figures to estimate the effect of the ramping parameter of heating.     

Identities of arithmetic type between values of the theta function associated to a lattice in ℝ d and its derivatives

In this paper, we introduce a notion of similarly self dual lattice in a d-dimensional Euclidean space and a classical Jacobi theta function is associated to such a lattice. We establish identities of arithmetic type between values of this theta function and its successive derivatives. This work can be related to the spectral theory of the Landau operators.      

A second-order boundary value problem with impulsive effects on an unbounded domain

We study a second-order nonlinear differential equation on an unbounded domain with solutions subject to impulsive conditions and the Sturm–Liouville type boundary conditions. The existence results are obtained via applications of Krasnosel’ski?’s fixed point theorem for the sum of a completely continuous operator and a contraction.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel PDMS nanocomposites using POSS derivatives as cross‐linking filler

We report the synthesis and characterization of novel elastomeric nanocomposites containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) as both the cross‐linker and filler within a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer matrix. These polymer composites were prepared through the reaction of octasilane‐POSS (OS‐POSS) with vinyl‐terminated PDMS chains using hydrosilylation chemistry. In addition, larger super‐POSS cross‐linkers, consisting of two pendant hepta(isobutyl)POSS molecules attached to a central octasilane‐POSS core, were also used in the fabrication of the PDMS composites. The chemical incorporation of these POSS cross‐linkers into the PDMS network was verified by solid‐state ¹H magic angle spinning NMR. Based on dynamic mechanical analysis, the PDMS nanocomposites prepared with the octafunctional OS‐POSS cross‐linker exhibited enhanced mechanical properties relative to polymer systems prepared with the tetrafunctional TDSS cross‐linker at equivalent loading levels. The observed improvements in mechanical properties can be attributed to the increased dimensionality of the POSS cross‐linker. The PDMS elastomers synthesized from the larger super‐POSS molecule showed improved mechanical properties relative to both the TDSS and OS‐POSS composites due to the increased volume‐fraction of POSS filler in the polymer matrix. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2589–2596, 2009