Correlated stability conjecture revisited

Correlated stability conjecture (CSC) proposed by Gubser and Mitra (2000, 2001)  and  linked the thermodynamic and classical (in)stabilities of black branes. The classical instabilities, whenever occurring, were conjectured to arise as Gregory–Laflamme (GL) instabilities of translationally invariant horizons. In Buchel (2005) [3] it was shown that the thermodynamic instabilities, specifically the negative specific heat, indeed result in the instabilities in the hydrodynamic spectrum of holographically dual plasma excitations. A counter-example of CSC was presented in the context of black branes with scalar hair undergoing a second-order phase transition (Friess et al., 2005 [4]). In this Letter we discuss a related counter-example of CSC conjecture, where a thermodynamically stable translationally invariant horizon has a genuine tachyonic instability. We study the spectrum of quasinormal excitations of a black brane undergoing a continuous phase transition, and explicitly identify the instability. We compute the critical exponents of the critical momenta and the frequency of the unstable fluctuations and identify the dynamical critical exponent of the model.     

Configuration interactions constrained by energy density functionals

A new method for constructing a Hamiltonian for configuration interaction calculations with constraints to energies of spherical configurations obtained with energy-density-functional (EDF) methods is presented. This results in a unified model that reproduced the EDF binding-energy in the limit of single-Slater determinants, but can also be used for obtaining energy spectra and correlation energies with renormalized nucleon–nucleon interactions. The three-body and/or density-dependent terms that are necessary for good nuclear saturation properties are contained in the EDF. Applications to binding-energies and spectra of nuclei in the region above ²⁰⁸Pb are given.     

Re-investigation of ortho-metalated N,N-dialkylbenzylamine complexes of rare-earth metals. First structurally characterized arylates of neodymium and gadolinium Li[LnAr4]

The influence of the ether ligand in [LnCl₃(solv)_n], solv = THF, DME; n = 1–3 in reactions with ortho-lithiated dimethyl-benzylamine Li(dmba) has been studied. An improved protocol towards homoleptic tris-aryl complexes of the type [Ln(dmba)₃], Ln = Y, Er and Yb has been developed and molecular structures of these complexes have been established by X-ray crystallography. For the first time stable homoleptic lithium ate-complexes of the type Li[Ln(dmba)₄] (Ln = Gd, Nd) have been isolated and structurally characterized. The success in their synthesis strongly depends on the choice of the appropriate [LnCl₃(solv)_n] precursor, such as [GdCl₃(dme)₂], [NdCl₃(dme)], and THF-free reaction conditions. Factors influencing on possible degradation pathways of lanthanide tris-aryl complexes with dmba-type ligands are discussed.     

Electro‐Optic (E‐O) Molecular Glasses

This Focus Review describes molecular glasses as a new class of materials for nonlinear optical (NLO) applications, especially for electro‐optic (E‐O) devices. Examples of E‐O molecular glasses are reviewed with a focus on the molecular design of NLO chromophores and solid‐state engineering of molecular glasses. Molecular glasses based on dendrimers of multiple chromophores, molecular glass blends of chromophores, and molecular glasses based on reversible self‐assembly of chromophores are introduced as promising architectures to prepare morphologically stable molecular glasses with large E‐O activities and improved material properties for device applications. Future directions to fully exploit the potential of molecular glasses for NLO materials are presented.     

Rhombus filtrations and Rauzy algebras

Peach introduced rhombal algebras associated to quivers given by tilings of the plane by rhombi. We develop general techniques to analyze rhombal algebras, including a filtration by what we call rhombus modules. We introduce a way to relate the infinite-dimensional rhombal algebra corresponding to a complete tiling of the plane to finite-dimensional algebras corresponding to finite portions of the tiling. Throughout, we apply our general techniques to the special case of the Rauzy tiling, which is built in stages reflecting an underlying self-similarity. Exploiting this self-similar structure allows us to uncover interesting features of the associated finite-dimensional algebras, including some of the tree classes in the stable Auslander-Reiten quiver.     

High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatographic Method for Analysis of Racecadotril in the Bulk Drug

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A new simple, rapid, reproducible, and stability-indicatiiig highperformance thin-layer chromatographic method for analysis of...     

Cyclization of peptide b9 ions

The product ion mass spectra obtained by CID of the b₉ ions derived by loss of neutral alanine from the MH⁺ ion of the peptides Tyr(Ala)₉, (Ala)₄Tyr(Ala)₅, and (Ala)₈TyrAla are essentially identical, indicative of full cyclization reaction to a common intermediate before fragmentation. This leads to abundant nondirect sequence ions in the product ion mass spectra of the b₉ ions. The product ion mass spectra of the b₈ ions from the first two peptides also are essentially identical. The fragmentation of the MH⁺ ions also leads to low intensity nondirect sequence ions in the product ion mass spectra. N-terminal acetylation blocks the cyclization and eliminates nondirect sequence fragment ions in the product ion mass spectra.     

High diffusion barrier and piezoelectric nanocomposites based on polyvinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene copolymer and hydrophobized clay

Nanocomposites based on polyvinylidene fluoride–trifluoroethylene copolymer and up to 4 vol % of hydrophobized clay nanoparticles are investigated. The structure, piezoelectric properties, and oxygen permeability of solvent cast films are analyzed before and after annealing above the Curie temperature of the polymer. Exfoliation of the clay takes place at concentrations up to 1 vol %, beyond which it rapidly drops and is absent at a concentration of 4 vol %. The presence of clay does not change the crystallinity of the polymer, but leads to a threefold decrease of the oxygen permeability at a concentration of 0.5 vol %. Annealing at 130 °C increases the crystallinity, the proportion of β phase up to 94%, and the piezoelectric coefficient by 20–40% at clay fractions below 1 vol %. Annealing also leads to a remarkable 3‐ to 10‐fold decrease of O₂ permeability and to intriguing changes of the activation energy for O₂ transport, which decreases from 56 kJ/mol for the as‐cast polymer to below 10 kJ/mol for the polymer and exfoliated composite. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 1828–1836     

Chemical investigation of three plutonium–beryllium neutron sources

Thorough physical and chemical characterization of plutonium–beryllium (PuBe) neutron sources is an important capability with applications ranging from material accountancy to nuclear forensics. Characterization of PuBe sources is not trivial owing to range of existing source designs and the need for adequate infrastructure to deal with radiation and protect the analyst. This study demonstrates a method for characterization of three PuBe sources that includes physical inspection and imaging followed by controlled disassembly and destructive analysis.     

Density functional and spectroscopic studies of nitrogen inversion in substituted dizocilpines

While developing a synthesis towards tagged dizocilpine (MK‐801) analogues, we observed highly restricted inversion of a nitrogen centre in a number hydroxylamines obtained as key intermediates. These compounds are shown to possess some of the structural elements which are expected to significantly hinder the nitrogen inversion, potentially leading to hydroxylamines with a chiral nitrogen centre. Free energy barriers (ΔG^≠) of the nitrogen inversion were estimated to be ca. 22 kcal mol^?1 at temperatures near 420 K using variable temperature NMR measurements in DMSO‐d₆. Further density functional studies of a number model systems were undertaken in order to better rationalize the measured inversion barriers and follow the role of various structural factors in raising the barrier height of the nitrogen inversion process. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.