Stability and performance analysis of a block elimination solver for bordered linear systems

A new block elimination method for bordered systems is proposedand its numerical properties are analysed. In the case wherethe leading principal block is ill-conditioned or singular andthe method becomes unstable a perturbation approach is usedto enhance the stability. Results of experiments performed onthe SGI Power Challenge 8000 and on the Cray J-9x illustratethe performance of the new algorithm and compare it with thecurrent best approach. It is shown that the new method worksfaster while preserving stability.     

Uranium colloid analysis by single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Uranium single particle analysis has been performed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the performances are compared with that provided by scanning electron microsopy and single particle counting. The transient signal induced by the flash of ions due to the ionisation of an uranium colloidal particle in the plasma torch can be detected and measured for selected uranium ion masses (²³⁸U⁺, ²³⁵U⁺ or ²⁵⁴[²³⁸U¹⁶O]⁺) by the mass spectrometer. The signals recorded via time scanning are analysed as a function of particle size or fraction of the studied element or isotope in the colloid phase. The frequency of the flashes is directly proportional to the concentration of particles in the colloidal suspension. The feasibility tests were performed on uranium dioxide particles. The study also describes the experimental conditions and the choice of mass to detect uranium colloids in a single particle analysis mode.     

Gold colloid analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in a single particle mode

Analysis in a single particle mode of gold colloids in water has been performed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The signal induced by the flash of ions due to the ionization of a colloid in the plasma torch can be measured for the ions ¹⁹⁷Au⁺ by the mass spectrometer without interferences. The intensity of the MS signal is recorded in time scan. The recorded peak distributions were analysed as a function of the colloid size for five monodisperse colloids (80-250 nm). This study describes the experimental conditions to analyse gold colloids in a single particle mode. The size detection limit is around 25 nm corresponding to 0.15 fg colloids and one particle per ml may be detected during a 1 min time scan within standard procedure.     

Synthesis,Enantiomeric Conformations,and Stereodynamics of Aromatic ortho‐Substituted Disulfones

Aromatic ortho‐disulfone derivatives are readily accessible from diiodide precursors by Cu^I‐mediated reaction with sodium sulfinate salts (DMF, 110°). The sulfonyl substituents adopt in solution and in the solid state two enantiomeric conformations (λ and δ) as evidenced by ³¹P‐ and ¹H‐NMR data of the chiral D₃‐symmetric tris{4,5‐bis[(4‐methylphenyl)sulfonyl]benzene‐1,2‐diolato(2?)‐κO,κO′}phosphate(v) anion ( 3a ) and 1,2‐bis(camphor‐10‐sulfonyl)‐4,5‐dimethoxybenzene ((=1,2‐bis{{[(1S,4R)‐7,7‐dimethyl‐2‐oxobicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐1‐yl]methyl}sulfonyl}‐4,5‐dimethoxybenzene; 6c ). X‐Ray structure analysis of 1,2‐dimethoxy‐4,5‐bis(methylsulfonyl)benzene ( 6a ) and 1,2‐dimethoxy‐4,5‐bis(4‐methylphenyl)sulfonyl]benzene ( 6b ) confirmed in the solid state the preferred chiral orientation of the sulfonyl groups. Dynamic conformational isomerism was detected for 6c in its ¹H‐NMR in the temperature range of 110°, the corresponding free energy being 19.8 kcal?mol^?1.     

The Deoxygenation and Isomerization of Artemisinin and Artemether and Their Relevance to Antimalarial Action

The treatment of artemisinin ( 1 ) and β-artemether ( 6 ) with Zn dissolving in AcOH for a few hours results in mono-deoxygenation giving deoxyartemisinin ( 5 ) and deoxy-β-artemether ( 7 ), respectively, as the sole product. In contrast, submission of 1 to FeCl₂ · 4 H₂O in MeCN at room temperature for 15 min causes only isomerization, (3aS,4R,6aS,7R,10S,10aR)-octahydro-4,7-dimethyl-8-oxo-2H-10H-furo[3,2-i] benzopyran-10-yl acetate ( 8 ) and (3R)-3-hydroxydeoxyartemisinin ( 9 ) being produced in 78 and 17% yield, respectively. The action of FeCl₂ · 4 H₂O in MeCN on 6 is similar. Under the same conditions, 6 gives products analogous to 8 and 9 accompanied by an epimeric mixture of 2-[4-methyl-2-oxo-3-(3-oxobutyl)cyclohexyl]propanaldehyde in yields of 32, 23, and 16%, respectively. No epoxide is formed on repeating the last two experiments in the presence of cyclohexene. The deoxygenation of 1 and 6 by Zn is rationalized in terms of its oxophilic nature. The catalyzed isomerization of 1 and 6 by Fe²⁺ is attributed to the redox properties of the Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ system.     

Thorium colloid analysis by single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Thorium colloid analysis in water has been carried out by a single particle mode using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The flash of ions due to the ionisation of a thorium colloidal particle in the plasma torch can be detected and measured in a time scan for ²³²Th⁺ or ²⁴⁸[ThO]⁺ according to the sensitivity required by the mass spectrometer. The peaks of the recorded intensity of the MS signal can be analysed as a function of the particle size or fraction of the studied element in the colloid phase. The frequency of the flashes is directly proportional to the concentration of particles in the colloidal suspension. After discussing Th colloid detection, on the basis of the intensity of the ion flashes generated in the plasma torch, tests were performed on thorium dioxide colloidal particles. This feasibility study also describes the experimental conditions and the limitation of the plasma design to detect thorium colloids in a single particle analysis mode down to about 10 fg.     

Clickosomes--using triazole-linked phospholipid connectors to fuse vesicles

Two complementary artificial diether phospholipids were synthesized that can undergo a Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen-Sharpless click reaction. The resulting lipid can bridge the membranes of large unilamellar vesicles and cause their aggregation and ultimately their fusion.     

The synthesis of an amine-bearing polymerizable phospholipid

Exchange of the natural glycerol phospholipid backbone with an artificial 1,3-diaminopropanol backbone led to the first synthetic 1,3-diaminophospholipid. The amines in the polar head group region were reacted to acrylamides giving a UV polymerizable phospholipid. Preliminary experiments demonstrate that formulated vesicles can be polymerized into large aggregates of vesicles.     

The Decomposition of cis-Fused Cyclopenteno-1,2,4-Trioxanes induced by Ferrous Salts and some oxophilic reagents

Two cis-fused cyclopenteno-1,2,4-trioxanes, 1a and 1b , were subjected to Zn in AcOH or FeCl₂ · 4H₂O in MeCN. In the first case, the main course was deoxygenation to give cyclopentanone ( 18 ) and the 1,4-diphenyl- or 1,4-bis(4-fluorophenyl)cyclopent-3-ene-1,2-diol 10 (Scheme 5). In the second case, isomerization chiefly occurred resulting in the formation of a dimer 9 of the respective 3,5-diaryl-5-hydroxycyclopent-2-enyl 5-hydroxypentanoates 8 (Scheme 3).