Pd (II)‐catalyzed vinyl addition polymerization of novel functionalized norbornene bearing dimethyl carboxylate groups

Three novel functionalized polynorbornenes (PNB) with pendant dimethyl carboxylate group (carboxylates—acetate, propionate, and butyrate) are synthesized as a vinyl‐type with a palladium (II) catalyst in high yield. The effects of size of substitutents, molar ratio of monomer to catalyst, solvent polarity, reaction time, and temperature on the polymerization of exo‐norbornene dimethyl propionate were systematically investigated. The low molar ratio and temperature, as well as high polarity of solvent, and long reaction time, are favorable for the enhancement of the monomer conversion, especially, the solvent have an obvious effect on the catalyst activity. The resulting poly(cis‐norbornene‐exo‐2,3‐dimethyl carboxylates) (PNB‐dimethyl carboxylates) show good solubility in common organic solvent and high thermal stability up to 360 °C. The glass transition temperature was detected by DMA at 331, 324, and 318 °C for acetate, propionate, and butyrate, respectively. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3391–3399, 2007     

MODELING HARVEST SCHEDULING IN MULTIFUNCTIONAL PLANNING OF FORESTS FOR LONGTERM WATER YIELD OPTIMIZATION

In this study, wood production and hydrologic functions of forests were accommodated within a planning procedure for separate working circles (areas dedicated to certain forest functions) that were delineated according to an Ecosystem‐Based Functional Planning approach. Mixed integer goal programming was used as the optimization technique. The timing and scheduling of a maintenance cutting (partial harvest) was the decision variable in the modeling effort, and an original formulation was developed as a multiobjective planning procedure. Four sample planning strategies were developed and model outputs were evaluated according to these strategies. Spatial characteristics of stands were considered, and used to prohibit the regeneration of adjacent stands during the same time period. Because of the positive relationship between qualified water production and standing timber volume in the forest, the model attempts to maximize qualified water production levels by increasing standing volume stocks in the forest through the delay of regeneration activities.     

Synchronization of noisy systems by stochastic signals

We study, in terms of synchronization, the nonlinear response of noisy bistable systems to a stochastic external signal, represented by Markovian dichotomic noise. We propose a general kinetic model which allows us to conduct a full analytical study of the nonlinear response, including the calculation of cross-correlation measures, the mean switching frequency, and synchronization regions. Theoretical results are compared with numerical simulations of a noisy overdamped bistable oscillator. We show that dichotomic noise can instantaneously synchronize the switching process of the system. We also show that synchronization is most pronounced at an optimal noise level-this effect connects this phenomenon with aperiodic stochastic resonance. Similar synchronization effects are observed for a stochastic neuron model stimulated by a stochastic spike train.     

Luminescence properties of Li6GdB3O9:Ce crystal fibers upon their excitation in the range of 4d → 4f core transitions

We have investigated UV luminescence with a subnanosecond time resolution of Li₆GdB₃O₉:Ce crystal fibers upon their ultrasoft X-ray selective excitation at 10 and 293 K in the range of 4d → 4f core transitions. We have revealed an intense fast-decaying subnanosecond luminescence component, which is caused by a high local density of electronic excitation and Auger core hole relaxation processes, and modulation of the luminescence excitation spectrum by an absorption band of the 4d–4f photoionization giant resonance in the energy range 135–160 eV.     

Mössbauer research of magnetic particles in medicinal ointments

Stability of the properties of magnetite particles in novel medicinal magnetic ointments of multipurpose application was studied using Mössbauer spectroscopy. Comparative analysis of the results obtained by model fitting of⁵⁷Fe nuclei spectra with those known for the system Fe₃O₄-γ-Fe₂O₃ allowed to identify the phase composition of the particles. This composition, as well as that of the initial pure component in the form of a highly dispersed fraction (～100 Å), differs noticeably from the stoichiometric one. Despite their small sizes, the particles exhibit no superparamagnetism (in the temperature range from 95 to 300 K). Radiative sterilization of the ointments has no effect on the magnetic component composition.     

Effect of chemical modification on oligomerization capacity of alumina support for Pd-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalyst

Effect of modification with an alkali metal on the acid properties of alumina supports and on the oligomerization capacity and working stability of Pd-Al₂O₃ catalysts was studied.     

Cooperativity in ordinary ice and breaking of hydrogen bonds

The total interaction energy between two H-bonded water molecules in a condensed phase is composed of a binding energy between them and an energy due to a cooperative effect. An approximate simple expression is suggested for the dependence of the interaction energy between two H-bonded water molecules on the number of neighboring water molecules with which they are H-bonded. Using this expression, the probabilities of breaking a H bond with various numbers of H-bonded neighbors are estimated. These probabilities are used in computer simulations of the breaking of specified fractions of H bonds in an ordinary (hexagonal) ice. A large "piece" of hexagonal ice (up to 8 millions molecules) is built up, and various percentages of H bonds are considered broken. It is shown that 62-63% of H bonds must be broken in order to disintegrate the "piece" of ice into disconnected clusters. This value is only a little larger than the percolation threshold (61%) predicted both by the percolation theory for tetrahedral ice and by simulations in which all H bonds were considered equally probable to be broken. When the percentage of broken bonds is smaller than 62-63%, there is a network of H-bonded molecules which contains the overwhelming majority of water molecules. This result contradicts some models of water which consider that water consists of a mixture of water clusters of various sizes. The distribution of water molecules with unequal probabilities for breaking is compared with the simulation involving equal probabilities for breaking. It was found that in the former case, there is an enhanced number of water monomers without H bonds, that the numbers of 2- and 3-bonded molecules are smaller, and the number of 4-bonded molecules is larger than in the latter case.     

Hexametavanadates M<Stack><Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack>M<Superscript>2+</Superscript>(VO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>6</Subscript>: Thermal stability and luminescent characteristics

Rhombohedral hexametavanadates K₄Sr(VO₃)₆, K₄Ba(VO₃)₆, Rb₄ Ba(VO₃)₆, and Cs₄Ba(VO₃)₆ melt incongruently in the temperature range of 491 to 600°C. Cooling of peritectic melts yields mixtures of compounds typical of M₂⁺O-M²⁺O-V₂O₅ systems, far from equilibrium and depending on the cooling kinetics. The vanadate Cs₄Ba(VO₃)₆ undergoes reversible polymorphic transformation at 360°C. All compounds show broad-band luminescence with a maximum of the luminescence spectrum at 490–590 nm with three types of excitation. The vanadates K₄Sr(VO₃)₆ and Rb₄Ba(VO₃)₆ show the highest luminescence intensity at room temperature. The latter is also most efficient at liquid nitrogen temperatures. The luminescence spectra depend on the excitation of vanadates. Three hypotheses were put forward to interpret this finding. The nature of luminescence is attributed to the relaxation of electronic excitation in [VO₄]³⁻ structural tetrahedra present in the vanadates. The performance characteristics of luminophores were determined. These luminophores may be promising as X-ray luminescent screens, radioluminescence indicators, and light-emitting diode devices.     

Why density augmentation occurs in dilute supercritical solutions

The conventional explanation of the density augmentation in a supercritical solvent, observed spectroscopically when a small amount of a solute was added, involved the clustering of the solvent about individual solute molecules. Here it is suggested that the augmentation is not caused by the solute, but rather it is due to the preexisting near critical fluctuations in the pure solvent and the preference of the solute for the high density regions of the supercritical solvent. It is also shown that the local composition of the solute molecules about a solute molecules is enhanced compared to its bulk composition.