Global expression analysis of CESA and CSL genes in Arabidopsis

We have used Affymetrix gene chips to measure the expression of 10 CESA and 29 CSL genes of Arabidopsis in different developmental stages or organs. These measurements reveal that many of the genes exhibit different levels of expression in the various organs. While several CESA genes are highly expressed in all the tissues examined, very few CSL genes approach such high levels of expression. This suggests that the CSL genes either encode enzymes for the synthesis of minor components of cell walls or are expressed only in specific cell types. The expression data also highlights the potential importance of the CESA genes for primary and secondary cell wall formation during different developmental stages and in the different organs examined.     

Synthesis and novel reactivity of halomethyldimethylsulfonium salts

Iodomethyl-, chloromethyl-, and fluoromethyldimethylsulfonium salts, 4b-d, have been synthesized and are observed to be highly reactive molecules that exhibit extraordinary diversity with respect to the nature of their reactivity, undergoing facile direct substitution (S(N)2) reactions, but also being highly susceptible to electron-transfer reactions. Cyclic voltametry experiments indicated that the iodomethyldimethylsulfonium compound, 4b, is a potent electron acceptor, even surpassing the reactivity of perfluoro-n-alkyl iodides in that capacity. The iodo- and chloromethyldimethylsulfonium salts, 4b,c, as well as the analogous iodomethyltrimethylammonium salt, 3a, are shown to be reactive SET acceptors.     

Simplified expressions of the T-matrix integrals for electromagnetic scattering

The extended boundary condition method, also called the null-field method, provides a semianalytic solution to the problem of electromagnetic scattering by a particle by constructing a transition matrix (T-matrix) that links the scattered field to the incident field. This approach requires the computation of specific integrals over the particle surface, which are typically evaluated numerically. We introduce here a new set of simplified expressions for these integrals in the commonly studied case of axisymmetric particles. Simplifications are obtained using the differentiation properties of the radial functions (spherical Bessel) and angular functions (associated Legendre functions) and integrations by parts. The resulting simplified expressions not only lead to faster computations, but also reduce the risks of loss of precision and provide a simpler framework for further analytical work.     

Search for an 80 ms spontaneous fission activity in bombardments of 249Bk with 15N

A rotating drum system was used to search for an 80 ms spontaneous fission (sf) activity in the reaction of ¹⁵N with ²⁴⁹Bk. No such activity was found beyond a cross section limit of 0.5 nb. A sf activity with a half-life of 23 ± 2 ms and a maximum formation cross section of 19 ± 4 nb at 82 MeV was observed. The identity of this activity has not been determined.     

Impact of Statistical Multiplexing on Voice Quality in Cellular Networks

This paper examines the quality of transmission of voice over cellular, packet-switched networks. The medium access mechanism in the uplink is simulated under various statistical multiplexing scenarios in order to assess the effect of front-end clipping on voice quality. Moreover, the simulation is implemented in a real-time demonstration platform utilized to acquire subjective indicators of voice quality by performing Mean Opinion Score (MOS) tests. Results from the MOS tests are reported, and an analysis of the obtained speech samples is presented. Finally, the results are summarized and potential further directions for the simulation tool and the speech models are discussed.     

Practical modifications and applications of the sharpless asymmetric aminohydroxylation in the one-pot preparation of chiral oxazolidin-2-ones

[reaction: see text] Chiral oxazolidin-2-ones are synthetically valuable as chiral auxiliaries, and many have pharmaceutically interesting biological activity. This communication focuses on a convenient, practical one-pot preparation of chiral 4,5-disubstituted oxazolidan-2-ones in good yield with high enantioselectivities, using a modified Sharpless asymmetric aminohydroxylation of beta-substituted styrene derivatives followed by base-mediated ring closure. This procedure has been demonstrated on both small and large scale, utilizing 1, 3-dichloro-5,5-dimethyl hydantoin as an easily handled, commercially available substitute for tert-butyl hypochlorite.     

Site‐Selective 1,2‐Dicarbofunctionalization of Vinyl Boronates through Dual Catalysis

A modular, site‐selective 1,2‐dicarbofunctionalization of vinyl boronates with organic halides through dual catalysis is described. This reaction proceeds under mild conditions and is characterized by excellent chemo‐ and regioselectivity. It thus represents a complementary new technique for preparing densely functionalized alkyl boron architectures from simple and accessible precursors.