Fusion around the barrier for 7Li+12C

Fusion cross-sections for the ⁷Li + ¹²C reaction have been measured at energies above the Coulomb barrier by the direct detection of evaporation residues. The heavy evaporation residues with energies below 3 MeV could not be separated out from the α-particles in the spectrum and hence their contribution was estimated using statistical model calculations. The present work indicates that suppression of fusion cross-sections due to the breakup of ⁷Li may not be significant for ⁷Li + ¹²C reaction at energies around the barrier.     

Aggregation patterns in alpha,alpha'-stabilized carbanions: assembly of a sodium cage polymer by slip-stacking of dimers

The alpha,alpha'-stabilized carbanion complexes [PhSO(2)CHCNNa.THF], 3, [t-BuSO(2)CHCNNa], 4, [PhSO(2)CHCNK], 5, [t-BuSO(2)CHCNK], 6, and [MeSO(2)CHCNLi.TMEDA], 7, have been synthesized via the metalation of the parent (organo)sulfonylacetonitriles by BuLi, BuNa, or BnK in THF solution (or THF/TMEDA in the case of 7). In addition, complexes 3 and 7 have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray analyses and have been found to adopt related structures in the solid state. Complex 7 is a molecular dimer containing a central 12-membered (OSCCNLi)(2) ring core, with each metal rendered tetracoordinate by binding to a chelating TMEDA molecule. As found in related complexes, no direct carbanion to lithium contacts are present in the structure of 7. Complex 3 forms a polymeric cage structure composed of associated "dimeric" (OSCCNNa)(2) rings, similar to those found in 7. The larger sodium cations, and the presence of only one THF molecule/metal, allow additional contacts with the anions, leading to hexacoordination at the metal centers. These contacts include long-range transannular Na-N interactions (2.8042(14) A) across the central dimeric ring and "interdimer" Na-C connections (2.8718(15) A). Dissolution of complexes 3-6 and their lithiated derivatives [PhSO(2)CHCNLi.TMEDA], 1, and [t-BuSO(2)CHCNLi.THF], 2, in DMSO-d(6) results in almost identical chemical shifts for each type of ligand. This suggests that charge-separated complexes of the form [RSO(2)CHCN](-)[M(DMSO-d(6))(n)()](+) are formed in highly polar solution.     

Oxy-cope rearrangements of bicyclo[3.2.0]heptenones. Synthesis of bicyclo[4.2.1]non-1(4)-en-6-ones and bicyclo[5.2. 1]dec-1(10)-en-5-ones

6-exo-Methylbicyclo[3.2.0]hepten-7-ones and their 2-alkylidene analogues are readily prepared from dialkyl squarates. These compounds undergo facial oxy-Cope ring expansions upon treatment with vinyllithium; the former leads to bicyclo[4.2. 1]non-1(4)-en-6-ones and the latter to the first examples of bicyclo[5.2.1]dec-1(10)-en-5-ones, compounds having exceptionally strained bridgehead double bonds. The transformations are controlled by the 6-exo-methyl group in the starting material along with the substituent at position-1 (bridgehead) which force attack of the lithium reagent from the concave face of the starting material, thus allowing the cyclopentenyl or alkylidene groups to participate in the sigmatropic event.     

Triacylglycerol profiling of microalgae strains for biofuel feedstock by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry

Biofuels from photosynthetic microalgae are quickly gaining interest as a viable carbon-neutral energy source. Typically, characterization of algal feedstock involves breaking down triacylglycerols (TAG) and other intact lipids, followed by derivatization of the fatty acids to fatty acid methyl esters prior to analysis by gas chromatography (GC). However, knowledge of the intact lipid profile could offer significant advantages for discovery stage biofuel research such as the selection of an algal strain or the optimization of growth and extraction conditions. Herein, lipid extracts from microalgae were directly analyzed by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) using a benchtop Orbitrap mass spectrometer. Phospholipids, glycolipids, and TAGs were analyzed in the same chromatographic run, using a combination of accurate mass and diagnostic fragment ions for identification. Using this approach, greater than 100 unique TAGs were identified over the six algal strains studied and TAG profiles were obtained to assess their potential for biofuel applications. Under the growth conditions employed, Botryococcus braunii and Scenedesmus obliquus yielded the most comprehensive TAG profile with a high abundance of TAGs containing oleic acid.     

Absence of broken time-reversal symmetry in the pseudogap state of the high temperature La(2-x)SrxCuO4 superconductor from muon-spin-relaxation measurements

We have performed zero-field muon-spin-relaxation measurements on single crystals of La(2-x)SrxCuO4 to search for spontaneous currents in the pseudogap state. By comparing measurements on materials across the phase diagram, we put strict upper limits on any possible time-reversal symmetry breaking fields that could be associated with the pseudogap. Comparison between experimental limits and the proposed circulating current states effectively eliminates the possibility that such states exist in this family of materials.     

On the Motion of a Dynamic System with Minimal Dissipation

The motion of a holonomic scleronomic non-conservative mechanicalsystem with minimal dissipation is considered. As applicationsof the theory several problems are studied in detail.     

Vectorial Approach to Fast Correlation Attacks

A new, vectorial approach to fast correlation attacks on binary memoryless combiners is proposed. Instead of individual input sequences or their linear combinations, the new attack is targeting subsets of input sequences as a whole thus exploiting the full correlation between the chosen subset and the output sequence. In particular, the set of all the input sequences can be chosen as the target. The attack is based on a novel iterative probabilistic algorithm which is also applicable to general memoryless combiners over finite fields or finite rings. To illustrate the effectiveness of the introduced approach, experimental results obtained for random balanced combining functions are presentedMost of this work was done while he was with Rome CryptoDesign Center, Gemplus, Italy     

Muon spin relaxation studies of magnetic-field-induced effects in high-Tc superconductors

Muon spin relaxation measurements in high transverse magnetic fields [FORMULA: SEE TEXT] revealed strong field-induced quasistatic magnetism in the underdoped and Eu-doped (La,Sr)2CuO4 and La1.875Ba0.125CuO4, existing well above Tc and TN. The susceptibility counterpart of Cu spin polarization, derived from the muon spin relaxation rate, exhibits a divergent behavior towards T approximately 25 K. No field-induced magnetism was detected in overdoped La1.81Sr0.19CuO4, optimally doped Bi2212, and Zn-doped YBa2Cu3O7.     

Alkylstrontium diamidoboranes: β-hydride elimination and Sr-C insertion

Alkylstrontium secondary amidoboranes are shown to undergo β-hydride elimination and Sr-C insertion reactions; observations which provide support for similar processes in d(0)-catalysed dialkylamine borane dehydrocoupling.     

Rational design of molecular sheets composed of interconnecting eight- and twenty-four-membered rings: use of lithiated aggregates to control network assembly

The lithiated (organo)sulfonylacetonitrile complex [MeSO(2)CHCNLi.THF] (3) has been prepared and structurally characterized in order to demonstrate that well-known molecular aggregates of s-block metals may be used as building blocks in the controlled assembly of complex supramolecular architectures. The solid state structure of 3 can be described as a novel basket-weaved, 2-D network, composed of (SO(2)Li)(2) "dimeric" rings joined via "interdimer" donation of nitrile units.