Asymptotic and boundary integral formulae for the computational reconstruction of small conductivity imperfections

In this paper we investigate the electrostatic problem of determining conductivity profiles from the knowledge of boundary currents and voltages. We obtain an improved estimate for the voltage potential of a two-dimensional conductor having finitely many circular inclusions and piecewise constant conductivity profile. We derive an asymptotic expansion for the voltage potential in terms of the reference voltage potential and the location, size, and conductivity of the inhomogeneities. This representation is used to formulate the nonlinear least squares problem for estimating the location and size of the inhomogeneities. Required boundary data for the voltage potential are generated numerically by solving a system of integral equations. Computational experiments are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of our identification procedure.     

Tandem GC/MS: A useful tool for studying end-capping reactions of oligo(styryl)lithium anions

Anionic living polymerization methods, using organometallic initiators such as butyllithium reagents, have proven useful for, inter alia, styrene polymerization and are amenable to subsequent functionalization of poly(styryl)lithium in the termination step. In this study, general methods for the selective preparation of small styrene oligomers and termination of the intermediate oligo(styryl)lithium anions were investigated. The crude reaction mixtures were analyzed directly by tandem gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Of the carbon- and silicon-based electrophiles tested, chloro(chloroalkyl)silanes, Cl-SiR₂(CH₂)_nCl in particular, were shown by GC/MS to be regioselective end-capping reagents, thus allowing subsequent transformation to the primary amine. The combined GC/MS data allow not only an estimate of the degree of functionalization, but also the identification of by-products, thus providing insight into the end-capping process that otherwise might be difficult to access. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

High resolution electrospray and electrospray tandem mass spectra of rotenone and its isoxazoline cycloadducts

An evaluation of the gas-phase ion chemistry of rotenone (1) by electrospray ionisation (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS2) is presented, aiming at providing tools for its determination in natural and biological matrices. The behaviour of its cycloadducts with benzonitrile-N-oxide (2) and 2,4,6-trimethylbenzonitrile-N-oxide (3) was also evaluated and the MS data thus obtained have provided evidence into the mechanism of formation of the key product ion at m/z 192 which can be considered a marker in the MS and MS2 spectra of rotenone and its derivatives.     

The synthesis and characterisation of ferromagnetic CaMn2O4 nanowires.

The synthesis of marokite CaMn(2)O(4) nanowires using a hydrothermal method is reported. Transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction measurements show that the nanowires are polycrystalline in nature with diameters between 10 and 20 nm and lengths ranging from approximately 100 to 500 nm. Most interestingly, in contrast with the bulk material, magnetization measurements show that these nanowires exhibit ferromagnetic ordering with a Curie temperature (T(C)) of approximately 40 K.     

Influence of the Lanthanide Ion and Solution Conditions on Formation of Lanthanide Wells–Dawson Polyoxotungstates

Lanthanide complexes of polyoxometalates, including the α₂-P₂W₁₇O₆₁ ¹⁰⁻ ligand, have been pioneered by Michael T. Pope, to whom this paper is dedicated. Examination of the solid-state and solution behavior of lanthanide complexes of the α₂-P₂W₁₇O₆₁ ¹⁰⁻ ligand are reported here to identify trends that will facilitate rational synthesis of hybrid organic lanthanide polyoxometalate complexes. Therefore, combining our data with that obtained by Pope and others a number of trends come into view. It is clear that there are two structural types for the 1:1 or 2:2 [Ln(H₂O)_X(α₂-P₂W₁₇O₆₁)]₂ ¹⁴⁻ species. The early lanthanides show a “cap to cap” structure that allows the Ln ion to be 9 coordinate and accommodates the longer bond lengths. The mid-late lanthanides show a “cap to belt” structure that allows the lanthanides to be 8 coordinate; this structural type is appropriate for the shorter bond lengths of the later lanthanides. The 1:1⇌1:2 equilibrium, that was observed by Pope for the Ce(III) analog is prevalent for the early- mid lanthanides. This equilibrium is slightly dependent on pH; however, cations have a major influence on this equilibrium. Larger, poorly hydrated cations appear to favor the 1:2 species for the early to mid lanthanides. Cations do not appear to influence the equilibrium for the later lanthanides; for all counterions, the 1:1 species was stable with no trace of the 1:2 species. Stability constants, K1 and K2, for the early to mid lanthanides were measured in this study by a competitive method and compared well with other published stability constant determinations. We suggest that the stability constants are not only dependent on the strength of interaction of the Ln with the α₂-P₂W₁₇O₆₁ ¹⁰⁻ ligand, but are also significantly influenced by the medium. The medium may bias the equilibria of the early-mid lanthanides and later lanthanides. The log K₁/log K₂ ratios are very close, suggesting that it is difficult to separate the 1:1 and 1:2 Ln: α₂-P₂W₁₇O₆₁ ¹⁰⁻ species.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material for this article is available at and is accessible for authorized users.This paper is dedicated to Professor Michael T. Pope in honor of his substantial and sustained contributions to polyoxometalate chemistry and his inspiration to scientists working in the field.     

Modeling the gel electrophoresis of short duplex DNA by Brownian dynamics: cubic gel lattice with direct interaction

The technique of Brownian dynamics is used to model the electrophoretic mobility of spherical and rod-like particles in a three-dimensional cubic gel lattice. In addition to excluded volume interactions between the migrating particle and the gel, direct interactions are also included. The methodology is first applied to spherical particles in the absence of direct interactions and the resulting mobilities are shown to agree with independent studies. The methodology is then applied to rod-like models of short duplex DNA fragments 10-50 base pairs in length. In the absence of direct interactions between gel and DNA, calculated mobilities show a much weaker dependence on gel concentration than observed in experiments of DNA in Tris-acetate buffer and polyacrylamide gels. When an attractive interaction between gel and DNA of approximately -0.3 k(B)T per base pair at contact is included, good agreement between calculated and experimental mobilities is achieved.     

Synergism in binary mixtures of Thermobifida fusca cellulases Cel6B,Cel9A,and Cel5A on BMCC and Avicel

In an earlier binding study conducted in our laboratory using Thermobifida fusca cellulases Cel6B, Cel9A, and Cel5A (formally Thermomonospora fusca E₃, E₄, and E₅), it was observed that binding capacities for these three cellulases were 18–30 times higher on BMCC than on Avicel. These results stimulated an interest in how the difference in accessibility between the two cellulosic substrates would affect synergism observed with cellulase mixtures. To explore the impact of substrate, accessibility on the extent of conversion and synergism, three binary T. fusca cellulase mixtures were tested over a range of cellulase ratios and total molar cellulase concentrations on Avicel and BMCC. Higher extents of conversion were observed for BMCC due to the higher enzyme to substrate ratio resulting from the higher binding The processive endoglucanase, Cel9A, had four times the extent of conversion of the end endocellulase Cel5A, while the exocellulase Cel6B had three times the extent of conversion of Cel5A. Approximately 500 nmol/g of the cel9A+Cel6B mixture was needed to obtain 80% conversion, while the Cel6B+Cel5A and Cel9A+Cel5A mixtures required 1500 and 1250 nmol/g, respectively, to obtain 80% conversion. Thus, it appears that the more accessible structure of BMCC, as reflected by its binding capacity, results in relative higher processive activity.