An extension to a theorem of Himmelberg

This paper extends a widely used theorem of Himmelberg to topological vector spaces whose completion have a separating dual.     

Depth profiling of Irganox‐3114 nanoscale delta layers in a matrix of Irganox‐1010 using conventional Cs+ and O2+ ion beams

Depth profiling of an organic reference sample consisting of Irganox 3114 layers of 3 nm thickness at depths of 51.5, 104.5, 207.6 and 310.7 nm inside a 412 nm thick Irganox 1010 matrix evaporated on a Si substrate has been studied using the conventional Cs⁺ and O₂⁺ as sputter ion beams and Bi⁺ as the primary ion for analysis in a dual beam time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometer. The work is an extension of the Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards project on depth profiling of organic multilayer materials. Cs⁺ ions were used at energies of 500 eV, 1.0 keV and 2.0 keV and the O₂⁺ ions were used at energies of 500 eV and 1.0 keV. All four Irganox 3114 layers were identified clearly in the depth profile using low mass secondary ions. The depth profile data were fitted to the empirical expression of Dowsett function and these fits are reported along with the full width at half maxima to represent the useful resolution for all the four delta layers detected. The data show that, of the conditions used in these experiments, an energy of 500 eV for both Cs⁺ beam and O₂⁺ beam provides the most useful depth profiles. The sputter yield volume per ion calculated from the slope of depth versus ion dose matches well with earlier reported data. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of novel pyrimidine nucleoside analogues owning multiple bases/sugars and their glycosidase inhibitory activity

A series of novel nucleoside analogues having dual bases (pyrimidine and triazole) and sugars have been synthesized by CuAAC reaction of azido sugars with propynylated pyrimidines. These compounds were evaluated for their in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. In this series, compounds 4b, 4d, 8a, 8b, 8c, 8e, 8g, 8h, and 8i exhibited very good inhibition of α-glucosidase enzyme. Nucleoside analogues 8a, 4b, 8h, and 8c displayed 47.4%, 41.8%, 39.4%, and 34.6% inhibition, respectively, comparable to the standard drug acarbose (53.4%).     

Evidence for dark energy from the cosmic microwave background alone using the Atacama Cosmology Telescope lensing measurements

For the first time, measurements of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB) alone favor cosmologies with w = -1 dark energy over models without dark energy at a 3.2-sigma level. We demonstrate this by combining the CMB lensing deflection power spectrum from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope with temperature and polarization power spectra from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe. The lensing data break the geometric degeneracy of different cosmological models with similar CMB temperature power spectra. Our CMB-only measurement of the dark energy density Ω(Λ) confirms other measurements from supernovae, galaxy clusters, and baryon acoustic oscillations, and demonstrates the power of CMB lensing as a new cosmological tool.     

DOUBLE DIFFUSIVE CONVECTION IN A SEMICIRCULAR SLICE WITH INTERNAL HEAT GENERATION IN ONE OR BOTH LAYERS

Experiments were performed on convection in a two-layer, stably stratified pool, in the SIMECO experimental facility: a semicircular slice vessel, with internal heat generation in one or both layers. The objective was to study the effect of stratification on the heat transfer to the boundaries of the pool. Effects of miscibility or immiscibilty of the layers and the density difference between the layers were investigated. The stratification with miscible fluids was established using salt water and pure water and that for immiscible fluids was established using pure water and paraffin oil. The concentration of salt in the upper layer was measured using a conductivity probe. The results show that the presence of an interface significantly changes the heat flux distribution along the downward/sideward (semicircular) boundary, decreasing the ratio of up/down heat fluxes by a factor of 4. The mixing of the interface, when both the layers are internally heated, is complete only when Ri h 5. The mixing times for the two layers, when only the lower layer is internally heated are correlated by a simple relation between the fluid parameters and the heat input.     

Enhanced ACLD treatment using stand-off-layer: FEM based design and experimental vibration analysis

The main disadvantage of active constrained layer damping treatment is the reduced transmissibility of active forces. This problem can be solved up to certain extent by using edge anchors. These edge anchors or stiffeners increase the transmissivity of forces only at very high feedback gains but decrease the effectiveness of passive constrained layer damping (PCLD) treatment. The efficiency of the passive constrained layer damping treatment can be improved drastically by adding the stand-off-layer (SOL) between the viscoelastic layer and the base beam. This technique has additional advantages as well. Firstly, it increases the viscoelastic strain so that more energy is dissipated via viscoelastic layer. Secondly, it enhances the effect of active forces and moments even without using edge anchors because the shear modulus of the SOL is in the range 10⁸–10⁹ N/m². Hamilton’s principle in conjunction of finite element method is used to derive the equations of motion. The complex eigenvalue is developed and solved numerically by using simple proportional feedback control strategy. Results are compared with ordinary active constrained layer damping (ACLD) treatment in order to highlight the effectiveness of the proposed technique. Validity of the proposed treatment has also been verified experimentally.     

Alpha-Lactalbumin is unfolded by all classes of surfactants but by different mechanisms

We show that all four classes of surfactants (anionic, cationic, non-ionic, and zwitterionic) denature alpha-lactalbumin (alphaLA), making alphaLA an excellent model system to compare their denaturation mechanisms. This involves at least two steps in all surfactants but is more complex in charged surfactants due to their strong binding properties. At very low concentrations, charged surfactants bind specifically as monomers, but the first denaturation process only sets in when 4-10 surfactant molecules are bound to form clusters on the protein surface and is followed by a second loss of structure as 20-25 surfactant molecules are bound. Sub-micellar interactions can be modeled as simple independent binding at multiple sites which does not achieve saturation before micelle formation sets in. In contrast, no specific sub-micellar surfactant binding is detected by calorimetry in the presence of zwitterionic and non-ionic surfactants, and denaturation only occurs around the cmc. Unfolding rates are very rapid in charged surfactants and reach a similar plateau level around the cmc, indicating that monomers and micelles operate on a mutually exclusive basis. In contrast, unfolding occurs slowly in zwitterionic and non-ionic surfactants and the rate increases with the cmc, suggesting that monomers cooperate with micelles in denaturation.     

Interactions and influence of α-cyclodextrin on the aggregation and interfacial properties of mixtures of nonionic and zwitterionic surfactants

The interactions of α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) with the nonionic surfactant decanoyl-N-methyl-glucamide (Mega-10) and the zwitterionic surfactant dimethyldodecylammoniopropanesulfonate (DPS) in their mixed system have been studied using interfacial tension, fluorescence, and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. From the plots of interfacial tension vs. log of total surfactant concentration, we have obtained values of the surface excess of surfactant, the critical micellar concentration (cmc), the standard free energy of micelle formation, and association constant of surfactant/α-CD inclusion complexes (assuming a 1:1 stoichiometry). A comparison of the K _a values obtained for the interaction between α-CD and DPS and Mega-10, respectively, shows that DPS interacts stronger with α-CD than Mega-10. The experimental mixed cmc was analyzed by the pseudophase separation model and regular solution theory for the evaluation of ideality or nonideality of the mixed micelle formation. The interaction parameters in the mixed micelle and the micelle composition at different mole fractions of DPS were also computed. The fluorescence anisotropy (r) values of rhodamine B decreases with the increase of α-CD concentrations.     

Coherent π0 production in neutrino reactions

We have calculated the cross section and angular distribution of the neutral current process $\text{ν +}\text{N}\text{→ ν +}\text{N}\text{+ π}{}^0$ involving the coherent interaction of a neutrino with a complex nucleus. A contrast is made to incoherent production ν + n → ν + n + π⁰ on a single nucleon. The results are compared with observations from some recent experiments.