An exact homology sequences approach to the controllability of systems

Some results are given on the homology groups of the abstract simplicial complex associated to a multivariable control system, as an extension of the central result of J. Casti (J. Math. Anal. Appl.68 (1979), 347–370) to the multivariable case. The method used is “polyhedral dynamics” as termed by J. Casti, who introduced it. A given control system is mapped into a simplicial complex and then its homological structure is studied. These results, obtained in the multivariable case by the use of the Mayer-Vietoris homology sequence and of the relative homology sequence, present topological invariants for control systems thus creating the possibility of a new topological classification of multivariable systems. An example is given to clarify the approach.     

Algebraic study of chiral anomalies

The algebraic structure of chiral anomalies is made globally valid on non-trivial bundles by the introduction of a fixed background connection. Some of the techniques used in the study of the anomaly are improved or generalized, including a systematic way of generating towers of descent equations.This work was supported in part by the Director, Office of Energy Research, Office of High Energy and Nuclear Physics, Division of High Energy Physics of the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC03-76SF00098 and in part by the National Science Foundation under research grant PHY81-18547     

Gas Phase Catalysis by Metal Nanoparticles in Nanoporous Alumina Membranes

Nanoporous alumina membranes, loaded with palladium and ruthenium nanoparticles of various size, were used for gas phase hydrogenation of 1, 3‐butadiene and for oxidation of carbon monoxide, respectively. Those membranes contain 10⁹ ‐ 10¹¹ pores per cm², all running perpendicular to the surface. Membrane discs of 20 mm in diameter and only 60 μm thick, incorporated in a reactor in which the reactants can be pumped in a closed circuit through the pores, turned out to very actively catalyze hydrogenation of butadiene (Pd) and oxidation of CO (Ru). The activity of the Pd catalysts depends characteristically on the particles size, the gas flow, and of the educts ratio. As could be expected, larger particles are less active than smaller ones, whereas increasing gas flows in case of hydrogenation accelerates the reactions. Excessive hydrogen reduces selectivity with respect to the various butenes, but favours formation of butane.     

New approach to calibrating conductivity meters in the low conductivity range

There is currently a major issue with the calibration of conductivity meters used for high purity water: the lack of availability of a reference material or reference methods for low conductivity ranges (conductivity below 1 S cm^–1 at 25.0 °C, resistivity >1 M cm at 25.0 °C). This paper describes the current status of conductivity measurements in high purity water. A new and improved approach, currently being investigated, should allow us to make the calibration of conductivity meters used for low conductivity ranges traceable to the SI.Milipore, Milli-Q and Elix are registered trademarks of Millipore Corporation.     

Theory of the photodissociation of ozone in the Hartley continuum: potential energy surfaces, conical intersections, and photodissociation dynamics

Ab initio potential energy and transition dipole moment surfaces are presented for the five lowest singlet even symmetry electronic states of ozone. The surfaces are calculated using the complete active space self consistent field method followed by contracted multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) calculations. A slightly reduced augmented correlation consistent valence triple-zeta orbital basis set is used. The ground and excited state energies of the molecule have been computed at 9282 separate nuclear geometries. Cuts through the potential energy surfaces, which pass through the geometry of the minimum of the ground electronic state, show several closely avoided crossings. Close examination, and higher level calculations, very strongly suggests that some of these seemingly avoided crossings are in fact associated with non-symmetry related conical intersections. Diabatic potential energy and transition dipole moment surfaces are created from the computed ab initio adiabatic MRCI energies and transition dipole moments. The transition dipole moment connecting the ground electronic state to the diabatic B state surface is by far the strongest. Vibrational-rotational wavefunctions and energies are computed using the ground electronic state. The energy level separations compare well with experimentally determined values. The ground vibrational state wavefunction is then used, together with the diabatic B<--X transition dipole moment surface, to form an initial wavepacket. The analysis of the time-dependent quantum dynamics of this wavepacket provides the total and partial photodissociation cross sections for the system. Both the total absorption cross section and the predicted product quantum state distributions compare well with experimental observations. A discussion is also given as to how the observed alternation in product diatom rotational state populations might be explained.     

5-isobutyl-3-methyl-2-furancarbaldehyde,a new monoterpenoid from the essential oil of tagetes glandulifera schrank

The new monoterpenoid 5-isobutyl-3-methyl-2-furancarbaldehyde was isolated from Tagetes glandulifera Schrank and its structure confirmed by synthesis.     

Ester synthesis catalyzed by Mucor miehei lipase immobilized on magnetic polysiloxane-polyvinyl alcohol particles

Mucor miehei lipase was immobilized on magnetic polysiloxane-polyvinyl alcohol particles by covalent binding with high activity recovered. The performance of the resulting immobilized biocatalyst was evaluated in the synthesis of flavor esters using heptane as solvent. The impact on reaction rate was determined for enzyme concentration, molar ratio of the reactants, carbon chain length of the reactants, and alcohol structure. Ester synthesis was maximized for substrates containing excess acyl donor and lipase loading of 25 mg/mL. The biocatalyst selectivity for the carbon chain length was found to be different concerning the organic acids and alcohols. High reaction rates were achieved for organic acids with 8 or 10 carbons, whereas increasing the alcohol carbon chain length from 4 to 8 carbons gave much lower esterification yields. Optimal reaction rate was determined for the synthesis of butyl caprylate (12 carbons). Esterification performance was also dependent on the alcohol structure, with maximum activity occurring for primary alcohol. Secondary and tertiary alcohols decreased the reaction rates by more than 40%.     

Metal phosphonates applied to biotechnologies: a novel approach to oligonucleotide microarrays

A new process for preparing oligonucleotide arrays is described that uses surface grafting chemistry which is fundamentally different from the electrostatic adsorption and organic covalent binding methods normally employed. Solid supports are modified with a mixed organic/inorganic zirconium phosphonate monolayer film providing a stable, well-defined interface. Oligonucleotide probes terminated with phosphate are spotted directly on to the zirconated surface forming a covalent linkage. Specific binding of terminal phosphate groups with minimal binding of the internal phosphate diesters has been demonstrated. The mixed organic/inorganic thin films have also been extended for use arraying DNA duplex probes, and therefore represent a viable general approach to DNA-based bioarrays. Ideas for interfacing mixed organic/inorganic interfaces to other bioapplications are also discussed.