Synthesis of simplified analogues of eleutherobin via a Claisen rearrangement/RCM strategy

The enantioselective synthesis of a number of simplified analogues of the cytotoxic natural product eleutherobin is reported.     

Measurement of time histories of stable intermediates during first stage ignition of n-heptane and its two isomers in a shock tube

We report the first shock tube measurements of formaldehyde (CH₂O) during the first stage ignition of n-heptane, 2-methylhexane and 3,3-dimethylpentane, in highly diluted fuel/oxygen mixtures in the pressure range of 7–10 atm and temperature range of 700–880 K. Combined time histories of all carbonyl (–C = O) species, CO and fuel were also measured simultaneously in an effort to study the impact of fuel structure on the concentration and the rate of evolution of first stage ignition products. Of the three isomers studied in this work, n-heptane was found to be the fastest, while 3,3-dimethylpentane was found to be the slowest. The differences in the time scale of formation, and plateau concentration of the intermediates between the isomers across the entire range of test conditions suggests a strong dependency of the measured time histories to fuel structure. These species therefore act as markers of the Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) behavior of fuels and can be used as targets for developing semi-empirical, hybrid chemistry models of complex, multi-component petroleum derived gasoline and jet fuels. The time histories reported in this work should prove very useful in the refinement of detailed kinetic models of n-heptane, and development of rate rules for branched alkane isomers.     

Spin-state splittings, highest-occupied-molecular-orbital and lowest-unoccupied-molecular-orbital energies, and chemical hardness

It is known that the exact density functional must give ground-state energies that are piecewise linear as a function of electron number. In this work we prove that this is also true for the lowest-energy excited states of different spin or spatial symmetry. This has three important consequences for chemical applications: the ground state of a molecule must correspond to the state with the maximum highest-occupied-molecular-orbital energy, minimum lowest-unoccupied-molecular-orbital energy, and maximum chemical hardness. The beryllium, carbon, and vanadium atoms, as well as the CH(2) and C(3)H(3) molecules are considered as illustrative examples. Our result also directly and rigorously connects the ionization potential and electron affinity to the stability of spin states.     

Slow dynamics of a colloidal lamellar phase

We used x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy to study the dynamics in the lamellar phase of a platelet suspension as a function of the particle concentration. We measured the collective diffusion coefficient along the director of the phase, over length scales down to the interparticle distance, and quantified the hydrodynamic interaction between the particles. This interaction sets in with increasing concentration and can be described qualitatively by a simplified model. No change in the microscopic structure or dynamics is observed at the transition between the fluid and the gel-like lamellar phases.     

An efficient data format for mass spectrometry-based proteomics

The diverse range of mass spectrometry (MS) instrumentation along with corresponding proprietary and nonproprietary data formats has generated a proteomics community driven call for a standardized format to facilitate management, processing, storing, visualization, and exchange of both experimental and processed data. To date, significant efforts have been extended towards standardizing XML-based formats for mass spectrometry data representation, despite the recognized inefficiencies associated with storing large numeric datasets in XML. The proteomics community has periodically entertained alternate strategies for data exchange, e.g., using a common application programming interface or a database-derived format. However, these efforts have yet to gain significant attention, mostly because they have not demonstrated significant performance benefits over existing standards, but also due to issues such as extensibility to multidimensional separation systems, robustness of operation, and incomplete or mismatched vocabulary. Here, we describe a format based on standard database principles that offers multiple benefits over existing formats in terms of storage size, ease of processing, data retrieval times, and extensibility to accommodate multidimensional separation systems.     

Synchronized cluster formation in coupled laser networks

We experimentally investigate the phase dynamics of laser networks with homogenous time-delayed mutual coupling and establish the fundamental rules that govern their state of synchronization. We identified a specific substructure that imposes its synchronization state on the entire network and show that for any coupling configuration the network forms at most two synchronized clusters. Our results indicate that the synchronization state of the network is a nonlocal phenomenon and cannot be deduced by decomposing the network into smaller substructures, each with its individual synchronization state.     

Sparse asymptotic minimum variance based bearing estimation algorithm for a single vector hydrophone

For underwater target detection using a single vector hydrophone, sparse asymptotic minimum variance(SAMV) method is used to estimate the target bearing. The SAMV discretizes the entire scanning space and the target bearing is located at the position of the discrete direction. The SAMV algorithm utilizes the sparsity of the spatial signal to improve the estimation performance of the target bearing. Background noise level(BNL) of the bearing estimation of SAMV algorithm is lower than those of the conventional beam forming(CBF)method and minimum variance distortionless response(MVDR) method for different signal noise ratios(SNRs). When the SNR is higher than 0 d B, the direction-finding error of this algorithm is less than 2°. Moreover, the SAMV algorithm has a better dimensional orientation resolution capability. The experimental results show that the SAMV algorithm gives a bearing and time recording map with a lower BNL, which effectively verifies the effectiveness of SAMV algorithm in terms of underwater target detection.     

Existence and uniqueness theorem for the Safronov–Dubovski coagulation equation

The solutions of the discrete Safronov–Dubovski coagulation equation are investigated. We prove global existence for a class of unbounded coagulation kernels. We also show that for sub-linear unbounded kernels, the mass conservation law holds. Finally, we show that for bounded kernels, this equation has a unique global solution that is continuously dependent on the initial data.     

Baryogenesis at low reheating temperatures

We note that the maximum temperature during reheating can be much greater than the reheating temperature T(r) at which the universe becomes radiation dominated. We show that the standard model anomalous (B+L)-violating processes can therefore be in thermal equilibrium for 1 GeV less, similarT(r)<100 GeV. Electroweak baryogenesis could work and the traditional upper bound on the Higgs mass coming from the requirement of the preservation of the baryon asymmetry may be relaxed. Alternatively, the baryon asymmetry may be reprocessed by sphaleron transitions either from a (B-L) asymmetry generated by the Affleck-Dine mechanism or from a chiral asymmetry between e(R) and e(L) in a B-L = 0 universe.     

基于集合卡尔曼变换的东中国海声学 敏感区判定方法*

为改善海洋与水声环境预报质量,针对常规观测成本高、资料利用率低等问题,将适应性观测方法应用于海洋声学领域。结合海洋-声学耦合模式与集合卡尔曼转换敏感区诊断方法,以东中国海宫古海峡北部区域为验证区,计算并分析不同条件下海洋环境敏感区与声学敏感区分布,通过观测系统模拟试验验证适应性观测对验证区预报的提升效果。结果表明,两种敏感区位置随时间间隔增加均向验证区上游移动,海洋环境敏感区相比于声学敏感区分布更为集中,且平移特征更明显;对海洋环境敏感区和声学敏感区添加适应性观测均能提升海洋与水声环境的预报质量,提升效果随时间间隔增加而减小,在某种类型敏感区的适应性观测对相对应参数的预报质量提升效果优于对其他类型敏感区进行观测的效果。