On sparse spanners of weighted graphs

Given a graphG, a subgraphG' is at-spanner ofG if, for everyu,v V, the distance fromu tov inG' is at mostt times longer than the distance inG. In this paper we give a simple algorithm for constructing sparse spanners for arbitrary weighted graphs. We then apply this algorithm to obtain specific results for planar graphs and Euclidean graphs. We discuss the optimality of our results and present several nearly matching lower bounds.The work of G. Das and D. Joseph was supported by NSF PYI Grant DCR-8402375. The work of D. Dobkin was supported by NSF Grant CCR-8700917. The work of J. Soares was supported by CNPq proc 203039/87.4 (Brazil) and NSF Grant CCR-9014562. This research was accomplished while G. Das was a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A preliminary version was presented at the Second Scandinavian Workshop on Algorithm Theory, Bergen, Norway, 1990, under the title Generating Sparse Spanners for Weighted Graphs, and proceedings appear in the series Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Springer-Verlag. The preliminary version also appears as Princeton University Technical Report CS-TR-261-90, and as University of Wisconsin-Madison Computer Sciences Technical Report 882.     

Characterization of Saccharomyces Sp. through determination of amino acid profiles by capillary gas chromatography

The Saccharomyces strains uvarum, montuliensis, bayanus, capensis and florentinus were grown in liquid media prepared from a 1% aqueous glucose solution to which 0.05% of ammonium sulfate or urea were added as the only nitrogen supply. The amino acids exuded during incubation were isolated by cation exchange and derivatized as the corresponding N,O-heptafluorobutyryl isopropyl esters. Separation was achieved on a highly deactivated glass capillary column coated with OV-101. A characteristic amino acid profile was obtained for each of the species studied, allowing the construction of a chemotaxonomic tree, on the basis of present or absent acids.     

Characterization of Sol-gel bioencapsulates for ester hydrolysis and synthesis

Candida rugosa lipase was entrapped in silica sol-gel particles prepared by hydrolysis of methyltrimethoxysilane and assayed by p-nitrophenyl palmitate hydrolysis, as a function of pH and temperature, giving pH optima of 7.8 (free enzyme) and 5.0–8.0 (immobilized enzyme). The optimum temperature for the immobilized enzyme (50–55°C) was 19°C higher than for the free enzyme. Thermal, operational, and storage stability were determined with n-butanol and bytyric acid, giving at 45°C a half-life 2.7 times greater for the immobilized enzyme; storage time was 21 d at room temperature. For ester synthesis, the optimum temperature was 47°C, and high esterification conversions were obtained under repeated batch cycles (half-life of 138 h).     

On the grade of some ideals

An additivity formula is obtained for the grade of an ideal in a residue ring R/I, where I is a perfect ideal. This result is then applied to compute the grade of ideals of linear (inhomogeneous) polynomials. Further results on the homological rigidity of the conormal module I/I² are pointed out. Finally, an elementary proof is given of a result of Buchsbaum concerning the grade of ideals of minors of a matrix.Partially supported a CNPq grantPartially supported by NSF and CNPq grants     

The partial hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexene by nanoscale ruthenium catalysts in imidazolium ionic liquids

The controlled decomposition of an Ru(0) organometallic precursor dispersed in 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMI.PF(6)), tetrafluoroborate (BMI.BF(4)) or trifluoromethane sulfonate (BMI.CF(3)SO(3)) ionic liquids with H(2) represents a simple and efficient method for the generation of Ru(0) nanoparticles. TEM analysis of these nanoparticles shows the formation of superstructures with diameters of approximately 57 nm that contain dispersed Ru(0) nanoparticles with diameters of 2.6+/-0.4 nm. These nanoparticles dispersed in the ionic liquids are efficient multiphase catalysts for the hydrogenation of alkenes and benzene under mild reaction conditions (4 atm, 75 degrees C). The ternary diagram (benzene/cyclohexene/BMI.PF(6)) indicated a maximum of 1 % cyclohexene concentration in BMI.PF(6), which is attained with 4 % benzene in the ionic phase. This solubility difference in the ionic liquid can be used for the extraction of cyclohexene during benzene hydrogenation by Ru catalysts suspended in BMI.PF(6). Selectivities of up to 39 % in cyclohexene can be attained at very low benzene conversion. Although the maximum yield of 2 % in cyclohexene is too low for technical applications, it represents a rare example of partial hydrogenation of benzene by soluble transition-metal nanoparticles.     

Addition of carbon nucleophiles to cyclic N-acyliminium ions in SDS/water

The acid-catalyzed addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and activated olefins (silyl enol ethers and ethyl vinyl ether) to N-Boc-2-methoxypyrrolidine (1a) and N-Boc-2-methoxypiperidine (1b) in SDS/water medium is described. Good yields of the corresponding 2-substituted N-Boc pyrrolidines were generally observed from 1a while moderate yields prevailed from 1b.     

EPR and 1H and 13C dynamic nuclear polarization studies of a molecularly doped polymer: bisphenol A polycarbonate doped with trianisylamine and trianisylaminium perchlorate.

We have investigated the EPR and DNP behavior of a molecularly doped polymer modeling those used to transport electronic charge in electrophotography. The EPR spectra show no evidence of the superexchange reported for a closely related system based on tri-p-tolylamine. The difference may be due to larger charge-transfer matrix elements in the latter system. An unambiguous interpretation of the observed 1H DNP was rendered difficult by the unanticipated asymmetry of the EPR spectra. We report extensive data on the "three-spin" effect evident in the DNP-enhanced 13C NMR spectra, and comment on its potential for characterizing polymer interfaces.     

Generic fast gradient liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry techniques for the assessment of the in vitro permeability across the blood-brain barrier in drug discovery

Rapid, generic gradient liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) assays, designed to accelerate sample analyses, have been developed to keep pace with the productivity of advanced synthetic procedures. In this study, LC/MS/MS was combined with an in vitro, cell-based, blood-brain barrier (BBB) model to evaluate the potential of new chemical entities (NCEs) to cross the BBB. This in vitro assay provides the permeability of discovery compounds across a monolayer of a primary culture of bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells in a fraction of the time that is required for in vivo studies (brain/plasma concentrations), using only 2 mg of the compound. The results are consistent with in vivo brain/plasma concentration ratio data.