Analytic modeling of tidal effects in the relativistic inspiral of binary neutron stars

To detect the gravitational-wave (GW) signal from binary neutron stars and extract information about the equation of state of matter at nuclear density, it is necessary to match the signal with a bank of accurate templates. We present the two longest (to date) general-relativistic simulations of equal-mass binary neutron stars with different compactnesses, C=0.12 and C=0.14, and compare them with a tidal extension of the effective-one-body (EOB) model. The typical numerical phasing errors over the ?22 GW cycles are Δ??±0.24 rad. By calibrating only one parameter (representing a higher-order amplification of tidal effects), the EOB model can reproduce, within the numerical error, the two numerical waveforms essentially up to the merger. By contrast, the third post-Newtonian Taylor-T4 approximant with leading-order tidal corrections dephases with respect to the numerical waveforms by several radians.     

Pharmacophore mapping of flavone derivatives for aromatase inhibition

Aromatase, which catalyses the final step in the steroidogenesis pathway of estrogen, has been target for the design of inhibitor in the treatment of hormone dependent breast cancer for postmenopausal women. The extensive SAR studies performed in the last 30 years to search for potent, selective and less toxic compounds, have led to the development of second and third generation of non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors (AI). Besides the development of synthetic compounds, several naturally occurring and synthetic flavonoids, which are ubiquitous natural phenolic compounds and mediate the host of biological activities, are found to demonstrate inhibitory effects on aromatase. The present study explores the pharmacophores, i.e., the structural requirements of flavones (Fig. 1) for inhibition of aromatase activity, using quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) and space modeling approaches. The classical QSAR studies generate the model (R (2) = 0.924, Q (2) = 0.895, s = 0.233) that shows the importance of aromatic rings A and C, along with substitutional requirements in meta and para positions of ring C for the activity. 3D QSAR of Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA, R (2) = 0.996, [Formula: see text]) and Comparative Molecular Similarity Analysis (CoMSIA, R (2) = 0.992, [Formula: see text]) studies show contour maps of steric and hydrophobic properties and contribution of acceptor and donor of the molecule, suggesting the presence of steric hindrance due to ring C and R'-substituent, bulky hydrophobic substitution in ring A, along with acceptors at positions 11, and alpha and gamma of imidazole ring, and donor in ring C favor the inhibitory activity. Further space modeling (CATALYST) study (R = 0.941, Delta( cost ) = 96.96, rmsd = 0.876) adjudge the presence of hydrogen bond acceptor (keto functional group), hydrophobic (ring A) and aromatic rings (steric hindrance) along with critical distance among features are important for the inhibitory activity.     

Sphere‐to‐Rod Transitions in Cationic Micelles: Quaternary Ammonium Halides+Phenol+Water Systems

Viscosity measurements on aqueous micellar solutions of cationic surfactants containing phenol with and without sodium bromide were made to study the sphere‐to‐rod transitions. Effect of surfactant structure (nonpolar tail, polar head group sizes and counterion), temperature, and phenol and sodium bromide concentration on the viscosity behavior of the surfactant solution is discussed. The sphere‐to‐rod transition is usually indicated by a marked increase in viscosity. While low temperature, high surfactant concentration, presence of salt, and hydrophobic nature of surfactant all favor the formation of rod‐like micelles, the presence of phenol showed peculiar behavior. Initial additions of phenol (up to about 2.5 wt%) showed a marked increase in viscosity, independent of the nature and concentration of surfactant and temperature; lower viscosities were observed at higher phenol concentration. Conductance and sound velocity results support the viscosity results.     

Reactions of Ammonium Alkylene Dithiophosphates with Phosphorus Trichloride and Thiophosphoryl Chloride *

Phosphorus trichloride and thiophosphoryl chloride derivatives of alkylene dithiophosphates of the type PCl_{3 ? n} () _n and P(S)Cl_{3? n} () _n (where G = -CH₂CH₂CHMe-, -CMe₂CMe₂-, -CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂- and -CMe₂CH₂ CHMe-, n = 1, 2, 3] have been synthesized for the first time by reacting the ammonium salt of alkylene dithiophosphoric acid with phosphorus trichloride and thiophosphoryl chloride in different stoichiometric ratios under anhydrous reaction conditions. The newly synthesized derivatives are either colorless liquids or viscous semisolids, hygroscopic in nature and are soluble in common organic solvents. These are characterized by elemental analysis, molecular weight determinations and physicochemical studies IR, NMR (¹H and ³¹P). On the basis of above studies the formation of P-S-P and S = P–S–P(S) chemical linkages have been established. ²³¹P NMR studies provide convincing evidence regarding the chemical bonding mode in these derivatives.     

Some ternary sulfoxide and amide adducts of plutonyl pyrazolonates

Solid complexes of plutonylion with benzoyl (PMBP), acetyl (PMAP) and trifluoroacetyl (PMTFP) derivatives of 1-phenyl-3-methylpyrazol-5-one and various oxo donors such as dihexyl sulfoxide (DHSO), dioctyl sulfoxide (DOSO), dibutyl hexanamide (DBHA), dibutyl octanamide (DBOA) and dibutyl decanamide (DBDA) have been synthesized and characterized. Analytical data establish that sulfoxides form 11 adducts and have the stoichiometry PuO₂·X₂·Y (X=PMBP, PMAP and PMTFP) and Y=DHSO and DOSO while amides form 12 adducts of the type PuO₂X₂·2A where A=DBHA, DBOA and DBDA. The I. R. spectra of sulfoxide and amide complexes indicate that the ligands are O-bonded. Spectrophotometric investigations of the benzene solution of these complexes indicate a bathochromic shift of the 831 nm peak to 848–853 nm region, which confirms the retention of PuO ₂ ²⁺ moiety in these synergistic adducts.     

Studies on the extraction of americium(III) from aqueous nitrate media by sulfoxides

Solvent extraction behaviour of Am(III) from dilute nitric acid media with sulfoxides (R₂SO) in Solvesso-100 has been investigated over a wide range of conditions. Very poor extractability of Am necessitated the use of salting-out agents, viz., nitrates of Al, Mg, Ca, Li and NH ₄ ⁺ . Effects of certain variables such as acidity, extractant concentration, saltingout agent, temperature etc., on metal extraction by sulfoxides have been examined systematically. For a fixed sulfoxide concentration, extraction attains a maximum value up to around 0.2–0.4M HNO₃ and decreasing above 1M HNO₃. In contrast, increasing the concentration of sulfoxide (0.8M DISO, 1.3M DBuSO) gives almost quantitative Am extraction up to 1M HNO₃. For satisfactory extraction, di-n-octyl as well as di-n-hexyl sulfoxide are the most suitable extracting agents. Extractability of Am increases with increasing amounts of all the salting-out agents studied and their effect follows the sequence: Al³⁺>Mg²⁺>Ca²⁺>Li⁺>NH ₄ ⁺ ; this is also the relative dehydrating effect of the cations. The species extracted would appear to be Am(NO₃)₃.3R₂SO. Americium is easily stripped with 1–3M HNO₃ solutions from the loaded organic phase. Extraction decreases with increasing temperature, indicating the extraction to be exothermic. Extraction from partially non-aqueous solutions was also investigated.     

Quantitative analysis of some extractants by infrared spectrometry

A method is described for the estimation by infrared spectrometry of some organic extractants such as tributyl phosphate (TBP), dioctyl sulfoxide (DOSO) and dibutyl decanamide (DBDA), which have importance as solvent extractants for fuel reprocessing. Measurements have been carried out using their characteristic donor peaks. Results indicate that Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 0.01 to 0.2M with an optimum around 0.1M. The estimations have also been carried out by measuring the intensities of the OH stretches of the donor hydrates, which are very useful in estimating these donors in solvent extracted species. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of amide contents of irradiated dialkylamides.     

Extraction behavior of uranium,plutonium and some fission products with gamma-irradiated N,N′-dialkylamides

The extraction behavior of uranium(VI), plutonium(IV) and fission products like zirconium, ruthenium and europium from 3.5M nitric acid medium with gamma-irradiated dibutyl derivatives of hexanamide (DBHA), octanamide (DBOA) and decanamide (DBDA) in dodecane has been investigated as a function of absorbed dose up to 184 MRads. The results indicate that the K_d value for extraction of uranium(VI) decreases gradually, while K_d for extraction of plutonium(IV) decreases rapidly with dose up to 35 MRads, increasing thereafter with dose, indicating synergistic effects of radiolytic products at higher doses. Ruthenium and europium are not extracted in the entire dose range up to 184 MRads, while extraction of zirconium(IV) increases steadily up to 50 MRads and increases radiply thereafter, indicating synergistic effect of radiolytic products similar to that of plutonium(IV) beyond a dose of 50 MRads. The extractability of uranium(VI) and plutonium(IV) with 1M dibutyl decanamide (DBDA) in dodecane was studied for uranium loading up to 75 mg/ml and plutonium loading up to 3 mg/ml. The percent extraction was found to vary from 91 to 71 for uranium and 95 to 89 for plutonium, respectively. Quantitative stripping of uranium can be achieved with 0.01M nitric acid and plutonium with 0.5M nitric acid and 0.05M hydroxylamine soluton in two steps from an organic phase loaded with 53.2 mg/ml of uranium.     

Extraction of uranium and plutonium from oxalate bearing solutions using phosphonic acid: Solvent extraction, extraction chromatography and infrared studies

Solvent extraction and extraction chromatography studies of uranium and plutonium from oxalate supernatant solutions were carried out using 2-ethyl hexyl-2-ethyl hexyl phosphonic acid (PC88A). Based on the distribution data, it was inferred that both the uranium and plutonium could be recovered satisfactorily from such a solution. These studies were found to be useful in optimising the appropriate concentration of PC88A, HNO₃, oxalic acid and temperature to recover more than 90% of plutonium from the large volumes of oxalate bearing waste solutions. Spectral characteristics of the extractant and its complexing behavior with U(VI) was also studied using IR & FTIR.