Regioselectivity in the formation of small- and medium-sized cyclic ethers by diene-ene ring-closing metathesis

In the formation of medium-sized ethers by diene-ene ring-closing metathesis, the formation of cyclic allyl ethers with a smaller ring size and of pentadienyl ethers with a larger ring size compete with each other. In the competition between six- and eight-membered and seven- and nine-membered ring formation, the smaller rings are formed exclusively, whereas in the competition between the five- and seven-membered rings, both products are formed in comparable amounts.     

Dyskinesis in Chagasic myocardium: centerline analysis of wall motion using cardiac-gated magnetic resonance images of mice

We report on the use of centerline analysis of cardiac-gated magnetic resonance images to measure wall motion abnormalities in mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. To our knowledge, this is the first report of segmental wall motion abnormalities in an animal model of Chagas' disease. Chagas' disease patients with severe cardiac involvement exhibit mild hypokinesis in an extensive region of the left ventricle and dyskinesis in the apical region. We observed dyskinetic segments in a similar region of the hearts of infected wild-type mice. Dyskinesis was not observed in infected mice lacking macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha, a chemokine that may play an important role in the cardiac remodeling that is normally observed in mouse models of Chagas' disease and in human patients. This study aimed to demonstrate the utility of cardiac-gated magnetic resonance imaging and centerline analysis as a straightforward method for monitoring regional left ventricular wall motion in transgenic and/or diseased mice.     

Maximum independent sets in 3- and 4-regular Hamiltonian graphs

Smooth 4-regular Hamiltonian graphs are generalizations of cycle-plus-triangles graphs. While the latter have been shown to be 3-choosable, 3-colorability of the former is NP-complete. In this paper we first show that the independent set problem for 3-regular Hamiltonian planar graphs is NP-complete, and using this result we show that this problem is also NP-complete for smooth 4-regular Hamiltonian graphs. We also show that this problem remains NP-complete if we restrict the problem to the existence of large independent sets (i.e., independent sets whose size is at least one third of the order of the graphs).     

Significance of Truckenbrodt's Energy and Momentum Coefficients for Loss Calculation in Ramified Pipe Systems

For one-dimensional simulation of flow in ramified pipe systems loss prediction in junctions is essential. In the standard literature (e.g. [1]) total pressure loss coefficients serve this purpose. Elementary formulas follow from the principle of momentum and some simple assumptions [2]. They yield rather crude estimates, often twice as large as experimental values. Modifications described by Idelchik [3] look nice, but after all turn out to be not more accurate. We explain deviations and propose improved loss formula based on Truckenbrodt's energy and momentum coefficients [4], thus paying regard to velocity distributions over pipe cross-sections. We further discuss extraction of the coefficient's values from experiments. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Zero Leakage Sealings for Reciprocating Compressors

The piston rod of a reciprocating compressor is sealed with elastic cylindrical sealing elements. Across the sealings the pressure drops from the operating pressure to the ambient pressure. The lubrication gap between the elastic sealing and reciprocating piston rod is studied with the aim to find conditions of a leakage free sealing. The flow in the lubrication gap and the elastic deformation of the sealing are determined simultaneously. The netflow during one cycle of the reciprocating piston rod is calculated. It turns out that maintaining zero leakage is very sensible. Indeed the outbound flow during out-stroke has to be equal the inbound flow during the instroke. By prescribing a special shape of the undeformed sealing zero leakage can be attained — at least theoretically for certain operating conditions. It turns out that temperature dependent material data and a model for cavitation is necessary. The model, its numerical implementation and results will be discussed. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Self Metathesis of Fatty Alcohols and Amines to Provide Monomers for Polyester and Polyamide Products

Summary: Self metathesis of oleochemicals offers a variety of bifunctional compounds, that can be used as monomer for polymer production. Many precursors are in huge scales available, like oleic acid ester (biodiesel), oleyl alcohol (tensides), oleyl amines (tensides, lubricants). We show several ways to produce and separate and purify C₁₈-α,ω-bifunctional compounds, using Grubbs 2^nd Generation catalysts, starting from technical grade educts.     

Facial solar UV exposure of Austrian farmers during occupation

Optoelectronic personal UV-meters were used to monitor the occupational facial solar erythemally effective exposure of 12 Austrian full-time farmers with high temporal resolution. To ensure high quality measurements several quality assurance procedures were applied, like calibration with respect to solar elevation and total ozone column. From April to October the test persons carried the UV-meters on the forehead during working hours. A digital diary (activity, location, weather, photoprotective measures) was completed on an hourly basis. Our field test produced 1427 complete daily records (measurement and diary). The total exposures showed high variability (77 –757 standard erythema dose [SED]) which correlates with the number of working days and even stronger with the little numbers of days with high exposure (>10 SED). Risk factors for high exposures were: mixed-culture farms with aggravated working conditions, low degree of automation of working processes, inadequate operating logistics (summarized as manual work outdoor), driving machines without cabins, and female gender. UV exposure of female farmers was approximately twice as high as that of men: Women received 15% of ambient radiation while men got 8%. Avoiding daily exposure >10 SED could reduce exposure down to 40% and the risk in developing skin cancer by a factor of 40.     

A Dendrimer Chiroptical Switch Based on the Reversible Intramolecular Photoreaction of Anthracene and Benzene Rings

A series of Fréchet‐type dendrimers with 9‐benzyloxymethylanthracene cores were synthesized and characterized. The chiral source for the dendrimers was an (S)‐2‐methyl‐1‐butoxy group in the 3‐position of the benzene ring. Irradiation at 366 nm of a dilute benzene solution led to the formation of two diastereomers (1:1) through a quantitative intramolecular [4π+4π] cycloaddition between the central anthracene ring and the neighboring benzene ring. The process can be reversed with 254 nm UV light or heat. The benzene rings in the dendrons work as a light‐harvesting system. The optical rotation values measured for the reversible process showed fatigue resistance. Thus, a promising new type of chiroptical switch has been created that has optical rotation values as output signals.