Parallel implementation of the p‐version of the finite element method for elliptic equations on a shared‐memory architecture

An implementation of the p‐version of the finite element method for solving two‐dimensional linear elliptic problems on a shared‐memory parallel computer is analyzed. The idea is to partition the problem among the available processors and perform computations corresponding to different elements in parallel. The parallelization is based on a domain decomposition technique using the Lagrange multipliers. The numerical experiments carried out on the Sequent system indicate very high performance of the mixed finite element algorithm in terms of attained speedups. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Crystal and molecular structure of the triflate salt of diprotonated 1,4,8,11-tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, [C10H22N4(CH2CH2OH)4 2+]−[CF3SO3 −]2: geometry of a diprotonated octadenate ligand

The title complex crystallizes in the centrosymmetric monoclinic space group P2₁/n with Z=2. The cation is the diprotonated derivative of the neutral octadentate macrocyclic ligand C₁₀H₂₀N₄(CH₂CH₂OH)₄; the two protonated nitrogen atoms are as far apart as is possible in the 14-membered ring (1-and 8-positions) so as to minimize electrostatic repulsions. Each of the [C₁₀H₂₂N₄(CH₂CH₂OH)₄ ²⁺] cations is involved in hydrogen bonding (through the four hydroxy groups) to oxygen atoms on four different peripheral [CF₃SO₃ ⁻] anions.     

Anhydrous and water-assisted proton mobility in phosphotungstic acid

Nonlocal gradient-corrected density functional theoretical calculations were used to determine the energetics associated with proton migration in phosphotungstic acid. The activation energy for anhydrous proton hopping between two oxygen atoms on the exterior of the molecular Keggin unit was calculated to be 103.3 kJ mol(-1). The quantum-tunneling effect on the rate of proton movement was determined using semiclassical transition-state theory and was found to be a major contributor to the overall rate of proton movement at temperatures below approximately 350 K. The adsorption of water on an acidic proton decreases the activation barrier for hopping to 11.2 kJ mol(-1) by facilitating proton transfer along hydrogen bonds. The overall rate constant for proton hopping was determined as a function of temperature and water partial pressure. Small amounts of water greatly enhance the overall rate of proton movement.     

1.1 Grundkgen, Methoden, Apparate, Reagentien, Automation, Datenverarbeitung

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

A new synthesis of β-amino acids by use of ketene diethyl acetal as enolate equivalent

Reaction of phenylsulfonyl formamides, readily available in a single step from an aromatic aldehyde and sodium phenylsulfinate, with ketene diethyl acetal under basic conditions gives N-formyl β-amino acid esters in good yield, which can be kinetically resolved with a lipase.     

The evidence for complex formation between N-acetyl-l-tyrosine methyl ester and N-acetylprocainamide hydrochloride using NMR spectroscopy

In order to reveal the possible mechanism of the recognition of antiarrhythmic agents class I and class III by the amino acid residues, which are responsible for drug binding to the selectivity filters either in the sodium or potassium ion channels, co-crystallizations of procainamide hydrochloride and N-acetylprocainamide hydrochloride with N-acetyl-l-tyrosine methyl ester and N-acetyl-l-phenylalanine methyl ester were performed using various conditions. Because the crystallization of the complexes failed, the intermolecular interactions between the components were evidenced using NMR spectroscopy. Exclusively, in the case of N-acetylprocainamide hydrochloride and N-acetyl-l-tyrosine methyl ester, two-dimensional NMR experiments and Job Plot analysis indicated the formation of the 1:1 complex in DMSO-d ₆  solution (with the association constant of 16 M⁻¹), whereas for the mixture of procainamide hydrochloride with N-acetyl-l-tyrosine methyl ester, the complex formation was not confirmed. The NMR results were discussed using crystal structure data obtained for N-acetylprocainamide hydrochloride, procainamide hydrochloride, as well as procainamide dihydrochloride, and were compared with the known pharmacological activity of the antiarrhythmic agents.     

Automated categorization of bioacoustic signals: avoiding perceptual pitfalls

Dividing the acoustic repertoires of animals into biologically relevant categories presents a widespread problem in the study of animal sound communication, essential to any comparison of repertoires between contexts, individuals, populations, or species. Automated procedures allow rapid, repeatable, and objective categorization, but often perform poorly at detecting biologically meaningful sound classes. Arguably this is because many automated methods fail to address the nonlinearities of animal sound perception. We present a new method of categorization that incorporates dynamic time-warping and an adaptive resonance theory (ART) neural network. This method was tested on 104 randomly chosen whistle contours from four captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), as well as 50 frequency contours extracted from calls of transient killer whales (Orcinus orca). The dolphin data included known biologically meaningful categories in the form of 42 stereotyped whistles produced when each individual was isolated from its group. The automated procedure correctly grouped all but two stereotyped whistles into separate categories, thus performing as well as human observers. The categorization of killer whale calls largely corresponded to visual and aural categorizations by other researchers. These results suggest that this methodology provides a repeatable and objective means of dividing bioacoustic signals into biologically meaningful categories.     

The prediction of total anthocyanin concentration in red-grape homogenates using visible-near-infrared spectroscopy and artificial neural networks

This study compares the performance of partial least squares (PLS) regression analysis and artificial neural networks (ANN) for the prediction of total anthocyanin concentration in red-grape homogenates from their visible-near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectra. The PLS prediction of anthocyanin concentrations for new-season samples from Vis-NIR spectra was characterised by regression non-linearity and prediction bias. In practice, this usually requires the inclusion of some samples from the new vintage to improve the prediction. The use of WinISI LOCAL partly alleviated these problems but still resulted in increased error at high and low extremes of the anthocyanin concentration range. Artificial neural networks regression was investigated as an alternative method to PLS, due to the inherent advantages of ANN for modelling non-linear systems. The method proposed here combines the advantages of the data reduction capabilities of PLS regression with the non-linear modelling capabilities of ANN. With the use of PLS scores as inputs for ANN regression, the model was shown to be quicker and easier to train than using raw full-spectrum data. The ANN calibration for prediction of new vintage grape data, using PLS scores as inputs, was more linear and accurate than global and LOCAL PLS models and appears to reduce the need for refreshing the calibration with new-season samples. ANN with PLS scores required fewer inputs and was less prone to overfitting than using PCA scores. A variation of the ANN method, using carefully selected spectral frequencies as inputs, resulted in prediction accuracy comparable to those using PLS scores but, as for PCA inputs, was also prone to overfitting with redundant wavelengths.     

Komplexbildende Eigenschaften des 3,5-Dimethylpyrazols. II

Zusammenfassung Die Bedingungen der Entstehung und der Extraktion der aus Cu²⁺, Rhodanid und 3,5-Dimethylpyrazol entstehenden Komplexe wurden untersucht. Mittels optischer Untersuchungen wurde bewiesen, daß sich aus diesen Komponenten Triplettkomplexe mit verschiedener Koordinationszahl bilden. Chloroform extrahiert einen Komplex mit der Formel [Cu(CNS)₂(DMP)₂], Benzol dagegen einen Komplex mit der Formel [Cu(CNS)₂(DMP)₄].

---

Summary The conditions for the production and the extraction of complexes formed in the Cu-SCN-DMP system were examined. Optical studies revealed that this system gives rise to triplet complexes with various coordination numbers. Chloroform extracts a complex whose formula is [Cu(SCN)₂(DMP)₂]. On the other hand, benzene extracts a complex with the formula [Cu(SCN)₂(DMP)₄].

---

Résumé On a fait l'étude expérimentale des conditions de formation et d'extraction du complexe qui se forme avec le système Cu/SCN/DMP. Il s'est révélé qu'un complexe triple se formait pour ce système avec un nombre différent de coordination. Le chloroforme extrait un complexe de formule [Cu(SCN)₂(DMP)₂], le benzène, par contre, un complexe de formule [Cu(SCN)₂(DMP)₄].