Carbon-13 Assignments and Revision of the Stereostructures of the Cadinanes 2-Hydroxy-8α-angeloyloxycalamenene and 2-Hydroxy-8α-hydroxycalamenene

The two known cadinanes 2-hydroxy-8α-hydroxycalamenene and 2-hydroxy-8α-angeloyloxycalamenene were isolated from a Louisiana population of Heterotheca subaxillaris.

Their ¹³C NMR spectra were fully assigned by the application of HETCOR, COLOC, COSY, NOESY and DEPT experiments. It was shown on the basis of NOESY experiments that both cadinanes require revision at the stereogenic centre C-7.     

Multispectrum fitting of line parameters for C2H2 in the 3.8-μm spectral region

Using FT spectra (Bruker IFS 120, unapodized FWHM resolution ≈ 0.001 cm⁻¹) of acetylene ¹²C₂H₂, absolute positions and intensities have been measured for about 250 lines between 2600 and 2800 cm⁻¹ in the and cold bands, and in the and hot bands. These measurements improve the accuracy of wavenumbers previously available and lead to individual line intensities for the first time in this spectral region. A multispectrum fitting procedure has been used to retrieve line parameters from five experimental spectra recorded at different pressures. The frequencies of the ν₃ band of ¹²C¹⁶O₂ allowed to perform an absolute wavenumber calibration. The accuracy of the amount of ¹²C₂H₂ in the sample has been checked using the cold band around 2100 cm⁻¹, and has been estimated to be around ±2%. The average absolute accuracy of the line parameters obtained in this work has then been estimated to be ±0.0002 cm⁻¹ for line positions, and ±5% for line intensities. For each studied band, the vibrational transition dipole moment squared value has been determined, as also empirical Herman-Wallis coefficients. A complete line list containing positions and intensities for the five strongest bands around 3.8 μm has been set up for atmospheric applications.     

Propagation of arbitrary initial wave packets in a quantum parametric oscillator: Instability zones for higher order moments

We consider the dynamics of a particle in a parametric oscillator with a view to exploring any quantum feature of the initial wave packet that shows divergent (in time) behaviour for parameter values where the classical motion dynamics of the mean position is bounded. We use Ehrenfest's theorem to explore the dynamics of nth order moment which reduces exactly to a linear non autonomous differential equation of order $n+1$. It is found that while the width and skewness of the packet is unbounded exactly in the zones where the classical motion is unbounded, the kurtosis of an initially non-gaussian wave packet can become infinitely large in certain additional zones. This implies that the shape of the wave packet can change drastically with time in these zones.     

Fluctuation study of pionisation in ultrarelativistic nucleus-nucleus interaction

The scaled factorial moments and the multifractal moments have been investigated in different??-intervals to study the dynamical fluctuation of pions produced in 200 AGeV³²S-Ag/Br interaction. In order to investigate the detail characteristics of intermittency behaviour, theF-moments are extracted up to the eighth order of moments in differentM-intervals. The analysis indicates a non-thermal phase transition and different regime of particle production during the hadronisation process.     

Open critical area model and extraction algorithm based on the net flow-axis

In the integrated circuit manufacturing process, the critical area extraction is a bottleneck to the layout optimization and the integrated circuit yield estimation. In this paper, we study the problem that the missing material defects may result in the open circuit fault. Combining the mathematical morphology theory, we present a new computation model and a novel extraction algorithm for the open critical area based on the net flow-axis. Firstly, we find the net flow-axis for different nets. Then, the net flow-edges based on the net flow-axis are obtained. Finally, we can extract the open critical area by the mathematical morphology. Compared with the existing methods, the nets need not to divide into the horizontal nets and the vertical nets, and the experimental results show that our model and algorithm can accurately extract the size of the open critical area and obtain the location information of the open circuit critical area.     

Legendre Transformation for Regularizable Lagrangians in Field Theory

Hamilton equations based not only upon the Poincaré–Cartan equivalent of a first-order Lagrangian, but also upon its Lepagean equivalent are investigated. Lagrangians which are singular within the Hamilton–De Donder theory, but regularizable in this generalized sense are studied. Legendre transformation for regularizable Lagrangians is proposed and Hamilton equations, equivalent with the Euler–Lagrange equations, are found. It is shown that all Lagrangians affine or quadratic in the first derivatives of the field variables are regularizable. The Dirac field and the electromagnetic field are discussed in detail.     

Establishing norms for age-related changes in proton T1 of human brain tissue in vivo

The goal of this study was to determine the expected normal range of variation in spin-lattice relaxation time (T₁) of brain tissue in vivo, as a function of age. A previously validated precise and accurate inversion recovery method was used to map T₁ transversely, at the level of the basal ganglia, in a study population of 115 healthy subjects (ages 4 to 72; 57 male and 58 female). Least-squares regression analysis shows that T₁ varied as a function of age in pulvinar nucleus (R² = 56%), anterior thalamus (R² = 51%), caudate (R² = 50%), frontal white matter (R² = 47%), optic radiation (R² = 39%), putamen (R² = 36%), genu (R² = 22%), occipital white matter (R² = 20%) (all p < 0.0001), and cortical gray matter (R² = 53%) (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in T₁ between men and women. T₁ declines throughout adolescence and early adulthood, to achieve a minimum value in the fourth to sixth decade of life, then T₁ begins to increase. Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging provides evidence that brain tissue continues to change throughout the lifespan among healthy subjects with no neurologic deficits. Age-related changes follow a strikingly different schedule in different brain tissues; white matter tracts tend to reach a minimum T₁ value, and to increase again, sooner than do gray matter tracts. Such normative data may prove useful for the early detection of brain pathology in patients.     

Ultrafast dynamics of shock compression of molecular monolayers

Femtosecond laser-driven approximately 1 GPa shock waves are used to compress monolayers of hydrocarbon chains. Vibrational sum-frequency generation spectroscopy probes the orientation of the terminal methyl groups. With an odd number (15) of carbon atoms, shock compression is an elastic process that causes the methyl groups to tilt. With an even number (18) of carbon atoms, shock compression is viscoelastic, creating single and double gauche defects. When the shock unloads, single gauche defects remain while double defects relax in 30 ps to single-defect states with more upright methyl groups.     

Scientific investigations of the Imperial Gates from the Petrindu wooden church,Salaj County,Romania

In order to preserve and restore the Imperial Gates from the Petrindu wooden church, Salaj County, Romania, (map location—latitude, longitude: 46.97, 23.19), the scientific investigation of the wooden support and painting materials (ground and pigments) was performed, employing Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and 3D scanning. FTIR spectroscopy offered information about the wooden degradation stage, whereas X‐ray fluorescence and FTIR spectroscopic methods were employed for structural painting materials characterization. The structural data can be correlated with the artistic, theological, and historical analysis of this religious patrimony object. After obtaining information about the wooden support and painting materials, the Imperial Gates were 3D digitized using state of the art laser scanning technology. The digital 3D model obtained was restored in a virtual environment and converted into an interactive 3D model that can be used for Romanian cultural heritage digital dissemination.     

CO2 line intensity FTS measurements with 1% assumed accuracy in the 1.5-1.6 μm spectral range

Using Fourier-transform spectra and a multispectrum fitting procedure, 124 absolute line intensities of ¹²C¹⁶O₂ are obtained for the cold band 30011-00001 and the hot band 01131-01101 between 6460 and 6950 cm⁻¹. Vibrational transition dipole moments squared and Herman-Wallis coefficients are reported for each band. Cross comparisons made with previous experimental results and with data available in the HITRAN and Carbon Dioxide Spectroscopic Databank (CDSD), bring some confidence on the good level of accuracy of the present results. Motivated by the demanding needs of some atmospheric experiments dedicated to the survey of the carbon cycle, an additional evaluation of potential absolute line intensity measurement limit is also performed on recently published carbon dioxide absolute line intensity independent measurements. These are obtained in two different laboratories on the bands 30013-00001 and 30012-00001 both located in the 1.6 μm spectral window. It is shown that Fourier-transform experimental CO₂ line intensity determination is approaching the challenging required figure of about 0.3% accuracy needed for the survey of the atmospheric carbon cycle.