The inclusion of electrostatic and dispersion interactions into potentials of mean torque for solutes dissolved in uniaxial liquid crystal solvents

A potential of mean torque is derived for a solute at infinite dilution in a uniaxial liquid crystal solvent, which contains terms originating from the dispersion interaction, and the electrostatic interaction between quadrupole moments on both molecules. It is shown that the electrostatic term is non-zero only if the solute-solvent vectors are distributed with lower than spherical symmetry. If this distribution has cylindrical symmetry then both the electrostatic and dispersion terms in the potential of mean torque are shown to depend on order parameters for the orientational distribution of the solute-solvent vectors, as well as on the order parameters of the solvent molecules.     

Determination of tributyltin oxide in coastal marine sediments and mussels by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

We have devised a new method for bis(tributyltin)oxide (TBTO) determination in marine sediments and mussels. This technique involves an n-hexane/methylene chloride mixture extraction and extract purification with a sodium hydroxide wash in order to eliminate interfering compounds. TBTO is then extracted again by nitric acid and converted into an inorganic tin species; the analysis has been effected using Zeeman graphite furnace-atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The method detection limit for the matrices examined is 0.004 μg TBTO g^?1 (wet weight) and is sufficient for the analysis in real samples. The percentage recovery of TBTO from sediments and mussels samples is higher than 85% and 95% respectively. This method has been applied to TBTO level determination in sediments and mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) sampled in the harbour area in Taranto, where mussel culture activities are much developed; the TBTO levels obtained in sediments and mussels were in the range 15-47 ng g^?1 (wet weight) and 11-30 ng g^?1 (wet weight) respectively. Such values are comparable with those found in other harbour areas in the Mediterranean Sea.     

Synthesis of 1-(3-alkyl-2,3-dideoxy-D-pentofuranosyl)uracils with potential anti-HIV activity.

1-(3-Alkyl-2,3-dideoxy-alpha,beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)uracils and 1-(3-alkyl-2,3-dideoxy-alpha,beta-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)uracils have been prepared from (E)-4,5-di-O-acetyl-2,3-dideoxy-aldehydo-D-glycero-pent-2-enose by a Michael addition reaction of the appropriate organocopper reagent followed in subsequent order by glycosidation of the resulting 3-alkyl-4,5-diacetoxypentanal with methanolic hydrogen chloride, protection with p-methoxybenzoyl chloride, and trimethylsilyl triflate catalyzed coupling with 2,4-di-O-(trimethylsilyl)uracil. The nucleosides were deprotected by treatment with 33% methylamine in absolute ethanol and separated by reversed-phase HPLC.     

A symmetry-adapted force-constant lattice-dynamical model for single-walled carbon nanotubes

We develop a lattice-dynamical model based on the screw symmetry of single-walled carbon nanotubes that allows for reducing the size of the dynamical matrix to six, for all tube chiralities. The model uses force constants derived from fitting to the phonon dispersion of 2D graphite. We present the calculation procedure in a clear and transparent way, making the model easier to follow. We calculate the phonon dispersions of a number of nanotubes of different chiralities. The splitting of two highest Raman active modes and the radial breathing mode frequency are studied by changing the tube diameter and chirality.     

Moving and oscillating transversely one-dimensional laser solitons

Transversely one-dimensional moving and oscillating solitons in a wide-aperture laser with saturable absorber with fast (inertialess) nonlinearity are found by numerical simulation. The regions of existence of such solitons and of their complexes are presented.     

Areal objects and the problem of the λ term in the theory of gravitation

The following areal objects are considered: an ether thread contracting two material points and a multidimensional ether fibre in the pseudo-Euclidean world of events. An ether space-time model with an arbitrarily determined Riemannian metric is constructed and the problem of the λ term in Einstein equations is discussed in this regard.     

Solution of the hyperbolic mild‐slope equation using the finite volume method

A finite volume solver for the 2D depth‐integrated harmonic hyperbolic formulation of the mild‐slope equation for wave propagation is presented and discussed. The solver is implemented on unstructured triangular meshes and the solution methodology is based upon a Godunov‐type second‐order finite volume scheme, whereby the numerical fluxes are computed using Roe's flux function. The eigensystem of the mild‐slope equations is derived and used for the construction of Roe's matrix. A formulation that updates the unknown variables in time implicitly is presented, which produces a more accurate and reliable scheme than hitherto available. Boundary conditions for different types of boundaries are also derived. The agreement of the computed results with analytical results for a range of wave propagation/transformation problems is very good, and the model is found to be virtually paraxiality‐free. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Variation of the temperature factor of models on a ballistic range

A technique for variation of the temperature factor of free-flight models by varying their initial temperature is described. An experiment on a ballistic range is carried out with a free-flying supersonic blunt cone with a half-angle of 15° at a Mach number of 2.3. The flow at the cone base is studied in the transition range (from the laminar to turbulent flow) of Reynolds numbers. The base flow pattern is determined from the shadowgraphs of the flow about the models. The drag coefficient of the blunt cone at a zero angle of attack is found by processing trajectory data. It is found that the near wake geometries and the drag coefficients of the models tested at the laboratory temperature and a temperature of 120 K differ. Explanations of this effect are given.     

Slow cyclotron instability in a high-power backward-wave oscillator

The linear dispersion relation of a backward-wave oscillator (BWO), derived earlier by the authors, is modified to include effects of RF surface current at the beam-vacuum interface. This modified dispersion relation results in an unstable interaction between the slow cyclotron mode (SCM) and the structure mode in addition to the conventional Cherenkov instability caused by the slow space charge mode. Numerical analysis is then carried out using parameters of a BWO experiment at University of Maryland. Fine structure of the SCM instability is elucidated. The analysis indicates that BWO radiation would not be suppressed near cyclotron absorption in an infinitely long system.