Features of the formation of thermal donors in silicon under elastic tensile stress

The formation process of electrically active oxygen-containing complexes (thermal donors) in silicon is investigated at the initial stage of thermal treatment at T < 500°C under elastic tensile stress σ = 1 GPa. It is shown that, under these conditions, the formation of singly charged donor centers is observed in silicon when the oxygen concentration is (3–5) × 10¹⁷ cm^?3. When the oxygen concentration is 9 × 10¹⁷ cm^?3, doubly charged donor centers form. The depth profile of thermal donors is found in the samples studied.     

Determining zeroes of increasing Lipschitz functions

Summary We study the average case behavior of suitable algorithms to solve a nonlinear problem in numerical analysis: determining zeroes of increasing Lipschitz functions of one variable. The bisection method (which is optimal with respect to the maximal error over the whole class of functions) is far from being optimal in a more general sense: There are methods which behave like bisection in the worst case but which yield much better results on the average. We prove that the sequentially optimal algorithm found by Sukharev is also optimal in our average case setting.     

Refresher Training Center for Analysts

The urgency of the general problem of refresher training is emphasized with the example of the refresher training center for analysts organized on the basis of the Chemistry Faculty of Saratov State University. The principles of its organization are considered, and some good examples of its work are given.     

Molecular and electronic structure of Br2O

Br₂O has been studied with the aid of ab initio calculation and an extended basis set. The calculated geometry is in good agreement with the experimental one measured in the condensed phase. A qualitative analysis of chemical bonding and ionization energies is given and dipole moment predicted for a free molecule.     

Structure of the product formed via Cu(I)-promoted oxidative dimerization ofexo-8-ethynylpentacyclo[5.4.0.02,6.03,10.05.9]undecan-endo-8-ol

The structure consists of two acetyl-substituted PCU cages linked by a diyne fragment. The conformation about the linker is midway between staggered and eclipsed, and the acetyl groups are somewhat distorted due to the proximity to the bulky cage units.     

Structural and Functional Implications of the Interaction between Macrolide Antibiotics and Bile Acids

Macrolide antibiotics, such as azithromycin and erythromycin, are in widespread use for the treatment of bacterial infections. Macrolides are taken up and excreted mainly by bile. Additionally, they have been implicated in biliary system diseases and to modify the excretion of other drugs through bile. Despite mounting evidence for the interplay between macrolide antibiotics and bile acids, the molecular details of this interaction remain unknown. Herein, we show by NMR measurements that macrolides directly bind to bile acid micelles. The topology of this interaction has been determined by solvent paramagnetic relaxation enhancements (solvent PREs). The macrolides were found to be bound close to the surface of the micelle. Increasing hydrophobicity of both the macrolide and the bile acid strengthen this interaction. Both bile acid and macrolide molecules show similar solvent PREs across their whole structures, indicating that there are no preferred orientations of them in the bile micelle aggregates. The binding to bile aggregates does not impede macrolide antibiotics from targeting bacteria. In fact, the toxicity of azithromycin towards enterotoxic E. coli (ETEC) is even slightly increased in the presence of bile, as was shown by effective concentration (EC₅₀) values.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Barton Decarboxylation and Giese Reactions: A Practical Take on Classic Transforms

Two named reactions of fundamental importance and paramount utility in organic synthesis have been reinvestigated, the Barton decarboxylation and Giese radical conjugate addition. N ‐hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) based redox‐active esters were found to be convenient starting materials for simple, thermal, Ni‐catalyzed radical formation and subsequent trapping with either a hydrogen atom source (PhSiH₃) or an electron‐deficient olefin. These reactions feature operational simplicity, inexpensive reagents, and enhanced scope as evidenced by examples in the realm of peptide chemistry.     

Flip or flop? Students’ perspectives of a flipped lecture in mathematics

This paper describes students’ perspectives of a one-off flipped lecture in a large undergraduate mathematics service course. The focus was on calculating matrix determinants and was designed specifically to introduce debate and argumentation into a mathematics lecture. The intention was to promote a deeper learning and understanding through engagement with the added hope of instilling some passion for the subject. During the lecture, students were asked to vote with their feet, literally moving around the lecture theatre to form groups according to their shared favourite technique for calculating matrix determinants. Group discussions were then followed by a whole class debate facilitated by the lecturers, before they wrapped up the lecture by resolving the professional disagreements that had come to light during the debate. Following the lecture, data on student perspectives was gathered using both surveys and focus groups. Within this paper, we share the data and reveal the interesting results that emerged from our analysis. Despite remaining unconvinced as to whether flipped lectures are better for learning, students reported greater engagement and increased understanding of the material covered.     

The interrelation between void fraction fluctuations and flow patterns in two-phase flow

A fast response, linearized X-ray void measurement system has been used to obtain statistical measurements in normally fluctuating air-water flow in a rectangular channel. It is demonstrated that the probability density function (PDF) of the fluctuations in void fraction may be used as an objective and quantitative flow pattern discriminator for the three dominant patterns of bubbly, slug, and annular flow. This concept is applied to data over the range of 0.0 to 37 m/sec mixture velocities to show that slug flow is simply a transitional, periodic time combination of bubbly and annular flows. Film thicknesses calculated from the PDF data are similar in magnitude in both slug and annular flows. Calculation of slug length and residence time ratios along with bubble lengths in slug flow are also readily obtainable from the statistical measurements. Spectral density measurements showed bubbly flow to be stochastic while slug and annular flows showed periodicities correlatable in terms of the liquid volume flux.