Smooth initial conditions from weak gravity

CMB measurements reveal an unnaturally smooth early universe. We propose a mechanism to make this smoothness natural by weakening the strength of gravity at early times, and therefore altering which initial conditions have low entropy.     

In Silico Studies and Design of Scrupulous Novel Sensor for Nitro Aromatics Compounds and Metal Ions Detection

Journal of Fluorescence - A Novel calix[4]pyrrole system bearing carboxylic acid functionality [ABuCP] has been synthesized and its interaction towards various nitroaromatics compounds [NACs] were...     

The warehouse-inventory-transportation problem for supply chains

Warehouses play a vital role in mitigating variations in supply and demand, and in providing value-added services in a supply chain. However, our observation of supply chain practice reveals that warehousing decisions are not included when developing a distribution plan for the supply chain. This lack of integration has resulted in a substantial variation in workload (42–220%) at our industry partner’s warehouse costing them millions of dollars. To address this real-world challenge, we introduce the warehouse-inventory-transportation problem (WITP) of determining an optimal distribution plan from vendors to customers via one or more warehouses in order to minimize the total distribution cost. We present a nonlinear integer programming model for the WITP considering supply chains with multiple vendors, stores, products, and time-periods, and one warehouse. The model also considers worker congestion at the warehouse that could affect worker productivity. A heuristic based on iterative local search is developed to solve industry-sized problems with up to 500 stores and 1000 products. Our experiments indicate that the distribution plans obtained via the WITP, as compared to a sequential approach, result in a substantial reduction in workload variance at the warehouse, while considerably reducing the total distribution cost. These plans, however, are sensitive to aisle configuration and technology at the warehouse, and the level and productivity of temporary workers.     

An ATR-FTIR spectroscopic approach for measuring rapid kinetics at the mineral/water interface

This study presents a methodology for studying rapid kinetic reactions for IR active compounds. In soils, sediments, and groundwater systems a rapid initial chemical reaction can comprise a substantial portion of the total reaction process at the mineral/water interface. Rapid-scan attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is presented here as a new method for collecting rapid in situ kinetic data. As an example of its application, the initial oxidation of arsenite (As III) via Mn-oxides is examined. Using a rapid-scan technique, IR spectra were collected with a time resolution of up to 2.55 s (24 scans, 8 cm(-1) resolution). Through observation and analysis of IR bands corresponding to arsenate (AsV), rapid chemically-controlled As III oxidation is observed (initial pH 6-9) with 50% of the reaction occurring within the first one min. The oxidation of As III is followed by rapid binding of AsV to HMO, at least in part, through surface bound Mn II. The experimental data indicate that rapid-scan FTIR is an effective technique for acquisition of kinetic data, providing molecular scale information for rapid reactions at the solid/liquid interface.     

Protecting, patterning, and scaffolding supported lipid membranes using carbohydrate glasses

Disaccharides are known to protect sensitive biomolecules against stresses caused by dehydration, both in vivo and in vitro. Here we demonstrate how interfacial accumulation of trehalose can be used to (1) produce rugged supported lipid bilayers capable of near total dehydration; (2) enable spatial patterning of membrane micro-arrays; and (3) form stable bilayers on otherwise lipophobic substrates (e.g., metal transducers) thus affording protecting, patterning, and scaffolding of lipid bilayers.     

Binuclear complexes with the “Chinese Lantern” geometry as intermediates in the liquid-phase oxidation of dibenzyl ether with atmospheric oxygen in the presence of copper(II) carboxylates

Reactions of copper(II) carboxylates with dibenzyl ether (DBE) gave binuclear complexes of the formula Cu₂(μ-OOCR)₄(DBE)₂ (R = Bu ^t , Ph, and CF₃). The complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction. The axial positions in the lantern-type dimer are occupied by the coordinated DBE molecules. The complexes seem to be analogs of intermediate catalysts for the oxidation of DBE with atmospheric oxygen in the presence of transition metal complexes. When stored in air, the complex Cu₂(μ-OOCPh)₄(DBE)₂ underwent oxidation into Cu₂(μ-OOCPh)₄(HOOCPh)₂, which was characterized by X-ray diffraction. The geometry of its framework is similar; the structure is stabilized by intramolecular H bonds between the axially oriented benzoic acid molecules and the adjacent bridging benzoate anions.     

Synthesis of zeolite ZSM‐5: Effect of emulsifiers

Zeolite ZSM‐5 has been synthesized in presence of various emulsifiers. Influence of types and proportions of cationic, anionic and non‐ionic emulsifier has been studied. Cationic emulsifier, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide resulted in an amorphous phase, whereas anionic emuisifier, sodium lauryl sulphate afforded crystalline phase, identified as magadiite. Non‐ionic emulsifiers, 1,2,3‐benzotriazole and sorbital mono‐stearate led to the formation of pure crystalline ZSM‐5 phase. Emulsifier concentration was found to affect the process of crystallization, and the crystal size and morphology of ZSM‐5. Emulsifier necessitated higher crystallization temperature and/or longer hydrothermal period. ZSM‐5 crystallization was observed to proceed through magadiite phase formation. In case of benzotriazole, unusual stacked square platelet type morphology and with sorbital monostearate, very small crystals were observed.     

Synthesis and structure of palladium triflates with coordinated 3,5-dimethylpyrazole

We discovered that reacting Pd₃(??-OOCMe)₃ with two moles of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (Hotf) and then with four moles of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (Hdmpz) in acetonitrile and benzene produces, in high yields, [Pd(Hdmpz)₄](otf)₂ and Pd(Hdmpz)₄(HOOCMe)₂(otf)₂, respectively. Reacting PhenPd(OOCMe)₂ with Hotf in MeCN yields PhenPd(NCMe)₂(otf)₂, where labile acetonitrile molecules are substituted by Hdmpz under mild conditions to form PhenPd(Hdmpz)₂(otf)₂. The structures of complexes have been solved on the basis of X-ray crystallography data.     

Formation of the unusual cluster Cu4(μ4-OH)(μ-(CF3)2pz)4(μ-OOCPh)2(μ-OH)2(OH2)(Et3NH)[O(CH2Ph)2]2 in the thermolysis of a copper μ-aqua complex with bridging pyrazolate and acetate ligands in dibenzyl ether in the presence of atmospheric oxygen

A room-temperature reaction of cupric acetate dihydrate with 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole ((CF₃)₂pzH) in chloroform in the presence of triethylamine gave a complex of the formula [Cu₂(??-(CF₃)₂pz)₂(??-OH₂)(OC(Me)OHNEt₃)(OH₂)(HCCl₃)(OOCMe)(??-OOCMe)]₂ (2). Heating of this complex at 180°C in dibenzyl ether (DBE) in air yielded the tetranuclear pyrazolate-benzoate cluster Cu₄(??₄-OH)(??-(CF₃)₂pz)₄(??-OOCPh)₂(??-OH)₂(OH₂)(Et₃NH)[O(CH₂Ph)₂]₂. It was suggested that such complexes can be intermediates in the liquid-phase oxidation of DBE with atmospheric oxygen in the presence of copper complexes containing pyrazolate bridges.