Conical Ricci-flat nearly para-Kähler manifolds

In this paper, we classify conical Ricci-flat nearly para-Kähler manifolds having isotropic Nijenhuis tensor. More precisely, we give a bijective correspondence between this class of nearly para-Kähler manifolds and local cones $M_1 \times (a,b)$ over para-Sasaki-Einstein manifolds $(M_1,g_1,T)$ carrying a parallel 3-form with isotropic support. Moreover, we show that the cone over a para-Sasaki-Einstein five-manifold $(M_1,g_1,T)$ admits a family of parallel 3-forms with isotropic support. As an application our result yields first examples of Ricci-flat (non-flat) nearly para-Kähler structures.     

Local Rings of Embedding Codepth 3. Examples

A complete local ring of embedding codepth 3 has a minimal free resolution of length 3 over a regular local ring. Such resolutions carry a differential graded algebra structure, based on which one can classify local rings of embedding codepth 3. We give examples of algebra structures that have been conjectured not to occur.     

Sum factorization of the static condensed Helmholtz equation in a three-dimensional spectral element discretization

We propose a factorization technique for the Helmholtz operator of a static condensed, three-dimensional, cartesian spectral-element discretization, that yields linear complexity in the number of degrees of freedom. We then compare its performance to a reference implementation of the conventional, unfactorized approach. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The role of ion-pairing in peak deformations in overloaded reversed-phase chromatography of peptides

The paper reports a study on the role of ion-pairing behind peak deformations, e.g. peak splitting and even peak disappearance, during the elution of a peptide at highly overloaded conditions in reversed-phase chromatography. Deformation of component peaks is not uncommon in chromatography. There are reports which discuss their occurrence, but mostly at analytical scale, while their occurrence is quite common also in the preparative scale, as in the case discussed in this work. This paper first describes the conditions leading to peak splitting and peak disappearance of an industrial peptide, then explains the plausible reasons behind such behaviour, and finally with experimental analysis demonstrates the role of ion-pairing in causing such behaviour.     

An automated micromethod for the separation of monosaccharides by partition chromatography

Summary The conditions for a separation of monosaccharid.es and their automatic determination on the microscale have been studied. The separation is based upon partition chromatography on an anion-exchange resin in its sulphate form with ethanol -water as the eluent. The eluate is analysed colorimetrically with orcinol as the colour reagent. Microgram quantities in complicated mixtures of monosaccharides can be determined in less than three hours.

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Zusammenfassung Die Arbeitsbedingungen für die Trennung und automatische Bestimmung von Monosacchariden im Mikromaßstab wurden untersucht. Die Trennung wird verteilungschromatographisch an einem Anionenaustauscherharz in Sulfatform mit Äthanol-Wasser als Eluent ausgeführt. Das Eluat wird kolorimetrisch mit Orcin als Farbreagens durchgeführt. In Monosaccharidgemischen lassen sich Mikrogrammengen in weniger als 3 Stunden bestimmen.

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Résumé On a étudié les conditions de séparation des monosaccharides et leur dosage automatique à l'échelle micro. La séparation repose sur la Chromatographie de partage sur une résine échangeuse anionique sous sa forme sulfate, avec le mélange éthanol-eau comme éluant. On analyse par colorimétrie l'éluat avec l'orcinol comme réactif coloré. On peut doser des quantités de l'ordre du microgramme dans des mélanges complexes de monosaccharides en moins de 3 heures.

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The financial support of the Swedish Technical Research Council is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are also due to Dr.H. W. Holy, Teehnicon Instruments Co., Chertsey, Great Britain, for a gift of specially prepared ion-exchange resin.     

Chemically modified cellulose micro- and nanofibrils as paper-strength additives

Chemically modified cellulose micro- and nanofibrils were successfully used as paper strength additives. Three different kinds of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were studied: carboxymethylated CNFs, periodate-oxidised carboxymethylated CNFs and dopamine-grafted carboxymethylated CNFs, all prepared from bleached chemical fibres of dissolving grade, and one microfibrillated cellulose from unbleached kraft fibres. In addition to mechanical characterization of the final paper sheets the fibril retention, sheet density and sheet morphology were also studied as a function of addition of the four different cellulose fibrils. In general, the cellulose fibrils, when used as additives, significantly increased the tensile strength, Young’s modulus and strain-at-break of the paper sheets. The effects of the different fibrils on these properties were compared and evaluated and used to analyse the underlying mechanisms behind the strengthening effect. The strength-enhancing effect was most pronounced for the periodate-oxidised CNFs when they were added together with polyvinyl amine (PVAm) or poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (pDADMAC). The addition of periodate-oxidised CNFs, with pDADMAC as retention aid, resulted in a 37% increase in tensile strength at a 2 wt% addition and an 89% increase at a 15 wt% addition (from 67 to 92 and 125 kNm/kg, respectively) compared to a reference with only pDADMAC. Wet-strong sheets with a wet tensile index of 30 kNm/kg were also obtained when periodate-oxidised CNFs and PVAm were combined. This significant increase in wet strength is suggested to be the result of a formation of cross-links between the aldehyde groups, introduced by the periodate oxidation, and hydroxyl groups on the lignocellulosic fibres and the primary amines of PVAm. Even though less significant, there was also an increase in wet tensile strength when pDADMAC was used together with periodate-oxidised fibrils which shows that the aldehyde groups are able to increase the wet strength without the presence of the primary amines of the PVAm. As an alternative method to strengthen the fibre network, carboxymethylated CNFs grafted with dopamine, by an ethyl dimethylaminopropyl carbodiimide coupling, were used as a strength additive. When used as an additive, these CNFs showed a strong propensity to form films on and around the fibres and significantly increased the mechanical properties of the sheets. Their addition resulted in an increase in the Young´s modulus by 41%, from 5.1 to 7.2 GPa, and an increase in the tensile strength index of 98% (from 53 to 105 kNm/kg) with 5 wt% retained dopamine-grafted CNFs.