On Mincʼs sheltered middle path

This paper shows that a construction, which was introduced by Piotr Minc in connection with a problem that came from Helly type theorems and that allows to replace three PL-arcs with a “sheltered middle path”, can in the case of general (non-PL) paths result in the topologist?s sine curve.     

Two New Daphniphyllum Alkaloids from Daphniphyllum calycinum

Two new daphniphyllum alkaloids named 2‐hydroxyyunnandaphnine D ( 1 ) and methyl 7‐hydroxyhomodaphniphyllate ( 2 ), together with eight known alkaloids, daphnioldhanin D, calyciphylline F, calyciphylline B, deoxycalyciphylline B, daphnicyclidin H, macropodumine C, 9,10‐epoxycalycine A, and yunnandaphnine A, were isolated from the stems and leaves of Daphniphyllum calycinum. Their structures and relative configurations were established on the basis of spectral evidence (including 2D‐NMR) and subsequently confirmed by a single‐crystal X‐ray crystallographic diffraction analysis.     

The Regio- and Stereoselective Synthesis of Rhamnose-Containing Oligosaccharides Via Sugar-Sugar Orthoester Formation and Rearrangement

ABSTRACT

Convenient regio- and stereoselective syntheses of rhamnose-containing oligosaccharides via sugar-sugar orthoester formation and rearrangement are described. 1→3 Linked rhamno di- and trisaccharides were synthesized effectively using unprotected rhamnose residue as the glycosyl acceptor by this methodology.     

Surrogate-based modeling and dimension reduction techniques for multi-scale mechanics problems

Successful modeling and/or design of engineering systems often requires one to address the impact of multiple "design variables" on the prescribed outcome.There are often multiple,competing objectives based on which we assess the outcome of optimization.Since accurate,high fidelity models are typically time consuming and computationally expensive,comprehensive evaluations can be conducted only if an efficient framework is available.Furthermore,informed decisions of the model/hardware’s overall performance rely on an adequate understanding of the global,not local,sensitivity of the individual design variables on the objectives.The surrogate-based approach,which involves approximating the objectives as continuous functions of design variables from limited data,offers a rational framework to reduce the number of important input variables,i.e.,the dimension of a design or modeling space.In this paper,we review the fundamental issues that arise in surrogate-based analysis and optimization,highlighting concepts,methods,techniques,as well as modeling implications for mechanics problems.To aid the discussions of the issues involved,we summarize recent efforts in investigating cryogenic cavitating flows,active flow control based on dielectric barrier discharge concepts,and lithium(Li)-ion batteries.It is also stressed that many multi-scale mechanics problems can naturally benefit from the surrogate approach for "scale bridging."     

Synthesis of fluorinated polybenzoxazoles with low dielectric constants

Two fluorinated aromatic bis(o‐aminophenol)s, 1,1‐bis(3′‐amino‐4′‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1‐(3′‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethane (6FAP) and 1,1‐bis(3′‐amino‐4′‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1‐(3′,5′‐ditrifluoromethylphenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethane (9FAP) were synthesized, which were allowed to polycondense with aromatic diacyl chlorides to afford the fluorinated aromatic polybenzoxazoles (PBOs) via a conventional two‐step procedure in which the low‐temperature solution polycondensation process was first performed to yield poly(o‐hydroxyamide)s (PHAs) followed by the thermal cyclodehydration to give the PBOs. Experimental results indicated that the PHAs had inherent viscosities in the range of 0.29–0.68 dL/g, showing excellent solubility in organic solvents. The PHAs could be thermally cyclodehydrated into the corresponding PBOs at 260–370 °C. The obtained PBOs exhibited enhanced glass‐transition temperature but decreased solubility with respect to the PHAs. The PBOs showed glass‐transition temperatures in the range of 315–337 °C and excellent thermal stabilities with 5% original weight‐loss temperatures (T₅) of >513 °C. Additionally, the PBO films had average refractive index of 1.5298–1.5656, birefringence of 0.0051–0.0092, and low dielectric constants of 2.57–2.70. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Synthesis,Structures, and Properties of Fused Thiophenes for Organic Field‐Effect Transistors

A series of fused thiophenes composed of fused α‐oligothiophene units as building blocks, end‐capped with either styrene or 1‐pentyl‐4‐vinylbenzene groups, has been synthesized through Stille coupling reactions. The compounds have been fully characterized by means of ¹H NMR spectrometry, high‐resolution mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The molecules present a trans–trans configuration between their double bonds, which has been verified and confirmed by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The X‐ray crystal structures showed π–π overlap and sulfur–sulfur interactions between the adjacent molecules. The decomposition temperatures were all found to be above 300 °C, indicating that compounds of this series possess excellent thermal stability. The fact that no phase transition occurs at low temperature indicates that they should be well‐suited for application in devices. Moreover, they possess low HOMO energy levels, based on cyclic voltammetry measurements, and suitable energy gaps, as determined from their thin‐film UV/Vis spectra. Thin‐film X‐ray diffraction analysis and atomic force microscopy revealed high crystallinity on supporting substrates. In addition, as the substrate temperature has a significant influence on the morphology and the degree of crystallinity, the device performance could be optimized by varying the substrate temperature. These materials were found to exhibit optimal field‐effect performance, with a mobility of 0.17 cm² V^?1 s^?1 and an on/off ratio of 10⁵, at a substrate temperature of 70 °C.     

Pattern discrimination and firing behavior of cold receptor model aided with noise

A method for characterizing and identifying firing patterns of neural spike trains is presented. Three characteristic variables defined at sequential moments, including two formal derivatives and the integration of the counting process, are introduced to reflect the temporal patterns of a spike train. This paper also examines how noise interacts with encoding mechanisms of neuronal stimulus in a cold receptor. From ISI series and bifurcation diagrams it is shown that there are considerable differences in interval distributions and impulse patterns caused by purely deterministic simulations and noisy simulations. The ISI-distance can be used as an effective and powerful way to measure the noise effects on spike trains quantitatively. It is found that spike trains observed in cold receptors can be more strongly affected by noise for low temperatures than for high temperatures in some aspects; meanwhile, spike train has greater variability with the noise intensity increasing.     

Crystal Structure of Bis -(2,2′-bipyridine-N,N′)-(dicyanamide-N)-copper(II) Tricyanomethanide. Electronic and Structural Parameters Describing the Shape of Coordination Polyhedra in Five-Coordinated Copper(II) Compounds

 The structure of the new compound [Cu(bpy)₂N(CN)₂]C(CN)₃ (6) is compared with thestructures of six copper(II) coordination compounds with phenanthroline or bipyridine ligands and N-donor pseudohalide anions: [Cu(phen)₂NCS]C(CN)₃ (1), [Cu(bpy)₂NCS]C(CN)₃ (2), [Cu(phen)₂NCS]ONC(CN)₂ (3), [Cu(phen)₂N(CN)₂]C(CN)₃ (4), [Cu(bpy)₂C(CN)₃]C(CN)₃ (5), and [Cu(bpy)₂NCO]C(CN)₃ (7). The Cu(II) atoms in all above compounds are five-coordinated with an N-donor atom of the pseudohalide anion located in the equatorial plane of a deformed trigonal bipyramid. The shape of the coordination polyhedra and the degree of trigonal bipyramidal distortion towards a tetragonal pyramid are discussed and described using one electronic and several structural criteria which are discussed and compared.