A Compact Representation for Modular Semilattices and Its Applications

Order - A modular semilattice is a semilattice generalization of a modular lattice. We establish a Birkhoff-type representation theorem for modular semilattices, which says that every modular...     

Phonon modes in mass-defect disordered alloy NiPt

The phonon dispersion relations of 00σT branch were measured for Ni₉₅Pt₅ and Ni₇₀Pt₃₀. The dispersion curves breaks up into two branches. Th general shape and its concentration dependence can be explained qualitatively by Taylor's coherent potential approximation theory.     

Thermal phase transition of RbMnFe(CN)6 observed by X-ray emission and absorption spectroscopy

The thermal phase transition of RbMnFe(CN)₆ has been observed by Mn and Fe 3p-1s X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) and 1s X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The thermal variations of the spin states and the valences of Mn and Fe were determined to be Mn²⁺(S=5/2)-NC-Fe³⁺(S=1/2) for the high-temperature (HT) phase and Mn³⁺(S=2)-NC-Fe²⁺(S=0) for the low-temperature (LT) phase. These transitions are thus caused by charge transfer between Mn and Fe. The temperature dependences of Mn and Fe 3p-1s XES and 1s XAS were observed as the composition of the spectra of the HT and LT phases. The ratios of the HT component in each spectrum show good agreement with the thermal transition curves observed with magnetic susceptibility measurements.     

Mathematical background for a method on quotient signal decomposition

The blind source separation problem is discussed in this article. Focusing on the assumption of independency of the sources in the time-frequency domain, we present a mathematical formulation for the estimation problem of the number of sources. The proposed method uses the quotient of complex valued time-frequency information of only two observed signals to detect the number of sources. No fewer number of observed signals than the detected number of sources is needed to separate sources. The assumption on sources is quite general independence in the time-frequency plane, which is different from that of independent component analysis. We propose algorithms with feedback and give numerical simulations to show the method works well even for noisy case.     

Tree metrics and edge-disjoint S-paths

Given an undirected graph \(G=(V,E)\) with a terminal set \(S \subseteq V\) , a weight function on terminal pairs, and an edge-cost \(a: E \rightarrow \mathbf{Z}_+\) , the \(\mu \) -weighted minimum-cost edge-disjoint \(S\) -paths problem ( \(\mu \) -CEDP) is to maximize \(\sum \nolimits _{P \in \mathcal{P}} \mu (s_P,t_P) - a(P)\) over all edge-disjoint sets \(\mathcal{P}\) of \(S\) -paths, where \(s_P,t_P\) denote the ends of \(P\) and \(a(P)\) is the sum of edge-cost \(a(e)\) over edges \(e\) in \(P\) . Our main result is a complete characterization of terminal weights \(\mu \) for which \(\mu \) -CEDP is tractable and admits a combinatorial min–max theorem. We prove that if \(\mu \) is a tree metric, then \(\mu \) -CEDP is solvable in polynomial time and has a combinatorial min–max formula, which extends Mader’s edge-disjoint \(S\) -paths theorem and its minimum-cost generalization by Karzanov. Our min–max theorem includes the dual half-integrality, which was earlier conjectured by Karzanov for a special case. We also prove that \(\mu \) -EDP, which is \(\mu \) -CEDP with \(a = 0\) , is NP-hard if \(\mu \) is not a truncated tree metric, where a truncated tree metric is a weight function represented as pairwise distances between balls in a tree. On the other hand, \(\mu \) -CEDP for a truncated tree metric \(\mu \) reduces to \(\mu '\) -CEDP for a tree metric \(\mu '\) . Thus our result is best possible unless P = NP. As an application, we obtain a good approximation algorithm for \(\mu \) -EDP with “near” tree metric \(\mu \) by utilizing results from the theory of low-distortion embedding.     

Comparative investigation of the cleavage step in the synthesis of model peptide resins: implications for Nalpha-9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl-solid phase peptide synthesis

Based on our studies of the stability of model peptide-resin linkage in acid media, we previously proposed a rule for resin selection and a final cleavage protocol applicable to the Nalpha-tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc)-peptide synthesis strategy. We found that incorrect choices resulted in decreases in the final synthesis yield, which is highly dependent on the peptide sequence, of as high as 30%. The present paper continues along this line of research but examines the Nalpha-9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-synthesis strategy. The vasoactive peptide angiotensin II (AII, DRVYIHPF) and its [Gly8]-AII analogue were selected as model peptide resins. Variations in parameters such as the type of spacer group (linker) between the peptide backbone and the resin, as well as in the final acid cleavage protocol, were evaluated. The same methodology employed for the Boc strategy was used in order to establish rules for selection of the most appropriate linker-resin conjugate or of the peptide cleavage method, depending on the sequence to be assembled. The results obtained after treatment with four cleavage solutions and with four types of linker groups indicate that, irrespective of the circumstance, it is not possible to achieve complete removal of the peptide chains from the resin. Moreover, the Phe-attaching peptide at the C-terminal yielded far less cleavage (50-60%) than that observed with the Gly-bearing sequences at the same position (70-90%). Lastly, the fastest cleavage occurred with reagent K acid treatment and when the peptide was attached to the Wang resin.     

Effects of metal cation coordination on fluorescence properties of a diethylenetriamine bearing two end pyrene fragments

Fluorescence properties of a diethylenetriamine bearing two end pyrene fragments (L) have been studied in water, where effects of adding metal cations (Zn2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Ag+) on the emission properties of L have been studied. Without metal cations, L shows dual-mode fluorescence consisting of monomer and excimer emissions. The monomer emission intensity (I(M)) is strong at acidic pH but decreases with a pH increase because of an electron transfer (ET) from the unprotonated nitrogen atoms to the excited pyrene fragment. The excimer emission is due to the static excimer formed via a direct photoexcitation of the intramolecular ground-state dimer (GSD) of the end pyrene fragments. The excimer emission intensity (I(E)) is weak at acidic pH but increases with a pH increase because of the GSD stability increase associated with the deprotonation of the polyamine chain. Addition of metal cations leads to I(M) decrease, where chelation-driven I(M) enhancement does not occur even with diamagnetic Zn2+ and Cd2+ at any pH. This is because a pyrene-metal cation pi-complex, formed via a donation of pi-electron of the pyrene fragment to the adjacent metal center, suppresses the monomer photoexcitation. I(E) also decreases upon addition of metal cations because the pyrene-metal cation pi-complex weakens pi-stacking interaction of the end pyrene fragments, leading to GSD stability decrease. The emission properties of L-Zn2+ complexes were studied by means of time-resolved fluorescence decay measurements, and the effects of adding a less-polar organic solvent were also studied to clarify the detailed emission properties.     

Synthetic studies on carbapenem antibiotics from penicillins. IV. Stereoselective kinetic protonation of a chiral azetidinone enolate

A stereoselective kinetic protonation of the azetidinone enolate $\text{B}$ was studied and an efficient synthesis of$\text{2}$(cis) was achieved via aldol reaction of $\text{5}$ with acetone followed by the kinetic protonation with Ph₃SnH as proton source.     

19F NMR characterization of the thermodynamics and dynamics of the acid-alkaline transition in a reconstituted sperm whale metmyoglobin

A 19F NMR study on the acid-alkaline transition in sperm whale myoglobin reconstituted with a perfluoromethyl heme, 13,17-bis(2-carboxylatoethyl)-3,8-diethyl-2,12,18-trimethyl-7-trifluoromethylporphyrinatoiron(III), demonstrated that the thermodynamics of the transition is predominantly controlled by the stability of acidic form.