Low‐temperature Extensions of the Virial Equation of State for Solar Modeling

Low‐order density expansions cannot adequately describe recombination reactions. Therefore, the usefulness of an exact quantum virial expansion truncated at the order of ?^5/2 is limited to the deeper interior of the Sun, where the plasma is nearly fully ionized. Here, intermediate steps towards full‐fledged solar modeling are presented. They are (i) a smooth numerical representation of the quantum virial expansion and (ii) the construction of a smooth transition to the low‐temperature regime (below 50,000 K), where the virial expansions breaks down due to H recombination. These technical steps are realized for a simplified H‐only plasma; the extension to He and heavier elements will be dealt with later. Ultimately, the outcome will be that solar observations can be used to test the accuracy of the virial equation of state and to compare it with current more phenomenological formalisms (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Kinetic investigation on carbamate formation from the reaction of carbon dioxide with amino acids in homogeneous aqueous solution

The kinetics of carbamate formation from the reaction of carbon dioxide with α‐amino acids in D₂O was first investigated by means of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Potassium carbonate was used as the CO₂ source. For each amino acid, the maximum carbamate yield, the apparent rate constant for the carbamate formation k_app, and the rate constants for the formation k₁ and the breakdown k_?1 of the carbamate were estimated. Plots of log k₁ or log k_?1 versus pK_a of amino acids indicated that the formation rate k₁ increased with the basicity (pK_a) of amino acid, while the decomposition rate k_?1 decreased. A Br?nsted β value of 0.39 was obtained from the former plot, being in good agreement with the previously reported ones (0.26–0.43). The observed negative pK_a dependence of log k_?1 (Br?nsted α = 0.34) is reasonable, because the carbamate decomposition is acid‐catalyzed and the steady‐state concentration of H⁺ should be higher for weaker basic amines. The charge (σ) and the lone‐pair energy (E_N) at the nitrogen atom of the amino group were calculated. Although log k₁ correlated with σ and E_N, log k_?1 was unrelated with both of these parameters. Considering that the carbamate formation (k₁) is not only base‐catalyzed but should also be promoted by the nucleophilicity of the amino nitrogen, its correlation with σ and E_N in addition to pK_a is rational. The irrelevance of log k_?1 to σ and E_N is not surprising, because σ and E_N are not a direct measure of [H⁺] of the solution. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Riemann and Dirichlet Type Problems for Hyperanalytic Functions in Fractal Domains

In this paper we are interested in finding solvability conditions for Riemann and Dirichlet type boundary value problems with generalized Hölder-continuous boundary data in the case of hyperanalytic functions defined in a domain of the complex plane bounded by an h-summable closed curve.     

Tuning giant magnetoimpedance response of Fe75.5Si13.5B7Nb3Cu1 amorphous ribbon by laser ablation

An easy method of tuning the response of maximum magnetoimpedance (MI) ratio in Fe_75.5Si_13.5B₇Nb₃Cu₁ amorphous ribbons was investigated by laser ablation. In order to obtain different GMI peak positions, the stripes were ablated by laser with different separations on the surface layer of the ribbon. When the stripes were parallel (or perpendicular) to the applied magnetic field, the peak location of maximum MI ratio would drift to larger (or smaller) external field. And the shift was correlated with the spaces between stripes. The applied fields corresponding to the minimum and maximum values of peak location are 13 Oe and 49 Oe at the frequency of 15 MHz, respectively. The phenomenon can be explained by the anisotropy field induced by demagnetizing field after the laser ablation.     

Backward–forward algorithms for structured monotone inclusions in Hilbert spaces

In this paper, we study the backward–forward algorithm as a splitting method to solve structured monotone inclusions, and convex minimization problems in Hilbert spaces. It has a natural link with the forward–backward algorithm and has the same computational complexity, since it involves the same basic blocks, but organized differently. Surprisingly enough, this kind of iteration arises when studying the time discretization of the regularized Newton method for maximally monotone operators. First, we show that these two methods enjoy remarkable involutive relations, which go far beyond the evident inversion of the order in which the forward and backward steps are applied. Next, we establish several convergence properties for both methods, some of which were unknown even for the forward–backward algorithm. This brings further insight into this well-known scheme. Finally, we specialize our results to structured convex minimization problems, the gradient-projection algorithms, and give a numerical illustration of theoretical interest.     

差异化竞争下考虑再制造专利许可的闭环供应链生产决策

针对高端产品和低端产品的差异化竞争,构建高端制造商将再制造专利许可作为外部竞争要素情形的闭环供应链竞合决策模型,研究消费者异质需求下再制造专利许可对闭环供应链生产决策、利润和环境效益的影响。研究结果表明:再制造专利许可是高端制造商的有效产品差异化竞争策略,可提高高端制造商利润,降低低端制造商利润;再制造专利许可策略对环境并不总是有利的,但消费者对再制造品的支付意愿越强,其环境效益越高。     

场致爆炸发射阴极有效发射面积研究

通过改变阴阳极间隙,得到在不同外加电场情况下,场致爆炸发射石墨阴极有效发射面积随时间变化的实验结果。结果表明,在起始的一定时间内,阴极有效发射面积随时间的增加而增大。阴极有效发射面积达到1.0的时间随阴阳极间隙内电场的增加而减小;当二极管阴阳极之间的平均电场约为100 kV/cm时,阴极有效发射面积达到1.0的时间约为20 ns;阴极有效发射面积相对电压波形的延迟时间随电场的变化近似呈指数衰减曲线。     

A thioester substrate binds to the enzyme Arthrobacter thioesterase in two ionization states: evidence from Raman difference spectroscopy

4‐Hydroxybenzoyl‐CoA (4‐HB‐CoA) thioesterase from Arthrobacter is the final enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of 4‐HB‐CoA to produce coenzyme A and 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid in the bacterial 4‐chlorobenzoate dehalogenation pathway. Using a mutation E73A that blocks catalysis, stable complexes of the enzyme and its substrate can be analyzed by Raman difference spectroscopy. Here we have used Raman difference spectroscopy, in the non‐resonance regime, to characterize 4‐HB‐CoA bound in the active site of the E73A thioesterase. In addition, we have characterized complexes of the wild‐type enzyme complexed with the unreactive substrate analog 4‐hydroxyphenacyl‐CoA (4‐HP‐CoA). Both sets of complexes show evidence for two forms of the ligand in the active site: one population has the 4‐hydroxy group protonated, 4‐OH; while the second has the group as the hydroxide, 4‐O⁻. For bound 4‐HP‐CoA, X‐ray data show that glutamate 78 is close to the 4‐OH in the complex and it is likely that this is the proton acceptor for the 4‐OH proton. Although the pK_a of the 4‐OH group on the free substrate in aqueous solution is 8.6, the relative populations of ionized and neutral 4‐HB‐CoA bound to E73A remain invariant between pH 7.3 and 9.8. The invariance with pH suggests that the 4‐OH and the ‐COO⁻ of E78 constitute a tightly coupled pair where their separate pK_a ‘s lose their individual qualities. Narrow band profiles are seen in the CO double bond and C‐S regions, suggesting that the hydrolyzable thioester group is rigidly bound in the active site in a syn gauche conformation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exploring the origin of tip‐enhanced Raman scattering; preparation of efficient TERS probes with high yield

Tip‐enhanced Raman scattering (TERS) spectroscopy is a promising technique for nanoscale chemical analysis. However, there are several challenges preventing widespread application of this technology, including reproducible fabrication of efficient TERS probes. These problems reflect a lack of clear understanding of the origins of, and the parameters influencing TERS. It is believed that the coating characteristics at the apex of the tip have a major effect on the near‐field optical enhancement and thus the TERS activity of a metalized probe. Here we show that the aspect ratio of the tip can play a significant role in the efficiency of TERS probes. We argue that the electrostatic field arising from the lightning‐rod effect has a substantial role in the observed TERS effect. This argument is supported by ‘edge‐enhanced Raman scattering’ which is shown for a noble metal film. Furthermore, it is reported that an associated tip‐surface‐enhanced Raman scattering effect can be achieved by using a TERS‐inactive metalized probe on a surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy‐inactive roughened surface. This observation can be explained by an interparticle enhancement of the electromagnetic field. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Extremal solutions for a nonlinear impulsive differential equations with multi-orders fractional derivatives

In this paper, by employing the lower and upper solutions method, we give an existence theorem for the extremal solutions for a nonlinear impulsive differential equations with multi-orders fractional derivatives and integral boundary conditions. A new comparison result is also established.