Generalizing the notion of Koszul algebra

We introduce a generalization of the notion of a Koszul algebra, which includes graded algebras with relations in different degrees, and we establish some of the basic properties of these algebras. This class is closed under twists, twisted tensor products, regular central extensions and Ore extensions. We explore the monomial algebras in this class and we include some well-known examples of algebras that fall into this class.     

Dissipative quantum-creep studies in single-crystal La2CuO4+δ

Temperature-dependent magnetic relaxation was studied in a La₂CuO_4+δ crystal in the low-temperature range 2–10 K. The experimental data exhibited a non-vanishing magnetic relaxation in the low-temperature limit. These data could be well interpreted by a quantum-creep theory, suggesting the non-vanishing relaxation at low temperatures due to quantum tunneling of vortices. The effective Euclidean action determined as /|d ln M/d ln t| showed a quadratic temperature dependence. The quantitative analysis of the effective Euclidean action yields a classical activation energy, crossover temperature and zero-temperature quantum-tunneling rate.     

Pressure dependence of the superconducting transition temperature of T5T9 metallic glasses (T5Nb,Ta; T9Rh,Ir)

The pressure dependence of the superconducting transition temperature, T_c, is determined for eight metallic glasses in the series (Nb_1?xTa_x)₅₅T₄₅, where T Rh, Ir. From these data we estimate the Grüneisen parameter, γ_G, and the volume dependence of the electron-phonon coupling constant, λ. Pressure is observed to affect T_c through both γ_G and λ.     

Announcement

The thermal decomposition of biguanide, the biguanidinium chlorides, sulphates and carbonate have been studied. Biguanide decomposes in definite steps, producing an almost quantitative yield of ammonia leaving initially a solid residue, melamine, which then sublimes unchanged at higher temperatures. The biguanidinium chlorides and sulphates are thermally more stable than the parent base and do not decompose in well-defined steps, whereas the carbonate is thermally less stable than the parent base but does decompose in definite steps. In addition, the fragmentation of biguanide and biguanidinium carbonate in a mass spectrometer is reported.     

Imaging high-frequency periodic motion in the mouse ear with coherently interleaved optical coherence tomography

Vibratory measurements of the structures of the ear are key to understanding much of the pathology in mouse models of hearing loss. Unfortunately the high-speed sampling required to interrogate the high end of the mouse hearing spectrum is beyond the reach of most optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems. To address this issue, we have developed an algorithm that enables phase-sensitive OCT measurements over the full range of the mouse hearing spectrum (4-90 kHz). The algorithm phase-locks the line-trigger to the acoustic stimulation and then uses interleaved sampling to reconstruct the signal with higher temporal sampling. The algorithm was evaluated by measuring the vibratory response of mouse tympanic membrane to a pure tone stimulus.     

Hydrogenation of alkynes with a palladium anchored polystyrene catalyst

Treating chloromethylated polystyrene beads with anthranilic acid and then palladium chloride gives a material capable of catalyzing the cis-hydrogenation of alkynes. Hydrogenation of phenylacetylene (10mmol) with 0.017 g-atom (based on Pd) of catalyst at room temperature and 30 psig for 7.3 h resulted in 82 % styrene and 14% ethylbenzene. Methylphenylacetylene was converted to cis-1-phenylpropene (60%) and n-propylbenzene (17 %). Several other alkynes were also converted to cis alkenes. The catalyst is less selective than the Lindlar catalyst, but is air stable and stores well.     

Separation of peptides by high-pressure liquid chromatography for the identification of a hemoglobin variant

High-pressure liquid chromatography on a reversed-phase column has been used to separate the tryptic peptides of a human hemoglobin variant which was then identified as hemoglobin E.     

An Empirical Investigation of the Adaptive-Filtering Learning Factor

Acceptance of the adaptive-filtering parameter-estimation process has been mixed. Much of the variability between studies may result from the particular learning factor selected and may be further affected by the type of standardization used. The author presents a modification of the Makridakis and Wheelwright adaptive-filtering algorithm. This modified algorithm provides superior performance and simplifies the selection of the learning factor when used with simple autoregressive processes.     

Excited state dynamics of a PtII diimine complex bearing a naphthalene-diimide electron acceptor

A combination of picosecond time-resolved infrared spectroscopy, picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, and nanosecond flash photolysis was used to elucidate the nature and dynamics of a manifold of the lowest excited states in Pt(phen-NDI)Cl 2 ( 1), where NDI = strongly electron accepting 1,4,5,8-naphthalene-diimide group. 1 is the first example of a Pt (II)-diimine-diimide dyad. UV/vis/IR spectroelectrochemistry and EPR studies of electrochemically generated anions confirmed that the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) in this system is localized on the NDI acceptor group. The lowest allowed electronic transition in Pt(phen-NDI)Cl 2 is charge-transfer-to-diimine of a largely Pt-->phen metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) character. Excitation of 1 in the 355-395 nm range initiates a series of processes which involve excited states with the lifetimes of 0.9 ps ( (1)NDI*), 3 ps ( (3)MLCT), 19 ps (vibrational cooling of "hot" (3)NDI and of "hot" NDI ground state), and 520 mus ( (3)NDI). Excitation of 1 with 395 nm femtosecond laser pulses populates independently the (1)MLCT and the (1)NDI* excited states. A thermodynamically possible decay of the initially populated (1)MLCT to the charge-transfer-to-NDI excited state, [Pt (III)(phen-NDI (-*))Cl 2], is not observed. This finding could be explained by an ultrafast ISC of the (1)MLCT to the (3)MLCT state which lies about 0.4 eV lower in energy than [Pt (III)(phen-NDI (-*))Cl 2]. The predominant decay pathway of the (3)MLCT is a back electron transfer process with approximately 3 ps lifetime, which also causes partial population of the vibrationally hot ground state of the NDI fragment. The decay of the (1)NDI* state in 1 populates vibrationally hot ground state of the NDI, as well as vibrationally hot (3)NDI. The latter relaxes to form (3)NDI state, that is, [Pt(phen- (3)NDI)Cl 2]*, which possesses a remarkably long lifetime for a Pt (II) complex in fluid solution of 520 mus. The IR signature of this excited state includes the nu(CO) bands at 1607 and 1647 cm (-1), which are shifted considerably to lower energies if compared to their ground-state counterparts. The assignment of the vibrational bands is supported by the density-functional theory calculations in CH 2Cl 2. Pt(phen-NDI)Cl 2 acts as a modest photosensitizer of singlet oxygen.     

Role of p-d hybridization in the Tc-variation of Y(Rh1−xRux)4B4 superconductors

Auger and photoemission studies for Y(Rh_1?xRu_x)₄B₄ superconductors elucidate the mechanism for the abrupt drop in T_c near x=0.5. The B $\text{p}$-states admix more strongly with Ru than Rh $\text{d}$-states, thereby yielding low-T_c values for Ru-rich compounds due to broadening of the $\text{d}$-band feutures. These effects underlie a previous suggestion that the preservation of Rh₄ tetrahedral units is essential for high-T_c values in ternary boride compounds.