On the ample vector bundles over curves in positive characteristic

Let E be an ample vector bundle over a smooth projective curve defined over an algebraically closed field of positive characteristic. We construct a family of curves in the total space of E, parametrized by an affine space, that surjects onto the total space of E and give a deformation of (nonreduced) zero section of E. To cite this article: I. Biswas, A.J. Parameswaran, C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 339 (2004).     

Assessment of surface relief and short cracks under cyclic creep in a type 316LN austenitic stainless steel

Formation of surface relief and short cracks under cyclic creep (stress-controlled fatigue) in type 316LN stainless steel was studied at temperatures ranging from ambient to 923 K using scanning electron microscopy technique. The surface topography and crack distribution behaviour under cyclic creep were found to be strong functions of testing temperature due to the difference in strain accumulation. At 823 K, surface relief mainly consisted of fine slip markings due to negligible accumulation of strain as a consequence of dynamic strain ageing (DSA) which led to an increase in the cyclic life. Persistent slip markings (PSM) with distinct extrusions containing minute cracks were seen to prevail in the temperature range 873–923 K, indicating a higher slip activity causing higher strain accumulation in the absence of DSA. Besides, a large number of secondary cracks (both transgranular and intergranular) which were partially accentuated by severe oxidation, were observed. Extensive cavitation-induced grain boundary cracking took place at 923 K, which coalesced with PSM-induced transgranular cracks resulting in failure dominated by creep that in turn led to a drastic reduction in cyclic life. Investigations on the influence of stress rate were also carried out which underlined the presence of DSA at 823 K. At 923 K, lowering the stress rate caused further strengthening of the contribution from creep damage marked by a shift in the damage mechanism from cyclic slip to diffusion.     

Stabilization of a Two‐Coordinate Mononuclear Cobalt(0) Compound

Compound (Me₂‐cAAC:)₂Co⁰ ( 2 ; Me₂‐cAAC:=cyclic (alkyl) amino carbene; :C(CH₂)(CMe₂)₂N‐2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃) was synthesized by the reduction of the precursor (Me₂‐cAAC:)₂Co^ICl ( 1 ) with KC₈ in THF. The cyclic voltammogram of 1 exhibited one‐electron reduction, which suggests that synthesis of a bent 2‐metallaallene ( 2 ) from 1 should be possible. Compound 2 contains one cobalt atom in the formal oxidation state zero, which is stabilized by two Me₂‐cAAC: ligands. Bond lengths from X‐ray diffraction are 1.871(2) and 1.877(2) Å with a C‐Co‐C bond angle of 170.12(8)°. The EPR spectrum of 2 exhibited a broad resonance attributed to the unique quasi‐linear structure, which favors near degeneracy and gives rise to very rapid relaxation conditions. The cAAC?Co bond in 2 can be considered as a typical Dewar–Chatt–Duncanson type of bonding, which in turn retains 2.5 electron pairs on the Co atom as nonbonding electrons.     

Preparation of Silver Nanoparticles Incorporated Electrospun Polyurethane Nano-fibrous Mat for Wound Dressing

Polyurethane foam is currently used as an exudate absorptive wound dressing material. In this study silver (Ag) nanoparticles were incorporated into electrospun polyurethane (PU) nanofiber to enhance the antibacterial as well as wound healing properties. The electrospinning parameters were optimized for PU with and without silver nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by aqueous and organic methods. The water absorption, antibacterial and cytocompatibility of the PU-Ag nanofibers were studied and compared to that of conventional PU foam. The results indicated that the PU-Ag nanofibers could be used for wound dressing applications.     

A unified econophysics explanation for the power-law exponents of stock market activity

We survey a theory (first sketched in Nature in 2003, then fleshed out in the Quarterly Journal of Economics in 2006) of the economic underpinnings of the fat-tailed distributions of a number of financial variables, such as returns and trading volume. Our theory posits that they have a common origin in the strategic trading behavior of very large financial institutions in a relatively illiquid market. We show how the fat-tailed distribution of fund sizes can indeed generate extreme returns and volumes, even in the absence of fundamental news. Moreover, we are able to replicate the individually different empirical values of the power-law exponents for each distribution: 3 for returns, 3/2 for volumes, 1 for the assets under management of large investors. Large investors moderate their trades to reduce their price impact; coupled with a concave price impact function, this leads to volumes being more fat-tailed than returns but less fat-tailed than fund sizes. The trades of large institutions also offer a unified explanation for apparently disconnected empirical regularities that are otherwise a challenge for economic theory.     

Electronic concentration of negatively-charged molecules on a microfabricated biochip

Various conditions leading to successful electronic concentration of negatively-charged molecules, notably oligonucleotides, on a microfabricated biochip have been studied. Tests on two chip designs have been performed. In the first generation biochip, which consisted of 12 electrodes 5 mm apart, fluorescent molecules were attracted to a positively-biased electrode leading to electronic concentration. In the second generation biochip, which consisted of eight electrodes 250 μm apart, much faster concentration rates were observed due to reduction in electrode spacing. These results are significant to design a pathogen detection biochip based on DNA hybridization assisted by electronic concentration.     

A μL-scale micromachined microbial fuel cell having high power density

We report a MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems)-based microbial fuel cell (MFC) that produces a high power density. The MFC features 4.5-μL anode/cathode chambers defined by 20-μm-thick photo-definable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films. The MFC uses a Geobacter-enriched mixed bacterial culture, anode-respiring bacteria (ARB) that produces a conductive biofilm matrix. The MEMS MFC generated a maximum current density of 16,000 μA cm(-3) (33 μA cm(-2)) and power density of 2300 μW cm(-3) (4.7 μW cm(-2)), both of which are substantially greater than achieved by previous MEMS MFCs. The coulombic efficiency of the MEMS MFC was at least 31%, by far the highest value among reported MEMS MFCs. The performance improvements came from using highly efficient ARB, minimizing the impact of oxygen intrusion to the anode chamber, having a large specific surface area that led to low internal resistance.     

Calamenenes--aromatic bicyclic sesquiterpenes--from the Indian gorgonian Subergorgia reticulata (Ellis and Solander, 1786)

Three aromatic sesquiterpene derivatives, (+)-(7R, 10S)-2-methoxy calamenene (1), (+)-(7R, 10S)-2,5-dimethoxy calamenene (2) and (+)-(7R, 10S)-2-methoxy-5-acetoxy calamenene (3) were isolated from the methanol extract of the Indian gorgonian Subergorgia reticulata. Compound 2 has not been previously described in the literature. Compound 3 has not been isolated previously from a natural source. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 showed settlement inhibition activity against cyprids of Balanus amphitrite with EC(50) values of 4.4, 7.8 and 0.03 μg mL(-1), respectively. These compounds also exhibited considerable activity against Artemia nauplii at 50 μg mL(-1), indicative of their potential use as cytotoxic agents.     

Palladium catalyzed 1,8-conjugate addition to heptafulvene via bis-π-allyl palladium complexes

The palladium catalyzed 1,8-conjugate addition of heptafulvene, an antiaromatic conjugated 8π-electron system, is discussed. The method is utilized for the concise synthesis of bis-functionalized cycloheptatriene (CHT) derivatives. This is the first report on the palladium catalyzed bisfunctionalization of a cyclic cross conjugated system.