Supersymmetric 3D anti-de Sitter space solutions of type IIB supergravity

For every positively curved K?hler-Einstein manifold in four dimensions, we construct an infinite family of supersymmetric solutions of type IIB supergravity. The solutions are warped products of AdS3 with a compact seven-dimensional manifold and have nonvanishing five-form flux. Via the anti-de Sitter/conformal field theory correspondence, the solutions are dual to two-dimensional conformal field theories with (0,2) supersymmetry. The corresponding central charges are rational numbers.     

Microbial Baeyer-Villiger oxidation: stereopreference and substrate acceptance of cyclohexanone monooxygenase mutants prepared by directed evolution

[reaction: see text] An array of random mutants of cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO) from Acinetobacter sp. NCIMB 9871 was screened against a library of structurally diverse ketones for modifications in the substrate acceptance profile and stereopreference of the enzymatic Baeyer-Villiger biooxidation. While the set of mutant biocatalysts was initially evolved for the enantiocomplementary oxidation of 4-hydroxycyclohexanone, improved and/or divergent stereoselectivities were observed for several substrates. In addition, expanded substrate acceptance to facilitate biotransformation of sterically demanding ketones was found.     

Implementation of a cohesive zone model for the investigation of the dynamic behavior of a rotating shaft with a transverse crack

The influence of a transverse crack on the vibration of a rotating shaft has been at the focus of attention of many researchers. The knowledge of the dynamic behavior of cracked shaft has helped in predicting the presence of a crack in a rotor. Here, the changing stiffness of the cracked shaft is investigated based on a cohesive zone model. This model is developed for mode-I plane strain and accounts for triaxiality of the stress state explicitly by using basic elastic-plastic constitutive relations. Then, the proposed numerical solution is compared to the switching crack model, which is based on linear elastic fracture mechanics. The cohesive zone model is implemented in finite element techniques to predict and to analyse the dynamic behavior of cracked rotor system. Timoshenko beam theory is used to model the discrete shaft under the effect of gravity, unbalance force and gyroscopic effect. The analysis includes the cohesive function for describing the breathing crack and the reduction of the second moment of area of the element at the location of the crack. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Eliciting and Developing Teachers' Conceptions of Random Processes in a Probability and Statistics Course

The purpose of this study is to examine prospective mathematics specialists' engagement in an instructional sequence designed to elicit and develop their understandings of random processes. The study was conducted with two different sections of a probability and statistics course for K-8 teachers. Thirty-two teachers participated. Video analyses within a collaborative course design were used to support a teaching experiment about teachers' conceptions of random processes. In particular, teachers were asked whether the outcomes of Rock-Paper-Scissors (RPS) are generated randomly or not, were presented with a definition for random selection, and were asked to come to a conclusion about RPS. Teachers struggled to reconcile the equality of winning outcomes for each player with the potential for human interference in the process of generating outcomes. Ultimately, teachers concluded the outcomes were not generated randomly, but encountered a variety of unexpected obstacles along the way.     

N‐Alkyl Ammonium Resorcinarene Salts as High‐Affinity Tetravalent Chloride Receptors

N‐Alkyl ammonium resorcinarene salts (NARYs, Y=triflate, picrate, nitrate, trifluoroacetates and NARBr) as tetravalent receptors, are shown to have a strong affinity for chlorides. The high affinity for chlorides was confirmed from a multitude of exchange experiments in solution (NMR and UV/Vis), gas phase (mass spectrometry), and solid‐state (X‐ray crystallography). A new tetra‐iodide resorcinarene salt (NARI) was isolated and fully characterized from exchange experiments in the solid‐state. Competition experiments with a known monovalent bis‐urea receptor ( 5 ) with strong affinity for chloride, reveals these receptors to have a much higher affinity for the first two chlorides, a similar affinity as 5 for the third chloride, and lower affinity for the fourth chloride. The receptors affinity toward chloride follows the trend K₁?K₂?K₃≈ 5 >K₄, with K_a=5011 m ^?1 for 5 in 9:1 CDCl₃/[D₆]DMSO.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Carboxylation of Benzylic C−N Bonds with CO2

A user‐friendly Ni‐catalyzed reductive carboxylation of benzylic C?N bonds with CO₂ is described. This procedure outperforms state‐of‐the‐art techniques for the carboxylation of benzyl electrophiles by avoiding commonly observed parasitic pathways, such as homodimerization or β‐hydride elimination, thus leading to new knowledge in cross‐electrophile reactions.     

Assessing the Impact of a Statewide STEM Investment on K–12, Higher Education,and Business/Community STEM Awareness Over Time

Despite monetary and educational investments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) being at record high levels, little attention has been devoted to generating a common understanding of STEM. In addition, working with business, K–12 schools, and/or institutions of higher education to establish a grassroots effort to help community members understand the importance of STEM regarding the future prosperity of the United States in general, and specifically the preparedness of children for careers of now and the future, has been nonexistent. The purpose of our study is to assess the impact of a statewide STEM professional development program implemented for two years on STEM awareness over time among various community stakeholders (i.e., K–12 teachers, higher education faculty, and business members). STEM awareness and beliefs about STEM engagement, resources, student preparation, and careers all improved over time for all groups. However, business members had the greatest growth over time and held significantly higher awareness compared with the other groups in most areas. Our findings suggest that a statewide STEM partnership/network model is a viable option for growing collective impact and sustainability of STEM K–12 education.     

The Astounding Chemistry of a 2‐Amino‐1,2‐dihydroisoquinoline Derivative

The cycloadducts of isoquinolinium N‐phenyl imide 2 with C=C bonds are derivatives of 2‐amino‐1,2‐dihydroisoquinoline. Their N^β‐vinylphenylhydrazine system is amenable to an acid‐catalyzed [3,3]‐sigmatropic shift; the formation of pentacyclic aminals is exemplified by 6 → 8 . The dimethyl maleate adduct 11 , C₂₁H₂₀N₂O₄, is exceptional by being converted on treatment with acid to bright‐yellow crystals, C₂₄H₂₂N₂O₆ (additional C₃H₂O₂). X‐Ray crystal‐structure analysis and NMR spectra reveal structure 13 , and mechanistic studies indicated an initial β‐elimination at the N−N bond of 11 to yield 18 ; this step is followed by a retro‐Mannich‐type cleavage that gives methyl isoquinoline‐1‐acetate ( 14 ) and methyl 2‐(phenylimino)acetate ( 15 ), according to the sequence C₂₁H₂₀N₂O₄ ( 11 )→ 18 →C₁₂H₁₁NO₂ ( 14 )+C₉H₉NO₂ ( 15 ). In the second act of the drama, electrophilic attack by 15 ‐H⁺ on the ene‐hydrazine group of a second molecule of 11 furnishes 13 by a polystep intramolecular redox reaction. All rate constants must be fine‐tuned in this reaction cascade to give 13 in yields of up to 78% with an overall stoichiometry: 2 C₂₁H₂₀N₂O₄ ( 11 )→C₂₄H₂₂N₂O₆ ( 13 )+C₁₂H₁₁NO₂ ( 14 )+aniline. Interception and model experiments confirmed the above pathway. A by‐product, C₃₃H₃₁N₃O₆ ( 62 ), arises from an acid‐catalyzed dimerization of 11 and subsequent elimination of 15 .