Electron Spin Resonance study of gamma irradiated MA-AMPS copolymer

Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectra of gamma irradiated methylacrylamide-2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propanesulphonic acid (MA-AMPS) are recorded to identify the radical species formed during the irradiation of the copolymer. The ESR spectrum observed for irradiated MA-AMPS copolymer at liquid nitrogen temperature (LNT) (77 r K) is an asymmetric triplet; while the spectrum observed at room temperature (RT) is a quintet. The intensity distribution of both the spectra deviated appreciably from the expected theoretical values. Computer simulations are employed to analyze the ESR spectra observed at different temperatures. The triplet spectrum observed at LNT is simulated to be a superposition of component spectra arising from macroradicals of the type～CH 2 - \dot {\rm C} H-CH 2 ～ (I), radicals of the type \dot {\rm C} H 2 SO 3 H (II), and peroxy radicals (III). In contrast, the RT spectrum is simulated to be a superposition of component spectra arising due to radicals I, II, III together with the component quartet assigned to methyl radicals ( \dot {\rm C} H 3 ). The formation of such free radicals in irradiated copolymer is discussed.     

The generalized linear complementarity problem revisited

Given a vertical block matrixA, we consider in this paper the generalized linear complementarity problem VLCP(q, A) introduced by Cottle and Dantzig. We formulate this problem as a linear complementarity problem with a square matrixM, a formulation which is different from a similar formulation given earlier by Lemke. Our formulation helps in extending many well-known results in linear complementarity to the generalized linear complementarity problem. We also show that the class of vertical block matrices which Cottle and Dantzig's algorithm can process is the same as the class of equivalent square matrices which Lemke's algorithm can process. We also present some degree-theoretic results on a vertical block matrix.     

Artifacts in T(1rho)-weighted imaging: correction with a self-compensating spin-locking pulse

Significant artifacts arise in T(1rho)-weighted imaging when nutation angles suffer small deviations from their expected values. These artifacts vary with spin-locking time and amplitude, severely limiting attempts to perform quantitative imaging or measurement of T(1rho) relaxation times. A theoretical model explaining the origin of these artifacts is presented in the context of a T(1rho)-prepared fast spin-echo imaging sequence. Experimentally obtained artifacts are compared to those predicted by theory and related to B(1) inhomogeneity. Finally, a "self-compensating" spin-locking preparatory pulse cluster is presented, in which the second half of the spin-locking pulse is phase-shifted by 180 degrees. Use of this pulse sequence maintains relatively uniform signal intensity despite large variations in flip angle, greatly reducing artifacts in T(1rho)-weighted imaging.     

An unusual synthesis of 3-(2-(arylamino)thiazol-4-yl)-2H-chromen-2-ones from ethyl 2-(chloromethyl)-2-hydroxy-2H-chromene-3-carboxylate via benzopyran ring opening

An unusual and unexpected synthesis of 3-(2-(arylamino)thiazol-4-yl)-2H-chromen-2-ones has been observed by the reaction of ethyl 2-(chloromethyl)-2-hydroxy-2H-chromene-3-carboxylate with various arylthioureas in ethanol under mild reaction conditions with excellent yields. The ambiguity in the structure of the obtained products has been solved by recording its single-crystal X-ray analysis. This protocol has been found to be a novel approach for the preparation of title compounds via benzopyran ring opening. A systematic plausible mechanism has been proposed for the formation of the product. Also, an efficient one-pot three-component method has been demonstrated for the formation of title compounds starting from salicylaldehyde.

     

Chemo-enzymatic synthesis and biological evaluation of photolabile nicotinic acid adenine dinuclotide phosphate (NAADP+)

A chemo-enzymatic synthesis of novel caged NAADP+ without the formation of multiple cage compounds has been achieved. The biological activity of the caged NAADP+ was demonstrated by its fast uncaging in intact sea-urchin eggs.     

Mass spring lattice modeling of the scanning laser source technique

The scanning laser source (SLS) technique is a promising new laser ultrasonic tool for the detection of small surface-breaking defects. The SLS approach is based on monitoring the changes in laser generated ultrasound as a laser source is scanned over a defect. Changes in amplitude and frequency content have been observed for ultrasound generated by the laser over uniform and defective areas. In this paper, the SLS technique is simulated numerically using the mass spring lattice model. Thermoelastic laser generation of ultrasound in an elastic material is modeled using a shear dipole distribution. The spatial and temporal energy distribution profiles of typical pulsed laser sources are used to model the laser source. The amplitude and spectral variations in the laser generated ultrasound as the SLS scans over a large aluminum block containing a small surface-breaking crack are observed. The experimentally observed SLS amplitude and spectral signatures are shown to be captured very well by the model. In addition, the possibility of utilizing the SLS technique to size surface-breaking cracks that are sub-wavelength in depth is explored.     

Physics beyond the standard model and cosmological connections: A summary from LCWS06

The international linear collider (ILC) is likely to provide us important insights into physics sector that may supersede our current paradigm, viz., the standard model. In anticipation of the possibility that the ILC may come up in the middle of the next decade, several groups are vigourously investigating its potential to explore this new sector of physics. The Linear Collider Workshop in Bangalore (LCWS06) had several presentations of such studies which looked at supersymmetry, extra dimensions and other exotic possibilities which the ILC may help us discover or understand. Some papers also looked at the understanding of cosmology that may emerge from studies at the ILC. This paper summarises these presentations.      

Non-neural BOLD variability in block and event-related paradigms

Block and event-related stimulus designs are typically used in fMRI studies depending on the importance of detection power or estimation efficiency. The extent of vascular contribution to variability in block and event-related fMRI-BOLD response is not known. With scaling, the extent of vascular variability in the fMRI-BOLD response during block and event-related design tasks was investigated. Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) contrast data from healthy volunteers performing a block design motor task and an event-related memory task requiring performance of a motor response were analyzed from the regions of interest (ROIs) surrounding the primary and supplementary motor cortices. Average BOLD signal change was significantly larger during the block design compared to the event-related design. In each subject, BOLD signal change across voxels in the ROIs had higher variation during the block design task compared to the event-related design task. Scaling using the resting state fluctuation of amplitude (RSFA) and breath-hold (BH), which minimizes BOLD variation due to vascular origins, reduced the within-subject BOLD variability in every subject during both tasks but significantly reduced BOLD variability across subjects only during the block design task. The strong non-neural source of intra- and intersubject variability of BOLD response during the block design compared to event-related task indicates that study designs optimizing for statistical power through enhancement of the BOLD contrast (for, e.g., block design) can be affected by enhancement of non-neural sources of BOLD variability.     

An integral equation and a representation for a Green's function

The final step in the mathematical solution of many problems in mathematical physics and engineering is the solution of a linear, two-point boundary-value problem such as $$\begin{gathered} \ddot u - q(t)u = - g(t), 0< t< x \hfill \\ (0) = 0, \dot u(x) = 0 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ Such problems frequently arise in a variational context. In terms of the Green's functionG, the solution is $$u(t) = \int_0^x {G(t, y, x)g(y) dy} $$ It is shown that the Green's function may be represented in the form $$G(t,y,x) = m(t,y) - \int_y^x {q(s)m(t, s) m(y, s)} ds, 0< t< y< x$$ wherem satisfies the Fredholm integral equation $$m(t,x) = k(t,x) - \int_0^x k (t,y) q(y) m(y, x) dy, 0< t< x$$ and the kernelk is $$k(t, y) = min(t, y)$$