Finite Element Methods for a Model for Full Waveform Acoustic Logging

A model is defined to simulate the propagation of waves in aradially symmetric, isotropic, composite system consisting ofa fluid-filled well bore ^f through a fluid-saturated poroussolid ^p. Biot's equations of motion are chosen to describe thepropagation of waves in ^p, while the standard equation of motionfor compressible inviscid fluids is used for ^f, with appropriateboundary conditions at the contact surface between ^f and ^p.Also, absorbing boundary conditions for the artificial boundariesof ^p are derived for the model, their effect being to make themtransparent for waves arriving normally First, results on the existence and uniqueness of the solutionof the differential problem are given and then a discrete-time,explicit finite element procedure is defined and analysed, withfinite element spaces suited for radially symmetric problemsbeing used for the spatial discretisation.     

THE PHOTOADDITION OF NUCLEOPHILES TO URACIL

Abstract— Quantum yields for 254 nm ultraviolet photoaddition of the nucleophiles hydrazine, HCN, HSO₃^-, methyl amine, and BH₄^- to uracil have been measured; the quantum yields for hydrazine, HCN, and HSO₃^- additions are pH-dependent. The nucleophiles sulfide, azide, chloride, bromide, iodide, nitrite and thiocyanate failed to photo–add under similar conditions. These reactions are interpreted as 1,4-additions to the conjugated enone system of the anti-aromatic compound, uracil; as suggested by S. Y. Wang (Wang and Nnadi, 1968). The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum of the photohydrate of uracil-5-d-showed that the proton was added to the 5-position in a stereochemically random manner. The photoaddition of HSO₃^- takes place at much lower concentrations than required for the thermal addition of this anion and is also stereochemically random.     

INTERACTION OF DIBUCAINEHCl LOCAL ANESTHETICS WITH BACTERIORHODOPSIN IN PURPLE MEMBRANE: A SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY

Several spectroscopic techniques (absorption, emission, transient absorption and differential scanning calorimetry--DSC) were used to investigate the deprotonation of dibucaine.HCl in a hydrophobic environment, and the interaction sites and mechanisms of the local anesthetic dibucaine.HCl on bacteriorhodopsin (bR) in purple membrane. The important results are summarized as follows: (1) the visible absorption features of native (lambda max = 568 nm) and deionized (lambda max = 608 nm) bR are sensitive to the amount of dibucaine.HCl added; (2) the emission spectrum of dibucaine.HCl embedded in the retinal-free mutant bR is similar to that of dibucaine free base in Triton X-100 micellar solutions; (3) the phosphorescence emission of dibucaine at 77 K is completely quenched by bR and the fluorescence quenching rate for the incorporated dibucaine.HCl in bR was determined as kq = 4.09 x 10(13) M-1 s-1; (4) the incorporation of dibucaine.HCl in bR inhibits the slow component rate of formation of M412 and decreases the amount of M412 formation in the photochemical cycle of bR; and (5) the thermal stability of native bR was measured by DSC in the presence and absence of dibucaine and yielded an endothermic transition at 95.9 +/- 1.0 degrees C with 13.6 J/g (3.25 +/- 0.12 cal/g) of enthalpy changes. All observations suggest that the action site of the local anesthetic, dibucaine.HCl, is near or at the chromophore, i.e. the retinal Schiff base of bR. The anesthetic action on bR purple membrane is probably via a specific site binding, but not a conformational mechanism.     

Nickel catalysed carbonylative Sonogashira reaction for the synthesis of diarylalkynones and 2-substituted flavones

The nickel catalyzed, palladium/phosphine free carbonylative Sonogashira reaction of terminal alkynes with substituted aryl and heteroaryl iodides is described. This protocol provides mild and robust conditions to synthesize a variety of substituted aryl α,β-alkynyl ketones and flavones in good to excellent isolated yields. This methodology tolerates several functional groups such as electron donating (methyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, methoxy) as well as electron withdrawing (trifluoromethyl, nitro, esters, nitrile) groups on the terminal alkynes and iodides.     

Synthesis of 1,2,3-triazolyl analog of Neisseria meningitidis A capsular polysaccharide

Abstract

Towards constructing a stable, non-hydrolyzable linkage for Neisseria meningitidis type A (MenA) polysaccharide, the phosphate bridge of its (1→6)-linked 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-D-mannopyranosyl phosphate repeating unit was replaced by a triazolyl analog using Cu(I) catalyzed click reaction. The synthesis involved anomeric azidation of N-acetyl-D-mannosamine derivative from its acetate precursor using stoichiometric amount of FeCl₃ and one-pot synthesis of precursors for di- and tri- triazolyl saccharides with an azidoethyl spacer at the reducing end for bioconjugation.     

HUMIC MACROMOLECULES IN NATURAL WATERS

Abstract

Humic substances are the major organic constituents of soils and sediments. They also occur in small concentrations in natural surface waters and groundwaters. They form through the breakdown of plant and animal tissues by chemical and biological processes that tend to produce complex chemical structures that are more stable than the original material from which they were derived. One of the more important characteristics of humic substances is their ability to form water-soluble and water-insoluble complexes with metal ions and hydrous oxides and to interact with clay minerals and various organic compounds such as alkanes, fatty acids, and toxic organic substances such as pesticides.     

An expedient total synthesis of optically active piperidine and indolizidine alkaloids (−)-β-conhydrine and (−)-lentiginosine

Attempts directed toward the stereocontroled total synthesis of piperidine and indolizidine alkaloids resulted in the synthesis of (−)-β-conhydrine 1 and (−)-lentiginosine 3. The synthesis of 1 and 3 were developed from protected d-mannitol as the chiral precursor, which involved nucleophilic addition and azide nucleophilic substitution, Barbier allylation, ring closing metathesis, and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as the key steps.