Power-Law Inflation in Spacetimes Without Symmetry

We consider models of accelerated cosmological expansion described by the Einstein equations coupled to a nonlinear scalar field with a suitable exponential potential. We show that homogeneous and isotropic solutions are stable under small nonlinear perturbations without any symmetry assumptions. Our proof is based on results on the nonlinear stability of de Sitter spacetime and Kaluza-Klein reduction techniques.     

A high-throughput search for direct methanol fuel cell anode electrocatalysts of type PtxBiyPbz

We used a high-throughput method to screen for direct methanol fuel cell anode electrocatalysts in the Pt-Bi-Pb system. Previous studies showed that PtBi and PtPb (both NiAs structure type) were active electrocatalysts for the oxidation of formic acid, but only PtPb was active in oxidizing methanol. We synthesized thin films with continuous composition spreads of the three elements by magnetron sputtering at deposition temperatures from ambient to 510 °C. A fluorescence method was then used to identify compositions that were active toward methanol oxidation. Only films deposited between temperatures of 160 and 400 °C showed electrocatalytic activity. The areas that were active for methanol oxidation showed predominantly the NiAs structure type according to XRD, with optimal activity for compositions near PtBi_0.01Pb_0.53.     

Measuring particle size-dependent physicochemical structure in airborne single walled carbon nanotube agglomerates

As-produced single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) material is a complex matrix of carbon nanotubes, bundles of nanotubes (nanoropes), non-tubular carbon and metal catalyst nanoparticles. The pulmonary toxicity of material released during manufacture and handling will depend on the partitioning and arrangement of these components within airborne particles. To probe the physicochemical structure of airborne SWCNT aggregates, a new technique was developed and applied to aerosolized as-produced material. Differential Mobility Analysis-classified aggregates were analyzed using an Aerosol Particle Mass Monitor, and a structural parameter Γ (proportional to the square of particle mobility diameter, divided by APM voltage) derived. Using information on the constituent components of the SWCNT, modal values of Γ were estimated for specific particle compositions and structures, and compared against measured values. Measured modal values of Γ for 150 nm mobility diameter aggregates suggested they were primarily composed of non-tubular carbon from one batch of material, and thin nanoropes from a second batch of material – these findings were confirmed using Transmission Electron Microscopy. Measured modal values of Γ for 31 nm mobility diameter aggregates indicated that they were comprised predominantly of thin carbon nanoropes with associated nanometer-diameter metal catalyst particles; there was no indication that either catalyst particles or non-tubular carbon particles were being preferentially released into the air. These results indicate that the physicochemistry of aerosol particles released while handling as-produced SWCNT may vary significantly by particle size and production batch, and that evaluations of potential health hazards need to account for this. Disclaimer: The mention of any company or product does not constitute an endorsement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings and conclusions in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.     

A second-order accurate numerical method for the two-dimensional fractional diffusion equation

Spatially fractional order diffusion equations are generalizations of classical diffusion equations which are used in modeling practical superdiffusive problems in fluid flow, finance and others. In this paper, we present an accurate and efficient numerical method to solve a fractional superdiffusive differential equation. This numerical method combines the alternating directions implicit (ADI) approach with a Crank–Nicolson discretization and a Richardson extrapolation to obtain an unconditionally stable second-order accurate finite difference method. The stability and the consistency of the method are established. Numerical solutions for an example super-diffusion equation with a known analytic solution are obtained and the behavior of the errors are analyzed to demonstrate the order of convergence of the method.     

A phase I, randomized study of combined IL-2 and therapeutic immunisation with antiretroviral therapy

Background  

Fully functional HIV-1-specific CD8 and CD4 effector T-cell responses are vital to the containment of viral activity and disease progression. These responses are lacking in HIV-1-infected patients with progressive disease. We attempted to augment fully functional HIV-1-specific CD8 and CD4 effector T-cell responses in patients with advanced chronic HIV-1 infection.     

A highly selective monoalkylation of tert-butyl 3,4-dihydroxy-4-phenylpiperidine-1-carboxylate under phase transfer conditions

Liquid-liquid phase transfer conditions have been found to provide highly selective monoalkylation of tert-butyl 3,4-dihydroxy-4-phenylpiperidine-1-carboxylate, a transformation for which many other common alkylation protocols proved inadequate. The high preference for 3-O-alkylation in the phase transfer alkylation is emphasised by the absence of diether formation even in the presence of a large excess of reagents.     

Samarium diiodide mediated intramolecular cyclisation of mixed enone-enoate systems: a simple preparation of spirocyclic ethers

Samarium(II) diiodide mediated intramolecular cyclisation of mixed enone-enoate substrates in THF/MeOH is described. Spirocyclic ethers are obtained, and the stereodefined preparation of 1-oxaspiro[4.4]nonan-7-one products is included.