Reaction of acetylated carbohydrates with trimethylaluminum: concise synthesis of 1,2-O-isopropylidene d-ribofuranose

Treatment of β-d-ribose tetraacetate with trimethylaluminum gives α-3,5-O-acetyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-d-ribofuranoside in excellent yield. This reaction allows for efficient and high-yielding installation of the 1,2-isopropylidene acetal (acetonide), which is difficult to prepare using more traditional acid-catalyzed methods. The reaction of trimethylaluminum with other per-acetylated carbohydrates is also described.     

A mean-field theory for self-propelled particles interacting by velocity alignment mechanisms

A mean-field approach (MFA) is proposed for the analysis of orientational order in a two-dimensional system of stochastic self-propelled particles interacting by local velocity alignment mechanism. The treatment is applied to the cases of ferromagnetic (F) and liquid-crystal (LC) alignment. In both cases, MFA yields a second order phase transition for a critical noise strength and a scaling exponent of 1/2 for the respective order parameters. We find that the critical noise amplitude η_c at which orientational order emerges in the LC case is smaller than in the F-alignment case, i.e. η^LC_C<η^F_C. A comparison with simulations of individual-based models with F- resp. LC-alignment shows that the predictions about the critical behavior and the qualitative relation between the respective critical noise amplitudes are correct.     

Structure and ion exchange properties of a new cobalt borate with a tunnel structure "templated" by Na+

The new anhydrous borate Na2Co2B12O21 has been synthesized by flux methods and studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (space group I2/a with a = 17.1447(15) A, b = 4.5530(5) A, c = 19.4408(15) A, beta = 103.212(5) degrees , V = 1477.4(2) A3, Z = 4). Refinement of its structure reveals it is the first metaborate exhibiting a tunnel network, with internal dimensions of 4.5 x 8.8 A2. Further single-crystal diffraction studies show that the Na+ ions within the tunnels are exchangeable with Li+ along with the absorption of water molecules to form Li2(H2O)2Co2B12O21, making this compound a unique non-siliceous zeotype.     

The mutual transformation of magnetoacoustic waves in plane inhomogeneous systems

In this paper an approach is given to the generation of slow magnetoacoustic waves by fast ones and vice versa and to the reflection of magnetoacoustic waves at plasma and magnetic field inhomogeneities. The cases of very strong and very weak fields as well as the case when the Alfvén velocity is of the order of the sound velocity are closely investigated. General conclusions are drawn on the mutual transformation of magnetoacoustic waves.     

Ionization Cross Sections of Gas Molecules for Plasma Chemistry

Using the recently tested formula of Gryzinski electron impact ionization cross sections for several molecules are calculated. The additivity rule and the statistical approach by Fitch and Sauter are discussed. With new experimental ionization cross sections it is possible to derive the regression coefficients also for P, As, B, and Si, which are presented together with the previously obtained values as a function of the atomic number. It appears to be possible to obtain coefficients for other atoms by interpolation. First attemps to determine regression coefficients also for 20 and 35 eV electron energy are discussed.     

Dilation analyticity in constant electric field

The resolvent of the operatorH ₀(ε, θ)=?Δe ^-20+εx ₁ e ^θ is not analytic in θ for θ in a neighborhood of a real point, if the electric field ε is non-zero. (One manifestation of this singular behavior is that for 0<|Im θ|<π/3,H ₀(ε, θ) has no spectrum in the finite plane.) Nevertheless it is shown that the techniques of dilation analyticity still can be used to discuss the long-lived states (resonances) of a system described by a Hamiltonian of the formH=?Δ+εx ₁+V(x).     

Do spherical polyelectrolyte brushes interdigitate?

The structure of spherical micelles of the diblock copolymer poly(styrene-block-acrylic acid) in water was investigated with small angle neutron scattering and contrast matching. We have monitored intermicelle correlation and the extension of the polyelectrolyte chains in the coronal layer through the overlap concentration. Irrespective of ionic strength, the corona shrinks with increasing packing fraction. Furthermore, at high charge and minimal screening conditions, the corona layers interpenetrate once the volume fraction exceeds the critical value 0.53+/-0.02.     

Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (L-TGA) with situs inversus totalis in adulthood: findings with magnetic resonance imaging

Diagnosis of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (L-TGA) with situs inversus totalis in two adult patients was made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Visualization of the complete anatomy and quantification of ventricular function was possible. Relevant concomitant disease such as perimembraneous ventricular septal defect, atrial secundum septal defect, tricuspid regurgitation, valvular pulmonic stenosis, and pulmonary artery dilatation were clearly depicted by MRI using standard spin-echo and gradient-echo techniques. Findings were confirmed by cardiac catheterization in both patients. In this rare and complex congenital cardiac anomaly, MRI is an excellent imaging modality as echocardiography may be difficult to interpret due to restricted imaging windows. MRI may help in the decision about the necessity to undergo further invasive evaluation and may help to make cardiac catheterization a straightforward procedure.     

When the dual of an ideal is a ring

Let R be a commutative integral domain with identity with quotient field K, and let I be a nonzero ideal of R. We analyze several general and particular instances when I^–1 is a subring of K. We then apply some of our results to show that certain non-maximal prime ideals in Prüfer domains are divisorial.     

Electrocatalysis by Polyoxometalate-Protected Gold Nanoparticles

Electrocatalysis by polyoxometalate (POM)-monolayer protected gold nanoparticles is herein demonstrated using a newly discovered phenomenon that makes it possible to observe the electrochemistry of dilute aqueous solutions of these colloidal nanostructures. To preserve the integrity of the gold nanoparticles’ electrostatically-stabilized POM-monolayer structures, deposition and drying of the POM-protected metal(0) NPs on the electrode surface must be avoided. Overcoming this constraint, we here show that POM-monolayer protected gold nanoparticles can be induced to reversibly associate with electrode surfaces, resulting in dramatic current amplification and well behaved, quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric behavior at remarkably small electrolyte concentrations, thus making it possible to investigate electrocatalysis by dilute aqueous solutions of POM-protected gold NPs.