Precise Synthesis and Thin Film Self-Assembly of PLLA-b-PS Bottlebrush Block Copolymers

The ability of bottlebrush block copolymers (BBCPs) to self-assemble into ordered large periodic structures could greatly expand the scope of photonic and membrane technologies. In this paper, we describe a two-step synthesis of poly(l-lactide)-b-polystyrene (PLLA-b-PS) BBCPs and their rapid thin-film self-assembly. PLLA chains were grown from exo-5-norbornene-2-methanol via ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of l-lactide to produce norbornene-terminated PLLA. Norbonene-terminated PS was prepared using anionic polymerization followed by a termination reaction with exo-5-norbornene-2-carbonyl chloride. PLLA-b-PS BBCPs were prepared from these two norbornenyl macromonomers by a one-pot sequential ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). PLLA-b-PS BBCPs thin-films exhibited cylindrical and lamellar morphologies depending on the relative block volume fractions, with domain sizes of 46–58 nm and periodicities of 70–102 nm. Additionally, nanoporous templates were produced by the selective etching of PLLA blocks from ordered structures. The findings described in this work provide further insight into the controlled synthesis of BBCPs leading to various possible morphologies for applications requiring large periodicities. Moreover, the rapid thin film patterning strategy demonstrated (>5 min) highlights the advantages of using PLLA-b-PS BBCP materials beyond their linear BCP analogues in terms of both dimensions achievable and reduced processing time.     

Applications of coupled LC-GC: A review

Although coupled liquid chromatographygas chromatography (LC-GC) was first demonstrated ten years ago, only in the last few years has there been a sudden surge of interest in the technique. Approximately 70% of the total number of LC-GC applications have been published in the last two years (1987–88) alone. This review categorizes LC-GC publications into four main application areas: fossil fuels, foods, environmental samples, biologiical/pharmaceutical samples, and miscellaneous samples. Multidimensional separations carried out using other coupled-column chromatographic techniques (such as supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) with GC, and on-line trace enrichment-GC) have also been included in this review.     

Hybrid reordering strategies for ILU preconditioning of indefinite sparse matrices

Incomplete LU factorization preconditioning techniques often have difficulty on indefinite sparse matrices. We present hybrid reordering strategies to deal with such matrices, which include new diagonal reorderings that are in conjunction with a symmetric nondecreasing degree algorithm. We first use the diagonal reorderings to efficiently search for entries of single element rows and columns and/or the maximum absolute value to be placed on the diagonal for computing a nonsymmetric permutation. To augment the effectiveness of the diagonal reorderings, a nondecreasing degree algorithm is applied to reduce the amount of fill-in during the ILU factorization. With the reordered matrices, we achieve a noticeable improvement in enhancing the stability of incomplete LU factorizations. Consequently, we reduce the convergence cost of the preconditioned Krylov subspace methods on solving the reordered indefinite matrices.     

浅析二阶齐次线性变系数微分方程的一个可积类型

本文讨论了二阶齐次线性变系数微分方程的特殊形式，给出了这种微分方程的一个可积类型．     

The Lefschetz number of an involution on the space of harmonic cusp forms ofSL 3

Inventiones mathematicae -     

Pediatric Laryngotracheal Stenosis and Airway Reconstruction: A Review of Voice Outcomes, Assessment, and Treatment Issues

Laryngotracheal stenosis is defined as a congenital or acquired narrowing of the airway. Congenital causes may include subglottic membranous or cartilaginous narrowing. Acquired causes may include trauma due to prolonged endotracheal or tracheal intubation or laryngotracheal injury. Although advances have been made over the past 30 years in reconstructive surgeries to improve airway patency in these patients, long-term laryngeal function for voice production is not well defined in this population. This review examines causes, symptoms and signs, and methods for diagnosing laryngotracheal stenosis. Surgical management procedures are briefly summarized. The current literature on voice outcomes is summarized. The predominant voice characteristics in the population are presented, although results are challenged by the heterogeneity of voice presentation and paucity of data from instrumental measures. Considerations for subjective and instrumental assessment, measures of quality of life, instrumental methods, and treatment options specific to the needs of this population are discussed. Research strategies to identify long-term outcomes of surgical and behavioral treatments in this population are posed.     

Structural-acoustic coupling effect on the nonlinear natural frequency of a rectangular box with one flexible plate

The nonlinear natural frequency of a rectangular box, which consists of one flexible plate and five rigid plates, is studied in this paper. The flexible plate is assumed to vibrate like a simple piston. The behavior of the structural-acoustic coupling between the flexible plate and the air cavity is analyzed by using the proposed finite element modal method. The system finite element equation is reduced and expressed in terms of the modal coordinates with small degrees of freedom by using the proposed reduction method. The system nonlinear stiffness matrix representing the large amplitude vibration can be transformed to be a constant modal matrix. The natural frequencies are determined by using the harmonic balance method to solve the eigenvalue equations of the structural-acoustic system. The effect of the cavity depth on the natural frequencies and convergence studies are discussed in detail.     

Changes in the kurtosis parameter of super-Gaussian beams passing through a spherically aberrated lens

Based on the Collins formula and irradiance moments definition, the propagation of the kurtosis parameter of super-Gaussian beams through a spherically aberrated lens is studied. Detailed numerical results are given. It is shown that, as compared with aberration-free super-Gaussian beams, the profile of spherically aberrated super-Gaussian beams can be leptokurtic, mesokurtic or platykurtic, depending on the aberration and propagation distance. The results for the spherically aberrated Gaussian beams can be dealt with as a special case treated in this paper. Finally, the advantage of our method is pointed out.     

Efficient microwave induced direct α-halogenation of carbonyl compounds

A novel and direct method for the synthesis of α-halocarbonyl compounds using sequential treatment of carbonyl compounds with [hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene followed by magnesium halides under solvent-free microwave irradiation conditions is described.