The influence of finite cavities on the sound insulation of double-plate structures

Lightweight walls are often designed as frameworks of studs with plates on each side--a double-plate structure. The studs constitute boundaries for the cavities, thereby both affecting the sound transmission directly by short-circuiting the plates, and indirectly by disturbing the sound field between the plates. The paper presents a deterministic prediction model for airborne sound insulation including both effects of the studs. A spatial transform technique is used, taking advantage of the periodicity. The acoustic field inside the cavities is expanded by means of cosine-series. The transmission coefficient (angle-dependent and diffuse) and transmission loss are studied. Numerical examples are presented and comparisons with measurement are performed. The result indicates that a reasonably good agreement between theory and measurement can be achieved.     

A Comparison of Splittings and Integral Equation Solvers for a Nonseparable Elliptic Equation

Iterative numerical schemes for solving the electrostatic partial differential equation with variable conductivity, using fast and high-order accurate direct methods for preconditioning, are compared. Two integral method schemes of this type, based on previously suggested splittings of the equation, are proposed, analyzed, and implemented. The schemes are tested for large problems on a square. Particular emphasis is paid to convergence as a function of geometric complexity in the conductivity. Differences in performance of the schemes are predicted and observed in a striking manner. AMS subject classification (2000) 31A10, 35C15, 65R20.Received May 2004. Accepted September 2004. Communicated by Anders Szepessy.Johan Helsing: This work was supported by the Swedish Science Research Council under contract 621-2001-2799.     

Hydrogenolysis of [PhBP3]Fe[triple bond]N-p-tolyl: probing the reactivity of an iron imide with H2

This paper describes the reductive hydrogenolysis of a low-spin (S = 1/2) iron(III) imide. Pseudotetrahedral [PhBP3]FeIIIN-p-tolyl is reduced by hydrogen at ambient temperature and pressure in benzene solution. The reduction appears to proceed in a stepwise fashion. An intermediate S = 2 iron(II) anilide, [PhBP3]Fe(N(H)-p-tolyl), is observed and has been independently generated and structurally characterized. Prolonged hydrogenolysis in benzene results in the complete hydrogenolysis of the Fe-N linkage to release H2N-p-tolyl. The major iron-containing product formed from this step is the diamagnetic cyclohexadienyl complex, [PhBP3]Fe(eta5-cyclohexadienyl), which has also been independently prepared and structurally characterized. Evidence is presented to suggest that the final [PhBP3]Fe(eta5-cyclohexadienyl) product is formed via benzene insertion into a reactive [PhBP3]FeII-H intermediate.     

Optical tweezers applied to a microfluidic system

We will demonstrate how optical tweezers can be combined with a microfluidic system to create a versatile microlaboratory. Cells are moved between reservoirs filled with different media by means of optical tweezers. We show that the cells, on a timescale of a few seconds, can be moved from one reservoir to another without the media being dragged along with them. The system is demonstrated with an experiment where we expose E. coli bacteria to different fluorescent markers. We will also discuss how the system can be used as an advanced cell sorter. It can favorably be used to sort out a small fraction of cells from a large population, in particular when advanced microscopic techniques are required to distinguish various cells. Patterns of channels and reservoirs were generated in a computer and transferred to a mask using either a sophisticated electron beam technique or a standard laser printer. Lithographic methods were applied to create microchannels in rubber silicon (PDMS). Media were transported in the channels using electroosmotic flow. The optical system consisted of a combined confocal and epi-fluorescence microscope, dual optical tweezers and a laser scalpel.     

Multiwavelength pulse generator using time-lens compression

We demonstrate a novel method of generating a multiwavelength pulse train by use of time-lens compression. In addition to pulse compression, this time lens simultaneously displaces the pulses according to their center wavelengths, resulting in a temporally evenly spaced multiwavelength pulse train. We further demonstrate a new aberration-correction technique based on the temporal analog of a spatial correction lens to improve the quality of the compressed pulses. Through the use of cw distributed-feedback lasers and electro-optic phase modulators, the all-fiber system allows complete tunability of temporal spacing, spectral profile, and repetition rate.     

Dinitrogen chemistry from trigonally coordinated iron and cobalt platforms

This report establishes that trigonally coordinated "[PhBPiPr3]M" platforms (M = Fe, Co) will support both pi-acidic (N2) and pi-basic (NR) ligands at a fourth binding site. The N2 complexes of iron that are described are the first thoroughly characterized examples to exhibit a 4-coordinate geometry. Methylation of monomeric {Fe0(N2)-} and {Co0(N2)-} species successfully derivatizes the beta-N atom of the coordinated N2 ligand and affords the diazenido products {FeII(N2Me)} and {CoII(N2Me)}, respectively. One-electron oxidation of the mononuclear M0(N2)- species produces dinuclear and synthetically versatile MI(N2)MI complexes. These latter species provide clean access to the chemistry of the "[PhBPiPr3]MI" subunit. For example, addition of RN3 to MI(N2)MI results in oxidative nitrene transfer to generate [PhBPiPr3]MNR with concomitant N2 release.     

Investigation of endoglucanase selectivity on carboxymethyl cellulose by mass spectrometric techniques

The benefits of applying cellulose selective enzymes as analytical tools for chemical structure characterization of cellulose derivatives have been frequently addressed over the years. In a recent study the high selectivity of cellulase Cel45A from Trichoderma reesei (Tr Cel45A) was utilized for relating the chemical structure to the flow properties of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). However, in order to take full advantage of the enzymatic hydrolysis the enzyme selectivity on the cellulose substrate must be further investigated. Therefore, the selectivity of Tr Cel45A on CMC was studied by chemical sample preparation of the enzyme products followed by mass spectrometric chemical structure characterization. The results strongly suggest that, in accordance with recent studies, also this highly selective endoglucanase is able to catalyze hydrolysis of glucosidic bonds adjacent to mono-substituted anhydroglucose units (AGUs). Furthermore, the results also indicate that substituents on the nearby AGUs will affect the hydrolysis.