Scale-free brain functional networks

Functional magnetic resonance imaging is used to extract functional networks connecting correlated human brain sites. Analysis of the resulting networks in different tasks shows that (a) the distribution of functional connections, and the probability of finding a link versus distance are both scale-free, (b) the characteristic path length is small and comparable with those of equivalent random networks, and (c) the clustering coefficient is orders of magnitude larger than those of equivalent random networks. All these properties, typical of scale-free small-world networks, reflect important functional information about brain states.     

Measurement of the surface coverage of V/Al2O3 catalysts by infrared spectroscopy,CO2 chemisorption and ion scattering spectroscopy

Quantitative FTIR studies of alumina hydroxyl groups have been used to measure the surface coverage of V/Al₂O₃ catalysts. The IR spectra show a preferential consumption of the most basic hydroxyls (3769 cm^?1) with the initial V uptake. The integrated area of the hydroxyl region was used to calculate the surface coverage of the catalysts. The surface coverage increased to 0.63 as the V loading increased to 6.7 wt%. The surface coverage results obtained from IR were compared to those measured by ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS) and CO₂ chemisorption. The surface coverages measured by ISS were comparable to those obtained by IR. In contrast, CO₂ chemisorption appears to overestimate the surface coverage of the catalysts. The overestimation of the surface coverage by the CO₂ chemisorption method is attributed to the preferential adsorption of the V phase onto the most basic hydroxyls, the same sites which interact with CO₂.     

Response functions of a degenerate electron gas: The memory-function kinetic equation approach

The quantum kinetic memory function is discussed in relation to the different kω dependences of density and spin responses and to plasmon damping. A memory function, derived from the Hartree plus screened exchange approximation, reproduces the required kω dependence.     

On the difference equationx_{n + 1} = \alpha + \frac{{x_n^p }}{{x_{n - 1}^p }}

We study, firstly, the dynamics of the difference equation $x_{n + 1} = \alpha + \frac{{x_n^p }}{{x_{n - 1}^p }}$ , withp ∈ (0,1) and α∈ [0, ∞). Then, we generalize our results to the (k + 1)th order difference equation $x_{n + 1} = \alpha + \frac{{x_n^p }}{{x_{n - k}^p }}$ ,k = 2, 3,... with positive initial conditions.     

Multilayer polarizing grating mirror used for the generation of radial polarization in Yb:YAG thin-disk lasers

The design, fabrication and characterization of a multilayer polarizing grating mirror developed for an Yb:YAG thin-disk laser resonator are reported. The potential of the proposed solution is discussed together with the first demonstration of a radially polarized Yb:YAG thin-disk laser.     

Solving nonlinear reaction–diffusion problem in electrostatic interaction with reaction-generated pH change on the kinetics of immobilized enzyme systems using Taylor series method

A mathematical model of electrostatic interaction with reaction-generated pH change on the kinetics of immobilized enzyme is discussed. The model involves the coupled system of non-linear reaction–diffusion equations of substrate and hydrogen ion. The non-linear term in this model is related to the Michaelis–Menten reaction of the substrate and non-Michaelis–Menten kinetics of hydrogen ion. The approximate analytical expression of concentration of substrate and hydrogen ion has been derived by solving the non-linear reactions using Taylor’s series method. Reaction rate and effectiveness factor are also reported. A comparison between the analytical approximation and numerical solution is also presented. The effects of external mass transfer coefficient and the electrostatic potential on the overall reaction rate were also discussed.

     

Synthesis, conformational stability, and asymmetric transformation of atropisomeric 1,8-bisphenolnaphthalenes

Highly congested, axially chiral 1,8-bisphenolnaphthalenes have been synthesized in 75% overall yield by palladium-catalyzed Suzuki coupling of 1,8-diiodonaphthalene and 4-methoxy-2-methylphenylboronic acid followed by regioselective formylation and deprotection. The C(2)-symmetric anti-stereoisomers of 1,8-bis(2'-methyl-4'-hydroxy-5'-formylphenyl)naphthalene, 5, and its diimine analogues 9 and 10 were found to be significantly more stable than the corresponding syn-isomer. Crystallographic analysis revealed that this stereochemical preference results from a unique intramolecular hydrogen bonding motif and concomitant minimization of steric repulsion. Triaryl 5 proved stable to rotation about the chiral axes at room temperature and the enantiomers were isolated via formation of diastereomeric diimines with (R)-2-amino-1-propanol and (R)-2-amino-3-methyl-1-butanol, respectively, chromatographic separation, and mild hydrolysis. Slow syn/anti-interconversion of 5, 9, and 10 was observed at enhanced temperatures and the diastereomerization and enantiomerization processes were monitored by CD and NMR spectroscopy. The Gibbs activation energy, ΔG(?), for the isomerization of 5 was determined as 103.7 (102.4) kJ/mol for the conversion of the anti-(syn-) to the syn-(anti-)isomer at 45.0 °C. Condensation of 5 with two chiral amino alcohols generates diimines that undergo quantitative asymmetric transformation of the first kind toward the thermodynamically favored (P,P,R,R)- or (M,M,S,S)-atropisomer, respectively. The incorporation of two imino alcohol units controls the outcome of this unidirectional atropisomerization, i.e. the central chirality of the amino alcohol used induces a rigid, axially chiral triaryl scaffold with perfect stereocontrol. Accordingly, the rotational energy barrier for the conversion of (M,M,S,S)-9 to its syn-isomer is significantly increased and was determined as 115.7 kJ/mol at 58.0 °C.     

Analysis of lumps,single-stripe,breather-wave,and two-wave solutions to the generalized perturbed-KdV equation by means of Hirota’s bilinear method

In this paper, we implement the Hirota’s bilinear method to extract diverse wave profiles to the generalized perturbed-KdV equation when the test function approaches are taken into consideration. Several novel solutions such as lump-soliton, lump-periodic, single-stripe soliton, breather waves, and two-wave solutions are obtained to the proposed model. We conduct some graphical analysis including 2D and 3D plots to show the physical structures of the recovery solutions. On the other hand, this work contains a correction of previous published results for a special case of the perturbed KdV. Moreover, we investigate the significance of the nonlinearity, perturbation, and dispersion parameters being acting on the propagation of the perturbed KdV. Finally, our obtained solutions are verified by inserting them into the governing equation.

     

Geometric detection of coupling directions by means of inter-system recurrence networks

We introduce a geometric method for identifying the coupling direction between two dynamical systems based on a bivariate extension of recurrence network analysis. Global characteristics of the resulting inter-system recurrence networks provide a correct discrimination for weakly coupled Rössler oscillators not yet displaying generalised synchronisation. Investigating two real-world palaeoclimate time series representing the variability of the Asian monsoon over the last 10,000 years, we observe indications for a considerable influence of the Indian summer monsoon on climate in Eastern China rather than vice versa. The proposed approach can be directly extended to studying K>2$K>2$ coupled subsystems.     

Enhanced performance of thin-disk lasers by pumping into the zero-phonon line

Pumping Yb:YAG or Yb:LuAG into the zero-phonon line at 969?nm instead of using the common pump wavelength of 940?nm reduces the heat generation by 32%. In addition to the 3% increase of the Stokes efficiency, this significantly reduces the diffraction losses caused by the thermally induced phase distortions leading to a remarkable increase of the overall efficiency especially of fundamental-mode thin-disk lasers. Using this pumping scheme in an Yb:LuAG thin-disk laser, we achieved 742?W of nearly diffraction limited (M²≈1.5) output power at an unprecedented high optical efficiency of 58.5%. For multimode operation (M²≈15) the maximum optical efficiency of an Yb:YAG thin-disk laser was increased to 72%.