Baryon number generation in grand unified theories

Grand unified models of elementary particle interactions suggest that there was an early epoch during the Big Bang while the temperature was slightly less than the Planck temperature, during which no known interactions were in thermal equilibrium. This epoch was probably followed by a brief period during which baryon number violating forces were in equilibrium and could have annihilated any previously existing net baryon number. As these forces dropped out of equilibrium, a CP violating component could have generated the observed baryon to entropy ratio of O(10⁻⁹).     

Rate constants for the reaction OH + CO as functions of temperature and water concentration

Rate constants for the reaction OH + CO have been measured as functions of temperature (340–1220 K) and water concentration in the presence of 1 atm of argon. Results at zero water concentration yield the expression, log k_? (cm³ molecule^?1 S^?1) = ?12.96 + 4.7 × 10^?4 T, for the reaction rate constant as a function of temperature. These results are in very good agreement with previous direct measurements and in reasonable agreement with flame and shock tube measurements. Explanations are offered for the involvement of the water molecule in the present experiments and earlier measurements from this laboratory throughout the entire temperature range. Results are consistent with previous results showing little, if any, pressure effect of Ar on the reaction up to 1 atm of Ar.     

A test of the equal-loudness-ratio hypothesis using cross-modality matching functions

This study tests the Equal-Loudness-Ratio hypothesis [Florentine et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 99, 1633-1644 (1996)], which states that the loudness ratio between equal-SPL long and short tones is independent of SPL. The amount of temporal integration (i.e., the level difference between equally loud short and long sounds) is maximal at moderate levels. Therefore, the Equal-Loudness-Ratio hypothesis predicts that the loudness function is shallower at moderate levels than at low and high levels. Equal-loudness matches and cross-modality string-length matches were used to assess the form of the loudness function for 5 and 200 ms tones at 1 kHz and the loudness ratio between them. Results from nine normal listeners show that (1) the amount of temporal integration is largest at moderate levels, in agreement with previous studies, and (2) the loudness functions are shallowest at moderate levels. For eight of the nine listeners, the loudness ratio between the 200 and 5 ms tones is approximately constant, except at low levels where it tends to increase. The average data show good agreement between the two methods, but discrepancies are apparent for some individuals. These findings support the Equal-Loudness-Ratio hypothesis, except at low levels.     

Chromium(0)-promoted multicomponent cycloaddition of tethered diynes with cyclic trienes: application to the total synthesis of 9-epi-pentalenic acid

An efficient protecting group controlled regioselective chromium(0)-mediated three-component higher order cycloaddition of tethered diynes with cyclic trienes that generates five rings and six stereogenic centers in one step is described. Following a sequence of reactions featuring a chemoselective Baeyer-Villiger rearrangement and a regioselective cyclopropane hydrogenolysis, the total synthesis of 9-epi-pentalenic acid was achieved.     

Microcionamides A and B, bioactive peptides from the philippine sponge Clathria (Thalysias) abietina

Microcionamides A (1) and B (2) have been isolated from the Philippine marine sponge Clathria (Thalysias) abietina. These new linear peptides are cyclized via a cystine moiety and have their C-terminus blocked by a 2-phenylethylenamine group. Their total structures, including absolute stereochemistry, were determined by a combination of spectral and chemical methods. Compound 1 was shown to slowly isomerize about the C-36/C-37 double bond when stored in DMSO. Microcionamides A (1) and B (2) exhibited significant cytotoxicity against the human breast tumor cells lines MCF-7 and SKBR-3 and displayed inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Ra.