Carbon-13 NMR spectra of Piper alkamides and related compounds

¹³C NMR spectra of Piper alkamides and related compounds have been completely assigned on the basis of splitting patterns in the coupled spectra, application of additivity relationships and internal comparison of chemical shifts.     

On the Anistropy of the Speed of Light on a Rotating Platform

The paper discusses a recently posed paradox in relativity concerning the speed of light as measured by an observer on board a rotating turn-table. The counter-intuitive problem put forward by F. Selleri concerns the theoretical prediction of an anisotropy in the speed of light in a reference frame comoving with the edge of a rotatiing disc even in the limit of zero acceleration. The paradox not only challenges the internal consistency of the special relativity theory but also undermines the basic tenet of the conventionality of simultaneity thesis of relativity. The present paper resolves the issue in a novel way by recasting the original paradox in the Galilean world and thereby revealing, in a subtle way, the weak points of the reasonings leading to the fallacy. As a background the standard and the non-standard synchronies in the relativistic as well as in the Galilean world are discussed. In passing, this novel approach also clarifies (contrary to often made assertions in the literature) that the so-called desynchronization of clocks cannot be regarded as the root cause of the Sagnac effect. Finally in spite of the flaw in the reasonings leading to the paradox Selleri's observation regarding the superiority of the absolute synchrony over the standard one for a rotation observer has been upheld.     

Effect of salt concentration on the electrophoretic speed of a polyelectrolyte through a nanopore

In a previous paper [S. Ghosal, Phys. Rev. E 74, 041901 (2006)] a hydrodynamic model for determining the electrophoretic speed of a polyelectrolyte through an axially symmetric slowly varying nanopore was presented in the limit of a vanishingly small Debye length. Here the case of a finite Debye layer thickness is considered while restricting the pore geometry to that of a cylinder of length much larger than the diameter. Further, the possibility of a uniform surface charge on the walls of the nanopore is taken into account. It is thereby shown that the calculated transit times are consistent with recent measurements in silicon nanopores.     

Nonadiabatic dissociation dynamics of ClHD van der Waals complex initiated by electron detachment of Cl–HD

Nuclear dynamics following the electron detachment of the Cl⁻–HD anion is investigated by a time-dependent wave packet propagation approach. Photodetachment of Cl⁻–HD promotes it to the van der Waals well region of the reactive ClHD potential energy surface. The latter is a manifold of three electronic states coupled by the electronic and (relativistic) spin-orbit coupling. Among the three surfaces, the electronic ground one is of ²Σ_1/2 type and yields products in their electronic ground state. The remaining two, ²Π_3/2 and ²Π_1/2, on the other hand, yield products in their excited electronic states. However, these two can yield products in their electronic ground state via nonadiabatic transitions to the ²Σ_1/2 state. The channel specific, HCl + D or DCl + H or Cl + HD, dissociation probabilities on this latter state are calculated both in the uncoupled and coupled surface situations. Separate initial transitions (via, photodetachment) to the ²Σ_1/2, ²Π_3/2 and ²Π_1/2 adiabatic electronic states of ClHD are considered in order to elucidate the nonadiabatic coupling effects on this important class of chemical reactions initiated by an electron detachment.     

Emergence of diverse dynamical responses in a fractional-order slow–fast pest–predator model

To explore the impact of pest-control strategy on integrated pest management, a three-dimensional (3D) fractional- order slow–fast prey–predator model is introduced in this article. The prey community (assumed as pest) represents fast dynamics and two predators exhibit slow dynamical variables in the three-species interacting prey–predator model. In addition, common enemies of that pest are assumed as predators of two different species. Pest community causes serious damage to the economy. Fractional-order systems can better describe the real scenarios than classical-order dynamical systems, as they show previous history-dependent properties. We establish the ability of a fractional-order model with Caputo’s fractional derivative to capture the dynamics of this prey–predator system and analyze its qualitative properties. To investigate the importance of fractional-order dynamics on the behavior of the pest, we perform the local stability analysis of possible equilibrium points, using certain assumptions for different sets of parameters and reveal that the fractional-order exponent has an impact on the stability and the existence of Hopf bifurcations in the prey–predator model. Next, we discuss the existence, uniqueness and boundedness of the fractional-order system. We also observe diverse oscillatory behavior of different amplitude modulations including mixed mode oscillations (MMOs) for the fractional-order prey–predator model. Higher amplitude pest periods are interspersed with the outbreaks of small pest concentration. With the decrease of fractional-order exponent, small pest concentration increases with decaying long pest periods. We further notice that the reduced-order model is biologically significant and sensitive to the fractional-order exponent. Additionally, the dynamics captures adaptation that occurs over multiple timescales and we find consistent differences in the characteristics of the model for various fractional exponents.

     

Anomalous diffusion in an electrolyte saturated paper matrix

Diffusion of colored dye on water saturated paper substrates has been traditionally exploited with great skill by renowned water color artists. The same physics finds more recent practical applications in paper-based diagnostic devices deploying chemicals that react with a bodily fluid yielding colorimetric signals for disease detection. During spontaneous imbibition through the tortuous pathways of a porous electrolyte saturated paper matrix, a dye molecule undergoes diffusion in a complex network of pores. The advancing front forms a strongly correlated interface that propagates diffusively but with an enhanced effective diffusivity. We measure this effective diffusivity and show that it is several orders of magnitude greater than the free solution diffusivity and has a significant dependence on the solution pH and salt concentration in the background electrolyte. We attribute this to electrically mediated interfacial interactions between the ionic species in the liquid dye and spontaneous surface charges developed at porous interfaces, and introduce a simple theory to explain this phenomenon.     

Structure–property correlation of a boron and carbon modified as cast β titanium alloy

Beta titanium alloys, Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn, with minor additions of boron and carbon were prepared by consumable vacuum arc melting. Detailed microstructural characterizations were carried out using optical, scanning electron microscopes and transmission electron microscopes. Addition of boron resulted in refinement of the as cast beta grain while carbon addition resulted in the precipitation of extremely fine α phase during ageing. Formation of boride and carbide particles due to addition of boron and carbon, respectively, and refinement of the aged microstructure increased the hardness and strength as compared to the base alloy but reduced elongation to failure considerably, especially in the carbon-containing alloy where no measurable plasticity was observed. Fracture toughness values, however, were comparable for the boron- and carbon-containing alloys but these were lower than that of the base alloy.     

Statistical convergence of a sequence of random variables and limit theorems

In this paper the ideas of three types of statistical convergence of a sequence of random variables, namely, statistical convergence in probability, statistical convergence in mean of order r and statistical convergence in distribution are introduced and the interrelation among them is investigated. Also their certain basic properties are studied.     

A chiron approach to aminocytitols by petasis-borono-mannich reaction: formal synthesis of (+)-conduramine e and (-)-conduramine e

A chiron approach to a stereoselective route for the synthesis of aminocytitols from carbohydrates is described. The formal synthesis of (+)-conduramine E and (-)-conduramine E was achieved by utilizing this strategy. The key features of the synthetic strategy include one-pot three-component Petasis-Borono-Mannich reaction to introduce the syn-β-amino alcohol functionality of conduramine E and ring-closing metathesis to construct its carbocyclic core. The present synthetic approach paves the way for stereoselective synthesis of several conduramines starting from carbohydrates.     

Passive vibration isolation of reaction wheel disturbances using a low frequency flexible space platform

Reaction wheel assemblies (RWAs) are momentum exchange devices used in fine pointing control of spacecrafts. Even though the spinning rotor of the reaction wheel is precisely balanced to minimize emitted vibration due to static and dynamic imbalances, precision instrument payloads placed in the neighborhood can always be severely impacted by residual vibration forces emitted by reaction wheel assemblies. The reduction of the vibration level at sensitive payloads can be achieved by placing the RWA on appropriate mountings. A low frequency flexible space platform consisting of folded continuous beams has been designed to serve as a mount for isolating a disturbance source in precision payloads equipped spacecrafts.Analytical and experimental investigations have been carried out to test the usefulness of the low frequency flexible platform as a vibration isolator for RWAs. Measurements and tests have been conducted at varying wheel speeds, to quantify and characterize the amount of isolation obtained from the reaction wheel generated vibration. These tests are further extended to other variants of similar design in order to bring out the best isolation for given disturbance loads. Both time and frequency domain analysis of test data show that the flexible beam platform as a mount for reaction wheels is quite effective and can be used in spacecrafts for passive vibration control.