Synthesis of the proposed structure of mucoxin via regio- and stereoselective tetrahydrofuran ring-forming strategies

An enantioselective total synthesis of the proposed structure of mucoxin (1) is described. Mucoxin, an annonaceous acetogenin isolated from bioactive leaf extracts of Rollinia mucosa, is the first acetogenin containing a hydroxylated trisubstituted tetrahydrofuran (THF) ring. This natural product is a highly potent and specific antitumor agent against MCF-7 (breast carcinoma) cell lines (ED50 = 3.7 x 10(-3) microg/mL compared to adriamycin, ED50 = 1.0 x 10(-2) microg/mL). The total synthesis described herein features two regio- and stereoselective THF ring-forming reactions. The 2,3,5-trisubstituted THF portion (C13-C17) was accessed using a highly regioselective cyclization of a methylene-interrupted epoxydiol, and the 2,5-disubstituted THF ring (C8-C12) was conveniently assembled via a 1,2-n-triol cyclization strategy. The spectral data of the synthetic material and two of its diastereomers did not match the reported data for the natural product. On the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis of the synthesized molecule, we reason that the spectral discrepancies are due to stereochemical misassignment of the natural product.     

Investigation of hydrazine addition to functionalized furans: synthesis of new functionalized 4,4′-bipyrazole derivatives

The addition of hydrazine to functionalized furans 2a-d leads to a variety of 4,4′-bipyrazoles 4a-c depending on the structure of the starting materials. In one example, compound 2c was first converted to an intermediate, furo[3,4-d]pyridazine 3c which was then transformed into 4,4′-bipyrazole 4c on reacting with hydrazine.     

A signal subspace approach for modeling the hemodynamic response function in fMRI

Many fMRI analysis methods use a model for the hemodynamic response function (HRF). Common models of the HRF, such as the Gaussian or Gamma functions, have parameters that are usually selected a priori by the data analyst. A new method is presented that characterizes the HRF over a wide range of parameters via three basis signals derived using principal component analysis (PCA). Covering the HRF variability, these three basis signals together with the stimulation pattern define signal subspaces which are applicable to both linear and nonlinear modeling and identification of the HRF and for various activation detection strategies. Analysis of simulated fMRI data using the proposed signal subspace showed increased detection sensitivity compared to the case of using a previously proposed trigonometric subspace. The methodology was also applied to activation detection in both event-related and block design experimental fMRI data using both linear and nonlinear modeling of the HRF. The activated regions were consistent with previous studies, indicating the ability of the proposed approach in detecting brain activation without a priori assumptions about the shape parameters of the HRF. The utility of the proposed basis functions in identifying the HRF is demonstrated by estimating the HRF in different activated regions.     

Nano-sized layered aluminium or zinc-manganese oxides as efficient water oxidizing catalysts

Nano-sized layered aluminium or zinc-manganese oxides were synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectrometry, dynamic light scattering and atomic absorption spectroscopy. These oxides showed efficient water oxidizing activity in the presence of cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate as a non-oxo transfer oxidant. Amounts of dissolved manganese, zinc or aluminium, and water oxidation activities of these oxides were reported and compared with other manganese oxides. A mechanism for oxygen evolution and possible roles for zinc or aluminium ions are also proposed.     

Direct summands of direct sums of modules whose endomorphism rings have two maximal right ideals

Let M₁,…,M_n be right modules over a ring R. Suppose that the endomorphism ring of each module M_i has at most two maximal right ideals. Is it true that every direct summand of M₁⊕?⊕M_n is a direct sum of modules whose endomorphism rings also have at most two maximal right ideals? We show that the answer is negative in general, but affirmative under further hypotheses. The endomorphism ring of uniserial modules, that is, the modules whose lattice of submodules is linearly ordered under inclusion, always has at most two maximal right ideals, and Pavel P?íhoda showed in 2004 that the answer to our question is affirmative for direct sums of finitely many uniserial modules.     

Quantum game approach for capacity allocation decisions under strategic reasoning

From a common point of view, quantum mechanics, psychology, and decision science disciplines try to predict how unruly systems (atomic particles, human behaviors, and decision makers’ choices) might behave in the future. Effective predicting outcome of a capacity allocation game under various allocation policies requires a profound understanding as how strategic reasoning of decision makers contributes to the financial gain of players. A quantum game framework is employed in the current study to investigate how performance of allocation policies is affected when buyers strategize over order quantities. The results show that the degree of being manipulative for allocation mechanisms is not identical and adopting adaptive quantum method is the most effective approach to secure the highest fill rate and profit when it is practiced under a reasonable range of entanglement levels.

     

Implementing and using high-order finite element methods

We present theoretical analyses of and detailed timings for two programs which use high-order finite element methods to solve the Navier- Strokes equations in two and three dimensions. The analyses show that algorithms popular in low-order finite element implementations are not always appropriate for high-order methods. The timings show that with the proper algorithms high-order finite element methods are viable for solving the Navier-Stokes equations. We show that it is more efficient, both in time and storage, not to precompute element matrices as the degree of approximating functions increases. We also study the cost of assembling the stiffness matrix versus directly evaluating bilinear forms in two and three dimensions. We show that it is more efficient not to assemble the full stiffness matrix for high-order methods in some cases. We consider the computational issues with regard to both Euclidean and isoparametric elements. We show that isoparametric elements may be used with higher-order elements without increasing the order of computational complexity.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of α-aminophosphinic acids from hypophosphorus acid salts under solvent free conditions

A simple, efficient, and general method has been developed for the synthesis of α-aminophosphinic acids from hypophosphorus salts under solvent-free conditions using microwave irradiation. α-Aminophosphinic acids were obtained in high yield under mild conditions by reaction of the amine salts of hypophosphorus acid with aldehydes in the presence of microwave irradiation.     

The preparation of quinolines and related fused-ring heterocycles from the dianions of benzoylacetone,certain cyclic ketone oximes,or certain substituted hydrazones

C(α),O-Dilithiooximes, C(α),N-dilithiobenzoylhydrazones, or C(α),N-dilithiocarboalkoxyhydrazones were prepared in an excess of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) and condensed with 2-aminobenzophenones, or isatoic anhydrides to give intermediates that were treated with aqueous acid, which caused their hydrolysis, cyclodehydration and/or linear dehydration to give products which were substituted quinolines or related fused-ring heterocycles (e.g., cycloheptaquinolines). Dilithiobenzoylacetone was condensed with 2-aminobenzophenones, which was followed by acid cyclodehydration to substituted 2-phenacylquinolines.