Observation of B(+)-->phiphiK(+) and evidence for B(0)-->phiphiK(0) below eta(c) threshold

We report measurements of the decays B(+)-->phiphiK(+) and B(0)-->phiphiK(0) using a sample of 231 x 10(6) BB pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. The branching fractions are measured to be B(B(+)-->phiphiK(+))=(7.5+/-1.0(stat)+/-0.7(syst)) x 10(-6) and B(B(0)-->phiphiK(0))=(4.1(-1.4)(+1.7)(stat)+/-0.4(syst)) x 10(-6) for a phiphi invariant mass below 2.85 GeV/c(2).     

Observation of an excited charm baryon Omega c* decaying to Omega c0gamma

We report the first observation of an excited singly charmed baryon Omega c* (css) in the radiative decay Omega c0gamma, where the Omega c0 baryon is reconstructed in the decays to the final states Omega(-)pi+, Omega(-)pi+pi0, Omega(-)pi+pi(-)pi+, and Xi(-)K(-)pi+pi+. This analysis is performed using a data set of 230.7 fb(-1) collected by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. The mass difference between the Omega c* and the Omega c0 baryons is measured to be 70.8+/-1.0(stat)+/-1.1(syst) MeV/c2. We also measure the ratio of inclusive production cross sections of Omega c* and Omega c0 in e+e(-) annihilation.     

Measurement of the B-->pi l nu branching fraction and determination of absolute value of V(ub) with tagged B mesons

We report a measurement of the B-->pi l nu branching fraction based on 211 fb(-1) of data collected with the BABAR detector. We use samples of B0 and B+ mesons tagged by a second B meson reconstructed in a semileptonic or hadronic decay and combine the results assuming isospin symmetry to obtain B(B(0)-->pi- l+ nu) = (1.33+/-0.17stat+/-0.11syst) x 10(-4). We determine the magnitude of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element absolute value V(ub) by combining the partial branching fractions measured in ranges of the momentum transfer squared and theoretical calculations of the form factor. Using a recent lattice QCD calculation, we find absolute value V(ub) = (4.5+/-0.5stat+/-0.3syst(+0.7) -0.5FF x 10(-3), where the last error is due to the normalization of the form factor.     

Measurement of the branching fraction and photon energy moments of B-->Xs gamma and A(CP)(B --> X(s+d gamma))

The photon spectrum in B-->Xs gamma decay, where Xs is any strange hadronic state, is studied using a data sample of 88.5 x 10(6) e+ e- --> Upsilon(4S) --> BB decays collected by the BABAR experiment at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. The partial branching fraction, DeltaB(B --> Xs gamma) = (3.67+/-0.29(stat)+/-0.34(syst)+/-0.29(model)) x 10(-4), the first moment = 2.288+/-0.025+/-0.017+/-0.015 GeV, and the second moment E2(gamma) = 0.0328+/-0.0040+/-0.0023+/-0.0036 GeV2 are measured for the photon energy range 1.9 GeV < E gamma < 2.7 GeV. They are also measured for narrower E gamma ranges. The moments are then fit to recent theoretical calculations to extract the heavy quark expansion parameters m(b) and mu2(pi) and to extrapolate the partial branching fraction to E gamma > 1.6 GeV. In addition, the direct CP asymmetry A(CP)(B-->X(s+d gamma) is measured to be -0.110+/-0.115(stat)+/-0.017(syst).     

Robust optimization of contaminant sensor placement for community water systems

We present a series of related robust optimization models for placing sensors in municipal water networks to detect contaminants that are maliciously or accidentally injected. We formulate sensor placement problems as mixed-integer programs, for which the objective coefficients are not known with certainty. We consider a restricted absolute robustness criteria that is motivated by natural restrictions on the uncertain data, and we define three robust optimization models that differ in how the coefficients in the objective vary. Under one set of assumptions there exists a sensor placement that is optimal for all admissible realizations of the coefficients. Under other assumptions, we can apply sorting to solve each worst-case realization efficiently, or we can apply duality to integrate the worst-case outcome and have one integer program. The most difficult case is where the objective parameters are bilinear, and we prove its complexity is NP-hard even under simplifying assumptions. We consider a relaxation that provides an approximation, giving an overall guarantee of near-optimality when used with branch-and-bound search. We present preliminary computational experiments that illustrate the computational complexity of solving these robust formulations on sensor placement applications.     

Quassinoid support studies: fused carbocycle synthesis from benzoic acid derivatives via 5-hexynyl and 6-heptynyl radical cyclizations

Eight bromoalkynes were prepared from substituted benzoic acids and treated with n-Bu3SnH to provide trans-fused perhydroindans or cis- and trans-fused perhydronaphthalenes. Atom-transfer reactions that accompany the free radical reactions resulted in several tandem radical cyclizations with formation of up to three carbon-carbon bonds in a single reaction. The relationship between these reactions and an approach to the quassinoid family of natural products is also described.     

Edge Capping of 2D‐MXene Sheets with Polyanionic Salts To Mitigate Oxidation in Aqueous Colloidal Suspensions

MXenes have shown promise in myriad applications, such as energy storage, catalysis, EMI shielding, among many others. However, MXene oxidation in aqueous colloidal suspensions when stored in water at ambient conditions remains a challenge. It is now shown that by simply capping the edges of individual MXene flakes, Ti₃C₂T_z and V₂CT_z, by polyanions such as polyphosphates, polysilicates or polyborates, it is possible to quite significantly reduce their propensity for oxidation even when held in aerated water for weeks. This breakthrough resulted from the realization that the edges of MXene sheets are positively charged. It is thus an example of selectively functionalizing the edges differently from the MXene sheet surfaces.     

DFT Study of Methanol Adsorption on Defect-Free CeO2 Low-Index Surfaces

Methanol decomposition is a promising method for hydrogen production. However, the performance of current catalysts for this process is not sufficient for commercial applications. In this work, methanol adsorption on the CeO₂ low-index surfaces is studied by density functional theory (DFT). The results show that methanol always dissociates spontaneously on the (100) surface, whereas dissociation on the (110) surface is site-selective; dissociation does not occur at all on the (111) surface, where only weak physisorption is found. The results confirm that surfaces with higher energies are more catalytically active. Analysis of the surface geometries shows that the dominant factors for the dissociation of methanol are the degree of undercoordination and the charges of the surface ions. The adsorption energy of each methanol molecule decreases with increasing coverage and there is a transition threshold between dissociative and associative adsorption. The present work indicates that a strategy to design catalysts with high activity is to maximize exposure of surfaces on which the ions have a high degree of undercoordination and a strong tendency to donate/accept electrons. The results demonstrate the importance of appropriately selecting and controlling exposed facets and particle morphology for optimizing catalyst performance.     

Eine mafsanalytische Bestimmung des Kase?ns in der Kuhmilch

Ohne Zusammenfassung