Atmospheric neutrino flux supported by recent muon experiments

We present a new one-dimensional calculation of low and intermediate energy atmospheric muon and neutrino fluxes, using up-to-date data on primary cosmic rays and hadronic interactions. We study several sources of uncertainties relevant to our calculations. A comparison with the muon fluxes and charge ratios measured in several modern balloon-borne experiments suggests that the atmospheric neutrino flux is essentially lower than one used for the standard analyses of the sub-GeV and multi-GeV neutrino induced events in underground detectors.     

Synthesis of Tailored Perfluoro Unsaturated Monomers for Potential Applications in Proton Exchange Membrane Preparation

The aim of the present work is the synthesis and characterization of new perfluorinated monomers bearing, similarly to Nafion^®, acidic groups for proton transport for potential and future applications in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. To this end, we focused our attention on the synthesis of various molecules with (i) sufficient volatility to be used in vacuum polymerization techniques (e.g., PECVD)), (ii) sulfonic, phosphonic, or carboxylic acid functionalities for proton transport capacity of the resulting membrane, (iii) both aliphatic and aromatic perfluorinated tags to diversify the membrane polarity with respect to Nafion^®, and (iv) a double bond to facilitate the polymerization under vacuum giving a preferential way for the chain growth of the polymer. A retrosynthetic approach persuaded us to attempt three main synthetic strategies: (a) organometallic Heck-type cross-coupling, (b) nucleophilic displacement, and (c) Wittig–Horner reaction (carbanion approach). Preliminary results on the plasma deposition of a polymeric film are also presented. The variation of plasma conditions allowed us to point out that the film prepared in the mildest settings (20 W) shows the maximum monomer retention in its structure. In this condition, plasma polymerization likely occurs mainly by rupture of the π bond in the monomer molecule.     

(E)‐5‐[(4‐Nitro­phenyl­hydrazono)­phenyl­acetyl]‐3‐phenyl­isoxazole

The title compound, C₂₃H₁₆N₄O₄, can be considered as consisting of two connected fragments: a nitro­phenyl­hydrazone moiety, which assumes an E configuration, and an isoxazole moiety. In this latter fragment, the weak π‐electron delocalization shortens the carbonyl–isoxazole O?O distance [2.643 (2) Å] to less than the van der Waals radii sum.     

Synthesis, structure and reactivity of homobimetallic Rh(I) and Ir(I) complexes of s- and as-indacene-diide

The Rh(COD) and Ir(COD) homobimetallic complexes of s-indacene-diide, 2,6-dimethyl-s-indacene-diide, as-indacene-diide, and 2,7-dimethyl-as-indacene-diide have been synthesized from the di-lithium salts of the dianions and metal dimers [M(μ-Cl)L₂]₂ (M = Rh, Ir; L₂ = COD, NBD, (ethylene)₂, (CO)₂ as mixtures of syn and anti isomers. The syn/anti ratio depends on the nature of the ancillary ligands at the metal and on the s or as geometry of the bridging ligand. In the reaction of the 2,7-dimethyl-as-indacene-diide-[M(COD)]₂ species with CO, the higher reactivity of the syn isomers has been justified on the basis of a greater instability of the ground state due to steric interactions between the COD groups. Bis-η¹ metal-bonded intermediates have been identified in the carbonylation of iridium derivatives; on the other hand, the formation of the bis-η⁵ mixed complexes syn and anti-{2,7-dimethyl-as-indacene-diide-[Rh(COD)][Rh(CO)₂]} and their reactivity strongly support the existence of metal---metal interaction in the rhodium derivatives.     

Activity and Osmotic Coefficients from the Emf of Liquid Membrane Cells. VIII. K.3[Co(CN)6], Mg3[Co(CN)6]2, and Ca3[Co(CN)6]2

The activity coefficients of K₃[Co(CN)₆], Mg₃[Co(CN)₆]₂, and Ca₃[Co(CN)₆]₂,are examined. The results highlight close similarity with the correspondinghexacyanoferrate (III) salts. On dilution, K₃[Co(CN)₆], like K₃[Fe(CN)₆], approachesthe limiting law from the upper side, while Mg₃[Co(CN)₆]₂ and Ca₃[Co(CN)₆]₂tend to the limiting law from the opposite side, like Mg₃[Fe(CN)₆]₂,Ca₃[Fe(CN)₆]₂, Sr₃[Fe(CN)₆]₂, and Ba₃[Fe(CN)₆]₂. Both kinds of behavior agreewith theory for a model of hard spheres bearing electric charges +1 and –3 or+2 and –3, respectively. The paramater values of the Pitzer equation for activityand osmotic coefficients are reported.     

Modification of Cross-Linked Rubber Particles by Free Radical Polymerization

The synthesis of polystyrene chains covalently bound to the surface of cross-linked rubber particles from recycled tires (ground tire rubber, GTR) was investigated via free radical polymerization in situ by using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and dibenzoyl peroxide (BPO) as initiators. Indeed, the graft polymerization provides a significant route to modify the physical and chemical properties of these particles allowing to improve their compatibility with other polymers. Polymerization reactions were carried out in bulk by changing the styrene/GTR ratio as well as the amount of free radical initiator. Appreciable amounts of polystyrene (PS) were grafted on GTR when BPO was used as confirmed by particle characterizations.     

Precise Block‐Copolymers by Efficient Coupling of End‐Functionalized Polymers Using Phosgene

Summary: We report the synthesis of well‐defined block copolymers by covalent coupling of hydroxy end‐functionalized polymers. Using the high volatility of the coupling agent phosgene as compared to the solvent, very high conversion (up to 96%) is obtained in a one‐pot reaction with as little as 10⁻⁵ moles of each of the reacting polymers, even without prior purification of the as‐received reagents. This has potential as an alternative to the currently practiced method of sequential living polymerization of constituent monomers, with the added advantage of direct knowledge and control over the length distribution of each block.

Coupling of end‐functionalized polymers using phosgene to form block copolymers of controlled composition.     

Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of Thienopyrazine-Based Fluorophores for Application in Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs)

Organic fluorophores have found broad application as emitters in luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) for silicon photovoltaics. In particular, the preparation of organic conjugated systems with intense light-harvesting ability, emissions in the deep-red and NIR regions, and large Stokes shift values represent a very challenging undertaking. Here, we report a simple and easy way to prepare three symmetrical donor–acceptor–donor (DAD) organic-emitting materials based on a thienopyrazine core. The central core in the three dyes was modified with the introduction of aromatic substituents, aiming to affect their optical properties. The fluorophores were characterized by spectroscopic studies. In all cases, visible-NIR emissions with large Stokes shifts were found, highlighting these molecules as promising materials for the application in LSCs.     

Confining Thin Elastic Sheets and Folding Paper

Crumpling a sheet of paper leads to the formation of complex folding patterns over several length scales. This can be understood on the basis of the interplay of a nonconvex elastic energy, which favors locally isometric deformations, and a small singular perturbation, which penalizes high curvature. Based on three-dimensional nonlinear elasticity and by using a combination of explicit constructions and general results from differential geometry, we prove that, in agreement with previous heuristic results in the physics literature, the total energy per unit thickness of such folding patterns scales at most as the thickness of the sheet to the power 5/3. For the case of a single fold we also obtain a corresponding lower bound.     

Modeling of cementitious materials exposed to isothermal calcium leaching,considering process kinetics and advective water flow. Part 2: Numerical solution

The second part of the paper presents numerical solutions of the mathematical model of hydro-chemo-mechanical behavior of cementitious materials exposed to contact with deionized water of part 1. The model defines kinetics of the calcium leaching process instead of a direct application of a curve describing equilibrium between solid calcium in the material skeleton and the calcium dissolved in the pore solution. It further takes into account the advective flux of calcium ions. Both aspects are new as compared to previous models. The weak form of the governing equations of the model is derived first using the Galerkin method. Then, the equations are discretized in space with finite elements and in time domain with finite differences, and finally the procedures used for numerical solution of their discretized form are presented. Three numerical examples are solved to test the numerical solution procedure proposed and demonstrate its robustness for solution of 1D and 2D problems concerning fast and slow leaching of cement-based materials. The effect of various factors on the results concerning chemical degradation of structures made of cementitious materials is analyzed as well.