Magnetic and martensitic transitions in Ni-Fe-Ga alloy

The ferromagnetic shape memory alloy with nominal composition Ni₅₄Fe₁₉Ga₂₇ is investigated by Ac susceptibility and resistivity measurements. The alloy shows long-range ferromagnetic order below 290 K. The anomaly due to the martensitic transition is observed in the susceptibility and resistivity data in the temperature range around 220 K, which is associated with clear thermal hysteresis. Minor hysteresis loop technique was used to investigate the phase coexistence across the martensitic transition, and our analysis indicate that both martensite and austenite phases mutually coexist in the region of hysteresis.     

Stereospecific solid-state NaBH4-promoted reduction of 1-methylpentacyclo[5.4.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]undecane-8,11-dione

NaBH₄ reduction of a cage dione proceeds in a stereospecific fashion to give theendo,endo-diol. This reactivity is related to the crystal structure.     

On outer automorphism groups of coxeter groups

Summary It is shown that the outer automorphism group of a Coxeter groupW of finite rank is finite if the Coxeter graph contains no infinite bonds. A key step in the proof is to show that if the group is irreducible andΠ ₁ andΠ ₂ any two bases of the root system ofW, thenΠ ₂ = ±ωΠ ₁ for some ω εW. The proof of this latter fact employs some properties of the dominance order on the root system introduced by Brink and Howlett. This article was processed by the author using the Springer-Verlag TEX PJour1g macro package 1991.     

A Pilot Survey of Vocal Health in Young Singers

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of vocal problems in young choir singers and to correlate vocal problems with demographic and behavioral information. A questionnaire addressing vocal habits and hygiene was offered to 571 young choir singers, up to 25 years of age, who sing at least weekly; 129 (22.6%) responded. More than one-half of the respondents had experienced vocal difficulty, particularly older adolescents. Detrimental behaviors and circumstances surveyed were not reflective of the incidence of vocal difficulty, except for morning hoarseness, chronic fatigue, insomnia, and female gender after puberty. Voice care professionals should be aware that self-reported voice difficulties are common among young choral singers, especially postpubescent girls, and children with symptoms consistent with reflux (morning hoarseness) and emotional stress (insomnia). Laryngologists should communicate with choral conductors and singing teachers to enhance early identification and treatment of children with voice complaints, and to develop choral educational strategies that help decrease their incidence.     

Olefin terpolymerizations. II. 4-vinylcyclohexene and cyclooctadiene

4-Vinylcyclohexene (VCH) and cyclooctadiene (COD) were investigated as termonomers in EPDM (ethylene/propylene/diene) synthesis by using rac-ethylenebis (1-η⁵-indenyl) zir-conium dichloride ( 1 ) as a catalyst precursor. Homopolymerizations of VCH, vinylcycloh-exane and cyclohexene were compared. The parameter K_πκ_p, which is the apparent rate constant for Ziegler-Natta polymerization, is about the same for VCH and vinylcyclohexanebut is 10 times smaller for cyclohexene. Therefore, the linear olefinic double bond is more active than the cyclic internal double bond. VCH reduces ethylene polymerization rate but not propylene polymerization rate in copolymerizations. In terpolymerizations, VCH tends to suppress ethylene incorporation especially at elevated polymerization temperature and Lowers the polymer MW by about two-fold. COD has very low activity as a termonomer. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Hybrid free radical/cationic frontal photopolymerizations

The irradiation of hybrid photopolymer systems consisting of a free radically polymerizable multifunctional acrylate monomer and a cationically polymerizable epoxide or oxetane monomer was conducted under conditions where only the free radical polymerization takes place. This results in the formation of a free‐standing polyacrylate network film containing quiescent oxonium ions along with the unreacted cyclic ether monomer. The subsequent application of a point source of heat to the film ignites a cationic ring‐opening frontal polymerization that emanates from that site and propagates to all portions of the irradiated sample. This article examines the impact of various molecular structural and experimental parameters on these novel hybrid frontal polymerizations that produce interpenetrating network polymers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4331–4340, 2007     

Curcumin: A naturally occurring long‐wavelength photosensitizer for diaryliodonium salts

Curcumin, a naturally occurring, intensely yellow dye extracted from the spice turmeric, is an efficient photosensitizer for diaryliodonium salt photoinitiators at wavelengths ranging from 340 to 535 nm. With curcumin as a photosensitizer, it is possible to carry out the cationic photopolymerization of a wide variety of epoxide, oxetane, and vinyl monomers with long‐wavelength UV and visible light. An example of the photopolymerization of an epoxide monomer with ambient solar irradiation is provided. Several other curcumin analogues were synthesized, and their use as photosensitizers is examined. With such photosensitizers, the range of spectral sensitivity can be extended well into the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5217–5231, 2005