Partial data inverse problems for Maxwell equations via Carleman estimates

In this article we consider an inverse boundary value problem for the time-harmonic Maxwell equations. We show that the electromagnetic material parameters are determined by boundary measurements where part of the boundary data is measured on a possibly very small set. This is an extension of earlier scalar results of Bukhgeim–Uhlmann and Kenig–Sjöstrand–Uhlmann to the Maxwell system. The main contribution is to show that the Carleman estimate approach to scalar partial data inverse problems introduced in those works can be carried over to the Maxwell system.     

On the reaction of methoxide ion with bromoiodothiophenes

The reaction of 3-bromo-2-iodothiophene with sodium methoxide in methanol, pyridine or hexamethylphosphoric triamide and the same reaction of 4-bromo-2-iodo- and 4-bromo-3-iodo-thiophene in pyridine led to a halogen-dance, giving the same mixture of 3-bromothiophene, bromo-iodothiophenes, diiodo-bromothiophenes and triiodo-bromothiophenes. The reaction of all three isomeric bromo-iodothiophenes with sodium methoxide in methanol in the presence of cupric oxide gave 4-bromo-2-methoxythiophene.     

Studies of the reaction of 3-bromo-2,5-dimethylthiophene 1,1-dioxide with some organocopper reagents

The coupling reactions of some organocopper reagents with 3-bromo-2,5-dimethylthiophene 1,1-dioxide leading to 3-alkyl and 3-aryl substituted 2,5-dimethylthiophene 1,1-dioxides have been found to proceed in high yields (50–100%). The less stable organocopper reagents reacted faster and at lower temperatures than the more stable ones. It is more convenient to use alkylcopper than lithium dialkylcuprate reagents, which give higher yields without side reactions.     

The versatile chemistry of thiophenes: The effects of b-side contra c-side annelation on reactivity

The synthesis of the nine dithienopyridines and twenty-four thienonaphthyridines with angular annelation is described. They are all conveniently obtained by Pd(0)-catalysed couplings between heterocyclic o-formylboronic acids or o-formylstannyl derivatives with heterocyclic o-amino-halo derivatives. The effect of the use of silver oxide and cupric oxide as co-reagent is discussed. Differences in electrophilic substitution, metalation and cycloaddition of b- and c-fused isomers is treated. Theoretical calculations at the RHF/3–21G* level are in agreement with the orientation and reactivity in the nitration of dithieno[3,4-b:3′,4′-d] pyridine and dithieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d] pyridine observed experimentally. The preparation of N-oxides of the above-mentioned ring-systems and their reactivity will also be discussed.     

Orientation effects in the nitration of the dithieno[b,d]pyridine N-oxides. Its dependence on acidity of the reaction medium

The nitration of three dithienopyridine-N-oxides was investigated. The regiochemistry of the reaction was dependent on the reaction conditions used. Under strongly acidic conditions the positional preference is similar for the N-oxides and free bases. However, under mildly acidic or neutral conditions a completely different substitution pattern was obtained. In the latter case those ring positions were substituted which are expected to be unfavored or forbidden in electrophilic substitution of the free bases. The structures of the nitro derivatives were proven by extensive use of ¹H and ¹³C nmr spectroscopy.     

Surface characterization of unbleached kraft pulps by means of ESCA

The effect of digestion conditions (amount of effective alkali, digestion time) on the surface compositions of unbleached softwood (Pinus sylvestris) kraft pulp has been investigated by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). The quantities monitored were the angular dependence of the total O/C ratio, the relative amounts of carbons in different states of oxidation and the adsorption of Al and Ca ions to the carboxyl groups in the surface. Examination of the angular dependence of ESCA intensities shows that the concentration of alkyl carbon is high in a very thin surface layer and that it decreases linearly with decreasing kappa number. The concentration of alkyl carbon is decreased by extraction of the fibres with dichloromethane, but the amount remaining in the surface after extraction still decreases linearly with decreasing kappa number (i.e. it decreases with increasing digestion time). It is suggested that the observed enrichment of alkyl carbon in the outermost surface layers most probably is due to reprecipitation of lignin. In pulp that has not been extracted, there is also strong enrichment of extractives in the surface. This amount increases with increasing effective alkali but is relatively independent of digestion time. ESCA analysis of the Al and Ca bound to the carboxyl groups shows that the amount depends on digestion time; the results are consistent with the notion that the reprecipitated lignin contains carboxyl groups.     

The versatile chemistry of thiophene. Some contributions by the Gronowitz' group

Investigations of the author in thiophene chemistry developed during the last four decades are reviewed. Stereochemical studies, metallation and halogen-metal exchange, spectral studies (mainly those of NMR in thiophene and related series), studies of tautomerism in hydroxythiophenes and atropisomerism in bithienyl derivatives, ring opening of 3-thienyllithium derivatives and thiophene-1,1-dioxides, as well as studies of thieno fused heteroaromatic boron compounds are considered in detail.     

Effect of the organic modifier on the retention of retinoids in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Summary The retention of retinoids in reversed-phase liquid chromatography was studied using aqueous mobile phases of different composition (methanol 94–86% and acetonityrile 92–82%) at five temperatures (40–60 °C). With both organic modifiers the effect of the molecular structure increased as the water content and the polarity of the mobile phase increased. The temperature-dependence increased in the same manner with aqueous acetonitrile mobile phases. The - interactions between the retinoids and acetonitrile diminish when the water content of the mobile phase is increased, as happens also to the hydrophobic interactions with both organic modifiers. The net effect of these changes depends on the composition of the mobile phase. There was excellent correlation of retention with all polarity parameters studied(, P, x_e, x_d, x_n, E _T ^N , _T, , _o and _d), when the calculations were made separately with methanol and acetonitrile. The volume fraction of the organic modifier, , was the only parameter describing the retention well in both organic modifiers simultaneously.     

A lab-on-a-chip compatible bioaffinity assay method for human alpha-fetoprotein

A new lab-on-a-chip compatible binding assay platform is introduced. The platform combines dry-chemistry bioaffinity reagents and the recently introduced ArcDia TPX binding assay technique. The technique employs polymer microspheres as a solid phase reaction carrier, fluorescently labeled antibody conjugates, and detection of fluorescence emission from the surface of individual microspheres by two-photon excitation fluorescence. Signal response of the technique is independent of the reaction volume, thus the technique is particularly well suited for detection of bioaffinity reactions from miniature volumes. Performance of the new assay platform is studied by means of an immunometric assay of human alpha-fetoprotein (hAFP) in 384-plate format, and the results are compared to those of a corresponding wet-chemistry assay method. The results show that the ArcDia TPX detection technique can be combined with dry-chemistry reagents without compromises in assay performance. The microchip field has so far been characterized with a lack of microchip-compatible detection platforms which would allow cost-effective microchip design and sensitive bioaffinity detection. The presented detection technique is expected to provide a solution for this shortage.     

Validation of the Hygicult E dipslides method in surface hygiene control: a Nordic collaborative study

A collaborative study with Enterobacteriaceae was conducted to validate Hygicult E dipslides by comparison with violet red bile glucose agar (VRBGA) contact plates and swabbing, using stainless steel surfaces artificially contaminated with microbes at various levels. Twelve laboratories participated in the validation procedure. The total number of collaborative samples was 108. The microbial level in each sample was assessed in triplicate by using the 3 above-mentioned methods. No Enterobacteriaceae were used at the low inoculation level. At the middle inoculation level, the percentages detached from the test surfaces were 16.6 with the Hygicult E method, 15.3 with the contact plate method, and 14.6 with swabbing; at the high innoculation level, the percentages were 14.5, 15.8, and 9.8, respectively. The percentage of acceptable results after the removal of outliers was 97.2. Repeatability relative standard deviations ranged from 33.4 to 44.9%; reproducibility relative standard deviations ranged from 45.2 to 77.1%. The Hygicult E dipslide, VRBGA contact plate, and swabbing methods gave similar results at all 3 microbial levels tested: <1.0 colony-forming units (CFU)/cm2 at the low level, 1.2-1.3 CFU/cm2 at the middle level (theoretical yield 8.0 CFU/cm2), and 1.2-2.0 CFU/cm2 at the high level (theoretical yield 12.5 CFU/cm2).