Kink instability in applied-field magneto-plasma-dynamic thrusters

Measurements of magnetic and electrostatic fluctuations in an applied field magneto-plasma-dynamic thruster have shown that a m/n=1/1 kink mode becomes unstable whenever the Kruskal-Shafranov limit is violated. A positive correlation is established between the kink and performance degradation at high current, which has until now prevented the use of this kind of thruster in space missions.     

The nu(CO) vibrational spectra of planar transition metal carbonyl clusters

The nu(CO) vibrational spectra of planar transition cluster carbonyls containing M(CO)(4) groups are studied. It is possible to anticipate qualitatively, both for the infrared and Raman, the band intensity changes associated with increasing metallic nature of the cluster. These enable a unification of the band patterns shown by the species reported. As for (idealized) spherical clusters, the spherical harmonic model (SHM), suitably modified, becomes of more general applicability as cluster size increases, although for smaller species the tensor harmonic model (THM) makes a contribution.     

Application of the Spherical Harmonic Model to the ν(CO) Vibrational Spectra of Some Fe(CO)4 and M(CO)5 (M=Cr, W) Transition Metal Cluster Carbonyl Species

When the Fe(CO)₄ and M(CO)₅ (M=Cr, W) groups are co-ordinated in C_3v and C_4v fashion, respectively, in transition metal carbonyl cluster species they contain two sets of non-symmetry related carbonyl groups. In the application of the spherical harmonic model (SHM) to the interpretation of the infrared spectra of these compounds it proves necessary first to treat these as for a normal, isolated, M(CO)₄ or M(CO)₅ group and then apply the SHM. This recognition gives insights into the general application of the SHM.     

Length spectra and<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-spectra of compact flat manifolds

We compare and contrast various length vs Laplace spectra of compact flat Riemannian manifolds. As a major consequence we produce the first examples of pairs of closed manifolds that are isospectral on p-forms for some p ≠ 0, but have different weak length spectrum. For instance, we give a pair of 4-dimensional manifolds that are isospectral on p-forms for p = 1, 3and we exhibit a length of a closed geodesic that occurs in one manifold but cannot occur in the other. We also exhibit examples of this kind having different injectivity radius and different first eigenvalue of the Laplace spectrum on functions. These results follow from a method that uses integral roots of the Krawtchouk polynomials. We prove a Poisson summation formula relating the p-eigenvalue spectrum with the lengths of closed geodesics. As a consequence we show that the Laplace spectrum on functions determines the lengths of closed geodesics and, by an example, that it does not determine the complex lengths. Furthermore we show that orientability is an audible property for closed flat manifolds. We give a variety of examples, for instance, a pair of manifolds isospectral on functions (resp. Sunada isospectral) with different multiplicities of length of closed geodesies and a pair with the same multiplicities of complex lengths of closed geodesies and not isospectral on p-forms for any p, or else isospectral on p-forms for only one value of p ≠ 0.     

Determination of S-nitrosoglutathione in erythrocytes by capillary zone electrophoresis

A method for separation and quantification of S-nitrosoglutathione in red cell extracts by capillary electrophoresis is reported. The method is based on the direct analysis of the metaphosphoric acid erythrocyte extract containing diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. Optimization of the method is briefly discussed. Best results in the shortest time were obtained at 25 degrees C, using a coated capillary, 7 kV applied voltage and phosphate sodium 40 mmol/L (pH 2.2) as running buffer. Reproducibility, detection limits, and recoveries of S-nitrosoglutathione analyses were checked. The results evidenced that S-nitrosoglutathione is formed in erythrocytes treated with S-nitrosocysteine, a transnitrosating agent. Under our experimental conditions, the contemporaneous detection and quantification of reduced and oxidized glutathione present in cell extract could also be performed.     

Quantitative evaluation of mechanosensing of cells on dynamically tunable hydrogels

Thin hydrogel films based on an ABA triblock copolymer gelator [where A is pH-sensitive poly(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDPA) and B is biocompatible poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC)] were used as a stimulus-responsive substrate that allows fine adjustment of the mechanical environment experienced by mouse myoblast cells. The hydrogel film elasticity could be reversibly modulated by a factor of 40 via careful pH adjustment without adversely affecting cell viability. Myoblast cells exhibited pronounced stress fiber formation and flattening on increasing the hydrogel elasticity. As a new tool to evaluate the strength of cell adhesion, we combined a picosecond laser with an inverted microscope and utilized the strong shock wave created by the laser pulse to determine the critical pressure required for cell detachment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that an abrupt jump in the hydrogel elasticity can be utilized to monitor how cells adapt their morphology to changes in their mechanical environment.     

Solution structures and dynamic behaviour of some iron chalcogen derivatives

Summary ¹³C-n.m.r. spectra of (-SR)₂Fe₂(CO)₆, (-SR)₂Fe₂(CO)₅P(n-Bu)₃ and (-X)₂Fe₂(CO)₆ (X=S or Se) show that the solid state structure is maintained in solution. N.m.r. evidence indicates that two isomeric species, not separable by means of the usual physicochemical methods, are present for (-SPh)₂Fe₂(CO)₆ with an overwhelming predominance of theanti form. The phosphine substitutes a COtrans to the iron-iron bond. For any of the iron chalcogen derivatives examined, variable temperature¹³C-n.m.r. spectra show that carbonyl exchange occur in one step. The energy barrier for the exchange of carbon monoxide in the phosphine derivative is lower than that in the unsubstituted complex.     

Disambiguation of Isomeric Procyanidins with Cyclic B-Type and Non-cyclic A-Type Structures from Wine and Peanut Skin with HPLC-HDX-HRMS/MS

Hydrogen/deuterium exchange coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry was successfully applied for the identification of A-type tetrameric, pentameric, and hexameric procyanidins in peanut skin. This extended a previous study on isomeric cyclic B-type unconventional tetramer, pentamer, and hexamer procyanidins found in wine and cranberries. Not only had the method successfully identified the procyanidins with a single A-linkage (e.g., tetrameric m/z 1153.2608) by means of distinguishing them from their isomeric cyclic B-type analogues, but this method also worked for procyanidins with two or more A-linkages (such as the tetrameric m/z 1151.2452). As a further consequence, B-type cyclic pentamers and hexamers in wine have been elucidated with hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) for the first time.

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Crystal structure of Co4(CO)10S2 and Co4(CO)10Se2; v(CO) vibrations of a model cluster molecule: Co4(CO)10S2

The crystal structure of Co₄(CO)₁₀S₂ has been redetermined and that of Co₄(CO)₁₀Se₂ obtained by X-ray analysis. The compounds are monoclinic and isomorphous, space groupP2₁/n,Z=2, with (S compound)a=10.42(2)Å,b=6.794(1)Å,c=12.421(2)Å,=97.27(1) and (Se compound)a=10.110(2)Å,b=6.747(2)Å,c=12.592(4)Å,=96.37(2); finalR(S)=0.029,R _w =0.032 for 1414 reflections and finalR (Se)=0.052,R _w =0.054 for 1264 reflections. The molecules, which lie on a crystallographic center of symmetry, consist of a rectangle with Co atoms at the corners, each face of the rectangle being capped by a chalcogen atom. Each Co atom is bonded to two terminal CO groups; there are two bridging CO groups, one on each member of a pair of opposite sides of the rectangle. The vibrational spectra of the sulfur compound are considered in detail. A study of the crystal structure, and recognition of an approximate spectroscopic space group, are shown to be essential for an understanding of thev(CO) infrared spectrum of polycrystalline Co₄(CO)₁₀S₂. In this molecule, intramolecular vibrational coupling in the crystal leads to extensive modifications of the infrared-activev(CO) molecular coordinates.     

Moment Solutions for the State Exiting Counting Processes of a Markov Renewal Process

Important performance measures for many Markov renewal processes are the counts of the exits from each state. We present solutions for the conditional first, second, and covariance moments of the state exiting counting processes for a Markov renewal process, and solutions for the unconditional equilibrium versions of the moments. We demonstrate the relationship between the conditional first moments for the state exiting and the state entering counting processes. For analytical and illustrative purposes, we concentrate on the two state case. Two asymptotic expansions for the moment functions are proposed and evaluated both analytically and empirically. The two approximations are shown to be competitive in terms of absolute relative error, but the second approximation has a simpler analytical form which is useful in analyzing more complex stochastic processes having an underlying MRP structure.