CARS methane spectra: Experiments and simulations for temperature diagnostic purposes

CARS laboratory experiments were done in the 2905–2925 cm⁻¹ range, in the vicinity of the ν₁ band of the methane molecule, for pressures ranging from 1 to 50 bar, and temperatures up to 1100 K. These experiments were carried out in order to retrieve the pressure evolution of the CH₄ spectrum, as well as to confirm its temperature dependance. After a brief recall on the theory used to compute pressure broadening coefficients and relaxation rates, we consider the ν₃ and ν₄ infrared bands of methane for benchmark calculations purposes. Next, we present recent experimental CARS spectra and calculated ones. Lastly, we discuss flame experiments as well as comparisons of temperature retrieval using N₂ and CH₄ as probe molecules.     

Ultraviolet Photodissociation: Developments towards Applications for Mass‐Spectrometry‐Based Proteomics

Unraveling of all of the information contained in proteomes poses a tremendous chemical challenge, which is balanced by the promise of potentially transformational knowledge. Mass spectrometry offers an unprecedented arsenal of tools for diverse proteomic investigations. Recently, it was demonstrated that ultraviolet light can be utilized to initiate unique and potentially useful fragmentations in peptides and proteins. Either nonspecific dissociation or highly specific dissociation at engineered chromophoric sites is possible following photon absorption. The level of specificity and control over fragmentation in these experiments is greater than with other fragmentation methods. Novel techniques made possible by this technology are poised to make substantial contributions to the field of proteomics.     

Projection of diffusions on submanifolds: Application to mean force computation

We consider the problem of sampling a Boltzmann‐Gibbs probability distribution when this distribution is restricted (in some suitable sense) on a submanifold Σ of ?ⁿ implicitly defined by N constraints q₁(x) = ? = q_N(x) = 0 (N < n). This problem arises, for example, in systems subject to hard constraints or in the context of free energy calculations. We prove that the constrained stochastic differential equations (i.e., diffusions) proposed in [7, 13] are ergodic with respect to this restricted distribution. We also construct numerical schemes for the integration of the constrained diffusions. Finally, we show how these schemes can be used to compute the gradient of the free energy associated with the constraints. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Synthesis of 2′-C-methyl-branched isonucleosides

Novel regioisomers of 2′-methyl-branched nucleosides were designed and synthesized to mimic potent anti-viral drugs like Valopicitabine. The short and efficient synthesis of the targets involves a one-pot tosylation/cyclization step that leads to an activated furan scaffold on which the isonucleosides were built.     

Manifolds: Hausdorffness versus homogeneity

We analyze the relationship between Hausdorffness and homogeneity in the frame of manifolds not confined to be Hausdorff. We exhibit examples of homogeneous non-Hausdorff manifolds and prove that a Lindelöf homogeneous manifold is Hausdorff.

     

A separable manifold failing to have the homotopy type of a CW-complex

We show that (a variation of) the Prüfer surface, which is an example of a separable non-metrizable 2-manifold, does not have the homotopy type of a CW-complex. Received: 6 February 2007 Revised: 21 August 2007