The response of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) subjected to large strains,high strain rates,high pressures,a range in temperatures,and variations in the intermediate principal stress

This article presents the response of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) subjected to large strains, high strain rates, high pressures, a range in temperatures, and variations in the intermediate principal stress. Laboratory data from the literature, and new test data provided here, are used in the evaluation. The new data include uniaxial stress compression tests (at various strain rates and temperatures) and uniaxial stress tension tests (at low strain rates and ambient temperatures). The compression tests include experiments at ?ε= 13,000 s^?1, significantly extending the range of known strain rate data. The observed behavior of PMMA includes the following: it is brittle in compression at high rates, and brittle in tension at all rates; strength is dependent on the pressure, strain, strain rate, temperature, and the intermediate principal stress; the shear modulus increases as the pressure increases; and it is highly compressible. Also presented are novel, high velocity impact tests (using high-speed imaging) that provide insight into the initiation and evolution of damage. Lastly, computational constitutive models for pressure, strength, and failure are presented that provide responses that are in good agreement with the laboratory data. The models are used to compute several ballistic impact events for which experimental data are available.     

An online nano-LC-ESI-FTICR-MS method for comprehensive characterization of endogenous fragments from amyloid β and amyloid precursor protein in human and cat cerebrospinal fluid

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is the precursor protein to amyloid β (Aβ), the main constituent of senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Endogenous Aβ peptides reflect the APP processing, and greater knowledge of different APP degradation pathways is important to understand the mechanism underlying AD pathology. When one analyzes longer Aβ peptides by low-energy collision-induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), mainly long b-fragments are observed, limiting the possibility to determine variations such as amino acid variants or post-translational modifications (PTMs) within the N-terminal half of the peptide. However, by using electron capture dissociation (ECD), we obtained a more comprehensive sequence coverage for several APP/Aβ peptide species, thus enabling a deeper characterization of possible variants and PTMs. Abnormal APP/Aβ processing has also been described in the lysosomal storage disease Niemann-Pick type C and the major large animal used for studying this disease is cat. By ECD MS/MS, a substitution of Asp7 → Glu in cat Aβ was identified. Further, sialylated core 1 like O-glycans at Tyr10, recently discovered in human Aβ (a previously unknown glycosylation type), were identified also in cat cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It is therefore likely that this unusual type of glycosylation is common for (at least) species belonging to the magnorder Boreoeutheria. We here describe a detailed characterization of endogenous APP/Aβ peptide species in CSF by using an online top-down MS-based method.     

Pd-Ag catalyzed selective dicoupling of α-trialkylsilyl α,ω-diynes; the first one-pot synthesis of dienediynes

Using Pd and Ag as catalysts, the first one-pot synthesis of dienediynes have been achieved. Sequential dicoupling reactions afforded a regioselective access to dienediynes starting from any and especially non-symmetrical α,ω-diynes. Good to excellent yields were obtained in dimethylformamide at room temperature.     

Creation of a synthetically useful lipase with higher than wild-type enantioselectivity and maintained catalytic activity

[reaction: see text] We have found that two Geotrichum candidum lipase isozymes have remarkably different abilities to differentiate between enantiomers of ethyl 2-methyldecanoate. By rational recombination of selected portions of the two isozymes, we have created a novel lipase with an enantioselectivity superior to that of the best wild-type parent isozyme. Site-directed mutagenesis identified two key amino acid residues responsible for the improved enantioselectivity without compromised total activity of the reengineered enzyme.     

Influence of the dielectric constant of the medium on the selectivities of neutral carrier ligands in electrode membranes

The selectivities of potassium and calcium ion-selective liquid membrane electrodes, based on neutral carrier ligands, have been studied in relation to the dielectric constant of the membrane solvent. Potentiometric measurements have shown that the selectivity for monovalent cations is favoured by a low dielectric constant, and that for divalent cations by a high dielectric constant of the solvent. This is in good agreement with theoretical predictions. The size of the calcium-selective ligand has also been estimated.     

Kiliani reactions on ketoses: branched carbohydrate building blocks from D-tagatose and D-psicose

D-Tagatose and D-psicose on treatment with sodium cyanide gave mixtures of branched sugar lactones; extraction of the crude products by acetone in the presence of acid permits direct access to branched carbohydrate diacetonides, likely to be of value as new chirons. In both cases, the major lactone products—diacetonides with a 2,3-cis-diol relationship—can be crystallised in around 40-50% yield from the ketohexose. A practical procedure for the conversion of 30 g of D-tagatose to give 24 g of 2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-2-C-hydroxymethyl-D-talono-1,4-lactone is reported.     

Line width transitions in the deuteron magnetic resonance of polycrystalline ND4Cl,ND4Br,and ND4I

The line width of the deuteron magnetic resonance in polycrystalline ND₄Cl, ND₄Br, and ND₄I has been measured from 300°K down to 115°K. Below 200, 172, and 140°K in ND₄Cl, ND₄Br, and ND₄I, respectively, the line rapidly broadens. In addition, the I ? II transition of ND₄I causes a change of line width. The observed line widths agree with those calculated by the present writers from theVan Vleck second moment formula assuming a Gaussian line shape. For this agreement, in the phases II and III of ND₄Cl and in the phase I of ND₄I the deuteron-halogen interactions should be taken into account, whereas in the phases II and III of ND₄Br and ND₄I they should be omitted.     

Modeling the ballistic response of the 14.5 mm BS41 projectile

This article presents computed results of the U. S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) 14.5 mm BS41 projectile impacting steel targets with varying impact conditions. The ARL BS41 is a complex projectile that includes a soft metal jacket, lead filler, inert powder and a high-strength tungsten carbide (WC) core. The WC core includes a nominal 6 wt% cobalt binder (WC-.06Co) producing significant ductility in compression but very little in tension. Recent 3D numerical algorithm advancements and a more accurate material model for WC produce computed results that are in good agreement with experimental results. The computed results demonstrate the ability to reproduce several key observations: the stripping of the steel jacket, lead filler and inert powder when impacting thin and thick steel targets; rigid body penetration of the WC core into thin and thick steel targets for normal impact; severe fracture and fragmentation of the core when impacting obliquely; and core fracture due to a yaw angle at impact. The computed results may also explain why the core fractures at low obliquities and shatters at high obliquities. Experimental data are also discussed and compared to the computed results.