The temperature dependence of the HO2 + HO2 reaction

The temperature dependence of the rate constant for the reaction HO₂ + HO₂ → H₂O₂ + O₂ (2k₁) has been determined using flash photolysis techniques, over the temperature range 298–510 K, in a nitrogen diluent at a total pressure of 700 Torr. The overall second order state constant is given by k₁ = (4.14 ± 1.15) × 10^?13 exp[(630 ± 115)/T] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, where the quoted errors refer to one standard deviation. This result is compared with previous findings and the negative activation energy is shown to be consistent with the observation that the rate constant is pressure dependent at 700 Torr.     

The Near-Appointment of Linus Pauling at the University of California, Santa Barbara

Linus Pauling, a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, should have been a prize for any university. Yet, he was denied a position at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 1964. His liberal activism apparently was too much for university officials to stomach; the McCarthy period still cast a dismal shadow. Lawrence Badash is Professor Emeritus of History of Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara.     

Development of a catalytic enantioselective synthesis of the guanacastepene and heptemerone tricyclic core

For nearly two decades, synthetic chemists have been fascinated by the structural complexity and synthetic challenges afforded by the guanacastepene and heptemerone diterpenoids. Numerous synthetic approaches to these compounds have been reported, but to date the application of enantioselective catalysis to this problem has not been realized. Herein we report an enantioselective synthesis of an advanced intermediate corresponding to the tricyclic core common to the guanacastepenes and heptemerones. Highlights of this work include sequential Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative allylic alkylation reactions to generate the two all carbon quaternary stereocenters, the use of ring-closing metathesis to close the A ring in the presence of a distal allyl sidechain, and a regio- and diastereoselective oxidation of a trienol ether to introduce oxygenation on the A ring.     

CMSC型固化剂改良土的新型CBR试验研究

针对苏北某高速公路沿线特殊软土的特点,采用两种方案按全粉料配料的方法配制CMSC型固化剂,并按一定剂量掺入土中。同时,考虑当地的水文气候因素,针对传统钢制击实筒的饱水条件偏保守的特点,研制了新型击实筒,在新型击实筒内制备试件并养护至规定龄期,采用新型浸水装置饱水,进行贯入试验。结果表明,试件的各向饱水条件更接近实际工况,增强了CBR值的可信度。CMSC型固化剂改良土的改良效果优于石灰改良土,且固化剂掺入剂量存在最佳掺量,同时分析了CMSC型固化剂的加固机理,为进一步研究和工程应用提供了参考。     

An experimental model and automated methodology for the analysis of the effects of ambient levels of air pollutants on the lung

This article discusses a series of studies designed to develop and automate a method for quantitation of type II pneumocyte populations of the lung and their changes in response to 2 ppm NO₂ exposure. The validity and sensitivity of the automated approach were strongly supported by high correlations between manual and automated cell counts (r>0.8, P<10^-6) and between their respective baselines —numbers of alveoli and alveolar wall area (r=0.56, P<.002)—as well as by the automated detection of significant hypertrophy of type II cells following the NO₂ exposure (P<.025). The speed and versitility of the automated image analyzer create the capability for a comprehensive quantitation of the lungs at the cellular level, and the methodology as used could be applied immediately to the study of tissue loss and emphysema, and to the establishment of air quality standards through the measurement of cell population alterations.     

Ilimaquinone,a sesquiterpenoid quinone from a marine sponge

Ilimaquinone (1) is a new sponge metabolite of composition C₂₂H₃₀O₄. Its structure, which was determined by spectral correlations and X-ray crystallography, comprises a rearranged drimane sesquiterpene moiety linked to a 2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzoquinone at C-3.     

A four-state field evaluation of the Boeing Landing Suitability Index (BLSI) for automatically mapping candidate aircraft operating sites in natural terrain from LANDSAT TM data

The Boeing Landing Suitability Index (BLSI) is a computer algorithm designed at Bowling Green State University for The Boeing Company for the purpose of mapping candidate aircraft operating sites of different “runway” lengths in natural terrain from LANDSAT TM data. Four LANDSAT TM frames (each 115 miles × 115 miles in area) from parts of California, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Louisiana (with annual rainfalls averaging approximately 3.5, 7, 17, and 53 in., respectively, though the Louisiana frame was collected during a drought year that had 28 in. of annual rainfall) were entered as inputs to the BLSI algorithm, which identified pixels in each of the frames that were sufficiently flat, treeless, and absent of surface water to land an aircraft on them, present weather conditions permitting, and perform off-loading, on-loading, and take-off operations. Adjustments were made to the algorithm for differences in annual rainfall. Although no attempt was made before these field trips to force BLSI to map surface firmness, the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) was measured in the field on-site and off-site with dynamic cone penetrometers by a contractor for the Air Force Research Lab (Tyndall AFB in Florida) for several of these candidate aircraft operating sites. We found that all of the sites selected by BLSI that were visited in the field were suitably flat for landing and had no surface water or trees on them (except for one small tree that was younger than the LANDSAT frame employed for that region). Fortunately, most of these candidate aircraft operating sites found by BLSI had firmer ground than their immediate surroundings, as measured from the dynamic cone penetrometers. Our field observations support the hypothesis that BLSI is primarily mapping very subtle, local topographic highs. Such a subtle topographic high, which may rise only few feet from the middle to the edge of a candidate aircraft operating site, usually has a hard pan beneath it, owing to its relatively better drainage, compared with its immediate surrounds. This may account for its greater firmness, compared to its surrounds. Because the slopes are so small and the feature is slightly convex upward, there are no gullies on candidate aircraft operating sites. This causes the subtle topographic highs to be very flat and without rocks, unlike higher-sloped regions, where water in gullies tend to wash rocks. This seems the most reasonable explanation for why a pixel size as gross as 28.5 m (LANDSAT TM bands 1–5 and 7) is adequate to map such features. BLSI displayed as a continuous-toned image has potential for mapping areas of highest trafficability for wheeled vehicles, with lower BLSI values (shown as purple or blue areas) having the greatest trafficability.     

Development of a drinking water regulation for perchlorate in California

Perchlorate is an environmental contaminant often associated with military installations and rocket propellant manufacture and testing facilities across the U.S. Highly water soluble, perchlorate has been found by federal and state agencies at almost 400 sites within the U.S. in groundwater, surface water, soil or public drinking water. There is no federal drinking water standard for perchlorate, but it is on the drinking water Contaminant Candidate List, and falls under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) for which monitoring is required. The recent National Academy of Science (NAS) report on the potential health effects of perchlorate recommended a perchlorate reference dose of 0.0007 mg/kg of body weight which would be equivalent to a drinking water concentration of 24.5 μg/L.In California, approximately 395 wells in 96 water systems have been shown to contain perchlorate, and about 90% of these are located in Southern California. Water taken from the Colorado River, a major surface water supply to Southern California, has had reported detections of perchlorate ranging from non-detect to 9 μg/L. California has established a Public Health Goal (PHG) of 6 μg/L for perchlorate, and a proposed drinking water regulation is imminent. This review details the regulatory process involved with particular attention given to the occurrence of perchlorate in California drinking water sources and analytical methodology utilized.     

John D. Roberts: In His Own Words and Those of His Friends

In honor of the 97th birthday of Professor John D. Roberts, the author has assembled a collection of poignant quotes and anecdotes, mostly written by Roberts himself, which embody his philosophies of life and his wide‐ranging experiences and interests. A brief summary of Roberts’s major scientific accomplishments is also presented.     

Mean stability of stochastic difference systems

In this paper the mean stability of linear and non-linear stochastic difference systems is considered. For linear systems the relationship between mean stability and other stability definitions is explored. For the non-linear system explicit criteria for mean stability are derived when the non-linear term satisfies a certain realistic condition.