A branching process model for sand avalanches

An analytically solvable model for sand avalanches of noninteracting grains of sand, based on the Chapman-Kolmogorov equations, is presented. For a single avalanche, distributions of lifetimes, sizes of overflows and avalanches, and correlation functions are calculated. Some of these are exponentials, some are power laws. Spatially homogeneous distributions of avalanches are also studied. Computer simulations of avalanches of interacting grains of sand are compared to the solutions to the Chapman-Kolmogorov equations. We find that within the range of parameters explored in the simulation, the approximation of noninteracting grains of sand is a good one.     

Chalcogenide based all-solid-state thin electroplated ion-selective membrane for Hg(II) flow-injection determinations

The response to Hg(II) of a thin all-solid-state Te-doped silver chalcogenide membrane, described by the general formula Ag₂ + δSe_{1 − x}Te_x, which has been electrochemically prepared following a previously proposed approach, has been investigated. The kinetics of formation of the membrane's secondary dynamic response to Hg(II) has been successfully combined with the precise timing and transient signal, typical for flow-injection (FI) measurements, in developing a sensitive and reliable mercury FI detector. Under optimized stream conditions it exhibits a linear Nernstian response, with a double slope of the calibration graph of 59 mV dec⁻¹, over the mercury(II) concentration range 10⁻⁶ − 10⁻³ M, the typical sample throughput amounting to about 70 samples per hour. The observed chemical amplification of the signal is due to the specificity of the processes dominating the initial step in formation of the steady-state signal of the membrane to mercury. The analytical performance of the Hg(II) FI detector, as regards sensitivity, reproducibility, selectivity and long-term stability has been thoroughly investigated. The exact procedure for membrane electrodeposition is given and the potential of the proposed approach as a cost-effective way for preparing chalcogenides of unique structure and properties has been outlined in the above context.     

Reaction of D2 with palladium fulleride C60Pd4.9

Fullerene deuteride was obtained by the reaction of deuterium with solid palladium fulleride C₆₀Pd_4.9 under fairly mild conditions. The compound was identified by FD-MS, UV-Vis and IR spectroscopies, and TLC.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 483–484, February, 1996     

Classical solutions to a quadratically nonlinear gauge theory

We present some classical solutions to a gauge theory based on quadratically nonlinear Lie algebras without a central term. We observe that instanton-like and meron-like solutions force the internal fields to behave like solitons.     

Kinetic Studies of Electrochemical Oxidation of 1,3-Benzenedithiol

The electrochemical oxidation of 1, 3-benzenedithiol was investigated in a 0. 100 mol/L tetrabutylammonium perchlorate/acetonitrile electrolyte. The electrochemical techniques used were potential sweep, bulk electrolysis, rotating disc and the potential step method. The combination of the techniques yielded the number of electrons transferred per molecule, the reaction order, the transfer coefficient, the diffusion coefficient and concentration of dithiol anions, the standard heterogeneous rate constant as well as the formal potential and equilibrium constant of the preceeding dissociation reaction. This paper also illustrates the methods for studying the electrode kinetics of reactions which (a) involve a chemical reaction preceeding the electron-transfer process, (b) have insoluble polymer products, and (c) are totally irreversible.     

Theoretical Design of High-spin Organic Molecules with —^＊N—S— as a Spin-containing Fragment and Heterocycle as End Groups

IntroductionDesigns and syntheses of organic molecules withvery high-spin ground states have been a topic of greatinterest[1—8].One of the rational approaches to desig-ning high-spin molecules,which has been proposedand studied by several groups[9,10],in…     

L-S category of quaternionic Stiefel manifolds

By calculating certain generalized cohomology theory, lower bounds for the L-S category of quaternionic Stiefel manifolds are given.     

Shape transition from InAs quantum dash to quantum dot on InP(3 1 1)A

We report on the shape transition from InAs quantum dashes to quantum dots (QDs) on lattice-matched GaInAsP on InP(3 1 1)A substrates. InAs quantum dashes develop during chemical-beam epitaxy of 3.2 monolayers InAs, which transform into round InAs QDs by introducing a growth interruption without arsenic flux after InAs deposition. The shape transition is solely attributed to surface properties, i.e., increase of the surface energy and symmetry under arsenic deficient conditions. The round QD shape is maintained during subsequent GaInAsP overgrowth because the reversed shape transition from dot to dash is kinetically hindered by the decreased ad-atom diffusion under arsenic flux.     

Poly(L‐lysine) and clay nanocomposite with desired matrix secondary structure: Effects of polypeptide molecular weight

Nanocomposites (NC) were formed using cationic poly(L ‐lysine) (PLL), a semicrystalline polypeptide, that was reinforced by sodium montmorillonite (MMT) clay via solution intercalation technique. By varying solution conditions such as pH, temperature, and polypeptide concentration in the presence of clay platelets, the secondary structure of PLL was controllably altered into α‐helical, β‐sheet, and random coil. The high molecular weight polypeptide shows a strong propensity to fold into the β‐sheet structure when cast as films, irrespective of the initial secondary structure in solution. Nanocomposite local morphology confirms intercalated MMT platelets with PLL over a wide range of compositions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 239–252, 2007.     

Structure of norbornene-fused 3,1-oxazine double cycloadducts

Pentacyclic isoxazolines were obtained by the cycloaddition of benzonitrile oxide to norbornene-azetidinone-fused 3,1-oxazines. The constitutions of two of the isomers obtained, and the configurations and conformations of all products, were determined by means of ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and DNOE experiments.