The cyclodimerisation of 3-methyl-2-butenenitrile

3-Methyl-2-butenenitrile (1) cyclodimerised on treatment with lithium diisopropylamide in dimethoxyethane at temperatures between ?78°C and 0°C to 3-amino-4-cyano-1,5,5-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadiene (2) the structure of which was established by acid hydrolysis to the known 4-cyano-1,5,5-trimethyl-1-cyclohexene-3-one (3).     

Symmetric inertial-confinement-fusion-capsule implosions in a double-z-pinch-driven hohlraum

An inertial-confinement-fusion (ICF) concept using two 60-MA Z pinches to drive a cylindrical hohlraum to 220 eV has been recently proposed. The first capsule implosions relevant to this concept have been performed at the same physical scale with a lower 20-MA current, yielding a 70+/-5 eV capsule drive. The capsule shell shape implies a polar radiation symmetry, the first high-accuracy measurement of this type in a pulsed-power-driven ICF configuration, within a factor of 1.6-4 of that required for scaling to ignition. The convergence ratio of 14-21 is to date the highest in any pulsed-power ICF system.     

Natural and artificial weathering characteristics of stabilized acrylic–urethane paints

Depth-profiling by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), microhardness and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations have been used to monitor degradation chemistries in two-package acrylic–urethane coatings when exposed to different exposure conditions. Three artificial and three natural weathering protocols (QUV, ASTM D5894, ISO20340, Pipady (south of France), Bandol (south of France) and Kure Beach (USA)) were selected for this study. The same chemical events were found to occur under all conditions, particularly under natural and artificial exposures. Both loss of the amide II band at 1520 cm⁻¹ and carbonyl growth occurred but at relatively low rate owing to the presence of hindered-amine light stabilizers in the film. A less typical loss of urea biuret linkages also occurs during all exposures and results in a change in the balance between urethane and urea links across the depth of the film during weathering. The chemical degradation of the polymer matrix involves the formation of species that are readily ablated from the surface and results in loss of gloss, increase in hardness and a rougher topology. The dramatic loss of gloss observed after Pipady and Bandol exposures show that loss of gloss should not be systematically correlated to the advance in chemical degradation.     

Conical parametric scattering of a single extraordinary beam in BaTiO3 crystal

In this paper, the parametric scattering of a single extraordinary polarized beam of laser in BaTiO₃ photorefractive crystal has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The resulting pattern consists of beam fanning, isotropic ring, and anisotropic one. Among all parts of scattering pattern, isotropic ring has not been studied as much as beam fanning and anisotropic ring, and there still are some differences in reports about it. Therefore, the study has mainly focused on this part. In this experimental configuration, isotropic ring is just visible in positive angles although the other parts of parametric scattering pattern can be visible from behind and in front of the crystal. In addition to steady state pattern in forward and backward directions, its transient behavior with the rotation of crystal has been studied. The results of experiments have been analyzed carefully, and their theoretical explanations have been presented based on the standard theory of parametric scattering in photorefractive crystals. It has been shown that this configuration corresponds to the so called parametric B-process scattering.     

A Bayesian approach to the evaluation of comparisons of individually value-assigned reference materials

Several recent international comparison studies used a relatively novel experimental design to evaluate the measurement capabilities of participating organizations. These studies compared the values assigned by each participant to one or more qualitatively similar materials with measurements made on all of the materials by one laboratory under repeatability conditions. A statistical model was then established relating the values to the repeatability measurements; the extent of agreement between the assigned value(s) and the consensus model reflected the participants’ measurement capabilities. Since each participant used their own supplies, equipment, and methods to produce and value-assign their material(s), the agreement between the assigned value(s) and the model was a fairer reflection of their intrinsic capabilities than provided by studies that directly compared time- and material-constrained measurements on unknown samples prepared elsewhere. A new statistical procedure is presented for the analysis of such data. The procedure incorporates several novel concepts, most importantly a leave-one-out strategy for the estimation of the consensus value of the measurand, model fitting via Bayesian posterior probabilities, and posterior coverage probability calculation for the assigned 95% uncertainty intervals. The benefits of the new procedure are illustrated using data from the CCQM-K54 comparison of eight cylinders of n-hexane in methane.     

The Al-Zn-Ga Phase Diagram Part II

The first part of this paper presented five experimental isopletic cuts in the Al-Zn-Ga ternary phase diagram. On these cuts, two isobaric ternary invariant reactions were determined and a significant retrograde miscibility of Ga in a α′_SS solid solution was observed. In the second part, the two isobaric invariant reactions are studied more precisely. In particular, the composition of the invariant phases are given and the Ga miscibility in the α_SS ternary solid solution is studied. Isothermal sections are established. The results confirm the existence of a vanishing point in the liquidus area, conjugated with a ternary critical point at about 290°C. A general perspective shape of the equilibria in the diagram is proposed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Algebraic Structure of Physical Quantities

We present a general algebraic basis for arbitrary systems of units such as those used in physical sciences, engineering, and economics. Physical quantities are represented as q-numbers: an ordered pair u = {u,label_u}, that is, u q = X × W _B . The algebraic structure of the infinite sets of labels that represent the units has been established: such sets W _B are infinite Abelian multiplicative groups with a finite basis. W _B is solvable as it admits a tower of Abelian subgroups. Extensions to include the possibility of rational powers of labels have been included, as well as the addition of named labels. Named labels are an essential feature of all practical systems of units. Furthermore, q is an Abelian multiplicative group, and it is not a ring. q admits decomposition into one-dimensional normed vector spaces over the field X among members with equivalent labels. These properties lead naturally to the concept of well-posed relations, and to Buckinghams theorem of dimensional analysis. Finally, a connection is made with a Group Ring structure and an interpretation in terms of the observable properties of physico-chemical systems is given.     

An ANP- and AHP-based approach for weighting criteria in public works bidding

When the bidding conditions for a new public works contract are officiallypublished, the contracting authority should count with objective criteria andweights to evaluate tenders. The evaluation criteria and weights are obtainedfrom official contract documents. In this paper a new approach for the selectionand measurement of the bidding criteria based on Analytic Hierarchy Processes(AHP) and Analytic Network Processes (ANP) is proposed. A hierarchy model and a21-criterion network model have been developed and applied to two real cases:the first one is devoted to study the public bidding for the construction of aneducational centre at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, whereas the secondone analyses the public bidding for the remodelling and improvement of onesection of a national road.     

Self-chemical ionization of diethylzinc

The self-chemical ionization of diethylzinc is examined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry and semiempirical molecular orbital calculations. Electron impact of diethylzinc neutral produces the radical cation, C(4)H(15)Zn(+) (m/z x 122), which reacts further with the neutral (C(2)H(5))(2)Zn to give the following product ions: Zn(+) (m/z x 64), C(2)H(5)Zn(+) (m/z x 93), C(4)H(9)Zn(+) (m/z x 121), C(4)H(11)Zn(2)(+) (m/z x 187), and C(6)H(15)Zn(2)(+) (m/z x 215). To determine the structure and pathways for production of these ions, monoisotopic (12)C(4)H(15)(64)Zn(+), (64)Zn(+) and (12)C(2)H(5)(64)Zn(+) were individually isolated and reacted with the neutral background. We also performed semiempirical molecular orbital calculations (ZINDO/1). The molecular orbital calculations and experimental data are consistent in predicting that the ethyl group on the diethylzinc cation carries the positive charge. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Al-Zn-Ga Phase Diagram Part I

The Al-Zn-Ga ternary phase diagram was earlier established by thermodynamic modellization [1], but no experimental study appears to have been carried out on this system, except for measurements of mixing enthalpies in the liquid [2]. The present experimental study was carried out by thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction at various temperatures, using the isopletic cuts method. Four isopletic cuts were established and two others were partly studied in the Al-rich corner of the diagram. On these cuts, two isobaric ternary invariant reactions were determined: a eutectic reaction at 23±1°C, and a metatectic reaction at 123±1°C. Evidence was found for the existence of a retrograde miscibility of Ga in a solid solution α′_SS which protrudes into the ternary system starting from the Al-Zn binary up to a Ga concentration of about 30%^*. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.