A chemical study of 2-butyne-1,4-diol

Commercial grade 2-butyne-1,4-diol has been used in electroplating for several years. In laboratory experiments, its presence in the electrolyte increases the current efficiency of zinc electro-winning. Its chemical behaviour in solution is not well known. The present paper indicates that the brownish technical grade 2-butyne-1,4-diol contains the monomer, the dimer and some trimer. Pure monomeric 2-butyne-1,4-diol is a white solid obtained by evaporation of the technical grade product. The monomer is slowly transformed into dimer and possibly into a trimer when dissolved in water. Various analytical techniques were used in the study of this system. Factor analysis with column cross-validation was applied to chromatographic data to help in the resolution of the system.     

Testing the reliability of non-LTE spectroscopic models for complex ions

Collisional-radiative atomic models are widely used to help diagnose experimental plasma conditions through fitting and interpreting measured spectra. Here we present the results of a code comparison in which a variety of models determined plasma temperatures and densities by finding the best fit to an experimental L-shell Kr spectrum from a well characterized, but not benchmarked, laser plasma. While variations in diagnostic strategies and qualities of fit were significant, the results generally confirmed the typically quoted uncertainties for such diagnostics of ±20% in electron temperature and factors of about two in density. The comparison also highlighted some model features important for spectroscopic diagnostics: fine structure was required to match line positions and relative intensities within each charge state and for density diagnostics based on emission from metastable states; an extensive configuration set was required to fit the wings of satellite features and to reliably diagnose the temperature through the inferred charge state distribution; and the inclusion of self-consistent opacity effects was an important factor in the quality of the fit.     

Differential inhibition of postnatal brain,spinal cord and body growth by a growth hormone antagonist

Background  

Growth hormone (GH) plays an incompletely understood role in the development of the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, we use transgenic mice expressing a growth hormone antagonist (GHA) to explore the role of GH in regulating postnatal brain, spinal cord and body growth into adulthood. The GHA transgene encodes a protein that inhibits the binding of GH to its receptor, specifically antagonizing the trophic effects of endogenous GH.     

Polymer-based microcavity with photoencoded quadratic nonlinearity

Functional electro-optic polymer thin films embedded in microcavity structures have been poled by an all-optical procedure based on the interference of multiphoton absorption processes. The photoinduced X((2)) tensor was then further addressed at modal resonance for the fundamental wavelength, leading to significant enhancement of the second-harmonic-generation efficiency. An order-of-magnitude enhancement, which is due to electric field resonant conditions inside the microcavity, has been probed by an optical parametric oscillator, in comparison with a single-path thin-film configuration. This configuration opens new perspectives in the realm of nonlinear photonic device processing.     

Variational Average-Atom in Quantum Plasmas (VAAQP) – Recent progress, virial theorem and applications to the equation-of-state of warm dense Be

The Variational Average-Atom in Quantum Plasmas (VAAQP) code is based on a fully variational theory of dense plasmas in equilibrium in which the neutrality of the Wigner-Seitz ion sphere is not required, contrary to the Inferno model. We report on some recent progress in the VAAQP model and numerical code. Three important points of the virial theorem derivation are emphasized and explained. The virial theorem is also used as an important tool allowing us to check the formulas and numerical methods used in the code. Applications of the VAAQP code are shown using as an example the equation-of-state of beryllium in the warm dense matter regime. Comparisons with the Inferno model, and with available experimental data on the principal Hugoniot are also presented.     

Moufang plane and octonionic Quantum Mechanics

It is shown that the usual axioms of one-particle Quantum Mechanics can be implemented with projection operators belonging to the exceptional Jordan algebraJ ₈ ³ over real octonions. Certain lemmas on these projection operators are proved by elementary means. Use is made of the Moufang projective plane. It is shown that this plane can be orthocomplemented and that there exists a unique probability function. The result of successive, compatible experiments is shown not to depend on the order in which they are performed, in spite of the non-associativity of octonion multiplication. The algebra of observables and the action of the exceptional groupF ₄ is studied, as well as a possible relation with the color group SU(3) and quark confinement.Work supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation     

Transfer measurements for the Ti+Ni systems at near barrier energies

Large enhancements have been observed in the sub-barrier fusion cross sections for Ti+Ni systems in our previous studies. Coupled channel calculations incorporating couplings to 2⁺ and 3⁻ states failed to explain these enhancements completely. A possibilty of transfer channels contributing to the residual enhancements had been suggested. In order to investigate the role of relevant transfer channels, measurements of one- and two-nucleon transfer were carried out for ^46,48Ti+⁶¹Ni systems. The present paper gives the results of these studies.     

Using FTIR spectroscopy to detect sericin on historic silk

Silks represent some of the most precious ancient and historic textile artefacts in collections worldwide.Their optimum preservation demands an appreciation of their characteristics.One important concern,especially with regard to ancient Chinese silks,is whether the fabrics have been degummed.Silks with remnant sericin gum coating the fibroin fibres would require different conservation protocol.In previous research on aged silks,the presence of sericin has been inferred from amino acid analysis of hydrolysa...     

Lasing spectra of 1.55 μm InAs/InP quantum dot lasers: theoretical analysis and comparison with the experiments

In this paper, a theoretical model is used to investigate the lasing spectrum properties of InAs/InP (113)B quantum dot (QD) lasers emitting at 1.55 μm. The numerical model used is based on a multi-population rate equation (MPRE) analysis. It takes into account the effect of the competition between the inhomogeneous broadening (due to the QD size dispersion) and the homogenous broadening as well as a nonlinear gain variation associated to a multimode laser emission. The double laser emission and the temperature dependence of lasing spectra of self-assembled InAs/InP quantum dot lasers is studied both experimentally and theoretically.     

Intramolecular electron density redistribution upon hydrogen bond formation in the anion methyl orange at the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface probed by phase interference second harmonic generation

Surface second harmonic generation (SSHG) studies of the azobenzene derivative p-dimethylaminoazobenzene sulfonate, often referred as Methyl Orange (MO), at the neat water/1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) interface is reported. The two forms of the anionic MO dye, which are usually observed in bulk solution, with one form being hydrogen bonded to a water molecule through the azo nitrogens (MO/H2O) and the other form not being hydrogen bonded (MO) have also been observed at the water/DCE interface. Their equilibrium constant has been compared with the corresponding bulk solution and found to be identical. The adsorption equilibrium of the two forms has been determined and the Gibbs energy of adsorption measured to be -30 kJmol(-1) for both forms. From a light polarisation analysis of the SH signal, the angle of orientation of the MO transition dipole moment was found to be 34 +/- 2 degrees for MO and 43 +/- 2 degrees for MO/H2O under the assumption of a Dirac delta function for the angle distribution, a difference explained by the different solvation properties of the two forms. Furthermore, the wavelength dependence analysis of these data revealed an interference pattern resulting from the electronic density redistribution within the hydrated anionic form occurring upon the formation of the hydrogen bond with a water molecule. This interference pattern was clearly evidenced with the use of another dye at the interface in order to define a phase reference to both forms of Methyl Orange.