Portable single-sided NMR measurements at variable temperatures: Implementation of a thermo-controlled device and application to the heating of bread dough

A temperature control unit was implemented to vary the temperature of samples studied on a commercial Mobile Universal Surface Explorer nuclear magnetic resonance (MOUSE-NMR) apparatus. The device was miniaturized to fit the maximum MOUSE sampling depth (25 mm). It was constituted by a sample holder sandwiched between two heat exchangers placed below and above the sample. Air was chosen as the fluid to control the temperature at the bottom of the sample, at the interface between the NMR probe and the sample holder, in order to gain space. The upper surface of the sample was regulated by the circulation of water inside a second heat exchanger placed above the sample holder. The feasibility of using such a device was demonstrated first on pure water and then on several samples of bread dough with different water contents. For this, T1 relaxation times were measured at various temperatures and depths and were then compared with those acquired with a conventional compact closed-magnet spectrometer. Discussion of results was based on biochemical transformations in bread dough (starch gelatinization and gluten heat denaturation). It was demonstrated that, within a certain water level range, and because of the low magnetic field strength of the MOUSE, a linear relationship could be established between T1 relaxation times and the local temperature in the dough sample.     

Evaluating cost impacts on reverse logistics using an Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model with environmental and social considerations

Central European Journal of Operations Research - Societal awareness and legislation changes concerning sustainability have affected how organizations generate value for stakeholders, as well as...     

Aryl Boronic Acid Catalysed Dehydrative Substitution of Benzylic Alcohols for C−O Bond Formation

A combination of pentafluorophenylboronic acid and oxalic acid catalyses the dehydrative substitution of benzylic alcohols with a second alcohol to form new C−O bonds. This method has been applied to the intermolecular substitution of benzylic alcohols to form symmetrical ethers, intramolecular cyclisations of diols to form aryl-substituted tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydropyran derivatives, and intermolecular crossed-etherification reactions between two different alcohols. Mechanistic control experiments have identified a potential catalytic intermediate formed between the aryl boronic acid and oxalic acid.     

Microwave-assisted, efficient and regioselective Pd-catalyzed C-phenylation of halopyrimidines

We herein report that flash heating microwave irradiation is a helpful tool in the formation of arylpyrimidines from the corresponding halopyrimidines. The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of 2,4-di- and 2,4,5-trihalopyrimidines with phenylboronic acid under the above conditions are described. By use of the appropriate catalyst and the adequate halopyrimidine, good regioselectivity can be achieved in the 2-, 4-, or 5-positions of the heterocycle. In addition, we show that this methodology is ameneable for the stepwise preparation of mono-, di-, and triphenylpyrimidines.     

The Clock Paradox in a Static Homogeneous Gravitational Field1

The gedanken experiment of the clock paradox is solved exactly using the general relativistic equations for a static homogeneous gravitational field. We demonstrate that the general and special relativistic clock paradox solutions are identical and in particular that they are identical for finite acceleration. Practical expressions are obtained for proper time and coordinate time by using the destination distance as the key observable parameter. This solution provides a formal demonstration of the identity between the special and general relativistic clock paradox with finite acceleration and where proper time is assumed to be the same in both formalisms. By solving the equations of motion for a freely falling clock in a static homogeneous field elapsed times are calculated for realistic journeys to the stars. ¹ Both authors contributed equally to this paper.     

Self-similar solutions and large time asymptotics for the dissipative quasi-geostrophic equation

We analyze the well-posedness of the initial value problem for the dissipative quasi-geostrophic equations in the subcritical case. Mild solutions are obtained in several spaces with the right homogeneity to allow the existence of self-similar solutions. While the only small self-similar solution in the strong L^p{\cal L}^{p} space is the null solution, infinitely many self-similar solutions do exist in weak- L^p{\cal L}^{p} spaces and in a recently introduced [7] space of tempered distributions. The asymptotic stability of solutions is obtained in both spaces, and as a consequence, a criterion of self-similarity persistence at large times is obtained.