Pd (II)‐catalyzed vinyl addition polymerization of novel functionalized norbornene bearing dimethyl carboxylate groups

Three novel functionalized polynorbornenes (PNB) with pendant dimethyl carboxylate group (carboxylates—acetate, propionate, and butyrate) are synthesized as a vinyl‐type with a palladium (II) catalyst in high yield. The effects of size of substitutents, molar ratio of monomer to catalyst, solvent polarity, reaction time, and temperature on the polymerization of exo‐norbornene dimethyl propionate were systematically investigated. The low molar ratio and temperature, as well as high polarity of solvent, and long reaction time, are favorable for the enhancement of the monomer conversion, especially, the solvent have an obvious effect on the catalyst activity. The resulting poly(cis‐norbornene‐exo‐2,3‐dimethyl carboxylates) (PNB‐dimethyl carboxylates) show good solubility in common organic solvent and high thermal stability up to 360 °C. The glass transition temperature was detected by DMA at 331, 324, and 318 °C for acetate, propionate, and butyrate, respectively. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3391–3399, 2007     

Resonance enhanced three-photon absorption of molecular iodine

D ← X resonance enhanced three-photon excitation spectrum of iodine was observed by a cw intracavity absorption technique. Vibrational quantum numbers of D ← X transitions are given for every major spectral feature. The corresponding one-photon enhancement from the B state is evident from the one-photon vibrational assignment. The spectroscopic constants for the D state are v₀₀ = 40 998 cm^?1 ω′₀ = 113 cm^?1 and ω′₀χ′₀ = 0.045 cm^?.     

Synthesis,identification and properties of some β-aminoalanine derivatives

A number of new β-(N-alkylamino) alanines have been synthesized from acetyldehydroalanine. Using keratin as a cystine-containing protein, it has been shown that, on treatment with a series of amines, β-(N alkylamino) alanine residues are formed in varying amounts in the protein, depending on the structure of amines applied.     

Combinatorial enantiomeric separation of diverse compounds using capillary array electrophoresis

Combinatorial chiral separations were performed on a 96-capillary array electrophoresis system. A comprehensive enantioseparation protocol employing neutral and sulfated cyclodextrins as chiral selectors for common basic, neutral and acidic compounds was developed. By using only four judiciously chosen separation buffers, successful enantioseparations were achieved for 49 out of 54 test compounds spanning a large variety of pK and structures. Therefore, unknown compounds can be screened in this manner to identify the optimal enantioselective conditions in just one run.     

Analysis ofK→3Π decays in chiral perturbation theory

Using the recently proposed higher-order chiral Lagrangians determined from the integration of nontopological chiral anomalies, we calculate corrections to the current-algebra analysis ofK→3Π decay amplitudes expanded in powers of the Dalitz variables. Effects of quartic-derivative weak chiral Lagrangians are determined through the use of short-distance effective weak Hamiltonian and the factorization method. We find that (1) the constant and linear terms in the amplitude for ΔI=1/2K→3Π are in excellent agreement with experiment; the previous discrepancy of (20–35)% between current algebra and data is thus accounted for by the higher-order effective Lagrangians, (2) the penguin interaction does not play an essential role in the ΔI=1/2 rule, for otherwise it will lead to a large disagreement for the constant and linear terms, (3) one of the two quadratic terms in the ΔI=1/2 process, which arise from the quartic chiral Lagrangians, is in accord with data within experimental errors, while the other is off by four standard deviations, (4) the linear term in the ΔI=3/2 transitions is in good agreement with experiment and contributions from quadratic terms are sizable.     

Resolution effects and scaling in numerical simulations of passive scalar mixing in turbulence

The effects of finite grid resolution on the statistics of small scales in direct numerical simulations of turbulent mixing of passive scalars are addressed in this paper. Simulations at up to 2048³ grid points with grid spacing Δx varied from about 2 to 1/2 Batchelor scales (η_B) show that most conclusions on Schmidt number (Sc) dependence from prior work at less stringent resolution remain qualitatively correct, although simulations at resolution Δx≈η_B are preferred and will give adequate results for many important quantities including the scalar dissipation intermittency exponent and structure functions at moderately high orders. For Sc≥1, since η_B=ηSc^−1/2 (where η is the Kolmogorov scale), the requirement Δx≈η_B is more stringent than the corresponding criterion Δx≈η for the velocity field, which is thus well resolved in simulations aimed at high Schmidt number mixing. A simple argument is given to help interpret the effects of Schmidt and Reynolds numbers on trends towards local isotropy and saturation of intermittency at high Schmidt number. The present results also provide evidence for a trend to isotropy at high Reynolds number with fixed Sc=1.0. This is a new observation apparently not detected in less well resolved simulations in the past, and will require further investigation in the future.     

Full scale model investigation on the acoustical protection of a balcony-like façade device (L)

The acoustical insertion losses produced by a balcony-like structure in front of a window are examined experimentally. The results suggest that the balcony ceiling is the most appropriate location for the installation of artificial sound absorption for the purpose of improving the broadband insertion loss, while the side walls are found to be the second best. Results also indicate that the acoustic modes of the balcony opening and the balcony cavity resonance in a direction normal to the window could have a great impact on the one-third octave band insertion losses. The maximum broadband road traffic noise insertion loss achieved is about 7 dB.     

Genes involved in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis>glutamate receptor expression and localization

Background  

A clear picture of the mechanisms controlling glutamate receptor expression, localization, and stability remains elusive, possibly due to an incomplete understanding of the proteins involved. We screened transposon mutants generated by the ongoing Drosophila Gene Disruption Project in an effort to identify the different types of genes required for glutamate receptor cluster development.