Duality and the cosmological constant

A dynamical theory is studied in which a scalar field ϕ in Einstein-Minkowski space is coupled to the four-velocityN _μ of a preferred inertial observer in that space. As a consistent requirement on this coupling we study a principle of duality invariance of the dynamical mass term of ϕ at some universal length in the small-distance regime. In the large-distance regime duality breaking can be introduced by giving a background value to ϕ and a background direction toN _μ. It is shown that, in an appropriate approximation, duality breaking can be related to the emergence of a characteristic phase in which the condensation of the ground state allows massive excitations with a characteristic scale of squared mass which agrees with the present observational bound for the cosmological constant.     

A new approach based on the surrogating method in the project time compression problems

This paper develops a mathematical model for project time compression problems in CPM/PERT type networks. It is noted this formulation of the problem will be an adequate approximation for solving the time compression problem with any continuous and non-increasing time-cost curve. The kind of this model is Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP) with zero-one variables, and the Benders' decomposition procedure for analyzing this model has been developed. Then this paper proposes a new approach based on the surrogating method for solving these problems. In addition, the required computer programs have been prepared by the author to execute the algorithm. An illustrative example solved by the new algorithm, and two methods are compared by several numerical examples. Computational experience with these data shows the superiority of the new approach.     

Microwave Assisted Conversion of Oximes and Semicarbazones to Carbonyl Compounds Using Benzyltriphenylphosphonium Peroxymonosulfate

Summary.  Benzyltriphenylphosphonium peroxymonosulfate in the presence of catalytic amounts of bismuth chloride was found to be an efficient and mild reagent for the oxidative cleavage of oximes and semicarbazones to the corresponding carbonyl compounds under microwave irradiation. Corresponding author. E-mail: haji@cc.iut.ac.ir Received March 4, 2002; accepted (revised) April 8, 2002     

Spectrofluorimetric kinetic determination of selenium (IV) by flow injection analysis in cationic micellar medium

A sensitive catalytic kinetic spectrofluorimetric method for determining ng ml(-1) of selenium by flow injection analysis has been developed. The method, based on the catalytic effect of Se (IV) on the reduction of resorufin by sulphide, in the presence of cetylpyridinium chloride, is monitored spectrofluorimetrically (lambda(ex)=480 nm; lambda(em)=583 nm). The linearity range of the calibration graph is dependent on the concentration of sulphide. The variables affecting the rate of the reaction were investigated. The method is simple, rapid, precise, sensitive, and widely applicable. The limit of detection is 1 ng ml(-1) Se (IV), and the calibration range is 5-1000 ng ml(-1). Sampling rate is 60 samples h(-1), and the relative standard deviation of 12 determinations of 100 ng ml(-1) Se was 0.76%. The determination of Se (IV) in the presence of Se (VI) and total selenium is described. The method was applied to the determination of Se in selenium tablets, and several synthetic samples.     

A convenient and regioselective oxidative bromination of electron-rich aromatic rings using potassium bromide and benzyltriphenylphosphonium peroxymonosulfate under nearly neutral reaction conditions

Regioselective oxidative bromination of electron-rich aromatic rings has been studied using potassium bromide as a bromine source in the presence of benzyltriphenylphosphonium peroxymonosulfate as oxidant under nearly neutral reaction conditions. In most cases we obtained monobrominated derivatives regioselectively and in good to high yields without the aid of strong acids.     

Effect of Solution Chemistry on Preparation of Boehmite by Hydrothermal Assisted Sol-Gel Processing of Aluminum Alkoxides

Various aluminum alkoxide precursors have been used for the preparation of boehmite by hydrothermal assisted sol-gel processing. The coordination status of aluminum in solution for all precursors employed for the preparation of boehmite phase was determined by ²⁷Al NMR and correlation between coordination status of aluminum atoms of precursors and development of boehmite phase has been investigated. Hydrothermal assisted hydrolysis of aluminum alkoxides where the aluminum atoms are four or five coordinated in solution resulted in the formation of boehmite. In contrast, hydrothermal hydrolysis of aluminum alkoxides where the aluminum atoms are six coordinated resulted in the formation of amorphous gel. Development of boehmite phase by hydrothermal hydrolysis of aluminum alkoxides at various temperatures was pursued by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.     

Deoxygenative α-alkylation and α-arylation of 1,2-dicarbonyls

Construction of C–C bonds at the α-carbon is a challenging but synthetically indispensable approach to α-branched carbonyl motifs that are widely represented among drugs, natural products, and synthetic intermediates. Here, we describe a simple approach to generation of boron enolates in the absence of strong bases that allows for introduction of both α-alkyl and α-aryl groups in a reaction of readily accessible 1,2-dicarbonyls and organoboranes. Obviation of unselective, strongly basic and nucleophilic reagents permits carrying out the reaction in the presence of electrophiles that intercept the intermediate boron enolates, resulting in two new α-C–C bonds in a tricomponent process.

α-Branched carboxylic acids and other carbonyls are readily accessed by a metal- and base-free deoxygenative α-alkylation and α-arylation of 1,2-dicarbonyls via boron enolates, resulting in a tricomponent coupling with unconventional electrophiles.     

Kinetic spectrophotometric determination of traces of sulfide in nonionic micellar medium

A sensitive kinetic spectrophotometric method for the determination of ng amounts of sulfide has been developed based on the reduction of Azure A by sulfide in the presence of Brij-35 at pH 7. The decrease in absorbance of Azure A at 600 nm is proportional to the concentration of sulfide over the range 25-1,400 ng mL(-1). The variables affecting the rate of the reaction were investigated and the optimum conditions were established. The method is simple, rapid, precise, sensitive, and widely applicable. The limit of detection is 17 ng mL(-1), and the relative standard deviation of seven determinations of 500 ng mL(-1) sulfide was 2.1%. The method was applied to the determination of sulfide in spring water.     

Facile protection of carbonyl compounds as oxathiolanes and transoxathioacetalization of oxyacetals promoted by iron(III) trifluoroacetate or trifluoromethanesulfonate as chemoselective and recyclable catalysts

Oxathioacetalization of carbonyl compounds and transoxathioacetalization of O,O-acetals/ketals are reported under nearly neutral conditions promoted by iron(III) trifluoroacetate [Fe(CF₃CO₂)₃] or trifluoromethanesulfonate [Fe(CF₃SO₃)₃] as recyclable and highly efficient Lewis acid catalysts.