The first copper(I) complex of tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine

The first copper(I) complex of tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THP) has been synthesized from a reaction with [Cu(CH3CN)4]ClO4. The crystal structure and spectroscopic properties of this complex showing the tetrahedral coordination around copper and a deprotonated THP coordinated to Cu through P are presented.

Toward a Mean Field Formulation of the Babcock-Leighton Type Solar Dynamo. I. α-Coefficient versus Durney's Double-Ring Approach

We develop a model of the solar dynamo in which, on the one hand, we follow the Babcock-Leighton approach to include surface processes, such as the production of poloidal field from the decay of active regions, and, on the other hand, we attempt to develop a mean field theory that can be studied in quantitative detail. One of the main challenges in developing such models is to treat the buoyant rise of the toroidal field and the production of poloidal field from it near the surface. A previous paper by Choudhuri, Schüssler, & Dikpati in 1995 did not incorporate buoyancy. We extend this model by two contrasting methods. In one method, we incorporate the generation of the poloidal field near the solar surface by Durney's procedure of double-ring eruption. In the second method, the poloidal field generation is treated by a positive α-effect concentrated near the solar surface coupled with an algorithm for handling buoyancy. The two methods are found to give qualitatively similar results.

Variable temperature x-ray crystal structure analysis of a type I langbeinite: Rb2Cd2(SO4)(3)

The structure of a type I langbeinite, Rb2Cd2(SO4)(3), displays three different phases, cubic with a = 10.378(5) Angstrom (space group P2(1)3) at room temperature, monoclinic at 120 K with a = 10.328(3), b = 10.322(3), c = 10.325(3) Angstrom, beta = 89.975(1)degrees (space group P2(1)), and orthorhombic at 85 K with a = 10.319(2), b = 10.321(2), c = 10.320(2) Angstrom (space group P2(1)2(1)2(1)), respectively. Precise single-crystal analyses of these phases indicate that Rb2Cd2(SO4)(3) distorts initially from cubic to monoclinic upon cooling followed by a significant reorientation of the SO4 tetrahedra, resulting in an orthorhombic symmetry upon further cooling. The three structures have been established unequivocally using the same crystal. There is no indication of the formation of an intermediate triclinic phase or any lattice disorder as conjectured in several earlier reports on compounds belonging to the type I langbeinite. The bond valence sum analyses of the coordination around the Rb sites indicate asymmetry in the bond strengths which could be the driving force of the ferroelectric behavior in these materials.

Anthropogenic aerosol fraction over Afro-Asian regions inferred using Kalpana-I and MISR data

Mineral dust constitutes the single largest contributor of natural aerosols over continents. The first step towards separating natural aerosol radiative impact from its anthropogenic counterparts over continents is to gather information on dust aerosols. The infrared (IR) radiance (10.5-12.5 mu m) acquired from the Kalpana-I satellite (similar to 8-km resolution) was used to retrieve regional characteristics of dust aerosols over the Afro-Asian region during the winter of 2004, coinciding with a national aerosol campaign. Here, we used aerosol-induced IR radiance depression as an index of dust load. The regional distribution of dust over various arid and semi-arid regions of India and adjacent continents has been estimated, and these data in conjunction with regional maps of column aerosol optical depth (AOD) are used to infer anthropogenic aerosol fraction. Surprisingly, even over desert locations in India and Saudi Arabia, the anthropogenic fraction was relatively high (similar to 0.3 to 0.4) and the regionally averaged anthropogenic fraction over India was 0.62 +/- 0.06.

Mathematical model of COREX melter gasifier: Part I. Steady-state model

The COREX melter gasifier is a countercurrent reactor to produce liquid iron. Directly reduced iron (DRI), noncoking coal, and other additives are charged to the melter gasifier at their respective temperatures, and O-2 is blown through the tuyeres. Functionally, a melter gasifier is divided into three zones: a moving bed, fluidized bed, and free board. A model has been developed for the moving bed, where the tuyere region is two-dimensional (2-D) and the rest is one-dimensional (1-D). It is based on multiphase conservation of mass, momentum, and heat. The fluidized bed has been treated as 1-D. Partial equilibrium is calculated for the free board. The calculated temperature of the hot metal, the top gas, and the chemistry of the top gas agree with the reported plant data. The model has been used to study the effects of bed height, injection of impure O-2, coal chemistry, and reactivity on the process performance.

Dark Matter Halo Properties as Deduced from the Observed H I Scale Height Data, in The Low-Frequency Radio Universe

We use the HΙ scale height data along with the HΙ rotation curve as constraints to probe the shape and density profile of the dark matter halos of M31 (Andromeda) and the superthin, low surface brightness (LSB) galaxy UGC 07321. We model the galaxy as a two component system of gravitationally-coupled stars and gas subjected to the force field of a dark matter halo. For M31, we get a flattened halo which is required to match the outer galactic HΙ scale height data, with our best-fit axis ratio (0.4) lying at the most oblate end of the distributions obtained from cosmological simulations. For UGC 07321, our best-fit halo core radius is only slightly larger than the stellar disc scale length, indicating that the halo is important even at small radii in this LSB galaxy. The high value of the gas velocity dispersion required to match the scale height data can explain the low star-formation rate of this galaxy.

Beta-structure of polypeptides in non-aqueous solutions. I. Spectral characteristics of the polypeptide backbone

The optical rotatory features of the beta-structure of the polypeptides in non-aqueous solutions and films cast from these solutions have been investigated. The beta-structure of poly-S-benzyl-L-cysteine, poly-S-carbobenzoxy-L-cysteine and poly-S-benzyl-L-cysteine, poly-S-carbobenzoxy-L-cysteine and poly-O-carbo-bands of their films. The optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) and circular dichroism (CD) spectra of these polypeptides are found to be very similar in both film and solution. In solvents promoting the beta-structure, the polypeptides are characterized by CD troughs in the n-pi* transition region of the peptide chromophore. The ORD spectra are found to be positive in sign throughout the visible and accessible ultraviolet regions and are interpreted in terms of the possible existence of a relatively much larger positive pi-pi* CD bands as compared with the negative n-pi* band. The rotatory data obtained in the non-aqueous solution are compared with those obtained for other poly peptides in aqueous solutions, with respect to the type and extent of beta-structure present.

Modified lattice model for mode-I fracture analysis of notched plain concrete beam using probabilistic approach

A modified lattice model using finite element method has been developed to study the mode-I fracture analysis of heterogeneous materials like concrete. In this model, the truss members always join at points where aggregates are located which are modeled as plane stress triangular elements. The truss members are given the properties of cement mortar matrix randomly, so as to represent the randomness of strength in concrete. It is widely accepted that the fracture of concrete structures should not be based on strength criterion alone, but should be coupled with energy criterion. Here, by incorporating the strain softening through a parameter ‘α’, the energy concept is introduced. The softening branch of load-displacement curves was successfully obtained. From the sensitivity study, it was observed that the maximum load of a beam is most sensitive to the tensile strength of mortar. It is seen that by varying the values of properties of mortar according to a normal random distribution, better results can be obtained for load-displacement diagram.

Structural characterization of angiotensin I-converting enzyme in complex with a selenium analogue of captopril

Human somatic angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), a zinc-dependent dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase, is central to the regulation of the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system. It is a well-known target for combating hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases. In a recent study by Bhuyan and Mugesh [Org. Biomol. Chem. (2011) 9, 1356-1365], it was shown that the selenium analogues of captopril (a well-known clinical inhibitor of ACE) not only inhibit ACE, but also protect against peroxynitrite-mediated nitration of peptides and proteins. Here, we report the crystal structures of human testis ACE (tACE) and a homologue of ACE, known as AnCE, from Drosophila melanogaster in complex with the most promising selenium analogue of captopril (SeCap) determined at 2.4 and 2.35 angstrom resolution, respectively. The inhibitor binds at the active site of tACE and AnCE in an analogous fashion to that observed for captopril and provide the first examples of a protein-selenolate interaction. These new structures of tACE-SeCap and AnCE-SeCap inhibitor complexes presented here provide important information for further exploration of zinc coordinating selenium-based ACE inhibitor pharmacophores with significant antioxidant activity.

A solid-state probe for SO2/SO3 based on Na2SO4 I electrolyte

Conductivity measurements as a function of temperature and partial pressures of SOs, SO2, and O2, and transference experiments indicate that the transport number of Na + ions is unity in Na2SO4-I. A concentration cell based on this electrolyte Pt, O2' + SO2' + SOs'/Na2SO4-I/SOa" + SO~" + O~", Pt produces emf's that are in agreement with those calculated from the Nernst equation when equilibrium is assumed between the gas species at the electrodes. The cell can be used for monitoring the SO#SOs pollution in air, and in combination with an oxygen probe can be used for the determination of SO=/SOs concentrations in coal combustion reactors, for the evaluation of the partial pressure of $2 in coal gasification systems, and for emission control in nonferrous smelters using sulfide ores. The probe is similar to that developed recently by Gauthier et aL (4, 5) using K=SO4 as the electrolyte, but can operate at higher pressures of SO3. Because of the greater polarizing power of the Na+ ion compared to the K + ion, Na2S207 is less stable and can be formed only at a considerably higher pressure of S03 than that required for K~20~.