98 research outputs found
A more sustainable and highly practicable synthesis of aliphatic isocyanides
Synthesis protocols to convert N-formamides into isocyanides using three different dehydration reagents (i.e. p-toluenesulfonyl chloride (p-TsCl), phosphoryl trichloride (POCl3) and the combination of triphenylphosphane (PPh3) and iodine) were investigated and optimized, while considering the principles of green chemistry. Comparison of the yield and the E-factors of the different synthesis procedures revealed that, in contrast to the typically applied POCl3 or phosgene derivatives, p-TsCl was the reagent of choice for non sterically demanding aliphatic mono- or di-N-formamides (yields up to 98% and lowest E-factor 6.45). Apart from a significantly reduced E-factor, p-TsCl is cheap, offers a simplified reaction protocol and work-up, and is less toxic compared to other dehydration reagents. Thus, this procedure offers easier and greener access to aliphatic isocyanide functionalities
Recognition of Face Identity and Emotion in Expressive Specific Language Impairment
Objective: To study face and emotion recognition in children with mostly expressive specific language impairment (SLI-E). Subjects and Methods: A test movie to study perception and recognition of faces and mimic-gestural expression was applied to 24 children diagnosed as suffering from SLI-E and an age-matched control group of normally developing children. Results: Compared to a normal control group, the SLI-E children scored significantly worse in both the face and expression recognition tasks with a preponderant effect on emotion recognition. The performance of the SLI-E group could not be explained by reduced attention during the test session. Conclusion: We conclude that SLI-E is associated with a deficiency in decoding non-verbal emotional facial and gestural information, which might lead to profound and persistent problems in social interaction and development. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base
Large Possible retardation effects of quark confinement on the meson spectrum II
We present the results of a study of heavy-light-quark bound states in the
context of the reduced Bethe-Salpeter equation with relativistic vector and
scalar interactions. We find that satisfactory fits may also be obtained when
the retarded effect of the quark-antiquark interaction is concerned.Comment: 11 pages, RevTex, to appear in PR
Possible retardation effects of quark confinement on the meson spectrum
The reduced Bethe-Salpeter equation with scalar confinement and vector gluon
exchange is applied to quark-antiquark bound states. The so called intrinsic
flaw of Salpeter equation with static scalar confinement is investigated. The
notorious problem of narrow level spacings is found to be remedied by taking
into consideration the retardation effect of scalar confinement. Good fit for
the mass spectrum of both heavy and light quarkomium states is then obtained.Comment: 14 pages in LaTex for
Probabilistic Reconstruction in Compressed Sensing: Algorithms, Phase Diagrams, and Threshold Achieving Matrices
Compressed sensing is a signal processing method that acquires data directly
in a compressed form. This allows one to make less measurements than what was
considered necessary to record a signal, enabling faster or more precise
measurement protocols in a wide range of applications. Using an
interdisciplinary approach, we have recently proposed in [arXiv:1109.4424] a
strategy that allows compressed sensing to be performed at acquisition rates
approaching to the theoretical optimal limits. In this paper, we give a more
thorough presentation of our approach, and introduce many new results. We
present the probabilistic approach to reconstruction and discuss its optimality
and robustness. We detail the derivation of the message passing algorithm for
reconstruction and expectation max- imization learning of signal-model
parameters. We further develop the asymptotic analysis of the corresponding
phase diagrams with and without measurement noise, for different distribution
of signals, and discuss the best possible reconstruction performances
regardless of the algorithm. We also present new efficient seeding matrices,
test them on synthetic data and analyze their performance asymptotically.Comment: 42 pages, 37 figures, 3 appendixe
Seismic Monitoring of the Sun's Far Hemisphere: A Crucial Component in Future Space Weather Forecasting (A White Paper Submitted to the Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) -- SSPH 2024-2033)
The purpose of this white paper is to put together a coherent vision for the
role of helioseismic monitoring of magnetic activity in the Sun's far
hemisphere that will contribute to improving space weather forecasting as well
as fundamental research in the coming decade. Our goal fits into the broader
context of helioseismology in solar research for any number of endeavors when
helioseismic monitors may be the sole synoptic view of the Sun's far
hemisphere. It is intended to foster a growing understanding of solar activity,
as realistically monitored in both hemispheres, and its relationship to all
known aspects of the near-Earth and terrestrial environment. Some of the
questions and goals that can be fruitfully pursued through seismic monitoring
of farside solar activity in the coming decade include: What is the
relationship between helioseismic signatures and their associated magnetic
configurations, and how is this relationship connected to the solar EUV
irradiance over the period of a solar rotation?; How can helioseismic
monitoring contribute to data-driven global magnetic-field models for precise
space weather forecasting?; What can helioseismic monitors tell us about
prospects of a flare, CME or high-speed stream that impacts the terrestrial
environment over the period of a solar rotation?; How does the inclusion of
farside information contribute to forecasts of interplanetary space weather and
the environments to be encountered by human crews in interplanetary space?
Thus, it is crucial for the development of farside monitoring of the Sun be
continued into the next decade either through ground-based or space-borne
observations
Attract and deter: a dual role for pyrrolizidine alkaloids in plant–insect interactions
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are the major defense compounds of plants in the Senecio genus. Here I will review the effects of PAs in Senecio on the preference and performance of specialist and generalist insect herbivores. Specialist herbivores have evolved adaptation to PAs in their host plant. They can use the alkaloids as cue to find their host plant and often they sequester PAs for their own defense against predators. Generalists, on the other hand, can be deterred by PAs. PAs can also affect survival of generalist herbivores. Usually generalist insects avoid feeding on young Senecio leaves, which contain a high concentration of alkaloids. Structurally related PAs can differ in their effects on insect herbivores, some are more toxic than others. The differences in effects of PAs on specialist and generalists could lead to opposing selection on PAs, which may maintain the genetic diversity in PA concentration and composition in Senecio species
Natural Infection of the Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus spp.) with Echinococcus granulosus in China
Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis are important zoonotic pathogens that cause serious disease in humans. E. granulosus can be transmitted through sylvatic cycles, involving wild carnivores and ungulates; or via domestic cycles, usually involving dogs and farm livestock. E. multilocularis is primarily maintained in a sylvatic life-cycle between foxes and rodents. As part of extensive investigations that we undertook to update available epidemiological data and to monitor the transmission patterns of both E. granulosus and E. mulilocularis in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (NHAR) in northwest China, we captured small mammals on the southern slopes of Yueliang Mountain, Xiji, an area co-endemic for human alveolar echinococcosis and cystic echinococcosis. Of 500 trapped small mammals (mainly ground squirrels; Spermophilus dauricus/alashanicus), macroscopic cyst-like lesions (size range 1–10 mm) were found on the liver surface of approximately 10% animals. One of the lesions was shown by DNA analysis to be caused by E. granulosus and by histology to contain viable protoscoleces. This is the first report of a natural infection of the ground squirrel with E. granulosus. We have no definitive proof of a cycle involving ground squirrels and dogs/foxes but it is evident that there is active E. granulosus transmission occurring in this area
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