Studies Toward the Total Synthesis of Hinckdentine A using Under Utilised Reactions and Functional Groups

Many useful organic transformations remain underutilised because they have not been thoroughly investigated and understood. We have sought to expand the utility of neglected reactions and functional groups by investigating their mechanism and examining their scope. We planned to demonstrate utility of these transformations by incorporating them as key steps in the total synthesis of the natural product hinckdentine A. We developed a rational and consistent theory for mechanism of on-water catalysis. This new theory has allowed us to identify previously unrecognised examples of this phenomenon. The traditionally difficult conjugate addition of anilines was found to be facile under on-water conditions and this reaction was further improved through the incorporation of N-acylpyrroles. N-Acylpyrroles were also found to facilitate the Stetter reaction and expand the scope of subsequent transformations. The understanding gained from these studies allowed us to undertake studies toward the total synthesis of hinckdentine A, by an innovative route which included the aforementioned reactions as integral transformations

Septa and Distributor Developments for H- Injection into the Booster from LINAC4

The construction of Linac4 requires the modification of the existing injection system of the CERN PS Booster. A new transfer line will transport 160 MeV H- ions to this machine. A system of 5 pulsed magnets (BIDIS) and 3 vertical septa (BISMV) will distribute and inject the Linac pulses into the four-vertically separated Booster rings. Subsequently the beam will be injected horizontally, using a local bump created with bumpers (BS magnets) to bring the injected H- beam together with the orbiting proton beam onto the stripper foil. To accommodate the injected H- beam, the first of the BS magnets will have to be a septum-like device, deflecting only the orbiting beam. This paper highlights the requirements and technical issues and describes the solutions to be adopted for both the BIDIS and BISMV. The results of initial prototype testing of the BIDIS magnet will also be presented

Protection of the LHC against Unsynchronised Beam Aborts

An unsynchronised beam abort in the LHC could damage downstream accelerator components, in particular the extraction septum magnets, the experimental low-beta triplet magnet apertures and the tertiary collimators. Although the LHC beam dumping system includes design features to minimise their frequency, such unsynchronised aborts cannot be excluded. A system of protection devices comprising fixed and moveable diluters and collimators will protect the downstream LHC aperture from the misdirected bunches in case of such a failure. The sources of unsynchronised aborts are described, together with the requirements and design of the protection devices and their expected performance. The accompanying operational requirements and envisaged solutions are discussed, in particular the problem of ensuring the local orbit at the protection devices

The New SPS Extraction Channel for LHC and CNGS

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and CERN Neutrino to Gran Sasso (CNGS) projects require the construction of a new fast-extraction system in the long straight section LSS4 of the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) at CERN. A conventional DC septum magnet will be used, in conjunction with the installation of horizontal and vertical extraction bumpers, main quadrupoles with enlarged apertures, extraction kicker magnets and additional hardware protection, instrumentation, controls and electronics. The extraction channel must be able to accept the bright LHC proton beam at 450 GeV/c, and also the high intensity, large emittance fixed target CNGS proton beam at the nominal 400 GeV/c extraction momentum. This paper describes the extraction channel to be installed in 2003, and shows how the requirements for both the LHC and CNGS project can be met

Operational considerations for the PSB H- Injection System

For the LINAC4 project the PS Booster (PSB) injection system will be upgraded. The 160 MeV Hbeam will be distributed to the 4 superimposed PSB synchrotron rings and horizontally injected by means of an H- charge-exchange system. Operational considerations for the injection system are presented, including expected beam losses from unwanted field stripping of H- and excited H0 and foil scattering, possible injection failure cases and expected stripping foil lifetimes. Loading assumptions for the internal beam dumps are discussed together with estimates of doses on various components

Layout considerations for the PSB H- injection system

The layout of the PSB H- injection system is described, including the arguments for the geometry and the required equipment performance parameters. The longitudinal positions of the main elements are specified, together with the injected and circulating beam axes. The assumptions used in determining the geometry are listed

Development of an Eddy Current Septum for LINAC4

A linear accelerator (linac) is the first stage of the CERN accelerator complex. The linac defines the beam quality for subsequent stages of acceleration and the reliability has to be high as a fault of the linac shuts down all other machines. The existing linacs at CERN were designed 30 or more years ago: recent upgrades allowed the linacs to reach LHC requirements but also showed that they are at the limit of their brightness and intensity capabilities. A replacement Superconducting Proton Linac (SPL) has been proposed; the initial part of the SPL is termed LINAC4. The LINAC4 injection bump would be made up of a set of four pulsed dipole magnets; the first of these magnets (BS1) must act as a septum with a thin element dividing the high-field region of the circulating beam from the field-free region through which injected $H^{-}$ beam must pass. The initial specifications for BS1 required; a deflection of 66 mrad at 160 MeV, achieved with a peak field of 628 mT and a length of 250 mm: the field fall time was $40 \mu$s with a flattop of at least $100 \mu$s. The ripple of the flattop should be below ±1%. This paper discusses the design of an eddy current septum for BS1

Spatial Heterogeneity in the Abundance and Fecundity of Arctic Mosquitoes

The abundance of mosquitoes is strongly influenced by biotic and abiotic factors that act on the immature (aquatic) and adult (terrestrial) life stages. Rapid changes in land use and climate, which impact aquatic and terrestrial mosquito habitat, necessitate studying the ecological mechanisms, and their interplay with the changing environment, that affect mosquito abundance. These data are crucial for anticipating how environmental change will impact their roles as pests, disease vectors, and in food webs. We studied a population of Arctic mosquitoes (Aedes nigripes, Diptera: Culicidae) in western Greenland, a region experiencing rapid environmental change, to quantify spatial variation in adult abundance and reproduction. Using sweep nets, we collected about sevenfold more mosquitoes within the town of Kangerlussuaq and within a low‐elevation tundra valley compared to three other tundra locations. Dissections of adult female mosquitoes revealed that only 17% were gravid overall, with a range of 7–43% among sites. If gravid, mosquitoes matured an average of 60 eggs per individual—more in larger females. We found no indication of autogenous egg development. Analyses using our field data indicated that spatial variation in adult fecundity and survival of immatures could each account for a 10‐fold range in the per capita growth of mosquito populations. The availability of vertebrate hosts and aquatic habitat is changing in many parts of the Arctic and can be expected to influence Arctic mosquito abundance. In the Arctic, and elsewhere, life‐history data from natural populations of mosquitoes will significantly aid in understanding controls on the abundance of these globally ubiquitous insects