Comments on "Vortex Glass and Lattice Melting Transitions in a YNi_2B_2C Single Crystal"

Recently, Mun et.al. (Phys. Rev. Lett., 76, 2790 (1996)) have published their results on single crystal YNi_2B_2C, claiming that their experimental observations can be explained in terms of formation of Vortex Glass and Lattice melting. Our experiments, carried out on samples obtained from the SAME source, reveal a much richer phase diagram and span wider regions of experimental parameter space than Mun et. al. that encompasses most of their observations. We speculate that this material has anomalous intrinsic properties and the results cannot be explained by simple models about the flux lattice.Comment: 1 page, LaTeX type, 1 PostScript figure, Uses PRABIB.STY file, 600 dpi PS file available at http://sagar.physics.neu.edu/preprints.html To appear in Physical Review Letter

Synthesis of several bisabolane sesquiterpenoids from xanthorrhizol isolated from C. Xanthorrhiza

Xanthorrhizol was isolated from the essential oil of fresh rhizomes of C. xanthorrhiza in 20.2% yield by fractionation using vacuum liquid chromatography. Several bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids have been synthesised from this xanthorrhizol. Both diastereomers of 10,11-dihydro-10,11-dihydroxyxanthorrhizols, sesquiterpenoids isolated from the Mexican medicinal plant, Iostephane heterophylla, have been prepared in three steps from xanthorrhizol via Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as the key steps. Fremy’s salt oxidation of xanthorrhizol gave curcuhydroquinone in 60% yield, which was successfully reduced with sodium dithionite to curcuhydroquinone in 100% yield. Sequential acetylation and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation on curcuhydroquinone led to the diacetate derivative of helibisabonol A. Cleavage of the diacetate esters by reduction with lithium borohydride furnished helibisabonol A, an allelopathic agent isolated from Helianthus annuus (sunflowers). The unexpected difficulty in deprotection of helibisabonol A diacetate was due to acidic, basic and air-sensitive natures of helibisabonol A. An allylic alcohol derivative of O-methylxanthorrhizol, (3S,6R)-(3- methoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-methylhept-1-en-3-ol, has been synthesised from xanthorrhizol in five steps via Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation as the key steps. Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation in all syntheses gave excellent enantioselectivity (ee > 98%). The enantiomeric excess and the absolute configuration of the diol was determined by the modified Mosher’s method

Service-Learning Times : semester 1, 2018/19

Service-Learning (S-L) is a pedagogy that drives learning, innovation, contribution and transformation. It provides experiential learning opportunities for students by connecting academic knowledge to impactful community service with ongoing reflection during the process. The diverse and insightful S-L experience enables students to discover their potential, address the challenges faced by the community, as well as transform beneficiaries’ lives by providing support to collaborating partners. This booklet highlights the courses with S-L elements offered this semester. Students wishing to experience the best of S-L should plan and act quickly while places are available.https://commons.ln.edu.hk/sl_times/1002/thumbnail.jp

Service-Learning Times : semester 2, 2018/19

To foster multi-disciplinary learning experience, the three faculties, the Science Unit and Office of Service-Learning offer you plenty of choices and flexibility in S-L projects. Moreover, we also provide trans-border S-L and research opportunities, enabling you to examine challenging issues at both the local and international levels. A number of S-L projects are also available in cluster courses, free elective courses, and major courses. In short, you have a wealth of opportunities to apply your course knowledge while contributing to the local and the international communities. This booklet highlights the courses with S-L elements in this semester. If you want to choose what kind of S-L adventure you want to go on, you should plan and act quickly while places are available.https://commons.ln.edu.hk/sl_times/1003/thumbnail.jp

The Day of the Merchant

An examination of economic thought in a “national order.” Considered, in particular, is the economic doctrine of the seventeenth century English merchant, Thomas Mun. Remnants of this doctrine in current economic thought are also examined

Lingnan campus opening

The opening of Lingnan College’s new campus in Tuen Mun on February 14, 1996 marked an important stage in the college’s development and was a significant step towards its goal of becoming a fully residential liberal arts university.https://commons.ln.edu.hk/lingnan_milestone_newspapers/1004/thumbnail.jp

Milk urea nitrogen: a nutritional management tool

Milk urea nitrogen (MUN) analyses can be used to evaluate the nutritional status of dairy herds and for fine tuning the feeding program. MUN values \u3e18 mg/100 ml indicate that dietary protein is being wasted and feed costs could be reduced with ration adjustments. Higher than desired MUN values also indicate the need for additional undegradable intake protein (UIP; bypass protein) in the ration. High MUN values can also indicate the need for more nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) in the diet. MUN readings \u3c14 mg/100 ml indicate dietary crude protein deficiencies or too much UIP in the ration. Reduced milk production or low milk protein tests can occur when feeding rations that produce low MUN tests. Poor reproductive performance may be the result of feeding rations that produce high MUN measurements. Conception rates may be reduced as much as 20 percentage points when MUN is \u3e18 mg/100 ml.; Dairy Day, 1996, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 1996

To Be a Diplomat, Why Not? (a Case Study on the Students' Enthusiasm Towards Model United Nations: an Innovative Teaching Method in the 21st Century)

Model United Nations (MUN) as a teaching method is being developed to be implemented in many schools in many countries to acquire the demands of living in International community. High schools in Indonesia started practicing it in 2010. As this is quite new, its practicality is still frequently rare and quite complicated to do. Therefore, this study aimed at researching the students' enthusiasm towards model united nations as a path to know whether this kind of teaching method is acceptable for them. The subjects of the research were 40 students of PondokPesantren Modern Darul Mursyid, Tapanuli Selatan, North Sumatera who joined the school's English club. This is a qualitative research designed in a case study employing three instruments in collecting the data; interview, observation, and documentation. The interview showed that the students were enthusiastic to implement MUN, curious to know further, and engaged with all of the activities. The observation showed that the students were active, consistent and discipline in following all the activities. While the documentation showed that their success in implementing this kind of teaching method was equipped by their sufficient background of English language mastery. Accordingly, it can be concluded that the students' enthusiasm towards MUN was sophisticatedly high and their capacity to follow the teaching method was satisfying. These findings imply its possibility to be implemented in the class. The suggestion is addressed for teachers to simplify the procedures to make its practicality more tangible to do

Development in the Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore Growth Triangle

In this article, we explore whether regional economic cooperation in the form of growth triangle, made popular during the late 1980s, can continue to be relevant in the face of more formal arrangements as in free trade agreements (FTAs) and other bilateral ‘closer economic partnerships’ (CEPs) initiatives in the recent years. In particular, the discussion is focussed on the Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore growth triangle (IMS-GT) which is the pioneering arrangement in Southeast Asia. IMS-GT continues to be a successful mode of cooperation among the three countries and will remain a key and subtle framework for regional economic collaboration amidst the plethora of initiatives relating to FTAs and CEPs. This paper put forth a thesis that GT is part of a spectrum of regional cooperation efforts with convergence interest to be in synchrony with the global value chain. As long as the formation and implementation of GT contribute to the creation of value, it can co-exist with more formal arrangements like the FTAs and CEPs.