Exascale applications: skin in the game

As noted in Wikipedia, skin in the game refers to having 'incurred risk by being involved in achieving a goal', where 'skin is a synecdoche for the person involved, and game is the metaphor for actions on the field of play under discussion'. For exascale applications under development in the US Department of Energy Exascale Computing Project, nothing could be more apt, with the skin being exascale applications and the game being delivering comprehensive science-based computational applications that effectively exploit exascale high-performance computing technologies to provide breakthrough modelling and simulation and data science solutions. These solutions will yield high-confidence insights and answers to the most critical problems and challenges for the USA in scientific discovery, national security, energy assurance, economic competitiveness and advanced healthcare. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Numerical algorithms for high-performance computational science'.

Preparation and spectral properties of europium hydrogen squarate microcrystals

A simple scheme for preparation of europium hydrogen squarate octahydrate microcrystals, Eu(HSq)₃·8H₂O is demonstrated. The microcrystalline powders obtained have a potential application as non-centrosymmetric and UV radiation - protective hybrid optical material. The site-symmetry of the Eu - ion is C_2V or lower, obtained from diffuse reflectance spectra. The formation of europium hydrogen squarate is supported by IR - spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction. A detailed analysis of the UV-vis and IR spectra of the micropowders prepared is presented.

Synthesis, spectroscopic and structural elucidation of 1-butyl-4-[2-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl)]pyridinium chloride tetrahydrate

The novel chloride salt of 1-butyl-4-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl)]pyridine (1), has been synthesized as the tetrahydrate and its structure and properties elucidated in detail spectroscopically, thermally and structurally, using single crystal X-ray diffraction, linear-polarized solid-state IR-spectroscopy, UV-spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Quantum chemical calculations were performed with a view to supporting and explaining the experimental structural and spectroscopic data. The compound (1) crystallizes in triclinic P1 space group and its unit cell contains two independent 1-butyl-4-[2-(3,5-dimethoxy4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl)]pyridinium] cations, differing with respect to the butyl chain torsion angle for which values of 80.0(9) degrees and 173.6(3) degrees are observed. The cations and anions are joined into infinite layers, formed by two different dimers and including solvent molecules. Hydrogen bonds OH...OH(2) (2.814 A), HOH...O(CH(3)) (2.960 A), OH...Cl (2.967 A), HOH...Cl(-) (3.034, 3.188, 3.161 and 3.062 A) and HOH...OH(2) (2.772 A) are observed. For first time in the literature, we are reporting the crystal structure of the dye with the syring-fragment in the molecule. The spectroscopic properties of the novel compound are compared and with those of the corresponding quinoide form (2). Both the forms (1) and (2) are characterized by 21 and 140 nm solvatochromic effects depending of the type of the solvent. The UV-spectroscopic data in solution confirm the formation of classical H-aggregates in polar protic solvent mixture.

Hydrogensquarates of 3-nicotinoyl and 3-isonicotinoyl coumarin--crystal structures and spectroscopic elucidation

Two novel hydrogensquarates of 3-nicotinoyl (1) and 3-isonicotinoyl (2) coumarin have been synthesized and their structures and properties elucidated spectroscopically and structurally, using single crystal X-ray diffraction, linear-polarized solid-state IR-spectroscopy, UV-spectroscopy and negative ESI MS. Quantum chemical calculations were used to obtain the electronic structure, vibrational data and electronic spectra. The IR-spectroscopic elucidation is carried out by a comparison with the characteristics of corresponding neutral 3-nicotinoyl and 3-isonicotinoyl coumarins.

N-methylcodeinium iodide--crystal structure and spectroscopic elucidation

The correlation between the structure and the spectroscopic properties of N-methylcodeinium iodide (1) has been studied, using the methods of single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR-LD spectroscopy of oriented samples as a suspension in nematic liquid crystals, UV-vis spectroscopy and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. HPLC tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC ESI MS/MS) and thermal methods were also employed. Quantum chemical calculations have been performed with a view to obtaining the electronic structure and vibrational properties of the title compound. Compound (1) crystallizes in the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) and its cations and anions are joined by moderate intermolecular OH...I- interaction of length 3.442A. The codeine molecule exhibits the classical T-shape for opiates. A dihedral angle value of 86.4(5) degrees between the A/B/C and D/E planes is obtained. Rings A and B are effectively coplanar with an interplanar angle of 3.6(3) degrees.

Spectroscopic, theoretical and structural characterization of hydrogensquarates of l-threonyl-l-serine and l-serine

Hydrogensquarates of dipeptide L-threonyl-L-serine (H-Thr-Ser-OH) and L: -serine (HSq x Ser) have been synthesized, isolated and spectroscopic characterized by solid-state linear-polarized IR-spectroscopy, 1H- and 13C-NMR, ESI-MS and HPLC with tandem masspectrometry (MS-MS) methods. The structures of the salts and neutral dipeptide have been predicted theoretically by ab initio calculations. In the case of H-Thr-Ser-OH the theoretical data are supported by IR-LD ones. The hydrogensquarates consist in positive charged dipeptide or amino acid moiety and negative hydrogensquarate anion (HSq) stabilizing by strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The data about the L-serine hydrogensquarate are compared with known crystallographic data thus indicating a good correlation between the theoretical predicted structures and experimentally obtained by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

[Surgical treatment of temporomandibular joint: apropos of 94 cases]

INTRODUCTION

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a complex entity subjected to repeated stress with several symptoms. About one-third of people have at least one of those symptoms but only few (3 to 7%) need treatment. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the results of temporomandibular joint surgery in 94 patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Several data were used for decision-making and the surgical technique was adapted to the etiology. The type of postoperative physiotherapy performed depended on the type of pathology.

RESULTS

Most patients who underwent surgery between 1989 and 2004 were women (83%). The mean age was 30 years. We performed 179 surgical procedures and among them 151 Dautrey procedures. In 28 cases miniplates were used to avoid recurrences. In 57 cases postoperative physiotherapy was performed. The mean postoperative mouth opening increase was 4.7 mm (+ 23%). There was no infection or lost of plate. The mean of follow-up was about 14 months.

DISCUSSION

With a long follow-up and an acceptable number of patients and operations, this retrospective study demonstrated the effectiveness of the Dautrey procedure in TMJ subluxations.