The competition number of a graph whose holes do not overlap much

Let D be an acyclic digraph. The competition graph of D is a graph which has the same vertex set as D and has an edge between u and v if and only if there exists a vertex x in D such that (u,x) and (v,x) are arcs of D. For any graph G, G together with sufficiently many isolated vertices is the competition graph of some acyclic digraph. The competition number k(G) of G is the smallest number of such isolated vertices.A hole of a graph is an induced cycle of length at least four. Kim (2005) [8] conjectured that the competition number of a graph with h holes is at most h+1. Recently, Li and Chang (2009) [11] showed that the conjecture is true when the holes are independent. In this paper, we show that the conjecture is true though the holes are not independent but mutually edge-disjoint.     

EPR in the Characterization of the Shade Effect on Translucence, Remaining Free Radicals, and Polymerization Depth of Commercially Available Resin Composites

The aim of this study was to assess the relation between the number of free radicals generated and the polymerization depth in two different commercial brands of resin composites with different colors and translucence. Electron paramagnetic resonance quantified the radical populations through relative intensity (I _r) of free radicals generated, and radical decay was monitored. Sample translucence and the classical polymerization depth were measured. The analysis indicated that resin with more color pigments (MA4, I _r = 0.73 a.u) or more opacity components (ODA2, I _r = 0.84 a.u) generated smaller populations of free radicals and have the lower polymerization depth than clearer (M, I _r = 1.20 a.u and MA2, I _r = 1.02) or more translucent (OEA2, I _r = 1.00 a.u) composites for the same light-curing time. It seems that irradiation doses have to be adequate to more colored and less translucent resins.     

Quantitative determination of E5880 in rat plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and sensitive method is described for the determination of E5880 in rat plasma. The method is based on high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, using deuterated E5880 as an internal standard. Selected reaction monitoring is employed for selectivity and sensitivity, this in turn enables quantification in a short period of time (within 7 minutes) over the extended range of 0.1-1000 ng/ml with acceptable precision and accuracy. The method demonstrated to be suitable for the quantitative analysis of E5880 in rat plasma. The pharmacokinetic profile of E5880 after a single intravenous administration of E5880 was elucidated.     

99Ru and57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of a ruthenium alloy,RuFe2Si

⁹⁹Ru and⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopic and magnetization measurements were made in order to clarify the magnetic properties of a Huesler alloy, RuFe₂Si. The result obtained from⁹⁹Ru-Mössbauer spectrum leads to the conclusion that Ru atoms were substituted by both Fe[A, C] and Fe[B], but the latter preferentially.     

Structural Change in Dextran: Mechanism of Insolubilization by Adsorption on the Air-Liquid Interface

To clarify the insolubilization mechanism of water-soluble dextran, the association of dextran in water was studied by dynamic light scattering measurements and a surface chemical approach. Dynamic light scattering measurements indicated that insolubilization of dextran is accompanied by a structural change in dextran. Surface tension data for dextran molecules revealed a structural change in dextran molecules at the air-liquid interface. These results suggest that insolubilization of dextran molecules occurred through an adsorption process at the air-liquid interface. Insolubilization of dextran molecules can be reduced by inhibition of this structural change in dextran molecules. The presence of boron as an impurity was found to trigger precipitation based on inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry measurements and precipitation tests. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

Novel drug delivery device using silicone: controlled release of insoluble drugs or two kinds of water-soluble drugs

Drug release mechanism from silicone carrier differs depending on physicochemical properties of the drug. So far, there have been few reports on controlled release of insoluble drug and on simultaneous release of two kinds of water-soluble drugs. The purposes of this study are to establish methods for (1). continuous release of insoluble drug, and (2). release of two kinds of water-soluble drugs from silicone carrier. Polystyrene beads (PSTB) and proteins such as interferon (IFN) and human serum albumin (HSA) were used as model drugs. PSTB was released from silicone only when citric acid (CA) and sodium bicarbonate (SB) existed as additives. The release patterns of IFN and HSA were almost same in the case of matrix and covered-rod formulations, but double-layered formulation released them in different patterns. As far as we are aware, this is the first report on the release of insoluble drug from silicone and the controlled release of two kinds of water-soluble drugs.     

Effect of Solvent Diols and Ligands on the Properties of Sol-Gel Alumina-Silicas

Amorphous alumina-silicas were prepared from a tetra-alkoxysilane and anhydrous aluminum trichloride or an aluminum alkoxide by a sol-gel process using 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, pinacol, 1,2-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol or ethylene glycol as the solvent or complexing agent, and the effect of diols and alkoxy groups on the physical and chemical properties of the alumina-silicas was examined. When the diol or the alkoxy group was bulky, the alumina-silicas had relatively larger micropores, a larger pore volume and higher surface areas. In the conversion of methanol catalyzed by the alumina-silicas, the bulkier diols and alkoxides gave catalysts that produced dimethyl ether in higher yield and hydrocarbons in lower yield. Thus, when ethylene glycol was used as the diol, the best catalyst for the production of hydrocarbons, especially the production of olefins such as ethylene, propylene and butene, was obtained. Furthermore, in comparison with alumina-silica prepared by a traditional kneading process, it was found that the sol-gel alumina-silica could efficiently convert methanol to dimethyl ether and hydrocarbons, but the material prepared by kneading had a very low conversion of methanol to other compounds.     

van der Waals layer-by-layer construction of a carbon nanotube 2D network

The acid-treated single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) dispersed in water are only kinetically stable with electrostatic double layer repulsions just balancing against van der Waals (VDW) attractions. Introducing any external factor to disturb this balance causes immediate coagulation of SWCNTs. Here, an amine-covered flat substrate was immersed in the dispersion to initiate adsorption of SWCNTs onto the substrate surface. By repeating an adsorption-rinse-dry cycle, it was possible to deposit SWCNT bundles in a layer-by-layer fashion and to develop a 2D network consisting only of SWCNTs that are held by VDW interaction. We show that (1) adsorbed solution-grown aggregates are not relevant for the network connectivity, (2) 2D percolation takes place at very low surface coverage, (3) the electrical resistivity follows a power law against the layering cycles, (4) not only the adsorbed amount but also the added amount per layering cycle increases linearly with the SWCNT concentration, and (5) after the adsorption is initiated by amines, VDW attraction takes over for subsequent adsorption, with the consequence that the newly adsorbed SWCNTs are used to thicken each arm of the network rather than to cover more free surfaces.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of sulphobromophthalein and its conjugates.

A simple, sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of sulphobromophthalein and its mercaptide conjugates in rat bile was developed. These pigments, which have an absorption maximum at 580 nm in alkaline solution, were separated isocratically on an alkali-resistant ODS column by paired-ion chromatography. Analysis of bile samples obtained after intravenous administration of sulphobromophthalein to rats showed the presence of at least twenty peaks of metabolites, of which thirteen were identified and seven quantified.