On*-primes and*-valuations

We study the relation between^*-primes and^*-valuations to deduce a necessary and sufficient condition for extending^*-valuations.     

AnL 1 counting problem in ergodic theory

We give a negative solution to the following counting problem for measure preserving transformations. Forf∈L ₊ ¹ (μ), is it true that sup _n (N _n (f)(x)/n) <∞, μ a.e., where N _n (f)(x)=≠{k:f(T ^k x)/k >1/ n}? One of the consequences is the nonvalidity of J. Bourgain’s Return Time Theorem for pairs of (L ¹ ,L ¹ ) functions.     

trans-cis Photoisomerization of a photoactive yellow protein model chromophore in crystalline phase

We have studied the photoinduced trans/cis isomerization of the protonated form of p-hydroxycinnamic thiophenyl ester, a model chromophore of the photoactive yellow protein (PYP), in crystalline phase, by both fluorescence and infrared spectroscopies. The conversion from trans to cis configuration is revealed by a shift of the fluorescence peak and by inspection of the infrared maker bands. The crystal packing apparently stabilizes the cis photoproduct, suggesting different environmental effects from the solvent molecules for this model chromophore in liquid solutions or from the amino acid residues for the PYP chromophore.     

Surface modification of platinum by laser-produced X-rays

Laser-induced plasma is used as an X-ray source for the growth of hillocks like nanostructures on platinum surface. To generate X-rays, plasma is produced by Nd:YAG laser, which is operated at second harmonics (λ?=?532?nm, E?=?400?mJ). Analytical grade 5?N pure Al, Cu and W are used as laser targets for X-rays production. X-rays produced from Al, Cu and W plasmas are used to irradiate three analytical grade (5?N pure) platinum substrates, respectively, under the vacuum ～10^?4 torr. XRD analysis shows considerable structural changes in the exposed platinum. The decrement in reflection intensities, increment in dislocation line density, change in d-spacing and disturbance in the periodicity of planes evidently prove these structural changes. Atomic force microscope AFM topographic analysis of the platinum exposed to X-rays emitted from Al, Cu and W targets showed that nanometer-size hillocks are produced on the platinum surface irrespective of the source. It has also been observed that due to these hillocks, the roughness of the surface has increased. Conductivity of hillocks produced from X-rays produced by Al, Cu and W targets is compared and it is shown that the hillocks produced by Al target X-rays have better conductivity compared to the hillocks produced by X-rays from Cu and W targets.     

Influence of tungsten doping concentration on the electronic and optical properties of anatase TiO2

The structural, electronic and optical properties of tungsten-doped TiO₂ have been investigated using density functional theory with plane wave basis sets and ultrasoft pseuodopotential. Substitutional W doping at Ti sites create W 5d states just below the conduction band minimum while interstitial W doping gives isolated W 5d states in the middle of forbidden region. Averaged bond lengths show that W doping at Ti sites produce minimum structural distortion as compared to the interstitial W-doped TiO₂. Substitutional W-doped TiO₂ has better visible light absorption compared to interstitial W-doped TiO₂ and has stable configuration which provide reasonable explanation for the experimental findings. Tungsten doping in TiO₂ with different doping concentrations is investigated as an enabling concept for enhancing the visible light absorption. Optical properties show that optimal W doping concentration would improve the visible light absorption. 2.08% W doping concentration gives strong visible and ultraviolet light absorption among all doped models found consistent with experiments.     

Elemental Analysis of Cement by Calibration-Free Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) and Comparison with Laser Ablation – Time-of-Flight – Mass Spectrometry (LA-TOF-MS), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDX), X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF), and Proton Induced X-Ray Emission Spectrometry (PIXE)

The purpose of the present study is to determine the elemental composition of Pakistani cement brands using calibration-free laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) and to compare the obtained results with the other analytical techniques such as, laser ablation – time-of-flight – mass spectrometry (LA-TOF-MS), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and proton induced X-ray emission spectrometry (PIXE). Compositional results reveal that all the cement brands are mainly composed of calcium, silicon, iron, aluminum, magnesium, potassium, sodium, titanium, lithium and strontium with varying concentrations. The compositions obtained by LIBS and LA-TOF-MS are in good agreement with results obtained by the other standard techniques and demonstrate the potential use of LIBS for the online monitoring of industrial cement production.     

Chemical constituents from the flowers of Satsuma mandarin and their free radical scavenging and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities

Flowers of Citrus plants are used as mild sedatives and for the treatment of insomnia in traditional medicines. In Japan, tea made from the flowers of Satsuma mandarin is consumed as healthy drink. Hesperidin (1), hesperetin (2), rutin (3), quercetin (4), nicotiflorin (5), eriocitrin (6), narirutin (7), phenylethyl glucoside (8) and unshuoside A (9) were isolated from the MeOH extract of fresh flowers. Structure elucidation of these compounds was performed on the basis of NMR spectroscopic data. Among them, rutin (3), quercetin (4) and eriocitrin (6) showed potent free radical scavenging activity, whereas hesperetin (2) and quercetin (4) showed potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.     

南极假丝酵母在纳米聚苯乙烯上的共价固载及其在微波辅助酯化反应中的应用（英文）

Nanopolystyrene was used as a solid support for the covalent immobilization of Candida antarctica lipase B(Cal B) using the photoreactive reagent 1‐fluoro‐2‐nitro‐4‐azido benzene(FNAB) as a cou‐pling reagent. The obtained derivative was then used as a biocatalyst in a microwave assisted ester‐ification experiment. Factors such as contact time, pH, and enzyme concentration were investigated during immobilization. The hydrolytic activity, thermal, and operational stability of immobi‐lized‐Cal B were determined. The maximum immobilized yield(218 μg/mg support) obtained at pH 6.8 exhibited optimum hydrolytic activity(4.42 × 103 mU p‐nitrophenol/min). The thermal stability of Cal B improved significantly when it was immobilized at pH 10, however, the immobilized yield was very low(93.6 μg/mg support). The immobilized‐Cal B prepared at pH 6.8 and pH 10 retained 50% of its initial activity after incubation periods of 14 and 16 h, respectively, at 60 °C. The opera‐tional stability was investigated for the microwave assisted esterification of oleic acid with metha‐nol. Immobilized‐Cal B retained 50% of its initial activity after 15 batch cycles in the micro‐wave‐assisted esterification. The esterification time was notably reduced under microwave irradia‐tion. The combined use of a biocatalyst and microwave heating is thus an alternative total green synthesis process.     

Brownian motion and thermophoresis effects on unsteady stagnation point flow of Eyring-Powell nanofluid: a Galerkin approach

This article concerns the analysis of an unsteady stagnation point flow of Eyring-Powell nanofluid over a stretching sheet. The influence of thermophoresis and Brownian motion is also considered in transport equations. The nonlinear ODE set is obtained from the governing nonlinear equations via suitable transformations. The numerical experiments are performed using the Galerkin scheme. A tabular form comparison analysis of outcomes attained via the Galerkin approach and numerical scheme (RK-4) is available to show the credibility of the Galerkin method. The numerical exploration is carried out for various governing parameters, namely, Brownian motion, steadiness, thermophoresis, stretching ratio, velocity slip, concentration slip, thermal slip, and fluid parameters, and Hartmann, Prandtl and Schmidt numbers. The velocity of fluid enhances with an increase in fluid and magnetic parameters for the case of opposing, but the behavior is reversed for assisting cases. The Brownian motion and thermophoresis parameters cause an increase in temperature for both cases (assisting and opposing). The Brownian motion parameter provides a drop-in concentration while an increase is noticed for the thermophoresis parameter. All the outcomes and the behavior of emerging parameters are illustrated graphically. The comparison analysis and graphical plots endorse the appropriateness of the Galerkin method. It is concluded that said method could be extended to other problems of a complex nature.