Gas chromatographic determination of the pesticide dodemorph for assessment of occupational exposure.

As part of a health hazard survey of occupational exposure to pesticides in greenhouse growing of ornamentals, analytical methods are developed and validated for measurement of exposure of workers to the fungicide dodemorph. A gas chromatographic method is developed using on-column injection and nitrogen-phosphorus detection for quantification. Methods for the determination of (potential) dermal exposure by the analysis of foliar dislodgeable residues and cotton gloves are validated with respect to background, analytical recovery, stability, limit of detection, and between-day coefficients of variation. Analytical recovery from 'foliar dislodgeable residue solutions' and cotton gloves is more than 95%. Dodemorph in 'foliar dislodgeable residue solutions' and on cotton gloves is stable for at least five and six months, respectively, when stored in the refrigerator. Between-day coefficients of variation are 6% for both matrices. The limit of detection is 3 micrograms per leaf sample and 150 micrograms per pair of gloves. Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) samplers, designed for the collection of a defined inspirable fraction of aerosols, are tested for sampling air-borne dodemorph. IOM samplers equipped with glass-fiber or cellulose filters appear unsuitable for reliable sampling of the fungicide because of breakthrough or breakdown during sampling.     

Disjunctive Optimization: Critical Point Theory

In this paper, we introduce the concepts of (nondegenerate) stationary points and stationary index for disjunctive optimization problems. Two basic theorems from Morse theory, which imply the validity of the (standard) Morse relations, are proved. The first one is a deformation theorem which applies outside the stationary point set. The second one is a cell-attachment theorem which applies at nondegenerate stationary points. The dimension of the cell to be attached equals the stationary index. Here, the stationary index depends on both the restricted Hessian of the Lagrangian and the set of active inequality constraints. In standard optimization problems, the latter contribution vanishes.     

Thermal behaviour of lanthanum(III) alkanoates

The mesophase behaviour of the lanthanum(III) alkanoates [La(C_xH_2x+1COO)₃] (x =3-19) has been investigated by hot-stage polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and high-temperature X-ray diffraction. Lanthanum(III) butyrate monohydrate shows no mesomorphism, whereas for the remaining short chain homologues (x = 4-9) a highly viscous mesophase M and a smectic A phase were observed. The longer chain lanthanum(III) soaps (x = 10-19) exhibit only a smectic A phase. However, the chain length has a pronounced effect on the transition temperatures. The thermal behaviour of lanthanum(III) alkanoates is compared with that of other lanthanide(III) alkanoates.     

Mesomorphic behaviour of praseodymium(III) alkanoates

In this paper, we describe the synthesis, characterization and thermal behaviour of praseodymium(III) alkanoates. The compounds have the stoichiometry [Pr(C _x H_2x+1COO)₃], where x = 5-19, and were characterized by elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy. The thermal behaviour was investigated by hot-stage polarizing optical microscopy, DSC and high temperature X-ray diffraction. A highly viscous mesophase M and a smectic A phase were observed for the shorter chain compounds (x = 5-8), whereas only a smectic A phase was observed for the longer chain compounds of this type of metallomesogens. The chain length has a pronounced effect on the transition temperatures.     

Smoothing by mollifiers. Part I: semi-infinite optimization

We show that a compact feasible set of a standard semi-infinite optimization problem can be approximated arbitrarily well by a level set of a single smooth function with certain regularity properties. This function is constructed as the mollification of the lower level optimal value function. Moreover, we use correspondences between Karush–Kuhn–Tucker points of the original and the smoothed problem, and between their associated Morse indices, to prove the connectedness of the so-called min–max digraph for semi-infinite problems.      

On parametric nonlinear programming

In this tutorial survey we study finite dimensional optimization problems which depend on parameters. It is our aim to work out several basic connections with different mathematical areas. In particular, attention will be paid to unfolding and singularity theory, structural analysis of families of constraint sets, constrained optimization problems and semi-infinite optimization.     

Stability for linearly constrained optimization problems

We deal with finite dimensional differentiable optimization problems under linear constraints. Stability of stationary solutions under restricted perturbations of the constraints will be characterized. The restriction on the constraint perturbations is given by means of a certain rank condition; in particular, righthandside perturbations are allowed.Corresponding author.     

The equivalence of strict convexity and injectivity of the gradient in bounded level sets

It is shown that Lipschitzian functions are strictly convex if and only if their generalized gradients are disjoint at distinct interior points of a given bounded level set.This work was supported by the Applied Mathematical Sciences subprogram of the Office of Energy Research, US Department of Energy, under Contract W-31-109-Eng-38.     

On Intrinsic Complexity of Nash Equilibrium Problems and Bilevel Optimization

In this article we study generalized Nash equilibrium problems (GNEP) and bilevel optimization side by side. This perspective comes from the crucial fact that both problems heavily depend on parametric issues. Observing the intrinsic complexity of GNEP and bilevel optimization, we emphasize that it originates from unavoidable degeneracies occurring in parametric optimization. Under intrinsic complexity, we understand the involved geometrical complexity of Nash equilibria and bilevel feasible sets, such as the appearance of kinks and boundary points, non-closedness, discontinuity and bifurcation effects. The main goal is to illustrate the complexity of those problems originating from parametric optimization and singularity theory. By taking the study of singularities in parametric optimization into account, the structural analysis of Nash equilibria and bilevel feasible sets is performed. For GNEPs, the number of players’ common constraints becomes crucial. In fact, for GNEPs without common constraints and for classical NEPs we show that—generically—all Nash equilibria are jointly nondegenerate Karush–Kuhn–Tucker points. Consequently, they are isolated. However, in presence of common constraints Nash equilibria will constitute a higher dimensional set. In bilevel optimization, we describe the global structure of the bilevel feasible set in case of a one-dimensional leader’s variable. We point out that the typical discontinuities of the leader’s objective function will be caused by follower’s singularities. The latter phenomenon occurs independently of the viewpoint of the optimistic or pessimistic approach. In case of higher dimensions, optimistic and pessimistic approaches are discussed with respect to possible bifurcation of the follower’s solutions.     

C235-V3 cyclotron for a proton therapy center to be installed in the hospital complex of radiation medicine (Dimitrovgrad)

Proton therapy is an effective method of treating oncologic diseases. In Russia, construction of several centers for proton and ion therapy is slated for the years to come. A proton therapy center in Dimitrovgrad will be the first. The Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (Russia) in collaboration with Ion Beam Application (IBA) (Belgium) has designed an C235-V3 medical proton cyclotron for this center. It outperforms previous versions of commercial IBA cyclotrons, which have already been installed in 11 oncologic hospital centers in different countries. Experimental and calculation data for the beam dynamics in the C235-V3 medical cyclotron are presented. Reasons for beam losses during acceleration are considered, the influence of the magnetic field radial component in the midplane of the accelerator and main resonances is studied, and a beam extraction system is designed. In 2011–2012 in Dubna, the cyclotron was mounted, its magnetic field was properly configured, acceleration conditions were optimized, and beam extraction tests were carried out after which it was supplied to Dimitrovgrad. In the C235-V3 cyclotron, an acceleration efficiency of 72% and an extraction efficiency of 62% have been achieved without diaphragming to form a vertical profile of the beam.