Sensitization of the analytical methods for photoneutron calculations to the wall concrete composition in radiation therapy

The effect of wall material on photoneutron production in radiation therapy rooms was studied using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. An analytical formula was proposed to take into account the concrete composition in photoneutron dose calculations. Using the MCNPX MC code, the 18 MV photon beam of the Varian Clinac 2100 and a typical treatment room with concrete compositions according to report No. 144 of National Council of Radiation Protection (NCRP) were simulated. Number of room produced photoneutrons per Gray of X-ray at the isocenter was determined for different types of concrete and named as “Q_W”. This new factor was inserted in the used formula for photoneutron fluence calculations at the inner entrance of maze. The photoneutron fluence was calculated using new proposed formula at the inner entrance of maze for all studied concretes. The difference between conventional and proposed equations varied from 11% to 46% for studied concretes. It was found that room produced photoneutrons could be significant for high density concretes. Additionally, applying the new proposed formula can consider the effect of wall material composition on the photoneutron production in high energy radiation therapy rooms. Further studies to confirm the accuracy of newly developed method is recommended.     

Mean distribution of single-particle levels in thin-skinned potential wells and the macroscopic level density parameters of nuclei

A general leptodermous expansion for the density of single-particle levels in thin-skinned potential wells is derived and is used to study the finite size corrections to the macroscopic level density parameters of nuclei. With droplet model values for the potential parameters, the calculated level density parameters for nuclei along the β-stability line show systematic deviations from the experimental estimates. Possible reasons for these deviations are also discussed.     

N-fuzzy Filters in Ordered Semigroups

In this paper we define N-fuzzy filters,N-fuzzy bi-ideal subsets and N-fuzzy bi-filters of ordered semigroups and characterize ordered semigroups in terms of N-fuzzy filters, N-fuzzy bi-ideal subsets and N-fuzzy bi-filters.We establish relationship of N-fuzzy filters and prime N-fuzzy ideals of ordered semigroups. Also we discuss the relationship of N-fuzzy bi-filters and prime N-fuzzy bi-ideal subsets of ordered semigroups.     

Kinetic determination of thiocyanate on the basis of its catalytic effect on the oxidation of methylene blue with potassium bromate.

This study reports a sensitive kinetic spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of thiocyanate. In acidic solution, Methylene Blue (MB) is oxidized by bromate to form a colorless compound. The reaction is accelerated by trace amounts of thiocyanate and can be followed by measuring the absorbance at 664 nm. The absorbance of the reaction decreased with an increase in the reaction time. Under the optimum experimental conditions (0.56 M of sulfuric acid, 3.9 x 10(-5) M of MB, 3.0 x 10(-3) M of bromate, 180 s, 25 degrees C), thiocyanate can be determined in the range 5.0 - 180 ng/ml. The relative standard deviations (n = 8) are 2.81 and 1.43% for 10.0 and 150 ng/ml thiocyanate, respectively. The detection limit of this method is (3sigma) 3.8 ng/ml. This method was successfully applied to the determination of thiocyanate in real samples.     

The reaction of 2‐phenoxy‐3,5‐dinitropyridine with substituted anilines in the presence of 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane in dimethyl sulfoxide: Kinetic and equilibrium studies

The reactions of 2‐phenoxy‐3,5‐dinitropyridine ( 1 ) with a series of substituted anilines ( 4a–d ) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in the presence of 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) yield the 2‐anilino derivatives without the accumulation of intermediates. The kinetics is compatible with a two‐step reaction involving initial nucleophilic attack followed by either base‐catalyzed or uncatalyzed conversion to the product. The base‐catalyzed pathway is likely to involve rate‐limiting proton transfer from the zwitterionic intermediate to base. The results are compared with those for reactions of 1,3,5‐trinitrobenzene (2) and phenyl 2,4,6‐trinitrophenyl ether ( 3 , R = Ph ) with anilines. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 198–203, 2009     

Effects of partial slip on flow of a third grade fluid

This paper is an analytical study of the rotating flow of a third grade fluid past a porous plate with partial slip effects. It serves as a flow model for the study of polymers. The analytic solution has been determined using homotopy analysis method (HAM).The English text was polished by Yunming Chen.     

Projective and inductive limits in locally convex cones

We define and study the projective and inductive limit notions for locally convex cones. We use convex quasiuniform structure method for this purpose. Also we study the barreledness in the locally convex cones and introduce the notion upper-barreled cones and prove that the inductive limit of upper-barreled cones is upper-barreled.     

Steric hindrance as a key factor on proton transfer in the σ-adduct forming reactions of o -substituted anilines with 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene in dimethylsulfoxide

Kinetic and equilibrium studies are reported of the reactions of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB) with a series of o-substituted anilines in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in the presence of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2.]octane (DABCO). The pK _a values in DMSO for the aniline derivatives were measured using the proton-transfer equilibrium with 2,4-dinitrophenol. Kinetic studies are compatible with a two-step process involving initial nucleophilic attack on TNB by amine to give a zwitterionic intermediate which may transfer an acidic proton to DABCO to yield the anionic product. The results indicate steric hindrance to proton transfer in reactions involving 2,6-disubstituted anilines.     

On accelerated flows of an Oldroyd-B fluid in a porous medium

In this work, the problems dealing with unsteady unidirectional flows of an Oldroyd-B fluid in a porous medium are investigated. By using modified Darcy's law of an Oldroyd-B fluid, the equations governing the flow are modelled. Employing Fourier sine transform, the analytic solutions of the modelled equations are developed for the following two problems: (i) constant accelerated flow, (ii) variable accelerated flow. Explicit expressions for the velocity field and adequate tangential stress are obtained in each case. The solutions for Newtonian, second grade and Maxwell fluids in a porous medium appear as the limiting cases of the present analysis.     

Characterization of Ayran Aroma Active Compounds by Solvent-Assisted Flavor Evaporation (SAFE) with Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry–Olfactometry (GC–MS–O) and Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis (AEDA)

The aroma compounds of ayran were isolated using solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE) resulting in a more representative extract of ayran odor compared to liquid–liquid extraction (LLE), solid-phase extraction (SPE), and simultaneous distillation–extraction (SDE). The aromatic extract was subjected to sensory analysis and identified and quantified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). A total of 19 volatile compounds were detected that included alcohols, aldehyde, acids, esters, ketones, and terpenes. However, the compounds present at the highest concentrations were ethyl lactate, ethanol, 2,3-butanediol, acetoin, and acetic acid. The key odorants for the ayran drinks were detected using aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) and GC–MS–olfactometry (GC–MS–O). A total of 14 aroma-active compounds were determined for the first time. The flavor dilution (FD) factors ranged between 4 and 512 while their odor activity values (OAVs) were from 1.35 to 1126.99. Ethyl lactate (FD of 512 whey/creamy), 2-methylbutanal (FD of 512, fruity), acetoin (FD of 256, buttery creamy), and butanoic acid (FD of 256, cheesy-sweet) were the strongest aroma-active components of the Ayran drink.