An overlapping additive Schwarz preconditioner for interpolation on the unit sphere with spherical radial basis functions

The problem of interpolation of scattered data on the unit sphere has many applications in geodesy and Earth science in which the sphere is taken as a model for the Earth. Spherical radial basis functions provide a convenient tool for constructing the interpolant. However, the underlying linear systems tend to be ill-conditioned. In this paper, we present an additive Schwarz preconditioner for accelerating the solution process. An estimate for the condition number of the preconditioned system will be discussed. Numerical experiments using MAGSAT satellite data will be presented.     

Line intensities of acetylene: New measurements in the 1.5-μm spectral region and global modelling in the ΔP=10 series

Using the Fourier transform spectra of the acetylene molecule recorded near 1.5-μm, the intensities of 111 lines belonging to seven hot bands of the main isotopologue ¹²C₂H₂ have been retrieved by means of a multispectrum fitting procedure. Considering the density of lines in the spectra, and the fact that the measured bands are the weakest observed, the accuracy of the measurements is around 10%. At first stage, an empirical treatment of these data has been performed, leading to the vibrational transition dipole moment squared and some Herman–Wallis coefficients. Then the measured line intensities of this work and collected ones from the literature have been treated simultaneously within the framework of the effective operator approach.     

Higher-order Dirac solitons in binary waveguide arrays

We study optical analogues of higher-order Dirac solitons (HODSs) in binary waveguide arrays. Like higher-order solitons obtained from the well-known nonlinear Schrödinger equation governing the pulse propagation in an optical fiber, these HODSs have amplitude profiles which are numerically shown to be periodic over large propagation distances. At the same time, HODSs possess some unique features. Firstly, the period of a HODS depends on its order parameter. Secondly, the discrete nature in binary waveguide arrays imposes the upper limit on the order parameter of HODSs. Thirdly, the order parameter of HODSs can vary continuously in a certain range.     

THE REACTION OF TERMINAL PHOSPHINIDENE COMPLEXES WITH ELECTRON-RICH ALKYNES: A NEW APPROACH TO THE PHOSPHOLE RING

Abstract

The reaction of electron-rich alkynes such as ethoxyacetylene or propynyldiethylamine with a transient terminal phosphinidene complex such as [PhP?W(CO)₅] directly yields the corresponding phosphole complexes via a formal [2 + 2 + I] cycloaddition involving two molecules of alkyne and one phosphorus center.     

Methyl (E)-2-(2-phenylcyclopropylidene)acetate: Synthesis, isomerization, and reaction with 1,3-diphenyl-2-benzofuran

Treatment of 3-methyl-2-phenylcycloprop-2-ene-1-carboxylic acid with potassium tert-butoxide induced its isomerization into trans-2-methylidene-3-phenylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid which was converted into methyl ester, and heating of the latter for 1 h in toluene gave methyl (E)-2-(2-phenylcyclopropylidene)acetate. Thermal isomerization of methyl (E)-2-(2-phenylcyclopropylidene)acetate on prolonged heating in toluene afforded 5-methoxy-3-methyl-2-phenylfuran, and the reaction with 1,3-diphenyl-2-benzofuran resulted in [4 + 2]-cycloaddition at the exocyclic double bond.     

Volatile organic compounds in an urban environment: a comparison among Belgium,Vietnam and Ethiopia

The effects of urban and indoor air pollution on human health are a major environmental concern for all, but not much has been researched in the developing world. Specifically, quantitative data on the occurrence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – main contributors to air pollution – in Asia and Africa are scarce compared to the availability of data in the developed world. This paper presents one of the first studies focusing on the analysis and occurrence of VOCs in Vietnam and Ethiopia, which constitutes part of the novelty of this work. A spectrum of 34 VOCs was measured at eight different urban sites in Ghent (Belgium), Hanoi (Vietnam), Jimma and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) during three sampling campaigns from September 2008 to September 2010. Sampling was done in an active way by means of sorbent tubes filled with Tenax TA. The analysis was done by TD-GC-MS using internal standard calibration. Data were interpreted and compared in terms of (i) individual, subgroup and total VOCs concentration (TVOCs), (ii) indoor-to-outdoor (I/O) concentration ratios, (iii) source identification by diagnostic ratio and/or correlation coefficients, and (iv) ozone formation potential (OFP) at outdoor sites based on up-to-date maximum incremental reactivity (MIR). I/O concentration ratios varied between 0.2 and 30, with big differences noticed with respect to the type of VOC(s) considered and the type of outdoor sampling location. The highest TVOC concentrations were measured in street samples with maximum values of 54?µg/m³ in Ghent, 507?µg/m³ in Hanoi and 318?µg/m³ in Addis Ababa illustrating the large difference in ambient air quality levels. This is also reflected in the arithmetic mean OFP values (µg/m³) of 82, 1308 and 596 in Ghent, Hanoi and Addis Ababa, respectively. Results of this study could be helpful to support formulation of national policy with regard to ambient air quality.     

Development and validation of an ELISA kit for the detection of ricin toxins from biological specimens and environmental samples

Ricin is a toxin that can be easily extracted from seeds of Ricinus communis plants. Ricin is considered to be a major bio-threat as it can be freely and easily acquired in large quantities. A deliberate release of such toxin in civilian populations would very likely overwhelm existing public health systems, resulting in public fear and social unrest. There is currently no commercially available or FDA-approved prophylaxis such as vaccines, or therapeutic antitoxins or antidotes, available for ricin intoxication. Patient treatment is typically supportive care based on symptoms, often designed to reinforce the body’s natural response. This paper describes the development and validation of a robust ELISA test kit, which can be used to screen for ricin in biological specimens such as whole blood and faeces. Faecal specimens are shown in this study to have better diagnostic sensitivity and a wider diagnostic window compared to whole blood. From these results, it is concluded that faeces is the most suitable clinical specimen for diagnosis of ricin poisoning via the oral route. The ELISA test kit can also detect ricin in environmental samples. An advantage of this ELISA kit over other commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) detection kits currently on the market that are developed to screen environmental samples only is its ability to diagnose ricin poisoning from clinical specimens as well as detect ricin from environmental samples.     

A rapid way to synthesize Brønsted acidic ionic liquid and its application as an efficient catalyst for esterification

A novel and time-saving method to prepare a Brønsted acidic ionic liquid, 1-carboxymethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([CMI][HSO₄]), in high yield and purity was performed under microwave irradiation. The ionic liquid showed an incomparable catalytic efficiency in the microwave-accelerated esterification of arenecarboxylic acids. Moreover, its ability of being recovered and reused many times without loss of activity has made [CMI][HSO₄] more favorable from the viewpoint of green chemistry.