Some remarks on comparison of predictors in seemingly unrelated linear mixed models

Applications of Mathematics - In this paper, we consider a comparison problem of predictors in the context of linear mixed models. In particular, we assume a set of m different seemingly unrelated...     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-Butylcalix[8]arene loaded silica gel for preconcentration of uranium(VI) via solid phase extraction

This paper reports silica gel loaded with p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene as a new solid phase extractor for determination of trace level of uranium. Effective extraction conditions were optimized in column methods prior to determination by spectrophotometry using arsenazo(III). The results showed that U(VI) ions can be sorbed at pH 6 in a mini-column and quantitative recovery of U(VI) (>95–98%) was achieved by stripping 0.4 mol L⁻¹ HCl. The sorption capacity of the functionalized sorbent is 0.072 mmol uranium(VI) g⁻¹ modified silica gel. The relative standard deviation and detection limit were 1.2% (n = 10) for 1 μg uranium(VI) mL⁻¹ solution and 0.038 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The method was employed to the preconcentration of U(VI) ions from spiked ground water samples.     

Strong covalent hydration of terephthalaldehyde

Spectrophotometric and electroanalytical studies indicate that one of the formyl groups of terephthalaldehyde in aqueous solution is present in about 23% as a geminal diol. Stronger covalent hydration of CHO in terephthalaldehyde than in p-nitrobenzaldehyde is attributed to a strong resonance interaction between the two formyl groups.     

Surfactant-induced healing of tough hydrogels formed via hydrophobic interactions

Different reversible molecular interactions have been used in the past few years to generate self-healing in synthetic hydrogels. However, self-healing hydrogels synthesized so far suffer from low mechanical strength which may limit their use in any stress-bearing applications. Here, we present a simple technique to heal mechanically strong polyacrylamide hydrogels formed via hydrophobic interactions between stearyl groups. A complete healing in the hydrogels was achieved by the treatment of the damaged areas with an aqueous solution of wormlike sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles. The micelles in the healing agent solubilize the hydrophobes in the cut surfaces, so that they easily find their partners in the other cut surface due to the hydrophobic interactions. Surfactant-induced healing produces high toughness (～1 MPa) gels withstanding 150 kPa of stress at a deformation ratio of 1,100 %. The healing technique developed here is generally applicable to the physical gels formed by hydrophobic associations.     

Sequential Rearrangement Reactions of Benzhomonorbornadiene Derivatives: Synthesis of 7‐Vinylbenzonorbornadiene

The reaction of alcohol 12 with SOCl₂ gave chlorides 13 and 14 , and the acetolysis of toluene‐4‐sulfonate 15 gave sequential rearrangement products 16, 17 , and 18 . In the reaction of 12, 13 is the major product of sequential rearrangements. Treatment of chloride 13 with t‐BuOK gave 7‐vinylbenzonorbornadiene 19 .     

Description of spinning particle in general relativity using commuting spin variables

A general relativistic extension of a recently proposed model of spinning particle using commuting spin variables is given. The results found earlier in an approach using anticommuting (Grassmannian) variables are reproduced and extended to the case with nonzero torsion. The quantization of the model is performed via Feynman path integral and a discretization procedure is proposed leading to a covariant second-order differential equation for the propagator which in the case with zero torsion can be reduced to general relativistic Dirac equation with δ-function source.     

Polymer supported 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(phenoxy acetic acid)porphyrin derivative for separation and preconcentration of d- and f-electron metals

5,10,15,20-tetrakis(phenoxy acetic acid) porphyrin (PAAP) was covalently linked to Merrifield chloromethylated resin. Characterization of PAAP and the modified polymeric matrix were performed by ¹H NMR, FTIR and elemental analysis. The sorbent was used for the separation and enrichment of the d-electron metals (Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)) at pH 6–8 and of the f-electron metals U(VI) and Th(IV) at pH 4–5. The metals ions were preconcentrated with a concentration factor range of 115–215 and then determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry or visible spectrophotometry using Arsenazo(III). The retained metals were eluted with 2.0 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃ in the case of the d-electron metals and 0.1/0.25 mol L⁻¹ HCl in the case of the f-electron metals. The procedure was validated by analyzing the NIST standard reference material 2709 (San Joaquin Soil). Correspondence: Melek Merdivan, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University, 35160 Buca, Izmir, Turkey     

Synthesis of positively charged silver nanoparticles via photoreduction of AgNO3 in branched polyethyleneimine/HEPES solutions

Branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) and 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) were used collaboratively to reduce silver nitrate under UV irradiation for the synthesis of positively charged silver nanoparticles. The effects of molar ratio of the ingredients and the molecular weight of BPEI on the particle size and distribution were investigated. The mechanism for the reduction of Ag+ ions in the BPEI/HEPES mixtures entails oxidative cleavage of BPEI chains that results in the formation of positively charged BPEI fragments enriched with amide groups as well as in the production of formaldehyde, which serves as a reducing agent for Ag+ ions. The resultant silver nanoparticles are positively charged due to protonation of surface amino groups. Importantly, these positively charged Ag nanoparticles demonstrate superior SERS activity over negatively charged citrate reduced Ag nanoparticles for the detection of thiocyanate and perchlorate ions; therefore, they are promising candidates for sensing and detection of a variety of negatively charged analytes in aqueous solutions using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).     

Incorporation of a 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyridazine-1,4(6H)-dione unit into a donor–acceptor triad: synthesis and ion recognition features

A novel directly-linked donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) type system, which is based on 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyridazine-1,4(6H)-dione as the A unit and thiophene as the D units, respectively, is designed, synthesized, and characterized by spectroscopic methods. This novel D–A–D system can be used for the fluorogenic detection of Cu²⁺ among other ions.     

Thermostable amperometric lactate biosensor with Clostridium thermocelluml-LDH for the measurement of blood lactate

The gene for Clostridium thermocelluml-lactate dehydrogenase enzyme was cloned into pGEX-4T-2 purification vector to supply a source for a thermostable enzyme in order to produce a stable lactate biosensor working at relatively high temperatures. The purified thermostable enzyme (t-LDH) was then immobilized on a gold electrode via polymerization of polygluteraldehyde and pyrrol resulting in a conductive co-polymer. t-LDH working electrode (t-LDHE) was used for determination of lactate in CHES buffer. Amperometric response of the produced electrodes was measured as a function of lactate concentration, at a fixed bias voltage of 200 mV in a three-electrode system. The linear range and sensitivity of the biosensor was investigated at various temperatures in the range of 25-60 °C. The sensitivity t-LDHE increased with increasing the temperature and reached its highest value at 60 °C. The calculated value was nearly 70 times higher as compared to the sensitivity value of the same electrode tested at 25 °C. The sensing parameters of t-LDHE were compared with the electrodes produced by commercially available rabbit muscle LDH (m-LDH). The sensitivity of t-LDHE was nearly 8 times higher than that of m-LDHE. t-LDHE was found to retain its activity for a week incubation at refrigerator (+5 °C), while m-LDHE lost its activity in this period. t-LDHE was also tested in the presence of human blood serum. The results showed that the current increased with increasing concentrations of lactate in the human blood serum and the biosensor is more sensitive to serum lactate as well as the commercial lactate dissolved in serum as compared to the commercial lactate dissolved in CHES buffer.