Optimal control and numerical methods for hybrid stochastic SIS models

This work focuses on optimal controls of a class of stochastic SIS epidemic models under regime switching. By assuming that a decision maker can influence the infectivity period, our aim is to minimize the expected discounted cost due to illness, medical treatment, and the adverse effect on the society. In addition, a model with the incorporation of vaccination is proposed. Numerical schemes are developed by approximating the continuous-time dynamics using Markov chain approximation methods. It is demonstrated that the approximation schemes converge to the optimal strategy as the mesh size goes to zero. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate our results.     

Measurement of the surface excitation parameter of Kapton,polyethylene (PE), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

Reflection electron energy loss spectra (REELS) were measured for five insulating organic compounds: Kapton, polyethylene (PE), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), as well as for Ni and Si, in the energy range between 200 and 1600 eV. The average number of surface excitations for a single surface crossing were determined from the experimental data and were found to be considerably smaller than for earlier studied materials, which mainly consisted of elemental metals [Surf. Sci. 486(2001)L461]. The surface excitation parameter, a material parameter used to quantify the relative intensity of surface losses in (photo)electron spectroscopy, was extracted from the data and compared with values found in the literature. The results indicate that surface excitations only have a minor influence on quantification of XPS spectra of polymers. On the other hand, a correction for surface excitations turns out to be essential for measurements of the electron inelastic mean free path of polymers when a metal is used as reference material.     

Tribo-corrosion behavior of Zn-Ni-Cu and Zn-Ni-Cu-TiB2 coated mild steel

In this investigation , Zn-Ni-Cu and Zn-Ni-Cu-TiB₂ were coated on a mild steel specimen using a high velocity oxy fuel thermal spray (HVOF) process. The surface morphology and coated powder distribution of coated specimens were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray-Elemental mapping. The pin-on-disc (ASTM G99-17) method was used to examine the wear resistance of the coated and uncoated mild steel specimens. Both coated Zn-Ni-Cu and Zn-Ni-Cu-TiB2 on mild steel saw reduced wear volume loss than uncoated mild steel. The coated samples of Zn-Ni-Cu and Zn-Ni-Cu-TiB2 on Mild Steel were put through a scratch test to determine the adhesion strength of the coating with the substrate. The adhesion strength of coated Zn-Ni-Cu and Zn-Ni-Cu TiB2 mild steel was higher than that of untreated mild steel, indicating a solid link between the coating and substrate and minimal delamination. Using the Vickers hardness test to measure the hardness caused by the coating, it was shown that coated samples of Zn-Ni-Cu and Zn-Ni-Cu-TiB2 coated mild steel had significantly higher hardness than uncoated mild steel. Using ASTM G1-03 and ASTM G-31 standards, a 0.2 M HCl immersion cycle test was conducted for 28 days to test the corrosion resistance of coatings in an acidic media (672Hrs). When compared to Zn-Ni-Cu and Zn-Ni-Cu-TiB2 coated mild steel, the weight loss for the uncoated mild steel was significantly larger. Additionally, XRD examination showed that coated samples had less rust on their surface than uncoated samples. Both Zn-Ni-Cu and Zn-Ni-Cu-TiB2 on Mild Steel were anti-corrosive, as evidenced by increased corrosion potential and reduced corrosion current density when compared to uncoated mild steel, according to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)/Tafel study in 0.2 MHCl. The outcomes of each test were very encouraging and demonstrated the durability of these coatings against wear and corrosion.     

Natural and artificial light-harvesting systems utilizing the functions of carotenoids

Carotenoids are essential pigments in natural photosynthesis. They absorb in the blue–green region of the solar spectrum and transfer the absorbed energy to (bacterio-)chlorophylls, and so expand the wavelength range of light that is able to drive photosynthesis. This process is an example of singlet–singlet energy transfer and so carotenoids serve to enhance the overall efficiency of photosynthetic light reactions. Carotenoids also act to protect photosynthetic organisms from the harmful effects of excess exposure to light. In this case, triplet–triplet energy transfer from (bacterio-)chlorophyll to carotenoid plays a key role in this photoprotective reaction. In the light-harvesting pigment–protein complexes from purple photosynthetic bacteria and chlorophytes, carotenoids have an additional role, namely the structural stabilization of those complexes. In this article we review what is currently known about how carotenoids discharge these functions. The molecular architecture of photosynthetic systems will be outlined to provide a basis from which to describe the photochemistry of carotenoids, which underlies most of their important functions in photosynthesis. Then, the possibility to utilize the functions of carotenoids in artificial photosynthetic light-harvesting systems will be discussed. Some examples of the model systems are introduced.     

Direct Imaging of Octahedral Distortion in a Complex Molybdenum Vanadium Mixed Oxide

Complex Mo,V‐based mixed oxides that crystallize in the orthorhombic M1‐type structure are promising candidates for the selective oxidation of small alkanes. The oxygen sublattice of such a complex oxide has been studied by annular bright field scanning transmission electron microscopy. The recorded micrographs directly display the local distortion in the metal oxygen octahedra. From the degree of distortion we are able to draw conclusions on the distribution of oxidation states in the cation columns at different sites. The results are supported by X‐ray diffraction and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements that provide integral details about the crystal structure and spin coupling, respectively.     

Strong,Thermally Superinsulating Biopolymer–Silica Aerogel Hybrids by Cogelation of Silicic Acid with Pectin

Silica aerogels are excellent thermal insulators, but their brittle nature has prevented widespread application. To overcome these mechanical limitations, silica–biopolymer hybrids are a promising alternative. A one‐pot process to monolithic, superinsulating pectin–silica hybrid aerogels is presented. Their structural and physical properties can be tuned by adjusting the gelation pH and pectin concentration. Hybrid aerogels made at pH 1.5 exhibit minimal dust release and vastly improved mechanical properties while remaining excellent thermal insulators. The change in the mechanical properties is directly linked to the observed “neck‐free” nanoscale network structure with thicker struts. Such a design is superior to “neck‐limited”, classical inorganic aerogels. This new class of materials opens up new perspectives for novel silica–biopolymer nanocomposite aerogels.     

Novel sponge-like molecularly imprinted mesoporous silica material for selective isolation of bisphenol A and its analogues from sediment extracts

Bisphenol A (BPA) imprinted sponge mesoporous silica was synthesized using a combination of semi-covalent molecular imprinting and simple self-assembly process. The molecularly imprinted sponge mesoporous silica (MISMS) material obtained was characterized by FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements. The results show that the MISMS possessed a large specific surface area (850.55 m² g⁻¹) and a highly interconnected 3-D porous network. As a result, the MISMS demonstrated a superior specific adsorption capacity of 169.22 μmol g⁻¹ and fast adsorption kinetics (reaching equilibrium within 3 min) for BPA. Good class selectivity for BPA and its analogues (bisphenol F, bisphenol B, bisphenol E and bisphenol AF) was also demonstrated by the sorption experiment. The MISMS as solid-phase extraction (SPE) material was then evaluated for isolation and clean-up of these bisphenols (BPs) from sediment samples. An accurate and sensitive analytical method based on the MISMS–SPE coupled with HPLC–DAD has been successfully established for simultaneous determination of five BPs in river sediments with detection limits of 0.43–0.71 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (dw). The recoveries of BPs for lyophilizated sediment samples at two spiking levels (50 and 500 ng g⁻¹ dw for each BP) were in the range of 75.5–105.5% with RSD values below 7.5%.     

Tutorial review on validation of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry methods: Part I

This is the part I of a tutorial review intending to give an overview of the state of the art of method validation in liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and discuss specific issues that arise with MS (and MS/MS) detection in LC (as opposed to the “conventional” detectors). The Part I briefly introduces the principles of operation of LC–MS (emphasizing the aspects important from the validation point of view, in particular the ionization process and ionization suppression/enhancement); reviews the main validation guideline documents and discusses in detail the following performance parameters: selectivity/specificity/identity, ruggedness/robustness, limit of detection, limit of quantification, decision limit and detection capability. With every method performance characteristic its essence and terminology are addressed, the current status of treating it is reviewed and recommendations are given, how to determine it, specifically in the case of LC–MS methods.     

An anion effect on the separation of AgI-containing melts using sound waves

Sound velocities in molten ((LiF + AgI)) and ((LiBr + AgI)) mixtures have been measured to investigate the relationship between the sound velocity and the temperature and the role of the anion in the (liquid + liquid) phase transition. Our results show that the ((LiBr + AgI)) system is biphasic between the melting point and T = 984 K and becomes monophasic above this temperature. We show that the upper consolute critical temperature for the AgI-containing melts increases with decreasing anion size in the series F⁻ > Cl⁻ > Br⁻. The ((LiF + AgI)) melt remains biphasic at all temperatures investigated up to T = 1218 K. The temperature coefficients for the sound velocities in the upper and lower phases of the ((LiBr + AgI)) system have opposite signs because of the superposition of the temperature and composition factors. The difference between the magnitudes of the velocities for the coexisting phases decreases exponentially with increasing temperature and is described by a critical exponent of 0.85 for the ((LiBr + AgI)) melt near the critical temperature. This value is 15% less than that found for alkali halide melts, in which long-range Coulomb forces between ions prevail. This difference may result from the fact that silver halides are intermediate between the typical ionic salts and the fully covalently bonded ones.