Saturation of Berge hypergraphs

Given a graph $F$, a hypergraph is a Berge- $F$ if it can be obtained by expanding each edge in $F$ to a hyperedge containing it. A hypergraph $H$ is Berge-$F$-saturated if $H$ does not contain a subhypergraph that is a Berge-$F$, but for any edge $e\in E\left(\overline{H}\right)$, $H+e$ does. The $k$-uniform saturation number of Berge-$F$ is the minimum number of edges in a $k$-uniform Berge-$F$-saturated hypergraph on $n$ vertices. For $k=2$ this definition coincides with the classical definition of saturation for graphs. In this paper we study the saturation numbers for Berge triangles, paths, cycles, stars and matchings in $k$-uniform hypergraphs.     

Uranyl peroxide ((UO2)(O2)·4H2O; UO4) precipitation for uranium sequestering: formation and physicochemical characterization

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Applicability of uranium peroxide ((UO2)(O2)·4H2O; UO4) precipitation to remove uranium from secondary wastewaters, generated as part of a...     

Thermal studies for preparation of Nb10Hf1Ti Alloy

The aim of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of preparation of Nb10Hf1Ti alloy by magnesiothermic reduction of its oxides. DTA studies were conducted to identify the reduction temperature for co reduction of the mixed oxides of Nb₂O₅, HfO₂, and TiO₂ by magnesium under reducing atmosphere. Based on DTA analysis, experiments were carried out to prepare Nb10Hf1Ti alloy by magnesiothermic reduction of their oxides at 750 °C. The reduced product was analyzed for its phases by X-ray diffraction. The excess Mg was leached out, the alloy mixture was vacuum dried, pelletized, sintered, and electron beam melted to get a consolidated alloy of the required composition. The alloy was characterized using different techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and chemical analysis. Microstructural observations revealed the formation of coarse grain structure in the consolidated alloy. The alloy product was also evaluated for its micro hardness.     

Correlation of the Solubilizing Abilities of 1-Butyl-1-methyl-pyrrolidinium Tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate, 1-Butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium Triflate and 1-Methoxyethyl-1-methylmorpholinium Tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate

Chromatographic retention data were measured for a wide range of organic solutes on 1-butyl-1-methylpyrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([BMPyrr]⁺[FAP]^?), 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium triflate, ([BMPyrr]⁺[Trif]^?), and 1-methoxyethyl-1-methylmorpholinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate, ([MeoeMMorp]⁺[FAP]^?), stationary phases at (323, 353 and 383) K. The measured retention factors were combined with published infinite dilution activity coefficient and gas-to-water partition coefficient data to yield gas-to-anhydrous ionic liquid (IL) and water-to-anhydrous IL partition coefficients. The three sets of partition coefficients were analyzed using the Abraham model. The derived Abraham model correlations describe the observed gas-to-IL (log₁₀ K) and water-to-IL (log₁₀ P) partition coefficient data to within average standard deviations of about 0.11 and 0.15 log₁₀ units, respectively.     

ADSORPTION OF SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENTS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION: HYDROPHOBIC SUBSTRATES∗

Isotherms for the adsorption of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium POE (4) nonyl phenol sulfate, and POE (25) nonyl phenol, on the hydrophobic crystalline herbicides atrazine and cyanazine were determined. Anionic surfactants were measured at 5°, 25°, and 50° C; the nonionic surfactant at 25° C only. Low degrees of surface coverage were observed; in only one case (atra-zine/NaDBS) was monolayer coverage approached. On the other hand, adsorption was accompanied by a significant increase in negative zeta potential. Although DLVO calculations suggest that this adsorption should lead to stable aggregates, these are of such size that gravitational effects overpower the DLVO terms.     

Uncovering the Stoichiometry of Pyrococcus furiosus RNase P,a Multi‐Subunit Catalytic Ribonucleoprotein Complex,by Surface‐Induced Dissociation and Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry

We demonstrate that surface‐induced dissociation (SID) coupled with ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM‐MS) is a powerful tool for determining the stoichiometry of a multi‐subunit ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex assembled in a solution containing Mg²⁺. We investigated Pyrococcus furiosus (Pfu) RNase P, an archaeal RNP that catalyzes tRNA 5′ maturation. Previous step‐wise, Mg²⁺‐dependent reconstitutions of Pfu RNase P with its catalytic RNA subunit and two interacting protein cofactor pairs (RPP21⋅RPP29 and POP5⋅RPP30) revealed functional RNP intermediates en route to the RNase P enzyme, but provided no information on subunit stoichiometry. Our native MS studies with the proteins showed RPP21⋅RPP29 and (POP5⋅RPP30)₂ complexes, but indicated a 1:1 composition for all subunits when either one or both protein complexes bind the cognate RNA. These results highlight the utility of SID and IM‐MS in resolving conformational heterogeneity and yielding insights on RNP assembly.     

pH‐controlled reaction divergence of decarboxylation versus fragmentation in reactions of dihydroxyfumarate with glyoxylate and formaldehyde: parallels to biological pathways

The reactions of dihydroxyfumarate with glyoxylate and formaldehyde exhibit a unique pH‐controlled mechanistic divergence leading to different product suites by two distinct pathways. The divergent reactions proceed via a central intermediate (2,3‐dihydroxy‐oxalosuccinate, 3 , in the reaction with glyoxylate and 2‐hydroxy‐2‐hydroxymethyl‐3‐oxosuccinate, 14 , in the reaction with formaldehyde). At pH 7–8, products ( 7 , 8 , and 15 ) exclusively from a decarboxylation of the intermediate are observed, while at pH 13–14, products ( 9 , 10 , and 16 ) solely derived from a hydroxide‐promoted fragmentation of the intermediate are formed. The decarboxylative and fragmentation pathways are mutually exclusive and do not appear to coexist under the range of pH (7–14) conditions investigated. Herein, we employ a combination of quantitative ¹³C NMR measurements and density functional theory calculations to provide a rationale for this pH‐driven reaction divergence. These rationalizations also hold true for the reactions of dihydroxyfumarate produced in situ by the catalytic cyanide‐mediated dimerization of glyoxylate. In addition, the non‐enzymatic decarboxylation and fragmentation transformations of these central intermediates ( 3 and 14 ) appear to have intriguing parallels to the enzymatic reactions of oxalosuccinate and formation of glyceric acid derivatives in extant metabolism – the high and low pH mimicking the precise control exerted by the enzymes over reaction pathways. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bright quasi-phase-matched soft-X-ray harmonic radiation from argon ions

Selective enhancement (>10(3)) of harmonics extending to the water window (approximately 4 nm) generated in an argon gas filled straight bore capillary waveguide is demonstrated. This enhancement is in good agreement with modeling which indicates that multimode quasi-phase-matching is achieved by rapid axial intensity modulations caused by beating between the fundamental and higher-order capillary modes. Substantial pulse energies (>10 nJ per pulse per harmonic order) at wavelengths beyond the carbon K edge (approximately 4.37 nm, approximately 284 eV) up to approximately 360 eV are observed from argon ions for the first time.