On weighting two criteria with a parameter in combinatorial optimization problems

Two criteria in a combinatorial problem are often combined in a weighted sum objective using a weighting parameter between 0 and 1. For special problem types, e.g., when one of the criteria is a bottleneck value, efficient algorithms are known that solve for a given value of the weighting parameter.     

液体空分流程形式浅析

通过对全液体空分装置不同流程组织形式进行分析和模拟计算、能耗与投资的比较,根据不同规格的产品要求,进行合适的流程形式选择,以可达到节能降耗的目的。     

A new nonlinear optical silicate carbonate K2Ca[Si2O5](CO3) with a hybrid structure of kalsilite and soda-like layered fragments

Single crystals of a new silicate carbonate, K₂Ca[Si₂O₅](CO₃), have been synthesized in a multi-components hydrothermal solution with a pH value close to neutral and a high concentration of a carbonate mineralizer. The new compound has an axial structure (s.g. P6₃22) with unit cell parameters a = 5.04789 (15), c = 17.8668 (6) Å. Pseudosymmetry of the structure corresponds to s.g. P6₃/mmc which is broken only by one oxygen position. The structure consists of two layered fragments: one of the type of the mineral kalsilite (KAlSiO₄) and the other of the high-temperature soda-like α-Na₂CO₃, Ca substituting for Na. The electro-neutral layer K₂[Si₂O₅] (denoted K) as well as the layer Ca(CO₃) (denoted S) may separately correspond to individual structures. In K₂Ca[Si₂O₅](CO₃) the S-K layers are connected together via Ca-O interactions between Ca atoms from the carbonate layer and apical O atoms from the silicate one, and also via K-O interlayer interactions. A hypothetical acentric structure, sp.gr. P-62c, is predicted on the basis of the order-disorder theory. It presents another symmetrical option for the arrangement of K-layers relative to S-layers. The K,Ca-silicate-carbonate powder produces a moderate SHG signal that is two times larger that of the α-quartz powder standard and close to other silicates with acentric structures and low electronic polarizability.     

On the inclusion of collisional correlations in quantum dynamics

We present a formalism to describe collisional correlations responsible for thermalization effects in finite quantum systems. The approach consists in a stochastic extension of time dependent mean field theory. Correlations are treated in time dependent perturbation theory and loss of coherence is assumed at some time intervals allowing a stochastic reduction of the correlated dynamics in terms of a stochastic ensemble of time dependent mean-fields. This theory was formulated long ago in terms of density matrices but never applied in practical cases because of its complexity. We propose here a reformulation of the theory in terms of wave functions and use a simplified 1D model of cluster and molecules allowing to test the theory in a schematic but realistic manner. We illustrate the performance in terms of several observables, in particular global moments of the density matrix and single particle entropy built on occupation numbers. The occupation numbers remain fixed in time dependent mean-field propagation and change when evaluating the correlations, then taking fractional values. They converge asymptotically towards Fermi distributions which is a clear indication of thermalization.     

A Ready‐to‐Use Electrochemical Kit Design for the Diagnosis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms

In this study, for the first time a model electrochemical kit was constructed for the detection of a functional polymorphism in catechol‐O‐methyl transferase (COMT) gene which is important for diagnosis of neuropsychiatric disorders as Alzheimer disease. The disposable pencil graphite electrode (PGE) is designed as a “kit” and the probe DNA covered PGE can detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from real samples based on the guanine oxidation signal even after 5 months of kit preparation (150 days durability).The detection limit (S/N=3) of the biosensor was calculated as 1.18 pmol of synthetic target sequence and 6.09×10⁵ molecules of real samples in 30 min detection time.     

Rapid analysis of the essential oil components of dried Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim by Fe2O3‐magnetic‐microsphere‐assisted microwave distillation and simultaneous headspace single‐drop microextraction followed by GC–MS

In this work, microwave distillation assisted by Fe₂O₃ magnetic microspheres (FMMS) and headspace single‐drop microextraction were combined, and developed for determination of essential oil compounds in dried Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim (ZBM). The FMMS were used as microwave absorption solid medium for dry distillation of dried ZBM. Using the proposed method, isolation, extraction, and concentration of essential oil compounds can be carried out in a single step. The experimental parameters including extraction solvent, solvent volume, microwave power, irradiation time, and the amount of added FMMS, were studied. The optimal analytical conditions were: 2.0 μL decane as the extraction solvent, microwave power of 300 W, irradiation time of 2 min, and the addition of 0.1 g FMMS to ZBM. The method precision was from 4 to 10%. A total of 52 compounds were identified by the proposed method. The conventional steam distillation method was also used for the analysis of essential oil in dried ZBM and only 31 compounds were identified by steam distillation method. It was found that the proposed method is a simple, rapid, reliable, and solvent‐free technique for the determination of volatile compounds in Chinese herbs.     

Comparison of an antibody and its recombinant derivative for the detection of the small molecule explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Antibodies are commonly used as recognition elements in immunoassays because of their high specificity and affinity, and have seen extensive use in competitive assays for the detection of small molecules. However, these complex molecules require production either in animals or by mammalian cell cultures, and are not easily tailored through genetic manipulation. Single chain antibodies (scFv), recombinantly expressed molecules consisting of only the antibody's binding region joined via a linking peptide, can provide an alternative to intact antibodies. We describe the characterization of a new monoclonal antibody (mAb), 2G5B5, able to detect the small molecule explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and the scFv derived from its variable regions. The mAb and scFv were tested by surface plasmon resonance to determine their affinity for an immobilized TNT surrogate; dissociation constants were determined to be 1.5 × 10⁻¹³ M and 4.8 × 10⁻¹⁰ M respectively. Circular dichroism was used to determine their melting temperatures. The mAb is more stable melting at ∼75 °C while the scFv melts at ∼65 °C. The recognition elements were incorporated into a competitive assay format using a bead-based multiplexing platform to examine their sensitivity and specificity. The scFv was able to detect TNT ∼10-fold more sensitively than the mAb in this assay format, allowing detection of TNT concentrations down to at least 1 μg L⁻¹. The 2G5B gave similar detection limits to a commercial anti-TNT mAb, but was less specific, recognizing 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB) equally well as TNT.     

Simultaneous derivatization and air-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction of some aliphatic amines in different aqueous samples followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection

The paper presents a new method based on simultaneous derivatization and air-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction (AALLME) for the extraction and preconcentration of some aliphatic amines prior to gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Primary aliphatic amines are derivatized and extracted simultaneously by a fast reaction with butylchloroformate (derivatization agent/extraction solvent) under mild conditions. The mixture of butylchloroformate and aqueous sample solution is rapidly sucked into a 10-mL glass syringe and then is injected into a test tube with conical bottom and the procedure is repeated seven times. After centrifuging the resulted cloudy solution, the derivatized analytes in the sedimented phase are determined by GC-FID. The influence of main factors on the efficiency of derivatization/extraction procedure is studied. Under the optimal conditions, the enrichment factors (EFs) for aliphatic amines are obtained in the range of 248–360 and limits of detection (LODs) are between 0.30 and 2.6 μg L⁻¹. The obtained extraction recoveries ranged from 50 to 72% and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 4.8% for intra-day (n = 6) and inter-days (n = 4) precision. The method is successfully applied to determine some aliphatic amines in environmental water samples.     

Highly Sensitive and Selective Amperometric Detection of Periodate at Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with a Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complex and Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were used as an immobilization matrix to incorporate [Ir(ppy)₂(phen‐dione)](PF₆) complex onto a glassy carbon electrode for the study of electrocatalytic reduction of periodate ion. Detailed preliminary electrochemical data for the Ir(III)‐complex in acetonitrile solution and for the modified GCE/SWCNTs/[Ir(ppy)₂(phen‐dione)](PF₆)/CGE are presented. The modified electrode was applied to selective amperometric detection of periodate through its electrocatalytic reduction to iodide at 0.200 V and pH 2.0. The use of amperometry resulted in two calibration plots over the concentration ranges of 1‐20 μM and 20‐450 μM, with a detection limit of 0.6 μM and sensitivity of 198 nA μM^?1.