Inhomogeneous Voter Models in One Dimension

We establish conditions for survival and extinction of types of one-dimensional voter models, and show that increasing the flip rates at a finite number of sites typically does not affect survival, unless the flipping mechanism is altered. We provide an example of a modified voter model that does not survive but can be made to survive simply by altering the flip mechanism at one site. We also show that a rather general class of such models have clustering behavior.     

Synthesis,spectral, DFT calculations and antibacterial studies of Fe(III) complexes of new fluorescent Schiff bases derived from imidazo[4',5':3,4]benzo[1,2‐c]isoxazole

New fluorescent heterocyclic ligands were synthesized by the reaction of 8‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐3‐alkyl‐3H‐imidazo[4',5':3,4]benzo [1,2‐c]isoxazol‐5‐amine with p‐hydroxybenzaldehyde and p‐chlorobenzaldehyde in good yields. The coordination ability of the ligands with Fe³⁺ ion was examined in an aqueous metanolic solution. Schiff base ligands and their metal complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV–vis, mass, and NMR spectra. The optical properties of the compounds were investigated and the results showed that the fluorescence of all compounds is intense and their obtained emission quantum yields are around 0.15 – 0.53. Optimized geometries and assignment of the IR bands and NMR chemical shifts of the new complexes were also computed by using density functional theory (DFT) methods. The DFT‐calculated vibrational wavenumbers and NMR chemical shifts are in good agreement with the experimental values, confirming suitability of the optimized geometries for Fe(III) complexes. Also, the 3D‐distribution map for HOMO and LUMO of the compounds were obtained. The new compounds showed potent antibacterial activity and their antibacterial activity (MIC) against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacterial species were also determined. Results of antibacterial test revealed that coordination of ligands to Fe(III) leads to improvement in the antibacterial activity.     

Direct Synthesis of Anatase Films with ~100% (001) Facets and [001] Preferred Orientation

Anatase films exhibiting ~100% (001) reactive facets at the surface were grown hydrothermally on gold substrate from a homogeneous solution of TiF(4) and NaF. In addition to NaF, it was found that TiO(2) films with very similar properties could be prepared with the fluoride salts LiF, CsF, HF, NH(4)F, and N(CH(2)CH(3))(4)F. The polycrystalline anatase films are continuous, approximately 1 μm thick, and evenly coat the substrate. The surface grain size is ~400 nm. Grazing angle XRD measurements show that the films exhibit a high degree of preferred orientation with the c-axis normal to the substrate surface. SEM images reveal that the grains span the thickness of the films. Annealing the films at 500 °C removes fluorine and causes crystallites within the grains to restructure as shown by SEM, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy. Supported anatase films grown from this one-pot method may serve as oxidative photocatalysts and electrodes for photoelectrochemical applications such as solar cells and hydrogen evolution.     

Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Dibenzoxazepines

Dibenzo[b,f][1,4]oxazepine derivatives were synthesized in good yields and short reaction times by the reaction of 2‐chlorobenzaldehydes and 2‐aminophenoles in basic conditions under microwave irradiation.     

Modified dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for pre-concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes prior to their determination by GC

We have developed a modified method for the extraction and preconcentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) in aqueous samples. It based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction along with solidification of floating organic microdrops. The dispersion of microvolumes of an extracting solvent into the aqueous occurs without dispersive solvent. Various parameters have been optimized. BTEX were quantified via GC with FID detection. Under optimized conditions, the preconcentration factors range from 301 to 514, extraction efficiencies from 60 to 103 %, repeatabilities from 2.2 to 4.1 %, and intermediate precisions from 3.5 to 7.0 %. The relative recovery for each analyte in water samples at three spiking levels is >85.6 %, with a relative standard deviation of <7.4 %.

Effect of Rough Nanoparticle Orientation on DLVO Energy Interaction

This study investigated the effect of the orientation of rough nanoparticles on Derjaguin and Landau, Verwey and Overbeek (DLVO) energy interaction. Rippled sphere model was used to survey van der Waals attraction energy and repulsive double-layer interaction energy between nanoparticles. The effect of particle size, asperity size, number of asperities, and concentration was studied for different orientations. Spherical coordinates were used to evaluate the effect of changes in orientation under controlled conditions. Surface element integral method was used to calculate DLVO energy interactions between rough particles at specific orientations. The DLVO energy results show that a change in orientation significantly affected the stability of the nanoparticles. The stability of dispersion varied as the contact surface between nanoparticles changed.     

Determination of organochlorine pesticides in river water using dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and gas chromatography–electron capture detection

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) coupled with gas chromatography–electron capture detection (GC–ECD), has been developed for the extraction and determination of 14 organochlorine pesticides (hexachlorocyclohexanes (α-HCH, β-HCH and δ-HCH), Lindane (γ-HCH), Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, α-Chlordane, β-Chlordane and p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDD, p,p′-DDE) in river water samples. Factors relevant to the microextraction efficiency, such as the kind of extraction and disperser solvent, their volume and the salt effect was investigated and optimised. In this method the appropriate mixture of extraction solvent (13.5 µL carbon disulphide) and disperser solvent (0.50 mL acetone) were rapidly injected into the aqueous sample by syringe. The values of the detection limit of the method were in the range of 0.05–0.001 µg L^?1, while the relative standard deviations for five replicates varied from 2.7 to 9.3%. A good linearity (0.9894 ≤ r ² ≤ 0.9998) and a broad linear range (0.01–200 µg L^?1) were obtained. The method exhibited enrichment factors ranging from 647 to 923, at room temperature. The relative standard deviations varied from 2.7 to 9.3% (n = 5). The relative recoveries of each pesticide from water samples at spiking levels of 2.00 and 10.0 µg L^?1 were 88.0–111.0% and 95.8–104.1%, respectively. Finally, the proposed method was successfully utilised for the preconcentration and determination of the organochlorine pesticides in the Jajrood River water samples.