Recursive solution of linear-quadratic Nash games for weakly interconnected systems

A recursive method is developed for the solution of coupled algebraic Riccati equations and corresponding linear Nash strategies of weakly interconnected systems. It is shown that the given algorithm converges to the exact solution with the rate of convergence ofO(²), where is a small coupling parameter. In addition, only low-order systems are involved in algebrdic computations; the amount of computations required does not grow per iteration and no analyticity assumption is imposed on the system coefficients.This work was supported by Rutgers University Research Council under Grant No. 2-02188.     

Composition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carlina acanthifolia</Emphasis> Root Essential Oil

The root of Carlina acanthifolia All. (Asteraceae) contained 1.0% of essential oil (expressed in g per 100 g of dried plant material). Using GC and GC/MS, nine components were identified (100% of total oil). The structure of benzyl 2-furylacetylene (carlina oxide), which is the principal component of the oil (91.5%), was spectrometrically identified. __________ Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 331–332, July–August, 2005.     

Validation of liquid chromatographic method for analysis of lidocaine hydrochloride, dexamethasone acetate, calcium dobesilate, buthylhydroxyanisol and degradation product hydroquinone in suppositories and ointment

In this paper, there was developed a sensitive, precise and accurate reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method and validated for simultaneous determination of lidocaine hydrochloride, dexamethasone acetate (DA) and calcium dobesilate (CD) in suppositories and ointment. Also there was achieved a parallel analysis of buthylhydroxyanisol, as a preservative, and hydroquinone, as a degradation product of calcium dobesilate, present in these dosage forms. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values for all five compounds indicated a good precision and accuracy of the RP-HPLC method. Method is selective, sensitive and reproducible with good recovery values and can be applied in simultaneous determination of all mentioned compounds.     

Kinetic Determination of Microquantities of Rutin by Perturbation of the Bray-Liebhafsky Oscillatory Reaction in an Open System

A kinetic method is described for the microquantitative (microconcentration/microvolume) determination of rutin based on potentiometric monitoring of the concentration perturbations of the Bray-Liebhafsky (BL) oscillatory reaction being in a non-equilibrium stationary state close to a bifurcation point. The experiments are carried out in an open reactor. The response of the matrix system to perturbations by different concentrations of rutin ethanolic solutions is followed by a Pt-electrode. In the concentration range between 7.8×10^–8moldm^–3 and 9.1×10^–6mol dm^–3, we found a linear dependence of the maximal potential shift, E_m, on the logarithm of the rutin concentrations. The unknown concentrations can be determined from the calibration curve up to an accuracy of ±5%. The detection limit is 3.6×10^–8mol dm^–3. The amount of required sample can be as small as 10µL.     

Transition metal complexes with hydrazides and hydrazones

A study was made of the thermal decomposition of octahedral Co(II) complexes of the type CoL_n X ₂·mH₂O, wheren=2 and 3,m=1,2 and 5 andX=Cl, Br, I, NCS, OAc andv ₂So₄, in both air and nitrogen atmospheres. It was established that the complexes are completely decomposed below 800° and CoO is formed as final product. The most probable decomposition mechanism was proposed. The tris(ligand) complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, and spectral and magnetic measurements, and all the data suggested the presence of a point group symmetry of type O_h.

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Zusammenfassung Sowohl in Luft als auch in Stickstoffatmosphäre wurde die thermische Zersetzung von oktaedrischen Co(II)-Komplexen der allgemeinen Formel CoL_nX₂· mH₂O (n=2 und 3,m=1, 2 und 5,X=Cl, Br, I, NCS, OAc und SO₄) untersucht. Es wurde festgestellt, daß sich die Komplexe unterhalb 800°C vollkommen zu CoO als Endprodukt zersetzen. Der wahrscheinlichste Zersetzungsmechanismus wurde unterbreitet. Die tris-Ligandenkomplexe wurden mittels Elementaranalyse sowie Spektral- und magnetischen Untersuchungen charakterisiert, alle Angaben deuten auf eine Punktsymmetriegruppe vom Typ Oh hin.

     

Some remarks on the operator of Foias and Williams

In this paper we study the Foias-Williams operator

where , and is a Hankel operator with symbol . We exhibit a relationship between the similarity of to a contraction and the rate of decay of , the absolute values of the Fourier coefficients of the symbol .

     

Thermal stability of segmented polyurethanes

The thermal stabilities of two series of segmented polyurethane fibres have been compared with their chemical structure. The polyurethanes were synthesized from trimethylene diamine; 4, 4′ diphenylmethane di-isocyanate and two polyether based macrodi-isocyanates. Thermal stability was measured by thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis. By comparing the changes in weight loss and DTA peaks with chemical structure it has been found possible to separate soft segment from hard segment degradation.In the initial stages stability increases as soft segment concentration increases while the reverse is true in the later stages of degradation. The 100% soft segment polymer (polytetrahydrofuran) and the 100% hard segment polymer appear to behave anomalously. It is suggested that the hard segment has a stabilizing influence on the degradation of the soft segment. The results are discussed in the light of various theories of polyurethane degradation.     

Rapid and simple method for determination of Nepsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine and Nepsilon-(carboxyethyl)lysine in urine using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A new procedure was developed to determine in urine the concentrations of N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and N(epsilon)-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), the major products of oxidative modification of glycated proteins, to assess levels of oxidative stress in physiological systems. The urine samples were acetonitrile-deproteinized, then derivatized by ethylchloroformate, and N(O,S)-ethoxycarbonyl ethyl esters of amino acids were analysed by isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Recovery averaged 89%. Linearity was excellent (r = 0.998-0.999) in the 0.5-25 micromol/L range for CML and CEL. The limit of detection of this assay was 0.1 micromol/L (corresponding to 0.20 pmol of CML or CEL on column). Intra-day and inter-day precisions were likewise excellent, with relative standard deviations <4.63 and <6.15%, respectively. Accuracy of CML and CEL determination (15 micromol/L) was 2.9 and 5.9% of the estimated theoretical value. The time from obtaining the urine sample to determination of the concentration from the chromatographic peak was 80 min or less. This method is sensitive, reproducible, accurate, relatively cheap and very simple. It can be useful for laboratories involved in the diagnosis and monitoring of age-related chronic diseases.