The Effect of Boundary Conditions on Gas-phase Synthesised Silver Nanoparticles

We have prepared spherical non-agglomerated silver nanoparticles by an evaporation–condensation–dilution/cooling technique. Silver was evaporated from a crucible in a tubular flow reactor. A porous tube diluter was used to quench the carrier gas at the outlet of the reactor to enhance the formation of small particles and to suppress agglomeration and other particle growth mechanisms. The number size distribution of the prepared particles was measured with a differential mobility analyser–condensation nucleus counter combination and the size and the shape of the particles were analysed with transmission electron microscope. The system was modelled using a sectional aerosol dynamics computer code to estimate the importance of different aerosol processes. In all conditions the particles obtained were non-agglomerated and spherical. The mean particle diameter varied from 4 to 10-nm depending on boundary conditions. From the modelling studies it can be concluded that the nucleation rate is the most important parameter controlling the final particle size.     

Model selection by sequentially normalized least squares

Model selection by means of the predictive least squares (PLS) principle has been thoroughly studied in the context of regression model selection and autoregressive (AR) model order estimation. We introduce a new criterion based on sequentially minimized squared deviations, which are smaller than both the usual least squares and the squared prediction errors used in PLS. We also prove that our criterion has a probabilistic interpretation as a model which is asymptotically optimal within the given class of distributions by reaching the lower bound on the logarithmic prediction errors, given by the so called stochastic complexity, and approximated by BIC. This holds when the regressor (design) matrix is non-random or determined by the observed data as in AR models. The advantages of the criterion include the fact that it can be evaluated efficiently and exactly, without asymptotic approximations, and importantly, there are no adjustable hyper-parameters, which makes it applicable to both small and large amounts of data.     

On the verification of the applicability of the orthotropic plate wave theory to paper

In the literature one basic work can be found that describes an attempt to verify the applicability of the orthotropic plate wave theory to paper. In the present study we have repeated the key experiment and also modified the original experimental set-up to be able to make new complementary measurements. The performed verification attempt is based on a key experiment in which an ultrasonic resonance method is used. When it is applied to paper, a second resonance can be observed in addition to the one that originates from the asymmetric A0 mode. The result of the verification experiment is conclusive only if the source of this second resonance is the symmetric S0 mode. Our results show that the second resonance is not generated by the S0 mode. Instead, they indicate that the source is a longitudinal wave propagating in the thickness direction of the paper. We therefore conclude that the applicability of the orthotropic plate wave theory to paper cannot be verified by performing the key experiment that is described in the literature.     

Random waypoint model in n-dimensional space

The random waypoint model (RWP) is one of the most widely used mobility models in performance analysis of mobile wireless networks. In this paper we extend the previous work by deriving an analytical formula for the stationary distribution of a node moving according to a RWP model in n-dimensional space.     

Z→E Photoisomerization of Homoactivated Carbon Carbon Double Bonds

Z-configured 1,4-diene or β,γ-unsaturated carbonyl systems are readily available by the Wittig reaction. Isomerization required for access into the E-series can easily be accomplished by irradiation using an ordinary tungsten lamp and diphenyl disulphide sensitizer. There is very little formation of conjugated isomers (less than 1%).     

Solid-phase extraction and cleanup of organophosphorus pesticide residues in bovine muscle with gas chromatographic detection

The purpose of this investigation is to develop a rapid and simple method for the assessment of organophosphorus pesticides in bovine muscle by using solid-phase extraction (SPE). After extraction with ethyl acetate (EtOAc) the homogenate is centrifuged and filtered through sodium sulfate. The fat is precipitated in methanol by cooling and the extract is diluted with water and passed through a SPE column (Isolute ENV+). After elution with EtOAc, evaporation, and redissolution, the sample is injected into a gas chromatographic (GC) capillary column DB-1701 and detected by a flame photometric detector. Recoveries from bovine muscle fortified with 12 pesticides between 4 and 65 microg/kg include three levels ranging between 59% and 109% for ten of them. The two most polar pesticides (metamidophos and acephate) are not successful. The relative standard deviations are between 1% and 10% for the ten pesticides. A simplex method is used to optimize the GC conditions.     

Effects of various washing procedures on the chromium content of human scalp hair

The effects of four wash procedures on the concentration of chromium in a pooled sample of human scalp hair are compared. The wash solutions examined are Triton X-100, sodium lauryl sulphate, acetone, and a mixture (1 + 1) of hexane and ethanol. The plateaux reached for hair chromium concentration are functions of the number of washings, and are characteristic for each wash solution. The wash procedure recommended involves two 20-min washes with aqueous 1% sodium lauryl sulphate solution after a hexane rinse.     

Random waypoint mobility model in cellular networks

In this paper we study the so-called random waypoint (RWP) mobility model in the context of cellular networks. In the RWP model the nodes, i.e., mobile users, move along a zigzag path consisting of straight legs from one waypoint to the next. Each waypoint is assumed to be drawn from the uniform distribution over the given convex domain. In this paper we characterise the key performance measures, mean handover rate and mean sojourn time from the point of view of an arbitrary cell, as well as the mean handover rate in the network. To this end, we present an exact analytical formula for the mean arrival rate across an arbitrary curve. This result together with the pdf of the node location, allows us to compute all other interesting measures. The results are illustrated by several numerical examples. For instance, as a straightforward application of these results one can easily adjust the model parameters in a simulation so that the scenario matches well with, e.g., the measured sojourn times in a cell.