Spectrophotometric determination of bismuth in water samples after preconcentration of its thiourea-bromide ternary complex on activated carbon

A simple, accurate, sensitive and reliable method for the selective extraction and spectrophotometric determination of Bi(III) was developed. Bi(III) was collected on activated carbon after complexation with thiourea and bromide ion in acidic media. The complex retained on activated carbon was then desorbed with the bromide solution in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and determined spectrophotometrically at 375 nm. The linear calibration ranges and limit of detection for the proposed method was 1.00×10⁻⁹-1.50×10⁻⁷ and 8.00×10⁻¹⁰ mol l⁻¹, respectively. The influence of the interfering cations and anions on the determination of bismuth was investigated. The method was successfully applied to the extraction and determination of bismuth in natural water samples.     

Oscillations in the frequency dependence of long-range correlations of waves

We predict new oscillations in the frequency dependence of the intensity autocorrelation functions of waves for a tube geometry. We have performed numerical simulations which clearly confirm the existence of new long-range correlations.     

New phenomena in the propagation of optical waves through random media

A review is presented of some new and exciting phenomena regarding the multiple scattering of optical waves in random systems. In particular, the author develops the important role played by the vector nature of the wave on memory effects (the 'polarization memory effect'), correlations and statistical fluctuations ('microstatistics'). He also describes the recent progress on the effect of a restricted geometry on correlation phenomena and nonRayleigh statistics.     

Square Fermi surface model for conduction in linear chain mercury compounds: Hg3−δAsF6

The unusual temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity of Hg_3?δAsF₆ (δ = 0.18?0.22) is discussed in the framework of a nearly square Fermi surface model. This model predicts a T³ dependence of the resistivity, in close agreement with the recently observed T^2.8 dependence.     

Calderón type formula in Quantum calculus

In this paper, a Calderón type reproducing formula involving finite q$q$-measures is considered in Quantum calculus.     

Extension of an algorithm for product mix problems with fuzzy conditions

In the real world of production, there are some uncertain parameters such as capacity, profit, and processing time. On the other hand, the fuzzy sets theory is applied as a suitable tool for managing production where dynamicity of the production environment prevents from determining target function, constraints and other parameters of the model. In this paper, a genetic algorithm embedded in fuzzy revised theory of constraints is presented for product mix problems. Results of implementing the proposed algorithm show efficiency and flexibility of this algorithm.     

A fuzzy multidimensional multiple-choice knapsack model for project portfolio selection using an evolutionary algorithm

Project portfolio selection problems are inherently complex problems with multiple and often conflicting objectives. Numerous analytical techniques ranging from simple weighted scoring to complex mathematical programming approaches have been proposed to solve these problems with precise data. However, the project data in real-world problems are often imprecise or ambiguous. We propose a fuzzy Multidimensional Multiple-choice Knapsack Problem (MMKP) formulation for project portfolio selection. The proposed model is composed of an Efficient Epsilon-Constraint (EEC) method and a customized multi-objective evolutionary algorithm. A Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model is used to prune the generated solutions into a limited and manageable set of implementable alternatives. Statistical analysis is performed to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in comparison with the competing methods in the literature. A case study is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model and exhibit the efficacy of the procedures and algorithms.     

Nitrous oxide dimer: observation of a new polar isomer

Spectra of the nitrous oxide dimer (N2O)2 are studied in the region of the N2O nu1 fundamental band around 2230 cm-1 using a rapid-scan tunable diode laser spectrometer to probe a pulsed supersonic jet expansion. The previously known band of the centrosymmetric nonpolar dimer is analyzed in improved detail, and a new band is observed and assigned to a polar isomer of (N2O)2. This polar form of the dimer has a slipped parallel structure, rather similar to the slipped antiparallel structure of the nonpolar form but with a slightly larger intermolecular distance. The accurate rotational parameters determined here should enable a microwave observation of the polar N2O dimer. The need for a modern ab initio investigation of the N2O-N2O intermolecular potential energy surface is emphasized.     

Comprehensive evaluation of the effluents eluted from different processes of the textile industry and its immobilization to trim down the environmental pollution

Due to the significance of industrial waste water pollution, which creates severe health hazards in humans, this study concentrates over the reduction and determination of the amounts of toxic metals/pollution parameters in the effluents leached from different processes of the textile industry. The concentrations of metal ions were measured by using neutron activation analysis (NAA) technique. The values of toxic metals such as As (49.1 ± 1.8 mg/L), Cu (42.7 ± 1.5 mg/L), Ni (41.1 ± 3.3 mg/L), Mn (51.1 ± 0.7 mg/L), Sb (1.89 ± 0.04 mg/L), Se (0.41 ± 0.01 mg/L), Co (7.5 ± 0.3 mg/L), Cr (8.5 ± 0.5 mg/L) and Cd (1.21 ± 0.08 mg/L) were found very high in crude textile??s effluents as compared to their standard recommended limits. The immense variation observed among the injurious pollutants of the effluents i.e. pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, turbidity, biological oxygen demands, chemical oxygen demands, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, total solids etc. The toxic metals and injurious pollutants in the unprocessed effluents have been reduced in the post filtration effluents up to 98% and 96% respectively with the help of an ultra-filtration membrane therapy unit.     

Alleviation of adverse effects of drought stress on growth and some potential physiological attributes in maize (Zea mays L.) by seed electromagnetic treatment

Effects of varying preseed magnetic treatments on growth, chlorophyll pigments, photosynthesis, water relation attributes, fluorescence and levels of osmoprotectants in maize plants were tested under normal and drought stress conditions. Seeds of two maize cultivars were treated with different (T0 [0 mT], T1 [100 mT for 5 min], T2 [100 mT for 10 min], T3 [150 mT for 5 min] and T4 [150 mT for 10 min]) electromagnetic treatments. Drought stress considerably suppressed growth, chlorophyll a and b pigments, leaf water potential, photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (g(s)) and substomatal CO(2) concentration (C(i)), while it increased leaf glycinebetaine and proline accumulation in both maize cultivars. However, pretreated seeds with different magnetic treatments significantly alleviated the drought-induced adverse effects on growth by improving chlorophyll a, A, E, g(s), C(i) and photochemical quenching and nonphotochemical quenching, while it had no significant effect on other attributes. However, different magnetic treatments negatively affected the g(s) and C(i) particularly in cv. Agaiti-2002 under drought stress conditions. Of all magnetic treatments, 100 and 150 mT for 10 min were most effective in alleviating the drought-induced adverse effects. Overall, preseed electromagnetic treatments could be used to minimize the drought-induced adverse effects on different crop plants.