Inverse subsemigroups of finite index in finitely generated inverse semigroups

We study some aspects of Schein’s theory of cosets for closed inverse subsemigroups of inverse semigroups. We establish an index formula for chains of subsemigroups, and an analogue of M. Hall’s Theorem on the number of cosets of a fixed finite index. We then investigate the relationships between the following properties of a closed inverse submonoid of an inverse monoid: having finite index; being a recognizable subset; being a rational subset; being finitely generated (as a closed inverse submonoid). A remarkable result of Margolis and Meakin shows that these properties are equivalent for a closed inverse submonoid of a free inverse monoid.     

Assessment of health risk associated with natural gamma dose rate levels and isodose mapping of Jordan

ABSTRACT

As a pioneering study in Jordan, an extensive measurement for external gamma dose rate (GDR) was conducted. A portable gamma radiation detector was used to perform these measurements at 1?m above the soil surface. A geographical positioning system Garmin was used to record a total of 823 measured points. The GDRs’ measurement ranged from 35 to 470?nGy?h^?1 giving a mean value of 90?nGy?h^?1, which was found to be one and half times higher than the world average of 59?nGy?h^?1. The lowest mean GDR 72?nGy?h^?1 was found in the Albalqa governate, while the highest mean GDR 131?nGy?h^?1 was found to be for the Alkarak governate. The mean annual effective dose was found to be 0.551?mSv, which is higher than the world average value of 0.48?mSv. This is a pivotal study evaluating the risks associated with GDR levels in Jordan that were the relative excess lifetime cancer risk, the mean collective effective dose, the mean weighted GDR and the mean lifetime dose that are 2.24?×?10^?3, 5538manSv?y^?1, 0.531?mSv and 39?mSv, respectively. The cosmic rays mean GDR was determined to be 20?nGy?h^?1. This study focuses on constructing GDRs’ baseline data in Jordan, which will be used to determine the possible change in the natural radiation due to other human activities in the future. ArcGIS software was employed to generate an isodose map to characterise exposure rates caused by GDR in Jordan.     

Advancing MXene Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion Reactions: Surface,Stoichiometry, and Stability

MXenes, due to their tailorable chemistry and favourable physical properties, have great promise in electrocatalytic energy conversion reactions. To exploit fully their enormous potential, further advances specific to electrocatalysis revolving around their performance, stability, compositional discovery and synthesis are required. The most recent advances in these aspects are discussed in detail: surface functional and stoichiometric modifications which can improve performance, Pourbaix stability related to their electrocatalytic operating conditions, density functional theory and advances in machine learning for their discovery, and prospects in large scale synthesis and solution processing techniques to produce membrane electrode assemblies and integrated electrodes. This Review provides a perspective that is complemented by new density functional theory calculations which show how these recent advances in MXene material design are paving the way for effective electrocatalysts required for the transition to integrated renewable energy systems.     

Inner-sphere oxidation of a ternary dipicolinatochromium(III) complex involving a malonic acid co-ligand

The oxidation of a ternary complex of chromium(III), [Cr^III(DPA)(Mal)(H₂O)₂]^?, involving dipicolinic acid (DPA) as primary ligand and malonic acid (Mal) as co-ligand, was investigated in aqueous acidic medium. The periodate oxidation kinetics of [Cr^III(DPA)(Mal)(H₂O)₂]^? to give Cr(VI) under pseudo-first-order conditions were studied at various pH, ionic strength and temperature values. The kinetic equation was found to be as follows: \( {\text{Rate}} = {{\left[ {{\text{IO}}_{4}^{ - } } \right]\left[ {{\text{Cr}}^{\text{III}} } \right]_{\text{T}} \left( {{{k_{5} K_{5} + k_{6} K_{4} K_{6} } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{k_{5} K_{5} + k_{6} K_{4} K_{6} } {\left[ {{\text{H}}^{ + } } \right]}}} \right. \kern-0pt} {\left[ {{\text{H}}^{ + } } \right]}}} \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\left[ {{\text{IO}}_{4}^{ - } } \right]\left[ {{\text{Cr}}^{\text{III}} } \right]_{\text{T}} \left( {{{k_{5} K_{5} + k_{6} K_{4} K_{6} } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{k_{5} K_{5} + k_{6} K_{4} K_{6} } {\left[ {{\text{H}}^{ + } } \right]}}} \right. \kern-0pt} {\left[ {{\text{H}}^{ + } } \right]}}} \right)} {\left\{ {\left( {\left[ {{\text{H}}^{ + } } \right] + K_{4} } \right) + \left( {K_{5} \left[ {{\text{H}}^{ + } } \right] + K_{6} K_{4} } \right)\left[ {{\text{IO}}_{4}^{ - } } \right]} \right\}}}} \right. \kern-0pt} {\left\{ {\left( {\left[ {{\text{H}}^{ + } } \right] + K_{4} } \right) + \left( {K_{5} \left[ {{\text{H}}^{ + } } \right] + K_{6} K_{4} } \right)\left[ {{\text{IO}}_{4}^{ - } } \right]} \right\}}} \) where k ₆ (3.65 × 10^?3 s^?1) represents the electron transfer reaction rate constant and K ₄ (4.60 × 10^?4 mol dm^?3) represents the dissociation constant for the reaction \( \left[ {{\text{Cr}}^{\text{III}} \left( {\text{DPA}} \right)\left( {\text{Mal}} \right)\left( {{\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}} \right)_{2} } \right]^{ - } \rightleftharpoons \left[ {{\text{Cr}}^{\text{III}} \left( {\text{DPA}} \right)\left( {\text{Mal}} \right)\left( {{\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}} \right)\left( {\text{OH}} \right)} \right]^{2 - } + {\text{H}}^{ + } \) and K ₅ (1.87 mol^?1 dm³) and K ₆ (22.83 mol^?1 dm³) represent the pre-equilibrium formation constants at 30 °C and I = 0.2 mol dm^?3. Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was found to enhance the reaction rate, whereas sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) had no effect. The thermodynamic activation parameters were estimated, and the oxidation is proposed to proceed via an inner-sphere mechanism involving the coordination of IO₄ ^? to Cr(III).     

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Arylazoaminopyrazoles as Disperse Dyes for Textile Printing

The synthesis of heterocyclic azo‐dyes via conventional heating and microwave (MW) heating was investigated. From a sequence of reactions starting from cyanoacetic acid, 4‐arylazo‐2H‐pyrazol‐3‐ylamines and 4‐arylazo‐2‐phenyl‐2H‐pyrazol‐3‐ylamines were obtained. The structures these compounds were obtained by inspection of spectroscopic and analytical techniques including ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The fastness properties and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopic data of these disperse dyes in printing polyester fabrics were investigated.     

A sensitive nitrite sensor using an electrode consisting of reduced graphene oxide functionalized with ferrocene

A composite consisting of chitosan containing azidomethylferrocene covalently immobilized on sheets of reduced graphene oxide was drop-casted on a polyester support to form a screen-printed working electrode that is shown to enable the determination of nitrite by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Both reduction and oxidation of nitrite can be accomplished due to the high electron-transfer rate of this electrode. Under optimal experimental conditions (i.e. an applied potential of 0.7 V vs. Ag/AgCl in pH 7.0 solution), the calibration plot is linear in the 2.5 to 1450 μM concentration range, with an ~0.35 μM limit of detection (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3). The sensor was successfully applied to the determination of nitrite in spiked mineral water samples, with recoveries ranging between 95 and 101 %.

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Graphical abstract We describe the design of ferrocene-functionalized reduced graphene oxide electrode and its electrocatalytic properties towards the determination of nitrite. Compared to a reduced graphene oxide electrode, the sensor exhibits enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards both oxidation and reduction of nitrite.

     

High precision delta(17)O isotope measurements of oxygen from silicates and other oxides: method and applications

The use of infrared laser-assisted fluorination to release oxygen from milligram quantities of silicates or other oxide mineral grains is a well-established technique. However, relatively few studies have reported the optimisation of this procedure for oxygen-17 isotope measurements. We describe here details of an analytical system using infrared (10 μm) laser-assisted fluorination, in conjunction with a dual inlet mass spectrometer of high resolving power ( approximately 250) to provide (17)O and (18)O oxygen isotope measurements from 0.5-2 mg of silicates or other oxide mineral grains. Respective precisions (1) of typically 0.08 and 0.04 per thousand are obtained for the complete analytical procedure. Departures from the mass-dependent oxygen isotope fractionation line are quantified by Delta(17)O; our precision (1) of such measurements on individual samples is shown to be +/-0.024 per thousand. In turn, this permits the offset between parallel, mass-dependent fractionation lines to be characterised to substantially greater precision than has been possible hitherto. Application of this system to investigate the (17)O versus (18)O relationship for numerous terrestrial whole-rock and mineral samples, of diverse geological origins and age, indicates that the complete data set may be described by a single, mass-dependent fractionation line of slope 0.5244+/- 0.00038 (standard error). Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Copper and iron interactions with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. A study by fast-atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry

Fast atom bombardment, combined with high-energy collision-induced tandem mass spectrometry, has been used to investigate gas-phase metal-ion interactions with captopril, enalaprilat and lisinopril, all angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.Suggestions for the location of metal-binding sites are presented. For captopril, metal binding occurs most likely at both the sulphur and the nitrogen atom. For enalaprilat and lisinopril, binding preferably occurs at the amine nitrogen. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.