Measurement of L X-ray fluorescence cross sections and relative intensities for some elements in the atomic range 78 ≤ Z ≤ 92

The L X-ray fluorescence cross sections (σ_Ll, σ_Lα, σ_Lη, σ_Lβ, σ_Lβ6, σ_Lβ2,₄, σ_Lβ1,₃, σ_Lβ9,10, σ_Lγ, σ_Lγ1, σ_Lγ2,3, σ_Lγ4 and σ_Lγ5) and relative intensities (I_Lα, I_Ll, I_Lη, I_Lβ, I_Lβ6, I_Lβ2,4, I_Lβ1,3, I_Lβ9,10, I_Lγ, I_Lγ1, I_Lγ2,3, I_Lγ4 and I_Lγ5) for some elements in the atomic range 78 ≤ Z ≤ 92 have been measured at 59.54 keV photons energies from an Am-241 point source. The L X-rays emitted by samples have been counted by a Si(Li) detector. The L X-ray fluorescence cross sections and relative intensities have been also calculated theoretically by using atomic parameters. The measured values have been compared with the theoretical values.     

The bi-objective Pollution-Routing Problem

The bi-objective Pollution-Routing Problem is an extension of the Pollution-Routing Problem (PRP) which consists of routing a number of vehicles to serve a set of customers, and determining their speed on each route segment. The two objective functions pertaining to minimization of fuel consumption and driving time are conflicting and are thus considered separately. This paper presents an adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm (ALNS), combined with a speed optimization procedure, to solve the bi-objective PRP. Using the ALNS as the search engine, four a posteriori methods, namely the weighting method, the weighting method with normalization, the epsilon-constraint method and a new hybrid method (HM), are tested using a scalarization of the two objective functions. The HM combines adaptive weighting with the epsilon-constraint method. To evaluate the effectiveness of the algorithm, new sets of instances based on real geographic data are generated, and a library of bi-criteria PRP instances is compiled. Results of extensive computational experiments with the four methods are presented and compared with one another by means of the hypervolume and epsilon indicators. The results show that HM is highly effective in finding good-quality non-dominated solutions on PRP instances with 100 nodes.     

Spectroscopic and theoretical optical properties of indoleninyl-substituted dibenzotetraaza[14]annulenes

Two new macrocyclic dibenzotetraaza[14]annulene (DBTAA) compounds with indolenine ( 5 ) and pyridoindolenine ( 6 ) moieties were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopy. Both DBTAAs exhibit strong UV-Vis absorption properties in the Soret band region. The theoretical second-order nonlinear optical property, electric dipole moment (μ), dispersion-free dipole polarizability (α) and first hyper-polarizability values were calculated by density functional theory and time dependent density functional theory. The ab-initio quantum mechanical calculation by time-dependent Hartree-Fock method was utilized to investigate the dynamic dipole polarizabilities, dynamic second-order, static, and dynamic third-order (γ) hyper-polarizabilities of the DBTAAs. The configuration interaction technique of all doubly occupied molecular orbitals possesses theoretically defined single-photon absorption (OPA) specifications for the examined structures. The computed maximum OPA wavelengths on both macrocyclic compounds coincide with the preceding measurement outcomes.     

Effect of local variations of the laminar flame speed on the global finger-flame acceleration scenario

Numerous formulations describing the dynamics and morphology of corrugated flames, including the scenarios of flame acceleration, are based on a “geometrical consideration”, where the wrinkled-to-planar flame velocities ratio, S_w /S_L , is evaluated as the scaled flame surface area, while the entire combustion chemistry is immersed into the planar flame speed S_L , which is assumed to be constant. However, S_L may experience noticeable spatial/temporal variations in practice, in particular, due to pressure/temperature variations as well as non-uniform distribution of the equivalence ratio and/or that of combustible or inert dust impurities. The present work initiates the systematic study of the impact of the local S_L -variations on the global flame evolution scenario. The variations are assumed to be imposed externally, in a manner being a free functional of the formulation. Specifically, the linear, parabolic and hyperbolic spatial S_L -distributions are incorporated into the formulations of finger flame acceleration in pipes, and they are compared to the case of constant S_L . Both two-dimensional channels and cylindrical tubes are considered. The conditions promoting or moderating flame acceleration are identified, and the revisited equations for the flame shape, velocity and acceleration rate are obtained for various S_L -distributions. The theoretical findings are validated by the computational simulations of the reacting flow equations, with agreement between the theory and modelling demonstrated.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of trace levels of nitrophenols in water samples after dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction

An efficient and fast dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction method was developed using MIL‐101(Cr)/poly (mercaptobenzothiazole)@magnetite nanoparticles for the preconcentration and determination of nitrophenols in river and rain water samples. High‐performance liquid chromatography‐Ultraviolet instrument was applied for the analysis of target nitrophenols. The effect of several variables on the extraction performance was explored via design of experiment approach. Limits of detection and linear dynamic ranges were attained in the range of 0.05–0.10 µg/L and 0.2–250 µg/L, respectively. The enrichment factors were in the range of 317–363. The precision (n = 3) of dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction method was in the range of 5.3–6.8%. Eventually, the method was utilized for the analysis of target nitrophenols in river and rain water samples.     

AHP–TOPSIS hybrid decision-making analysis: Simav integrated system case study

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In the original publication of the article, the following equations has been incorrectly published. The corrected equations are given.     

Starch coated titanium dioxide nanoparticles as a challenging sorbent to separate and preconcentrate some heavy metals using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

In this study, a challenging nanosorbent was described for preconcentration/separation method based on the sorption of cadmium, cobalt, copper, nickel, lead on starch coated titanium dioxide nanoparticles and its analysis by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Optimum conditions were investigated for quantitative sorption. By using the proposed technique, the analyte elements were determined in spiked tap-water samples in the range of 95% confidence level. Limit of detection (3δ) was 0.05, 0.28, 1.90, 3.10 and 0.11 µg/L (3σ, N = 10) for cadmium, cobalt, copper, nickel and lead, respectively. The optimised technique is fast, easy handled, simple and environmental friendly.     

Cyclodextrin short-nanofibers using sacrificial electrospun polymeric matrix for VOC removal

Cyclodextrins (CD) are cyclic oligosaccharides that can form noncovalent host–guest inclusion complexes to yield intriguing supramolecular structures. Electrospinning of nanofibers from CD is challenging since they are small molecules, nonetheless, electrospun nanofibers from CD would be particularly attractive because of the distinctive properties obtained by combining the very large surface area of nanofibers along with the inclusion complexation capability of CD. Herein, we performed the electrospinning of native CD type (i.e. γ-CD) using a minimal amount of carrier polymeric matrix (polyethylene oxide (PEO)). Once, the uniform nanofibers were electrospun from γ-CD/PEO systems, the polymeric carrier matrix was selectively removed by simple washing procedure, at the end, γ-CD short-nanofibers were obtained. We observed that γ-CD short-nanofibers could remove volatile organic compounds (VOC) (i.e. aniline) due to the inclusion complexation capability whereas pristine γ-CD powder could not have the capability for the VOC removal.     

Crystal structure of [RuCl2[N-(2,4,6-trimethyl-benzyl)N-(n-butyl)]-imidazolidin-2-ylidene] and [RuCl2[N-(2,4,6-trimethyl-benzyl)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)]-imidazolidin-2-ylidene]

Two imidazolidin ruthenium complexes, [RuCl₂{[N-(2,4,6-trimethyl-benzyl)-N-(n-butyl)]-imidazolidin-2-ylidene}], 1, and [RuCl₂{[N-(2,4,6-trimethyl-benzyl)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)]-imidazolidin-2-ylidene}], 2, have been synthesised and their crystal structures have been determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. Compound 1 is monoclinic, of space group C2/c with a = 18.466(4) Å, b = 14.816(3) Å, c = 15.413(3) Å, β = 118.067(2)^∘, and V = 3720.9(12) ų with Z = 8 for d_calc = 1.536 g/cm³. Compound 2 is monoclinic, of space group P2₁/c with a = 8.1800(5) Å, b = 14.344(8) Å, c = 14.809(9), β = 91.604(10)^∘, and V = 1736.7(18) ų with Z = 4 for d_calc = 1.653 g/cm³. In each complex the ligand functions as an arene and carbene, occupying four coordination sites. The two chlorines in each compound complete a distorted octahedron.