Robust stability of impulsive synchronization in hyperchaotic systems

In this paper the impulsive synchronization of general continuous chaotic and hyperchaotic systems is investigated. The robust stability of the synchronization method is examined in the presence of uncertainties both on linear and nonlinear parts of the system dynamics and the channel noise. Conditions on the impulse distances are derived for different cases. Numerical simulations are presented to show the effectiveness of the method.     

Potentiometric determination of silver(I) by selective membrane electrode based on derivative of porphyrin.

The performance of silver metal complexes with meso-tetraphenylporphyrin ([H2T(4-CH3)]PP) as ionophores for ion-selective electrodes was studied. The electrode exhibited linear response with Nernstian slope of 59.2 +/- 1.0 mV per decade within the concentration range of 1.0 x 10(-7)-1.0 x 10(-1) M silver ions. The limit of detection as determined from the intersection of the extrapolated linear segments of the calibration plot, was 1.0 x 10(-7) M. The response time of the electrode was < 10 s over the entire concentration range. The silver-selective electrode exhibited good selectivity for Ag(I) with respect to alkali, alkaline earth and heavy metal ions. The electrodes could be used at least three months without a considerable divergence in their potential. The electrodes are suitable for use in aqueous solutions in a wide pH range of 3.0-9.0. They were used as indicator electrodes in titration of Ag(I) with sodium iodide solution and were successfully applied to direct determination of silver in real samples.     

Current applications of organocatalysts in asymmetric aldol reactions: An update

The aldol reaction is one of the most important carbon–carbon bond formations in synthetic organic chemistry. An enantioselective aldol reaction should provide an enantioenriched product. The organocatalytic asymmetric aldol reaction via an in situ generated enamine intermediate is one of the most powerful synthetic tools to achieve enantiomerically pure products. This approach is often used to obtain chiral β-hydroxycarbonyl compounds with excellent enantioselectivity. In this report, we update our previous review regarding the applications of organocatalysts in asymmetric aldol reactions leading to chiral β-hydroxycarbonyl compounds as versatile synthetic motifs frequently found in pharmaceutically desired intermediates and biologically active naturally occurring compounds.     

The defluoridation of drinking water using multi-walled carbon nanotubes

In this study, the potential sorption capacity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was investigated as a means of removing fluoride from the drinking water of a number of regions in Iran and from experimental solutions. The test was conducted in both batch and continuous operation modes. Batch mode experiments were used to study the effect of parameters such as pH, contact time, ionic strength, adsorbent dose, adsorbent capacity, and the presence of foreign anions on the efficiency of fluoride removal. The results showed that the highest level of sorption occurs at pH 5 (about 94% at 18 min). The ionic strength of the solutions and the presence of co-anions such as chloride, nitrate, sulfate, hydrogen carbonate, perchlorate had a negligible effect on the sorption of F⁻ onto MWCNTs. Sorption capacity measurements revealed that MWCNTs have a saturation capacity of 3.5 mg of F⁻ per gram. Sorption data were best fitted with the Fruendlich sorption isotherm equation, which indicates that F⁻ tends to be adsorbed on MWCNTs in a multilayered manner. Experiments using Kohbanan city drinking water, which contains the highest level of F⁻ among the drinking water samples studied, showed that MWCNTs can remove over 85% of fluoride content.     

Minimal polynomial systems for parametric matrices

In this article, we study the minimal polynomials of parametric matrices. Using the concept of (comprehensive) Gröbner systems for parametric ideals, we introduce the notion of a minimal polynomial system for a parametric matrix, i.e. we decompose the space of parameters into a finite set of cells and for each cell we give the corresponding minimal polynomial of the matrix. We also present an algorithm for computing a minimal polynomial system for a given parametric matrix.     

On-line solid phase extraction system using 1,10-phenanthroline immobilized on surfactant coated alumina for the flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of copper and cadmium

An on-line solid phase extraction (SPE) preconcentration system coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS) was developed for determination of copper and cadmium at μg L⁻¹ level. The method is based on the on-line retention of copper and cadmium on a microcolumn of alumina modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 1,10-phenanthroline and subsequent elution with ethanol and determination by FAAS. The effect of chemical and flow variables that could affect the performance of the system was investigated. The relative standard deviation (n = 6) at 20 μg L⁻¹ level for copper and cadmium were 1.4 and 2.2% and the corresponding limits of detection (based on 3σ) were 0.04 and 0.14 μg L⁻¹, respectively. The method was successfully applied to determination of copper and cadmium in human hair and water samples.     

Spectrophotometric Studies of the Thermodynamics of Molecular Complexation between Free Base Meso-Tetraarylporphyrins and Iodine(III) Chloride

A spectrophotometric method was used for the molecular complexation of ICl₃ with para-substituted meso-tetraarylporphyrins (H₂t(4-X)pp; X: OCH₃, CH(CH₃)₂, CH₃, H and Cl) in methanol/chloroform (2.5% v/v) solution. The equilibrium constants and the thermodynamic parameters were measured spectrophotometrically at various temperatures for 1:1 molecular complex formation of meso-tetraarylporphyrins as electron donors with ICl₃ as the electron acceptor. The formation constants for the molecular complexes change according to the following trend: [ICl₃(H₂t(4-OCH₃)pp)]>[ICl₃(H₂t(4-CH(CH₃)₂)pp)]>[ICl₃(H₂t(4-CH₃)pp)]>[ICl₃(H₂tpp)]>([ICl₃(H₂t(4-Cl)pp)]. Further, the thermodynamic parameters, ΔG ^o,ΔH ^o and ΔS ^o, for formation of the complexes were obtained.     

New results for best approximation on Banach lattices

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and to discuss the concept of approximation preserving operators on Banach lattices with a strong unit. We show that every lattice isomorphism is an approximation preserving operator. Also we give a necessary and sufficient condition for uniqueness of the best approximation by closed normal subsets of X⁺$X^{+}$, and show that this condition is characterized by some special operators.     

[2+2]-Photocycloaddition of 2-Morpholinopropenenitrile to Monosubstituted Benzils

Triplet excited unsymmetrically substituted benzils react with 2-morpholinopropenenitrile to form oxetanes. Whereas the selectivity with respect to the site of addition (benzoyl vs. 4-substituted benzoyl) is generally low, the photoadditions observed are all unidirectional (regioselective) and of high stereoselectivity, as had also been found earlier for benzil itself and for symmetrically 4,4-disubstituted benzils. The relative configurations of two oxetanes have been unambiguously confirmed by single crystal X-ray structure determinations.     

Organization of chromatin in the interphase mammalian cell

The use of imaging techniques has become an essential tool in cell biology. In particular, advances in fluorescence microscopy and conventional transmission electron microscopy have had a major impact on our understanding of chromatin structure and function. In this review we attempt to chart the conceptual evolution of models describing the organization and function of chromatin in higher eukaryotic cells, in parallel with the advances in light and electron microscopy over the past 50 years. In the last decade alone, the application of energy filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM), also referred to as electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI), has provided many new insights into the organization of chromatin in the interphase nucleus. Based on ESI imaging of chromatin in situ, we propose a 'lattice' model for the organization of chromatin in interphase cells. In this model, the chromatin fibers of 10 and 30nm diameter observed by ESI, produce a meshwork that accommodates an extensive and distributed interchromosomal (IC) space devoid of chromatin. The functional implications of this model for nuclear activity are discussed.