Incidence of Fusarium Mycotoxins in Wheat and Maize from Albania

In this study, ten Fusarium toxins were analysed in wheat and maize commodities from Albania. In total, 71 samples of wheat and 45 samples of maize were collected from different producing regions. The analytical procedure consisted of a simple one-step sample extraction followed by the determination of toxins using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Fusarium toxins were found in 23% of the analysed wheat samples and in 78% of maize samples. In maize samples, most often fumonisins B₁ (FB1) and B₂ (FB2) were found. They were present in 76% of samples. They were detected in all positive samples except in one with concentrations ranging from 59.9 to 16,970 μg/kg. The sum of FB1 and FB2 exceeded the EU maximum permitted level (4000 μg/kg) in 31% of maize samples. In wheat samples, the only detected Fusarium mycotoxin was deoxynivalenol (DON), present in 23% of samples. In one sample with the concentration of 1916 μg/kg, the EU maximum permitted level (1250 μg/kg) was exceeded. This is the first report on the presence of Fusarium toxins in wheat and maize grains cultivated in Albania.     

Analysis of electron recombination in dye-sensitized solar cell

A steady-state numerical model of dye-sensitized solar cell is based on continuity and transport equations for electrons, iodide and triiodide ions. The cell model consists of an active layer, where photovoltaic effect including diffusion of electrons in mesoporous TiO₂ and ions in electrolyte takes place, and a bulk electrolyte layer, where only ions diffuse. Exponential distribution of trap states in TiO₂ and Gaussian distributions of energy levels in the electrolyte within active layer are included in modeling of the recombination dynamics, according to Shockley-Read-Hall statistics and Marcus-Gerischer electron transfer theory. Recombinations at the front contact and a voltage drop at the platinum covered back contact are included in the model. Simulation results are compared with the measured current-voltage characteristics at different light intensities. In particular, light intensity dependence of open circuit voltage is studied over 4 decades. Optimization of cell efficiency regarding active layer and electrolyte layer thickness is carried out. Simulation results show that best efficiency is achieved when electrolyte layer thickness is minimized as much as possible and that active layer thickness is traded off with respect to recombination rates and/or diffusion limited current determined with the selection of the electrolyte.     

Power loss mechanisms in small area monolithic-interconnected photovoltaic modules

Power loss mechanisms in small area monolithic-interconnected photovoltaic modules (MIM) are described and evaluated. Optical and electrical losses are quantified and individual loss components are derived for loss mechanisms of small area radial (radius?=?1?mm) pie-shaped six-segment GaAs MIM laser power converter. At low monochromatic homogeneous illumination (G_low?=?1.8?W/cm², λ₀?=?809?nm) conversion efficiency of the cell, designed for a low irradiance, is reduced by 3.7%_abs. due to isolation trench optical losses and by 7.0%_abs. due to electrical losses (mainly perimeter recombination). Electrical losses in a device designed for a high irradiance, result in 18%_abs. decrease of output power under homogeneous monochromatic illumination (G_high?=?83.1?W/cm², λ₀?=?809?nm), while 11.6%_abs. losses are attributed to optical reasons. Regardless the irradiance level, optical losses further increase if the device is illuminated with a Gaussian instead of an ideal flattop beam profile. In this case, beam spillage losses occur and losses due to isolation trenches and reflections from metallization are elevated. On top of that, additional current mismatch losses occur, if individual MIM’s segments are not equally illuminated. For the studied device, a 29?μm off center misalignment of a Gaussian shaped beam (with 1% spillage) reduces the short circuit current I_sc by 10%_abs. due to the current mismatch between segments.     

Development of TiO2 pastes modified with Pechini sol–gel method for high efficiency dye-sensitized solar cell

A titanium oxide layer used for a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) has to meet two opponent properties to assure a high efficiency DSSC: good connection between TiO₂ grains and a large inner surface area. Three different paste formulations based on commercial nanocrystalline TiO₂ powder (Degussa P25) are studied. Results confirm that modification of the TiO₂ paste with the Pechini sol–gel method increases the surface area of the TiO₂ layer while maintaining good connections between the nanocrystalline grains, consequently the efficiency of the DSSC increases from 1.8% to 5.3%. The structure and morphology of the TiO₂ layers are described by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).     

Enantiomerically Pure [M6L12] or [M12L24] Polyhedra from Flexible Bis(Pyridine) Ligands

Coordination‐driven self‐assembly is one of the most powerful strategies to prepare nanometer‐sized discrete (supra)molecular assemblies. Herein, we report on the use of two constitutionally isomeric BINOL‐based bis(pyridine) ligands for this purpose. Upon coordination to Pd^II ions these self‐assemble into enantiomerically pure endo‐ and exo‐functionalized hexa‐ and dodecanuclear metallosupramolecular spheres with a chiral skeleton depending on the substitution pattern of the BINOL core. These aggregates were characterized by NMR, MS, DLS, TEM, and EELS as well as ECD. Furthermore, experimental ECD data could be compared to those obtained from theoretical simulations using a simplified Tamm–Dancoff approximation to time‐dependent DFT to rationalize the extraordinary high molar circular dichroisms. Despite the rotational freedom around the central aryl–aryl bond of these ligands, the self‐assembly process happens completely selective in a “narcissistic” self‐recognition manner.     

Unexpected Self‐Assembly of a Homochiral Metallosupramolecular M4L4 Catenane

Two enantiomerically pure 9,9′‐spirobifluorene‐based bis(pyridine) ligands 1 and 2 were prepared to study their self‐assembly behavior upon coordination to cis‐protected palladium(II) ions. Whereas the sterically more demanding ligand, 2 , gave rise to the expected dinuclear metallosupramolecular M₂L₂ rhombi, the sterically less demanding ligand, 1 , acts as a template to give rise to a homochiral metallosupramolecular M₄L₄ catenane.     

Mixed valence mono- and hetero-metallic grid catenanes

Here, we report on the multicomponent self-assembly and single crystal X-ray diffraction study of a series of three interlocked mixed valence mono- and hetero-metallic [2]-catenanes made of [2 × 2] metallo-grids. They show unique structural features and highlight the essential roles of both the Cu(ii)/Cu(i) pair and of the conformationally adaptable organic ligands for achieving catenation of grids.     

Approximate solution of a resource-constrained scheduling problem

This paper is devoted to the approximate solution of a strongly NP-hard resource-constrained scheduling problem which arises in relation to the operability of certain high availability real time distributed systems. We present an algorithm based on the simulated annealing metaheuristic and, building on previous research on exact solution methods, extensive computational results demonstrating its practical ability to produce acceptable solutions, in a precisely defined sense. Additionally, our experiments are in remarkable agreement with certain theoretical properties of our simulated annealing scheme. The paper concludes with a short discussion on further research. This research was supported in part by Association Nationale de la Recherche Technique grant CIFRE-121/2004.     

On a resource-constrained scheduling problem with application to distributed systems reconfiguration

This paper is devoted to the study of a resource-constrained scheduling problem, the Process Move Programming problem, which arises in relation to the operability of certain high availability real-time distributed systems. Informally, this problem consists, starting from an arbitrary initial distribution of processes on the processors of a distributed system, in finding the least disruptive sequence of operations (non-impacting process migrations or temporary process interruptions) at the end of which the system ends up in another predefined arbitrary state. The main constraint is that the capacity of the processors must not be exceeded during the reconfiguration. After a brief survey of the literature, we prove the NP-hardness of the problem and exhibit a few polynomial special cases. We then present a branch-and-bound algorithm for the general case along with computational results demonstrating its practical relevance. The paper is concluded by a discussion on further research.     

Simulation studies of DFB laser longitudinal structures for narrow linewidth emission

The paper presents simulation studies targeting high-power narrow-linewidth emission from semiconductor distributed feedback (DFB) lasers. The studies contain analytic and numerical calculations of emission linewidth, side mode suppression ratio and output power for DFB lasers without phase shifts and with \(1\times \lambda /4\) and \(2\times \lambda /8\) phase shifts, taking into account the grating and facets reflectivities, the randomness of the spontaneous emission and the longitudinal photon and carrier density distributions in the laser cavity. Single device structural parameter optimization is generally associated with a trade-off between achieving a narrow linewidth and a high output power. Correlated optimization of multiple structural parameters enables the evaluation of achievable ranges of narrow linewidth and high power combinations. Devices with long cavities and low grating coupling coefficients, \(\kappa\) (keeping \(\kappa L\) values below the levels that promote re-broadening), with AR-coated facets and with a distributed phase-shift have the flattest longitudinal photon and carrier density distributions. This flatness enables stable single-longitudinal-mode operation with high side-mode-suppression ratio up to high injection current densities, which facilitates narrow linewidths and high output powers. The results reported in the paper indicate that Master-Oscillator Power-Amplifier laser structures are needed for achieving W-level high-powers with sub-MHz linewidths because most single-cavity DFB laser structural variations that reduce the linewidth also limit the achievable output power in single-mode operation.