Determination of copper traces in water samples by flow injection-flame atomic absorption spectrometry using a novel solidified floating organic drop microextraction method

A simple, rapid and inexpensive solidified floating organic drop microextraction (SFODME) and flow injection flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination (FI-FAAS) method for copper were developed. 3-amino-7-dimethylamino-2-methylphenazine (Neutral red, NR) was used as the complexing agent. Several factors affecting the microextraction efficiency, such as, pH, NR and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) concentration, extraction time, stirring rate, and temperature were investigated and optimized. Under optimized experimental conditions an enrichment factor of 541 was obtained for 100 mL of sample solution. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 0.5–20.0 ng mL^{− 1} and the limit of detection (3 s) was 0.18 ng mL^{− 1}, the limit of quantification (10 s) was 0.58 ng mL^{− 1}. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for 10 replicate measurements of 10 ng mL^{− 1} copper was 2.7%. The developed method was successfully applied to the extraction and determination of copper in different certified reference materials (Estuarine water, Slew 3 and fortified water, TM 23.2) and real water samples and satisfactory results were obtained.     

The Correlations Between TCA-Glyoxalate Metabolite and Antibiotic Production of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces</Emphasis> sp. M4018 Grown in Glycerol,Glucose, and Starch Mediums

The alterations of organic acids citrate, α-ketoglutarate, succinate, fumarate, malate production together with isocitrate lyase activity as a glyoxalate shunt enzyme, and antibiotic production of Streptomyces sp M4018 were investigated in relation to changes in the glucose, glycerol and starch concentrations (5–20 g/L) after identification as a strain of Streptomyces hiroshimensis based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. The highest intracellular citrate and α-ketoglutarate levels in 20 g/l of glucose, glycerol, and starch mediums were 399.47 ± 4.78, 426.93 ± 6.40, 355.84 ± 5.38 ppm and 444.81 ± 5.12, 192.96 ± 2.26, 115.20 ± 2.87 ppm, respectively. The highest succinate, malate, and fumarate levels were also determined in 20 g/l of glucose medium as 548.9 ± 11.21, 596.15 ± 8.26, and 406.42 ± 6.59 ppm and the levels were significantly higher than the levels in glycerol and starch. Extracellular organic acid levels measured also showed significant correlation with carbon source concentrations by showing negative correlation with pH levels of the growth medium. The antibiotic production of Streptomyces sp. M4018 was also higher in glucose medium as was the case also for organic acids when compared with glycerol. On the other hand, there is no production in starch.     

Mathematical models and solution algorithms for computational design of RC piles under structural effects

The paper presents mathematical models and solution algorithms for RC pile design, through scanning soil stratums from top to downwards with an interactive scanner band. The equilibrium of transferred loads from the superstructure, friction forces and tip bearing forces are considered for the design, which leads to optimum pile length. The most important contribution of this research for designers is supplying an efficient tool to obtain optimum pile length and reinforced concrete design of pile foundation systems. A program package has been developed in MATLAB depending on the proposed algorithm. Soil behaviors depending on external effects, active and passive zone distributions are considered. All possible effects in all freedom degrees are taken into account in design process. Stress and strain distributions due to axial loads, bending moments, shear forces and torsional moments may be monitored. The optimum pile length, cross section dimension and reinforcement details may be found by using developed algorithm.     

A Hermite collocation method for the approximate solutions of high‐order linear Fredholm integro‐differential equations

In this study, a Hermite matrix method is presented to solve high‐order linear Fredholm integro‐differential equations with variable coefficients under the mixed conditions in terms of the Hermite polynomials. The proposed method converts the equation and its conditions to matrix equations, which correspond to a system of linear algebraic equations with unknown Hermite coefficients, by means of collocation points on a finite interval. Then, by solving the matrix equation, the Hermite coefficients and the polynomial approach are obtained. Also, examples that illustrate the pertinent features of the method are presented; the accuracy of the solutions and the error analysis are performed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 27: 1707–1721, 2011     

Synthesis, spectroscopy, and characterization of some bis-nicotinamide metal(II) dihalide complexes

We report synthesis of six new bis-nicotinamide metal(II) dihalide complexes [M(nia)(2)Cl(2); M = Mn, Co; nia:nicotinamide, M(nia)(2)Br(2); M = Mn, Hg; M(nia)(2)I(2); M = Cd, Cu], and their characterization by combining infrared spectroscopy with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Infrared spectra indicate that ring-nitrogen is the active donor cite, and the atomic structure of the complexes is determined to be polymeric octahedral or distorted polymeric octahedral. Spin polarized electronic ground state is obtained for Mn, Co, and Cu halide complexes. The colors of the complexes also support the conclusion of octahedral coordination around the metal atoms, in agreement with DFT results.     

Preparation and characterization of nano-sized Pt-Ru/C catalysts and their superior catalytic activities for methanol and ethanol oxidation

Carbon-supported PtRu nanoparticles (Ru/Pt: 0.25) were prepared by three different methods; simultaneous reduction of PtCl(4) and RuCl(3) (catalyst I) and changing the reduction order of PtCl(4) and RuCl(3) (catalysts II and III) to enhance the performance of the anodic catalysts for methanol and ethanol oxidation. Structure, microstructure and surface characterizations of all the catalysts were carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results of the XRD analysis showed that all catalysts had a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure with different and smaller lattice parameters than that of pure platinum, showing that the Ru incorporates into the Pt fcc structure by different ratios in all the catalysts. The typical particle sizes of all catalysts were in the range of 2-3 nm. The most active and stable catalyst for methanol and ethanol oxidation is catalyst III, in which a large amount (more than 90%) of PtRu alloy formation was observed. It has been found that this catalyst is about 8.0 and 33.4 times more active at ～0.60 V towards the methanol and ethanol oxidation reactions, respectively, compared to the commercial Pt catalyst.     

An analysis of p-median location problem: Effects of backup service level and demand assignment policy

Any solution to facility location problems will consider determining the best suitable locations with respect to certain criteria. Among different types of location problems, involving emergency service system (ESSs) are one of the most widely studied in the literature, and solutions to these problems will mostly aim to minimize the mean response time to demands. In practice, however, a demand may not be served from its nearest facility if that facility is engaged in serving other demands. This makes it a requirement to assign backup services so as to improve response time and service quality. The level of backup service is a key, strategic-level planning factor, and must be taken into consideration carefully. Moreover, in emergency service operations conducted in congested demand regions, demand assignment policy is another important factor that affects the system performance. Models failing to adopt sufficient levels of backup service and realistic demand assignment policies may significantly deteriorate the system performance.Considering the classic p-median problem (pMP) location model, this paper investigates the effects of backup service level, demand assignment policy, demand density, and number of facilities and their locations on the solution performance in terms of multiple metrics. For this purpose, we adopt a combined optimization and simulation approach. We will first modify the classic pMP to account for distances to backup services. Next, we employ a discrete event simulation to evaluate the performance of location schemes obtained from the deterministic mathematical model. Our results provide insights for decision-makers while planning ESS operations.     

On the problem of starting points for iterative methods

Numerical Algorithms - We propose an algorithm to find a starting point for iterative methods. Numerical experiments show empirically that the algorithm provides starting points for different...     

Rayleigh Scattering of 59.5 keV γ-Rays by Mo and Sn

The differential cross sections for coherent scattering of 59.5 keV γ-rays by Mo and Sn were measured using a high-purity germanium detector. The results were compared with predictions of form factor theories and S-matrix calculations.     

Structure of 4,4′-butane-(1,4,7-three-p-tolylsulphonyl-1,4,7-three amine) diphthalonitrile

Abstract

The crystal structure of the title compound, C₄₁ H₃₅ N₇ O₆ S₃ was determined as monoclinic by single crystal X-Ray diffraction technique. The molecular structure was identified by IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and elemental analysis. The crystal parameters of this compound are as follows: monoclinic P 2 1/n, a = 12.694(2) Å, b = 26.204(2) Å, c = 13.005(2) Å, β = 102.95(2)°, V = 4216.02(1) Å.³, Z = 4, Dx = 1.289 g/cm³, F(000) = 1704, λ (MoKα) = 0.71070 Å, μ = 0.2 mm^?1. The structure was solved by SHELXS-97 and refined by SHELXL-97. R = 0.06 for 3178 observed reflections with I > 2σ (I).