Reversed-phase dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with multivariate optimization for sensitive HPLC determination of tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol in olive oil

A reversed-phase dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (RP-DLLME) method coupled to HPLC was developed for the extraction of hydroxytyrosol (HTy) and tyrosol (Ty) from virgin olive oil. In this first application of the RP-DLLME method to non-polar samples, the phenolic compounds were directly extracted into an aqueous micro-drop, which could be injected into a chromatography column without any further pretreatment. A glass test tube with lengthened conical bottom was fitted inside a centrifuge tube in this work for more efficient withdrawal of the sedimented phase with a microsyringe. The volumes of water and ethyl acetate, the pH of water and the centrifuge time as four effective parameters on the extraction were optimized by a central composite design (response surface) method. Five replicated analyses under the optimized conditions (i.e., 0.2 mL ethyl acetate as disperser and 100 μL water at pH 11 as the extraction solvent) resulted in recoveries of 104.3 and 97.6%, and relative standard deviations of 5.75 and 4.57 for HTy and Ty, respectively. The detection limit of the method (3σ) was 0.043 mg L(-1) for HTy and 0.032 mg L(-1) for Ty. The method was successfully applied to the determination of HTy and Ty in five olive oil samples.     

Stability of emulsified heavy oil: the combined effects of deterministic DLVO forces and random surface charges

When dispersed in aqueous solution, droplets of bitumen (extra heavy oil) are known to acquire negative surface charges. The resulting electrostatic repulsion, according to traditional DLVO theory, is far too strong for any droplet coalescence to occur. However, from experience it is known that bitumen droplets do coalesce in aqueous suspensions. Furthermore, the process appears to be random, with the probability of coalescence increasing sharply with the drop size. To explain these facts, we modeled the bitumen-water interface as a heterogeneous surface comprising charged "patches"; the zeta potentials of the patches constitute a random variable that is assumed to be Gaussian. The traditional DLVO theory, according to this model, remains sound on the local scale (i.e., for patches interacting across an intervening water layer). Such a theory can predict the probabilities of coalescence in remarkable detail. A parameter central to this theory is the lateral extent of the charged patches, which was estimated to be in the neighborhood of 0.6 μm.     

Variation of wavelet entropy in electroencephalogram signal during neurofeedback training

Neurofeedback training (NFT) has an important role in improvement of cognitive functions in both clinical and healthy individuals. In this study, variation of wavelet entropy during low beta NFT was investigated. To investigate the effect of low beta NFT on wavelet entropy, correlation between the change in low beta activity and the change in wavelet entropy was computed. The results revealed that there is a highly significant negative correlation between the change in low beta activity and wavelet entropy. The given outcome suggests that enhancing low beta activity through NFT associated with decrements in wavelet entropy. Furthermore, we discuss a new implementation of NFT, based on wavelet entropy for future research. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity, 2012     

Charged Higgs observability through associated production with W ± at a muon collider

The observability of a charged Higgs boson produced in association with a W boson at future muon colliders is studied. The analysis is performed within the MSSM framework. The charged Higgs is assumed to decay to $t\bar{b}We study $B_{s}^{0} \to J/\psi f_{0}(980)$ decays, the quark content of f ₀(980) and the mixing angle of f ₀(980) and ??(600). We calculate not only the factorizable contribution in the QCD factorization scheme but also the nonfactorizable hard spectator corrections in QCDF and pQCD approach. We get a result consistent with the experimental data of $B_{s}^{0} \to J/\psi f_{0}(980)$ and predict the branching ratio of $B_{s}^{0}$ ?CJ/???. We suggest two ways to determine f ₀?C?? mixing angle ??. Using the experimental measured branching ratio of $B_{s}^{0} \to J/\psi f_{0}(980)$ , we can get the f ₀?C?? mixing angle ?? with some theoretical uncertainties. We suggest another way to determine the f ₀?C?? mixing angle ?? using both experimental measured decay branching ratios $B_{s}^{0} \to J/\psi f_{0}(980) (\sigma)$ to avoid theoretical uncertainties.     

Traffic assignment model with fuzzy level of travel demand: An efficient algorithm based on quasi-Logit formulas

The place of fuzzy concepts in traffic assignment (TA) models has been studied in recent literature. Keeping fuzzy level of travel demand in mind, we propose a new TA model in which the travel costs of links are depended on their congestion. From the results of such fuzzy TA model, network planners are able to estimate the number of travelers on network links. By using zero–one variables, the proposed model is transformed into a crisp mixed-integer problem with respect to path-flow variables. In order to produce the Logit flows from this problem, Damberg et al. algorithm is modified. Then, the level of certainty is maximized and perceived travel delays are minimized. For a fixed certainty degree, the obtained solution, which is named the fuzzy equilibrium flow, satisfies a quasi-Logit formula similar to ordinary expression of the Logit route choice model. Eventually, we examine the quality of different path enumeration techniques in the proposed model.     

Mixed convection of a nanofluid in a three-dimensional channel

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The paper presents the mixed convection heat transfer and entropy generation of a nanofluid containing carbon nanotubes, flowing in a 3D rectangular...     

Vortex‐assisted natural deep eutectic solvent microextraction using response surface methodology optimization for determination of orthophosphate in water samples by molybdenum blue method

A new, rapid, and efficient microextraction technique named vortex‐assisted natural deep eutectic solvent microextraction has been developed for the preconcentration and determination of orthophosphate in real water samples. The method is based on the formation of the phosphomolybdenium blue complex followed by proposed microextraction procedure and subsequent spectrophotometric determination in a microcell. Screening study for the optimal composition of natural deep eutectic solvent was initially performed with different solvents, including choline chloride as hydrogen bond acceptor and different hydrogen bond donors. A ternary mixture of glucose‐choline chloride‐water was used as the most efficient extraction solvent. Response surface methodology based on the central composite design was used to optimize experimental parameters. Under optimal conditions, the calibration graph for orthophosphate determination was linear over the range of 2.0–80.0 µg/L (correlation coefficient of 0.9971) with a detection limit of 0.2 µg/L. The repeatability, reproducibility, and relative error values of the method were below 7%, indicating acceptable precision and accuracy. This approach, using natural deep eutectic solvent as an eco‐friendly solvent with high solubilization power and vortex mixing as an alternative energy source, represents a promising choice for a green separation and preconcentration methodology for determination of orthophosphate in real water samples.     

Application of RBF-DQ Method to Time-Dependent Analysis of Unsaturated Seepage

Richards’ equation is a nonlinear partial differential equation governing unsteady seepage flow through unsaturated porous media. This paper investigates applicability of radial basis function-based differential quadrature (RBF-DQ), as a meshless method, to simulate one-dimensional flow processes in the unsaturated zone under different initial and boundary conditions. Fourth-order Runge–Kutta scheme has been adopted for time integration. Results of solving three numerical examples using RBF-DQ are compared with those of analytical, numerical, and experimental solutions presented in the literature. The comparison indicates that RBF-DQ can provide more accurate results comparing with traditional FDM or FEM without the need to discretize the computational domain. Moreover, the merit of mesh-free characteristic in RBF-DQ makes it suitable not only for solving nonlinear problems but also for dealing with multidimensional problems since meshless methods are not restricted to dimensional limitations. A key parameter in utilizing multiquadratic approximation in RBF-DQ method is the user-defined shape parameter C, which may significantly affect solution accuracy. Thus, a sensitivity analysis has been conducted to study possible effects of shape parameter on achieved results.     

Group preserving scheme and reproducing kernel method for the Poisson–Boltzmann equation for semiconductor devices

This paper introduces that the nonlinear Poisson–Boltzmann equation for semiconductor devices describing potential distribution in a double-gate metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (DG-MOSFET) is exactly solvable. The DG-MOSFET shows one of the most advanced device structures in semiconductor technology and is a primary focus of modeling efforts in the semiconductor industry. Lie symmetry properties of this model is investigated in order to extract some exact solutions. The reproducing kernel Hilbert space method and group preserving scheme also have been applied to the nonlinear equation. Numerical results show that the present methods are very effective.