Separation and Preconcentration by Dispersive Liquid�CLiquid Microextraction Procedure: Recent Applications

Dispersive liquid?Cliquid microextraction (DLLME) is a relatively novel miniaturized sample pre-treatment technique. DLLME has been applied for the analysis of a large variety of organic compounds and metal ions in different samples. This paper reviews the more recent applications of this procedure for sample preparation.     

Ion binding to polyelectrolytes: Monte Carlo simulations versus classical mean field theories

The influence of ion size and surface charge model in titrations of ionizable polyelectrolytes is studied by means of the Semi Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulation method in the context of the primitive model. Three models describing a discrete distribution of charged functional groups on the polyelectrolyte and different values for the radius of the background electrolyte spanning from ionic to hydrated radii values were analyzed. The polyelectrolyte titrations were simulated by calculating the degree of ionization versus pH curves at two ionic strengths. The results allow us to quantify the impact of the sizes of the background salt ions and surface functional groups of the polyelectrolyte on the dissociation degree. This influence is explained in terms of the effectiveness of the screening of the charged surface sites. Finally, by comparison with the Non-Linear Poisson–Boltzmann model, the influence of ionic correlations and finite size of the solution ions is assessed.     

Scheduling of power generation via large-scale nonlinear optimization

We investigate methods for solving high-dimensional nonlinear optimization problems which typically occur in the daily scheduling of electricity production: problems with a nonlinear, separable cost function, lower and upper bounds on the variables, and an equality constraint to satisfy the demand. If the cost function is quadratic, we use a modified Lagrange multiplier technique. For a nonquadratic cost function (a penalty function combining the original cost function and certain fuel constraints, so that it is generally not separable), we compare the performance of the gradient-projection method and the reduced-gradient method, both with conjugate search directions within facets of the feasible set. Numerical examples at the end of the paper demonstrate the effectiveness of the gradient-projection method to solve problems with hundreds of variables by exploitation of the special structure.     

Schottky Mass Measurements of Cooled Exotic Nuclei

Projectile fragments of a ²⁰⁹Bi beam were separated in flight with the fragment separator FRS and injected into the experimental storage ring ESR. In the ESR a beam containing up to about 100 different isotopes was cooled to a relative velocity spread of δv/v=10⁻⁶ by means of the electron cooler. The image currents of the ions induced in a Schottky pick-up probe at each turn were recorded. A subsequent Fast Fourier Transformation of these signals yields the revolution frequencies of the different isotopes stored in the ESR. Unknown masses of more than 150 neutron-deficient nuclides in the element range of 52≤Z≤85 have been measured directly by Schottky Mass Spectrometry and in addition more than 60 new masses have been obtained from α-decay chains. These new mass data allow the location of the one-proton dripline and the prediction of the two-proton dripline for heavy nuclides. The experimental masses are compared with different theoretical predictions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Telegraphic Transport Processes and Their Fractional Generalization: A Review and Some Extensions

We address the problem of telegraphic transport in several dimensions. We review the derivation of two and three dimensional telegrapher’s equations—as well as their fractional generalizations—from microscopic random walk models for transport (normal and anomalous). We also present new results on solutions of the higher dimensional fractional equations.     

Experimental design in the optimization of a microwave acid digestion procedure for the determination of metals in biomorphic ceramic samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and atomic absorption spectrometry

In the present paper, we have synthesized a biomorphic ceramic material from oak wood as biological template structure and infiltration with zirconia-sol. After the material characterization, we have optimized the sample dissolution by acid attack in an oven under microwave irradiation. Experimental designs were used as a multivariate strategy for the effect's evaluation of varying several variables. This article describes the development by response surface methodology (RSM) of a procedure for zirconium determination, and other ions, such as copper and nickel by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and others, such as iron, calcium and magnesium determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) in the synthesized sample after digestion. A full factorial design (3³) was used to find optimal conditions for the procedure through response surface study. Three variables (time, HNO₃ volume and HF volume) were regarded as factors and as response to the concentration of different metal ions in the optimization study.     

Polynomial integrability of the Hamiltonian systems with homogeneous potential of degree − 3

In this paper, we study the polynomial integrability of natural Hamiltonian systems with two degrees of freedom having a homogeneous potential of degree k given either by a polynomial, or by an inverse of a polynomial. For k=−2,−1,…,3,4, their polynomial integrability has been characterized. Here, we have two main results. First, we characterize the polynomial integrability of those Hamiltonian systems with homogeneous potential of degree −3. Second, we extend a relation between the nontrivial eigenvalues of the Hessian of the potential calculated at a Darboux point to a family of Hamiltonian systems with potentials given by an inverse of a homogeneous polynomial. This relation was known for such Hamiltonian systems with homogeneous polynomial potentials. Finally, we present three open problems related with the polynomial integrability of Hamiltonian systems with a rational potential.     

3D features of modified photostructurable glass-ceramic with infrared femtosecond laser pulses

The exclusive ability of laser radiation to be focused inside transparent materials makes lasers a unique tool to process inner parts of them unreachable with other techniques. Hence, laser direct-write can be used to create 3D structures inside bulk materials. Infrared femtosecond lasers are especially indicated for this purpose because a multiphoton process is usually required for absorption and high resolution can be attained. This work studies the modifications produced by 450 fs laser pulses at 1027 nm wavelength focused inside a photostructurable glass-ceramic (Foturan^®) at different depths. Irradiated samples were submitted to standard thermal treatment and subsequent soaking in HF solution to form the buried microchannels and thus unveil the modified material. The voxel dimensions of modified material depend on the laser pulse energy and the depth at which the laser is focused. Spherical aberration and self-focusing phenomena are required to explain the observed results.