Clarke coderivatives of efficient point multifunctions in parametric vector optimization

The paper is devoted to the study of the Clarke/circatangent coderivatives of the efficient point multifunction of parametric vector optimization problems in Banach spaces. We provide inner/outer estimates for evaluating the Clarke/circatangent coderivative of this multifunction in a broad class of conventional vector optimization problems in the presence of geometrical, operator and (finite and infinite) functional constraints. Examples are given for analyzing and illustrating the obtained results.     

Use of disposable open tubular ion exchange pre-columns for in-line clean-up of serum and plasma samples prior to capillary electrophoretic analysis of inorganic cations

A simple analytical system using disposable, open-tubular ion exchange clean-up precolumns coupled in-line to capillary electrophoresis for direct injection of biological samples is presented. The clean-up precolumns were prepared from fused silica capillaries by thermally initiated layer-by-layer polymerization of poly(butadiene-maleic acid) (PBMA) directly on the capillary wall. Typically, 6 cm long precolumns with 4-layers of PBMA were used for sample pretreatment. A robust and reproducible coupling between the precolumn (75 μm ID) and the analytical capillary (50 μm ID) was achieved using an inexpensive, commercially available low dead volume union. No extra dispersion of the analyte zones was observed. Proteins and other high molecular weight compounds from biological sample matrices were retained on the cation-exchanger sites of the precolumn, which eliminated their adsorption on analytical capillary walls and ensured stable electroosmotic flow and migration times of target analytes. Unretained small inorganic cations migrated freely into the analytical capillary for separation and detection. Applicability of the sample clean-up procedure was proved by determination of major inorganic cations in blood serum and plasma samples using capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection. Separations were performed in background electrolyte solution consisting of 15 mM L-arginine, 12.5 mM maleic acid, 3 mM 18-crown-6 at pH 5.5 and repeatabilities of migration times and peak areas were below 1.5% and 7.3%, respectively. Less than 1 μL of biological sample was required for injection.     

A facile method to tune zeolite L crystals with low aspect ratio

We demonstrate an alternative route to tune the morphology of zeolite L crystals using C(2)H(5)OH as the co-solvent in the synthesis gel. A low aspect ratio (0.2 to 0.4) of zeolite L crystals was obtained at lower synthesis temperature (150 °C) and shorter synthesis duration (3 days).     

A stochastic model of the influence of buffer gas collisions on Mollow spectra

In this paper, using the idea introduced in (K. Wódkiewicz, Noise in strong laser-atom interaction, Proceedings of the VI International School of Coherent Optics, Ustron, Poland, September (1985) 19–26) and developed in (Cao Long Van, Stochastic Models of Isolated Collisions: Applications to Optical Phenomena, paper presented in LAMP Conference’89, Trieste, Italy (1989) II) we consider the influence of collisional fluctuations on the Mollow spectra of resonance fluorescence (RF). The fluctuations are taken into account by a simple shift of the constant detuning, involved in a set of optical Bloch equations by collision frequency noise which is modelled by a two-step random telegraph signal (RTS). We consider in detail the Mollow spectra for RF in the case of an arbitrary detuning of the laser frequency, where the emitter is a member of a statistical ensemble in thermodynamic equilibrium with the buffer gas at temperature T which is treated as a colored environment, and velocity v is distributed with the Maxwell-Boltzmann density.     

Pulse propagation in an autoionization medium with double Fano profile

We discuss the propagation of a short laser pulse in an auto- ionizing (AI) medium with degenerate double Fano model. By solving numerically the coupled equations for atoms and fields we show that by the proper choice of Fano parameters involved in the problem (contrary to the case considered in (E. Paspalakis, N. J. Kylstra, and P. L. Knight, Phys. Rev. A60 (1999)) we have now two Fano asymmetry parameters) one can eliminate almost completely the absorption in the pulse propagation. It means that we have the transparency in the medium. From the connection between population trapping in short pulsed laser field and transparency in the propagation of the laser pulse which has been fixed by Paspalakis et al., Phys. Rev. A60 (1999) we conclude that this proper choice leads to the presence of the population trapping (or the existence of the “dark” states) in the atomic system. Moreover, instead of one value of the laser detuning for which the dark states exist in the case of one AI level, we find numerically two such values in the case of two AI levels.     

Fission-fragment energy correlation measurements for 252Cf(sf) and structures in far-out asymmetric fission

Fragment-mass and kinetic-energy distribution measurements for ²⁵²Cf(sf) have been extended to the far-out asymmetric low-yield fission region of M_H = 190 compared with the existing data that go up to M_H ≈ 168. The mass yield Y(m) shows a shoulder for M_H ≈ 163 and an important enhancement for M_H ? 176. The 〈E_K〉(m), σ_EK(m) and, to a lesser extent, Y(m) distributions show strong and correlated amplitude fluctuations for M_H ? 170. These data indicate strong and rapid changes in deformation of the nascent fragments and the coexistence of more than one deformed-shell stabilized scission configuration for the same mass splits. These structures and those present in the relatively high-yield regions are discussed in terms of the static macro-microscopic potential-energy calculations.     

Robust and data-driven approaches to call centers

We propose both robust and data-driven approaches to a fluid model of call centers that incorporates random arrival rates with abandonment to determine staff levels and dynamic routing policies. We test the resulting models with real data obtained from the call center of a US bank. Computational results show that the robust fluid model is significantly more tractable as compared to the data-driven one and produces overall better solutions to call centers in most experiments.     

New indications of potential rat intestinal α-glucosidase inhibition by Syzygium zeylanicum (L.) and its hypoglycemic effect in mice

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Natural α-glucosidase inhibitors (aGIs) have been considered effective agents for type 2 diabetes management. In this study, Syzygium zeylanicum (L.)...     

MRI methodological development of intervertebral disc degeneration: a rabbit in vivo study at 9.4 T

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is a complex process characterized by biochemical and structural changes in both the nucleus pulposus and the anulus fibrosus. In this study, we were able to obtain in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) images of the rabbit spine, with several MR imaging (MRI) contrasts (ρ, T₁ and T₂). We quantified several parameters (T₂, apparent diffusion coefficient, disc height and area) to differentiate between healthy and degenerative IVDs and to characterize the degeneration process. To our knowledge, there has not been any previous in vivo study of rabbit IVDs at high-field MRI (9.4 T).A custom radio frequency (RF) coil for 9.4 T was designed to match rabbit IVD morphology, to study the degeneration in vivo on a model of human lumbar disease. Our new probe, a custom half-birdcage-type coil, obtains the necessary exploration depth while meeting the requirements for signal homogeneity and sensitivity of the study. This design addresses some of the difficulties with constructing RF coils at high field strengths.