Rapid and sensitive gas chromatography–ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines in secondhand smoke

Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are some of the most potent carcinogens in tobacco and cigarette smoke. Accurate quantification of these chemicals is needed to help assess public health risks. We developed and validated a specific and sensitive method to measure four TSNAs adsorbed to model surfaces and secondhand smoke (SHS) particles using gas chromatography–ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry. In an 18-m³ room-sized chamber, a smoking machine generated realistic concentrations of SHS that were actively sampled on Teflon-coated fiber glass (TCFG) filters, and passively sampled on cellulose substrates. A simple solid–liquid extraction protocol using methanol as solvent was successfully applied to both substrates with recoveries ranging from 85 to 115%. For each TSNA, tandem MS parameters were optimized and the major fragmentation pathways were elucidated. The method showed excellent performance, with a linear dynamic range from 2 to 1000 ng mL⁻¹, low detection limits (S/N > 3) of 30–300 pg mL⁻¹ and precision with experimental errors below 10% for all compounds. Moreover, no interfering peaks were observed, indicating a high selectivity of MS/MS without the need for a sample clean-up step. This method provides a suitable analytical tool to detect and quantify traces of TSNA in indoor environments polluted with SHS.     

Robust stability analysis of static neural network with S-type distributed delays

In this paper, we investigate local robust stability of static neural network (SNN) with S-type distributed delays. We derive some new sufficient conditions for local robust stability of equilibrium points and estimate attracting domains of equilibrium points except isolated equilibrium points. Our results not only show local robust stability of equilibrium points but also allow much broader application for static neural network with or without delays. It is shown that our results are new and improve corresponding results existing in the previous literature.     

Stability of singularly perturbed switched systems with time delay and impulsive effects

This paper studies the stability properties of singularly perturbed switched systems with time delay and impulsive effects. Such systems are assumed to consist of both unstable and stable subsystems. By using the multiple Lyapunov functions technique and the dwell time approach, some stability criteria are established. Our results show that impulses do contribute in order to obtain stability properties even when the system consists of only unstable subsystems. Numerical examples are presented to verify our theoretical results.     

Exponential stability preservation in semi-discretisations of BAM networks with nonlinear impulses

This paper demonstrates the reliability of a discrete-time analogue in preserving the exponential convergence of a bidirectional associative memory (BAM) network that is subject to nonlinear impulses. The analogue derived from a semi-discretisation technique with the value of the time-step fixed is treated as a discrete-time dynamical system while its exponential convergence towards an equilibrium state is studied. Thereby, a family of sufficiency conditions governing the network parameters and the impulse magnitude and frequency is obtained for the convergence. As special cases, one can obtain from our results, those corresponding to the non-impulsive discrete-time BAM networks and also those corresponding to continuous-time (impulsive and non-impulsive) systems. A relation between the Lyapunov exponent of the non-impulsive system and that of the impulsive system involving the size of the impulses and the inter-impulse intervals is obtained.     

A novel and selective oxidation of benzylic alcohols with polymer-supported periodic acid under mild aprotic conditions

A new polymeric oxidizing reagent was prepared by supporting periodic acid on poly（1,4-phenylene-2,5-pyridine dicarboxyamide）. This polymeric reagent was used for the selective oxidation of primary benzylic alcohols to the corresponding benzaldehydes in CH₃CN at reflux conditions.Excellent selectivity was observed between primary benzyl alcohols and secondary ones as well as non-benzylic alcohols in the oxidation reactions.Allylic alcohols were also converted to the corresponding aldehydes with good yields.     

Anharmonic nuclear dynamics in the mixed quantum-classical limit

This study employs mixed quantum-classical dynamics (MQCD) formalism to evaluate the linear electronic dipole moment time correlation function (DMTCF) in which a Morse oscillator serves to model the associated vibrations in a mixed quantum-classical (MQC) environment. While the main purpose of this work is to study the applicability of MQCD formalism to anharmonic systems in condensed phase, approximate schemes to physically evaluate the mathematically divergent integrals have been developed in order to deal with the essential singularities that arise while evaluating the Morse oscillator canonical partition function and the DMTCF in MQC systems in the classical limit. The motivation for numerically and analytically evaluating these divergent integrals is that a partition function of any system should lead to a finite value at any temperature and therefore this divergence is unphysical. Additionally, since a partition function is to signify the number of accessible states to the system at hand, divergent results are not physically acceptable. As such, straightforward approximate analytic expressions, at different levels of rigor, for both the classical Morse oscillator partition function and the DMTCF in MQC systems are derived, for the first time. Calculations of Morse oscillator partition function values using different approaches at various temperatures for CO, HCl, and I(2) molecules, showing good results, are presented to test the expressions derived herein. It is found that this divergence, due to singularity, diminishes upon lowering the temperature and only arises at high temperatures. The gradual diminishing of the singularity upon lowering the temperature is sensible since the Morse potential fits the parabolic potential at low temperatures. Model calculations and discussion of the DMTCF and linear absorption spectra in MQC systems using the molecular constants of CO molecule are provided. The linear absorption lineshape is derived by two methods, one of which is asymptotic expansion.     

费托合成反应中纳米铁催化剂上La和Ba助剂的协同效应(英文)

Effect of promoters such as Barium and Lanthanum has been investigated on the conventional nanostructured iron catalyst in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). The nanosized iron-based catalysts were prepared by a microemulsion method with the general formulation of 100Fe/4Cu, 100Fe/4Cu/2La, 100Fe/4Cu/ 1La/1Ba, and 100Fe/4Cu/2Ba. The phase, structure, and morphology of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, transmission electron microscopy, temperature-programmed desorption of CO2, and temperature- programmed reduction. The results indicated that the addition of promoters could improve the activity of Fe catalysts for FTS and WGS (water-gas shift reaction) and lower the gas fraction at the outlet. In addition, both Ba- and La-promoted Fe catalysts exhibit the highest activity due to the synergetic effect.     

Optical band gap and conductivity measurements of polypyrrole-chitosan composite thin films

Electrical conductivity and optical properties of polypyrrole-chitosan（PPy-CHI） conducting polymer composites have been investigated to determine the optical transition characteristics and energy band gap of composite films.The two electrode method and I-V characteristic technique were used to measure the conductivity of the PPy-CHI thin films,and the optical band gap was obtained from their ultraviolet absorption edges.Depending upon experimental parameter,the optical band gap（E_g） was found within 1.30-2.32 eV as estimated from optical absorption data.The band gap of the composite films decreased as the CHI content increased.The room temperature electrical conductivity of PPy-CHI thin films was found in the range of 5.84×10^-7-15.25×10^-7 S·cm^-1 depending on the chitosan content.The thermogravimetry analysis（TGA） showed that the CHI can improve the thermal stability of PPy-CHI composite films.     

Bacterial Reduction of Cr(VI) at Technical Scale—The Malaysian Experience

The bacterial reduction of Cr(VI) from industrial wastewater was evaluated using a 2.0-m³ bioreactor. Liquid pineapple waste was used as a nutrient for the biofilm community formed inside the bioreactor. The use of rubber wood sawdust as packing material was able to immobilize more than 10⁶?CFU?mL^?1 of Acinetobacter haemolyticus cells after 3?days of contact time. Complete reduction of 15?C240?mg?L^?1 of Cr(VI) was achieved even after 3?months of bioreactor operation. Cr(VI) was not detected in the final effluent fraction indicating complete removal of Cr from solution from the flocculation/coagulation step and the unlikely re-oxidation of Cr(III) into Cr(VI). Impatiens balsamina L. and Gomphrena globosa L. showed better growth in the presence of soil?Csludge mixture compared to Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth. Significant amounts of Cr accumulated at different sections of the plants indicate its potential application in Cr phytoremediation effort. The bacterial-based system was also determined not to be detrimental to human health based on the low levels of Cr detected in the hair and nail samples of the plant operators. Thus, it can be said that bacterial-based Cr(VI) treatment system is a feasible alternative to the conventional system especially for lower Cr(VI) concentrations, where sludge generated can be used as growth supplement for ornamental plant as well as not detrimental to the health of the workers.