Optimizing pig marketing decisions under price fluctuations

In the manufacturing of fattening pigs, pig marketing refers to a sequence of culling decisions until the production unit is empty. The profit of a production unit is highly dependent on the price of pork, the cost of feeding and the cost of buying piglets. Price fluctuations in the market consequently influence the profit, and the optimal marketing decisions may change under different price conditions. Most studies have considered pig marketing under constant price conditions. However, because price fluctuations have an influence on profit and optimal marketing decisions it is relevant to consider pig marketing under price fluctuations. In this paper we formulate a hierarchical Markov decision process with two levels which model sequential marketing decisions under price fluctuations in a pig pen. The state of the system is based on information about pork, piglet and feed prices. Moreover, the information is updated using a Bayesian approach and embedded into the hierarchical Markov decision process. The optimal policy is analyzed under different patterns of price fluctuations. We also assess the value of including price information into the model.

     

A theoretical prediction for exclusive decaysB→K(K*)η c

The decay rates for the exclusiveB decaysBK _c andBK* _c are calculated in the context of the heavy quark effective theory. We obtain(BK _c )/ (BK)=1.6±0.2 and(BK* _c )/ (K*)=0.39±0.04. These results lead to estimates BR(BK _c )=(0.11±0.02)% and BR(BK* _c )=(0.05±0.01)% if we use the central current experimental values forB(K, K ^*) branching ratios.     

Highly Efficient and Practical Syntheses of Lavendamycin Methyl Ester and Related Novel Quinolindiones

The novel 7-(N-formyl-, 7-(N-acetyl-, and 7-(N-isobutyrylamino)-2-methylquinoline-5,8-diones were synthesized in excellent overall yields in three steps via the nitration of the commercially available 8-hydroxy-2-methylquinoline followed by a reduction-acylation step and then oxidation. Acid hydrolysis of 7-(N-acetylamino)-2-methylquinoline-5,8-dione (14a) afforded the novel 7-aminoquinoline-5,8-dione 7 in excellent yields. Due to our efficient preparation of dione 14a, we now report a short and practical method for the total synthesis of the potent antitumor agent lavendamycin methyl ester (1b) with an excellent overall yield.     

Wet carbon-based solid acid/NaNO_3 as a mild and efficient reagent for nitration of aromatic compound under solvent free conditions

Nitro aromatic compound can be obtained in high yields via nitration of aromatic compound with wet carbon-based solid acid and NaNO_3 under solvent free oxidation at room temperature.     

Boolean logic functions of a synthetic peptide network

Living cells can process rapidly and simultaneously multiple extracellular input signals through the complex networks of evolutionary selected biomolecular interactions and chemical transformations. Recent approaches to molecular computation have increasingly sought to mimic or exploit various aspects of biology. A number of studies have adapted nucleic acids and proteins to the design of molecular logic gates and computational systems, while other works have affected computation in living cells via biochemical pathway engineering. Here we report that de novo designed synthetic peptide networks can also mimic some of the basic logic functions of the more complex biological networks. We show that segments of a small network whose graph structure is composed of five nodes and 15 directed edges can express OR, NOR, and NOTIF logic.     

A convenient synthesis of chiral succinic acid-d2 by catalytic asymmetric reduction using a ruthenium BINAP catalyst

The synthesis of (2R,3R) and (2S,3S) dideuteriosuccinic acid in 63 ± 10% enantiomeric excess by reduction of the half acid ester of ethyl fumarate from (R) and (S) BINAP ruthenium (II) diacetate complex, respectively, is reported. (2R,3R) and (2S,3S)-Dideuteriosuccinic acid has also been prepared from (R)-BINAP ruthenium (II) dicarboxylate complex directly in similar optical purity by reversing the sequence of introduction of the isotopic label.     

Time-Resolved Fluorescence and Transient Spectroscopy in Determining Photochemical and Photophysical Channels in Reacting Systems in Solutions and Microheterogeneous Media

Abstract— Characterization of short-lived intermediates in homogeneous and microheterogeneous systems has been carried out using time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. The data obtained from these techniques have been analyzed in a relatively unconventional manner to elucidate complex transient behavior for two reactive systems. The highly nonexponential fluorescence decay for a series of fraws-stilbene-derivatized amphiphiles that readily form bilayer systems in aqueous media has been analyzed using a distribution of lifetimes analysis (DLA). The utility of DLA for quantitative studies was first determined by simulation of artificial decay data. Despite some limitations in DLA, qualitative conclusions as to the nature of the fluorescing species may be drawn when supplementary information such as steady-state spectroscopic data are also considered. The results indicate that the observed fluorescence originates from different types of excited-state species that consist of two or more trans-stilbene units; one of the emissions is attributed to the excited state of a ground-state aggregate while the other is assigned to an excimer that may arise from a 'defect'in the bilayer. The nonexponential nature of the decays is attributed to distributions of environments experienced by the fluorescing species. Electron transfer (ET) reactions between several excited pinacols and carbon tetrachloride in solution have been found to yield products with quantum yields that are higher than unity in the presence of oxygen, suggesting a chain mechanism for product formation. In these systems both the donor and the acceptor undergo bond fragmentation following the initial ET step. The individual steps involved in the proposed mechanism for these systems have been investigated in part using different steady-state and time-resolved laser spectroscopic techniques. However, it was also necessary to utilize pulse radiolysis in order to confirm the involvement of certain radical intermediates that were not observable by the usual flash photolysis techniques.     

Photocatalytic ozonation degradation of ciprofloxacin using ZnO nanoparticles immobilized on the surface of stones

Ciprofloxacin is used in the treatment of bacterial infections. Because ciprofloxacin is not effectively degraded by biological processes, advanced oxidation processes such as photocatalytic ozonation are applied to remove this antibiotic from wastewater. The aim of this study was to investigate photocatalytic ozonation for the removal of ciprofloxacin from aquatic environments and optimization of the effective parameters of the process. For this purpose, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using the thermal method and immobilized on the surface of stones. The structural properties of the nanoparticles were determined by XRD, TEM, Photoluminescence (PL) and SEM. Experiments were carried out in a Plexiglas reactor supported with the continuous injection of ozone. The effective parameters for removal efficiency were reaction time, initial concentration of ciprofloxacin, pH, photocatalyst concentration and reaction kinetics. The highest ciprofloxacin removal efficiency occurred at the following optimal conditions: pH of 7, reaction time of 30?min, photocatalyst concentration of 3?g/L and initial ciprofloxacin concentration of 10?mg/L. Removal efficiency of 96% was obtained under these conditions. Linear kinetic models showed that the process followed pseudo-first order and Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics. This process had a high removal efficiency and suitable for removal of ciprofloxacin from aquatic environments.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT     

SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF CUTANEOUS PHOTOSENSITIZING AGENTS–XV. ANTHRALIN and ITS OXIDATION PRODUCT 1,8-DIHYDROXYANTHRAQUINONE

The photochemistry (Type I and II) of anthralin and its photo-oxidation product 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (1,8-DHAQ) has been studied in ethanol, acetonitrile and dimethylsulfoxide using spin-trapping and direct detection of singlet oxygen (1O2) luminescence techniques. In ethanol, where it exists in its neutral form (AN), anthralin does not undergo either Type I or II reactions upon UV-irradiation. In contrast, irradiation of anthralin in acetonitrile, a solvent in which anthralin is partially converted to its corresponding mono-anion (AN-), generates both superoxide and singlet oxygen. Irradiation of anthralin in dimethylsulfoxide, where the AN- form is present in substantial quantity, generates superoxide and solvent derived radicals but no detectable singlet oxygen. UV-irradiation of 1,8-DHAQ in ethanol and acetonitrile produces both superoxide and singlet oxygen in significant yields. In dimethylsulfoxide, on the other hand, only superoxide and solvent derived radicals are observed. The 1O2 quantum yield for AN- and 1,8-DHAQ in acetonitrile were determined to be 0.14 and 0.88 relative to rose bengal in the same solvent. These findings suggest that the AN photosensitization occurs via Type I and II pathways, is solvent dependent and involves AN- as well as its oxidation product 1,8-DHAQ, which is a more potent generator of both singlet oxygen and superoxide.     

Dynamic headspace liquid-phase microextraction of alcohols

A method was developed using dynamic headspace liquid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for extraction and determination of 9 alcohols from water samples. Four different solvents, hexyl acetate, n-octanol, o-xylene and n-decane were studied as extractants. The analytes were extracted using 0.8 microl of n-octanol from the headspace of a 2 ml sample solution. The effect of sampling volume, solvent volume, sample temperature, syringe plunger withdrawal rate and ionic strength of the solution on the extraction performance were studied. A semiautomated system including a variable speed stirring motor was used to ensure a uniform movement of syringe plunger through the barrel. The method provided a fairly good precision for all compounds (5.5-9.3%), except methanol (16.4%). Detection limits were found to be between 1 and 97 microg/l within an extraction time of approximately 9.5 min under GC-MS in full scan mode.