A Stochastic Analysis of a Staffing Problem

Consider an organization with several categories of staff, each having a specified number of members. The age of entry into service and the age of retirement are both specified. Withdrawals occur at time-independent rates. Under this set-up, the authors have computed the maximum ages at which promotions should take place, assuming that the staff members continuing at various ages are random. Some illustrative calculations have been carried out.     

A dodeca­nuclear manganese(II,III) complex of penta­erythritol

The mol­ecule of the title compound, tetra‐μ₂‐acetato‐diaquadi‐μ₂‐chloro‐tetra­chloro­tetra­kis[μ₄‐3‐hydroxy‐2,2‐bis­(oxido­meth­yl)propanol­ato]­tetra­methanoldi‐μ₃‐methanolato‐di‐μ₅‐oxo‐octa­manganese(II)­tetra­manganese(III), [Mn₄^IIIMn₈^II(CH₃O)₂(C₂H₃O₂)₄(C₅H₉O₄)₄Cl₆O₂(CH₄O)₄(H₂O)₂], displays a centre of symmetry. The structure of the {Mn₄^IIIMn₈^IIO₁₈Cl₂}¹⁰⁻ core is composed of three layers and features two oxo ligands binding in a rare μ₅‐mode.     

A facile synthesis of steroidal D-ring fused pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines

A facile method for the synthesis of steroidal D-ring fused pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines through a microwave mediated reaction between steroidal β-bromovinyl aldehydes and pyrazoloamines using palladium(II) catalyst has been described.     

Experimental observation of dust circulation in unmagnetized cogenerated dusty plasma

The vortex motion of a dust cloud was experimentally observed in unmagnetized cogenerated dusty plasma in different experimental parameters. Particle image velocimetry analysis demonstrated that several vortex zones exist in the dust cloud at relatively low pressures (0.06 mbar (or 6 Pa)–0.08 mbar (or 8 Pa)) and low discharge voltages (peak‐to‐peak voltage 540–560 V), whereas in relatively high pressure (0.4 mbar (or 40 Pa)–0.7 mbar (or 70 Pa)) and high discharge voltage (peak‐to‐peak voltage 690–740 V), dust vortices formed in dense dust cloud with background plasma fluctuation.     

Variational calculation for the doubly excited state (2p2)3Pe of Be III

Nonrelativistic energy of the (2p(2))(3)P(e) state of Be(2+) has been calculated using Ritz-variational method. The trial wave function is of Hylleraas type. The upper-bound energy E=-3.382 712 420 77 a.u. calculated by us is the lowest yet obtained.     

Thermodynamic stability of CaThF6(cr) by transpiration and e.m.f. techniques

In the present paper, we report the standard molar Gibbs energy of formation for CaThF₆ measured by gas equilibration and e.m.f. methods. The HF(g) vapour pressure over the equilibrium reaction: \({\text{CaThF}}_{6} \left( {\text{cr}} \right) + 2 {\text{H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}\left( {\text{g}} \right) = {\text{CaF}}_{2} \left( {\text{cr}} \right) + {\text{ThO}}_{2} \left( {\text{cr}} \right) + 4{\text{HF}}\left( {\text{g}} \right)\) has been measured using transpiration technique. The above reaction mechanism has been established employing TG and XRD techniques. A fluoride e.m.f. cell: (−)Pt, CaF₂(cr) + ThOF₂(cr) + CaThF₆(cr) |CaF₂(cr)| NiO(cr) + NiF₂(cr), Pt(+) has been constructed to measure Gibbs energy of formation of CaThF₆ (cr) using CaF₂ (cr) as a solid electrolyte. The isobaric heat capacity \({\text{Cp}}_{\text{m}}^{{\circ }} \left( T \right)\) of the compound has been measured using differential scanning calorimetric technique. Based on the experimental results, thermodynamic functions for CaThF₆ have been generated.

     

Studies on interaction of colloidal silver nanoparticles (SNPs) with five different bacterial species

Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) are being increasingly used in many consumer products like textile fabrics, cosmetics, washing machines, food and drug products owing to its excellent antimicrobial properties. Here we have studied the adsorption and toxicity of SNPs on bacterial species such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus barbaricus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The influence of zeta potential on the adsorption of SNPs on bacterial cell surface was investigated at acidic, neutral and alkaline pH and with varying salt (NaCl) concentrations (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 M). The survival rate of bacterial species decreased with increase in adsorption of SNPs. Maximum adsorption and toxicity was observed at pH 5, and NaCl concentration of <0.5 M. A very less adsorption was observed at pH 9 and NaCl concentration >0.5 M, there by resulting in less toxicity. The zeta potential study suggests that, the adsorption of SNPs on the cell surface was related to electrostatic force of attraction. The equilibrium and kinetics of the adsorption process were also studied. The adsorption equilibrium isotherms fitted well to the Langmuir model. The kinetics of adsorption fitted best to pseudo-first-order. These findings form a basis for interpreting the interaction of nanoparticles with environmental bacterial species.