Fumes generated during laser processing of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

An approach to the assessment of fumes produced in laser material processing is presented. The subsequent design of the fume containment system and sampling strategy is detailed. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has been selected for investigation and the complexity resulting from the plethora of additives is discussed. Qualitative results from the preliminary studies of CO₂ laser cutting of PVC are presented together with an appraisal of the problems involved in extending this to quantitative analysis. Benzene, hydrogen chloride (HCl) and methyl methacrylate were found to be the dominant emissions.     

A source density function

The delta function initial condition solution of the generalized Feller equation gives rise to a four-parameter class of one-sided probability source density functions. Because of this origin, each of these functions represents the instantaneous density of an autonomous Markov diffusion process. As the source location parameter approaches zero the density class to be investigated here reduces to the hyper-Gamma class. Because of the immense flexibility in shape (as compared with the hyper-Gamma class) the source density class offers itself to a wide variety of applications in physics and statistics, especially if the observations are far removed from zero. Relative to applications, the natural and paramount concern must be directed toward the parameter estimation problem. This paper provides the analytical foundation for a numerical approach to its solution. The log-likelihood function for the source density class will be established. Based on it the maximum-likelihood equations will be derived. For practical numerical reasons, direct maximization of the log-likelihood function may be more successful than an attempt to solve the (three) maximum-likelihood equations. Therefore, the analytical properties of the log-likelihood function will be discussed, as they are essential in the implementation of any numerical optimization routine.     

Structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of phenolic oxime complexes of Cu and Ni

Square planar complexes of the type Ni(L(1))(2), Ni(L(2))(2), Cu(L(1))(2), and Cu(L(2))(2), where L(1)H = 2-hydroxy-5-t-octylacetophenone oxime and L(2)H = 2-hydroxy-5-n-propylacetophenone oxime, have been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, UV/vis spectroscopy, field-effect-transistor measurements, density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations, and, in the case of the paramagnetic species, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and magnetic susceptibility. Variation of alkyl groups on the ligand from t-octyl to n-propyl enabled electronic isolation of the complexes in the crystal structures of M(L(1))(2) contrasting with π-stacking interactions for M(L(2))(2) (M = Ni, Cu). This was evidenced by a one-dimensional antiferromagnetic chain for Cu(L(2))(2) but ideal paramagnetic behavior for Cu(L(1))(2) down to 1.8 K. Despite isostructural single crystal structures for M(L(2))(2), thin-film X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed different morphologies depending on the metal and the deposition method (vapor or solution). The Cu complexes displayed limited electronic interaction between the central metal and the delocalized ligands, with more mixing in the case of Ni(II), as shown by electrochemistry and UV/vis spectroscopy. The complexes M(L(2))(2) showed poor charge transport in a field-effect transistor (FET) device despite the ability to form π-stacking structures, and this provides design insights for metal complexes to be used in conductive thin-film devices.     

Evaluation and single laboratory validation of an on-line turbulent flow extraction tandem mass spectrometry method for melamine in infant formula

This report presents the single-laboratory validation of a method for the determination of melamine in dairy-based products using on-line turbulent flow extraction-tandem mass spectrometry. Liquid or powder test portions were dissolved in water, enriched with (13)C(3)(15)N(3)-Melamine internal standard, followed by protein precipitation and withdrawal of an aliquot for analysis. The turbulent flow method was validated by analyses of liquid and powdered proficiency test portions containing up to 10mg/kg melamine. Accuracy of results ranged from 96 to 106% of the assigned values for the 6 proficiency test portions tested with relative standard deviations of 4-8%. Apparent recoveries based on addition of amino-(15)N(3)-Melamine to prepared test portions were between 98 and 114%. Based on the repeat analysis of a known blank sample the limit of detection and limit of quantification were determined to be 27 and 87 μg/kg, respectively. Additionally, this report demonstrates that turbulent flow chromatography is significantly faster than traditional LC-MS, with sample analysis times of less than 2 min.     

On the Error of the Optical Response Approximation in Chiral Media

We study the equations modelling the evolution of electromagnetic fields in chiral media with dispersion. We prove existence and uniqueness of solutions of these equations and provide estimates for the error of the optical response approximation for chiral media.     

Enhanced shape-selective recognition of anion guests through complexation-induced organization of porphyrin hosts

We present a fortuitous discovery of enhanced shape-selective recognition of anion guests that stems from a complexation-induced conformational change in porphyrin hosts upon anion binding. Porphyrin hosts reported here exist in a conformation that is not favorable to guest binding. Anions that bind strongly are those that can induce a conformational change in the host to allow guest binding. Furthermore, guests that mimic the shape of the newly formed pocket bind the strongest.     

Observation of a free-Shercliff-layer instability in cylindrical geometry

We report on observations of a free-Shercliff-layer instability in a Taylor-Couette experiment using a liquid metal over a wide range of Reynolds numbers, Re～10(3)-10(6). The free Shercliff layer is formed by imposing a sufficiently strong axial magnetic field across a pair of differentially rotating axial end cap rings. This layer is destabilized by a hydrodynamic Kelvin-Helmholtz-type instability, characterized by velocity fluctuations in the r-θ plane. The instability appears with an Elsasser number above unity, and saturates with an azimuthal mode number m which increases with the Elsasser number. Measurements of the structure agree well with 2D global linear mode analyses and 3D global nonlinear simulations. These observations have implications for a range of rotating MHD systems in which similar shear layers may be produced.     

Kinetic instabilities that limit β in the edge of a tokamak plasma: a picture of an H-mode pedestal

Plasma equilibria reconstructed from the Mega-Amp Spherical Tokamak have sufficient resolution to capture plasma evolution during the short period between edge-localized modes (ELMs). Immediately after the ELM, steep gradients in pressure, P, and density, n(e), form pedestals close to the separatrix, and they then expand into the core. Local gyrokinetic analysis over the ELM cycle reveals the dominant microinstabilities at perpendicular wavelengths of the order of the ion Larmor radius. These are kinetic ballooning modes in the pedestal and microtearing modes in the core close to the pedestal top. The evolving growth rate spectra, supported by gyrokinetic analysis using artificial local equilibrium scans, suggest a new physical picture for the formation and arrest of this pedestal.     

L2-boundary integral equations for the robin problem

In this paper we study an integral equation method for the exterior Robin problem for the Helmholtz equation where the boundary condition is interpreted in the L²-sense. In particular, we derive a composite integral equation from Green's theorem which is uniquely solvable for all wave numbers.