Solid-phase extraction of Pb2+ ion from environmental samples onto L-AC-Ag-NP by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS)

The development of a solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure for the pre-concentration of trace amounts of Pb²⁺ ion on 2-furan-2-yl-1-furan-2-ylmethyl-1H-benzoimidazole loaded on activated carbon modified with silver nanoparticles (L-AC-Ag-NP) was presented. The metal ion retained on the sorbent was quantitatively determined via complexation with the ligand. The complexed metal ion was efficiently eluted using 10 mL of 4 mol L^?1 sulphuric acid in 10 w/v% acetone. The influences of the analytical parameters, including pH, amounts of the ligand and the solid phase, eluent conditions and sample volume, on the recoveries of the metal ion were optimised. Using the optimised parameters, the linear response of the SPE method for Pb²⁺ ion were in the ranges of 0.2–160 µg L^?1, and the detection limit for Pb²⁺ ion was 0.034 µg L^?1. The proposed method exhibits a pre-concentration factor (PF) of 80 and an enhancement factor of 30 for Pb²⁺ ion. The presented results demonstrate the successful application of the proposed method for the determination of Pb²⁺ ion in some real samples with high recoveries (>93%) and reasonable relative standard deviation (RSD < 2%).     

Comparison of two methods for determination of tomato paste solids: vacuum oven versus microwave oven

Two analytical procedures used to determine total, soluble, and insoluble solids in tomato paste were evaluated. The microwave oven (MO) method was compared to the vacuum oven (VO) method. The VO method is tedious and measured the three solids fractions in the paste directly, while the MO method measured the total solids directly but used an equation to calculate the water-soluble and -insoluble solids. The MO method was faster and less labor-intensive, and yielded small but statistically significant higher values for total and insoluble solids and lower statistically significant values for soluble solids.     

Tools for micropatterning epithelial cells into microcolonies on transwell filter substrates

Despite the importance of epithelial tissue in most major organs there have been limited attempts to tissue engineer artificial epithelium. A key feature of mature epithelium is the presence of an apical-basal polarization, which develops over 7-20 days in culture. Currently, the most widely used 2D system to generate polarized epithelium in vitro involves the filter insert culture system, however this system is expensive, laborious and requires large numbers of cells per sample. We have developed a set of micropatterning techniques to spatially control the organization of epithelial cells into microsheets on filter inserts under the culture conditions necessary to induce epithelial cell polarization. Micropatterning improves cell uniformity within each microsheet, allows multiple sheet analysis on one filter insert, and reduced cell number requirements. We describe an agarose patterning method that allows maintenance of cell patterns for over 15 days, the time necessary to induce apical-basal polarization. We also describe a Parafilm? patterning method that allows patterning for 5 to 15 days depending on cell type and only allows the generation of stripes and circular microsheets. The parafilm? method however is extremely straightforward and could be easily adopted by any laboratory without the need of access to specialized microfabrication equipment. We also demonstrate that micropatterning epithelial cells does not alter the localization of the apical-basal marker ZO-1 or the formation of cilia, a marker of epithelium maturation. Our methods provide a novel tool for studying epithelial biology in polarized epithelium microsheets of controlled size.     

A printed nanolitre-scale bacterial sensor array

The last decade has witnessed a significant increase in interest in whole-cell biosensors for diverse applications, as well as a rapid and continuous expansion of array technologies. The combination of these two disciplines has yielded the notion of whole-cell array biosensors. We present a potential manifestation of this idea by describing the printing of a whole-cell bacterial bioreporters array. Exploiting natural bacterial tendency to adhere to positively charged abiotic surfaces, we describe immobilization and patterning of bacterial "spots" in the nanolitre volume range by a non-contact robotic printer. We show that the printed Escherichia coli-based sensor bacteria are immobilized on the surface, and retain their viability and biosensing activity for at least 2 months when kept at 4 °C. Immobilization efficiency was improved by manipulating the bacterial genetics (overproducing curli protein), the growth and the printing media (osmotic stress and osmoprotectants) and by a chemical modification of the inanimate surface (self-assembled layers of 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane). We suggest that the methodology presented herein may be applicable to the manufacturing of whole-cell sensor arrays for diverse high throughput applications.     

Optimizing capacity,pricing and location decisions on a congested network with balking

In this paper, we consider the problem of making simultaneous decisions on the location, service rate (capacity) and the price of providing service for facilities on a network. We assume that the demand for service from each node of the network follows a Poisson process. The demand is assumed to depend on both price and distance. All facilities are assumed to charge the same price and customers wishing to obtain service choose a facility according to a Multinomial Logit function. Upon arrival to a facility, customers may join the system after observing the number of people in the queue. Service time at each facility is assumed to be exponentially distributed. We first present several structural results. Then, we propose an algorithm to obtain the optimal service rate and an approximate optimal price at each facility. We also develop a heuristic algorithm to find the locations of the facilities based on the tabu search method. We demonstrate the efficiency of the algorithms numerically.     

A numerical approach for solving weakly singular partial integro‐differential equations via two‐dimensional‐orthonormal Bernstein polynomials with the convergence analysis

In this paper, we develop an efficient matrix method based on two‐dimensional orthonormal Bernstein polynomials (2D‐OBPs) to provide approximate solution of linear and nonlinear weakly singular partial integro‐differential equations (PIDEs). First, we approximate all functions involved in the considerable problem via 2D‐OBPs. Then, by using the operational matrices of integration, differentiation, and product, the solution of Volterra singular PIDEs is transformed to the solution of a linear or nonlinear system of algebraic equations which can be solved via some suitable numerical methods. With a small number of bases, we can find a reasonable approximate solution. Moreover, we establish some useful theorems for discussing convergence analysis and obtaining an error estimate associated with the proposed method. Finally, we solve some illustrative examples by employing the presented method to show the validity, efficiency, high accuracy, and applicability of the proposed technique.     

Fractional‐order orthogonal Bernstein polynomials for numerical solution of nonlinear fractional partial Volterra integro‐differential equations

In this paper, a new two‐dimensional fractional polynomials based on the orthonormal Bernstein polynomials has been introduced to provide an approximate solution of nonlinear fractional partial Volterra integro‐differential equations. For this aim, the fractional‐order orthogonal Bernstein polynomials (FOBPs) are constructed, and its operational matrices of integration, fractional‐order integration, and derivative in the Caputo sense and product operational matrix are derived. These operational matrices are utilized to reduce the under study problem to a nonlinear system of algebraic equations. Using the approximation of FOBPs, the convergence analysis and error estimate associated to the proposed problem have been investigated. Finally, several examples are included to clarify the validity, efficiency, and applicability of the proposed technique via FOBPs approximation.     

Reactions between isocyanides and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates in the presence of 1,2-diacylhydrazines. One-pot synthesis of highly functionalized pyrazoles

The reactive 1:1 intermediate produced in the reaction between isocyanides and dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates was trapped with 1,2-diacylhydrazines to yield highly functionalized pyrazoles in good yields.     

Excited singlet state absorption spectrum with tunable dye lasers

A technique for measuring absorption from excited states with nanosecond lifetimes utilizing pulsed tunable dye laser probes is described. The method features a simple experimental set-up, and high signal-to-noise ratio. The excited singlet state absorption spectrum of one transition in acridine red is presented.