Cellulose dimethylphenylcarbamate-bonded carbon-clad zirconia for chiral separation in high performance liquid chromatography.

Porous zirconia particles are very robust material and have received considerable attention as a stationary phase support for HPLC. We prepared cellulose dimethylphenylcarbamate-bonded carbon-clad zirconia (CDMPCCZ) as a chiral stationary phase (CSP) for separation of enantiomers of a set of 14 racemic compounds in normal phase (NP) and reversed-phase (RP) liquid chromatography. Retention and enantioselectivity on CDMPCCZ were compared to those on CDMPC-coated zirconia (CDMPCZ) to see how the change in immobilization method of the chiral selector affects the retention and chiral selectivity. In NPLC, retention was longer and the number of resolved racemates was smaller on CDMPCCZ than on CDMPCZ. However, chiral selectivity factors for some resolved racemates were better on CDMPCCZ than on CDMPCZ. The longer retention on CDMPCCZ is likely due to strong, non-chiral discriminating interactions with the carbon layer on CDMPCZ. In RPLC only two racemates were resolved on CDMPCCZ, but retention times were shorter than, and resolutions were comparable to, those in NPLC, indicating a potential for improving chromatographic performance of the CDMPCCZ column in RPLC with optimized column preparation and separation conditions.     

Theoretical and numerical analysis on multispectral bioluminescence tomography

Recently, molecular imaging has been rapidly developed to studyphysiological and pathological processes in vivo at the cellularand molecular levels. Among molecular imaging modalities, opticalimaging has attracted a major attention for its unique advantages.In this paper, we establish a mathematical framework for multispectralbioluminescence tomography (BLT) that allows simultaneous studiesof multiple optical reporters. We show solution existence, uniquenessand continuous dependence on data as well as the limiting behaviourswhen the regularization parameter approaches zero or when thepenalty parameter approaches infinity. Then, we propose twonumerical schemes for multispectral BLT and derive error estimatesfor the corresponding solutions.     

A note on model diagnostics in longitudinal data analysis

Longitudinal study has become one of the most commonly adopted designs in medical research. The generalized estimating equations (GEE) method and/or mixed effects models are employed very often in causal inferences. The related model diagnostic procedures are not yet fully formalized, and perhaps never will be. The potential causes of major problems are the high variety of the dependence within subjects and/or the number of repeated measurements. A single testing procedure, e.g., run test, is not possible to resolve all model diagnostics problems in longitudinal data analysis. Multiple quantitative indexes for model diagnostics are needed to take into account this variety. We propose eight testing procedures for randomness accompanied with some conventional and/or non-conventional plots to remedy model diagnostics in longitudinal data analysis. The proposed issue in this paper is well illustrated with four clinical studies in Taiwan.     

FMS scheduling based on timed Petri Net model and reactive graph search

This paper presents a new scheduling method for manufacturing system based on the Timed Petri Net model and a reactive fast graph search algorithm. The following two typical problems are addressed in this paper. (1) Minimization of the maximum completion time. (2) Minimization of the total tardiness. As for the problem (1), a new search algorithm which combines the RTA^∗ and a rule-based supervisor is proposed. As for problem (2), the original Petri Net model is converted to its reverse model and the algorithm developed for the problem (1) is applied, regarding the due date as the starting time in the reverse model. Some numerical experiments are carried out to demonstrate usefulness of our algorithm.     

Analysis of the manufacturing lead time in a production system with non-renewal batch input,threshold policy and post-operation

In this paper, we analyze the manufacturing lead time in a production system with BMAP (Batch Markovian Arrival process) input and post-operation operated under the N-policy. We use the factorization principle to derive the waiting time distribution (hence the manufacturing lead time) and the mean performance measures. A numerical example is provided.     

The Tolerance of All-Optical Switching Based on Cascaded Second-Order Nonlinearity in PPLN APE Waveguide

Based on solving the couple mode equation numerically, the characterization of the signal power on the gate power was analyzed. And the relationship of the tolerance of the grating period and the bulk temperature on the interaction length was analyzed.     

Detection of low caloric power of coal by pulse fast-thermal neutron analysis

This paper introduces the analysis method and principle of pulse fast-thermal neutron analysis (PFTNA). A system for the measurement of low caloric power of coal by PFTNA is also presented. The 14 MeV pulse neutron generator and BGO detector and 4096 MCA were applied in this system. A multiple linear regression method applied to the data solved the interferential problem of multiple elements. The error of low caloric power between chemical analysis and experiment was less than 0.4 MJ/kg. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Determination of carbamazepine by chemiluminescence detection using chemically prepared tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(III) as oxidant.

A new chemiluminescence method for the determination of carbamazepine (CBZ) has been developed. The method is based on the chemiluminescence produced in the reaction of tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(III) and CBZ in an acidic medium. The chemiluminescence intensity was enhanced by organic solvents in the reaction system. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the calibration curve was linear over the range 4.0 x 10(-3)-8.6 x 10(-7) mol/L for CBZ. The detection limit (S/N = 3) was 2.5 x 10(-7) mol/L and the relative standard deviation of six replicate measurements was 2.6% for 4.0 x 10(-4) mol/L of CBZ. The possible reaction mechanism were also discussed. The chemiluminescence method was successfully applied to assay the CBZ contents in pharmaceutical tablets.     

On the limit cycles of a quintic planar vector field

This paper concerns the number and distributions of limit cycles in a Z_2-equivariant quintic planar vector field.25 limit cycles are found in this special planar polynomial system and four different configurations of these limit cycles are also given by using the methods of the bifurcation theory and the qualitative analysis of the differential equation.It can be concluded that H(5)≥25=5~2, where H(5)is the Hilbert number for quintic polynomial systems.The results obtained are useful to study the weakened 16th Hilbert problem.