Self-action effects in ionization and fragmentation of toluene by femtosecond laser pulses

Occurrence and influence of several self-action effects, induced in the entrance window of a time-of-flight interaction chamber, on the ion and fragment yields of the toluene molecule in the focus of a Ti:sapphire laser pulse are analyzed. Experimental data are obtained using different focusing geometries and are compared with results from numerical simulations using a nonlinear pulse propagation model as well as those from the strong-field S-matrix theory. It is shown that (a) self-focusing leads to a displacement of the focus while amplified small perturbations of the input beam result in hot spots in the spatial distribution and in an energy-dependent focus area, (b) small self-phase modulation changes the form of the spectrum and broadens it slightly. A strong increase of the toluene fragmentation appears to correlate to linear and nonlinear changes in the focal spot area, while the scenario of excitation of Raman modes proposed in an earlier publication is ruled out as the dominant effect.This revised version was published online in March 2005. In the previous version, the published online date was missing     

Selective adsorption of metoprolol enantiomers using 2‐hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin cross‐linked multiwalled carbon nanotube

This study investigates the ability of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for enantio‐separation of metoprolol chiral forms. 2Hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (2HP‐β‐CD) was applied as a chiral selector to functionalize carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The modified multiwalled CNT samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results of analyses showed that CNTs were successfully cross‐linked with 2HP‐β‐CD. To evaluate the enantio‐separation property of the products, the separation of metoprolol chiral forms on the initial and final products was examined. Further, UV–visible spectroscopy and polarimeter analyses were used for characterization. The results indicate that MWCNT does not have any intrinsic enantio‐separation ability, although its selectivity for enantio‐separation can be enhanced by cross‐linking it to 2HP‐β‐CD. Moreover, the optimal mass of adsorbent as well as optimal mass of functional groups is estimated to achieve maximum enantio‐separation efficiency. The results indicate that applying large amounts of 2HP‐β‐CD to CNTs functionalization decreases the cross‐linking efficiency, which consequently reduces enantio‐separation efficiency. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A biocompatible composite based on poly(ε‐caprolactone fumarate) and hydroxyapatite

Fabrication of biodegradable composites applicable as hard tissue substitutes consisting of poly(ε‐caprolactone fumarate) (PCLF), methacrylic acid (MAA), and hydroxyapatite (HA) was investigated. PCLF macromers were synthesized by reaction of PCL diol with fumaryl chloride in the presence of propylene oxide and characterized by gel permeation chromatography, FTIR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Composites were fabricated by incorporating HA as inorganic filler in PCLF matrix which followed by thermal curing of the composition using benzoyl peroxide and MAA as a free radical initiator and reactive diluent, respectively. Uniform distribution of the fine ceramic phase in the polymer matrix was elucidated by scanning electron microscopy. The effects of the initial macromer molecular weight and the filler volume fraction on mechanical properties and cytotoxicity of the composites were also examined. Significant enhancement in the mechanical properties was observed upon increasing HA content and/or initial PCLF molecular weight. The biocompatibility of the specimens was also improved with increasing ceramic phase. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

EP modular operators and their products

We study first EP modular operators on Hilbert C^?-modules and then we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the product of two EP modular operators to be EP. These enable us to extend some results of Koliha (2000) [13] for an arbitrary C^?-algebra and the C^?-algebras of compact operators.     

A new approach to maturity of molecules by rationality of finite groups

These two concepts, maturity in chemistry and rationality in group theory were discovered by a chemist, Fujita. In the present study, we introduce a new approach to maturity and immaturity of simple groups, using the deep theorem (Feit and Seitz in Ill J Math 33:101–131, 1988). Additionally, we prove that 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene are always unmatured and tetra platinum(II) with point group $D_{2n}$ , dihedral group of order $2n$ , is unmatured if $n\ne 1,2,3,4,6$ . Also, we compute integer-valued characters of the simple sporadic group $Ly$ .     

An examination of the role of price insurance products in stimulating investment in agriculture supply chains for sustained productivity

This study examines how managing risk by introducing commodity price insurances may improve the likelihood of increased investment in agri-food supply chains. A model is introduced which shows how insurance products on index prices can reduce the uncertainty of the impact of investment, and also how lower investment can generate the same impact as a higher investment. To show our results, we use two different frameworks which include total profit (Pareto optimal) and Stackelberg game setups. The results demonstrate that in both frameworks the investment will have a greater impact when an insurance product is present. By implication, the study presents an encouraging message to the insurance industry to introduce products to secure supply chain actors’ revenue leading to an increase in investment rate. Consequently, the study offers insight into how the role of traditional government subsidies for protecting farmers, particularly the small to medium-sized farms, may be revisited by replacing some of the existing subsidisation policies with revenue insurance.     

Speciation of arsenite and arsenate by electrothermal AAS following ionic liquid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction

We have developed a new method for the microextraction and speciation of arsenite and arsenate species. It is based on ionic liquid dispersive liquid liquid microextraction and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Arsenite is chelated with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate at pH 2 and then extracted into the fine droplets of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluormethylsulfonyl) imide which acts as the extractant. As(V) remains in the aqueous phase and is then reduced to As(III). The concentration of As(V) can be calculated as the difference between total inorganic As and As(III). The pH values, chelating reagent concentration, types and volumes of extraction and dispersive solvent, and centrifugation time were optimized. At an enrichment factor of 255, the limit of detection and the relative standard deviation for six replicate determinations of 1.0 μg?L^?1 As(III) are 13 ng?L^?1 and 4.9 %, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of As(III) and As(V) in spiked samples of natural water, with relative recoveries in the range of 93.3–102.1 % and 94.5–101.1 %, respectively.

Ionic liquid-mediated Darzens condensation: An environmentally-friendly procedure for the room-temperature synthesis of α,β-epoxy ketones

This room-temperature Darzens condensation of α-chloroacetophenone with various aromatic aldehydes mediated by [bmim][BF₄] ionic liquid in the presence of sodium tert-butoxide resulted in the sole formation of good to excellent yields of trans-α,β-epoxy ketones in short time periods. In contrast, tert-butyl 2-chloroacetate underwent Darzens reactions with aldehydes giving mixtures of both cis and trans products with low selectivity. In all reactions, the ionic liquid was recovered and reused in the subsequent reactions without significant loss of activity.     

Microwave Assisted Mannich Reaction of Terminal Alkynes on Alumina

Summary.  Terminal alkynes, secondary amines, and formaldehyde undergo a Mannich reaction at room temperature in the presence of CuCl on Al₂O₃ without any organic solvent as reaction medium. The reaction can be promoted by microwave irradiation and is complete within one minute. Received May 2, 2001. Accepted (revised) June 25, 2001