A simple assay for the simultaneous determination of rosuvastatin acid,rosuvastatin-5<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-lactone,and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-desmethyl rosuvastatin in human plasma using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

A simple and sensitive assay was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of rosuvastatin acid (RST), rosuvastatin-5S-lactone (RST-LAC), and N-desmethyl rosuvastatin (DM-RST), in buffered human plasma using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). All the three analytes and the corresponding deuterium-labeled (d6) internal standards were extracted from 50 μL of buffered human plasma by protein precipitation. The analytes were chromatographically separated using a Zorbax-SB Phenyl column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, 3.5 μm). The mobile phase comprised of a gradient mixture of 0.1% v/v glacial acetic acid in 10% v/v methanol in water (solvent A) and 40% v/v methanol in acetonitrile (solvent B). The analytes were separated at baseline within 6.0 min using a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min. Mass spectrometry detection was carried out in positive electrospray ionization mode. The calibration curves for all three analytes were linear (R ≥ 0.9964, n = 3) over the concentration range of 0.1–100 ng/mL for RST and RST-LAC, and 0.5–100 ng/mL for DM-RST. Mean extraction recoveries ranged within 88.0–106%. Intra- and inter-run mean percent accuracy were within 91.8–111% and percent imprecision was ≤15%. Stability studies revealed that all the analytes were stable in matrix during bench-top (6 h on ice–water slurry), at the end of three successive freeze and thaw cycles and at −80°C for 1 month. The method was successfully applied in a clinical study to determine the concentrations of RST and the lactone metabolite over 12-h post-dose in patients who received a single dose of rosuvastatin.     

Beyond the Friedmann-Lemaâtre-Robertson-Walker Big Bang Singularity

Einstein's equation,in its standard form,breaks down at the Big Bang singularity.A new version,equivalent to Einstein's whenever the latter is defined,but applicable in wider situations,is proposed.The new equation remains smooth at the Big Bang singularity of the Friedmann-Lemaâtre-Robertson-Walker model.It is a tensor equation defined in terms of the Ricci part of the Riemann curvature.It is obtained by taking the Kulkarni-Nomizu product between Einstein's equation and the metric tensor.     

Stability and robustness properties of a class of discrete–time residual generators

The aim of this paper is to present a design methodology for an observer–based fault detection filter. This approach allows to compute a filter gain such that both fault detection and disturbance attenuation requirements are accomplished. The developments are based on H_∞ optimization in the discrete–time framework. The existence conditions for the observer–based detection filter are expressed in terms of feasibility of a system of matrix inequalities. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Elastic moduli inheritance and the weakest link in bulk metallic glasses

We show that a variety of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) inherit their Young's modulus and shear modulus from the solvent components. This is attributed to preferential straining of locally solvent-rich configurations among tightly bonded atomic clusters, which constitute the weakest link in an amorphous structure. This aspect of inhomogeneous deformation, also revealed by our in situ neutron diffraction studies of an elastically deformed BMG, suggests a rubberlike viscoelastic behavior due to a hierarchy of atomic bonds in BMGs.     

Covert underwater acoustic communications

Low probability of detection (LPD) communications are conducted at a low received signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to deter eavesdroppers to sense the presence of the transmitted signal. Successful detection at intended receiver heavily relies on the processing gain achieved by employing the direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS) technique. For scenarios that lack a sufficiently low SNR to maintain LPD, another metric, referred to as low probability of interception (LPI), is of interest to protect the privacy of the transmitted information. If covert communications take place in underwater acoustic (UWA) environments, then additional challenges are present. The time-varying nature of the UWA channel prevents the employment of a long spreading waveform. Furthermore, UWA environments are frequency-selective channels with long memory, which imposes challenges to the design of the spreading waveform. In this paper, a covert UWA communication system that adopts the DSSS technique and a coherent RAKE receiver is investigated. Emphasis is placed on the design of a spreading waveform that not only accounts for the transceiver structure and frequency-selective nature of the UWA channel, but also possesses a superior LPI. The proposed techniques are evaluated using both simulated and SPACE'08 in-water experimental data.     

Substance separation by the action of a pulsed ir laser radiation on gas-mixture flows through capillaries

New aspects of substance separation by the laser driven diffusion of gaseous mixtures through capillaries are presented. By using the chopped radiation of a low power CO₂ laser, the experimental dependence of the separation coefficient on the pulse frequency in mixtures containing resonant and non-resonant gases was investigated. The induced effects agree with a model in which the number density of adsorbed molecules should be connected to temporal characteristics of the radiation. By avoiding heating effects, a pulsed laser irradiation may provide a new approach related to the practical purposes of substance separation in metal capillaries.     

PHASE SHIFT INTERFEROMETRY FOR ACCURATE TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT AROUND A VAPOR BUBBLE

An interferometric measurement technique for determining accurately the temperature field around an axial symmetric vapor bubble that might be used for boiling investigations was developed. The specific setup of optical components and the fluid test cell for the generation of a single vapor bubble are described. The procedure and main steps to derive an accurate temperature field from the recorded interferograms are explained in detail. These are: wrapped phase calculation based on a four frames algorithm, phase unwrapping using Itoh algorithm, and Abe inversion for the calculation of the local temperatures. The results from interferometry are verified by point wise measurements using micro-thermocouples. Compared to formerly applied measurement techniques the presented phase shift interferometry leads to higher accuracy and higher spatial resolution.     

Winning “Big” in the St. Petersburg Game

Mathematical Notes - We present a self-contained and easy to follow proof for the value of the probability of large gains of a player in the celebrated St. Petersburg game.     

On the Kolmogorov–Feller law for exchangeable random variables

We prove a Kolmogorov–Feller weak law of large numbers for exchangeable sequences, under a second order hypothesis on the truncated mixands.     

Contributions to the complexometric determination of cation mixtures: Simultaneous titration of iron(iii) and aluminium in the presence of ammonium thiocyanate as indicator

With thiocyanate as indicator iron(III) and aluminium(III) can be titrated simultaneously if [Fe⁺³]/[Al⁺³] ? $\text{1}\text{4}$; iron(III) is titrated directly with EDTA, and aluminium(III) is determined by back-titration of the excess of EDTA with cobalt nitrate solution in an acetone-water medium.