Exact and approximation methods for dependability assessment of tram systems with time window

The transportation system examined in this paper is the city tram one, where failed trams are replaced by reliable spare ones. If failed tram is repaired and delivered, then it comes back on work. There is the time window that failed tram has to be either replaced (exchanged) by spare or by repaired and delivered within. Time window is therefore paramount to user perception of transport system unreliability. Time between two subsequent failures, exchange time, and repair together with delivery time, respectively, are described by random variables A, E, and D. A/E/D is selected as the notation for these random variables. There is a finite number of spare trams. Delivery time does not depend on the number of repair facilities. Hence, repair and delivery process can be treated as one with infinite number of facilities. Undesirable event called hazard is the event: neither the replacement nor the delivery has been completed in the time window. The goal of the paper is to find the following relationships: hazard probability of the tram system and mean hazard time as functions of number of spare trams. For systems with exponential time between failures, Weibull exchange and exponential delivery (so M/W/M in the proposed notation) two accurate solutions have been found. For systems with Weibull time between failures with shape in the range from 0.9 to 1.1, Weibull exchange and exponential delivery (i.e. W/W/M) a method yielding small errors has been provided. For the most general and difficult case in which all the random variables conform to Weibull distribution (W/W/W) a method returning moderate errors has been given.     

Ring-Opening Polymerization of Lactones Initiated with Metal Hydroxide-Activated Macrocyclic Ligands: Determination of Mechanism and Structure of Polymers

Anhydrous alkali metal hydroxide (KOH, NaOH, and LiOH)-activated macrocyclic ligand complexing metal cations, i.e., coronands 12C4, 15C5, 18C6, DCH24C8, and cryptand C222, were selected for initiation of β-butyrolactone (β-BL) and ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) polymerization. It was found that β-BL polymerizes in the presence of KOH/18C6, KOH/C222, and NaOH/C222 systems. The real initiators in this case are two salts, potassium 3-hydroxybutyrate and potassium trans-crotonate, which are responsible for the formation of two fractions of the obtained polymer. ε-CL underwent polymerization with KOH or NaOH activated by all ligands used or without the ligand but with LiOH/12C4. Using KOH-activated strong ligands, i.e., 15C5, 18C6, or C222, two polymer fractions were generated containing linear and, unexpectedly, also cyclic macromolecules. The mechanism of the studied processes is discussed.     

Natural and Conventional Cosmetics—Mercury Exposure Assessment

Mercury (Hg) can enter the human body through the respiratory tract and digestive system, but also through the skin. Sources of Hg in the environment can be natural processes, but also human activities, including agriculture, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. Hg can also enter the body through food, but also with cosmetics that are used for a long time. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the Hg content in 268 randomly selected cosmetics: Natural and conventional, for face and body. Hg content was determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer (AMA 254, Leco, Prague, Czech Republic). It was shown that the face preparations were characterized by a significantly higher Hg content than the body preparations. No differences in the content of the tested element were found between natural and conventional preparations. Hg could be detected in all samples with concentrations measured from 0.348 to 37.768 µg/kg.     

Note on group distance magic complete bipartite graphs

A Γ-distance magic labeling of a graph G = (V, E) with |V| = n is a bijection ? from V to an Abelian group Γ of order n such that the weight $w(x) = \sum\nolimits_{y \in N_G (x)} {\ell (y)}$ of every vertex x ∈ V is equal to the same element µ ∈ Γ, called the magic constant. A graph G is called a group distance magic graph if there exists a Γ-distance magic labeling for every Abelian group Γ of order |V(G)|. In this paper we give necessary and sufficient conditions for complete k-partite graphs of odd order p to be ? _p -distance magic. Moreover we show that if p ≡ 2 (mod 4) and k is even, then there does not exist a group Γ of order p such that there exists a Γ-distance labeling for a k-partite complete graph of order p. We also prove that K _m,n is a group distance magic graph if and only if n + m ? 2 (mod 4).     

Dissociative electron attachment to triflates

Gas phase studies of dissociative electron attachment to simple alkyl (CF(3)SO(3)CH(3)) and aryl (C(6)H(5)SO(3)CF(3) and CF(3)SO(3)C(6)H(4)CH(3)) triflates, model molecules of nonionic photoacid generators for modern lithographic applications, were performed. The fragmentation pathways under electron impact below 10 eV were identified by means of crossed electron-molecular beam mass spectrometry. Major dissociation channels involved C-O, S-O, or C-S bond scissions in the triflate moiety leading to the formation of triflate (OTf(-)), triflyl (Tf(-)), or sulfonate (RSO(3)(-)) anions, respectively. A resonance leading to C-O bond breakage and OTf(-) formation in alkyl triflates occurred at electron energies about 0.5 eV lower than the corresponding resonance in aryl triflates. A resonance leading to S-O bond breakage and Tf(-) formation in aryl triflates occurred surprisingly at the same electron energies as C-O bond breakage. In case of alkyl triflates S-O bond breakage required 1.4 eV higher electron energies to occur and proceeded with substantially lower yields than in aryl triflates. C-S bond scission occurred for all presently studied triflates at energies close to 3 eV.     

Use of Propionibacterium freudenreichii T82 Strain for Effective Biosynthesis of Propionic Acid and Trehalose in a Medium with Apple Pomace Extract and Potato Wastewater

Propionic acid bacteria are the source of many metabolites, e.g., propionic acid and trehalose. Compared to microbiological synthesis, the production of these metabolites by petrochemical means or enzymatic conversion is more profitable. The components of microbiological media account for a large part of the costs associated with propionic fermentation, due to the high nutritional requirements of Propionibacterium. This problem can be overcome by formulating a medium based on the by-products of technological processes, which can act as nutritional sources and at the same time replace expensive laboratory preparations (e.g., peptone and yeast extract). The metabolic activity of P. freudenreichii was investigated in two different breeding environments: in a medium containing peptone, yeast extract, and biotin, and in a waste-based medium consisting of only apple pomace and potato wastewater. The highest production of propionic acid amounting to 14.54 g/L was obtained in the medium containing apple pomace and pure laboratory supplements with a yield of 0.44 g/g. Importantly, the acid production parameters in the waste medium reached almost the same level (12.71 g/L, 0.42 g/g) as the medium containing pure supplements. Acetic acid synthesis was more efficient in the waste medium; it was also characterized by a higher level of accumulated trehalose (59.8 mg/g d.s.). Thus, the obtained results show that P. freudenreichii bacteria exhibited relatively high metabolic activity in an environment with apple pomace used as a carbon source and potato wastewater used as a nitrogen source. This method of propioniate production could be cheaper and more sustainable than the chemical manner.     

Enhancement of activity of platinum towards oxidation of ethanol by supporting on titanium dioxide containing phosphomolybdate-modified gold nanoparticles

A new concept of utilization of titanium dioxide matrix in electrocatalysis by admixing it with polyoxometallate modified gold nanoparticles is described here. The approach utilizes Keggin-type phosphododecamolybdate (PMo₁₂O₄₀³⁻) adsorbates capable of modifying, activating and stabilizing Au nanoparticles of the sizes of 30-40 nm. Ultra-thin films of phosphomolybdates on nanostructured gold are characterized by well-defined fast (reversible) multi-electron electrochemical reactions. By dispersing platinum black over the Au-containing TiO₂, the electrocatalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles towards oxidation of ethanol has been enhanced. Remarkable increases of electrocatalytic currents measured under voltammetric and chronoamperometric conditions have been observed. The most likely explanation takes into account improvement of overall conductivity (due to the presence of nanostructured gold) at the electrocatalytic interface (including TiO₂-support), as well as and possibility of specific Pt-TiO₂ or Pt-Au electronic interactions and existence of active hydroxyl groups (on titanium dioxide or polyoxometallate surfaces) in the vicinity of catalytic Pt sites.     

Electrocatalytic properties of platinum nanocenters electrogenerated at ultra-trace levels within zeolitic phosphododecatungstate cesium salt matrices

A unique preparation method of obtaining stable composite film (with ultra-low platinum content) highly active towards oxygen reduction and hydrogen oxidation is presented here. The matrix for platinum centers consists of high-surface-area zeolite-type acidic salt of cesium phosphododecatungstate (Cs_2.5H_0.5PW₁₂O₄₀) admixed with carbon (Vulcan XC-72) carriers. Platinum nanoparticles were deposited on the working electrode modified with matrix via corrosion of platinum counter electrode during cyclic voltammetry experiment conducted in acid electrolyte containing chloride ions. The results obtained from rotating disk voltammetry revealed that the composite film containing Pt nanoparticles at very low loadings (on the level of 2–5 μg cm^?2) demonstrated remarkable electrocatalytic activity towards both oxygen reduction and hydrogen oxidation, particularly, when compared to the performance of the Cs_2.5H_0.5PW₁₂O₄₀-free system (i.e., containing only Vulcan support) prepared and examined under analogous conditions. The phenomenon should be primarily ascribed to the mesoporous nature of the matrix enabling immobilization and stabilization of small catalytic nanoparticles (1–2 nm diameters) inside the pores as well as to high surface acidity of the polyoxometalate-based salt providing proton-rich environment at the electrocatalytic interface.     

Molecular Imaging of Biological Samples on Nanophotonic Laser Desorption Ionization Platforms

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a comprehensive tool for the analysis of a wide range of biomolecules. The mainstream method for molecular MSI is matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization, however, the presence of a matrix results in spectral interferences and the suppression of some analyte ions. Herein we demonstrate a new matrix‐free MSI technique using nanophotonic ionization based on laser desorption ionization (LDI) from a highly uniform silicon nanopost array (NAPA). In mouse brain and kidney tissue sections, the distributions of over 80 putatively annotated molecular species are determined with 40 μm spatial resolution. Furthermore, NAPA‐LDI‐MS is used to selectively analyze metabolites and lipids from sparsely distributed algal cells and the lamellipodia of human hepatocytes. Our results open the door for matrix‐free MSI of tissue sections and small cell populations by nanophotonic ionization.