CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticle-modified electrode as a novel electrochemical interface in the quantification of Zn<Superscript>2+ </Superscript>ions at trace level: application to real sample analysis

A simple strategy has been proposed to quantify Zn²⁺ ions using CeO₂ nanoparticle-modified glassy carbon electrode. The CeO₂ nanoparticles were prepared by sucrose-nitrate decomposition method, and it was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR, TEM, and surface area analyzer. The synthesized CeO₂ nanoparticles were used as modifier molecules as a thin film on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in the trace level quantification of Zn²⁺ by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) techniques. The fabricated sensor exhibited a good analytical response towards Zn²⁺ ions. The modified electrode showed a wide linearity in the concentration range 20–380 μg L^?1 with a limit of detection 0.36 μg L^?1. The proposed electrochemical sensor was successfully applied to trace level Zn²⁺ quantification from real sample matrices.     

Fractality and self‐organization in the orthodox iconography

The authors consider the Orthodox iconography of Byzantine style aimed at examining the existence of complex behavior and fractal patterns. It has been demonstrated that fractality in icons is manifested as two types—descending and ascending, where the former one corresponds to the apparent information and the latter one to the hidden causal information defining the spatiality of icon. Self‐organization, recognized as the increase of the causal information in temporal domain, corresponds to contextualization of the observer's personage position. The results presented in the forms of plots and tables confirm the adequacy of the model being the completion of visual perception. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 55–68, 2016     

Improvement of the Arcan Setup for the Investigation of Thin Sheet Behavior Under Shear Loading

Experimental Mechanics - Accurate predictions of thin sheet material springback during forming processes are of great interest in the forming industry. However, thin sheets are susceptible to...     

Estimating measurement uncertainty in high-performance liquid chromatography methods

In every measurement procedure, it is important to know the components of measurement uncertainty affecting the quality of measured result and reliability of quantified result. The procedure for recognizing measurement uncertainty is not universal but depends on the method and sample type. It has to be made according to good laboratory practice. This paper aims at showing the comparison of measurement uncertainty component estimations for three methods using the high-performance liquid chromatography techniques: determination of the type and content of aromatic hydrocarbons in diesel fuels and petroleum distillates by normal phase high-performance liquid chromatography, determination of nitrates in water samples by ion chromatography, and determination of molecular weights of polystyrene by size exclusion chromatography technique. Both similarity and differences were found during the measurement uncertainty component estimation, and conclusions about influences of certain components on the result uncertainty were made.     

3D Arrangement of Magnetic Particles in Thin Polymer Films Assisted by Magnetically Patterned Exchange Bias Layer Systems

The possibility to arrange and embed magnetic micro- and nanoparticles in thin polymer film systems using flat magnetically patterned substrate templates is investigated. In contrast to self-organized particle rows forming by applying a homogeneous magnetic field, particles adapt to the magnetic field landscape of the substrate's magnetic pattern prior to polymer crosslinking. Crosslinking then fixes the particle positions in the polymer. The process is tested for composites of hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and maghemite nanoparticles as well as for hydrophilic polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and hydrophilic functionalized, superparamagnetic core–shell microspheres. The substrate template is an exchange bias layer system magnetically patterned into parallel-stripe domains with in-plane magnetizations and head-to-head/tail-to-tail remanent magnetization orientation in adjacent magnetic domains. A high occupancy percentage of magnetic beads on a domain wall as well as anisotropic actuation of the composite is achieved.     

Transition metal complexes with pyrazole-based ligands. Part 28. Synthesis,structural, DFT and thermal studies of cadmium(II) halides and zinc(II) chloride complexes with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole-1-carboxamidine

The complex formation of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole-1-carboxamidinium nitrate, HL·HNO₃ with ammine complexes of cadmium(II) halides (Cl, Br, I) and zinc(II) chloride has been investigated under self-controlled reaction conditions. The complexes have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and quantum chemical calculations. In the case of cadmium bromide and iodide salts, isostructural complexes with composition of [CdX₂(HL)₂] were formed. With CdCl₂ a binuclear octahedral [Cd₂(HL)₄(μ-Cl)₂](NO₃)₂ complex is obtained. Zinc(II) chloride with HL·HNO₃ gives [Zn(HL)₂Cl]NO₃, the zinc center exhibiting severely distorted five-coordinate stereochemistry, intermediate between an ideal trigonal bipyramid and a square pyramid. The course of complex formation as well as the thermal properties of the compounds has been explained using the HSAB principle. The assignment of the FT-IR spectra was supported by DFT computations.     

Carbon-13 Chemical Shift Assignment of β-Cedrene and Some Derivatives

Carbon-13 NMR spectral assignments have been obtained for β-cedrene and three derivatives: β-cedren-9-ol, its acetate and β-cedren-9-one, by combination of two-dimensional NMR techniques and shift reagent experiment.     

Defect theorems with compatibility relations

We consider words together with a compatibility relation induced by a relation on letters. Unique factorization with respect to two arbitrary word relations R and S defines the (R,S)-freeness of the semigroup considered. We generalize the stability theorem of Schützenberger and Tilson’s closure result for (R,S)-free semigroups. The inner and the outer (R,S)-unique factorization hull and the (R,S)-free hull of a set of words are introduced and we show how they can be computed. We prove that the (R,S)-unique factorization hulls possess a defect effect, which implies a variant of a cumulative defect theorem of word semigroups. In addition, a defect theorem of partial words is proved as a corollary.