Cooperative interval games: a survey

The (re)distribution of collective gains and costs is a central question for individuals and organizations contemplating cooperation under uncertainty. The theory of cooperative interval games provides a new game theoretical angle and suitable tools for answering this question. This survey aims to briefly present the state-of-the-art in this young field of research, discusses how the model of cooperative interval games extends the cooperative game theory literature, and reviews its existing and potential applications in economic and operations research situations with interval data.     

Crystallography and magnetism of two 1-(4-nitroxylphenyl)pyrroles

Stable radicals 1-(4-(N-tert-butyl-N-aminoxyl)phenyl)pyrrole (BNPP) and 1-(4-(N-[para-methoxyphenyl]-N-aminoxyl)phenyl)pyrrole (MNPP) were synthesized and characterized by crystallography and magnetism. BNPP crystals exhibit 1-D chains of intermolecular nitroxide NO to nitroxide CH3 contacts, but polycrystalline magnetic susceptibility measurements show quite small antiferromagnetic (AFM) exchange interactions. MNPP shows stronger AFM exchange interactions that appear to be associated with a 2-D planar mesh of crystallographic nitroxide to nitroxide (N)O...N(O) contacts of 4.0-4.2 A. The AFM behavior of MNPP can be fitted to a 2-D square planar Heisenberg antiferromagnetic exchange model with J/k = (-)0.78 +/- 0.04 K and mean field constant theta = (-)0.77 +/- 0.12 K.     

Polarographic determination of herbicide thifensulfuron methyl/application to agrochemical pesticide,soil, and fruit juice

A novel, sensitive, simple, fast, and fully validated differential pulse polarographic (DPP) method for the determination of trace amounts of thifensulfuron-methyl in pesticide formulation, soil, and orange juice is reported. This procedure was based on a highly sensitive peak formed due to the reduction of thifensulfuron-methyl on a dropping mercury electrode over the pH range 1.00–10.00 in Britton–Robinson buffer. The polarographic reduction exhibits only a single peak in the pH ranges pH?≥?3.0 and pH?≤?6.0 and pH?=?10.0 located at potential values of ?1.010, ?1.350, and ?1.610?V (vs. SCE), respectively. The single peak appeared as a maximum at pH 3.0 (?1.010?V) was well resolved and suitable to be investigated for analytical use. This peak showed quantitative increments with the additions of standard thifensulfuron-methyl solution under the optimal conditions, and the cathodic peak current was linearity proportional to the thifensulfuron-methyl concentration in the range of 2?×?10^?7–5?×?10^?5?M. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were obtained as 1.05?×?10^?7 and 3.50?×?10^?7?M, respectively, according to the relation k ?×?SD/b (where k?=?3 for LOD, k?=?10 for LOQ, SD is the standard deviation of the blank, and b is the slope of the calibration curve). The proposed method was applied to pesticide formulation (Harmony® Extra), and the average percentage recovery was in agreement with that obtained by the spectrophotometric comparison method, 97.82 and 102.6%, respectively. The method was extended to determination of thifensulfuron-methy in spiked soil and orange juice, showing a good reproducibility and accuracy with a relative standard deviation of 4.55 and 1.40%, and relative errors of +2.80 and +1.90%, respectively.     

Examination of the dielectrophoretic spectra of MCF7 breast cancer cells and leukocytes

The detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood is crucial to assess metastatic progression and to guide therapy. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a powerful cell surface marker-free method that allows intrinsic dielectric properties of suspended cells to be exploited for CTC enrichment/isolation from blood. Design of a successful DEP-based CTC enrichment/isolation system requires that the DEP response of the targeted particles should accurately be known. This paper presents a DEP spectrum method to investigate the DEP spectra of cells without directly analyzing their membrane and cytoplasmic properties in contrast to the methods in literature, which employ theoretical assumptions and complex modeling. Integrating electric field simulations based on DEP theory with the experimental data enables determination of the DEP spectra of leukocyte subpopulations, polymorphonuclear and mononuclear leukocytes, and MCF7 breast cancer cells as a model of CTC due to their metastatic origin over the frequency range 100 kHz–50 MHz at 10 V_pp. In agreement with earlier findings, differential DEP responses were detected for mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocytes due to the richness of the cell surface features and morphologies of the different leukocyte types. The data reveal that the strength of the DEP force exerted on MCF7 cells was particularly high between 850 kHz and 20 MHz. These results illustrate that the proposed technique has the potential to provide a generic platform to identify DEP responses of different biological particles.     

Spectrofluorimetric Determination of Aliskiren in Tablets and Spiked Human Plasma through Derivatization with Dansyl Chloride

A simple and sensitive method has been developed and validated for the determination of aliskiren (ALS) in its dosage forms and spiked plasma. The method was based on the reaction of the drug with dansyl chloride in the presence of bicarbonate solution of pH 10.5 to give a highly fluorescent derivative which was measured at 501 nm with excitition at 378 nm in dichloromethane. Different experimental parameters affecting the development of the method and stability were carefully studied and optimized. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges of 100–700 and 50–150 ng/mL for standard solution and plasma, respectively. The limits of detection were 27.52 ng/mL in standard solution, 4.91 ng/mL in plasma. The developed method was successfully applied to the analysis the drug in the commercial tablets and spiked plasma samples. The mean recovery of ALS from tablets and plasma was 100.10 and 97.81%, respectively. A proposal of the reaction pathway was presented.     

The normalizer of

In this paper, the normalizers of , for k = 2 or 3, in the groups Γ^k of modular group Γ are given by using the concept of Γ^k axes of the set of left cosets of , on which Γ^k acts transitively, in Γ^k.     

Analysis of a two-party supply chain with random disruptions

We study a continuous-review inventory problem of a two-echelon supply chain with random disruptions, identify properties of the optimal cost function, compare the optimal order quantity with the classical economic order quantity, analyze the sensitivity of the optimal solution, and explore the conditions under which zero-inventory ordering policy is preferred.     

Determination of α-Cypermethrin from Soil by Using HPTLC

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - α-Cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide used to control insects. In soil, α-cypermethrin biodegrades...     

Antimicrobial Properties of Zeolite-X and Zeolite-A Ion-Exchanged with Silver,Copper, and Zinc Against a Broad Range of Microorganisms

Zeolites are nanoporous alumina silicates composed of silicon, aluminum, and oxygen in a framework with cations, water within pores. Their cation contents can be exchanged with monovalent or divalent ions. In the present study, the antimicrobial (antibacterial, anticandidal, and antifungal) properties of zeolite type X and A, with different Al/Si ratio, ion exchanged with Ag⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cu²⁺ ions were investigated individually. The study presents the synthesis and manufacture of four different zeolite types characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The ion loading capacity of the zeolites was examined and compared with the antimicrobial characteristics against a broad range of microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, and mold. It was observed that Ag⁺ ion-loaded zeolites exhibited more antibacterial activity with respect to other metal ion-embedded zeolite samples. The results clearly support that various synthetic zeolites can be ion exchanged with Ag⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cu²⁺ ions to acquire antimicrobial properties or ion-releasing characteristics to provide prolonged or stronger activity. The current study suggested that zeolite formulations could be combined with various materials used in manufacturing medical devices, surfaces, textiles, or household items where antimicrobial properties are required.