Imprint of accretion disk-induced migration on gravitational waves from extreme mass ratio inspirals

We study the effects of a thin gaseous accretion disk on the inspiral of a stellar-mass black hole into a supermassive black hole. We construct a phenomenological angular momentum transport equation that reproduces known disk effects. Disk torques modify the gravitational wave phase evolution to detectable levels with LISA for reasonable disk parameters. The Fourier transform of disk-modified waveforms acquires a correction with a different frequency trend than post-Newtonian vacuum terms. Such inspirals could be used to detect accretion disks with LISA and to probe their physical parameters.     

Real-time fractal signal processing in the time domain

Fractal analysis has proven useful for the quantitative characterization of complex time series by scale-free statistical measures in various applications. The analysis has commonly been done offline with the signal being resident in memory in full length, and the processing carried out in several distinct passes. However, in many relevant applications, such as monitoring or forecasting, algorithms are needed to capture changes in the fractal measure real-time. Here we introduce real-time variants of the Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) and the closely related Signal Summation Conversion (SSC) methods, which are suitable to estimate the fractal exponent in one pass. Compared to offline algorithms, the precision is the same, the memory requirement is significantly lower, and the execution time depends on the same factors but with different rates. Our tests show that dynamic changes in the fractal parameter can be efficiently detected. We demonstrate the applicability of our real-time methods on signals of cerebral hemodynamics acquired during open-heart surgery.     

Conflict-free routing of multi-stop warehouse trucks

Optimization Letters - The recent interest in greater vehicular autonomy for factory and warehouse automation has stimulated research in conflict-free routing: a challenging network routing problem...     

Pyridino-18-crown-6 ether type chemosensors containing a benzothiazole fluorophore unit: Synthesis and enantiomeric recognition studies

Three new fluorescent enantiopure pyridino-18-crown-6 ethers containing a benzothiazole unit were prepared, and the enantiomeric discrimination of these sensor molecules toward the hydrogen perchlorate salts of 1-phenylethylamine, 1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine, phenylglycine methyl ester and phenylalanine methyl ester was studied in acetonitrile by fluorescence spectroscopy. The ligands revealed appreciable or moderate selectivity toward the enantiomers of hydrogen perchlorate salts of 1-phenylethylamine, 1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine and phenylglycine methyl ester.     

Equilibrium and calorimetric study of the hydration of anion-exchange resins

The adsorption of water vapour on anion-exchangers of various degrees of cross-linking ( x 2, x 4, x 8, x 10) and in different ionic forms (Cl(-), Br(-), I(-)) was studied by the isopiestic technique. The calculated integral free-energy changes were independent of the degree of cross-linking of the resins. With increase in the number of adsorbed water molecules the free-energy functions approached limiting values which were characteristic for the counter-ions. The free-energy change was combined with the enthalpy of water sorption (obtained from direct calorimetric measurements) to obtain the entropy change due to the water uptake. Both the enthalpy and the entropy functions indicated the existence of several processes during the adsorption of water, among which the most relevant are hydration, swelling of the matrix, and dilution of the internal electrolyte of the ion-exchanger.     

Mass selective detection of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and related compounds in urine

A method is presented for the routine analysis of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and related compounds in urine with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry operated in the selective ion monitoring mode. The analytes are isolated by liquid-liquid extraction and are derivatized with trifluoroacetic anhydride. 3,4-Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine-D(5) is employed as the internal standard. Standard solutions are prepared using spiked urine samples, which are subjected to all phases of sample preparation. Disposable deactivated glass containers are employed throughout the process.     

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-single ion monitoring measurement of 11-nor-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol-carboxylic acid in urine

Gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry is used to determine the urinary elimination of 11-nor-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol-carboxylic acid. Single ion monitoring of both 11-nor-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol-carboxylic acid and the internal standard (11-nor-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol-carboxylic-D9) offers selective and sensitive measurement. In order to check the method and the results, we employ 11-nor-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol-carboxylic acid-glucuronide as an external standard. Our study also demonstrates that the wall of the glass liner (glass tube) in the injector retards the active compound, which makes it imperative to replace the glass insert after each run. Otherwise, the value of the drug measured in subsequent runs will decrease because more of this compound will adhere to the glass walls.     

Photocatalytic Crystalline and Amorphous TiO2 Nanotubes Prepared by Electrospinning and Atomic Layer Deposition

In this work core/shell composite polymer/TiO₂ nanofibers and from those TiO₂ nanotubes were prepared. First, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) fibers were synthetized by electrospinning. They were covered with a 100 nm thick amorphous TiO₂ layer by atomic layer deposition at 50 °C. Later the polymer core was removed by two different methods: dissolution and annealing. In the case of dissolution in water, the as-prepared TiO₂ nanotubes remained amorphous, while when annealing was used to remove the polymers, the TiO₂ crystallized in anatase form. Due to this, the properties of amorphous and crystalline TiO₂ nanotubes with exactly the same structure and morphology could be compared. The samples were investigated by SEM-EDX, ATR-IR, UV-Vis, XRD and TG/DTA-MS. Finally, the photocatalytic properties of the TiO₂ nanotubes were studied by decomposing methyl-orange dye under UV light. According to the results, crystalline anatase TiO₂ nanotubes reached the photocatalytic performance of P25, while amorphous TiO₂ nanotubes had observable photocatalytic activity.