The spherical spectrum of a graded ring

We introduce a functor Sph, the spherical spectrum, which assigns to a graded ringG a space Sph(G) of homogeneous orderings ofG. It combines ideas of concrete geometry in theN-sphere defined by positively homogeneous polynomial equations and inequalities with the abstract notion of the real spectrum of a ring to give a counterpart for real semialgebraic geometry of the functor Proj.     

Hierarchical Production-planning Systems: Extensions and Modifications

This paper extends earlier hierarchical production-planning approaches initiated by Hax and Meal. The proposed model incorporates both functional and hierarchical interfaces simultaneously as encountered in practice, and assures feasibility and consistency among the decisions made at the different hierarchical levels of the firm. The problem of infeasibility which arises in disaggregating the aggregate production plan into detailed schedules is solved using goal programming at the product-family disaggregation level, and using branch and bound at the item-disaggregation level. The proposed approach minimizes backlogging regardless of the underlying cost structure of the problem at hand.     

A potentiometric rhodamine-B based membrane sensor for the selective determination of chromium ions in wastewater.

The construction and performance characteristics of a novel chromate ion-selective membrane sensor are described and used for determining chromium(III) and chromium(VI) ions. The sensor is based on the use of a rhodamine-B chromate ion-associate complex as an electroactive material in a poly(vinyl chloride) membrane plasticized with o-nitrophenyloctyl ether as a solvent mediator. In a phosphate buffer solution of pH 6 - 7, the sensor displays a stable, reproducible and linear potential response over the concentration range of 1 x 10(-1) - 5 x 10(-6) mol l(-1) with an anionic Nernstian slope of 30.8 +/- 0.5 mV decade(-1) and a detection limit of 1 x 10(-6) mol l(-1) Cr(VI). High selectivity for Cr(VI) is offered over many common anions (e.g., I-, Br-, Cl-, IO4-, CN-, acetate, oxalate, citrate, sulfate, phosphate, thiosulfate, selenite, nitrate) and cations (e.g., Ag+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Al3+, Cr3+). The sensor is used for determining Cr(VI) and/or Cr(III) ions in separate or mixed solutions after the oxidation of Cr(III) into Cr(VI) with H2O2. As low as 0.2 microg ml(-1) of chromium is determined with a precision of +/-1.2%. The chromium contents of some wastewater samples were accurately assessed, and the results agreed fairly well with data obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry.     

Magnetic field effect on free and bound excitons in chalcopyrite CuInS<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The effect of a strong magnetic field (induction up to 10 T) on free and bound excitons in CuInS₂ single crystals is studied. A diamagnetic shift to higher energies is observed in the luminescence and reflectance spectra for free-exciton lines A_LPB ≈ 1.5348 eV, A_UPB ≈ 1.5361 eV, and BC ≈ 1.557 eV. The diamagnetic shifts of free-exciton lines A_LPB, A_UPB, and BC provide a basis for estimating the exciton reduced masses = 0.131m₀, = 0.13 4m₀, and μ_BC = 0.111m₀, respectively. Bound-exciton lines in luminescence spectra are split under the influence of the magnetic field. The magnitude of the Zeeman effect (g-factor of the magnetic splitting) is estimated. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii Vol. 74, No. 3, pp. 373–377, May–June, 2007.     

Mono-energetic GeV electrons from ionization in a radially polarized laser beam

Fields of a radially polarized laser beam developed recently [Y. I. Salamin, Opt. Lett.31, 2619 (2006)] are employed to show that electrons produced by atomic ionization near the focus may be accelerated to GeV energies. Conditions for producing a mono-energetic and well-collimated electron beam are discussed.     

Structure-toxicity relationships of thiono and seleno phosphoramidate compounds: new type of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Novel thiono and seleno phosphoramidate compounds with the general formula (X)(Y)P(C₆H₅)₂; (X = NMe₂ & Y = S, 1a; X = NEt₂ & Y = S, 2a; X = NMe(CH₂Ph) & Y = S, 3a; X = NH(CH₂Ph) & Y = S, 4a; X = NEt(CH₂Ph) & Y = S, 5a; X = N(C(Me)₃) (CH₂Ph) & Y = S, 6a; X = N(CH₂Ph)₂ & Y = S, 7a; X = NMe₂ & Y = Se, 1b; X = NEt₂ & Y = Se, 2b; X = NMe(CH₂Ph) & Y = Se, 3b; X = NH (CH₂Ph) & Y = Se, 4b; X = NEt(CH₂Ph) & Y = Se, 5b; X = N(C(Me)₃)(CH₂Ph) & Y = Se, 6b and X = N(CH₂Ph)₂ & Y = Se, 7b) were prepared and characterized by ¹H, ³¹P and ¹³C NMR and IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. ³¹P chemical shift of thiono and seleno derivatives didn’t show significant different because of their little difference in electronegativity sulfur and selenium. Hydrophobic parameter of compounds was determined by measurement of octanol-water partition coefficient by shake-flask technique. Determination of human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (hAChE) activity was carried out according to the Ellman’s modified kinetic method. IC₅₀ values of the selected thiono and seleno compounds varied from 3.4 to 0.11 and 9.9 to 5.1 mM, respectively. The seleno compounds show lower affinities for hAChE relative to the thino compounds. These results demonstrate that hydrophobic and electronic factors of the organophosphorus compounds play a key role on the inhibitory potency.     

Synthesis of Nanoporous Ni‐Co Mixed Oxides by Thermal Decomposition of Metal‐Cyanide Coordination Polymers

A straightforward strategy to prepare nanoporous metal oxides with well‐defined shapes is highly desirable. Through thermal treatment and a proper selection of metal‐cyanide coordination polymers, nanoporous nickel‐cobalt mixed oxides with different shapes (i.e., flakes and cubes) can be easily prepared. Our nanoporous materials demonstrate high electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction.     

A new effective on chip electromembrane extraction coupled with high performance liquid chromatography for enhancement of extraction efficiency

In the present research, an effective on chip electromembrane extraction (CEME) coupled with high performance liquid chromatography was presented for analysis of nortriptyline (NOR) and amitriptyline (AMI) as basic model analytes from urine samples. The chip consists of two polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) parts with two craved microfluidic channels in each part. These channels were used as flow path for the sample solution and a thin compartment for the acceptor phase. A porous polypropylene sheet membrane impregnated with an organic solvent was placed between two parts of chip device to separate the channels. Two platinum electrodes were mounted at the bottom of these channels that were connected to a power supply providing the electrical driving force for migration of ionized analytes from sample solution through the porous sheet membrane into the acceptor phase. This new setup provides effective and reproducible extractions with low volume of sample solution. Efficient parameters on CEME of the model analytes were optimized using one variable at a time method. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the range of 10.0–500 μg L⁻¹ with coefficient of determination (r²) more than 0.9902. The relative standard deviations (RSDs %) for extraction and determination of the analytes were less than 6.8% based on six replicate measurements. LODs less than 4.0 μg L⁻¹ were obtained for both of the model analytes. The preconcentration factors higher than 17.0-fold were obtained. The results demonstrated that CEME would be used efficiently for extraction and determination of AMI and NOR from urine samples.     

Molecular Architecture Manipulation in Free Radical Copolymerization: An Advanced Monte Carlo Approach to Screening Copolymer Chains with Various Comonomer Sequence Arrangements

A Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulation approach has been adopted in this study to capture evolutionary events in the course of free radical copolymerization, through which batch and starved‐feed semibatch processes are compared. The implementation of the KMC code deve­loped in this work: (i) enables satisfactory control of the molecular weight of the copolymer by tracking the profiles of concentrations of macroradicals, monomers, and polymer as well as degree of polymerization, polydispersity, and chain length distribution; (ii) captures the bivariate distribution of chain length and copolymer composition; (iii) comprehensively tracks and analyzes detailed information on the molecular architecture of the growing chains, thus distinguishing between sequence length and polydispersity of chains produced in batch and starved‐feed semibatch operations; (iv) makes possible the screening of products, based on such details as the number and weight fractions of products having different comonomer units located at various positions along the copolymer chains. The aforementioned characteristics are achieved by stochastic calculations through code developed in‐house. This KMC simulator becomes a very useful tool for the development of tailored copolymers through free radical polymerization, with blocks separated with single units of a different type.

     

Optimization using response surface methodology for fast removal of hazardous azo dye by γ-Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>@CuO nanohybrid synthesized by sol–gel combustion

An efficient adsorption system was developed for removal of hazardous Direct Blue 71 as a sample azo dye. The γ-Fe₂O₃@CuO adsorption system was synthesized based on a sol–gel combustion route and characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) techniques. The response surface methodology with Box–Behnken design was used to evaluate the effects of pH, shaking time, and adsorbent dose on dye adsorption. The results showed that solution pH was the parameter with greatest effect on dye adsorption. Adsorption equilibrium was reached quickly, within 8 min. Study of isotherms revealed adsorption capacity of 45.7 mg g^?1 according to the Freundlich model. Sorbent regeneration could be performed using methanol–NaOH (0.1 mol L^?1) solution.