Electrostatic influence on rotational mobilities of sol-gel-encapsulated solutes by NMR and EPR spectroscopies

The rotational mobilities of small solute molecules encapsulated in tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) sol-gels have been investigated by EPR spectroscopy of encapsulated nitroxide probes and by high-resolution NMR spectroscopic measurements of transferred NOE's (trNOE's), of T(1)'s, and of T(1)'s in the rotating frame (T(1)rho). The two spectroscopic methods are sensitive to motions on different time scales and hence, are nicely complementary. Suites of neutral, positively, and negatively charged nitroxide probes (EPR) and of simple diamagnetic small molecules (NMR) were selected to disclose influences of electrostatic interactions with the sol-gel walls and to probe the presence of multiple populations of molecules in distinct regions of the sol-gel pores. For neutral and negatively charged solute probes, both techniques disclose a single population with a significantly increased average rotational correlation time, which we interpret at least in part as resulting from exchange between free-volume and transiently immobilized surface populations. The electrostatic attraction between cationic probes and the negatively charged sol-gel walls causes the positively charged probes to be more effectively immobilized and/or causes a greater percentage of probes to undergo this transient immobilization. The EPR spectra directly disclose a population of cationic probes which are immobilized on the X-band EPR time scale: tau(c) greater than or approximately equal 10(-7) s. However, NMR measurements of trNOE's and of T(1)rho demonstrate that this population does exchange with the free-volume probes on the slower time scale of NMR. This approach is equally applicable to the study of solutes within other types of confined spaces, as well.     

Critical Analysis of Hypothesis Tests in Federal Information Processing Standard (140-2)

This work presents an analysis of the existing dependencies between the tests of the FIPS 140-2 battery. Two main analytical approaches are utilized, the first being a study of correlations through the Pearson’s correlation coefficient that detects linear dependencies, and the second one being a novel application of the mutual information measure that allows detecting possible non-linear relationships. In order to carry out this study, the FIPS 140-2 battery is reimplemented to allow the user to obtain p-values and statistics that are essential for more rigorous end-user analysis of random number generators (RNG).     

Analytical performance study of solar blind non-line-of-sight ultraviolet short-range communication links

Motivated by recent advances in solid-state incoherent ultraviolet sources and solar blind detectors, we study communication link performance over a range of less than 1 km with a bit error rate (BER) below 10(-3) in solar blind non-line-of-sight situation. The widely adopted yet complex single scattering channel model is significantly simplified by means of a closed-form expression for tractable analysis. Path loss is given as a function of transceiver geometry as well as atmospheric scattering and attenuation and is compared with experimental data for model validation. The BER performance of a shot-noise-limited receiver under this channel model is demonstrated.     

Modeling binaural loudness

A survey of data on the perception of binaurally presented sounds indicates that loudness summation across ears is less than perfect; a diotic sound is less than twice as loud as the same sound presented monaurally. The loudness model proposed by Moore et al. [J. Audio Eng. Soc. 45, 224-240 (1997)] determines the loudness of binaural stimuli by a simple summation of loudness across ears. It is described here how the model can be modified so as to give more accurate predictions of the loudness of binaurally presented sounds, including cases where the sounds at the two ears differ in level, frequency or both. The modification is based on the idea that there are inhibitory interactions between the internal representations of the signals at the two ears, such that a signal at the left ear inhibits (reduces) the loudness evoked by a signal at the right ear, and vice versa. The inhibition is assumed to spread across frequency channels. The modified model gives reasonably accurate predictions of a variety of data on the loudness of binaural stimuli, including data obtained using loudness scaling and loudness matching procedures.     

Rapid quantification of TBP and TBP degradation product ratios by FTIR-ATR

Tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) is the key complexant within the plutonium and uranium reduction extraction process used to extract uranium and plutonium from used nuclear fuel. During reprocessing TBP degrades to dibutyl phosphate (DBP), butyl acid phosphate (MBP), butanol, and phosphoric acid over time. A method for rapidly monitoring TBP degradation is needed for the support of nuclear forensics. Therefore, a Fourier transform infrared spectrometry-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) technique was developed to determine approximate peak intensity ratios of TBP and its degradation products. The technique was developed by combining variable concentrations of TBP, DBP, and MBP to simulate TBP degradation. This method is achieved by analyzing selected peak positions and peak intensity ratios of TBP and DBP at different stages of degradation. The developed technique was tested on TBP samples degraded with nitric acid. In mock degradation samples, the 1,235 cm^?1 peak position shifts to 1,220 cm^?1 as the concentration of TBP decreases and DBP increases. Peak intensity ratios of TBP positions at 1,279 and 1,020 cm^?1 relative to DBP positions at 909 and 1,003 cm^?1 demonstrate an increasing trend as the concentration of DBP increases. The same peak intensity ratios were used to analyze DBP relative to MBP whereas a decreasing trend is seen with increasing DBP concentrations. The technique developed from this study may be used as a tool to determine TBP degradation in nuclear reprocessing via a rapid FTIR-ATR measurement without gas chromatography analysis.     

Synthesis of well‐defined side chain fullerene polymers and study of their self‐aggregation behaviors

Monoalkynyl‐functionalized fullerene was precisely synthesized starting with pristine fullerene (C₆₀) and characterized by multiple techniques. Methyl methacrylate and 6‐azido hexyl methacrylate were then randomly copolymerized via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization to build polymer backbones with well‐controlled molecular weights and copolymer compositions. Finally, these two moieties were covalently assembled into a series of well‐defined side chain fullerene polymers (SFPs) via the copper‐mediated click reaction which was verified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H NMR. The fullerene loadings of the resultant polymers were estimated by thermogravimetric analysis and UV–vis spectroscopy, demonstrating consistent and high conversions in most of the samples. The morphology studies of the SFPs were performed both in solution and on solid substrates. Very intriguing self‐aggregation behaviors were detected by both gel permeation chromatography and dynamic light scattering analyses. Furthermore, the scanning electron microscopic images of these polymers showed the formation of various supramolecular nanoparticle assemblies and crystalline‐like clusters depending on the fullerene contents and polymer chain lengths. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 3572–3582     

Determination of Cadmium in Plant Tissues by Electrothermal Atomisation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with Matrix/Analyte Modification and Smith-Hieftje Background Correction

Abstract

Pressure decomposition in a microwave oven provides a rapid means of sample preparation for plant tissue analyses. The use of delayed atomisation cuvettes, Smith-Hieftje background correction and matrix/analyte modification enables accurate determinations of cadmium concentrations in plant materials to be made. However, care should be taken to restrict the concentrations of modifier used, as too high a concentration may lead to problems with both tube life and over-correction by the Smith-Hieftje background correction system.     

Fixed point of multivalued mapping in uniform spaces

In this paper we prove some new fixed point theorems for multivalued mappings on orbitally complete uniform spaces.     

An infinite-time relaxation theorem for differential inclusions

The fundamental relaxation result for Lipschitz differential inclusions is the Filippov-Wazewski Relaxation Theorem, which provides approximations of trajectories of a relaxed inclusion on finite intervals. A complementary result is presented, which provides approximations on infinite intervals, but does not guarantee that the approximation and the reference trajectory satisfy the same initial condition.

     

Monomial bases for -Schur algebras

Using the Beilinson-Lusztig-MacPherson construction of the quantized enveloping algebra of and its associated monomial basis, we investigate -Schur algebras as ``little quantum groups". We give a presentation for and obtain a new basis for the integral -Schur algebra , which consists of certain monomials in the original generators. Finally, when , we interpret the Hecke algebra part of the monomial basis for in terms of Kazhdan-Lusztig basis elements.