Measurement of <Superscript>3</Superscript>H,gross <Emphasis Type="Italic">α/β</Emphasis> and <Superscript>222</Superscript>Rn in drinking water using the new Quantulus GCT 6220

Since the introduction of the European Council Directive 2013/51 Euratom in October 2013, the analysis of drinking water has increasingly become the focus of many laboratories in Europe. The activity of tritium, radon and the gross α/β-activity is determined routinely. In order to cope with the increased sample numbers and to reach the necessary detection limits, sensitive measuring devices are required. This work was done with the new Quantulus GCT 6220 to test the sensitivity of this system for drinking water analysis. The results indicate that this instrument is very well suited for this type of analysis and counting times are typically below the required counting times of established systems.     

TMDIM: an improved algorithm for the structure prediction of transmembrane domains of bitopic dimers

\(\alpha\)-Helical transmembrane proteins are the most important drug targets in rational drug development. However, solving the experimental structures of these proteins remains difficult, therefore computational methods to accurately and efficiently predict the structures are in great demand. We present an improved structure prediction method TMDIM based on Park et al. (Proteins 57:577–585, 2004) for predicting bitopic transmembrane protein dimers. Three major algorithmic improvements are introduction of the packing type classification, the multiple-condition decoy filtering, and the cluster-based candidate selection. In a test of predicting nine known bitopic dimers, approximately 78% of our predictions achieved a successful fit (RMSD <2.0 Å) and 78% of the cases are better predicted than the two other methods compared. Our method provides an alternative for modeling TM bitopic dimers of unknown structures for further computational studies. TMDIM is freely available on the web at https://cbbio.cis.umac.mo/TMDIM. Website is implemented in PHP, MySQL and Apache, with all major browsers supported.     

Formation of tricyclo[6.3.0.02,5]undecane derivatives during attempts to make the rumphellatin A–C oxacarbon skeleton

The results of several approaches to make the 4,4,8-trimethyl-12-oxatricyclo[7.2.1.0^2,5]dodecane motif present in rumphellatins A–C are reported. The strategy adopted involved (9E)-12,12-dimethyl-5-oxatricyclo[8.2.0.0^4,6]dodec-9-en-11-ol as an intermediate, but when attempts were made to connect the third methyl group to the carbon skeleton by reacting the epoxide with MeLi under boron-trifluoride catalysis, an unprecedented transannular reaction occurred. The desired product was not formed; instead, compounds containing a tricyclo[6.3.0.0^2,5]undecane moiety were obtained, in one case in better than 70% yield.     

On “Pre-historic” Linear Programming and the Figure of the Earth

In this paper, we develop algorithms to solve generalized Fermat–Torricelli problems with both positive and negative weights and multifacility location problems involving distances generated by Minkowski gauges. We also introduce a new model of clustering based on squared distances to convex sets. Using the Nesterov smoothing technique and an algorithm for minimizing differences of convex functions introduced by Tao and An, we develop effective algorithms for solving these problems. We demonstrate the algorithms with a variety of numerical examples.     

Roots of Unity in Orders

We give deterministic polynomial-time algorithms that, given an order, compute the primitive idempotents and determine a set of generators for the group of roots of unity in the order. Also, we show that the discrete logarithm problem in the group of roots of unity can be solved in polynomial time. As an auxiliary result, we solve the discrete logarithm problem for certain unit groups in finite rings. Our techniques, which are taken from commutative algebra, may have further potential in the context of cryptology and computer algebra.     

AN EXPLORATION OF STRUCTURALLY CHARACTERIZED HETERO-TRINUCLEAR [Cu(II)2Ca(II)] FLEXIBLE-BIS(SALAMO)-TYPE COMPLEX

Journal of Structural Chemistry - A new bis(salamo)-type ligand has been designed and synthesized, and its hetero-trinuclear [Cu(II)2Ca(II)] complex has been successfully prepared. It is...     

Characterisation of pulp and paper mill sludge for beneficiation

Cellulose - In this study, three different pulp and paper mill sludge (PPMS) samples collected from different South African mills were chemically and physically characterised to investigate their...     

Experiments on crack identification in cantilever beams

In this paper we present an experimental investigation of the identification of crack location and size. By providing the first three natural frequencies through vibration measurements, curves of crack equivalent stiffness versus crack location are plotted, and the intersection of the three curves predicts the crack location and size. In the experiments, the cracked specimens were made using a wire-cut electrical discharge machine, and the cantilever beams were excited next to the free end by means of an impulse force hammer. In order to obtain the accurate natural frequencies from the transient signal measured, the method of zoom fast Fourier transform is adopted to improve frequency resolution. From experimental results, it is observed that the identification errors of crack location and size are less than 2% and 4%, respectively. The effectiveness of crack identification through vibration measurements is verified.     

Methods and correlations for the prediction of quenching rates on hot surfaces

A substantial quantity of experimental data on rewetting, much of which has not been previously reported, is analysed using the results of calculations of the two-dimensional conduction processes taking place in the walls of tubes, which have been used to simulate the cladding of nuclear fuel elements. Correlations giving the quenching heat-transfer coefficient and sputtering temperature are proposed as a result of the analysis. These correlations may be combined with the previously reported conduction analysis to predict rewetting rates under a wide range of conditions. The new data include falling film rewetting rates measured for a range of system pressures (1–15 bars), initial wall temperatures (200–650°C), coolant mass flowrates (3–50 g sec^?1) and subcoolings (0–90°C). Measurements have also been made of rewetting rates by bottom flooding of both saturated and subcooled water at atmospheric pressure.