A generalization of the H-theorem to steady non-equilibrium states. Part 1: A basic decomposition and the linear case

A generalized relative entropy functional is associated to the evolution of gas in a container with (generally) non-uniform boundary data. A decomposition for its rate in ‘bulk’ and in ‘boundary’ terms is given; for the linear case both have a definite sign. The relation with the strong L₁ stability is pointed out.     

Asymptotics of Dirichlet Spectrum on Some Class of Noncompact Domains

We investigate the asymptotic behaviour of the counting function of Dirichlet eigenvalues on some class of noncompact manifolds. We prove that in cases when the volume or the perimeter (the volume of the boundary) of the manifold is infinite, some additional (nonclassical) terms appear in the precise asymptotics. The coefficients at the classical terms in those are regularized in some special way volume (resp. perimeter) of the manifold.     

Kinetics of Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition in Guaiacol Solution, Catalyzed by Hexacyanoferrate(II)

The kinetics of hydrogen peroxide decomposition in a guaiacol solution, catalyzed by potassium hexacyanoferrate(II), were studied. The reaction mainly follows the pathway of guaiacol hydroxylation. The reaction order is 1 with respect to H₂O₂, 0.5 with respect to hexacyanoferrate, and from 0.4 to 0 with respect to guaiacol (the latter parameter decreases with increasing guaiacol concentration). The apparent activation energy is 105 kJ mol^{- 1}. A kinetic scheme of the process was proposed. An expression consistent with the experiment was obtained for the rate of hydrogen peroxide decomposition in the presence of guaiacol, catalyzed by hexacyanoferrate(II).     

A rapid and sensitive extractive spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) in pharmaceutical and environmental samples using benzildithiosemicarbazone.

Benzildithiosemicarbazone (BDTSC) is proposed as a sensitive and selective analytical reagent for the extractive spectrophotometric determination of copper(II). BDTSC reacts with copper(II) in the pH range 1.0-7.0 to form a yellowish complex. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range 0.5-0.4 microg cm(-3). The yellowish Cu(II)-BDTSC complex in chloroform shows a maximum absorbance at 380 nm, with molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity values of 1.63 x 10(4) dm3 mol(-1) cm(-1) and 0.00389 microg cm(-2), respectively. A repetition of the method is checked by finding the relative standard deviation (RSD) (n = 10), which is 0.6%. The composition of the Cu(II)-BDTSC complex is established as 1:1 by slope analysis, molar ratio and Asmus' methods. An excellent linearity with a correlation coefficient value of 0.98 is obtained for the Cu(II)-BDTSC complex. The instability constant of the complex calculated from Edmond and Birnbaum's method is 7.70 x 10(-4) and that of Asmus' method is 7.66 x 10(-4), at room temperature. The method is successfully employed for the determination copper(II) in pharmaceutical and environmental samples. The reliability of the method is assured by analyzing the standard alloys (BCS 5g, 10g, 19e, 78, 32a, 207 and 179) and by inter-comparison of experimental values, using an atomic absorption spectrometer.     

Growth and study of single crystals of (Na,K)NbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid solutions

(Na, K)NbO₃ crystals with a perovskite structure and a KNbO₃ content up to 40 mol % were grown from flux with the use of the solvent NaBO₂. The dielectric measurements of the crystals grown revealed phase transitions that had never been observed before in ceramic samples.