Perturbation analysis of theGI/GI/1 queue

We examine a family ofGI/GI/1 queueing processes generated by a parametric family of service time distributions,F(x,), and we show that under suitable conditions the corresponding customer stationary expectation of the system time is twice continuously differentiable with respect to. Expressions for the derivatives are given which are suitable for single run derivative estimation. These results are extended to parameters of the interarrival time distribution and expressions for the corresponding second derivatives (as well as partial second derivatives involving both interarrivai and service time parameters) are also obtained. Finally, we present perturbation analysis algorithms based on these expressions along with simulation results demonstrating their performance.     

Errors in the determination of silica in lead-bearing samples caused by preliminary separation of lead sulphate

Some procedures for the gravimetric determination of silica in lead-bearing samples involve the extraction of lead sulphate with ammonium acetate. Results for silica are then low because some silica is dissolved in ammonium acetate solution. Correct results can be obtained only by avoiding fuming with sulphuric acid. If samples contain a large proportion of insoluble silica, preliminary fusion with sodium hydroxide is recommended.     

Amperometric determination of calcium as selenite

Summary An amperometric titration of calcium with selenite is described. Barium, strontium, and other cations forming insoluble selenites interfere, but magnesium does not. The method is rapid and suitable for routine analysis, the error being less than 10 parts per 1000 over the range 50 to 70 mg of calcium.

---

Zusammenfassung Ein amperometrisches Titrationsverfahren für Calcium mit Selenit wurde beschrieben. Barium, Strontium und andere Kationen, die unlösliche Selenite bilden, stören, nur Magnesium nicht. Das Verfahren ist rasch und für Routineanalysen geeignet. Im Bereich zwischen 50 und 70 mg Calcium ist der Fehler geringer als 1% relativ.

---

Résumé On décrit un titrage ampérométrique du calcium par l'ion sélénite. Le baryum, le strontium et les autres cations formant des sélénites insolubles interfèrent, excepté le magnésium. La méthode est rapide et convient à l'analyse en série, l'erreur étant inférieure à 10 parties pour 1000 dans le domaine de 50–70 mg de calcium.

     

Poly(phenylene sulfide): Synthesis from 1,4-dibromobenzene and sodium sulfide

A new route to synthesize poly(p-phenylene sulfide) by nucleophilic substitution of 1,4-dibromobenzene with sodium sulfide in N-methylpyrrolidone is described. Kinetic evaluation shows the reaction to be of second order with two distinctive rate constant regimes. The first rate constant is higher and is operative until 50% conversion, whereas in the second regime (between 50 and 92% conversion) the rate is slower. The kinetics of this route is compared under identical conditions with the conventional synthesis based on 1,4-dichloro benzene and sodium sulfide.     

Beaded reactive polymers 3 effect of triacrylates as crosslinkers on the physical properties of glycidyl methacrylate copolymers and immobilization of penicillin G acylase

Various glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) copolymers were synthesized by suspension polymerization, using pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA), trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM) as crosslinking comonomers. These copolymers were evaluated for the immobilization of penicillin G acylase. Broad pore-size distribution that was observed was in the range 5-300 nm. Both surface area and pore volume increased with increase in the mole fraction of crosslinking comonomer (increasing crosslink density). The pore volume of the copolymers was more than doubled by including lauryl alcohol as porogen. Binding of penicillin G acylase (PGA) was quantitative on highly crosslinked copolymers. The expression of bound PGA was better on the relatively more hydrophilic GMA-TMPTA and GMA-PETA copolymer supports compared to the GMA-TRIM copolymers. Among the different copolymers studied, GMA-TMPTA copolymer 7411 exhibited highest activity of immobilized penicillin G acylase (167.4 IU/g) with 35.1% expression.     

RNAi for Insect Control: Current Perspective and Future Challenges

The research on the RNA interference (RNAi) for the control of insect pests has made significant growth in recent years. The availability of the genomic sequences of insects has further widened the horizons for the testing of this technology to various insect groups. Different modes of application of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) have been tested; however, the practicability of delivery of dsRNA in insects still remains the biggest challenge. Till date, the oral delivery of dsRNA in insects is one of the efficient approaches for the practical application of this technique. The uptake of dsRNA from the insect gut is mediated either by SID-1/SID-2 transmembrane proteins or by endocytosis; however, the systemic RNAi machinery still remains to be revealed in insect species. The RNAi-mediated gene knockdown has shown striking results in different insect groups, pointing it to be the upcoming technique for insect control. However, before the successful application of this technique for insect control, some potential issues need to be resolved. This review presents the account of prospects and challenges for the use of this technology for insect control.     

“Dial-In” Emission from a Unique Flexible Material with Polarization Tuneable Spectral Intensity

The development of organic photoluminescent materials, which show promising roles as catalysts, sensors, organic light-emitting diodes, logic gates, etc., is a major demand and challenge for the global scientific community. In this context, a photoclick polymerization method is adopted for the growth of a unique photoluminescent three-dimensional (3D) polymer film, E, as a model system that shows emission tunability over the range 350–650 nm against the excitation range 295–425 nm. The DFT analysis of energy calculations and π-stacking supports the spectroscopic observations for the material exhibiting a broad range of emission owing to newly formed chromophoric units within the film. Full polarization spectroscopic Mueller matrix studies were employed to extract and quantify the molecular orientational order of both the ground (excitation) and excited (emission) state anisotropies through a set of newly defined parameters, namely the fluorescence diattenuation and fluorescence polarizance. The information contained in the recorded fluorescence Mueller matrix of the organic polymer material provided a useful way to control the spectral intensity of emission by using pre- and post-selection of polarization states. The observation was based on the assumption that the longer lifetime of the excited dipolar orientation is attributed to the compactness of the film.     

Practical and Chemoselective Reduction of Acyl Chloride to Alcohol by Borohydride in Aqueous Dichloromethane

A simple methodology for the reduction of acid chlorides to their corresponding alcohols has been developed. Various carboxylic acids were converted to alcohols in excellent yields using NaBH₄-K₂CO₃ in a mixed solvent system of dichloromethane and water (1:1) in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst at low temperature. The importance of the work is its simplicity, selectivity, excellent yield, and very short reaction time. This new reduction condition has proved to be an excellent chemoselective method for a range of acid chlorides in the presence of various functional groups.