Direct simulation Monte Carlo ray tracing model of light scattering by a class of real particles and comparison with PROGRA experimental results

The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) model is presented for three-dimensional single scattering of natural light by suspended, randomly oriented, optically homogeneous and isotropic, rounded and stochastically rough cubic particles. The modelled particles have large size parameter that allows geometric optics approximation to be used. The proposed computational model is simple and flexible. It is tested by comparison with known geometric optics solution for a perfect cube and Lorenz–Mie solution for a sphere, as extreme cases of the class of rounded cubes. Scattering and polarization properties of particles with various geometrical and optical characteristics are examined. The experimental study of real NaCl crystals with new Progra² instrument in microgravity conditions is conducted. The experimental and computed polarization and brightness phase curves are compared.     

Calixarene-Based Dendrimers. A Timely Review

This timely review focuses on the synthesis of dendrimers from calix[4]arenes and thiacalix[4]arenes. Some interesting features of these calix-dendrimers are given.     

A New Approach to Dendrimers made from p-tert-Butyl Calix[4]arenes

A new family of hyperbranched molecules and dendrimers has been constructed from a diamide–dicalix derivative prepared from monocarbomethoxymethyl p-tert-butyl calix[4]arene and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (‘tren’) via amide-formation reactions. The selective 1,3-di-O-functionalization of p-tert-butyl calix[4]arene moieties allows the synthesis of first- (G1) and second-generation (G2) calix-dendrimers. Replacement of the quadridentate amine by a trithia-ether-triamine-mono-ol, ’hyten’, again results in acylation of the amino groups, but with the generation of a central cavity with different complexing properties.

A new family of hyperbranched molecules and dendrimers has been constructed from a diamide–dicalix derivative prepared from monocarbomethoxymethyl p-tert-butyl calix[4]arene and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (‘tren’) via amide-formation reactions. The selective 1,3-di-O-functionalization of p-tert-butyl calix[4]arene moieties allows the synthesis of first- (G1) and second-generation (G2) calix-dendrimers     

Minimizing the weighted number of tardy jobs on a single machine with release dates

In this paper, we describe an exact algorithm to minimize the weighted number of tardy jobs on a single machine with release dates. The algorithm uses branch-and-bound; a surrogate relaxation resulting in a multiple-choice knapsack provides the bounds. Extensive computational experiments indicate the proposed exact algorithm solves either weighted or unweighted problems. It solves the hardest problems to date. Indeed, it solves all previously unsolved instances. Its run time is the shortest to date.     

Hydrogel droplet microarrays with trapped antibody-functionalized beads for multiplexed protein analysis

Antibody microarrays are a powerful tool for rapid, multiplexed profiling of proteins. 3D microarray substrates have been developed to improve binding capacity, assay sensitivity, and mass transport, however, they often rely on photopolymers which are difficult to manufacture and have a small pore size that limits mass transport and demands long incubation time. Here, we present a novel 3D antibody microarray format based on the entrapment of antibody-coated microbeads within alginate droplets that were spotted onto a glass slide using an inkjet. Owing to the low concentration of alginate used, the gels were highly porous to proteins, and together with the 3D architecture helped enhance mass transport during the assays. The spotting parameters were optimized for the attachment of the alginate to the substrate. Beads with 0.2 μm, 0.5 μm and 1 μm diameter were tested and 1 μm beads were selected based on their superior retention within the hydrogel. The beads were found to be distributed within the entire volume of the gel droplet using confocal microscopy. The assay time and the concentration of beads in the gels were investigated for maximal binding signal using one-step immunoassays. As a proof of concept, six proteins including cytokines (TNFα, IL-8 and MIP/CCL4), breast cancer biomarkers (CEA and HER2) and one cancer-related protein (ENG) were profiled in multiplex using sandwich assays down to pg mL(-1) concentrations with 1 h incubation without agitation in both buffer solutions and 10% serum. These results illustrate the potential of beads-in-gel microarrays for highly sensitive and multiplexed protein analysis.     

Utilization of Grape Seed Flour for Antimicrobial Lipopeptide Production by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens C5 Strain

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - An endophytic Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain called C5, able to produce biosurfactant lipopeptides with a broad antibacterial activity spectrum, has been...     

Asymptotic behavior of ground state radial solutions for problems involving the $$\Phi $$ Φ -Laplacian

Positivity - We are concerned with the existence of positive solutions to the following boundary value problem in $$(0,\infty ),$$ $$\begin{aligned} \frac{1}{A}\left( A\phi \left( \left| u^{\prime...     

A simulated annealing with a new neighborhood structure based algorithm for high school timetabling problems

This paper approximately solves the high school timetabling problem using a simulated annealing based algorithm with a newly-designed neighborhood structure. In search for the best neighbor, the heuristic performs a sequence of swaps between pairs of time slots, instead of swapping two assignments as in a standard simulated annealing. The computational results show that the proposed heuristic, which is tested on two sets of benchmark instances, performs better than existing approaches.     

Synthesen von Phosphonocarbonsäuren durch Michael-Addition

Syntheses of Phosphono-carboxylic Acids by Michael Addition A number of phosphono-carboxylic acid esters are available by means of alkaline catalytic addition of P? H and C? H acidic esters to activated double and triple bonds. These may be transformed into complexing agents by hydrolysis.     

On the Relative Approximation Error of the Generalized Pareto Approximation for a High Quantile

Let F be a distribution function in the domain of attraction of an extreme value distribution . In case 0 and F has an infinite end-point, we study the asymptotic behaviour of the relative approximation error of a high quantile such that , where the order tends to 0. We use the approximation of the excesses over a high threshold u by a Generalized Pareto distribution. We give sufficient conditions under which tends to 0.AMS 2000 Subject Classification Primary—60G70, Secondary—62G20, 62G32