Hollow BiOBr/reduced graphene oxide hybrids encapsulating hemoglobin for a mediator-free biosensor

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - For the construction of a mediator-free biosensor, hollow BiOBr microspheres (H-BiOBr MS) were hydrothermally synthesized and combined with reduced...     

Hilbert functions of Gorenstein monomial curves

It is a conjecture due to M. E. Rossi that the Hilbert function of a one-dimensional Gorenstein local ring is non-decreasing. In this article, we show that the Hilbert function is non-decreasing for local Gorenstein rings with embedding dimension four associated to monomial curves, under some arithmetic assumptions on the generators of their defining ideals in the non-complete intersection case. In order to obtain this result, we determine the generators of their tangent cones explicitly by using standard basis computations under these arithmetic assumptions and show that the tangent cones are Cohen-Macaulay. In the complete intersection case, by characterizing certain families of complete intersection numerical semigroups, we give an inductive method to obtain large families of complete intersection local rings with arbitrary embedding dimension having non-decreasing Hilbert functions.

     

A new donor‐acceptor type polymeric material from a thiophene derivative and its electrochromic properties

A new electrochromic polymer, poly(2,3,5,8‐tetra(thiophen‐2‐yl)quinoxaline) (PTTQ), was synthesized electrochemically and its electrochromic properties were investigated. The polymer was characterized by Cyclic Voltammetry, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, UV‐Vis‐NIR Spectroscopy, and colorimetry. Spectroelectrochemistry analysis demonstrated that the polymer can undergo both p‐ and true n‐type doping processes. The polymer, (PTTQ), has three accessible color states: an oxidized transmissive, a neutral light bluish‐green, and a reduced transmissive light gray. Switching ability of the polymer was evaluated by kinetic studies. The polymer revealed an excellent optical contrast of 98% in the NIR region. Outstanding optical contrast in the NIR region, high stability and fast switching times make this polymer an excellent candidate for NIR device applications. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3723–3731, 2008     

Indium determination using slotted quartz tube-atom trap-flame atomic absorption spectrometry and interference studies

Sensitivity enhancement of indium determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was achieved; using a slotted quartz tube (SQT-FAAS) and slotted quartz tube atom trap (SQT-AT-FAAS). SQT was used as an atom trap (AT) where the analyte is accumulated in its inner wall prior to re-atomization. The signal is formed after re-atomization of analyte on the trap surface by introduction of 10 μL of isobutyl methyl ketone (IBMK). Sensitivity was improved 400 times using SQT-AT-FAAS system with respect to conventional FAAS and 279 times with respect to SQT-FAAS without any collection. Characteristic concentration (C₀) and limit of detection values were found to be 3.63 ng mL⁻¹ and 2.60 ng mL⁻¹, respectively, using a sample flow rate of 7.0 mL min⁻¹ and a collection period of 5.0 min. In addition, interference effects of some elements on indium signal were studied. In order to characterize indium species trapped, X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometry (XPS) was utilized and it was found that indium was collected on the inner surface of SQT as In₂O₃. The accuracy of the procedure was checked to determine indium in the standard reference material (Montana Soil, SRM 2710).     

Synthesis of novel ferrocene containing vic-dioxime ligands and their Ni(II), Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes: Spectral, electrochemical and biological activity studies

Two new vic-dioxime ligands bearing an important redox-active substituent, anti-β-ferrocenylethylaminoglyoxime (1a) and anti-β-ferrocenylethylaminophenylglyoxime (1b), have been synthesized, and their Ni(II), Cu(II) and Co(II) (2a-4a, 2b-4b) complexes were obtained. The composition and structure of the products were determined by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), mass spectrometry (MS), one-dimensional (1D) ¹H, ¹³C NMR, and two-dimensional (2D) heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) techniques. The redox behaviors of the ligands and their complexes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), which revealed that all the ferrocenyl redox centers are electrochemically independent and undergo a quasi-reversible oxidation at similar potentials. Also, antibacterial activity was studied against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Streptococcus mutans RSHM 676, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. The antimicrobial test results indicated that all the compounds have mild levels of antibacterial activity against both gram negative and gram-positive bacterial species.     

Fuzzy optimality based decision making under imperfect information without utility

In the realm of decision making under uncertainty, the general approach is the use of the utility theories. The main disadvantage of this approach is that it is based on an evaluation of a vector-valued alternative by means of a scalar-valued quantity. This transformation is counterintuitive and leads to loss of information. The latter is related to restrictive assumptions on preferences underlying utility models like independence, completeness, transitivity etc. Relaxation of these assumptions results into more adequate but less tractable models. In contrast, humans conduct direct comparison of alternatives as vectors of attributes’ values and don’t use artificial scalar values. Although vector-valued utility function-based methods exist, a fundamental axiomatic theory is absent and the problem of a direct comparison of vectors remains a challenge with a wide scope of research and applications. In the realm of multicriteria decision making there exist approaches like TOPSIS and AHP to various extent utilizing components-wise comparison of vectors. Basic principle of such comparison is the Pareto optimality which is based on a counterintuitive assumption that all alternatives within a Pareto optimal set are considered equally optimal. The above mentioned mandates necessity to develop new decision approaches based on direct comparison of vector-valued alternatives. In this paper we suggest a fuzzy Pareto optimality (FPO) based approach to decision making with fuzzy probabilities representing linguistic decision-relevant information. We use FPO concept to differentiate “more optimal” solutions from “less optimal” solutions. This is intuitive, especially when dealing with imperfect information. An example is solved to show the validity of the suggested ideas.     

Persistence and coexistence of infinite attractors in a fractal Josephson junction resonator with unharmonic current phase relation considering feedback flux effect

Josephson junction resonators are the devices which exhibit complex behaviours as a consequence of their inductive properties. Even though the insulating medium between Josephson junctions (JJs) is normally considered homogeneous, the fact that lithography is used to form the layer, it has fractal substrates. Such JJs are identified as fractal Josephson junctions (FJJs). In this paper, a new chaotic oscillator based on memristor and FJJ has been investigated. Superconductor properties can dramatically change its operating points especially voltage and heat that are related to Josephson tunnelling. Some changes in the operating points can cause the Josephson tunnelling junctions to oscillate in different oscillation modes in very high frequencies. This can be achieved by considering the potential across the junction with its flux feedback. In order to model the magnetic flux effect, we use a memristor whose memductance function is considered as an exponential function. By varying the type of the bias current, we could observe the property of infinitely coexisting attractors in the memristor-fractal Josephson junction oscillator, which is considered as a rare phenomenon in physical circuits. The proposed Josephson-Memristor circuit model is developed, and its equilibrium points, bifurcation and Lyapunov exponents are computed. As an engineering application, modelling the trajectories of the moving object has been realized. First, the SURF algorithm, which is not affected by the scale and rotations of the object, is used in the images to identify an object that tracks the states of the proposed Josephson-Memristor circuit. In this way, the coordinates of the orbits on which the object moves were determined on the image. In order to reproduce the orbits of the specified object, the coordinate information of the object has been trained to the artificial neural network model and the orbits of the object have been reproduced.

     

Fibrations of 2‐crossed modules

In this study, we mainly show that the functor from the category X₂Mod of 2‐crossed modules of groups to the category Groups of groups assigning to each 2‐crossed module the group P, and to each 2‐crossed module morphism the group homomorphism f₀ is a fibration. In addition, we study some related properties.     

On the design of rotating elastic shrink fits with annular inclusion and functionally graded hub

Shrink fits are found frequently in mechanical engineering as an efficient means of connecting a cylindrical inclusion with an annular hub. For reliable operation, the interface pressure between the components should be as large as possible. Although in some cases this may be achieved by a partially plastic design, there are many applications where the device should behave elastically. In the present study, the use of a functionally graded material for the hub is proposed, and particularly an annular inclusion is considered. It is shown that – depending on the radii ratios and the degree of grading – qualitatively different types of mechanical behavior are possible, and that in general by appropriate grading a much better performance at rotation can be achieved, accompanied by a substantial saving of weight. These issues are discussed in detail, and the analytically obtained results provide a comprehensive means for the practicing engineer to decide whether this type of shrink fit might be advantageous for some applications.