On the pth moment exponential stability criteria of neutral stochastic functional differential equations

The paper discusses the pth moment exponential stability for a general class of neutral stochastic functional differential equations of the Ito type. This investigation can be very complicated, even in many special cases, by using usual methods based on Lyapunov functionals. In this paper we present criteria which are relatively easy to verify the pth moment exponential stability of the solutions of such equations.     

PPV Polymerization through the Gilch Route: Diradical Character of Monomers

Despite various studies on the polymerization of poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV) through different precursor routes, detailed mechanistic knowledge on the individual reaction steps and intermediates is still incomplete. The present study aims to gain more insight into the radical polymerization of PPV through the Gilch route. The initial steps of the polymerization involve the formation of a p‐quinodimethane intermediate, which spontaneously self‐initiates through a dimerization process leading to the formation of diradical species; chain propagation ensues on both sides of the diradical or chain termination occurs by the formation of side products, such as [2.2]paracyclophanes. Furthermore, different p‐quinodimethane systems were assessed with respect to the size of their aromatic core as well as the presence of heteroatoms in/on the conjugated system. The nature of the aromatic core and the specific substituents alter the electronic structure of the p‐quinodimethane monomers, affecting the mechanism of polymerization. The diradical character of the monomers has been investigated with several advanced methodologies, such as spin‐projected UHF, CASSCF, CASPT2, and DMRG calculations. It was shown that larger aromatic cores led to a higher diradical character in the monomers, which in turn is proposed to cause rapid initiation.     

Influence of selected mobile phase properties on the TLC retention behavior of ziprasidone and its impurities

ABSTRACT

Influence of nine different solvents, either alone or in a mixture, on the retention behavior of ziprasidone and its five impurities were examined by normal-phase thin-layer chromatography. Migration distances of the examined compounds obtained under the examined chromatographic conditions were correlated with calculated mobile phase properties, such as Snyder polarity and Hansen solubility. Linear or second-order polynomial relationships with high correlation coefficients were established between investigated variables. The obtained mathematical functions and statistical results indicated that selected mobile phase properties can be used for the prediction of the retention behavior of ziprasidone and its five impurities.     

Comparative analysis of CE‐SSCP to standard RFLP‐CE‐FLA method in quantification of known viral variants within an RNA virus quasispecies

RNA viruses display the highest replication error rate in our biosphere, leading to highly diverse viral populations termed quasispecies. The gold standard method for detection and quantification of variants in a quasispecies is cloning and sequencing, but it is expensive, laborious and time consuming. Therefore, other mutation detection approaches, including SSCP, are often used. In this study, we demonstrate development and the usage of a CE‐SSCP method for quantification of two nearly identical viral variants in heterogenic population of a mumps virus strain and its comparison to RFLP‐CE‐fragment length analysis (RFLP‐CE‐FLA). Analyzed PCR fragments were of the same size (245 bp) with one difference in their nucleotide sequence. The limit of detection of both methods was at 5% of the minor variant. When PCR amplicons of the two variants were pooled, methods' results were very similar. On the contrary, the quantification results of samples in which variants were mixed prior to PCR showed substantial difference between the two methods. Our results indicate that although both methods can be used for detection and monitoring of a specific mutation within a viral population, caution should be taken when quantitative analysis of complex samples is based solely on results of one method.     

Isopiestic Determination of the Osmotic and Activity Coefficients of K<Subscript>2</Subscript>HPO<Subscript>4</Subscript>(aq), Including Saturated and Supersaturated Solutions,at <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>=298.15 K

The osmotic coefficients of K₂HPO₄(aq) have been measured at T=298.15 K by the isopiestic vapor pressure method over the range of molalities from 1.3846 mol⋅kg⁻¹ to 13.939 mol⋅kg⁻¹ (oversaturation) with CaCl₂(aq) as the reference solution. The molalities and osmotic coefficients of saturated solutions in equilibrium with K₂HPO₄⋅xH₂O(cr) were measured simultaneously by the same method. Available literature osmotic coefficients of K₂HPO₄(aq) at T=298.15 K, and our new experimental data, were combined and modeled using an extended form of Pitzer’s equation and the Clegg-Pitzer-Brimblecombe equation based on the mole-fraction-composition scale. These equations were used to calculate the activity coefficients of K₂HPO₄(aq) at T=298.15 K.     

Simultaneous Determination of Pb and Cd Traces in Water Samples by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry Using a Modified GC Electrode

The determination of Pb and Cd with a Nafion‐modified glassy carbon electrode and Cu‐DPABA complex (Cu‐DPABA–NA/GCE; DPABA is methyl 3,5‐bis{bis‐[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]amino}methyl‐benzoate) as an alternative electrode for anodic stripping voltammetry was described. Pb and Cd were accumulated in acetate buffer pH 4 at a potential of ?1.4 V (vs. Ag/AgCl electrode) for 120 s followed by a DPASV scan from ?1.2 to ?0.2 V. Under optimum conditions the calibration curves were linear in the range of 4.8×10^?9–5.0×10^?5 and 5.0×10^?9–5×10^?5 mol L^?1 for Pb and Cd, respectively. Detection limits were 1.8×10^?9 and 1.2×10^?9 mol L^?1 for Pb and Cd, respectively. Different parameters and conditions, such as membrane ingredients, accumulation time, potential and pH value were optimized. A study of interfering substances was also performed. A significant increase in current was achieved at the modified electrode in comparison with the bare glassy carbon electrode. The validation of the proposed method was made by Pb and Cd determination in the certified reference material Groundwater CRM 610 (BCR, Community Bureau of Reference, Brussels, Belgium). The electrode was successfully applied for determination of Pb and Cd in river water with a high content of organic contaminants without any pretreatment.