Security number of grid-like graphs

The security number of a graph is the cardinality of a smallest vertex subset of the graph such that any attack on the subset is defendable. In this paper, we determine the security number of two-dimensional cylinders and tori. This result settles a conjecture of Brigham et al. [R.C. Brigham, R.D. Dutton, S.T. Hedetniemi, Security in graphs, Discrete Appl. Math. 155 (2007) 1708-1714].     

Effect of the chemical species of arsenic on sensitivity in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

The sensitivity of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) to arsenobetaine (AB) was 1.3-times higher than to inorganic As. In order to understand the mechanism underlying this observation, the atomization processes for both chemical species were investigated in terms of the enthalpy change (DeltaH) during the atomization process in GFAAS. The enthalpy change of AB was slightly lower than that of inorganic As, which suggested that AB was atomized more efficiently than was inorganic As. Moreover, it was observed that some co-existing organic materials enhanced the analytical sensitivity of inorganic As. The sensitivity difference between inorganic As and AB depended upon the mechanisms of their atomization processes.     

Study of buried Si(1 1 1)-5 × 2-Au by surface X-ray diffraction

The structure of buried Si(1 1 1)-5 × 2-Au capped with amorphous Si was investigated using surface X-ray diffraction. It was found that the 5 × 2 structural periodicity is kept under the amorphous Si from the in-plane measurement. Furthermore, the intensity variation along the fractional-order rod indicates that Au atoms are located almost on the same plane.     

Azacalix[4]arene tetramethyl ether with inherent chirality generated by substitution on the nitrogen bridges

The first inherently chiral azacalix[4]arene has been prepared by introducing three benzyl groups onto the nitrogen bridges. The highly enantioenriched compound was easily obtained via a moderately enantioselective cyclization followed by a simple crystallization procedure. NMR and X-ray crystallographic studies revealed that easy access to the enantiomer was permitted by the non-racemizable 1,3-alternate conformation in solution, up to 110 °C, as well as by the preferential crystallization of a racemic compound.     

Theory of the steady-state current of a redox couple at interdigitated array electrodes of which pairs are insulated electrically by steps

The possibility of constructing an interdigitated array electrode (IDA) with a submicrometre gap is proposed in which adjacent microband electrodes are separated from each other by an insulated step. Then the IDA is an assembly of protrusive and hollow microband electrodes. The unit model of the IDA consisted of half of the lower (hollow) microband electrode, an insulated step and half of the upper (protrusive) microband electrode with a finite thickness on the step. The boundary value problem involving the two-dimensional Laplace equation is presented for redox cycling at the IDA under diffusion control and is solved numerically by a boundary element method. The steady-state current was computed as a function of the height of the step and the thickness of the upper electrode. It was larger than the current at the ordinary IDA, partly because the true electrode area was larger than the area of the ordinary IDA. The current varied linearly with the logarithm of the step height. It was expressed by a simple approximate equation in order to facilitate prediction of its numerical value.     

Characterization and quantification of fluoxymesterone metabolite in horse urine by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Fluoxymesterone, an anabolic steroid with the 17alpha-methyl,17beta-hydroxy group, has been developed as an oral formulation for therapeutic purposes. However, it is also used illegally in racehorses to enhance racing performance. In this study, we detected 9alpha-fluoro-17,17-dimethyl-18-norandrostane-4,13-dien-11beta-ol-3-one by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), which has not been reported as a fluoxymesterone metabolite so far in horse. It was synthesized for use as a reference standard, and characterized on the basis of (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR spectra, as well as GC/MS EI mass spectra of TMS derivatives. It was excreted as the main metabolite in horse urine, and its reference standard could be synthesized easily. Therefore, this metabolite could be a useful target for a doping test of fluoxymesterone in racehorses.     

Syndiotactic‐specific radical polymerization of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide in the presence of tartrates: A proposed mechanism for the polymerization

Radical polymerization of N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm) was investigated in the presence of tartrates, such as diethyl L ‐tartrate, diisopropyl L ‐tartrate, and di‐n‐butyl L ‐tartrate, in toluene at low temperatures. Syndiotactic polymers were obtained in the presence of tartrates, whereas isotactic polymers were obtained in the absence of tartrates. The syndiotactic‐specificity increased with increasing amount of tartrates and with decreasing polymerization temperature. NMR analysis suggested that DMAAm and tartrates formed a 1:1 complex through double hydrogen bonding. A mechanism for the syndiotactic‐specific radical polymerization of DMAAm is proposed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1192–1203, 2009     

The effect of the N‐substituent s‐trans to the carbonyl group of N‐methylacrylamide derivatives on the stereospecificity of radical polymerizations

Radical polymerization of N‐methylacrylamide (NMAAm), N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm), and N‐methyl‐N‐phenylacrylamide (MPhAAm) was investigated in toluene at low temperatures. Atactic, isotactic, and syndiotactic polymers were obtained by the polymerization of NMAAm, DMAAm, and MPhAAm, respectively, indicating that the stereospecificity of the radical polymerization of acrylamide derivatives depended on the N‐substituents of the monomer used. From the viewpoint of monomer structure, the origin of the stereospecificity of radical polymerization of NMAAm derivatives is discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6534–6539, 2009     

Spontaneous emulsification at oil–water interface by tetraalkylammonium chloride

Water droplets were formed spontaneously at the interface of the 2-nitrophenyloctyl ether and aqueous phases on the oil phase side when the oil contained tetraalkylammonium chloride without surfactants. The droplets, less than some micrometers in diameter, gathered at the interface. The number density of the droplets was proportional to the concentration of tetraethylammonium chloride, and hence this salt should be responsible for the formation of the droplets as a surfactant. When positive voltage was applied to the aqueous phase against the oil, the droplets departed from the interface toward the oil bulk. The droplets should be negatively charged by chloride. The adsorption model of the salt was suggested, in which chloride is immobilized at the interface on the aqueous side electrostatically with tetraethylammonium ion on the oil side.     

Evaluation of an ODS column modified with zwitterionic/nonionic mixed surfactants and its application to direct injection determination of inorganic anions.

An octadecylsilica (ODS) column modified with zwitterionic/nonionic mixed surfactants was evaluated for the direct injection determination of inorganic anions in biological fluids by ion chromatography. A zwitterionic surfactant (sulfobetaine-type) and a nonionic surfactant (polyoxyethylene-type) were used for a stationary-phase modification. When aqueous electrolyte solutions with concentrations of sub-mM to several mM were used as a mobile phase, the zwitterionic surfactant coated on the ODS surface exhibited unique separation selectivity for ionic species, while the nonionic surfactant coated on the ODS might have formed a hydrophilic network over the ODS surface and restricted matrix proteins from adsorbing on the stationary phase. Consequently, the mixed surfactant-modified column system allowed an efficient ion chromatographic separation of inorganic anions as well as a size-exclusive removal of column-fouling proteins. This separation system was applied to the direct injection determination of UV-absorbing anions in human saliva. The detection limits for nitrite, nitrate, iodide and thiocyanate were 3.1, 2.7, 4.5 and 25 microM, respectively, with UV detection at 210 nm (injection volume; 20 microl), and their relative standard deviations for 5 replicate measurements of saliva samples spiked with 100 microM each of those anions were 1.4, 0.9, 2.2 and 5.5%, respectively.