Observation of laser driven supercritical radiative shock precursors

We present a supercritical radiative shock experiment performed with the LULI nanosecond laser facility. Using targets filled with xenon gas at low pressure, the propagation of a strong shock with a radiative precursor is evidenced. The main measured shock quantities (electronic density and propagation velocity) are shown to be in good agreement with theory and numerical simulations.     

The pattern of freezing of grapevine shoots during early bud growth

The pattern of freezing of two varieties of grapevine during spring bud burst was characterised using infrared thermography. All plants studied showed endogenous freezing of the stems and subsequent rapid ice spread (0.47 cm/s) analogous to ice spread in bulk water suggesting ice travel in the xylem. Barriers to ice spread were observed between stembranches and more importantly between the stem and buds. Buds froze after the stem and freezing appeared to be initiated from the stem. The lack of a fully functional xylem system is proposed as the barrier to ice spread. All buds which froze suffered complete frost kill whilst frozen stem recovered unharmed. Only 58% of the buds froze and those that did not freeze survived completely.     

Spectroscopic studies on some phenylethylamine drugs: Molecular orbital calculations

The electronic absorption spectra of some phenylethylamine drugs, namely, d-pseudoepherine, l-pseudoephedrine, l-ephedrine, dl-ephedrine dl-norephedrine, phenylethylamine, methoxyphenamine, and l-noradrenaline were investigated in polar and nonpolar solvents. The observed transitions were interpreted, and the role of σ-π interaction was explored. Molecular orbital calculations were performed on representatives of the above group of compounds, namely, d-pseudoephedrine, l-ephedrine, and l-noradrenaline using the INDO procedures and adopting the best conformer of the molecule. The transition energy, band intensity, and dipole moments were calculated and corresponded satisfactorily with the experimental values.     

Object-motion measurements using pulse-echo acoustical speckle and two-dimensional correlation

A basic theory of acoustical speckle and cross-correlation is described which utilizes the ubiquitous wave characteristics in ultrasonics. A computer-based pulse-echo system has been developed. It is interfaced to a VAX11/780 computer which operates the system and performs the data analysis. Data from three tests using specimens of steel, aluminum and Plexiglas are discussed. On each specimen, a pulse-echo scan of a scattering surface is made over some area which represents reference configuration. After the surface is displaced, a pulse-echo scan is made over the same area. A small region of the displaced configuration is correlated with the reference as a measure of object motion.     

Kinetics of hydrolysis of some new heterocyclic azomethines

Kinetics of base hydrolysis of new heterocyclic azomethines derived from active methyl quaternary salts and aromatic nitroso compounds were investigated in the presence of 70% (wt/wt) water-methanol. The base hydrolysis of these compounds is strictly first-order with respect to OH^– and azomethine. The rate determining step is suggested to be the attack of the hydroxide ion on the free base. Effects of water content and nature of organic hydroxylic solvent have been studied. It is concluded that specific solute-solvent interactions through dispersion forces play a major role in the base hydrolysis rate of the azomethines investigated. The effect of pH (2.98 – 12.24) on hydrolysis rates of compounds having a diethylamino substituent in the presence of 30% methanol has been studied. In acidic media, the rate determining step is probably the water attack on the protonated substrate.     

A Review on Machine Learning Approaches for Network Malicious Behavior Detection in Emerging Technologies

Network anomaly detection systems (NADSs) play a significant role in every network defense system as they detect and prevent malicious activities. Therefore, this paper offers an exhaustive overview of different aspects of anomaly-based network intrusion detection systems (NIDSs). Additionally, contemporary malicious activities in network systems and the important properties of intrusion detection systems are discussed as well. The present survey explains important phases of NADSs, such as pre-processing, feature extraction and malicious behavior detection and recognition. In addition, with regard to the detection and recognition phase, recent machine learning approaches including supervised, unsupervised, new deep and ensemble learning techniques have been comprehensively discussed; moreover, some details about currently available benchmark datasets for training and evaluating machine learning techniques are provided by the researchers. In the end, potential challenges together with some future directions for machine learning-based NADSs are specified.     

Application of Sol–Gel Based Poly(ethylene glycol)/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Coated Fiber for SPME of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether in Environmental Water Samples

In this research, the sol–gel technology was applied for the preparation of solid-phase microextraction fibers for extracting of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) from environmental water samples. For this purpose, two different polymers such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and combination of PEG and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared using sol–gel technology as coating procedure for the fibers. The pre-concentration process followed by GC–FID determination was used and the results evidenced that pre-concentration factor for PEG/CNTs fiber was approximately five times higher than PEG. Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency such as temperature, extraction time, stirring speed and salt effect for each fiber were investigated and optimized. On the optimal conditions, the linear range for MTBE with PEG and PEG/CNT fibers were 10–3,000 and 1–1,000 ng mL^?1 and the detection limits (S/N = 3) were 1.0 and 0.3 ng mL^?1, respectively. The sol–gel PEG/CNTs fiber has good performance and therefore relatively better figures of merit and experimental results such as thermal stability (up to 320 °C), average of life time (over 150 times) and repeatability (RSD < 4) in comparison to conventional PDMS/Carboxen fiber, which was already reported for determination of MTBE.     

Enhancement of Kerr nonlinearity at long wavelength in a quantum dot nanostructure

The giant Kerr nonlinearity with reduced linear and nonlinear absorption in a four-level quantum dot by employing the tunnel coupling is investigated. It is shown that by enhancement of tunnel coupling value the Kerr nonlinearity increases and at the same time linear and nonlinear absorption reduces at the long wavelength which is very important for communicational applications. Enhanced of Kerr nonlinearity in a double quantum dots is investigated. It is found that the electron tunneling has an essential role to reducing the linear absorption and increasing the Kerr nonlinearity at long wavelength.