Dynamic Optimization of Molecular Weight Distribution Using Orthogonal Collocation on Finite Elements and Fixed Pivot Methods: An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation

In the present study, two numerical methods, namely the orthogonal collocation on finite elements and the fixed pivot technique, are employed to calculate the MWD in an MMA free‐radical batch suspension polymerization reactor operating up to very high conversions (e.g., ≥95%). The theoretical MWD predictions are directly compared with experimentally measured MWDs, obtained from a pilot‐scale batch MMA suspension polymerization reactor. It is shown that there is a very good agreement between model predictions and experimental measurements on both monomer conversion and MWD. Subsequently, two different time‐optimal temperature trajectories are calculated to obtain a polymer having either a narrow or a bimodal MWD in minimum batch time. The calculated time optimal trajectories are then applied, as set point temperature changes, to a pilot plant batch polymerization reactor. It is shown that the measured MWDs are in very good agreement with the off‐line calculated optimal MWDs.

     

Review of a fast simulation method for the analysis of queueing networks

This paper presents a review of and refinements to a class of discrete-event models for the analysis of unreliable queueing systems. In contrast to conventional piece-by-piece simulators, these models observe a number of rare events that affect the inflow and outflow rates at each queue. Between events, the evolution of the system is approximated by a linear function. Several experiments confirm the accuracy of this approximation and its computational efficiency over conventional simulation. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of protein flexibility on hydride-transfer parameters in thermophilic and psychrophilic alcohol dehydrogenases

The hydride transfer catalyzed by thermophilic alcohol dehydrogenase (htADH) exhibits sharply different kinetic and activation parameters from that catalyzed by the more flexible psychrophilic alcohol dehydrogenase (psADH). In addition, the hydride transfer in htADH is affected by mutating two distal residues that are suggested to be responsible for the decreased local protein flexibility in htADH. These observations provide support for the view that protein dynamics is tightly coupled to the hydrogen-transfer processes in these enzymes.     

A facile preparation of 1-(6-hydroxyindol-1-yl)-2,2-dimethylpropan-1-one

An effective synthesis of 1-(6-hydroxyindol-1-yl)-2,2-dimethylpropan-1-one (4) was developed starting from 1H-indole (2). The key step involved suitable utilization of 4-(1-pyrrolidino)pyridine for the removal of the chloroacetyl moiety from chloroacetic acid 1-(2,2-dimethylpropionyl)-1H-indol-6-yl ester (3); a possible mechanism is, also, presented. Compound 4 might lead to selectively substituted derivatives, either on the phenolic-OH or the indolyl-NH, with putative biological interest. In this respect, we found that the core structure of 1H-indol-6-ol (1) possesses a degree of aldose reductase inhibitory potential, at a concentration of 100 microM.     

Ion exchange of Pb(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+), and Cr(3+) on natural clinoptilolite: selectivity determination and influence of acidity on metal uptake

In the present study ion exchange of Pb(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+), and Cr(3+) on natural Greek clinoptilolite was examined in terms of selectivity toward the above heavy metals in single- and multicomponent solutions in batch systems. Also examined are the influence of clinoptilolite on solution acidity and the effect of acidity on the ion exchange process. Clinoptilolite increases solution acidity due to the exchange of H(+) cations with the cations initially present in its structure. H(+) cations should be considered as competitive ones in ion exchange processes, and consequently ion exchange of metals is favored at high acidity values. Cu(2+) and Cr(3+) are the most sensitive cations with respect to acidity. Selectivity determination demonstrates that the selectivity at total concentration 0.01 N and acidity 2 in both single- and multicomponent solutions is following the order Pb(2+)>Fe(3+)>Cr(3+) > or =Cu(2+). This order is set since the first days of equilibration. However, Cu(2+) shows remarkable changes in selectivity and generally its uptake and selectivity are increasing with time. On the other hand selectivity in single metal solutions where acidity is not adjusted is following the order Pb(2+)>Cr(3+)>Fe(3+) congruent with Cu(2+).     

Investigation of the zinc(II)-benzoate-2-pyridinealdoxime reaction system

The employment of pyridine-2-carbaldehyde oxime (paoH) in zinc(II) benzoate chemistry, in the absence or presence of azide ions, is described. The syntheses, crystal structures and spectroscopic characterization are reported for the complexes [Zn(O(2)CPh)(2)(paoH)(2)] (1), [Zn(12)(OH)(4)(O(2)CPh)(16)(pao)(4)] (2) and [Zn(4)(OH)(2)(pao)(4)(N(3))(2)] (3). The Zn(II) centre in octahedral 1 is coordinated by two monodentate PhCO(2)(-) groups and two N,N'-chelating paoH ligands. The metallic skeleton of 2 describes a tetrahedron encapsulated in a distorted cube. The {Zn(12)(μ-OH)(4)(μ(3)-ΟR)(4)}(16+) core of the cluster can be conveniently described as consisting of a central {Zn(4)(μ(3)-ΟR)(4)}(4+) cubane subunit (RO(-) = pao(-)) linked to four {Zn(2)(μ-OH)}(3+) subunits via the OH(-) group of each of the latter, which becomes μ(3). The molecule of 3 has an inverse 12-metallacrown-4 topology. Two triply bridging hydroxido groups are accommodated into the metallacrown ring. Each pao(-) ligand adopts the η(1)?:?η(1)?:?η(1)?:?μ coordination mode, chelating one Zn(II) atom and bridging a Zn(II)(2) pair. Complexes 1 and 2 display photoluminescence with maxima at ～355 nm and ～375 nm, upon maximum excitation at 314 nm; the origin of the photoluminescence is discussed.     

Comparative analysis of ancient ceramics by neutron activation analysis,inductively coupled plasma-optical-emission spectrometry,inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry,and X-ray fluorescence

The accurate measurement of the maximum possible number of elements in ancient ceramic samples is the main requirement in provenance studies. For this reason neutron activation analysis (NAA) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) have been successfully used for most of the studies. In this work the analytical performance of inductively coupled plasma-optical-emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been compared with that of XRF and NAA for the chemical characterization of archaeological pottery. Correlation coefficients between ICP techniques and XRF or NAA data were generally better than 0.90. The reproducibility of data calculated on a sample prepared and analysed independently ten times was approximately 5% for most of the elements. Results from the ICP techniques were finally evaluated for their capacity to identify the same compositional pottery groups as results from XRF and NAA analysis, by use of multivariate statistics.     

Expeditious one-pot synthesis of highly substituted thiazolo[3,2-a]pyridines involving chromones

The 1,4-zwitterion derived from 4,5-dimethylthiazole and acetylenedicarboxylates has been shown to react at low temperature readily with 3-formylchromones (chromone-3-carboxaldehydes) resulting, after an unusual rearrangement, in the facile synthesis of thiazolo[3,2-a]pyridine derivatives; in the case of electron-donating substituents in the chromone ring tetracyclic chromenothiazolopyridines are isolated as the main reaction products. However, at higher temperature after an unexpected 1,2-aroyl migration 8-formyl-5H-[1,3]thiazolo[3,2-a]pyridines are formed as a mixture of two rotamers. Structural assignments of the new compounds as well as complete assignment of ¹H and ¹³C NMR signals were based on the analysis of their ¹H and ¹³C NMR (1D and 2D), IR, MS and elemental analysis data. Plausible mechanisms are proposed.