Optimal control for systems described by hyperbolic equations with strong nonlinearity

An optimization control problem for a hyperbolic equation is considered. The system is nonlinear with respect to the state derivative. The regularization technique for the state equation is applied. The necessary conditions of optimality for the regularized control problem are proved. It uses the extended differentiability of the control-state mapping for the regularized equation. The convergence of the regularization method is proved. Thus the optimal control for the regularized problem with a small enough regularization parameter can be chosen as an approximate solution of the initial optimization problem.     

“One‐pot” synthesis of aromatic poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazole)s in novel solvents—ionic liquids

The new convenient method for the synthesis of high molecular weight aromatic poly(1,3,4‐oxadiazole)s (PODs) has been proposed. These polymers were prepared by “one‐pot” procedure from dicarboxylic acid and hydrazine's salt (sulfate, phosphate) or dicarboxylic acid dihydrazides. The mixture of ionic liquid and triphenyl phosphite was used both as a solvent and condensing agent. The polycyclization occurred at a sufficiently low temperature of 210 °C for 2–5 h and resulted in obtaining film‐forming PODs having inherent viscosities up to 0.9 dL/g and good thermal stability. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 380–394, 2006     

A new sono-electrochemical method for enhanced detoxification of hydrophilic chloroorganic pollutants in water

A new method for detoxification of hydrophilic chloroorganic pollutants in effluent water was developed, using a combination of ultrasound waves, electrochemistry and Fenton's reagent. The advantages of the method are exemplified using two target compounds: the common herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and its derivative 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). The high degradation power of this process is due to the large production of oxidizing hydroxyl radicals and high mass transfer due to sonication. Application of this sono-electrochemical Fenton process (SEF) treatment (at 20 kHz) with quite a small current density, accomplished almost 50% oxidation of 2,4-D solution (300 ppm, 1.2 mM) in just 60 s. Similar treatments ran for 600 s resulted in practically full degradation of the herbicide; sizable oxidation of 2,4-DCP also occurs. The main intermediate compounds produced in the SEF process were identified. Their kinetic profile was measured and a chemical reaction scheme was suggested. The efficiency of the SEF process is tentatively much higher than the reference degradation methods and the time required for full degradation is considerably shorter. The SEF process maintains high performance up to concentrations which are higher than reference methods. The optimum concentration of Fe²⁺ ions required for this process was found to be of about 2 mM, which is lower than that in reference techniques. These findings indicate that SEF process may be an effective method for detoxification of environmental water.     

Multiple-quantum magic-angle spinning spectroscopy using nonlinear sampling

NMR spectroscopy is a relatively insensitive technique and many biomolecular applications operate near the limits of sensitivity and resolution. A particularly challenging example is detection of the quadrupolar nucleus 17O, due to its low natural abundance, large quadrupole couplings, and low gyromagnetic ratio. Yet the chemical shift of 17O spans almost 1000 ppm in organic molecules and it serves as a potentially unique reporter of hydrogen bonding in peptides, nucleic acids, and water, and as a valuable complement to 13C and 15N NMR. Recent developments including the multiple-quantum magic-angle spinning (MQMAS) experiment have enabled the detection of 17O in biological solids, but very long data acquisitions are required to achieve sufficient sensitivity and resolution. Here, we perform nonlinear sampling in the indirect dimension of MQMAS experiments to substantially reduce the total acquisition time and improve sensitivity and resolution. Nonlinear sampling prevents the use of the discrete Fourier transform; instead, we employ maximum entropy (MaxEnt) reconstruction. Nonlinearly sampled MQMAS spectra are shown to provide high resolution and sensitivity in several systems, including lithium sulfate monohydrate (LiSO(4)-H(2)17O) and L-asparagine monohydrate (H(2)17O). The combination of nonlinear sampling and MaxEnt reconstruction promises to make the application of 17O MQMAS practical in a wider range of biological systems.     

Light-activated antibacterial surfaces comprise photosensitizers

Antibacterial surfaces were prepared using a base polyethylene sheet topped with a layer containing a mixed powder of poly (vinylidene fluoride) and photosensitizers (PSs). A crimpled stamp was placed on the mixed powder, and then it was passed through a heating and pressing device. The three chosen PSs were rose bengal, toluidine blue O and methylene blue. Scanning electron microscope analysis showed that the PS surface texture was coarse and highly developed. Measurement of the apparent contact angles of the droplets deposited on the PS surfaces using goniometry showed that all three surfaces were hydrophobic. Photodynamic analysis of the surfaces into which the PSs were incorporated indicated significant reactive oxygen species formation after illumination with light fluency rate of 1.46 mW cm(-2) for 30 min. Photodynamic inactivation assays performed in nutrient broth demonstrated more than 4 log reduction of the attached Escherichia coli after illumination (1.46 mW cm(-2)) for 24 h when the inoculum was 10(3) CFU mL(-1). However, more than 4 log reduction of Staphylococcus aureus occurred even when the cultures were illuminated for only 6 h. Our results provide an inexpensive, simple, state-of-the-art method for preparing antibacterial surfaces that may help prevent infections in hospital surroundings and in some medical devices.     

Application of the modified polarographic Brdička method for cancer testing

This paper reviews the application of a modification of the polarographic Brdi?ka method for cancer testing. The modification comprises the catalytic electroreduction of metal ions (here called Brdi?ka method based on catalytic metal ion reduction for cancer testing—BMMCT) and/or the electrooxidation of proteins, instead of the classical approach based on the catalytic electroreduction of protons, i.e., hydrogen waves (here called Brdi?ka method based on catalytic hydrogen evolution for cancer testing—BMHCT). Further, in the modified method, the mercury electrode has been replaced by a nontoxic solid electrode and the entire measuring system has been automated. The modified method excels in improved testing rates and sensitivity of cancer testing. The cancer testing of vaginal secretions is characterized by high specificity as well.     

Conformational Composition and Spin Properties of β-Phosphone Nitroxyl Radicals in Gaseous Phase and Solutions

Abstract

As part of our studies of the extremely high sensitivity to substitutients A,B,R, temperature and solvents of phosphorus hyperfine splitting in ESR spectra of β-phosphone nitroxyl radicals ABP(O)CR₂N(Î)Bu¹, we have studied them theoretically. The conformational composition and spin delocalization in H₂(O)CH₂N(Î)Í, (ÌåÌ)₂P(O)CÌå₂N(Î)Ìå and (ÍÎ)₂P(O)CÌ?₂N(Î)Bu' has been studied by UHF/6-31G& and MNDO (GAMESS). Solvent effects on conformational equilibrium, rotational and inversion barriers, charge distributions and spin properties of β-phosphone nitroxyl were calculated by SCRF UHF/6-31G* method.     

Three sources of CO2 efflux from soil partitioned by 13C natural abundance in an incubation study

This study describes a novel approach to separate three soil carbon (C) sources by one tracer method (here 13C natural abundance). The approach is based on the combination of C3 and C4 sources in different treatments, identical decomposition of C3 and C4 substances in soil, and subsequent calculation of their contribution to the total CO2 efflux. We used the temporal dynamics of the CO2 efflux from a C3 grassland soil amended with added C3 or C4 slurry and/or C3 or C4 sugar to estimate contributions of three separate C sources: native soil organic matter (SOM), slurry and sugar, to CO2 efflux. Soil with slurry and/or sugar was incubated under controlled conditions, and concentration and delta13C values of evolved CO2 were measured over a 2-week period. The main assumption needed for separation of three C sources in CO2 efflux, i.e. identical decomposition of applied C3 and C4 sugars in soil, was investigated and proven. The relative contribution to the CO2 efflux increased, but its duration decreased with an increased microbial availability of the C source, i.e. sugar > slurry > SOM. The microorganisms used the C sources according to their availability. The contribution of sugar to the CO2 efflux was finished after 2-4 days. Separation of three CO2 sources and comparison of CO2 from different treatments tracing the changes of SOM and slurry decomposition induced by addition of sugar were investigated. During the sugar decomposition (the first 2-4 days), the SOM decomposition strongly decreased. At the same time the contribution of slurry-C to CO2 increased. The shortcomings and limitations as well as possible future applications of the suggested method including FACE (Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichments) and continuous labelling experiments are discussed.