Polynomial characterization of inhomogeneous media and theirreconstruction using an open-ended waveguide

B. Sanadiki and M. Moustafavi (1991) described how an inhomogeneous continuously varying dielectric profile can be inverted using a stepwise successive refinement procedure when an open-ended waveguide is used as the source. Here, an alternative approach based on polynomial characterization of the dielectric medium is discussed. It is shown that this method is more efficient and avoids the convergence difficulties of the previous method for most cases except for discontinuous or stratified profiles     

A Stochastic Approximation Approach for Foresighted Task Scheduling in Cloud Computing

Wireless Personal Communications - With the increasing and elastic demand for cloud resources, finding an optimal task scheduling mechanism become a challenge for cloud service providers. Due to...     

Presentation of a new index for estimation of aromaticity in halo‐ and cyanobenzenes: The role of potential energy in aromaticity

A linear correlation has been obtained between average values of Hamiltonian kinetic energy ( ) and potential energy ( ) calculated at the bond critical points using atoms in molecules method. This relation was used to introduce a new index ( ) for estimation of aromaticity in halo‐ and cyanobenzenes. Potential energy has different terms such as attraction between nuclei and electrons, also repulsion of electrons which affect the inertia and mobility of electrons, respectively. Therefore, contribution of potential energy in this relation must be controlled. Contribution of potential energy in aromaticity has been managed using a fitting parameter. This parameter was obtained by fitting the aromaticity stabilization energy data with values of aromaticity calculated by index for halo‐ and cyanobenzenes. The contribution of potential energy in index is complete when molecule is nonaromatic and is negligible when molecule is antiaromatic. Indeed, molecule is aromatic when contribution of potential energy in index lies between above limits. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Hot-Electron Photodynamics in Silver-Containing BEA-Type Nanozeolite Studied by Femtosecond Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

Silver cations were introduced in nanosized BEA-type zeolite containing organic template by ion-exchange followed by chemical reduction towards preparation of photoactive materials (Ag⁰-BEA). The stabilization of highly dispersed Ag⁰ nanoparticles with a size of 1–2 nm in the BEA zeolite was revealed. The transient optical response of the Ag-BEA samples upon photoexcitation at 400 nm was studied by femtosecond absorption. The photodynamic of the hot electrons was found to depend on the sample preparation. The lifetime of the hot electrons in the Ag−BEA samples containing small Ag nanoparticles (1–2 nm) is significantly shortened in comparison to bear Ag nanoparticles with a size of 10 nm. While for the larger Ag nanoparticles, the energy absorbed in the conduction band is decaying by electron-phonon coupling into the metal lattice, the high surface-to-volume ratio of the small Ag nanoparticles favors the dissipation of the energy of the hot electrons from the metal nanoparticles (Ag⁰) towards the zeolitic micro-environment. This finding is encouraging for further applications of Ag-containing zeolites in photocatalysis and plasmonic chemistry.     

First Electrochemical Report for Simultaneous Determination of Norepinephrine,Tyrosine and Nicotine Using a Nanostructure Based Sensor

A carbon paste electrode was modified with ZnO nanorods and 3‐(4′‐amino‐3′‐hydroxy‐biphenyl‐4‐yl)‐acrylic acid (3,4′AAZCPE) to cause electrocatalysis of norepinephrine oxidation. It has been found that the oxidation of norepinephrine at the surface of modified electrode occurs at a potential of about 180 mV less positive than that of an unmodified carbon paste electrode. Square wave voltammetry (SWV) exhibits linear dynamic range from 1.0×10^?7 to 8.0×10^?5 M and a detection limit of 3.9×10^?8 M for norepinephrine. In addition, this modified electrode was used for simultaneous determination of norepinephrine, tyrosine and nicotine.     

Nanostructured Base Electrochemical Sensor for Simultaneous Quantification and Voltammetric Studies of Levodopa and Carbidopa in Pharmaceutical Products and Biological Samples

A novel carbon paste electrode modified with carbon nanotubes and 5‐amino‐2′‐ethyl‐biphenyl‐2‐ol (5AEB) was fabricated. The electrochemical study of the modified electrode, as well as its efficiency for electrocatalytic oxidation of levodopa (LD) and carbidopa (CD), is described. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to investigate the redox properties of this modified electrode at various scan rates. The apparent charge transfer rate constant, k_s, and transfer coefficient, a, for electron transfer between 5AEB and CPE were calculated as 17.3 s^?1 and 0.5, respectively. Square wave voltammetry (SWV) exhibits a linear dynamic range from 2.5×10^?7 to 2.0×10^?4 M and a detection limit of 9.0×10^?8 M for LD.     

Application of a thiourea‐containing task‐specific ionic liquid for the solid‐phase extraction cleanup of lead ions from red lipstick,pine leaves,and water samples

Here, task‐specific ionic liquid solid‐phase extraction is proposed for the first time. In this approach, a thiourea‐functionalized ionic liquid is immobilized on the solid sorbent, multiwalled carbon nanotubes. These modified nanotubes packed into a solid‐phase extraction column are used for the selective extraction and preconcentration of ultra‐trace amounts of lead(II) from aqueous samples prior to electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy determination. The thiourea functional groups act as chelating agents for lead ions retaining them and so, give the selectivity to the sorbent. Elution of the retained ions can be performed using an acidic thiourea solution. The effects of experimental parameters including pH of the aqueous solution, type and amount of eluent, and the flow rates of sample and eluent solutions on the separation efficiency are investigated. The linear dependence of absorbance of lead on its concentration in the initial solution is in the range of 0.5–40.0 ng/mL with the detection limit of 0.13 ng/mL (3s_b/m, n = 10). The proposed method is applicable to the analysis of red lipstick, pine leaves, and water samples for their lead contents.     

Potential of Modified Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with 1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-naphtol as a New Solid Sorbent for the Preconcentration of Trace Amounts of Cobalt(II) Ion

The present paper reports on the application of modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MMWCNTs) as a new, easily prepared and stable solid sorbent for the preconcentration of trace Co(II) in aqueous solution. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were oxidized with concentrated HNO(3) and modified with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphtol (PAN), and were then used as a solid phase for the preconcentration of Co(II). Factors influencing the sorption and desorption of Co(II) were investigated. Elution was carried out with 0.5 mol L(-1) HNO(3). The amount of eluted Co(II) was measured using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The effects of the experimental parameters, including the sample pH, sample flow rate, eluent flow rate and eluent concentration, were investigated. The effect of coexisting ions showed no interference from most ions tested. The proposed method permitted a large enrichment factor (about 300). The precision of the method was 1.63% (for eight replicate determination of 0.5 microg mL(-1) of Co(II)) and the limit of detection was 0.55 ng mL(-1). The method was applied to the determination of Co(II) in water, biological and standard samples.     

Solvation dynamics of electron produced by two-photon ionization of liquid polyols. III. Glycerol

The solvation dynamics of excess electrons in glycerol have been measured by the pump-probe femtosecond laser technique at 333 K. The electrons are produced by two-photon absorption at 263 nm. The change in the induced absorbance is followed up to 450 ps in the spectral range from 440 to 720 nm. The transient signals of electron solvation have been analyzed by two kinetic models: a stepwise mechanism and a continuous relaxation model, using a Bayesian data analysis method. The results are compared with those previously published for ethylene glycol (J. Phys. Chem. A 2006, 110, 175) and for propanediols (J. Phys. Chem. A 2007, 111, 4902). From the comparison, it is pointed out that solvation dynamics in glycerol is very fast despite its high viscosity. This is interpreted as the existence of efficient traps for the electrons in glycerol with low potential energy. The small shift of the absorption band of the excess electron indicates that the potential of these traps is very close to that corresponding to the fully solvated electron.     

Radiolytic Approach for Efficient,Selective and Catalyst-free CO2 Conversion at Room Temperature

The present study proposes a new approach for direct CO₂ conversion using primary radicals from water irradiation. In order to ensure reduction of CO₂ into CO₂^−. by all the primary radiation-induced water radicals, we use formate ions to scavenge simultaneously the parent oxidizing radicals H^. and OH^. producing the same transient CO₂^−. radicals. Conditions are optimized to obtain the highest conversion yield of CO₂. The goal is achieved under mild conditions of room temperature, neutral pH and 1 atm of CO₂ pressure. All the available radicals are exploited for selectively converting CO₂ into oxalate that is accompanied by H₂ evolution. The mechanism presented accounts for the results and also sheds light on the data in the literature. The radiolytic approach is a mild and scalable route of direct CO₂ capture at the source in industry and the products, oxalate salt and H₂, can be easily separated.