Flow injection-spectrophotometric determination of cresol compounds in water by reaction withp-aminophenol

A spectrophotometric method has been developed for the simultaneous determination ofo-cresol andm-cresol in water by reaction withp-aminophenol (PAP). Three different methodologies have been assayed; (i) batch analysis, after reaction in an alkaline medium in the presence of dissolved molecular oxygen as oxidizing agent, (ii) a stopped-flow procedure, carried out in the presence of KIO₄ and (iii) a flow injection method based on the same approach. The batch procedure requires 22 min for the full development of colour witho-cresol and 12 min form-cresol. In the stopped-flow mode, using KIO₄ and a reaction time of 12 min, better sensitivity can be obtained for both compounds and limits of detection of 10 g 1^–1 foro-cresol and 30 g 1^–1 form-cresol were found. The flow injection method has a lower sensitivity but permits more than 80 injections per hour. Based on the different maximum absorbance wavelengths obtained for the reaction products of PAP witho-cresol (614 nm) andm-cresol (632 nm), both compounds can be simultaneously determined in water samples and recoveries of 90 to 115% were found in spiked water samples of different types.     

Generalized solutions of a stochastic partial differential equation

We discuss the Cauchy problem of a certain stochastic parabolic partial differential equation arising in the nonlinear filtering theory, where the initial data and the nonhomogeneous noise term of the equation are given by Schwartz distributions. The generalized (distributional) solution is represented by a partial (conditional) generalized expectation ofT(t)° _0,t ^–1 , whereT(t) is a stochastic process with values in distributions and _s,t is a stochastic flow generated by a certain stochastic differential equation. The representation is used for getting estimates of the solution with respect to Sobolev norms.Further, by applying the partial Malliavin calculus of Kusuoka-Stroock, we show that any generalized solution is aC -function under a condition similar to Hörmander's hypoellipticity condition.     

Approximate minimum-cost multicommodity flows in\tilde O(ɛ −2 KNM) timetime

We show that an ε-approximate solution of the cost-constrainedK-commodity flow problem on anN-nodeM-arc network,G can be computed by sequentially solving O(K(? ^?2+logGK) logGM log (G? ^?1 GK)) single-commodity minimum-cost flow problems on the same network. In particular, an approximate minimum-cost multicommodity flow can be computed in $\tilde O$ (G? ^?2 GKNM) running time, where the notation Õ(·) means “up to logarithmic factors”. This result improves the time bound mentioned by Grigoriadis and Khachiyan [4] by a factor ofM/N and that developed more recently by Karger and Plotkin [8] by a factor of? ^?1. We also provide a simple $\tilde O$ (NM)-time algorithm for single-commodity budget-constrained minimum-cost flows which is $\tilde O$ (? ^?3) times faster than the algorithm developed in the latter paper.     

Experimental study of the induced flow birefringence of a suspension of rigid particles at the transition from Couette flow to Taylor vortex flow

The flow birefringence induced in solutions of rigid particles is studied experimentally in the region of the axisymmetrical Taylor vortex flow which arises once the velocity gradient G in the annular gap of a conventional Couette cell reaches a critical value G _c .The measurements are performed for several values of G > G _c and for 10 radial observation points in the annular gap. Solutions of two types of rigid particles are investigated: the first is a suspension of flattened clay particles like bentonite, while the second contains rod-like particles of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The variations of the birefringence intensity n and of the extinction angle measured in the domain of the axisymmetrical flow show a different behavior according to the shape of the particle in solution. This fact is confirmed theoretically with a good agreement for the measurements performed with solutions of flat particles.     

Theoretical Study of Rotational Isomerism in Ethyl Pseudohalides

The structure and conformational stability of ethyl pseudohalides CH₃CH₂ — XCN (X = O, S, Se) were investigated using ab initiocalculations at the MP2 level of theory with a triple- basis set augmented with polarization and diffusion functions. Full optimization was performed on the minimum energy structures as well as on the transition state forms. The relative stabilities of rotational conformers were calculated at the MP4 level using MP2 optimized reference geometries. The nature of all considered stationary points was verified by calculation of the harmonic vibrational frequencies. The calculated bond lengths, bond angles, dipole moments, and rotational constants of optimized global minima structures agree very well with the corresponding experimental data obtained from microwave spectroscopic studies. Also, available experimental frequencies are in good accord with the theoretical values. For ethyl cyanate CH₃CH₂ — OCN, the antiperiplanar (trans) form is predicted to be more stable than the synclinal (gauche) form, and the synperiplanar (cis) form corresponds to the transition state. For both ethyl thiocyanate CH₃CH₂ — SCN and ethyl selenocyanate CH₃CH₂ — SeCN, the gaucheform is the global minimum while the trans-conformer is a local minimum and the cis-form is a transition state.     

On the surface modification of microchannels for microcapillary electrophoresis chips

This paper presents systematic investigation of the microchannel surface properties in microCE chips. Three popular materials for microCE chips, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), quartz, and glass, are used. The zeta potentials of these microchannels are calculated by measuring the EOF velocity to evaluate the surface properties after surface modification. The hydrophobic PDMS is usually plasma-treated for microCE applications. In this study, a new method using a high-throughput atmospheric plasma generator is adopted to treat the PDMS surface under atmospheric conditions. In this approach, the cost and time for surface treatment can be significantly reduced compared with the conventional vacuum plasma generator method. Experimental results indicate that new functional groups could be formed on the PDMS surface after treatment, resulting in a change in the surface property. The time-dependent surface property of the plasma-treated PDMS is then measured in terms of the zeta potential. Results show that the surface property will reach a stable condition after 1 h of plasma treatment. For glass CE chips, two new methods for changing the microchannel surface properties are developed. Instead of using complicated and time-consuming chemical silanization procedures for CE channel surface modification, two simple and reliable methods utilizing organic-based spin-on-glass and water-soluble acrylic resin are reported. The proposed method provides a fast batch process for controlling the surface properties of glass-based CE channels. The proposed methods are evaluated using PhiX-174 DNA maker separation. The experimental data show that the surface property is modified and separation efficiency greatly improved. In addition, the long-term stability of both coatings is verified in this study. The methods proposed in this study show potential as an excellent solution for glass-based microCE chip surface modification.     

Polarization of coherent synchrotron radiation from an electron beam rotating in a plasma

After eliminating reflections from the walls of the plasma container, we observed polarization of the coherent synchrotron radiation from a relativistic electron beam rotating in a plasma. Several features of the polarization agree well with calculations based on the single particle synchrotron radiation theory. A particular polarization ratio (Fig. 3) does not, however. We deduce from this direct diffraction of the radiation by the beam electrons. This is strong evidence for beam-particle bunches of size cm. Also, there must be some absorption of the extraordinary wave to account for the observations. We suggest a way to apply these results to measure the pitch angle of the beam.Work supported by Army Research Office.     

Phase Transitions Induced by Top-Priority of Randomization

We study the characteristics of phase transition to take the top-priority of randomization in the rules of NaSch model (i.e.noise-first model) into account via computing the relaxation time and the order parameter.The scaling exponents of the relaxation time and the scaling relation of order parameter,respectively,axe obtained.     

Global Stability to Steady Supersonic Rayleigh Flows in One-Dimensional Duct∗

Heat exchange plays an important role in hydrodynamical systems, which is an interesting topic in theory and application. In this paper, the authors consider the global stability of steady supersonic Rayleigh flows for the one-dimensional compressible Euler equations with heat exchange, under the small perturbations of initial and boundary conditions in a finite rectilinear duct.     

基于孔口出流模型的实验研究及理论分析

基于孔口出流模型对底部有小孔的圆柱体容器中液体液面高度随时间的变化规律进行了实验研究,并通过计入液体表面张力引起的孔口收缩和流体黏滞力导致的能量损失对实验结果进行了理论分析,与实验结果一致.