Zero Tension Kardar-Parisi-Zhang Equation in (d + 1)–Dimensions

The joint probability distribution function (PDF) of the height and its gradients is derived for a zero tension d + 1-dimensional Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) equation. It is proved that the height's PDF of zero tension KPZ equation shows lack of positivity after a finite time t _c . The properties of zero tension KPZ equation and its differences with the case that it possess an infinitesimal surface tension is discussed. Also potential relation between the time scale t _c and the singularity time scale t _c.v→0 of the KPZ equation with an infinitesimal surface tension is investigated.     

Study of trace elements in milk by nuclear analytical techniques

This work is part of a project with the IAEA, in a coordinated program on Trace Elements in Human and Bio-Environmental Systems to evaluate their nutritional requirements, interrelations and the role of trace elements in health, metabolism, etc. Cow's milk being regarded as one of the most important and nutritious foodstuffs consumed by people. Hence as a first step, an elemental analysis for milk was carried out for this purpose; a few samples of pasteurized milk and local sample were investigated for essential and toxic trace elements. The secondary aim of this project was the assessment of various analytical techniques involved. However, in the present work, the methods involved were AAS, PIXE and NAA. The latter method was applied both instrumentally and radiochemically. Although the results pertaining to the various methods employed are not in good agreement. there is, however, some justification to clarify this internal inconsistency. The precision of NAA and AAS allows a greater degree of acceptance. Although PIXE is very fast and rather routine, the technique for trace element analysis needs certain adaptations and development.     

Attempts at Solvolytic Generation of Phenyl Cations

New substrates and reaction conditions which may be expected to yield phenyl cation intermediates have been investigated. The approaches used were: (a) solvolysis of PhX in fluorinated alcohols, where X = ? N (O) = NOTs (tosyloxyazoxy), ? N (O) = NONf (Nf = C₄F₉SO) and ? OSO₂\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm N}\limits^{\rm + } $\end{document} (CH₃)₃ōTf (Tf=CF₃SO); (b) solvolysis of ArBr, PhOTf and PhOSO₂\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \mathop {\rm N}\limits^{\rm + } $\end{document}(CH₃)₃ōTf (phenyl ‘betylate triflate’) in super-acid solvents (FSO₃H · SbF₅, SbF₅, AgSbF₆). Analysis of the product mixtures provided no evidence for the intermediacy of phenyl cations as a major pathway in any of the reactions. This result is remarkable, since the ‘betylate’, for example, is a better leaving group by a factor of at least 10⁵ than the ‘super’ leaving group triflate in the solvolysis of alkyl sulfonates. These results are a further indication of the extremely low stability of phenyl cations, as well as of the very special properties of the nitrogen leaving group in arenediazonium ions.     

A tetra-coordinate nickel(II) complex as neutral carrier for nitrate-selective PVC membrane electrode

The potentiometric response properties and applications of a tetra-coordinate nickel(II) complex with relatively high selectivity toward nitrate ion are described. The nickel(II) complex of 5,7,12,14-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-4,6,11,13-tetraene was used as a neutral carrier into plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane. The influence of several variables was investigated in order to optimize the potentiometric response and selectivity of the electrode. The resulting membrane electrode incorporating 31.0% PVC, 61.0% dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as plasticizer, 3% methyltrioctylammonium chloride (MTOAC) as a cationic additive and 5% carrier (all w/w) demonstrates a Nernstian response slope of −59.6 mV per decade over the concentration range of 5×10⁻⁶-1×10⁻¹ M NO₃⁻. The electrode exhibits a fast response time (≤10 s), a detection limit of 2.5×10⁻⁶ M, and can be used over a wide pH range of 4-12. The electrode shows improved selectivity in comparison to most of the previously reported nitrate-selective electrodes. It was successfully applied to the determination of nitrate ion in natural water samples.     

Al Electrode Modified by Au Atoms as a Novel Electrode for Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Thiosulfate

An aluminum electrode modified with gold atoms was introduced as a novel electrode. Gold atoms were deposited both chemically and electrochemically onto the aluminum electrode to make an aluminum/gold (Al/Au) modified electrode (ME). The experimental results showed that the Al/Au modified electrode prepared by chemical deposition, exhibits much more current than the electrochemical deposition method. The electrochemical behavior of the Al/Au modified electrode was studied by cyclic voltammometry. This modified electrode showed two pairs of peaks, a₁c₁ and a₂c₂, with surface‐confined characteristics in a 0.5 M phosphate buffer. The dependence of E_pa of the second peak (a₂c₂) on pH shows a Nernestian behavior with a slope of 55 mV per unit pH. The effect of different supporting electrolytes, solution's pH and different scan rates on electrochemical behavior of Al/Au modified electrode was studied. Au deposited electrochemically on a Pt electrode (Pt/Au) was also used as another modified electrode. A comparative study of electrochemical behavior of bare Al, Pt/Au and Al/Au modified electrodes showed that both Pt/Au and Al/Au electrodes have the ability of electrocatalytic oxidation of S₂O₃^2?, but the electrocatalytic oxidation on the latter was better than the former. The kinetics of the catalytic reaction was investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques. The average value of the rate constant for the catalytic reaction and the diffusion coefficient were evaluated by means of chronoamperometry technique.     

Determination of lead and atmospheric particulates by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry

Flameless atomic absorption techniques were used to determine the lead and other atmospheric particulate in the city of Tehran. 640 samples were collected in 20 different stations around the city during four seasons in 1992. The radioactivity of the air samples was also measured by -ray spectrometry using high purity Ge/Li detectors, and a multichannel analyzer. The results were compared with previous measurements in the city of Tehran.     

Development of a radiotracer method for measuring CO2 uptake by cement - wood mixtures

Radiotracer method was developed for measuring¹⁴CO₂ content in cement-wood mixtures. The carbon dioxide used for the treatment was labeled with¹⁴C, a -emitting radioisotope, and samples were measured by -scintillation and liquid scintillation techniques. Test samples were prepared in the laboratory with various compositions and treated with labeled¹⁴CO₂. The tracer was released from Ba¹⁴CO₃ by lactic acid with total activity of 37 MBq. Selectivity of the technique allows to distinguish the carbon dioxide bound during the treatment and bound previously from the mbient air. Sensitivity of the method is higher than that of traditional methods and allowed determination of CO₂ content in each component of the mixture. It is 63 ng. if measured by -scintillation detector and 1.6 ng, if measured by liquid scintillation. Accuracy of the method is 0.3%.     

Synthesis and Structure Determination of Some New N‐Glycosides of 4,5‐Disubstituted‐1,2,4‐Triazole‐3‐Thiones

Some new N‐glycosides of 4‐(2‐phenylethyl)‐5‐pyridyl‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiones were synthesised by the coupling reaction of halo sugar with 4,5‐disubstituted 3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiones in the presence of mercuric cyanide and dry nitromethane as solvent, followed by deprotection using dry ammonia in methanol. All of the above compounds were fully characterized by means of infrared, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis.     

Applications of Inorganic Polymeric Materials, III: Polyphosphazenes

Polyphosphazenes form one of the most important and interesting classes of inorganic polymers having a backbone of alternating phosphorus and nitrogen atoms with phosphorus atom bearing two organic side groups. The most important feature of these polymers is the synthesis route which allows the side groups to be changed over a wide range to obtain a broad variety of products with different properties from elastomers to glasses, water soluble to hydrophobic polymers, bioinert to bioactive materials, and electrical insulators to conductors. In this paper, some novel applications of these polymers in biomedical materials and advanced devices are reviewed.