On-line enrichment system for manganese determination in water samples using FAAS

An on-line preconcentration procedure for the determination of manganese using flow-injection approach with flame atomic absorption spectrometry as a detection method is described. The proposed method is based on the complexation between Mn(II) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP). Two approaches were investigated for enrichment of manganese; the formation of Mn-TCPP complex in a solution followed by its retention on a sorbent and the sorption of manganese ions onto the TCPP-modified resin. The best results was obtained for the first approach when 10⁻⁵ M reagent was on-line mixed with an aqueous sample solution and passed through the microcolumn packed with anion-exchange resin Amberlite IRA-904 for 5 min. The sorbed complexes were then eluted with 0.5 ml of 2 M HNO₃. A good precision (2.2-3.1% R.S.D. for 50 μg l⁻¹ manganese) and the enrichment factor of 30 were obtained with the detection limit of 12 μg l⁻¹ for 5 min loading time. The interference of anions and cations has been studied to optimize the conditions and the method was applied for determination of manganese in natural water samples. The results obtained by FI-FAAS and ETAAS (as a reference method) were not statistically different for a significance level of 0.05.     

Nonlinear phase field theory for fracture and twinning with analysis of simple shear

A phase field theory for coupled twinning and fracture in single crystal domains is developed. Distinct order parameters denote twinned and fractured domains, finite strains are addressed and elastic nonlinearity is included via a neo-Hookean strain energy potential. The governing equations and boundary conditions are derived; an incremental energy minimization approach is advocated for prediction of equilibrium microstructural morphologies under quasi-static loading protocols. Aspects of the theory are analysed in detail for a material element undergoing simple shear deformation. Exact analytical and/or one-dimensional numerical solutions are obtained in dimensionless form for stress states, stability criteria and order parameter profiles at localized fractures or twinning zones. For sufficient applied strain, the relative likelihood of localized twinning vs. localized fracture is found to depend only on the ratio of twin boundary surface energy to fracture surface energy. Predicted criteria for shear stress-driven fracture or twinning are often found to be in closer agreement with test data for several types of real crystals than those based on the concept of theoretical strength.     

Polaron cyclotron resonance in n-CdTe and n-InP

The interaction of electrons and polar-optical phonons is investigated for CdTe and InP in cylotron resonance (CR) emission and absorption experiments. Under hot electron conditions three different Landau level transitions are observed. From the positions of the fundamental transition and the CR line splittings the nonparabolicity and the polaron contribution to the effective mass are analysed using a variational approach for the polaron shifts. The bare band edge masses and the polaron coupling constants are determined to be $\text{m}{}^1{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>0</mtext>}}\text{=}\text{0.0900±0.0005}$, α=0.35+-0.03 for CdTe and $\text{m}{}^1{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>0</mtext>}}\text{=}\text{0.0765±0.0005}$, α=0.15±0.01 for InP.     

Robust Hurwitz stability via sign-definite decomposition

In this paper, we first consider the problem of determining the robust positivity of a real function f(x) as the real vector x varies over a box X∈R^l. We show that, it is sufficient to check a finite number of specially constructed points. This is accomplished by using some results on sign-definite decomposition. We then apply this result to determine the robust Hurwitz stability of a family of complex polynomials whose coefficients are polynomial functions of the parameters of interest. We develop an eight polynomial vertex stability test that is a sufficient condition of Hurwitz stability of the family. This test reduces to Kharitonov’s well known result for the special case where the parameters are just the polynomial coefficients. In this case, the result is tight. This test can be recursively and modularly used to construct an approximation of arbitrary accuracy to the actual stabilizing set. The result is illustrated by examples.     

Modeling learning process

We consider the problems of creating computer-based learning systems and teaching environments on the basis of discrete models based on automata. We estimate the perspectives of using computer models of learning for improving the quality of education.     

A nucleophilic reaction of a phosphaalkene: the methylation of mesityldiphenylmethylenephosphine

The reaction of the title compound ($\underset{?}{1}$) with methyl iodine gives the ylide $\underset{?}{3}$ and the phosphonium salt $\underset{?}{4}$. The intermediate formation of the phosphoniaalkene $\underset{?}{2}$ is postulated.     

Robust Control of Markovian Switching Stochastic Systems with Noise Dependent States and Inputs

A problem of state feedback stabilization of discrete-time stochastic processes under Markovian switching and random diffusion (noise) is considered. The jump Markovian switching is modeled by a discrete-time Markov chain. The control input is simultaneously applied to both the rate vector and the diffusion term. Sufficient conditions based on linear matrix inequalities (LMI's) for stochastic stability is obtained. The robustness results of such stability concept against all admissible uncertainties are also investigated. An example is given to demonstrate the obtained results.     

Continuum modeling of twinning,amorphization, and fracture: theory and numerical simulations

A continuum mechanical theory is used to model physical mechanisms of twinning, solid-solid phase transformations, and failure by cavitation and shear fracture. Such a sequence of mechanisms has been observed in atomic simulations and/or experiments on the ceramic boron carbide. In the present modeling approach, geometric quantities such as the metric tensor and connection coefficients can depend on one or more director vectors, also called internal state vectors. After development of the general nonlinear theory, a first problem class considers simple shear deformation of a single crystal of this material. For homogeneous fields or stress-free states, algebraic systems or ordinary differential equations are obtained that can be solved by numerical iteration. Results are in general agreement with atomic simulation, without introduction of fitted parameters. The second class of problems addresses the more complex mechanics of heterogeneous deformation and stress states involved in deformation and failure of polycrystals. Finite element calculations, in which individual grains in a three-dimensional polycrystal are fully resolved, invoke a partially linearized version of the theory. Results provide new insight into effects of crystal morphology, activity or inactivity of different inelasticity mechanisms, and imposed deformation histories on strength and failure of the aggregate under compression and shear. The importance of incorporation of inelastic shear deformation in realistic models of amorphization of boron carbide is noted, as is a greater reduction in overall strength of polycrystals containing one or a few dominant flaws rather than many diffusely distributed microcracks.     

Terahertz Spectroscopy of Two-Dimensional Semimetal in Three-Layer InAs/GaSb/InAs Quantum Well

JETP Letters - The features of terahertz photoluminescence and magnetoabsorption in magnetic fields up to 16 T in threelayer InAs/GaSb/InAs quantum wells with a band structure corresponding to a...