On the structure of a sofic shift space

The structure of a sofic shift space is investigated, and Krieger's embedding theorem and Boyle's factor theorem are generalized to a large class of sofic shifts.

     

Multi-Wavelength Optical Packet Routing Technologies Based on Superstructured Fiber Bragg Gratings

A WDM compatible Edge-to-Edge Self-Routed optical packet switched network that simplifies the optical processing is proposed. The system employs all-optical packet label generation and recognition using coded superstructured Fiber Bragg gratings.     

Growth and long-run stability

This paper analyses the implications of persistent growth upon the stability properties of dynamic models. Besides the traditional concept of asymptotic stability, new stability criteria-strong/weak absolute, strong/weak relative, strong/weak logarithmic stability-are introduced, and global stability conditions for satisfying these criteria are stated for general first-order autonomous differential equations. The conflict between rapidity of growth and the degree of stability is demonstrated. Economic applications of the stability theorems are illustrated within the growth models of Harrod and Solow.     

Determination of fenpyroximate in apples by supercritical fluid extraction and packed capillary liquid chromatography with UV detection

A method using off-line supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and micro liquid chromatography (μLC) with UV detection at 260 nm, was developed for selective determination of fenpyroximate in apple samples. The packed capillary liquid chromatography method utilises 20 μl injection volumes with on-column focusing. A 350×0.32 mm capillary column packed with Kromasil 100-C₁₈ of 5 μm particle size was used with a mobile phase of acetonitrile–10 mM ammonium acetate (85:15, v/v) at a flow of 5 μl/min. A two-step SFE procedure was used to extract fenpyroximate selectively in 2 g apple samples, with Hydromatrix (HMX) added as a water absorbent at a 1:1 (w:w) ratio. Fenpyroximate was extracted at 200 bar and 90°C for 15 min using carbon dioxide at a flow of 2 ml/min, and solvent trapping collection in 10 ml acetonitrile. The volume of the acetonitrile extract was reduced by evaporation and water was added to a final composition of acetonitrile–water (40:60, v/v). The resulting 2.0 ml solution was filtered using a 0.45 μm poly(vinylidene difluoride) syringe filter before μLC analysis. Validation of the method was accomplished with apple samples spiked with fenpyroximate, covering the range of 0.1 to 1.0 μg/kg. The within-day and between-day repeatabilities were in the range 4–18% relative standard deviation. Accuracy, measured as recovery, was found to be approximately 60%. Apple samples from a field treated with fenpyroximate were analysed. None of the samples contained fenpyroximate above the quantification level.     

Primary sequences of insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 isolated from porcine plasma

Insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2 were purified from porcine plasma. In addition to the determination of their isoelectric points, the primary structures of both proteins were determined, using low microgram quantities of protein, by the versatile combination of time-of-flight plasma desorption mass spectrometry and automated Edman degradation. Porcine insulin-like growth factor 1 was shown to be homologous to both human and bovine proteins; the type 2 growth factor showed one mutation to both human and bovine type 2 proteins.     

On the determination of crystallinity and cellulose content in plant fibres

A comparative study of cellulose crystallinity based on the sample crystallinity and the cellulose content in plant fibres was performed for samples of different origin. Strong acid hydrolysis was found superior to agricultural fibre analysis and comprehensive plant fibre analysis for a consistent determination of the cellulose content. Crystallinity determinations were based on X-ray powder diffraction methods using side-loaded samples in reflection (Bragg-Brentano) mode. Rietveld refinements based on the recently published crystal structure of cellulose Iβ followed by integration of the crystalline and amorphous (background) parts were performed. This was shown to be straightforward to use and in many ways advantageous to traditional crystallinity determinations using the Segal or the Ruland–Vonk methods. The determined cellulose crystallinities were 90–100 g/100 g cellulose in plant-based fibres and 60–70 g/100 g cellulose in wood based fibres. These findings are significant in relation to strong fibre composites and bio-ethanol production.     

Synthetic protocols and building blocks for molecular electronics

Simple and readily accessible aryl bromides are useful building blocks for thiol end-capped molecular wires. Thus, 4-bromophenyl tert-butyl sulfide and 1-bromo-4-(methoxymethyl)benzene serve as precursors for a variety of oligo(phenylenevinylene) and oligo(phenyleneethynylene) wires via efficient synthetic transformations as presented in this paper.