Partial Geometric Difference Families

We introduce the notion of a partial geometric difference family as a variation on the classical difference family and a generalization of partial geometric difference sets. We study the relationship between partial geometric difference families and both partial geometric designs and difference families, and show that partial geometric difference families give rise to partial geometric designs. We construct several infinite families of partial geometric difference families using Galois rings and the cyclotomy of Galois fields. From these partial geometric difference families, we generate a list of infinite families of partial geometric designs and directed strongly regular graphs.     

A link between combinatorial designs and three-weight linear codes

In this paper, we show that partial geometric designs can be constructed from certain three-weight linear codes, almost bent functions and ternary weakly regular bent functions. In particular, we show that existence of a family of partial geometric difference sets is equivalent to existence of a certain family of three-weight linear codes. We also provide a link between ternary weakly regular bent functions, three-weight linear codes and partial geometric difference sets.     

Adsorption and thermodynamic behavior of uranium on natural zeolite

Adsorptive behavior of natural clinoptilolite-rich zeolite from Balikesir deposites in Turkey was assessed for the removal of uranium from aqueous solutions. The uranium uptake and cation exchange capacities of zeolite were determined. The effect of initial uranium concentrations in solution was studied in detail at the optimum conditions determined before (pH 2.0, contact time: 60 minutes, temperature: 20 °C). The uptake equilibrium is best described by Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Some thermodynamic parameters (ΔH°, ΔS°, ΔG°) of the adsorption system were also determined. Application to fixation of uranium to zeolite was performed. The uptake of uranium complex on zeolite followed Langmuir adsorption isotherm for the initial concentration (25 to 100 μg/ml). Thermodynamic values of ΔG°, ΔS° and ΔH° found show the spontaneous and exothermic nature of the process of uranium ions uptake by natural zeolite. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Wet deposition flux of trace elements to the Adirondack region

Wet deposition samples from two locations in the Adirondack region of New York were analyzed for trace elemental composition by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Annual fluxes of the measured species were determined by precipitation-weighted and linear-regression methods. Despite several episodes of high deposition fluxes, the cumulative areal wet deposition of trace elements increased fairly linearly (r ² > 0.9) over the two year sampling period at both sites. This implies that short duration sampling programs may be used to estimate long-term fluxes and cumulative wet deposition impacts. Based on the magnitude of their fluxes, the measured species have been divided into four groups: acidic anions, electroneutral balancing cations, and minor and trace elements of anthropogenic origin.     

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure and X-band EPR of [Cu(H(2)O)(2)(imH)(4)] x Sq single crystals

The copper salt [Cu(H(2)O)(2)(imH)(4)] x Sq has been synthesized at room temperature. Crystal structure of the [Cu(H(2)O)(2)(imH)(4)] x Sq (Sq is squarete dianion (C(4)O(4)(2-)) and imH is imidazole (C(3)H(4)N(2))) complexes has been investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and the environment of copper ion has been identified by EPR. The single crystal is triclinic with the space group P1. The unit cell dimensions of the crystals are a=9.317 Angstrom, b=9.958 Angstrom, c=12.130 Angstrom, alpha=69.99 degrees , beta=76.61 degrees and gamma=78.13 degrees . The unit cell contains two molecules. The Cu(II) atom has an octahedral arrangement in which the Cu(II) ion lies on the inversion canter and is coordinated by four imidazole ligands with the equatorial plane and two water molecules with the octahedral axial. The complex shows a normal magnetic moment and the single crystal EPR spectra consist of two sets of four hyperfine lines of copper. The ground wave function of the hole of the Cu(2+) is an admixture of d(x(2) - y(2)) and d(z(2)) states.     

Use of cyclotron-produced fast neutrons in activation analysis

The determination of 15 elements: Pb, Sr, Ba, ti, Ca, Sc, Cs, Zr, Rb, Cr, Se, Ni, Y, Co and Zn was investigated by fast neutron activation analysis using 80 MeV deuterons on various environmental samples. Detection limits of these elements from interference-free spectra were calculated.     

A framework for constructing partial geometric difference sets

Partial geometric difference sets (PGDSs) were defined in Olmez (J Combin Des 22(6):252–269, 2014). They are used to construct partial geometric designs. We use the framework of extended building sets to find infinite families of PGDSs in abelian groups. Included in our new families of PGDSs are generalizations of the Hadamard, McFarland, Spence, Davis-Jedwab, and Chen difference sets.     

Dinicotinamidium squarate

The crystal structure determination of the dinicotinamidium squarate salt, 2C₆H₇N₂O⁺·C₄O₄²⁻, is reported, with the squarate dianion residing on an inversion centre and the unique cation in a general position. Salt formation occurs by donation of two H atoms from squaric acid to the nicotin­amide base. The crystal packing is derived from three types of hydrogen bonding. The primary hydrogen bond involves a squarate anion O atom and an H atom of the protonated pyridine group of the nicotin­amide, with an N⋯O distance of 2.5760 (13) Å. The second hydrogen bond involves a second anion O atom and an amide H atom, with an N⋯O distance of 2.8374 (14) Å. Thirdly, an intermolecular interaction between two coplanar nicotin­amide moieties occurs between an amide O atom and a symmetry‐related amide H atom, with an N1⋯O3 distance of 2.8911 (15) Å. These hydrogen bonds are also responsible for the planarity of the nicotin­amide moiety in the salt.