Portfolio choice under cumulative prospect theory: sensitivity analysis and an empirical study

Computational Management Science - A sensitivity analysis of the impact of cumulative prospect theory (CPT) parameters on a Mean/Risk efficient frontier is performed through a simulation procedure,...     

Sampling and analysis of volatile organic compounds in air using a dualsorbent trap

Summary A dualsorbent trap containing graphitized carbon blacks was used for the collection of volatile and semi-volatile organic pollutants from the atmosphere of different workplaces and from an above-ground parking lot. The method proved to be sensitive, simple and reliable. Thermal desorption and solvent extraction methods followed by GC-MS analysis were employed.     

Discussion of thermodynamic data obtained by adsorption gas chromatography of hydrocarbons on carbograph 4

Summary A new graphitized carbon black, Carbograph 4, with a specific surface area of 240 m² g⁻¹ was studied in terms of enthalpy, entropy and free energy of adsorption, determined by gas chromatographic method on a series of alkanes (C₂−C₆) and on benzene. The changes in the isosteric heat and entropy of adsorption when a non-polar stationary phase (squalane) was added to the adsorbent were also investigated. The data obtained are discussed and compared to those present in the literature for other graphitized carbon blacks. Some examples of separations obtained with Carbograph 4 are reported.     

Electronic Olfactory Sensor Based on A. mellifera Odorant‐Binding Protein 14 on a Reduced Graphene Oxide Field‐Effect Transistor

An olfactory biosensor based on a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) field‐effect transistor (FET), functionalized by the odorant‐binding protein 14 (OBP14) from the honey bee (Apis mellifera) has been designed for the in situ and real‐time monitoring of a broad spectrum of odorants in aqueous solutions known to be attractants for bees. The electrical measurements of the binding of all tested odorants are shown to follow the Langmuir model for ligand–receptor interactions. The results demonstrate that OBP14 is able to bind odorants even after immobilization on rGO and can discriminate between ligands binding within a range of dissociation constants from K_d=4 μM to K_d=3.3 mM . The strongest ligands, such as homovanillic acid, eugenol, and methyl vanillate all contain a hydroxy group which is apparently important for the strong interaction with the protein.     

Reversible binding of metal ions onto bacterial layers revealed by protonation-induced ATR-FTIR difference spectroscopy

The ability of microorganisms to adhere to abiotic surfaces and the potentialities of attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy have been exploited to study protonation and heavy metal binding events onto bacterial surfaces. This work represents the first attempt to apply on bacteria the recently developed method known as perfusion-induced ATR-FTIR difference spectroscopy. Such a technique allows measurement of even slight changes in the infrared spectrum of the sample, deposited as a thin layer on an ATR crystal, while an aqueous solution is perfused over its surface. Solutions at different pH have been used for inducing protonation/deprotonation of functional groups lying on the surface of Rhodobacter sphaeroides cells, chosen as a model system. The interaction of Ni(2+) with surface protonable groups of this microorganism has been investigated with a double-difference approach exploiting competition between nickel cations and protons. Protonation-induced difference spectra of simple model compounds have been acquired to guide band assignment in bacterial spectra, thus allowing identification of major components involved in proton uptake and metal binding. The data collected reveal that carboxylate moieties on the bacterial surface of R. sphaeroides play a role in extracellular biosorption of Ni(2+), establishing with this ion relatively weak coordinative bonds.     

An analytic approach to stochastic Volterra equations with completely monotone kernels

We apply the semigroup setting of Desch and Miller to a class of stochastic integral equations of Volterra type with completely monotone kernels with a multiplicative noise term; the corresponding equation is an infinite dimensional stochastic equation with unbounded diffusion operator that we solve with the semigroup approach of Da Prato and Zabczyk. As a motivation of our results, we study an optimal control problem when the control enters the system together with the noise.      

Discussion of thermodynamic data obtained by adsorption gas chromatography of hydrocarbons on a new graphitized carbon black with a high specific surface area

Summary A new graphitized carbon black (Carbograph 5) with a specific surface area (560 m² g⁻¹) greater than those of commerically available graphitized carbons was studied by gas chromatography to determine the enthalpy, entropy, and free energy of adsorption of a series of alkanes (C₂−C₆). The adsorption properties were also investigated by considering changes in the isosteric heats and entropies of adsorption when a nonpolar stationary phase (squalane) was added to the adsorbent. The data obtained are discussed and compared with literature values for other graphitized carbon blacks.     

Advances in the determination of volatile organic solvents and other organic pollutants by gas chromatography with thermal desorption sampling and injection

Summary The problem of the separation of 34 volatile organic chlorinated compounds is solved by using three different GC columns selected according to the needs of the particular separation required. The effect of water vapor contained as moisture in the trapped air on the retention of some characteristic compounds is studied. The influence of dead volumes on trap injection is also studied.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. A. Liberti on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Evaluation of a dual-sorbent trap for monitoring organic compounds in air.

The performance of a new kind of multi-sorbent trap for use in the simultaneous determination of compounds of different volatility and polarity was investigated. The adsorbents employed for this purpose were Carbograph 2 and Carbograph 5. The performance of this trap was evaluated in terms of thermal desorption and solvent extraction recoveries of substances belonging to the main classes of organic compounds, at different amounts and volumes of air sampled corresponding to concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 1000 mg/m3. The tubes examined allowed the trapping of the compounds used and their complete desorption with the procedure best suited to the analytical problem.     

Su alcune classi particolari di connessioni tensoriali per tensori controvarianti e covariantim-pli

A Enrico Bompiani in occasione del suo Giubileo scientifico.