Determination of optimal variable-sized multiple-block appointment systems

The single-block appointment system is the most common method of scheduling ambulatory care clinics today. Several studies have examined various appointment systems ranging from single-block appointments on one extreme to individual appointments on the other, and including mixtures of these such as multiple-block (m-at-a-time) and block/individual systems. In this paper we analyze a general single-server multiple-block system, one permitting blocks of variable size. In the analysis we use a dynamic programming approach, with some modifications to compensate for the non-Markov nature of the problem. Analytical results and approximations which significantly reduce the computational requirements for a solution are obtained. Examples demonstrate that under certain weightings of the criteria of waiting, idle, and overtime, the generality of the system considered here allows performance superior to that of other commonly used systems.     

Magnetic behaviour of spin-mixed iron(III) porphyrins

Detailed average magnetic susceptibility (295-4.2 K) and average magnetisation (20-2 K, 50-10 kOe) are reported for two novel spin-mixed iron(III) porphyrins, namely Fe(TPP)ClO4 and Fe(OEP)ClO4. The results confirm an S = 3/2 ground state substantially spin-mixed with a low-lying S = 5/2 state, but do not agree in detail with the crystal-field model of Maltempo.     

A titrimetric method for the sequential determination of thorium and plutonium

A method for the sequential determination of thorium and plutonium has been developed. In the sample solution containing thorium and plutonium, thorium is first determined by complexometric titration with EDTA and then in the same solution plutonium is determined by redox titration employing potentiometry. Prior to the determination of plutonium, EDTA is destroyed by fuming with concentrated HClO₄. Thorium is determined at 10 mg level and plutonium at 1 mg level with precision and accuracy of better than ±0.5%.     

Ensemble modeling of very small ZnO nanoparticles

The detailed structural characterization of nanoparticles is a very important issue since it enables a precise understanding of their electronic, optical and magnetic properties. Here we introduce a new method for modeling the structure of very small particles by means of powder X-ray diffraction. Using thioglycerol-capped ZnO nanoparticles with a diameter of less than 3 nm as an example we demonstrate that our ensemble modeling method is superior to standard XRD methods like, e.g., Rietveld refinement. Besides fundamental properties (size, anisotropic shape and atomic structure) more sophisticated properties like imperfections in the lattice, a size distribution as well as strain and relaxation effects in the particles and-in particular-at their surface (surface relaxation effects) can be obtained. Ensemble properties, i.e., distributions of the particle size and other properties, can also be investigated which makes this method superior to imaging techniques like (high resolution) transmission electron microscopy or atomic force microscopy, in particular for very small nanoparticles. For the particles under study an excellent agreement of calculated and experimental X-ray diffraction patterns could be obtained with an ensemble of anisotropic polyhedral particles of three dominant sizes, wurtzite structure and a significant relaxation of Zn atoms close to the surface.     

Investigating entropy changes during gas adsorption in ETS-4

Energetic heterogeneity has been investigated for Engelhard titanium silicate Na-ETS-4 adsorbent and its Sr-exchanged variant, Sr-ETS-4. Na-ETS-4 was nearly homogeneous, while Sr exchange seemed to induce some degree of energetic heterogeneity in the sample, which diminished upon dehydration at higher temperature. Analysis of the entropy change during adsorption showed that the adsorbate molecules at low as well as moderate loading possess entropy greater than that predicted by the 2-D mobile film model, the excess being attributed to vibrational freedom. The wavelength of this vibration decreased with increasing coverage, as expected. For oxygen, the observed entropy drops in Na-ETS-4 and in Sr-ETS-4 are comparable, whereas, for nitrogen and methane, Sr exchange resulted in a greater entropy drop than in Na-ETS-4, suggesting greater restriction to movement in the Sr-exchanged sample. This study presents a simplistic yet effective understanding of the energetic behavior of the adsorbed molecules in ETS-4 adsorbent. This is vital to a thorough energetic characterization and study of the adsorption phenomenon in these new, promising adsorbents.     

A theoretical and experimental investigation of the formation of S 2 - from CS2 by electron impact

Theoretical and experimental investigation of the formation of S ₂ ^- from CS₂ by electron impact has been carried out. Molecular orbital calculations show that some of the low lying states of CS ₂ ^- have lower potential energy in the bent geometries suggesting a transformation in the geometric structure of the precursor molecular ion, leading to the formation of S ₂ ^- . In contrast to the formation of S ₂ ^- and S ₂ ^- , the kinetic energy associated with S ₂ ^- is small and disproportionate to the increase in electron energy, indicating the formation of S ₂ ^- in vibrationally excited states due to the mechanism of its formation.     

Mesomorphism dependence on molecular rigidity with reference to ‒CH˭CH‒ unit of central bridge

A novel ester homologous series of rich mesomorphism and low temperatures with unexpected phase behaviors of eleven homologues was synthesized and studied with a view to understanding and establishing the relation between mesomorphic behaviour and the molecular structure of a series 4-(4′-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)-4″-chlorobenzyl cinnamates. All the members of the novel series are enantiotropically smectogenic and the octyloxy (C₈) to hexadecyloxy (C₁₆) homologues are enantiotropically nematogenic, in addition to smectogenic. Odd–even effect is observed for Sm?I/Sm?N transition curve but it is absent for N?I transition curve. Textures of nematic phase are threaded or Schlieren and that of the smectic phase are fan shaped or batonates of smectic-A type phase or Smectic-C type for C₁₆ homologues as judged directly from a heating stage of an optical polarizing microscopy. Analytical and spectral data confirmed the molecular structures of novel homologues. Mesomorphic properties of present series are compared with the structurally similar other known series. The average smectic and nematic thermal stabilities are 92.78°C and 100.8°C, respectively. Mesophase length minimum to maximum for smectic and nematic are 21.0°C to 31.1°C and 8.4°C to 42.6°C respectively. Thus, the present novel series is partly nematogenic and fully smectogenic with considerable degree of mesomorphism and low melting type.     

Use of chemical etching of CR-39 foils at elevated temperature for fast neutron personnel monitoring in India

CR-39 Solid State Nuclear Track Detecting foils (SSNTD), along with 1 mm thick polyethylene radiator, sealed in triple laminated pouches, are used for country wide Fast Neutron Personnel Monitoring in India. With the present system of processing by elevated temperature electrochemical etching (ETECE) and evaluation using automatic image analysis, only 16 foils are processed at a time and it is useful over the dose equivalent range 0.2 mSv to 10 mSv. It has been reported that, by processing CR-39 of good detection efficiency by chemical etching at elevated temperature, more numbers of foils can be processed simultaneously. In the present study, CR-39 foils from Pershore Moulding (UK) have been chemically etched using 7 N KOH under various conditions of temperature and etching durations and evaluated using high magnification microscope. The duration of chemical etching, has been optimized at a constant temperature of 60°C for chemical etching process. The characteristics of the chemically etched CR-39 foils are compared with the characteristics of the CR-39 foils processed by the existing system of ETECE and the detailed results are presented in the full text of the paper. It has been observed that by chemical etching process, the dose equivalent range of CR-39 foils can be extended above 60 mSv.      

Determination of trace elements in rocks by optical emission spectroscopy: A new method of internal standardization

Summary A method has been described for the determination of twelve trace elements (Pb, Sn, Cr, Co, Ni, V, Y, La, Zr, Cu, Zn, Sc) in different types of rocks using optical emission Spectroscopy (OES). The method employs a single set of synthetic standards for analysing any type of rock, basic, acidic or intermediate. When an external element, such as osmium, has been added to serve as internal standard, the analytical data showed poor precision. A new method of internal standardization has, therefore, been attempted. In this, a line due to silicon whose intensity is influenced by two adjacent Fe lines, has been used as the internal standard. Such an approach gave better presision (expressed in terms of coefficient of variation). Six international rock standards have been analysed and the data obtained have been compared with that previously reported.

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Bestimmung von Spurenelementen in Gesteinen durch optische Emissions-Spektroskopie: Ein neues Verfahren zur inneren Eichung

Zusammenfassung Zwölf Spurenelemente (Pb, Sn, Cr, Co, Ni, V, Y, La, Zr, Cu, Zn, Sc) werden in verschiedenen Gesteinstypen bestimmt. Basische, saure und intermediäre Gesteine können mit einem einzigen Satz synthetischen Standards analysiert werden. Bei Benutzung eines externen Elements (Os) zur Eichung wurden schlechte Ergebnisse erhalten. Bei dem neuen Verfahren wird eine bessere Reproduzierbarkeit (ausgedrückt als Variationskoeffizient) durch Verwendung einer Siliciumlinie, die durch benachbarte Eisenlinien beeinflußt wird, erzielt. Sechs internationale Standardgesteinsproben wurden nach diesem Verfahren untersucht und die Ergebnisse mit früher erhaltenen verglichen.