The Evolution and Impact of Total Synthesis on Chemistry,Biology and Medicine

The advent of organic synthesis in the nineteenth century sparked a revolution in chemistry that led from a serendipitous discovery to the art and science that it is today. Its creative nature turned into enabling technologies that set in motion entire new industries such as the dye and pharmaceutical enterprises and helped elucidate and confirm structures of countless natural products. It also served as the locomotive for discovery and invention of new reactions, synthetic strategies and technologies, and delivered myriad valuable compounds, more or less complex, for research and applications in our everyday lives. Today it is a partner of biology in the quest of understanding living nature and applying the gathered intelligence to discover and develop newer and more effective drugs.     

Characterization of surface-plasmon modes in metal-clad optical waveguides

Finite-element analysis, based on the vector H-field formulation and incorporating the perturbation technique, is used to calculate the complex propagation characteristics of metal-coated dielectric waveguides. The propagation and attenuation characteristics of the surface-plasmon modes at the metal/dielectric interfaces are presented. The effects on the optical properties of metal-clad optical fibers with infinite and finite cladding thickness and the formation of the supermodes due to the coupling between the surface-plasmon modes in the presence of different surrounding materials are also investigated.     

Synergistic effects of buffer layer processing additives for enhanced hole carrier selectivity in inverted Organic Photovoltaics

Solution based inverted Organic Photovoltaic (OPVs) usually use Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) derivatives combined with pristine processing additives as hole selective contact on top of the hydrophobic conjugated polymer:fullerene active layer. In this study, PEDOT:PSS based hole selective contact is treated with two different boiling point additives, 2,5,8,11-tetramethyl-6-dodecyn-5,8-diol ethoxylate (Dynol) and Zonyl FS-300 fluorosurfactant (Zonyl). Although corresponding inverted OPVs using the above PEDOT:PSS:Additives show similar power conversion efficiency (PCE) values, the mechanisms of their implementation on inverted OPV operation are not identical. By understanding the synergistic effects of PEDOT:PSS processing additives on the hole selectivity of inverted OPVs we demonstrate a novel combination of PEDOT:PSS additives mixture as an effective route to further increase the hole selectivity, reliability andpower conversion efficiency of inverted OPVs.     

Experiments with various sampling-number sequences in a Monte Carlo solution of the modified PWR cell problem

Four different techniques for generating quasirandom and semirandom sampling-number sequences are tested in the case of a Monte Carlo solution of the modified PWR cell problem. The results indicate that a reduction of 25…50% in the computing time can be obtained just by the choice of the sampling-number sequences. A standard solution for the right edge scalar flux in the modified PWR cell is given.     

A GIS-Based Multimodal Advanced Traveler Information System

A conceptual Multimodal Advanced Traveler Information System (MATIS) was developed on a Sun SPARC 10 workstation using the ARC/INFO GIS software platform. The primary components of the MATIS are the databases, the data-processing algorithms, and the user interface. The data-processing algorithms include route planning for private automobile, transit, and ride sharing. These algorithms are executed independently of each other in the present version of the system. The user interface allows the users to enter the input through customized menus that were developed using the ARC/INFO capabilities. The system can accept both subscribers , who have their individual profile in the system containing their travel characteristics for one or more of each subsystems, and nonsubscribers , who can enter at any time into the system and receive travel information from any of the subsystems. Any user can subscribe or unsubscribe to/from the system at any time. The design and the required input/output of MATIS are outlined, and future enhancements of the model are suggested.     

PORE STRUCTURE EVOLUTION DURING NON-CATALYTIC GAS-SOLID REACTIONS: IV. STUDIES WITH DEMINERALIZED CHARS

The gasification of demineralized chars and an activated carbon is studied. Detailed pore structure characterization of the carbonaceous materials is performed and their reactivity during gasification with oxygen and carbon dioxide is measured. Reactivity data are analyzed and compared to theoretical predictions for the evolution of surface area with conversion obtained from discrete models. The applicability of random pore models is critically analyzed and the effects of ordered pore structure and of non-uniform surface activity on the transient reactivity are investigated.     

Water leakage detection using remote sensing,field spectroscopy and GIS in semiarid areas of Cyprus

Water pipelines need to be systematically monitored in order to minimize losses from possible leakages. In this paper, remote sensing techniques have been exploited in semiarid areas of Cyprus. In addition, ground spectroradiometer has been used to define the leakage's threshold values. The data were analysed in a GIS environment. Two known leakage problems have been examined. In the first case study, a high resolution QuickBird image was used for the detection of the exact point of leakage. In the second case study a multi-temporal analysis was performed using SPOT images. This methodology was able to record 10 possible leakage points along the pipeline. Throughout the 25 km length of the pipeline, the in-situ observations were minimized to only 0.4%. In both studies the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was applied. The final outcomes highlight the contribution of remote sensing to the early detection of leakages especially in difficult and near inaccessible areas.     

Monotone iteration methods with adaptive collocation for solving coupled systems of nonlinear boundary value problems

Monotone iteration procedures are developed for the solution of a class of coupled and highly nonlinear boundary value problems. These procedures are of guaranteed convergence and can be used for a numerical investigation of the multiplicity structure of steady-state solutions. The monotone iterations provide also a basis for an automatic scheme for adapting and refining the collocation point grid between iterations. The local error of approximation is controlled very accurately and problems exhibiting extremely steep multiple concentration profiles of significantly different scales can be treated.     

ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TENSILE STRENGTH,BREAKING ELONCATION,CRYSTALLINITY AND ORIENTAHON OF SILK

In this paper,the relation between the tensile strength,breaking elongationand the Crystallinity,Orientation of silk was studied,which obtalned from thecocoons with different silk worm races,sexes,cocooning conditions.The Crystallinity and degree of Crystal Orientation of fibroin were determinedby the X-ray diffraction.and the birefringence of fibroin was measured withInterference microscope.The research showed that the dependence of strength and elongation of rawsilk on Its crystailinity was not so closed.Although there was linear correlation ofstrength with the birefringence and the degree of crystal orientation of fibroin.But the correlation coefficient of the former was larger than the latter.Therefore,adopting birefringence method which would reflected the degree of orlentation ofboth the amorphous and crystalline region of fibroln was suitable for consideringthe strength.The correlation coefficients of strength and elongation withbirefringence were 0.96 and 0.77 respectively.The latter one was smal