Molecular-dynamics investigation on polarization retention of barium titanate nanofilm arising from ordered oxygen vacancy

Molecular-dynamics simulations have been carried out to investigate the electric hysteresis of barium titanate nanofilm containing oxygen vacancy ordering array parallel to the {101} crystal plane. The results obtained show a significant weakening of polarization retention from non-zero value to zero as the size of the array was reduced to a critical level, which was attributed to the formation and motion of head-to-head domain wall structure under external field loading process. By comparing with materials containing isolated oxygen vacancies, it was found that the zero retention was due to the oxygen vacancy ordering array rather than to the concentration of oxygen vacancy. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2010

Using HPLC retention parameters to estimate fish bioconcentration factors of organic compounds

Reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was employed to develop predictive models for fish bioconcentration factors (BCF) of organic compounds. Estimation of BCF from RP-HPLC retention parameters on octadecyl-bonded silica gel (ODS), cyanopropyl-bonded silica gel (CN), and phenyl-bonded silica gel (Ph) columns were investigated. The results show that, for a set of compounds belonging to different chemical classes, the CN stationary phase is the best one among the three columns and better than n-octanol/water model for BCF estimation. A multi-column RP-HPLC model, using the retention parameters on the CN and Ph columns as the variables of multiple linear regression equations, was further evaluated to estimate BCF of organic compounds belonging to different chemical classes, and the results show that the multi-column RP-HPLC model is better than that of any single RP-HPLC column for BCF estimation.

New uniform algorithm to predict reversed phase retention values under different gradient conditions

A new numerical emulation algorithm was established to calculate retention parameters in RP-HPLC with several retention times under different linear or nonlinear binary gradient elution conditions and further predict the retention time under any other binary gradient conditions. A program was written according to this algorithm and nine solutes were used to test the program. The prediction results were excellent. The maximum relative error of predicted retention time was less than 0.45%. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Retention modeling and simultaneous optimization of pH value and gradient steepness in RP-HPLC using feed-forward neural networks

A novel approach is proposed for the simultaneous optimization of mobile phase pH and gradient steepness in RP-HPLC using artificial neural networks. By presetting the initial and final concentration of the organic solvent, a limited number of experiments with different gradient time and pH value of mobile phase are arranged in the two-dimensional space of mobile phase parameters. The retention behavior of each solute is modeled using an individual artificial neural network. An "early stopping" strategy is adopted to ensure the predicting capability of neural networks. The trained neural networks can be used to predict the retention time of solutes under arbitrary mobile phase conditions in the optimization region. Finally, the optimal separation conditions can be found according to a global resolution function. The effectiveness of this method is validated by optimization of separation conditions for amino acids derivatised by a new fluorescent reagent.

Retention modeling and optimization of pH value and solvent composition in HPLC using back-propagation neural networks and uniform design

A novel method for the optimization of pH value and composition of mobile phase in HPLC using artificial neural networks and uniform design is proposed. As the first step. seven initial experiments were arranged and run according to uniform design. Then the retention behavior of the solutes is modeled using back-propagation neural networks. A trial method is used to ensure the predicting capability of neural networks. Finally, the optimal separation conditions can be found according to a global resolution function. The effectiveness of this method is validated by optimization of separation conditions for both basic and acidic samples.

Abnormal phenomenon of the dependence of the retention factors for uncharged species on applied voltage in capillary electrochromatography

Polymethacrylate-based monolithic columns were prepared for capillary electrochromatography (CEC) by in situ copolymerization of butyl methacrylate (BMA), 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS), and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) in the presence of a porogen in fused-silica capillaries of 100 mum I.D. The abnormal phenomenon that retention factors for neutral species decreases with applied voltage in CEC was observed. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) instruments usually require a period of time to increase voltage from 0 kV to desired value, which is called as ramp time. Such ramp time and any error in the determination of dead time should be taken into account during the accurate calculation of retention factors. After the correction of the retention factors, the plots of the corrected factors for alkylbenzene versus applied voltage were made, the absolute value of the plot slopes are less than 1.8 X 10(-4), Which indicates that the corrected retention times for neutral species do not show any dependence on applied voltage. Further, the plots of the corrected retention times for acidic and basic compounds versus the reciprocal of applied voltage were drawn, where the target compounds were eluted in neutral form. The very nice linearity of the plots was obtained. The linear correlation coefficients are over 0.999. Here, the slopes of the plots represent

Correlation analysis of the structures and gas-liquid chromatographic retention indices of amines

Quantitative structure-retention relationship(QSRR) was studied for amines to gas-liquid chromatography on three stationary phases of different polarities with the topological indices A(m) (A(m1), A(m2), A(m3)) and gravitational index GI. The algorithm of "Leaps and Bounds" was performed for selection of the variables. And the multi-regression and the quasi-Newton neural networks were employed for the calculation with better results.

Relationship between differential retention of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis and variations in enzyme activity in the scallop Patinopecten yessoensis

Uptake of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis and variations of trypsin amylase activity acid phosphatase and superoxide dismutase in tissue of the scallop Patinopecten yessoensis were detected. The results showed that P. yessoensis accumulated E. faecalis in larger numbers and more rapidly than E. coli, both with the highest concentration in the digestive tract and lowest in hemolymph. Compared to E. coil, all scallops exposed to E. faecalis showed significantly higher trypsin and AMS activity. SOD activity in hemocytes and ACP activity in hemolymph was significantly higher in the treatments with 5 log(10)CFU/ml E. colt than with E. faecalis. But no significant differences in ACP activity of P. yessoensis exposed to a 3 log(10)CFU/ml inoculum of both bacteria were recorded. In conclusion, the mass retention of gut microflora in P. yessoensis is positively correlated with digestive enzymes activity and negatively correlated with ACP activity in the hemocyte. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Feeding level-scaled retention efficiency, growth and energy partitioning of a marine detritivorous fish, redlip mullet (Liza haematocheila T. & S.)

The effects of feeding level on growth, retention efficiency, faeces production and energy partitioning of redlip mullet were studied. A practical diet was used and fed at six levels from starvation, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% of body weight (BW) to satiation for 3 weeks. The temperature was kept at 24 +/- 1 degrees C. Reducing the feeding amount resulted in significantly lower weight gain, and retention efficiency was significantly affected by feeding levels and attained the maximum at maximum feeding intake. Feeding 2% BW was the minimum required for fish to maintain growth. Fish carcass composition under different feeding levels could be divided into three groups: (1) starvation and FL1; (2) FL2 and FL3 and (3) FL4 and satiation, with significant differences among the groups but no differences in the groups except that ash content remained at constant value. Body composition of fish of group 2 was close to initial fish. The thermal-unit coefficient was 0.0381 at satiation, and significantly increased with increasing feeding levels. In order to accurately estimate basal metabolism (HeE), another trial on the relationship between HeE (kJ) and BW (g) was carried out. An exponential curve as HeE=0.1255BW(0.8386) explained this relationship. Intake energy (IE) increased from 11.30 to 63.08 kJ per fish, matching with different feeding levels. Energy allocated to growth of IE decreased with reducing feeding amount. There was a linear relationship between metabolism energy and retention energy in percentage.

Effect of H2S on stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen permeation behaviour of X56 grade steel in atmospheric environment

Susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking of X56 steel and its relationship with hydrogen permeation behaviour in atmospheric environment containing H2S was investigated by hydrogen permeation tests at a slow strain rate. The results show that: the fracture strain decreases with the decrease of strain rate under the same experimental conditions; the fracture strain also decreases with the increase of H2S concentration under the same strain rate, and the increased concentration of H2S has no significant effect on the hydrogen permeation in the first wet, etc. dry cycle, however has lead to increased hydrogen permeation in the later cycles. The SEM images of the fractured surfaces show clear evidences of enhanced stress corrosion cracking susceptibility by H2S.