Analysis of passive optical structures with an adaptive set of radiation modes

Passive optical structures are simulated by the method of lines using an eigenvalue routine based on the Arnoldi method, where its time efficiency is verified. A systematic approach is developed using an adaptive routine to determine selected radiation modes that must be taken into account in order to achieve a certain degree of accuracy.     

Multifractal Nonrigidity of Topological Markov Chains

Given a multifractal spectrum, we consider the problem of whether it is possible to recover the potential that originates the spectrum. The affirmative solution of this problem would correspond to a “multifractal” classification of dynamical systems, i.e., a classification solely based on the information given by multifractal spectra. For the entropy spectrum on topological Markov chains we show that it is possible to have both multifractal rigidity and multifractal “nonrigidity”, by appropriately varying the Markov chain and the potential defining the spectrum. The “nonrigidity” even occurs in some generic sense. This strongly contrasts to the usual opinion among some experts that it should be possible to recover the potential up to some equivalence relation, at least in some generic sense. Supported by the Center for Mathematical Analysis, Geometry, and Dynamical Systems, through FCT by Program POCTI/FEDER and the grant SFRH/BD/10154/2002.     

Gas-phase energetics of organic free radicals using time-resolved photoacoustic calorimetry

A generalized method for the determination of thermochemical data of transient species, using time-resolved photoacoustic calorimetry (TR-PAC), is described in detail. Taking phenol as an example, the procedure for the determination of the PhO–H bond dissociation enthalpy from photoacoustic experiments, in various solvents, is presented, and its assumptions discussed. To derive gas-phase bond dissociation enthalpies from the solution values, a widely used procedure is compared with a computational chemistry (CC) microsolvation method. Results from the combined TR-PAC/CC approach show that the established “hydrogen bond only” model (to describe the difference between the solvation enthalpies of phenol and phenoxy radical) leads to an underestimation of the derived gas-phase bond dissociation enthalpy. When that differential solvation is properly accounted for, the agreement between our results and a recommended gas-phase value improves, indicating that the combined TR-PAC/CC approach is a valid tool for the study of organic free radical energetics.     

2,3‐Dihydro‐3,3‐dimethylspiro[1H‐4‐oxanthracene‐5,2′‐oxiran]‐10(5H)‐one

The central six‐membered ring in the title compound, C₁₆H₁₆O₃, is almost planar (and almost coplanar with the aromatic ring), despite one of its C atoms being formally sp³ hybridized. The planarity is a consequence of the C atom at the centre of the spiro­cyclic system also being part of the three‐membered epoxide ring. The mol­ecules are linked by π–­π and C—H?π interactions.     

Development of thermogravimetric method for quantitative determination of metronidazole

The objective of this work was to develop and validate a fast and reproducible method to determine the concentration of metronidazole in drug substance and tablets. The samples were analyzed by dynamic thermogravimetry, using 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80°C min^–1 heating rates in nitrogen and in nitrogen with synthetic air. Obtained data were used in the Antoine and Langmuir equations in order to have the pressure curves. Vapor pressure curves of drug and tablet of metronidazole were evaluated using the mathematical indexes of difference factor, f ₁, and similarity factor, f ₂, to compare their profiles. The data showed that there is no significant difference between the vapor pressure profiles of drug and tablet of metronidazole in both environmental conditions, which confirms that the process is really vaporization. The concentration of metronidazole was determined in the raw material and tablets of the drug.     

MODIFICATION OF LETHAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET (365 nm) RADIATION AND DNA-DAMAGING AGENTS

Abstract— The modification of the lethal interaction between near-UV (365 nm) radiation and a second DNA-damaging agent by incubation between treatments in either a minimal salts medium or complete growth medium has been studied in the wild-type bacterial strain Escherichia coli K12 AB 1157. The results indicate that the lethal interaction may be separated into at least two distinct processes whose evaluation may help in classifying DNA-damaging agents in terms of the repairability of the DNA lesions induced. An observation of changes when methyl methane sulphonate is given prior to the irradiation treatment indicates that this chemical irreversibly damages repair enzymes.     

Development of a SPME-GC-ECD methodology for selected pesticides in must and wine samples

A method for the determination of some pesticide residues in must and wine samples was developed using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC/ECD). The procedure only needs dilution as sample pre-treatment and is therefore simple, fast and solvent-free. Eight fungicides (vinclozolin, procymidone, iprodione, penconazole, fenarimol, folpet, nuarimol and hexaconazole), one insecticide (chlorpyriphos) and two acaricides (bromopropylate and tetradifon) can be quantified. Good linearity was observed for all the compounds in the range 5-100 microg/L. The reproducibility of the measurements was found acceptable (with RSD's below 20%). Detection limits of 11 microg/L, on average, are sufficiently below the proposed maximum residue limits (MRL's) for these compounds in wine. The analytical method was applied to the determination of these compounds in Portuguese must and wine samples from the Demarcated Region of Alentejo, where any residues could be detected.     

Interactions of cationic porphyrins with double-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides: a study by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) and Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy were used to investigate the non-covalent interactions between small oligonucleotide duplexes with the GC motif and a group of cationic meso(N-methylpyridynium-4-yl)porphyrins (four free bases with one to four positive charges, and the zinc complex of the tetracationic free base).The results obtained point to outside binding of the porphyrins, with the binding strength increasing with the number of positive charges. Fragmentations involving losses from both chains were observed for the porphyrins with N-methylpyridinium-4-yl groups in opposite meso positions.     

Array of potentiometric sensors for simultaneous analysis of urea and potassium

Urea biosensors based on urease immobilized by crosslinking with BSA and glutharaldehyde coupled to ammonium ion-selective electrodes were included in arrays together with potassium, sodium and ammonium PVC membrane ion-selective electrodes. Multivariate calibration models based on PCR and PLS2 were built and tested for the simultaneous determination of urea and potassium. The results show that it is possible to obtain PCR and PLS2 calibration models for simultaneous determination of these two species, based on a very small set of calibration samples (nine samples). Coupling of biosensors with ion-selective electrodes in arrays of sensors raises a few problems related to the limited stability of response and unidirectional cross-talk of the biosensors, and this matter was also subjected to investigation in this work. Up to three identical urea biosensors were included in the arrays, and the data analysis procedure allowed the assessment of the relative performance of the sensors. The results show that at least two urea biosensors should be included in the array to improve urea determination. The prediction errors of the concentration of urea and potassium in the blood serum samples analyzed with this array and a PLS2 calibration model, based on nine calibration samples, were lower than 10 and 5%, respectively.     

Colloid stability of lipid/polyelectrolyte decorated latex

The colloid stability of supramolecular assemblies composed of the synthetic cationic lipid dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) supported on polystyrene amidine (PSA) microspheres was evaluated via turbidimetry kinetics, dynamic light scattering for particle sizing, zeta-potential analysis, and determination of DODAB adsorption on CMC-covered particles. At 0.1 g L(-1) CMC and 2 x 10(11) PSA particles/mL, CMC did not induce significant particle flocculation, and a vast majority of CMC-covered single particles were present in the dispersion so that this was the condition chosen for determining DODAB concentration (C) effects on particle size and zeta potentials. At 0.35 mM DODAB, charge neutralization, maximal size, and visible precipitation indicated extensive flocculation and minimal colloid stability for the DODAB/CMC/PSA assembly. At 0.1 g L(-1) CMC, isotherms of high affinity for DODAB adsorption on CMC-covered particles presented a plateau at a limiting adsorption of 700 x 10(17) DODAB molecules adsorbed per square meter PSA which was well above bilayer deposition on a smooth particle surface. The polyelectrolyte layer on hydrophobic particles was swelled and fluffy (ca. 11-nm hydrodynamic thickness), and maximal adsorption of DODAB lipid onto this layer produced a compressed composite cationic film with 20 mV of zeta potential and about 10-nm mean thickness. The assembly of cationic lipid/CMC layer/polymeric particle was stable only well above charge neutralization of the polyelectrolyte by the cationic lipid, at relatively large lipid concentrations (at and above 1 mM DODAB) with charge neutralization leading to extensive particle aggregation.