Hysteretic behavior of Fe0.9−qMn0.1Alq-disordered alloys: a Monte Carlo study

In this work we have simulated the Fe_0.9−qMn_0.1Al_q alloy series with Al contents ranging from 10 up to 50 at%, and for several system sizes. In the simulation, the atoms are randomly distributed on a body-centered cubic according to the atomic disorder achieved through quenching techniques for the experimental samples. In computing the thermodynamic quantities such as the magnetization per site as a function of an external applied magnetic field, we have employed a Monte Carlo algorithm based on a Metropolis dynamics implemented with a random site-diluted Ising model. In this model, we have taken into account nearest-neighbor interactions for which both the ferromagnetic (Fe–Fe) and antiferromagnetic (Fe–Mn, Mn–Mn) interactions are present. From the simulation of the hysteresis loops at room temperature, the remanence and the coercive force as a function of the Al concentration have been obtained. Finally, a comparison with the previous experimental data on coercivity obtained by means of vibrating sample magnetometry is also carried out and discussed.     

Thermally Driven and Ball-Milled Hematite to Magnetite Transformation

In this work, a study on the dynamics of transformation from hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) to magnetite (Fe₃O₄) by following two solid-state reaction methods is carried out. One of the procedures consists of a thermal treatment under a 20% H₂ and 80% N₂ atmosphere at 375°C, whereas the second method involves a planetary ball mill to induce the transformation. The phases evolution as a function of the thermal treatment time ranging from 0 up to 25 min every 2.5 min, and from 0 up to 6 hours every hour in the case of the milling method, was followed by using room-temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Results evidence a well-behaved structural transformation for which highly stoichiometric Fe₃O₄ as a single phase was obtained for treatment times above 12.5 min in the case of the thermally treated samples. Differently from this a less stoichiometric magnetite characterized by a distribution of hyperfine fields for milling times above 3 hours in the case of the ball milled samples was obtained. For reaction times below 12.5 min, two interpretation models based on the presence of an anion-deficient magnetite Fe₃O_4?δ and the presence of maghemite accounting for the intermediate states during the thermal transformation are also presented and discussed.

     

Double Elimination Voltammetry of Short Oligonucleotides

In connection with adsorptive stripping (AdS) technique, elimination voltammetry with linear scan (EVLS) in double mode was successfully employed in the analysis of homo‐ODNs: 5′‐AAA AAA AAA‐3′ (dA₉) and 5′‐CCC CCC CCC‐3′ (dC₉), and hetero‐ODNs: 5′‐CCC AAA CCC‐3′ (H3), 5′‐CAC CAC CAC‐3′ (H4), and 5′‐ACC CAC CCA‐3′ (H9) on hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). Analogously to single EVLS function E4 (conserving the diffusion current I_d and eliminating kinetic and charging currents I_k, I_c) for the electroactive substance adsorbed, the double EVLS function E4 yields well readable peak‐counterpeaks of reducible nucleic acid bases (adenine A and cytosine C). In comparison with single EVLS these peak‐counterpeaks are higher by more than one order of magnitude (twenty times for dA₉, fourteen times for dC₉, from eight to sixteen times for hetero‐ODNs). The increase of reduction signals with higher resolution was also observed using other two EVLS functions in double mode, the functions E5 eliminating I_c and I_d, but conserving I_k and E6 eliminating I_d and I_k, but conserving I_c. The amplifications of double /single EVLS signals of A and C range from 3.4 to 8.4, and from 3.1 to 8.3 for E5 and E6, respectively. It was proved that AdS double EVLS offers a new, fast, simple and inexpensive electroanalytical tool, which can be considered as a device not only for very good resolution of A and C in ODNs, but also for sensitive detection of changes in the primary structure of nucleic acid bases in ODN chains, depending on experimental conditions, such as pH, temperature, and time and potential of accumulation.     

New approaches in the development of DNA sensors: hybridization and electrochemical detection of DNA and RNA at two different surfaces

Up to now, the development of the electrochemical DNA hybridization sensors relied on solid electrodes, on which both the hybridization and detection steps have been performed. Here we propose a new method in which the DNA hybridization is performed at commercially available magnetic beads and electrochemical detection on detection electrodes (DE). Due to minimum nonspecific DNA adsorption at the magnetic beads, very high specificity of the DNA hybridization is achieved. Optimum DE can be chosen only with respect to the given electrode process. It is shown that high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of relatively long target DNAs can be obtained (a) by using cathodic stripping voltammetry at mercury or solid mercury amalgam DEs for the determination of purine bases, released from DNA by acid treatment, and (b) by enzyme-linked immunoassay of target DNA modified by osmium tetroxide,2,2'-bipyridine (Os,bipy) at carbon DEs. Direct determination of Os,bipy at mercury and carbon electrodes is also possible.     

Cyclic voltammetry of nucleic acids and determination of submicrogram quantities of deoxyribonucleic acids by adsorptive stripping voltammetry

In cyclic voltammetry (at a mercury drop electrode) guanine residues in the polynucleotide chain give a characteristic anodic peak at potentials close to ?0.3 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode). At low concentrations of polynucleotide, this peak can be enhanced substantially if the potential scan is preceded by adsorptive preconcentration of the polynucleotide at the hanging mercury drop electrode. With accumulation times shorter than 10 min at pH 6.8, the limit of detection of a single-stranded polynucleotide is < 0.1 μg ml^?1. The peak of double-helical deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is considerably lower than that of single-stranded DNA under the same conditions, which can be exploited to determine low concentrations of single-stranded DNA in the presence of double-stranded DNA.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of diazoalkanes to pyridazine derivatives. Thermal 1,5-sigmatropic rearrangement of methyl groups in 3,3-dimethyl-3H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridazine derivatives

Thermal 1,5-sigmatropic rearrangements of one of the methyl group attached at position 3 of 3,3-dimethyl-3H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridazin-4(5H)-ones 1–3 taking place either in a clock-wise or anti-clockwise direction gave N₂-methylated products 4–6 and C_3a-methylated products 7– 9 . The -7(6)-one derivative 10 and -4,7(5H,6H)-dione derivative 12 gave only N₂-methylated products 11 and 13 respectively, and 1,2-dihydro derivative 14 produced after elimination of methane, 15 .     

Directed regiospecificity of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 2-diazopropane to 4- and 5-substituted pyridazin-3(2H)-ones

6-Methoxy-2-methylpyridazin-3(2H)-one ( 1 ) gave with 2-diazopropane ( 8 ) a mixture of 3H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]-pyridazin-4(5H)-one derivative 12 , as the main product, and -7(6H)-one derivative 10 , as the minor product. On the other hand, 4-substituted pyridazin-3(2H)-ones 2, 3 , and 4 gave 3H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridazin-7(6H)-one 10 , exclusively, while 5-substituted pyridazin-3(2H)-ones 5, 6 , and 7 produced only the isomeric 3H-pyrazolo[3,4-H]pyridazin-4(5H)-one 12 . The 5-phenylsulfonyl derivative 13 gave with 8 by elimination of a molecule of nitrogen, followed by rearrangement, 1,2-diazepine derivative 15 and with an excess of 8 3H-pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,2]diazepine derivative 16. 1 ,2-Dimethylpyridazine-3,6-(1H,2H)-dione and its derivatives 18 and 19 produced 3H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridazine-4,7(5H,6H)-dione derivative 23 , while from 17 and 1-diazoindane ( 24 ) the spiro compound 27 was obtained. The 1,2-dihydro and 3a,7a-dihydro intermediates 21 and 25 were isolated.     

To mathematize, or not to mathematize chemistry

By analysing a contemporary criticism to the so called “mathematical chemistry”, we discuss what we understand by mathematizing chemistry and its implications. We then pass to ponder on some positions on the subject by considering the cases of Laszlo, Venel and Diderot, opponents to the idea of mathematization of chemistry. In contrast, we analyse some scholars’ ideas on the fruitful relationship between mathematics and chemistry; here Dirac and Brown are considered. Finally, we mention that the mathematical–chemistry relationship should be considered beyond the mere aspect of whether chemistry is or not able to be mathematized. This discussion is based upon opinions by Kant and Comte, the first one having two positions on chemistry based upon mathematics and the latter mooting the idea of doing chemistry with mathematical spirit.     

Tilted electric field effects on the electronic states in a GaAs quantum disk

In the present work we report the effects of a geometrical confinement and tilted applied electric field on the electronic energy levels in a semiconducting quantum disk. Calculations are performed in the effective mass approximation and using a variational method. The results can be summarized as follows: (1) due to the infinite confinement along the all directions of the heterostructure, the variational calculation with two parameters for tilted applied electric field can be treated with two independent each other variational parameters; (2) the magnitude of the energy shift is an increasing function of the applied electric field; (3) the effects of the applied electric field are magnified as the dimensions of the heterostructure (height and radius) grow; and finally (4) for large enough applied electric field the energy shift is a linear function of the applied electric field.     

Unidirectional pinning and hysteresis of spatially discordant alternans in cardiac tissue

Spatially discordant alternans is a widely observed pattern of voltage and calcium signals in cardiac tissue that can precipitate lethal cardiac arrhythmia. Using spatially coupled iterative maps of the beat-to-beat dynamics, we explore this pattern's dynamics in the regime of a calcium-dominated period-doubling instability at the single-cell level. We find a novel nonlinear bifurcation associated with the formation of a discontinuous jump in the amplitude of calcium alternans at nodes separating discordant regions. We show that this jump unidirectionally pins nodes by preventing their motion away from the pacing site following a pacing rate decrease but permitting motion towards this site following a rate increase. This unidirectional pinning leads to strongly history-dependent node motion that is strongly arrhythmogenic.