Slowly relaxing tunneling states in neutron-irradiated quartz: A study of the internal friction at audio-frequencies

The internal friction of two neutron-irradiated quartz samples was measured at audio-frequency as a function of temperature. This is an extension of acoustic measurements to much lower frequencies and thus to much longer time scales. A temperature independent behaviour has been observed and is discussed in the framework of the tunnelling model. One of the major assumptions of this model regarding the tunnelling states with long relaxation time could be verified for neutron-irradiated quartz.     

2-Phosphinophenolate complexes: formation and crystal structure of a novel trinuclear mu-O nickel(II)-tris(P(intersection)O-chelate)

A novel linear trinuclear mu-O-bridging 2-phosphinophenolate nickel(II) complex with fac-tris(P(intersection)O- chelates) in the terminal positions and the three oxygen atoms each facing the central nickel(II) cation was synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of an octahedral Ni(II) tris(P(intersection)O- chelate).     

Supercritical fluid extraction for liquid chromatographic determination of carotenoids in Spirulina Pacifica algae: a chemometric approach

An experimental design procedure was used to investigate the effects of some operating parameters on the supercritical fluid extraction of carotenoids beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin from Spirulina Pacifica algae, a carotenoid-rich dietary product. Variables tested were temperature and pressure of the supercritical fluid, dynamic extraction time and percentage of ethanol added as the modifier. Each variable was tested at three levels; 31 experiments were performed in random order. Analyses of the extracts were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV-Vis photodiode array detection. Analytical responses (chromatographic peak areas) were processed by using a stepwise multiple regression analysis, in order to find polynomial functions describing the relationships between variables and responses. For all the analytes the experimental conditions providing the highest extraction yield inside the experimental domain considered were found. Supercritical fluid extraction results obtained in these conditions were compared with those obtained by performing solvent extraction in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the supercritical fluid extraction procedure.