Studies on immobilizd lipase in hydrophobic sol-gel

The hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane using the sol-gel process was used to produce silica matrices, and these were tested for the immobilization of lipase from Candida rugosa by three methods: physical adsorption, covalent binding, and gel entrapment in the presence and absence of polyethylene glycol (PEG-1450). The silica matrices and their derivatives were characterized regarding particle size distribution, specific surface area, pore size distribution (Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller [B.E.T.] method), yield of grafting (thermogravimetric analyzer [TGA]), and chemical composition (Fourier transform infrared). Immobilization yields based on recovered lipase activity varied from 3.0 to 32.0%, and the highest efficiency was attained when lipase was encapsulated in the presence of PEG.     

Radar characterization of summer thunderstorms in the western Po Valley

Summary Data taken by aC-band conventional weather radar during 1979, 1980 and 1981 summer campaigns conducted in the western Po Valley, have been analysed in comparison with surface reports of hailfalls, indicating the location, time and estimated losses for each event. The aim of this paper is to determine the signature of thunder-storms on radar data,vs. the presence or absence of hail on the ground. Hail percentages of occurrence greater than 75% of all cases are experienced when reflectivity values of 55 dBZ are detected above 8000m. Detection criteria of this kind are easy to implement in real-time surveillance systems and can be used to elaborate short-time warnings.

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Riassunto Si presenta un'analisi di dati rilevati con un radar meteorologico tradizionale in bandaC durante campagne di osservazioni condotte nella parte occidentale della Valle Padana nelle estati 1979, 1980 e 1981. I dati a terra sono costituiti dallo segnalazioni di grandinate che specificano la località, l'ora e la stima dei danni arrecati alle colture agricole. S'intende con questo lavoro determinare criteri di discriminazione fra le caratte-ristiche dei segnali radar provenienti da eventi temporaleschi per cui sia stata segnalata grandine, rispetto ai casi di assenza di grandine. Percentuali di eventi grandinigeni maggiori del 75% sono state riscontrate quando valori di riflettività di almeno 55 dBZ sono stati rilevati sopra gli 8000 m di quota. Criteri di discriminazione di questo tipo sono di semplice implementazione in sistemi di sorveglianza in tempo reale e possono essere usati per elaborare messaggi di allarme a breve periodo.

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Резюме Проводится анализ данных, полученных при метеорологических радарных исследованиях в зонеC в период летних кампаний 1979, 1980 и 1981 г.г. в западной части долины По. Полученные данные сопоставляются с наземными сообщениями о выпадании града, отмечая месторасположение, время и расчетные потори для каждого события. Цель этой статьи— определить сигнатуру для гроз по радарным данным в зависимости от наличия или отсутствия града на земле. Вероятность вышадания града превышает 75% в том случае, когда детектируется величина отражательной способности ∼55 dBZ выше 8000 м. Критерии определения такого типа легко использовать в системах наблюдения в реальном времени и могут служить для предупреждения за короткий промежуток времени.

     

Fuel‐Selective Transient Activation of Nanosystems for Signal Generation

The transient activation of function using chemical fuels is common in nature, but much less in synthetic systems. Progress towards the development of systems with a complexity similar to that of natural ones requires chemical fuel selectivity. Here, we show that a self‐assembled nanosystem, composed of monolayer‐protected gold nanoparticles and a fluorogenic peptide, is activated for transient signal generation only in case the chemical fuel matches the recognition site present at the nanoparticle surface. A modification of the recognition site in the nanosystem completely changes the chemical fuel selectivity. When two nanosystems are simultaneously present, the selectivity expressed by the system depends on the concentration of nucleotide added.     

Understanding and controlling the efficiency of Au24M(SR)18 nanoclusters as singlet-oxygen photosensitizers

Singlet oxygen, ¹O₂, can be generated by molecules that upon photoexcitation enable the ³O₂ → ¹O₂ transition. We used a series of atomically precise Au₂₄M(SR)₁₈ clusters, with different R groups and doping metal atoms M. Upon nanosecond photoexcitation of the cluster, ¹O₂ was efficiently generated. Detection was carried out by time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectroscopy. The resulting TREPR transient yielded the ¹O₂ lifetime as a function of the nature of the cluster. We found that: these clusters indeed generate ¹O₂ by forming a triplet state; a more positive oxidation potential of the molecular cluster corresponds to a longer ¹O₂ lifetime; proper design of the cluster yields results analogous to those of a well-known reference photosensitizer, although more effectively. Comprehensive kinetic analysis provided important insights into the mechanism and driving-force dependence of the quenching of ¹O₂ by gold nanoclusters. Understanding on a molecular basis why these molecules may perform so well in ¹O₂ photosensitization is instrumental to controlling their performance.

Atomically precise Au₂₄M(SR)₁₈ clusters were used as singlet-oxygen photosensitizers. Comprehensive kinetic analysis provided insights into the mechanism and driving-force dependence of the quenching of ¹O₂ by gold nanoclusters.     

Grafting of cyclodextrins onto filter paper

Grafting of cyclodextrins and cyclodextrins derivatives on cellulosic surface, such as paper or filter paper, provides hosting cavities that can include a large variety of chemicals for specific cellulose finishing. In this study grafting of monocholorotriazinyl-β-cyclodextrin (MCT-β-CD) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) to filter paper has been performed. β-cyclodextrin has been bonded to filter paper using 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether as the crosslinking agent. The untreated and treated filter papers were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), demonstrating the covalent binding of cyclodextrins to filter paper. The quantification of β-CD and MCT-β-CD grafted to filter paper was determined by the dye extinction method with the inclusion of phenolphthalein. The final β-CD content amounted to 15.9 μmol per gram of support (1.8% by weight), and 72.8 μmol per gram of support (11.3% by weight) for MCT-β-CD.     

Synthesis of 13c-labelled [s]-proline and its conformational analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance

In order to analyze completely the ring conformation of [S]-Proline (l-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid) this compound has been synthesized with its C_δ atom enriched at 90% in ¹³C. The ¹H-¹H, ¹³C-¹H, ¹³C-¹³C vicinal coupling constants measured at several pH values describe well the geometry of the thiazolidine ring. The results suggest that the ring has an average planar conformation only in a narrow range of pH close to the pK of the amine group. Above and below this pH the ring tends to adopt preferentially the S_γendo and S_γexo puckered conformations respectively. It is concluded that a good correlation exists between the value of the dihedral angle ø and the character S_γendo or S_γexo of the ring.     

Photocatalytic activity of nanostructured TiO2 films produced by supersonic cluster beam deposition

The photocatalytic activity of thin, nanostructured films of titanium dioxide, synthesized by supersonic cluster beam deposition (SCBD) from the gas phase, has been investigated employing the photodegradation of salicylic acid as test reaction. Because of the low deposition energy, the so-deposited highly porous TiO₂ films are composed of nanoparticles maintaining their original properties in the film, which can be fully controlled by tuning the deposition and post-deposition treatment conditions. A systematic investigation on the evolution of light absorption properties and photoactivity of the films in relation to their morphology, determined by AFM analysis, and phase composition, determined by Raman spectroscopy, has been performed. The absorption and photocatalytic activity of the nanostructured films in the visible region could be enhanced either through post-deposition annealing treatment in ammonia containing atmosphere or employing mild oxidation conditions, followed by annealing in N₂ at 600 °C.     

New insights on testing the efficiency of methods of pricing and hedging American options

With reference to the evaluation of the speed–precision efficiency of pricing and hedging of American Put options, we present and discuss numerical results obtained on the basis of four different large enough random samples according to the relevance of the American quality (relative importance of the early exercise opportunity) of the options. Here we provide a comparison of the best methods (lattice based numerical methods and an approximation of the American Premium analytical procedure) known in literature along with some key methodological remarks.