Pt‐Nanoparticle Incorporated Carbon Paste Electrode for the Determination of Cu(II) Ion by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

Pt‐nanoparticles were synthesized and introduced into a carbon paste electrode (CPE), and the resulting modified electrode was applied to the anodic stripping voltammetry of copper(II) ions. The synthesized Pt‐nanoparticles were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques to confirm the purity and the size of the prepared Pt‐nanoparticles (ca. 20 nm). This incorporated material seems to act as catalysts with preconcentration sites for copper(II) species that enhances the sensitivity of Cu(II) ions to Cu(I) species at a deposition potential of ?0.6 V in an aqueous solution. The experimental conditions, such as, the electrode composition, pH of the solution, pre‐concentration time, were optimized for the determination of Cu(II) ion using as‐prepared electrode. The sensitivity changes on the different binder materials and the presence of surfactants in the test solution. The interference effect of the coexisted metals were also investigated. In the presence of surfactants, especially TritonX‐100, the Cu(II) detection limit was lowered to 3.9×10^?9 M. However, the Pt‐nanoparticle modified CPE begins to degrade when the period of deposition exceeds to 10 min. Linear response for copper(II) was found in the concentration range between 3.9×10^?8 M and 1.6×10^?6 M, with an estimated detection limit of 1.6×10^?8 M (1.0 ppb) and relative standard deviation was 4.2% (n=5).     

Sodium 5‐nitro‐2‐pyridonate trihydrate

The title compound, alternatively sodium pyridin‐2‐olate trihydrate, Na⁺·C₅H₃N₂O₃^?·3H₂O, crystallizes in the P space group. It is made up of edge‐shared chains of NaO₆ octahedra with five water mol­ecules and one 5‐nitro‐2‐pyridonate anion. Four of these water mol­ecules are bicoordinating, involved in connecting the adjacent octahedra, and the fifth is coordinated to only one octahedron. The crystal structure is stabilized by a network of strong O—H?O and O—H?N interactions. The organic moieties occupy the space between the chains with an antiparallel alignment.     

Development of a method for recovery of 233U from thorium oxalate cake in reconversion step of reprocessing of irradiated thorium rods

A method is developed for the selective leaching of ²³³U from a thorium oxalate cake. The leaching capacity of ammonium carbonate and nitric acid have been investigated, showing that (NH₄)₂CO₃ leads to higher recovery. The maximum leaching efficiency is obtained using 0.5% ammonium carbonate, with a minimal thorium pick-up. A uranium recovery of 94% is obtained after three consecutive contact experiments in carbonate media, with minimal thorium uptake in the leachate. This process was applied to an actual plant stream, allowing the reduction of the ²³³U -activity from 5.64 to 0.3 Ci/g of thorium oxalate cake.     

Novel Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation between N‐Methyl‐3‐phenyl‐3‐hydroxypropylamine and Cresols Catalyzed by p‐Toluenesulphonic Acid

The p‐toluenesulphonic acid–catalyzed reaction between appropriate cresols and N‐methyl‐3‐phenyl‐3‐hydroxypropylamine in refluxing toluene resulted in the formation of o‐substituted phenol derivatives by an aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction.     

Drop calorimetric measurements on a versatile monazite phase loaded with simulated radioactive waste

Monazite is one of the candidate ceramic matrices for the immobilization of high level radioactive waste (HLW) from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. The monazite phase, Ce_0.8Ca_0.2PO₄, can accommodate cations of different valences due to the mixed valence state (+3 and +4) of Ce in this compound, by facilitating the oxidation and reduction of the Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ as required by the in-coming cation. This will assist in accommodating HLW of different compositions in the monazite crystal structure even if the average valence of the HLW elements is other than 3. Therefore, the monazite phase, Ce_0.8Ca_0.2PO₄, can be a versatile host for the immobilization of HLW. The enthalpy increment and heat capacity of this versatile monazite phase and a simulated waste form based on it with 20 mass% HLW oxides were measured by drop calorimetry in the temperature range from 373 to 873 K, and the results are compared with those measured for CePO₄.     

Effect of Cortisol on Caspases in the Co-cultured C2C12 and 3 T3-L1 Cells

The present study was carried out to understand the effect of cortisol on caspase expression in the C2C12 and 3 T3-L1 cells under co-culture system. Cells were co-cultured by using transwell inserts with a 0.4-μm porous membrane to separate C2C12 and 3 T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. Each cell type was grown independently on the transwell plates. Following cell differentiation, inserts containing 3 T3-L1 cells were transferred to C2C12 plates and inserts containing C2C12 cells were transferred to 3 T3-L1 plates. A total of 10 μg/μl of cortisol was added to the medium. Following treatment of cortisol for 3 days, the cells in the lower well were harvested for analysis. Caspases such as caspase 3, caspase 7, and caspase 9 were selected for the analysis. qRT-PCR results indicated the significant increase in the mRNA expression of caspase 3, caspase 7, and caspase 9. Caspase 3, 7, and 9 activities were also increased in the mono- and co-cultured C2C12 and 3 T3-L1 cells. In addition, confocal microscopical investigation indicated that cortisol increases caspase expressions in the mono- and co-cultured C2C12 and 3 T3-L1 cells. Taking all these together, we concluded that the co-culture system reflects the exact effect of cortisol on caspase expression, which is quite distinct from one dimensional mono-cultured experiments.     

Piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties of lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) ceramics prepared by sol gel derived nano powders

Lanthanum modified PZT (PLZT) ceramics were prepared with nano powders obtained by the sol gel method and its piezoelectric and pyroelectric behaviour was studied. The piezoelectric properties of the sol gel derived ceramics were compared with the ones prepared by the conventional oxide route. It was found that although the figures of merit of the sol gel derived ones were slightly better (10–15% increase), because of its higher density with respect to conventional ones. The pyroelectric properties of PLZT needs special mention because of its high detectivity and low noise levels. The results are tabulated in the paper and it indicates great figures of merit.     

Spherical aberration and its correction using Lie algebraic methods

We discuss three methods to correct spherical aberration for a point to point imaging system. First, results obtained using Fermat’s principle and the ray tracing method are described briefly. Next, we obtain solutions using Lie algebraic techniques. Even though one cannot always obtain analytical results using this method, it is often more powerful than the first method. The result obtained with this approach is compared and found to agree with the exact result of the first method.