Effects of saturation on optical bistability with coupled surface plasmons

We present exact numerical results for a symmetric layered medium (prism/Ag film/nonlinear dielectric/Ag film/prism) where the middle dielectric slab is assumed to have a saturation-type nonlinearity. We show bistable behaviour in the power dependence of the reflectivity ofp-polarized light under the condition when coupled surface modes are excited in the structure. Moreover, we study the effect of saturation on the bistable behaviour to show that multivalued character is inhibited by saturation effects. The field distributions corresponding to the minimum reflectivity states of the nonlinear structure are also presented.     

Laser induced air breakdown using 0.355, 0.532, and 1.06 µm radiation

Studies of breakdown threshold intensity for air at various pressures in the range of 24–760 torr using 0.355, 0.532 and 1.06 μm radiation are reported. We observep ^−0.8 scaling ofI _th at 1.06 μm and a weak scaling ofp ^−0.4 at 0.532 and 0.355 μm radiation. Strong dependence of breakdown spot size on laser power but weak dependence on air pressure is observed.     

Dielectric studies of binary mixtures of n -propyl alcohol and ethylenediamine

Dielectric constant (ε’) and dielectric loss (ε") of n-propyl alcohol (PA), ethylenediamine (EDA) and their binary mixtures, for different mole fractions of ethylenediamine have been experimentally measured at 11.15 GHz microwave frequency. Values of density (ρ), viscosity (η) and square refractive index (n _D ² ) of binary mixtures as well as those of pure liquids are reported. Excess square refractive index, viscosity and activation energy of viscous flow have also been estimated. These parameters have been used to explain the formation of complexes in the system.     

Pressure induced phase transitions in hydroquinone

High pressure behavior of alpha-hydroquinone (1,4-dihydroxybenzene) has been studied using Raman spectroscopy up to pressures of 19 GPa. Evolution of Raman spectra suggests two transitions around 3.3 and 12.0 GPa. The first transition appears to be associated with the lowering of crystal symmetry. Above 12.0 GPa, Raman bands in the internal modes region exhibit continuous broadening suggesting that the system is progressively evolving into a disordered state. This disorder is understood as arising due to distortion of the hydrogen-bonded cage across the second transition around 12 GPa.     

Spectrophotometric determination of thiourea in microgram quantities

Summary Copper(II) forms a stable colourless complex with thiourea. This property has been utilized to develop a Spectrophotometric method for the determination ofg quantities of thiourea. The complex absorbs in ultraviolet region and the determinations are carried out at 250 nm. The method permits the determination of thiourea from 10–60g with error not exceeding ± 1.0%.

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Zusammenfassung Kupfer(II) bildet mit Thioharnstoff eine farblosa Komplexverbindung, die sich auf Grund ihrer Absorption bei 250 nm zur spektrophotometrischen Bestimmung von Mikrogrammengen Thioharnstoff eignet. 10 bis 60g Thioharnstoff lassen sieh mit einem Fehler von höchstens ± 1,0% bestimmen.

     

Analytical aspects of some organic acids Part III

Summary m-Phenylenedioxydiacetic acid gives a white precipitate with thorium even in the absence of an electrolyte which is quantitative up toph 4. Be²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions are removed by single precipitation and Al³⁺, UO₂ ²⁺ and trivalent cerite earth ions are removed by double precipitation. Sn²⁺, Sn⁴⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions interfere.Part II: See. Z. analyt. Chem.165, 343 (1959).     

Novel solid-phase extraction and preconcentration technique coupled with ICP-AES for the determination of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) in various water samples

Newly synthesized 2-propylpiperidine-1-carbodithioate (2-PPC) was used for the extraction of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) from various water samples. In the present investigation, the use of a syringe loaded with sorbent for the separation and enrichment of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was proposed to substitute the batch and column techniques. The described method was compared with the column technique with respect to fastness, simplicity, recovery, and risk of contamination. The syringe was loaded with 1.0 g of sorbent in order to retain the analyte elements. Next, 7.0 mL of sample solution (pH 5.0 ± 0.2) was drawn into the syringe in 15 s and discharged over 15 s. Then, an eluent (3.0 M HCl) was drawn into the syringe and ejected back to desorb the analyte elements. At the optimum conditions, the percentage recoveries of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) were in the range of 94.50 to 99.62% with a standard deviation (S.D.) of 0.03%. The elements could be concentrated by drawing and discharging several portions of sample successively and eluting only one time. The detailed study of various interferences proved the method to be highly selective. The risk of contamination is less than that with the column technique. The method was successfully applied to the determination of Cr(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) in spiked and natural water samples. The results obtained are in good agreement with those obtained by the reported methods at the 95% confidence level. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

New designs for inhibitors of the NF-κB: DNA binding

We present a series of new inhibitors of the association between nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B) and the corresponding B site in DNA. They were designed using the lead compound 15-deoxy-^12,14 -prostaglandin J₂ (PGJ2), which is a natural product with demonstrated inhibitory efficiency for this system. First, the binding mode of PGJ2 to NF-B was unraveled by GOLD docking calculation. Subsequently, substitutions were made to PGJ2 to optimize its association with NF-B. Care was taken not to strongly increase the reactivity of the new compounds, and to keep the overall shape, size and hydrophilicity of the lead compound, which should render them a similar bioavailability. Molecular mechanics calculations were performed to decide on the suitability of the substitutions, and to evaluate the energies of association with NF-B. Density functional theory calculations were performed also to study the overall reactivity of the substituted drugs towards NF-B. Important general conclusions were obtained, concerning the improvement of these natural inhibitors; namely, a set of rational methodologies were deduced to improve the association between the PGJ2 derivatives and NF-B, and their efficiency demonstrated by generating a set of substituted complexes, some of them with a very much increased affinity for NF-B, opening new doors to enlarge the therapeutic capabilities of this class of drugs.     

Analytical aspects of some organic acids

Summary A direct titrimetric method for the estimation of iron(III) has been developed, which involves the adjustment of concentration of iron(III) andPh, dilution, addition of 1 ml of 2% indicator solution and titration with EDTA (30° to 35° C). It is based on the fact that the iron(III) forms a blue coloured complex which is destroyed at the 11 molar ratio making the end-point of the titration. Quantity of iron(III) as small as 23.2 mg can be titrated accurately when present in a volume of 100 ml. Study of interferences revealed that quite a number of elements like Be²⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, UO₂ ²⁺ and Mn²⁺ does not interfere, whereas much interference is caused by Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, ZrO²⁺, V0²⁺, Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Ti⁴⁺, Ce⁴⁺ and Th⁴⁺. The method proposed for iron(III) is selective and should be of considerable use in many cases.Part III: See Z. analyt. Chem. 167, 332 (1959).