In‐situ synthesis of transparent and conductive carbon nanotube networks

A method for the production of transparent carbon nanotube networks (CNTNs) over transparent substrates was developed. In this method, CNTNs were grown directly in the target surface by applying the catalyst in specific zones of the substrate through lithographic techniques. The networks can be also transferred from the original substrate to other surfaces. The newly grown carbon nanotubes have a very high aspect ratio (>50000). Thus far, networks with an optical transmittance of 94% at 550 nm and a surface resistivity of 3.6 kΩ/sq have been produced. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Insertion of benzothiazolium compounds into montmorillonite interlayers

Benzothiazolium compounds exhibit pronounced antimicrobial activities and stimulation effects on plant growth. When applied to fields they can pollute soil colloids. In contact with the soil they can potentially interact with a clay fraction giving rise to clay organocomplexes. Model intercalation complexes were prepared using monoionic montmorillonite and a variety of water-soluble benzothia zolium salts. It was found that the adsorption into the silicate interlayer space proceeds via a cation exchange process. Substantial differences were observed in the extent of the reaction between non-substituted andN-substituted species. The sulphur atoms present in the benzothiazolium molecules repel the surface oxygen atom: this is considered to be the factor responsible for prevention of insertion of the guest cations perpendicular to the layers.     

Microwave-assisted arylation of rac-(E)-3-acetoxy-1,3-diphenylprop-1-ene with arylboronic acids

The palladium-catalyzed arylation of rac-(E)-3-acetoxy-1,3-diphenylprop-1-ene with arylboronic acids was studied under controlled microwave irradiation conditions. A variety of different catalysts, bases, and solvents were explored in order to achieve optimum yields in the shortest possible reaction times. The best isolated yields were obtained using Pd₂(dba)₃·CHCl₃/PPh₃ as the catalytic system, potassium phosphate monohydrate as the base, and toluene/H₂O as a solvent system. Microwave irradiation using 5 mol % of the palladium catalyst for 90 s (max. temp 170 °C) generally afforded the cross-coupling products in good to excellent yields.     

Microwave-promoted cross-coupling of acid chlorides with arylboronic acids: a convenient method for preparing aromatic ketones

Simple catalytic systems for cross-coupling reactions of acyl chlorides with arylboronic acids under microwave conditions were tested. Microwave irradiation facilitated the reaction course. Mild reaction conditions afford the symmetrical and unsymmetrical aryl ketones in reasonable to high yields within a short time. A wide range of substrates bearing an electron-donating or an electron-withdrawing substituent on aryl ring of acid chloride as well as on boronic acid were examined and high yields of ketones were produced.     

Determination of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in breast milk from Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil, using a modified QuEChERS method and gas chromatography-negative chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry

ABSTRACT

The food chain is the main source of exposure to humans by organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) due to the bioaccumulation. Breast milk can accumulate OCPs, so this matrix is often used as an environmental bioindicator. The currently available methods for the determination of several OCPs and metabolites in breast milk involve, in general, multi-step sample preparation and quantification techniques with low selectivity, high cost and much time and labour. Thus, a fast and efficient method based on sample preparation using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) method combined with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with negative chemical ionisation (GC-NCI-MS) was developed, validated and applied for determination of 16 OCPs and metabolites in breast milk samples. The extract was cleaned by dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) using MgSO₄ and C18, evaporated in a Turbovap® system, redissolved and analysed by GC-NCI-MS. The method was validated showing acceptable recoveries (72–118%) and precision (RSD <19%). Method limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) ranged from 0.75 to 7.5 ng g^?1 and from 2.5 to 25 ng g^?1 lipid, respectively. The method was successfully applied to 20 samples of breast milk from different regions of the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, of which 75% contained residues below the LOQs.     

Microwave-Assisted Method for Synthesis of 1,3-Disubstituted Pyrroles

1,3-Disubstituted pyrroles were prepared by a microwave-assisted reaction of pyrrolidine and aldehydes in toluene as well as in solvent-free conditions. Reactions were completed in a few minutes in the solvent-free condition but a long time (up to 30 min) was necessary to complete reactions in toluene. Yields of products depended considerably on the aldehyde used.     

Taxicab geometry in table of higher-order elements

Nonlinear Dynamics - The paper deals with the analysis of the order of the differential equation of motion describing the dynamics of a one-port network compounded of series or parallel connections...     

Comparison of IFCC and NGSP methods for determination of glycated haemoglobin using advanced regression techniques

The objective of this work was a correct statistical comparison of two assay methods for determination of glycated haemoglobin HbA1c. The immunoturbidimetric determination of HbA1c was performed in two ways: using an automatic analyser Hitachi 912, calibrated according to the IFCC reference system (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine) and using an analyser Advia 1200 and the NGSP reference system (National Glycohaemoglobin Standardization Program). For statistical comparison of these two analytical methods several advanced regression methods were used, which respect random errors of both compared methods. Specifically, Deming regression with and without weights, orthogonal regression, and Passing-Bablok regression were employed. The results demonstrate that the investigated analytical assay methods do not correspond to each other. The summarized results indicate usefulness of better harmonisation of two existing reference systems.     

Quasi-static Maxwell's equations with a dissipative non-linear boundary condition: Full discretization

We study a time dependent eddy current equation for the magnetic field H accompanied with a nonlinear boundary condition, which is a generalization of the classical Silver–Müller condition for a non-perfect conductor. More exactly, the relation between the normal components of electric (E) and magnetic (H  ) fields obeys the following power law (linearized for small and large values) ν×E=ν×(|H×ν|^α−1H×ν)$\mathit{\nu }\times \mathit{E}=\mathit{\nu }\times ({|\mathit{H}\times \mathit{\nu }|}^{\alpha -1}\mathit{H}\times \mathit{\nu })$ for some α∈(0,1]$\alpha \in (0,1]$. We design a linear fully discrete approximation scheme to solve this nonlinear problem. The convergence of the approximations to a weak solution is proved, error estimates describing the dependence of the error on discretization parameters are derived as well. The efficiency of the proposed method is supported by numerical experiments.