Spectrophotometric determination of Fe(III) in alkaline solutions without neutralization

Spectrometric study on the complexation of Fe(III) with an organic reagent obtained by coupling 3-methyl-1-phenyl-5-pyrazolone with diazotized 3-hydroxy-4-amino-benzene sulphonic acid was carried out in alkaline solutions. A 1:2 Fe(III): reagent water soluble complex is formed. The optimum pH is 9.0-11.8. The maximum absorbance of the complex lies at lambda = 560 nm, where the absorbance of the reagent is low. The molar absorptivity is 9000 l.mole(-1).cm(-1) at pH = 11.6. The value of the stability constant determined at 20 +/- 1 degrees C, pH = 11.6 and lambda = 560 nm is 4 x 10(5)M. The Beer-Lambert law is followed for iron concentration in the 0.2-5.0 mug/ml range. The spectrophotometric method was tested on synthetic solutions and thus applied for determination of traces of Fe(III) in several samples of alkaline hydroxides and carbonates without the neutralization of the solutions.     

Mapping the phase diagram of single DNA molecule force-induced melting in the presence of ethidium

When a single DNA molecule is stretched beyond its normal contour length, a force-induced melting transition is observed. Ethidium binding increases the DNA contour length, decreases the elongation upon melting, and increases the DNA melting force in a manner that is consistent with the ethidium-induced changes in duplex DNA stability known from thermal melting studies. The DNA stretching curves map out a phase diagram and critical point in the force-extension-ethidium concentration space. Intercalation occurs between alternate base pairs at low forces and between every base pair at high forces.     

A note on the positive solutions of second order differential equations

We obtain an existence theorem for monotone positive solutions of nonlinear second-order nonlinear differential equations via principal and nonprincipal solutions of the corresponding homogeneous equation.     

An approximate treatment of scattering based on the delta boundary operator

The development of a scheme to treat two-dimensional electromagneticscattering by electrically large, perfectly conducting bodiesis described. It incorporates the effects of surface curvatureand non-local phenomena and has the potential to provide thebasis for a general technique yielding more accurate predictionsthan the widely used physical optics method.     

Exploring the interaction of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes with DNA using single-molecule techniques

Here we explore DNA binding by a family of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes using an atomic force microscope (AFM) and optical tweezers. We demonstrate using AFM that Ru(bpy)2dppz2+ intercalates into DNA (K(b) = 1.5 x 10(5) M(-1)), as does its close relative Ru(bpy)2dppx2+ (K(b) = 1.5 x 10(5) M(-1)). However, intercalation by Ru(phen)3(2+) and other Ru(II) complexes with K(b) values lower than that of Ru(bpy)2dppz2+ is difficult to determine using AFM because of competing aggregation and surface-binding phenomena. At the high Ru(II) concentrations required to evaluate intercalation, most of the DNA strands acquire a twisted, curled conformation that is impossible to measure accurately. The condensation of DNA on mica in the presence of polycations is well known, but it clearly precludes the accurate assessment by AFM of DNA intercalation by most Ru(II) complexes, though not by ethidium bromide and other monovalent intercalators. When stretching individual DNA molecules using optical tweezers, the same limitation on high metal concentration does not exist. Using optical tweezers, we show that Ru(phen)2dppz2+ intercalates avidly (K(b) = 3.2 x 10(6) M(-1)) whereas Ru(bpy)3(2+) does not intercalate, even at micromolar ruthenium concentrations. Ru(phen)3(2+) is shown to intercalate weakly (i.e., at micromolar concentrations (K(b) = 8.8 x 10(3) M(-1))). The distinct differences in DNA stretching behavior between Ru(phen)3(2+) and Ru(bpy)3(2+) clearly illustrate that intercalation can be distinguished from groove binding by pulling the DNA with optical tweezers. Our results demonstrate both the benefits and challenges of two single-molecule methods of exploring DNA binding and help to elucidate the mode of binding of Ru(phen)3(2+).     

EPMA and Microstructural Characterization of Yttrium Doped BaTiO3 Ceramics

 Yttrium-doped BaTiO₃ ceramics have been studied as a potential material for positive temperature coefficient resistors (PTCR). The mechanism of Y incorporation into BaTiO₃ plays an important role for displaying good electrical properties. Determination of the amount of yttrium in the BaTiO₃ as well as microstructure characterization of the samples were performed using SEM, EDS and WDS analysis. An optimized trace element WDS quantitative analysis was applied to determine elemental concentrations for Ba, Ti and Y in the samples as accurately as possible. BaTiO₃ and Y₂O₃ were used as standards. Analysis was undertaken using a JEOL JXA 840A electron probe microanalyzer. WDS X-ray intensity measurements were performed under 20 kV, 50 nA beam current and 0.2% preset standard counting deviation (σ_c) using a PET crystal. Measured k-ratios were quantified by ZAF matrix correction. Average results of WDS quantitative analysis showed 20.17 ± 0.08 at % Ti, 19.95 ± 0.09 at % Ba, 0.22 ± 0.03 at % Y, and 59.66 at % O. The results suggest incorporation of yttrium in the BaTiO₃ preferentially at the Ba-sites, however partial incorporation of Y at Ti-sites could not be excluded.     

Optimization of a chemical modifier in the determination of selenium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and its application to wheat and wheat flour analysis.

A method for the determination of total selenium in wheat and wheat flour using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) with palladium/ascorbic acid as a chemical modifier was studied. The effects of nickel nitrate, palladium/ascorbic acid, and palladium/magnesium nitrate as chemical modifiers on the sensitivity in the determination of selenite, selenate and selenomethionine by GFAAS were compared. The palladium/ascorbic acid modifier was used for the determination of total selenium in wheat and wheat flour, because the oxidation states of the selenium ion are not important in the determination. The detection limit was estimated to be 1 microg L(-1) (calculated as 3sigma of the blank); the calibration curve was linear for the concentration range 5 - 50 microg L(-1) and the recovery range was 96.66 - 101.80%. The optimal ashing and atomizing temperatures were 1300 degrees C and 2250 degrees C, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of total selenium in wheat and wheat flour.