Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric analysis of the partial ozonolysis products of poly(isoprene) and poly(chloroprene)

The low molecular weight compounds formed by partial ozonolysis of poly(isoprene) and poly(chloroprene) were analyzed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS). In the poly(chloroprene) case, the ozonized mixtures were treated with piperidine before the MS analysis to transform in amide end groups the reactive acyl chlorides formed by the cleavage of double bonds along the main chain. Only one family of compounds having carboxyl and ketone or carboxyl and amide end groups were obtained from the ozonolysis of poly(isoprene) and poly(chloroprene), respectively. The assigned structures were confirmed by FAB-MS analysis of the GPC separation fractions [poly(chloroprene)] or by FAB-MS of the KOH-doped ozonolysis mixtures [poly(isoprene)]. It has been also ascertained, by GPC experiments, that poly(chloroprene) decomposes more rapidly than poly(isoprene) and poly(butadiene).     

Simultaneous determination of concentration,diffusion coefficient and number of electrons for electroactive species by combining suitable electroanalytical measurements

The electroanalytical method described for the simultaneous determination of concentration, the number of electrons involved in the redox process and diffusion coefficient is based on evaluation of the ratios between the currents recorded for the analyte and for an easily standardized reference species dissolved in the same medium. Three different electroanalytical techniques are used in which the currents exhibit, for two techniques at least, different dependences on both the diffusion coefficient and electron number. The approach is applicable to diffusion-controlled processes, regardless of the degree of reversibility involved. Reliability tests with electroactive organic compounds dissolved in dimethyl sulphoxide show that both accuracy and precision are within 10% depending on the chosen combination of techniques.     

Metabolic Profile of Agropyron repens (L.) P. Beauv. Rhizome Herbal Tea by HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS Analysis

Agropyron repens (L.) P. Beauv. (couch grass) is a world-wide infesting rhizomatous plant with pharmacological applications. Chemical research is focused on its allelopathic and anti-inflammatory components, which are mainly present in the essential oil. Conversely, the aqueous extracts have been sparingly investigated, although the herbal tea is by far the most used formulation. To fill the gap, the metabolic profile of Agropyron repens rhizome herbal tea was investigated by electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem–mass spectrometry (MS/MS); the phenolic profile was investigated by HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS. ESI-MS fingerprinting was provided, evidencing diagnostic ions for saccharides, organic acids and amino acids. The HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS analysis evidenced at least 20 characteristic phenolic compounds, the most representative being caffeoyl and feruloyl quinic esters, followed by coumaric, caffeic and ferulic acids, and hesperidin among flavonoids. In addition, the essential amino acid tryptophan was identified for the first time. The results suggest new perspectives of applications for Agropyron repens rhizome.     

Multiphoton free-free transitions in a spatially inhomogeneous laser field

Summary The results of an investigation are presented in which it is shown how the spatial inhomogeneity of a laser field modifies the multiphoton free-free transition cross-sections compared to the case of a homogeneous field. This kind of investigation is required to make more close contact with experiments in intense fields, as in these cases the inhomogeneity is produced by the focusing of the laser beam. Furthermore, taking into account the intensity spatial distribution allows us to achieve in an effective way the asymptotic decoupling of the scattered particles from the field, which is very important for theoretical models using asymptotic initial and final states embedded in the field. Differential and total cross-sections are calculated over a wide range of parameters as functions of the scattering angle, of the incoming-particle energy and of the laser intensity and frequency. The laser spatial inhomogeneity is found to wash out most of the oscillating behaviour of multiphoton differential cross-sections, derived within the model of a homogeneous laser. Little modifications are, instead, found in the total cross-sections which are simply scaled to slightly lower values. Crosssections with zero photon exchange are increased, while those with photon exchanges are lowered. This yields the result that the sum of all the ≪inhomogeneous≫ cross-sections is equal to the sum of all the ≪homogeneous≫ ones (sum rule). The multiphoton free-free transition differential cross-sections are found to be very sensitive quantities which may be used to get information on the laser properties and on their nonlinear behaviour, when these are not precisely known. To speed up publication, the authors of this paper have agreed to not receive the proofs for correction.     

A Converse Hawking-Unruh Effect and dS<Superscript>2</Superscript>/CFT Correspondence

Given a local quantum field theory net $ \mathcal{A} $ on the de Sitter spacetime dS ^d , where geodesic observers are thermalized at Gibbons-Hawking temperature, we look for observers that feel to be in a ground state, i.e., particle evolutions with positive generator, providing a sort of converse to the Hawking-Unruh effect. Such positive energy evolutions always exist as noncommutative flows, but have only a partial geometric meaning, yet they map localized observables into localized observables. We characterize the local conformal nets on dS ^d . Only in this case our positive energy evolutions have a complete geometrical meaning. We show that each net has a unique maximal expected conformal subnet, where our evolutions are thus geometrical. In the two-dimensional case, we construct a holographic one-to-one correspondence between local nets $ \mathcal{A} $ on dS ² and local conformal non-isotonic families (pseudonets) $ \mathcal{B} $ on S ¹. The pseudonet $ \mathcal{B} $ gives rise to two local conformal nets $ \mathcal{B}_\pm $ on S ¹, that correspond to the $ \frak{H}_\pm $ horizon components of $ \mathcal{A} $, and to the chiral components of the maximal conformal subnet of $ \mathcal{A} $. In particular, $ \mathcal{A} $ is holographically reconstructed by a single horizon component, namely the pseudonet is a net, iff the translations on $ \frak{H}_\pm $ have positive energy and the translations on $ \frak{H}_\mp $ are trivial. This is the case iff the one-parameter unitary group implementing rotations on dS ² has positive/negative generator. Communicated by Klaus Fredenhagen submitted 07/02/03, accepted: 07/07/03     

From X- to O-shaped spatiotemporal spectra of light filaments in water

We show that the angle-wavelength spectra of light filaments excited by ultrashort pulses experience a transition from X- to O-like structures when their carrier wavelengths are switched from normal to anomalous dispersion. Calculations confirm that the O-shaped conical emission follows the elliptic geometry of the nonlinear Schr?dinger equation with anomalous dispersion.     

Synthesis and characterization of graphene-based nanocomposites with potential use for biomedical applications

In this paper, GaN nanoparticles were synthesized from the complex Ga(H₂NCONH₂)₆Cl₃ in the flow of NH₃ at a mild temperature (350 °C). Further purification was performed by the ethanol-thermal method. The ethanol-thermal method also prompted the GaN nanoparticles to grow into an anisotropic morphology. XRD patterns reveal that GaN nanoparticles have crystallized in a hexagonal wurtzite structure. TEM observation shows that the average size of the as-prepared nanoparticles is about 5–10 nm. The photoluminescence spectrum exhibits a broad green emission band with a peak at 510 nm. It can be known from the first-principle theoretic simulation by the TDDFT method that this fluorescence emission band is attributed to the hydride defects of V _N-H on the surface of GaN nanoparticles.     

Sample Preparation for the Determination of Metals in Food Samples Using Spectroanalytical Methods—A Review

Abstract

The present article gives an overview of recent publications and modern techniques of sample preparation for food analysis employing atomic and inorganic mass spectrometric techniques, such as flame atomic absorption spectrometry, chemical vapor generation atomic absorption and atomic fluorescence spectrometry, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Among the most frequently applied sample preparation techniques for food analysis are dry ashing, usually with the addition of an ashing aid, and acid digestion, preferably with the assistance of microwave energy. Slurry preparation, particularly with the assistance of ultrasound, is increasingly used to reduce acid consumption and sample preparation time. Direct analysis of solid samples is gaining importance in the field of food analysis as it offers the highest sensitivity, avoids the use of acids and other aggressive reagents, makes possible the analysis of micro‐samples, and can be applied for fast screening analysis, e.g., of fresh meat.