Drift tube investigations on the reactions of O 2 + with CH4 and of CO 2 + with NO in various buffer gases

The influence of internal excitation on the reactions of O ₂ ⁺ + CH₄ and of CO ₂ ⁺ + NO has been investigated using a slow flow drift tube. The rate coefficients for these reactions obtained as a function of relative kinetic energy in various buffer gases like He, Ne, Ar, and Kr showed higher values under conditions where the internal excitation of the reactant ions was enhanced. For both reactions the lowest reactivity at all kinetic energies was observed to occur in He, indicating that He is the least effective buffer for collisionally inducing internal excitation of molecular ions.     

Radical Reactivity of the Biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)2P⋅] and Isolation of a Persistent Phosphorus-Cantered Monoradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)2P-Et]

The activation of C−Br bonds in various bromoalkanes by the biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P⋅] ( 1 ) (Ter=2,6-bis-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-phenyl) is reported, yielding trans-addition products of the type [Br−P(μ-NTer)₂P−R] ( 2 ), so-called 1,3-substituted cyclo-1,3-diphospha-2,4-diazanes. This addition reaction, which represents a new easy approach to asymmetrically substituted cyclo-1,3-diphospha-2,4-diazanes, was investigated mechanistically by different spectroscopic methods (NMR, EPR, IR, Raman); the results suggested a stepwise radical reaction mechanism, as evidenced by the in-situ detection of the phosphorus-centered monoradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-R].< To provide further evidence for the radical mechanism, [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et] ( 3Et ⋅) was synthesized directly by reduction of the bromoethane addition product [Br-P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et] ( 2 a ) with magnesium, resulting in the formation of the persistent phosphorus-centered monoradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et], which could be isolated and fully characterized, including single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Comparison of the EPR spectrum of the radical intermediate in the addition reaction with that of the synthesized new [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P-Et] radical clearly proves the existence of radicals over the course of the reaction of biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P⋅] ( 1 ) with bromoethane. Extensive DFT and coupled cluster calculations corroborate the experimental data for a radical mechanism in the reaction of biradical [⋅P(μ-NTer)₂P⋅] with EtBr. In the field of hetero-cyclobutane-1,3-diyls, the demonstration of a stepwise radical reaction represents a new aspect and closes the gap between P-centered biradicals and P-centered monoradicals in terms of radical reactivity.     

Spectroscopic and Morphological Study of Irradiated PVC Films Doped with Polyphosphates Containing 4,4'-Methylenedianiline

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - Polyphosphates containing 4,4'-methylenedianiline moiety were synthesized and their use as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) additives to enhance PVC...     

Nephroprotective Effects of Alhagi camelorum against Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Albino Wistar Rats

Alhagi camelorum (AC) is an old plant with a significant therapeutic value throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The overuse of cisplatin (Cis > 50 mg/m²) is associated with observed nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, gastrotoxicity, myelosuppression, and allergic reactions. Remedial measures are needed for the protection of nephrotoxicity against cisplatin. Thus, we investigated the nephroprotective effects of AC plant extract to prevent cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in albino Wistar rats. The presence of polyphenols, phenolic compounds, tannins, and saponins was revealed during phytochemical investigation, and a significantly intense antioxidant activity was recorded. There were no toxicological symptoms in the treated rats, and no anatomical, physiological, or histological abnormalities were found compared to the control rats. The results of correcting cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity revealed that the extract has a significant ability to treat kidney damage, with most parameters returning to normal after only three weeks of therapy. It is concluded that co-administration of cisplatin with AC extract showed exceptional nephroprotective effects at a dose of 600 mg/kg for Cis-induced nephrotoxicity.     

Comparison of certain value-at-risk estimation methods for the two-parameter Weibull loss distribution

The Weibull distribution is one of the most important distributions that is utilized as a probability model for loss amounts in connection with actuarial and financial risk management problems. This paper considers the Weibull distribution and its quantiles in the context of estimation of a risk measure called Value-at-Risk (VaR). VaR is simply the maximum loss in a specified period with a pre-assigned probability level. We attempt to present certain estimation methods for VaR as a quantile of a distribution and compare these methods with respect to their deficiency (Def) values. Along this line, the results of some Monte Carlo simulations, that we have conducted for detailed investigations on the efficiency of the estimators as compared to MLE, are provided.     

A Molecular Secret Sharing Scheme

A method for implementing a secret sharing scheme at the molecular level is presented. By creating molecular code generators that are self‐assembled from several molecular components, we established a means for distributing distinct code‐activating elements among several participants. In this way, an authorization code can only be generated when all the participants are present, which ensures that highly secured systems cannot be operated by unauthorized individuals or disloyal users. Additional layers of protection result from the ability to program the security code by replacing one or several molecular components and by subjecting the system to distinct chemical inputs.