Backward iteration in strongly convex domains

We prove that a backward orbit with bounded Kobayashi step for a hyperbolic, parabolic or strongly elliptic holomorphic self-map of a bounded strongly convex C² domain in Cd necessarily converges to a repelling or parabolic boundary fixed point, generalizing previous results obtained by Poggi-Corradini in the unit disk and by Ostapyuk in the unit ball of Cd.     

Semileptonic (Λ b → Λcev) decay in a field theoretic quark model

The semileptonic decay width of heavy baryons such as (Λ _b → Λcev) has been estimated in the framework of a nonrelativistic field theoretic quark model where four component quark field operators along with a harmonic oscillator wave function are used to describe translationally invariant hadronic states. The present estimation does not make an explicit use of heavy quark symmetry and has a reasonable agreement with the experimentally measured decay width, polarisation ratio and form factors with the harmonic oscillator radii and quark momentum distribution inside the hadron as free parameters.     

Holomorphic curvature of Finsler metrics and complex geodesics

In his famous 1981 paper, Lempert proved that given a point in a strongly convex domain the complex geodesics (i.e., the extremal disks) for the Kobayashi metric passing through that point provide a very useful fibration of the domain. In this paper we address the question whether, given a smooth complex Finsler metric on a complex manifoldM, it is possible to find purely differential geometric properties of the metric ensuring the existence of such a fibration in complex geodesies ofM. We first discuss at some length the notion of holomorphic sectional curvature for a complex Finsler metric; then, using the differential equation of complex geodesies we obtained in [AP], we show that for every pair (p;v) ∈T M, withv ≠ 0, there is a (only a segment if the metric is not complete) complex geodesic passing throughp tangent tov iff the Finsler metric is Kähler, has constant holomorphic sectional curvature ?4, and its curvature tensor satisfies a specific simmetry condition—which are the differential geometric conditions we were after. Finally, we show that a complex Finsler metric of constant holomorphic sectional curvature ?4 satisfying the given simmetry condition on the curvature is necessarily the Kobayashi metric.     

Excess enthalpies for ternary aqueous solutions of glycerol and urea at 25°C

A strategy is described to determine the second and third cross interaction coefficients h _ij , h _iij , and h _ijj for the viral expansion of the excess enthalpies of aqueous solutions of non-electrolytes when these coefficients are comparable in magnitude and opposite in sign. Gross errors can occur especially if both self interaction coefficients h _ii and h _jj are small, if the heats of mixing are small, or if the extrapolation must be carried out from moderately concentrated regions. The exemplary case of two solutes, as different as glycerol and urea, is extensively discussed.     

Thermal behaviour of solid complexes of phenoxyalkanoic acids and divalent metals

Solid Co(II) and Ni(II) phenoxyacetates were studied by DSC and TG techniques. The results showed that they were dihydrate and tetrahydrate respectively in the solid state. No evidence of the location of water molecules in different coordination shells was obtained. Both compounds decomposed with the formation of oxide as final product; the corresponding activation energies suggested a stronger metal-carboxylate bond in the nickel salt.     

Chirality and fragrance chemistry: stereoisomers of the commercial chiral odorants Muguesia and Pamplefleur

[structure: see text] The work describes the enzyme-mediated preparation and the odor evaluation of the single stereoisomers of the commercial odorants Muguesia and Pamplefleur. The synthetic approach to Muguesia stereoisomers helped to clear the assignment of the relative configuration of intermediate diols 5. The odor response of Pamplefleur isomers was found to be rather unusual. No stereoisomer prevailed, but each one played a definite role in establishing the odor sensation of the final blend.     

Construction and evaluation of a flow-through cell adapted to a commercial static mercury drop electrode (SMDE) to study the adsorption of Cd(II) and Pb(II) on vermiculite

This paper describes the construction and application of a robust flow-through cell for use with the capillary of a commercial static mercury drop electrode. Linearity of peak current was observed up to 0.50 mumol l(-1) for Cd(II) or Pb(II) in anodic stripping voltammetry experiments performed under continuous flow during the deposition step, using 120 s of deposition time and flow rate of 4.0 ml min(-1). Under these conditions the limits of detection for Cd(II) and Pb(II) were 13 and 17 nmol l(-1), respectively. An analytical throughput of 20 analyses per h was possible using 10 s for cleaning the cell between two samples and including the time needed for the potential scan, which was performed with the flow stopped, using the differential pulse mode for current sampling. The linear dynamic range can be extended up to 5 mumol l(-1) for both cations if the deposition time is decreased to 30 s, a condition in which the sampling throughput is 35 analyses per h. The proposed manifold was used to study the adsorption rates of Cd(II) and Pb(II) onto vermiculite at different pHs, allowing one to perform high sensitivity measurements at high sampling frequency, using low cost instrumentation.     

Urine stability and steroid profile: towards a screening index of urine sample degradation for anti-doping purpose

The presence of microorganisms in urine samples, under favourable conditions of storage and transportation, may alter the concentration of steroid hormones, thus altering the correct evaluation of the urinary steroid profile in doping control analysis. According to the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA technical document TD2004 EAAS), a testosterone deconjugation higher than 5% and the presence of 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione in the deconjugated fraction, are reliable indicators of urine degradation. The determination of these markers would require an additional quantitative analysis since the steroids screening analysis, in anti-doping laboratories, is performed in the total (free + conjugated) fraction. The aim of this work is therefore to establish reliable threshold values for some representative compounds (namely 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione) in the total fraction in order to predict directly at the screening stage the potential microbial degradation of the urine samples. Preliminary evidence on the most suitable degradation indexes has been obtained by measuring the urinary concentration of testosterone, epitestosterone, 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione by gas chromatography–mass spectrometric every day for 15 days in the deconjugated, glucuronide and total fraction of 10 pools of urines from 60 healthy subjects, stored under different pH and temperature conditions, and isolating the samples with one or more markers of degradation according to the WADA technical document TD2004EAAS. The threshold values for 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione were therefore obtained correlating the testosterone deconjugation rate with the urinary concentrations of 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione in the total fraction. The threshold values suggested as indexes of urine degradation in the total fraction were: 10 ng mL⁻¹ for 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 20 ng mL⁻¹ for 5β-androstane-3,17-dione. The validity of this approach was confirmed by the analysis of routine samples for more than five months (i.e. on a total of more than 4000 urine samples): samples with a concentration of total 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione higher than the threshold values showed a percentage of free testosterone higher than 5 of its total amount; whereas free testosterone in a percentage higher than 5 of its total amount was not detected in urines with a concentration of total 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione lower than the threshold values.