Degradation of azithromycin using Ti/RuO<Subscript>2</Subscript> anode as catalyst followed by DPV,HPLC–UV and MS analysis

The electrodegradation of azithromycin was studied by its indirect oxidation using dimensionally stable Ti/RuO₂ anode as catalyst in the electrolyte containing methanol, 0.05 M NaHCO₃, sodium chloride and deionized water. The optimal conditions for galvanostatic electrodegradation for the azithromycin concentration of 0.472 mg cm^?3 were found to be NaCl concentration of 7 mg cm^?3 and the applied current of 300 mA. The differential pulse voltammetry using glassy carbon electrode was performed for the first time in the above-mentioned content of electrolyte for the nine concentration of azithromycin (0.075–0.675 mg cm^?3) giving the limits of azithromycin detection and of quantification as: LOD 0.044 mg cm^?3 and LOQ 0.145 mg cm^?3. The calibration curve was constructed enabling the electrolyte analysis during its electrodegradation process. The electrolyte was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The electrooxidation products were identified and after 180 min there was no azithromycin in the electrolyte while TOC analysis showed that 79% of azithromycin was mineralized. The proposed degradation scheme is presented.     

A De Giorgi–Type Conjecture for Minimal Solutions to a Nonlinear Stokes Equation

We study the one-dimensional symmetry of solutions to the nonlinear Stokes equation which are periodic in the d − 1 last variables (living on the torus 𝕋^d−1) and globally minimize the corresponding energy in Ω = ℝ × 𝕋^d−1, i.e., Namely, we find a class of nonlinear potentials W ≥ 0 such that any global minimizer u of E connecting two zeros of W as x₁ → ± ∞ is one-dimensional; i.e., u depends only on the x₁ -variable. In particular, this class includes in dimension d = 2 the nonlinearities with w being a harmonic function or a solution to the wave equation, while in dimension d ≥ 3 , this class contains a perturbation of the Ginzburg-Landau potential as well as potentials W having d + 1 wells with prescribed transition cost between the wells. For that, we develop a theory of calibrations relying on the notion of entropy (coming from scalar conservation laws). We also study the problem of the existence of global minimizers of E for general potentials W providing in particular compactness results for uniformly finite energy maps u in Ω connecting two wells of W as x₁ → ± ∞ . © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Disordered kalsilite KAlSiO4

The X‐ray powder diffraction pattern that corresponds to the disordered state of kalsilite (potassium aluminium orthosilicate), KAlSiO₄, is investigated. The directionality of (Al,Si)O₄ tetrahedra within single six‐membered tetrahedral ring building units (S6R) could not be defined. With equal probability for the directionality of each tetrahedra within one S6R [free apex pointing up (U) or down (D)], an undefined sequence of U and D directionalities is needed to describe the S6R building units. The extinction conditions of disordered kalsilite are also different compared to ordered kalsilite within the space group P6₃. In disordered kalsilite, h0l and hhl reflections with l = 2n + 1 are systematically absent.     

Optimization of cubic GaN/AlGaN quantum cascade structures for negative refraction in the THz spectral range

In this work we theoretically investigate a possibility to use cubic nitride based multi-layer periodic nanostructure as a semiconductor metamaterial. The structure design is based on an active region of a quantum cascade laser optimized to achieve optical gain in the Terahertz (THz) spectral range. In particular, we test the GaN/AlGaN quantum well configurations, which should exhibit important advantages compared to GaAs-based structures, namely room temperature operation without the assistance of magnetic field and lower doping densities. Our numerical rate-equations model is solved self-consistently and it takes into account electron-longitudinal optical phonon scattering between all the relevant states among the adjacent periods of the structure. A global optimization routine, specifically genetic algorithm is then used to generate new gain-optimized structures. This work confirms the advantages of cubic GaN designs over GaAs ones, namely feasibility of negative refraction at room temperature without the assistance of magnetic field while keeping the doping densities of the same order of magnitude.     

Explanation of Anomalous Gas-Chromatographic (Gc) Behaviour in a Homologous Series of 2-Chloroethyl Phosphonic Acid Dialkyl Esters

Abstract

The study of GC separation of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid di-n-alkyl (1–5 C atoms) esters (synthesised by us) on silicone stationary phases (OV-1, OV-17, OV-225) revealed a deviation from the expected linear dependence of retention indexes (RI) versus the number of C atoms of the alkyl chain: the first member of the series presents stronger retention than one can expect. This anomalous behaviour was observed especially on polar stationary phase (OV-225, see Figure l), and was emphasised with the increase of the column temperature. In an attempt to rationalise the above mentioned facts, we tried to relate the RI values to a global polarity parameter: the dipole moment, μ. The μ values for ClC₂H₄P(O)(OR)₂ were calculated by a method described in [1] (tested by comparing the calculated μ values with experimental ones for alkyl phosphonic acid dialkylesters), using molecular mechanics (COSMIC package) in the search of the conformational space, AM1 method (MOPAC 6.0) for the μ values of the conformers, and Boltzmann distribution for the global value (see Table I). At low temperature, the μ values are not related to the Kovats indexes. Those calculated at 200°C (column temperature range) demonstrate that, indeed, only in the case of the methyl derivative, the temperature rising led to a higher μ (enhanced population of the more polar conformers: ac position for the C-Ethyl group - ac for the Cl, μ ≈ 27 D, or ±ap for one R, μ ≈ 3.8 ÷ 4.3 D). It can be concluded that dipole-dipole forces contribute to the separation process of the first members of the series.     

Mechanical and anti‐stabbing properties of modified thermoplastic polymers impregnated multiaxial p‐aramid fabrics

New forms of hybrid multiaxial nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical and stab resisting properties are presented. This study is motivated by the lack of knowledge in the study of the multiaxial fabric nanocomposites with two modified thermoplastic matrices for antiballistic protection. Introduction of 5 wt.% silica nanoparticles in the composite of polyurethane/p‐aramid/poly (vinyl butyral) leads to significant improvement in mechanical properties, and the addition of silane as a coupling agents and glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agents yielded maximal values of storage modulus, tensile modulus and anti‐stabbing properties for hybrid nanocomposites. Ballistic resistance testing and penetration depth of the hybrid nanocomposites were visualized using image analysis. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.