Structure of partially premixed n-heptane–air counterflow flames

To avoid the complexities associated with the droplet/vapor transport and nonuniform evaporation processes, a fundamental investigation of liquid fuel combustion in idealized configurations is very useful. An experimental–computational investigation of prevaporized n-heptane nonpremixed and partially premixed flames established in a counterflow burner is described. There is a general agreement between various facets of our nonpremixed flame measurements and the literature data. The partially premixed flames are characterized by a double flame structure. This becomes more distinct as the strain rate decreases and partial premixing increases, which also increases the separation distance between the two reaction zones. The peak partially premixed flame temperature increases with increasing premixing of the fuel stream. The peak CO₂ and H₂O concentrations are relatively insensitive to partial premixing. The CO and H₂ peak concentrations on the premixed side increase as the fuel-side equivalence ratio decreases. These species are transported to the nonpremixed reaction zone where they oxidize. The C₂ species have peaks in the premixed reaction zone. The concentrations of olefins are ten times larger than those of the corresponding paraffins. The oxidizer is present in partially premixed flames throughout the combustion system and there are no regions characterized by simultaneous high temperature and high fuel concentration. As a result, pyrolysis reactions leading to soot formation are greatly diminished.     

Parameters Involved in the Sol-Gel Transition of Titania in Reverse Micelles

Titania nanoparticles and gels are synthesized in reverse micelles with either an ionic (AOT) or a non-ionic (Triton X-100) surfactant in alkanes with low water contents. Acids were in some cases dissolved in the aqueous phase. Whereas the size of the sol nanoparticles is independent of the micellar composition, the kinetics of the sol-gel transition are not. The gelation time is shorter for the non-ionic surfactant and becomes longer as the acid content in the water increases, and for smaller anions of equal charge.     

A MASSive Laboratory Tour. An Interactive Mass Spectrometry Outreach Activity for Children

It is imperative to fascinate young children at an early stage in their education for the analytical sciences. The exposure of the public to mass spectrometry presently increases rapidly through the common media. Outreach activities can take advantage of this exposure and employ mass spectrometry as an exquisite example of an analytical science in which children can be fascinated. The presented teaching modules introduce children to mass spectrometry and give them the opportunity to experience a modern research laboratory. The modules are highly adaptable and can be applied to young children from the age of 6 to 14 y. In an interactive tour, the students explore three major scientific concepts related to mass spectrometry; the building blocks of matter, charged particle manipulation by electrostatic fields, and analyte identification by mass analysis. Also, the students carry out a mass spectrometry experiment and learn to interpret the resulting mass spectra. The multistage, inquiry-based tour contains flexible methods, which teach the students current-day research techniques and possible applications to real research topics. Besides the scientific concepts, laboratory safety and hygiene are stressed and the students are enthused for the analytical sciences by participating in “hands-on” work. The presented modules have repeatedly been successfully employed during laboratory open days. They are also found to be extremely suitable for (early) high school science classes during laboratory visit-focused field trips.

Use of soft computing methods in risk assessment of electrostatic fire and explosion hazards in industries

The general problem in the theoretical and practical examination of hazards coming into existence in case of real, complicated industrial systems is basically the approximation of complicated multivariable functions of input and output variables. There is a rather new tool for solving the aforesaid problem, namely the use of soft computing methods: fuzzy logic, artificial neural networks and genetic algorithms. The new approaches can be effectively used for both the risk evaluation of working systems (checking and auditing) and—by using the predictive power of the methods—for designing and planning activities in industrial electrostatics.     

Combination of traditional and computer based tools in mathematics education

In this paper I analyzed the advantages of the combined use of traditional and computer-based demonstration, which are connected to the solution of a difficult space-geometry problem. The distinguished feature of the paper lies in the combined use of 3-dimensional animations, interactive worksheet and traditional models. The interactive worksheet contains 3-dimensional animations created in DGS. The traditional worksheet harmonizes the traditional edge-model and the interactive worksheet.     

Solid-Phase “Self-Hydrolysis” of [Zn(NH3)4MoO4@2H2O] Involving Enclathrated Water—An Easy Route to a Layered Basic Ammonium Zinc Molybdate Coordination Polymer

An aerial humidity-induced solid-phase hydrolytic transformation of the [Zn(NH₃)₄]MoO₄@2H₂O (compound 1@2H₂O) with the formation of [(NH₄)_xH_(1−x)Zn(OH)(MoO₄)]_n (x = 0.92–0.94) coordination polymer (formally NH₄Zn(OH)MoO₄, compound 2) is described. Based on the isostructural relationship, the powder XRD indicates that the crystal lattice of compound 1@2H₂O contains a hydrogen-bonded network of tetraamminezinc (2+) and molybdate (2−) ions, and there are cavities (O₄N₄(μ-H₁₂) cube) occupied by the two water molecules, which stabilize the crystal structure. Several observations indicate that the water molecules have no fixed positions in the lattice voids; instead, the cavity provides a neighborhood similar to those in clathrates. The @ symbol in the notation is intended to emphasize that the H₂O in this compound is enclathrated rather than being water of crystallization. Yet, signs of temperature-dependent dynamic interactions with the wall of the cages can be detected, and 1@2H₂O easily releases its water content even on standing and yields compound 2. Surprisingly, hydrolysis products of 1 were observed even in the absence of aerial humidity, which suggests a unique solid-phase quasi-intramolecular hydrolysis. A mechanism involving successive substitution of the ammonia ligands by water molecules and ammonia release is proposed. An ESR study of the Cu-doped compound 2 (2#dotCu) showed that this complex consists of two different Cu²⁺(Zn²⁺) environments in the polymeric structure. Thermal decomposition of compounds 1 and 2 results in ZnMoO₄ with similar specific surface area and morphology. The ZnMoO₄ samples prepared from compounds 1 and 2 and compound 2 in itself are active photocatalysts in the degradation of Congo Red dye. IR, Raman, and UV studies on compounds 1@2H₂O and 2 are discussed in detail.     

Thermal decomposition of new ruthenium(II) complexes containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-alkylphenothiazines

Thermal decomposition of chlorpromazine hydrochloride (CP·HCl), trifluoperazine dihydrochloride (TF·2HCl) and thioridazine hydrochloride (TR·HCl), and the ruthenium complexes with dimethyl sulfoxide (dmso) of composition [RuCl₂(dmso)₄] and L[RuCl₃(dmso)₃]·xEtOH, L = CP·HCl, TF·2HCl or TR·HCl is described. The phenothiazines are stable to temperature range of 200–280 °C with an increasing stability order of TF·2HCl < CP·HCl < TR·HCl. The decomposition of all the compounds takes place in superposing steps. For detection of chlorides and sulfides, EGD analysis was performed. The decomposition pattern of the complexes, due to their similar structure, is similar. The thermal data unambiguously resolve the contradiction between the elemental analysis and X-ray structural data for (TF·2HCl)[RuCl₃(dmso)₃]Cl·EtOH. The compound crystallizes with one EtOH, evaporating in part at room temperature.     

Bioactivities of Chuquiraga straminea sandwith

Methanolic extracts of Chuquiraga straminea Sandwith, subfamily Barnadesioideae (Asteraceae) showed the presence of quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity was determined. The total extracts showed antioxidant activity by DPPH and ABTS method (SC50 14.5 to 34.9 microg/mL). A significantly positive correlation was observed between the antioxidant activity and the total phenolics (R2 > 0.93). The extracts were active against ten methicillin resistant and sensitive Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from nosocomial infection (MIC values between 200 to 800 microg/mL). These preliminary studies are highly interesting as they open new ways for further applications in the treatment of infections by methicillin resistant S. aureus.     

Structural basis for a Kolbe-type decarboxylation catalyzed by a glycyl radical enzyme

4-Hydroxyphenylacetate decarboxylase is a [4Fe-4S] cluster containing glycyl radical enzyme proposed to use a glycyl/thiyl radical dyad to catalyze the last step of tyrosine fermentation in clostridia. The decarboxylation product p-cresol (4-methylphenol) is a virulence factor of the human pathogen Clostridium difficile . Here we describe the crystal structures at 1.75 and 1.81 ? resolution of substrate-free and substrate-bound 4-hydroxyphenylacetate decarboxylase from the related Clostridium scatologenes . The structures show a (βγ)(4) tetramer of heterodimers composed of a catalytic β-subunit harboring the putative glycyl/thiyl dyad and a distinct small γ-subunit with two [4Fe-4S] clusters at 40 ? distance from the active site. The γ-subunit comprises two domains displaying pseudo-2-fold symmetry that are structurally related to the [4Fe-4S] cluster-binding scaffold of high-potential iron-sulfur proteins. The N-terminal domain coordinates one cluster with one histidine and three cysteines, and the C-terminal domain coordinates the second cluster with four cysteines. Whereas the C-terminal cluster is buried in the βγ heterodimer interface, the N-terminal cluster is not part of the interface. The previously postulated decarboxylation mechanism required the substrate's hydroxyl group in the vicinity of the active cysteine residue. In contrast to expectation, the substrate-bound state shows a direct interaction between the substrate's carboxyl group and the active site Cys503, while His536 and Glu637 at the opposite side of the active site pocket anchor the hydroxyl group. This state captures a possible catalytically competent complex and suggests a Kolbe-type decarboxylation for p-cresol formation.