A Note on the Koszul Complex in Deformation Quantization

The aim of this short note is to present a proof of the existence of an A _∞-quasi-isomorphism between the A _∞-S(V ^*)-ù(V){\wedge(V)} -bimodule K, introduced in Calaque et al. (Bimodules and branes in deformation quantization, 2009), and the Koszul complex K(V) of S(V ^*), viewed as an A _∞-S(V ^*)-ù(V){\wedge(V)} -bimodule, for V a finite-dimensional (complex or real) vector space.     

Suppression of ring artefacts when tomographing anisotropically attenuating samples

There are many objects for which the attenuation varies significantly as they are rotated during computerized X‐ray tomography, for example plate samples. This can lead to significant ring artefacts in the subsequent tomographic reconstructions. In this paper a new method is presented that can successfully suppress such ring artefacts and is applicable to both parallel and cone‐beam geometries. Rapid correction is achieved via an analytical formula which involves only a matrix‐vector multiplication, for which the matrix is known and depends on a regularization parameter. The efficacy of the method is demonstrated for a paleontological sample (calcified shark cartilage) and a carbon–carbon composite/Ti–SiC metal matrix composite test sample.     

Quantitative analysis of volatiles from solid matrices of vegetable origin by high concentration capacity headspace techniques: determination of furan in roasted coffee

The study compares standard addition (SA), stable isotope dilution assay (SIDA) and multiple headspace extraction (MHE) as methods to quantify furan and 2-methyl-furan in roasted coffee with HS-SPME-GC-MS, using CAR-PDMS as fibre coating, d(4)-furan as internal standard and in-fibre internal standardization with n-undecane to check the fibre reliability. The results on about 150 samples calculated with the three quantitation approaches were all very satisfactory, with coefficient of variation (CV) versus the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) method, taken as reference, almost always below the arbitrarily-fixed limit of 15%. Furan was detected in the 1-5 ppm range, 2-methyl-furan in the 4-20 ppm range. Moreover, experimental exponential slopes (Q) and linearity (r) of both furan and 2-methyl-furan MHE regression equation on 50 samples were very similar thus making possible to use the same average Q value for all samples of the investigated set and their quantitation with a single determination. This makes this approach very rapid and competitive in-time with SA and SIDA. A non-separative method (HS-SPME-MS) was also developed in view of possible application on-line monitoring of furan and 2-methyl-furan in a pilot-plant with the aim of optimizing the roasting process to reduce these compounds to a minimum. Sampling times of 20 and 5 min were tested, the latter enabling total analysis time to be reduced to about 9 min. The results on 105 samples with both SIDA and MHE approaches were again highly satisfactory most of the samples giving a CV% versus the conventional methods below 20%. In this case too average Q values for both furan and 2-methyl-furan were used for MHE. The separative method presented very good repeatability (RSD% always below 10%) and intermediate precision over three months (RSD% always below 15%); performance were similar for the non-separative method, with repeatability (RSD%) always below 12% and intermediate precision over three months (RSD%) always below 15%. The sensitivity of both separative and non-separative methods was also very good, LOD and LOQ being in the ppb range for both furan and 2-methyl-furan, i.e. well below the amounts present in the roasted coffee samples.     

A simple, sensitive and efficient assay for the determination of D- and L-lactic acid enantiomers in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

A new method for the simultaneous determination of D- and L-lactic acid in human plasma has been developed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. This method is based on the reaction of lactic acid with (2S)-2-amino-3-methyl-1-[4-(7-nitro-benzo-2,1,3-oxadiazol-4-yl)-piperazin-1-yl]-butan-1-one (NBD-PZ-Val) in the presence of O-(7-azobenzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HATU) and N-ethyldiisopropylamine (DIEA) to produce fluorescent diastereomeric derivatives that were easily monitored fluorimetrically at λ(ex)=490 nm and λ(em)=532 nm. The separation was achieved by use of a C18 analytical column (Synergy Hydro 150 mm x 3 mm i.d., 4 μm). The calibration curve was linear over the on-column concentration range of 10-200 μmol/L for D-lactic acid and 0.5-4.0 mmol/L for L-lactic acid. The sensitivity was good with a limit of detection of 5.24 μmol/L for D-lactic acid and 0.15 mmol/L for L-lactic acid. The analytical method was successfully applied to human plasma samples from normal healthy subjects.     

Characterization of BSA unfolding and aggregation using a single-capillary viscometer and dynamic surface tension detector

A dynamic surface tension detector (DSTD) has been equipped with an additional pressure sensor for simultaneous viscosity measurements, as a detector for flow injection analysis. The viscosity measurement is based on a single capillary viscometer (SCV) placed in parallel configuration with the DSTD. The viscometer in the optimized conditions consists of a PEEK capillary (i.d. = 0.25 mm, L = 75 cm) kept at constant temperature using a thermostatic bath, which leads on the two sides to the two arms of a differential piezoelectric pressure transducer with a range of 0-35 psi. The DSTD, described previously, measures the changing pressure across the liquid/air interface of 2 μL drops repeatedly forming at the end of a capillary.SCV performance has been evaluated by measuring dynamic viscosity of water/glycerol mixtures analysed in flow injection and comparing the results with the values reported in the literature. The detection limits of SCV and DSTD, calculated as 3σ of the blank, were 0.012 cP and 0.6 dyn cm⁻¹, respectively.The FI-SCV-DSTD system has been applied to the study of temperature-induced denaturation/aggregation process in bovine serum albumin (BSA).The results have been supported and discussed with respect to BSA conformational analysis performed using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy.     

Optimization of a Dynamic Headspace-Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry procedure for the determination of furfurals in vinegars

The use of a Dynamic Headspace System (DHS) device combined with a Thermal Desorption Unit (TDU) interfaced to a Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) system is proposed for the determination of furfurals in oenological products. An experimental design protocol has been employed for the optimization of the instrumental settings concerning DHS and TDU extraction and desorption steps. It has been possible to individuate the following optimized conditions: incubation temperature 40 °C, purge volume 800 mL, dry volume 1500 mL, TDU hold time 5 min and incubation time 10 min. The performance of two different SPE sorbents, namely Tenax TA and Tenax GR used for the furfurals trapping, was investigated too.The developed DHS sampling procedure showed good reproducibility values with a RSD% lower than 10% for all the monitored species. The optimized experimental settings have been used to determine furfurals in several vinegar samples obtained by traditional procedure starting from cooked grape musts, i.e. in Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena (ABTM). In fact, the control of these species is extremely important for quality and safety issues.     

Automated cellular sample preparation using a Centrifuge-on-a-Chip

The standard centrifuge is a laboratory instrument widely used by biologists and medical technicians for preparing cell samples. Efforts to automate the operations of concentration, cell separation, and solution exchange that a centrifuge performs in a simpler and smaller platform have had limited success. Here, we present a microfluidic chip that replicates the functions of a centrifuge without moving parts or external forces. The device operates using a purely fluid dynamic phenomenon in which cells selectively enter and are maintained in microscale vortices. Continuous and sequential operation allows enrichment of cancer cells from spiked blood samples at the mL min(-1) scale, followed by fluorescent labeling of intra- and extra-cellular antigens on the cells without the need for manual pipetting and washing steps. A versatile centrifuge-analogue may open opportunities in automated, low-cost and high-throughput sample preparation as an alternative to the standard benchtop centrifuge in standardized clinical diagnostics or resource poor settings.     

New domino radical synthesis of aminoalcohols promoted by TiCl4-Zn/t-BuOOH system: selective hydroxyalkylation of amines in alcohol or in cyclic ether cosolvents

We report a new and fast domino synthesis of aminoalcohols under mild conditions. The free-radical reaction of aliphatic and aromatic amines with alcohol cosolvents is promoted by means of the TiCl(4)-Zn/t-BuOOH system. According to the proposed mechanism, the amine reacts with two molecules of alcohol in an electrophilic-nucleophilic cascade process. This procedure, if compared with the TiCl(3)/t-BuOOH-mediated protocol previously reported, appears to be more selective, of more general applicability and affords the desired products in higher yields. Besides, with the same catalytic system it was possible to promote the reaction of primary arylamines with two molecules of cyclic ether, leading to the formation of a wider range of functionalized aminoalcohols.     

Synthesis of a novel unsymmetrical Zn(II) phthalocyanine bearing a phenyl ethynyl moiety as sensitizer for dye-sensitized solar cells

A new unsymmetrical zinc phthalocyanine sensitizer has been synthesised. The anchoring of the molecule to nanocrystalline TiO(2) films is realised by a carboxylic group connected to a phenyl ethynyl moiety. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations show significant and positive effects of such a functionalization. Electron injection into the semiconductor and photocurrent generation in DSSC are also presented.