Influence of trans-cis photoisomerizations of solubilized compounds on transition temperatures in the system cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-water: Light-induced phase transitions

Transition temperatures (TN1) from the nematic lyotropic liquid-crystalline phase to the isotropic phase were measured for the system cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) water in the presence of small amounts of 3-stilbene carboxylic acid (3SC), 4-stilbene carboxylic acid (4SC) and Δ2/2'-bi-(2H-l,4-benzothiazine) (BT). TNI, increases as a function of trans-3SC or trans-4SC concentration, ranging from 01 to 08 wt %, by up to 12°C. A further increase in TNI between 2 and 5°C can be achieved by photochemically converting the solubilized trans stilbene derivatives to the cis isomers. Irradiation of a trans-3SC containing sample at a temperature just above TNl leads to a light-induced phase transition to the lyotropic liquid-crystalline phase. Solubilization of trans-BT causes a slight decrease of TNI while photoisomerization to cis-BT increases T_NI by 1°C.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol)‐graft‐[poly(D,L‐lactide)/poly(D,L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide)] hydrogels

Poly(D ,L ‐lactide) and poly(D ,L ‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) with various composition and with one methacrylate and one carboxylate end group were synthesized and grafted onto poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) via the carboxylate group. The graft copolymers were crosslinked via the methacrylate groups using a free radical initiator. The polymer networks were characterized by means of NMR and studied qualitatively by means of IR spectroscopy. The influence of the glycolide content in the polyester grafts and of the number of ester units in the grafts on thermal properties and swellability were studied as well. The high swellability in water is characteristic of all hydrogels. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed a single glass transition temperature that occurs in the range between 51 and 69 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the networks showed the main loss in weight in the temperature range between 290 and 370 °C. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4536–4544, 2007     

Milch

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Coulometrisches Verfahren zur Bestimmung von Gesamt-, Carbonat- und Nichtcarbonat-Kohlenstoff in magmatischen, metamorphen und sediment?ren Gesteinen

Zusammenfassung Für die Bestimmung von Gesamt-, Carbonat- und Nichtcarbonat-Kohlenstoff in magmatischen, metamorphen und sedimentären Gesteinen (auch bei höheren Anteilen an organischem C) ist ein Verfahren nach dem Prinzip der coulometrischen Titration geeignet. Der Gesamt-Kohlenstoff wird ermittelt durch Erhitzung der auf <0,125 mm zerkleinerten Probe bei etwa 1250°C im Sauerstoffstrom ohne irgendwelche Zusätze. Zur Bestimmung von Nichtcarbonat-Kohlenstoff wird eine bestimmte Menge Gesteinspulver mit Salzsäure versetzt und auf einem Aluminiumblock HCl abgeraucht. Der Carbonat-Kohlenstoff entweicht als CO₂. Zurück bleibt der Nichtcarbonat-Kohlenstoff, welcher wie der Gesamt-Kohlenstoff coulometrisch bestimmt wird. Der Carbonat-Kohlenstoff bzw. die äquivalente Menge CO₂ ergibt sich dann aus der Differenz von Gesamt- zu Nichtcarbonat-Kohlenstoff. Das Verfahren ist anwendbar auf Kohlenstoffgehalte in Gesteinen von etwa 10 ppm bis 20 Gew.-% bei mittleren Standardabweichungen von etwa 0,0002–0,05% C (Richtwerte). Die Analysendauer für eine Probe beträgt etwa 3–5 min.

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Coulometric method for the determination of total, carbonate, and non-carbonate carbon in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks

For the measurement of total carbon the sample, ground finer than 0.125 mm and without the addition of any reagents, is ignited in a current of oxygen at about 1250°C. Non-carbonate carbon can be analysed after another portion of the sample is treated with conc, hydrochloric acid and evaporated on a hot plate; the carbonates are decomposed and the carbonate carbon is removed as carbon dioxide. The residue is non-carbonate carbon which is also determined by the coulometric method. The difference between total carbon and non-carbonate carbon corresponds to carbonate carbon or its equivalent as carbon dioxide. The method is applicable to carbon contents in rocks from 10 ppm to 20 wt.-%. The standard deviation is approximately 0.0002 to 0.05% C. Each carbon analysis takes about 3 to 5 min.

     

Microwave-assisted scavenging of electrophiles utilizing polymer-supported sequestration reagents. Application to the synthesis of N3-acylated dihydropyrimidine libraries

Different scavenging techniques using polymer-supported sequestration agents are described for the purification steps in the synthesis of N3-acylated dihydropyrimidines. For scavenging both excess anhydride and unwanted byproducts, polystyrene and silica supported diamines, aminomethyl-functionalized SynPhase Lanterns and diethylenetriamine StratoSpheres Plugs are used. In both synthesis and purification microwave flash heating was utilized, reducing reaction times from hours to minutes. These two steps coupled with an efficient solid-phase extraction (SPE) workup allowed the generation of a 28-member library of N3-acylated dihydropyrimidines using anhydrides. Using related protocols a 15-member library of N3-functionalized dihydropyrimidines utilizing acid chlorides as acylating reagents was also obtained.     

Asymmetric responses of international stock markets to trading volume

The major goal of this paper is to examine the hypothesis that stock returns and return volatility are asymmetric, threshold nonlinear, functions of change in trading volume. A minor goal is to examine whether return spillover effects also display such asymmetry. Employing a double-threshold GARCH model with trading volume as a threshold variable, we find strong evidence supporting this hypothesis in five international market return series. Asymmetric causality tests lend further support to our trading volume threshold model and conclusions. Specifically, an increase in volume is positively associated, while decreasing volume is negatively associated, with the major price index in four of the five markets. The volatility of each series also displays an asymmetric reaction, four of the markets display higher volatility following increases in trading volume. Using posterior odds ratio, the proposed threshold model is strongly favored in three of the five markets, compared to a US news double threshold GARCH model and a symmetric GARCH model. We also find significant nonlinear asymmetric return spillover effects from the US market.     

Informational masking of speech in children: auditory-visual integration

The focus of this study was the release from informational masking that could be obtained in a speech task by viewing a video of the target talker. A closed-set speech recognition paradigm was used to measure informational masking in 23 children (ages 6-16 years) and 10 adults. An audio-only condition required attention to a monaural target speech message that was presented to the same ear with a time-synchronized distracter message. In an audiovisual condition, a synchronized video of the target talker was also presented to assess the release from informational masking that could be achieved by speechreading. Children required higher target/distracter ratios than adults to reach comparable performance levels in the audio-only condition, reflecting a greater extent of informational masking in these listeners. There was a monotonic age effect, such that even the children in the oldest age group (12-16.9 years) demonstrated performance somewhat poorer than adults. Older children and adults improved significantly in the audiovisual condition, producing a release from informational masking of 15 dB or more in some adult listeners. Audiovisual presentation produced no informational masking release for the youngest children. Across all ages, the benefit of a synchronized video was strongly associated with speechreading ability.