Dynamics of the collective excitations of the quantum Hall system

Using the non linear optical technique of 3-pulse 4-wave mixing, we study the dynamics of the collective excitations of the quantum Hall system. We excite the system with 100 fs pulses propagating in directions k₁ and k₃ and then probe its time evolution with a delayed pulse k₂. We measure the non-linear optical response from the lowest Landau level along the direction k₁+k₂−k₃. As function of the time delay of pulse k₂, this signal shows striking beats for short time delays (500 fs), followed by a rise (20 ps) and then a decay (100 ps). We identify the microscopic origin of this dynamics by extending the standard theory of ultra fast nonlinear optics to include the effects of the correlations.     

Spirulina-based composites for 3D-printing

With material consumption increasing, the need for biodegradable materials derived from renewable resources becomes urgent, particularly in the popular field of 3D-printing. Processed natural fibers have been used as fillers for 3D-printing filaments and slurries, yet reports of utilizing pure biomass to 3D-print structures that reach mechanical properties comparable to synthetic plastics are scarce. Here, we develop and characterize slurries for extrusion-based 3D-printing comprised of unprocessed spirulina and varying amounts of cellulose fibers (CFs). Tuning the micro-morphology, density, and mechanical properties of multilayered structures is achieved by modulating the CF amount or drying method. Densified morphologies are obtained upon desiccator-drying, while oven incubation plasticizes the matrix and leads to intermediate densities. Freeze-drying creates low-density foam microstructures. The compressive strengths of the structures follow the same trend as their density. CFs are critical in the denser structures, as without the fibers, the samples do not retain their shape while drying. The compressive strength and strain to failure of the composites progressively increase with increasing filler content, ranging between 0.8 and 16 MPa and 12%–47%, respectively, at densities of 0.51–1.00 g/cm³. The measured properties are comparable to other biobased composites and commercial plastic filaments for 3D-printing.     

Unprecedented Sulfone‐Functionalized Metal–Organic Frameworks and Gas‐Sorption Properties

Gas storage : A new, sulfone‐functionalized dicarboxylate‐based ligand (see figure) is capable of directing the formation of novel metal–organic frameworks with unprecedented organic and inorganic secondary building units. A high CO₂ uptake with remarkable selectivity over CH₄, N₂, and H₂ was observed at near‐ambient temperature.

     

Compatibility study between trandolapril and natural excipients used in solid dosage forms

Thermal analysis is an essential, analytic tool used in preliminary studies and preparation of new pharmaceutical formulations. This study was performed to investigate the possible interactions between trandolapril and three commonly used natural excipients, namely α-lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, and pregelatinized starch. The compatibility studies were carried out using thermoanalytic along with other complementary techniques. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis have proved that trandolapril is fully compatible with all the studied excipients until 100 °C. The complementary techniques used in this study were X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy which confirmed the findings of thermal analysis.     

Determination of benzoylurea insecticide residues in tomatoes by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet-diode array and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry detection

A simple and sensitive method using high-performance liquid chromatography/ mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of 5 benzoylurea insecticides-diflubenzuron, triflumuron, teflubenzuron, lufenuron, and flufenoxuron-in tomatoes. Residues were successfully separated on a C18 column by methanol-water isocratic elution. Detection was carried out by an ultraviolet diode array detector (UV-DAD) coupled with a quadrupole mass spectrometer, using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) in negative-ion mode. The main ions were the deprotonated molecules [M-H]- for triflumuron, and the anions formed by elimination of hydrofluoric acid [M-H-HF]- for diflubenzuron and flufenoxuron, and [M-2H-HF] for lufenuron and teflubenzuron. The calibration plots were linear for both detectors over the range 0.05 to 10 microg/mL, and the method presented good quality parameters. The limits of detection for standard solutions were 0.008-0.01 mg/L (equivalent to 0.08-0.1 ng injected) for both detectors, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were approximately 10 times lower than national maximum residue levels (MRLs). Depending on the compound and the detector, the LOQ values ranged from 0.2 to 0.4 ng injected. The optimum LC-UV-DAD/APCI-MS conditions were applied to the analysis of benzoylureas in tomatoes. The obtained recoveries from fortified tomato samples (50 g), extracted with ethyl acetate and purified by solid-phase extraction on silica sorbent, were 88-100 and 92.9-105% for the UV-DAD and MS detectors, respectively, with precision values (relative standard deviations) of 2.9-11 and 3.7-14%, respectively. The method was applied to 12 tomato samples from local markets, and diflubenzuron and lufenuron were detected in only one sample at concentrations lower than the MRLs. The results indicate that the developed LC/MS method is accurate, precise, and sensitive for quantitative and qualitative analysis at low levels of benzoylureas required by legislation.     

AloeVera as an effective biosorbent for the removal of thorium and barium from aqueous solutions

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The use of three biosorbents based on AloeVera wastes for the removal of thorium and barium from aqueous solutions (Cinit:...     

Aspects of electromagnetic scattering in chiral media

In this work, we study two operators that arise in electromagnetic scattering in chiral media. We first consider electromagnetic scattering by a chiral dielectric with a perfectly conducting core. We define a chiral Calderon‐type surface operator in order to solve the direct electromagnetic scattering problem. For this operator, we state coercivity and prove compactness properties. In order to prove existence and uniqueness of the problem, we define some other operators that are also related to the chiral Calderon‐type operator, and we state some of their properties that they and their linear combinations satisfy. Then we sketch how to use these operators in order to prove the existence of the solution of the direct scattering problem. Furthermore, we focus on the electromagnetic scattering problem by a perfect conductor in a chiral environment. For this problem, we study the chiral far‐field operator that is defined on a unit sphere and contains the far‐field data, and we state and prove some of its properties that are preliminaries properties for solving the inverse scattering problem. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An HPLC assay for the lipophilic camptothecin analog AR‐67 carboxylate and lactone in human whole blood

AR‐67 (7‐t‐butyldimethylsilyl‐10‐hydroxycamptothecin, DB‐67) is a camptothecin analog currently in early stage clinical trials. The lactone moiety of camptothecins hydrolyzes readily in blood to yield the pharmacologically inactive carboxylate form. However the lactone form of third‐generation lipophilic congeners, such as AR‐67, is more stable, possibly due to partitioning into red cell membranes. This prompted us to develop a reverse‐phase HPLC method with fluorescence detection (excitation 380 nm/emission 560 nm), which could quantitate the concentration of AR‐67 lactone and carboxylate in whole blood. Samples were prepared by red cell lysis, protein precipitation with methanol and centrifugation to remove denatured materials. Recovery was estimated to be >85%. Analytes were eluted isocratically with 0.15 m ammonium acetate buffer containing 10 mm TBAP (pH 6.5) and acetonitrile (65:35, v/v) on a Nova‐Pak C₁₈ column (4 µm; 3.9 × 150 mm). The assay was linear in the ranges 0.5–300 and 2.5–300 ng/mL for carboxylate and lactone, respectively. Accuracy and precision were acceptable. AR‐67 forms were stable in whole blood and in methanolic supernatants. This assay has been successfully applied to measure AR‐67 concentrations in whole blood of patients enrolled in a phase I study. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multifunctional Giant Amphiphiles via simultaneous copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition and living radical polymerization

A novel class of chemically addressable, multifunctional Giant Amphiphiles was synthesized in excellent yields and polydispersity following simultaneous or sequential living radical polymerization and the click, copper(I)-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). This new approach allows chemical tailoring of the biomacromolecules and in situ formation of nanocontainers.