Crystal-field hamiltonian and spin-orbit interaction for d and d ions at low C3 symmetry sites: V:Al2O3 and Ni:LiNbO3

The experimental studies have provided evidence of the occurrence of transitions from the ³T_1g(³F) ground state to the crystal-field levels ³T_2g(³F), ³T_1g(³P) and ³A_2g(³F) for the V³⁺ centres in Al₂O₃ crystal; and from the ³A_2g(³F) ground state to the crystal-field levels ³T_2g(³F), ³T_1g(³F) and ³T_1g(³P) for the Ni²⁺ centres in LiNbO₃ crystal (levels are assigned to irreps of the O_h point symmetry group). Using the experimental spectroscopic data, theoretical calculations of the crystal-field levels of V³⁺:Al₂O₃ and Ni²⁺:LiNbO₃ are carried out based on the Racah theory. The observed crystalline-field splittings of the V³⁺ and Ni²⁺ terms were accounted for using a C₃ symmetry Hamiltonian. The spin-orbit interaction was taken into account in this work. The Racah, crystal-field and spin-orbit parameters, which fit experimental and theoretical energy levels, have been reliably obtained. A good agreement between the theoretical and experimental results for the energy levels of V³⁺:Al₂O₃ and Ni²⁺:LiNbO₃ has been obtained.     

Bayesian Estimation of the Precision Matrix with Monotone Missing Data

Lithuanian Mathematical Journal - Abstract. This research paper stands for the estimation of the precision matrix of the normal matrix with monotone missing data. We explicitly provide maximum and...     

Improvement of Highly Thermostable Xylanases Production by Talaromyces thermophilus for the Agro-industrials Residue Hydrolysis

A newly isolated thermophilic fungal strain from Tunisian soil samples was identified as Talaromyces thermophilus and was selected for its ability to produce extracellular hemicellulases when grown on various lignocellulosic substrates. Following the optimization of carbon source, nitrogen source, and initial pH of the growth medium in submerged liquid cultures, yields as high as 10.00?±?0.15 and 0.21?±?0.02 U/ml were obtained for xylanase and β-xylosidase, respectively. In fact, wheat bran was found to be a good inducer of hemicellulase enzymes, mainly β-xylosidase. The optimal temperature and pH of the xylanase activity were 75°C and 8.0, respectively. This enzyme exhibited a remarkable stability and retained 100% of its original activity at 50°C for 7 days at pH?7.0–8.0. The half-lives of the enzyme were 4 h at 80°C, 2 h at 90°C, and 1 h at 100°C. T. thermophilus could therefore be considered as a satisfactory and promising producer of thermostable xylanases. Crude enzyme of T. thermophilus rich in xylanase and β-xylosidase was established for the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials as wheat bran.     

Crystal packing,vibrational studies,DFT calculations of a new hybrid nickel (II)‐complex and its application in Heck and Sonogashira cross‐ coupling reactions

We particularly investigate a new material [Ni(C₁₂H₁₂N₂)(H₂O)₄]SO₄ that it was hydrothermally synthesized by reaction of 5,5’‐dimethyl‐2,2’‐bipyridne, denoted (dmbpy), metal salt and sulfuric acid. The large crystals are characterized by X‐ray single crystal diffraction, infrared, Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculation. The thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the dehydration occurs in two steps, leading to an anhydrous compound. At room temperature, the complex crystallises in the centrosymmetric space group P2₁/c with the following parameters a = 9.492 (7) Å, b = 9.539 (7) Å, c = 18.411 (1) Å, β =102.616 (1)°, V = 1626.8 (2) ų and Z = 4. The asymmetric unit contains one free SO₄^2‐counter‐ion and [Ni(dmbpy)(H₂O)₄]²⁺ complex cation. The crystal structure of the complex is built up from infinite parallel two‐dimensional planes, containing all the components of the structure and perpendicular to the axis b. The aqua ligands are connected to the sulfate anion via O‐H…O hydrogen bonds that stabilize the three‐dimensional network. The catalytic activity of the complex was examined in the coupling reactions of Heck and Sonogashira in the presence of different bases in various organic solvents under ultrasonic irradiation. The obtained results show that this type of complex can be considered as an effective catalyst for these coupling reactions. The ultrasonic activation results the encouraging yields for a short period of time: 30‐45 min.     

Biochemical and Molecular Study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carpobrotus edulis</Emphasis> Bioactive Properties and Their Effects on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dugesia sicula</Emphasis> (Turbellaria,Tricladida) Regeneration

The traditional medicinal properties of Carpobrotus edulis are well recognized, particularly in Tunisia where it is used for wound healing. Thus, in this study, biochemical and molecular properties of its leaves’ bioactive aqueous-acetone extract were investigated. The total phenolic content (TPC) of the extract was estimated to be 184 ± 5 mg/100 g of fresh matter (FM). The qualitative and quantitative polyphenolic profile was determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (UPLC-DAD) and showed that chlorogenic acid was the major compound (43.7%). The extract exhibits potent antioxidant capacities with IC50 = 56.19 and 58.91 μg/ml, as accessed via the anionic DPPH and cationic ABTS radical scavenging assays, respectively. The extract has high antibacterial properties, especially against the Gram+ Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus strains. To investigate the extract effect on regeneration, the flatworm Dugesia sicula Lepori, 1948, was used as a model. The macroscopic analysis of planarian cultures in ordinary medium containing phenolic extract at non-toxic concentrations illustrated that the extract caused morphological changes. Additionally, the molecular study through the fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) technique showed that C. edulis polyphenols can harm the stem cells’ development. These results emphasize the ecotoxicological impact of phenolic rejections in the environment on flatworms’ physiology.     

Nano-mechanical properties of starch and gluten biopolymers from atomic force microscopy

An original method based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) in contact mode was developed to abrade progressively the surface of tablets made of starch or gluten polymers isolated from wheat. The volume of the material removed by the tip was estimated from the analysis of successive topographic images of the surface, and the shear force was measured by keeping a constant normal force. Our data together with a simple tribological model provide clear evidence for a higher hardness and shear strength of starch compared to gluten. Gluten appears to have mechanical properties close to soft materials, such as talc, whereas starch displays higher hardness close to calcite. Our results are in a better agreement with structural properties of gluten (complex protein network) and starch (granular and semi-cristalline structure) than earlier studies by micro-indentation. This work shows that the AFM scratching method is relevant for the characterization of any polymer surface, in particular in application to materials made of different polymers at the nano-scale.     

Crystal and magnetic structures and magnetic properties of selenate containing natrochalcite, A(I)M(II)2(H3O2)(SeO4)2 where A = Na or K and M = Mn, Co, or Ni

The synthesis of a series of selenate containing natrochalcite, A(I)M(II)(2)(H(3)O(2))(SeO(4))(2) where A = Na or K and M = Mn, Co, or Ni (here labeled as AMH and AMD for the hydrogenated and deuterated compounds, respectively), the X-ray crystal structure determinations from single crystals (Ni) and powder (Mn), magnetic properties, and magnetic structures of the cobalt analogues are reported. The nuclear crystal structures for NaNiH, KNiH, and KMnH are similar to those reported for the cobalt analogues (NaCoH and KCoH) and consist of chains of edge-sharing octahedra (MO(6)) which are connected by H(3)O(2) and SeO(4) to form layers which are in turn bridged by the alkali, in an octahedral coordination site, to form the 3D-framework. The magnetic properties are characterized by antiferromagnetic interaction at high temperatures and antiferromagnetic ordering at low temperatures (NaCoH, 3.5 K; KCoH, 5.9 K; KNiH, 8.5 K; and KMnH, 16 K), except for KNi(2)(H(3)O(2))(SeO(4))(2) which displays a weak ferromagnetic interaction and no long-range ordering above 2 K. The neutron magnetic structures of the cobalt analogues, studied as a function of temperature, are different for the two cobalt salts and also different from all the known magnetic structures of the natrochalcite family. Whereas the magnetic structure of NaCoD has a k = (0, 0, 0), that of KCoD has one consisting of a doubled nuclear cell, k = (0, 0, 1/2). Both compounds have four magnetic sublattices related to the four cobalt atoms of the nuclear unit cell. In NaCoD the moments are in the bc-plane, M(y) = 2.51(2) μ(B) and M(z) = 1.29(4) μ(B), with the major component along the cobalt chain and the resultant moment, 2.83(3) μ(B), making an angle of 27° with the b-axis. The sum of the moments within the cell is zero. For KCoD the moment at each cobalt site has a component along each crystallographic axis, M(x) = 2.40(3), M(y) = 1.03(3), M(z) = 1.59(8) giving a total M = 2.49(3) μ(B). Within one nuclear cell the moments are fully compensated. The moments corresponding to the cobalt atoms of the second nuclear cell comprising the magnetic unit cell are oriented in opposite directions.