Small exponent asymptotics

We study the surprisingly complicated asymptotic character ofa simple first-order differential equation, which involves aterm with a low exponent of the dependent variable. While numericalsolutions and straightforward asymptotic expansions indicatea clearly defined boundary layer type transition, we find thatthe correct asymptotic structure involves a 'hidden' boundarylayer, and that a straightforward approach cannot discern this.     

Synthesis of cyclic enol ethers from alkenyl-beta-dicarbonyl compounds

In this work we describe the cyclofunctionalization of eleven differently substituted alkenyl-beta-dicarbonyl compounds, employing three electrophilic reagents, namely, iodine, p-methoxyphenyltellurium trichloride, and phenylselenenyl bromide. The reactions occur through the enolic form of the substrates, to afford the corresponding iodo-, telluro-, or selenocyclic enol ethers. Substrates bearing trisubstituted double bonds failed in reacting with the selenium and tellurium reagents. In general, beta-diketones reacted faster than beta-keto esters with the three studied electrophiles.     

Quantum interference in atomic vapor observed by four-wave mixing with incoherent light

Pairs of pulses from an incoherent source are used to investigate the time-resolved four-wave mixing response of atomic rubidium when a two-photon resonance is involved in the nonlinear process. By varying the relative polarization of the pulse pairs, we are able to select the quantum pathways and clearly distinguish optical and quantum interferences.     

Thermal characterization of raw material pentoxifylline using thermoanalytical techniques and Pyr-GC/MS

This work studied the thermal characterization of the pentoxifylline raw material through thermoanalytical techniques (TG, DSC, DSC-photovisual) and analysis of degradation products by Pyr-GC/MS. The picture obtained with DSC-photovisual showed the total vaporization of pentoxifylline at 230.0 °C. The TG dynamical curve presented only one step for the loss of mass evidencing to be a kinetic process of zero order reaction. The pyrograms obtained for pentoxifylline sample in the solid state and solution in the temperatures of 250.0, 300.0, and 400.0 °C, showed only one peak identifying the pentoxifylline.     

Anisotropic hydroxypropylcellulose films as alignment layers of a bistable ferroelectric device

Hydroxypropylcellulose films are used as the alignment substrate in a liquid crystal bistable electro-optical device. These alignment films were characterized by atomic force microscopy. The electro-optical behaviour of this device, which operates in the Clark-Lagerwall mode, is identical to that observed for typical SSFLC cells. In particular the bistability of the cell was clearly observed, the threshold voltage was measured and an estimation of the anchoring energy of the LC mixture used, in this type of system, was made.     

Sensitive detection of sulfanilamide by redox process electroanalysis of oxidation products formed in situ on glassy carbon electrode

This paper reported a simple method for sulfanilamide determination by redox process electroanalysis of oxidation products (SFDox) formed in situ on glassy carbon electrode. The CV experiments showed a reversible process after applied E _acc = + 1.06 V and t _acc = 1 s, in 0.1 mol L^?1 BRBS (pH = 2.0) at 50 mV s^?1. Different voltammetric scan rates (from 10 to 450 mV s^?1) suggested that the redox peaks of SFDox on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is an adsorption-controlled process. Square-wave voltammetry (SWV) method optimized conditions showed a linear response to SFD from 3.00 to 250.0 μmol L^?1 (R = 0.998) with a limit of detection of 0.638 μmol L^?1 and limit of quantification of 2.0 μmol L^?1. The developed the SWV method was successfully used in the determination of SFD pharmaceutical formulation and human serum. The SFD quantification results in pharmaceutical obtained by SWV-GCE were comparable to those found by official analytical protocols.     

A simple method for estimating the length density of convoluted tubular systems

We present a new method for estimating the length density (L(v)) of convoluted tubular structures exhibiting an isotropic distribution. Although the traditional equation L(v)=2Q/A is used, the parameter Q is obtained by considering the collective perimeters of tubular sections. This measurement is converted to a standard model of the structure, assuming that all cross-sections are approximately circular and have an average perimeter similar to that of actual circular cross-sections observed in the same material. The accuracy of this method was tested in eight experiments using hollow macaroni bent into helical shapes. After measuring the length of the macaroni segments, they were boiled and randomly packed into cylindrical volumes along with an aqueous suspension of gelatin and India ink. The solidified blocks were cut into slices 1.0cm thick and 33.2cm(2) in area (A). The total perimeter of the macaroni cross-sections so revealed was stereologically estimated using a test system of straight parallel lines. Given L(v) and the reference volume, the total length of macaroni in each section could be estimated. Additional corrections were made for the changes induced by boiling, and the off-axis position of the thread used to measure length. No statistical difference was observed between the corrected estimated values and the actual lengths. This technique is useful for estimating the length of capillaries, renal tubules, and seminiferous tubules.     

Kauffman Cellular Automata on Quasicrystal Topology

In this paper, we perform numerical simulations to study Kauffman cellular automata (KCA) on quasiperiod lattices. In particular, we investigate phase transition, magnetic entropy, and propagation speed of the damage on these lattices. Both the critical threshold parameter \(p_{c}\) and the critical exponents are estimated with good precision. In order to investigate the increase of statistical fluctuations and the onset of chaos in the critical region of the model, we have also defined a magnetic entropy to these systems. It is seen that the magnetic entropy behaves in a different way when one passes from the frozen regime (p < p_c) to the chaotic regime (p > p_c). For a further analysis, the robustness of the propagation of failures is checked by introducing a quenched site dilution probability q on the lattices. It is seen that the damage spreading is quite sensitive when a small fraction of the lattice sites are disconnected. A finite-size scaling analysis is employed to estimate the critical exponents. From these numerical estimates, we claim that on both pure (q =?0) and diluted (q =?0.05) quasiperiodic lattices, the KCA model belongs to the same universality class than on square lattices. Furthermore, with the aim of comparing the dynamical behavior between periodic and quasiperiodic systems, the propagation speed of the damage is also calculated for the square lattice assuming the same conditions. It is found that on square lattices the propagation speed of the damage obeys a power law as \(v\sim (p-p_{c})^{\alpha }\), whereas on quasiperiod lattices, it follows a logarithmic law as \(v \sim \ln (p-p_{c})^{\alpha }\).     

Iron-regulated proteins in Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Lentinula edodes: differential analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles

Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) were used to identify iron-responsive proteins in the white-rot species (Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Lentinula edodes), by comparing the differential patterns of cellular and membrane proteins obtained from iron-sufficient and iron-deficient mycelia. Six cellular proteins induced by iron restriction have been observed in SDS-PAGE for P. chrysosporium and twelve for L. edodes. In 2-DE, the numbers of iron-restricted induced proteins were 12 and 9, respectively, in a resolution range of 15-60 kDa and pI 4.5-8.1. SDS-PAGE for the plasma membrane protein did not show differences, whereas the outer-membrane protein profile showed 6 and 5 proteins induced by iron depletion in P. chrysosporium and L. edodes, respectively. The results presented here are important data to unravel mechanisms of biosynthesis and/or transport of the iron-complexing agents in ligninolytic fungi and to further correlate them to the ligninolytic processes.