Experimental and theoretical elastic cross sections for electron collisions with the C3H6 isomers

In the present work we report cross sections for electron collisions with the isomers propene (C3H6) and cyclopropane (c-C3H6). Electron-scattering differential cross sections (DCS) are reported for measurements carried out for energies 1.5-100 eV and the angular range of 20 degrees-120 degrees. Elastic integral cross sections (ECS), DCS, and momentum-transfer cross sections (MTCS) are reported for calculations carried out using the Schwinger multichannel method with pseudopotentials for the energy range of 2.0-40 eV and angular range of 0 degrees-180 degrees. The resemblance of the pi* shape resonance in the cross sections, observed at 1.5-2.0 eV for propene, to those in C2H4 and C2F4 clearly points to the effect of the double bond in the molecular structures for these molecules. Below 60 eV, we observed clear differences in peak positions and magnitudes between the DCS, ECS, and MTCS for C3H6 and c-C3H6, which we view as the isomer effect.     

Separation and preconcentration procedures for the determination of lead using spectrometric techniques: a review

Lead is recognized worldwide as a poisonous metal. Thus, the determination of this element is often required in environmental, biological, food and geological samples. However, these analyses are difficult because such samples contain relatively low concentrations of lead, which fall below the detection limit of conventional analytical techniques such as flame atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Several preconcentration procedures to determine lead have therefore been devised, involving separation techniques such as liquid-liquid extraction, solid phase extraction, coprecipitation and cloud point extraction. Citing 160 references, this paper offers a critical review of preconcentration procedures for determining lead using spectroanalytical techniques.     

Multivariate technique for optimization of digestion procedure by focussed microwave system for determination of Mn, Zn and Fe in food samples using FAAS

This article describes the development by response surface methodology (RSM) of a procedure for iron, zinc and manganese determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) in food samples after digestion employing a focussed microwave system. A Doehlert matrix was used to find optimal conditions for the procedure through response surface study. Three variables (irradiation power and time and composition of oxidant solution—HNO₃ + H₂O₂) were regarded as factors in the optimization study. The working conditions were established as a compromise between optimum values found for each analyte taking into consideration the robustness of the procedure. These values were 12 min, 260 W and 42% (v/v) for irradiation time, irradiation power and percent of H₂O₂ in solution, respectively. The accuracy of the optimized procedure was evaluated by analysis of certified reference materials and by comparison with a well-established closed vessel microwave dissolution methodology.     

2-Diazoacetoacetic acid, an efficient and convenient reagent for the synthesis of alpha-diazo-beta-ketoesters

The formation of various alpha-diazo acetoacetic esters can be obtained in a single transformation with good to excellent yields using readily available 2-diazoacetoacetic acid.     

Model for proton transport coupled to protein conformational change: application to proton pumping in the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle

A modeling method is presented for protein systems in which proton transport is coupled to conformational change, as in proton pumps and in motors driven by the proton-motive force. Previously developed methods for calculating pKa values in proteins using a macroscopic dielectric model are extended beyond the equilibrium case to a master-equation model for the time evolution of the system through states defined by ionization microstate and a discrete set of conformers. The macroscopic dielectric model supplies free energy changes for changes of protonation microstate, while the method for obtaining the energetics of conformational change and the relaxation rates, the other ingredients needed for the master equation, are system dependent. The method is applied to the photoactivated proton pump, bacteriorhodopsin, using conformational free energy differences from experiment and treating relaxation rates through three adjustable parameters. The model is found to pump protons with an efficiency relatively insensitive to parameter choice over a wide range of parameter values, and most of the main features of the known photocycle from very early M to the return to the resting state are reproduced. The boundaries of these parameter ranges are such that short-range proton transfers are faster than longer-range ones, which in turn are faster than conformational changes. No relaxation rates depend on conformation. The results suggest that an "accessibility switch", while not ruled out, is not required and that vectorial proton transport can be achieved through the coupling of the energetics of ionization and conformational states.     

Evidence for resonance optical trapping of individual fluorophore-labeled antibodies using single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy

We report single molecule fluorescence studies of the diffusion of individual multiple fluorophore-labeled antibodies in solution, which show that a trapping potential of about 3.6 k(B)T can be obtained at laser powers below 1 mW with resonant excitation. Individual antibodies can be trapped for up to 140 ms, and bound antibodies can also be used to trap a single virion for up to 1 s. Selective resonance trapping to sort and manipulate fluorophore-labeled biomolecules and complexes may be possible.     

Titanium(III) trisamidotriazacyclononane: reactions with C60 and radicals

The reaction of titanium trisamidotriazacyclononane, [Ti{N(Ph)SiMe2}3tacn] (1), with C60 led to the synthesis of [Ti{N(Ph)SiMe2}3tacn]C60 (2) in high yield. Treatment of 2 with PhCH2Br led to the formation of [Ti{N(Ph)SiMe2}3tacn]Br and the radical PhCH2C60 (3). The reaction of CH3I with 1 gives two products. One is [Ti{N(Ph)SiMe2}3tacn]I (4), which results from the oxidation of 1 by an I radical. The other product, 5, resulting from a multistep reaction scheme that involves redox and nucleophilic reactions, presents an imido ligand formed by ligand rearrangement upon C-N bond cleavage. In solution, an exchange process that corresponds to a reversible 1,3-silyl shift between two Ti-bonded N atoms leads to isomers 5a and 5b. This equilibrium transforms an imido (TiNPh) into an amido ligand (Ti{NPh}SiMe2CH2Ph) with concomitant generation of an anionic moiety in the originally neutral triazacyclononane ring. In solution, either 5a or 5b displays additional fluxional processes that consist of its corresponding racemization processes.     

Evaluation of hexaniobate nanoscrolls as support for immobilization of a copper complex catalyst

In this work, we report the intercalation properties of the hexaniobate nanoscrolls toward insertion of 2-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethylimino-1-ethyl]pyridine-imidazole copper(II), [Cu(apip)imH]2+, a cationic complex able to promote the catalytic oxidation of organic substrates. Hexaniobate was first transformed into its acidic phase, H2K2Nb6O17, and then exfoliated with n-butylamine in water. The copper complex was immobilized into the nanoscrolls obtained by the acidification of delaminated particle dispersion at pH 3. TEM micrographs of particles after immobilization of the cationic complex show scrolls with external diameters of ca. 25-30 nm and wall thicknesses of about 4.5-7.0 nm. The basal spacing (d(040)) of the copper complex intercalated in hexaniobate is about 11.6 A. The estimated composition, [Cu(apip)imH](0.5)HK2Nb6O17.6H2O, indicates that 50% of the negative charge of interlayer I was neutralized by the copper complex. EPR and IR spectra showed that the ligands and the distorted tetragonal structure of the complex were maintained after immobilization into niobate. The reactivity of this new material toward catechol oxidation using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidizing agent was investigated and compared to the activity of the same complex in solution. The heterogeneous catalyst is initially less effective toward the catechol oxidation but with time, the reaction shows a higher catechol conversion (ca. 82%) than the same copper complex in homogeneous media (ca. 75%). A better reactivity of the heterogeneous catalyst may be related to the stabilization of the immobilized catalyst, preventing its degradation during the reaction course. EPR results show that the kinetics of formation of the DMPO/*OH adduct in homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions corresponds to that observed in the catechol oxidation, suggesting that hydroxyl radicals are involved in the reaction mechanism.     

Classification of blow-up with nonlinear diffusion and localized reaction

We study the behaviour of nonnegative solutions of the reaction-diffusion equation

     

Existence of periodic solutions for second-order differential equations with singularities and the strong force condition

We prove the existence of periodic solutions for the equation

(1)