EPMA Major and Trace Element Analysis in Garnet and its Petrological Application

 A comparison between major and trace element concentrations in garnet performed by electron microprobe (EPMA) technique is reported. Quantitative spot analyses and X-ray maps of major elements (Fe, Mg, Mn, Ca) and the trace element yttrium in garnets from metamorphic rocks are presented. The selected garnet samples come from meta-pelitic and meta-basic specimens belonging to the tectonic unit of the Monte Rosa Nappe (Western Alps). In the metapelites, the quantitative Y distribution maps display a prominent increase at the core, the Y abundance varying by over two orders of magnitude, from about 80 ppm (rim) to over 2100 ppm (core). The Y profiles show well defined patterns with sharp features that do not correlate with major element distributions. A roughly comparable pattern can be supposed only with Mn. The Y distribution suggests that the diffusion of Y through the garnet is very slow compared to the major elements, thus the Y results are suitable for geothermometric estimates. In the metabasites, the Y spatial distribution is characterised by an increasing content from the core to the rim, displaying a zoning pattern opposite to the metapelite garnet. Quantitative EPMA analyses range from 1100 ppm at the rim to values lower than the detection limit at the core. Therefore, the Y content in the garnet can be related to several chemical and physical variables such as the bulk rock composition and the phase assemblage. In particular, in the xenotime-bearing metapelitic system the Y distribution seems to be correlated with metamorphic peak temperature.     

Regioselective cycloaddition of 3-azatrienes with enamines. Synthesis of pyridines derived from β-aminoacids

Aza-Wittig reaction of N-vinylic phosphazenes with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes leads to the formation of 3-azatrienes through a [2+2]-cycloaddition-cycloreversion process. Subsequent, regioselective [4+2]-cycloaddition of 3-azatrienes with pyrrolidinocycloalkanone affords bicyclic dihydropyridines and pyridines in a regioselective fashion. 2-Heterodiene moiety of azatriene is involved in the formation of the six-membered ring skeleton of pyridine derivatives.     

Synthesis and circular dichroism of tetraarylporphyrin-oligonucleotide conjugates

The preparation and circular dichroic (CD) studies of self-complimentary 8-mer DNA sequences with a porphyrin at the 3' end are presented. Electronic interaction between the two porphyrins (the interchromophoric distance is in the range of 28-40 A), attached to both ends of the double-stranded helix, gives rise to a long-range exciton-coupled CD in the visible region (400-450 nm). The porphyrin chromophores act as sensitive probes of geometrical changes in the DNA backbone and sensitively reflect the double-strand to single-strand transition. This study demonstrates the possibility of using exciton-coupled porphyrin CDs for conformational studies of DNA.     

The effect of pressure on order destruction and order creation in linear or branched alkane mixtures

The pressure dependence of the excess enthalpy H ^E , dH ^E /dP, has been calculated from experimental excess volumes V ^E and dV ^E /dT using dH ^E /dP=V ^E –TdV ^E /dT. dH ^E /dP at zero pressure are reported at 25°C and equimolar concentration for the mixtures: cyclohexane with the series of normal alkanes (n-C _n , where n=6,8,10,12,14 and 16) and with the series of highly branched alkanes (br-C _n , where n=6,8,12 and 16), benzene, toluene and p-xylene +n-C _n and 1-chloronaphthalene +n-C _n and br-C _n . Experimental and Flory theory dH ^E /dP values are in good agreement for the whole cyclohexane +br-C _n series. For the n-C _n series, dH ^E /dP becomes increasingly positive deviating from the Flory predictions. This discrepancy is due to the presence of short-range orientational order in the higher n-C _n pure liquids which makes dH/dP more negative and which, upon mixing, is destroyed producing a positive contribution to dH ^E /dP not accounted for by the theory. The discrepancy between theoretical and experimental dH ^E /dP is large for benzene, but progressively smaller for toluene, p-xylene and 1-chloronaphthalene. These results are consistent with creation of order between the aromatic plate-like molecule and the long n-C _n in solution. For 1-chloronaphthalene +n-C _n , this order creation process produces a negative contribution to dH ^E /dP which balances the positive order-destruction contribution originated by the rupture, upon mixing, of short-range orientational order in pure n-C _n .     

On the lightning hazard warning using electrostatic field: Analysis of summer thunderstorms in Spain

This work presents an analysis of lightning warnings based on atmospheric electrostatic field measurements achieved in the city of Terrassa (northeastern Spain). Seven summer thunderstorms were analyzed. Lightning location data were obtained from two lightning detection networks that provide cloud-to-ground (CG) and intra-cloud (IC) flash information. Warning behaviour was studied on the basis of the “two area method” using both electrostatic field (EF) thresholds and polarity reversal detection. The study of the total lightning locations (CG + IC) with respect to the electric field mill (EFM) site lets investigate the possible EF threshold and EF polarity inversion values useful for warning. The probability of detection (POD) and the false alarm ratio (FAR) were evaluated in both cases obtaining slightly better results by using polarity change criteria. The paper also includes a discussion about the lead times (LTs) obtained between the trigger of a warning and a CG located in the area of concern (AOC).     

First total synthesis of versicotide D and analogs

The first total synthesis of cyclotetrapeptide versicotide D has been achieved in 21% overall yield using solid phase peptide synthesis and solution cyclization. In addition, in the search for candidates of antimalarial new drugs, one cyclic tetrapeptide analog which differs in the sequence, and four cyclic pentapeptide containing N-methyl amino acids, were prepared. The obtained compounds were evaluated against P. falciparum 3D7. Versicotide D showed low micromolar antiplasmodial activity.     

A preliminary matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight approach for the characterization of Italian lentil varieties

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS) was used in this study to obtain protein fingerprints of seven different lentil varieties, to characterize their differences and similarities. Two different matrices have been tested in order to obtain reproducible and significant mass spectra. Extraction with water containing 0.1% of trifluoroacetic acid has been used as preparative step to obtain hydrophilic protein samples of lentil seeds. The obtained MALDI protein profiles identified clear differences between the seven studied lentil varieties. Moreover, considering the high complexity of the obtained MALDI spectra, multivariate techniques of data analysis were employed to find further classification details. These multivariate analyses confirmed the possibility of a clear classification of the seven lentil varieties, indicating that the proposed procedure can be a valid taxonomic tool, and a method to certify the origin of lentils, useful for high added value lentils (Italian lentils). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New Counterexamples to the Cell Formula in Nonconvex Homogenization

In this article we show that for the homogenization of multiple integrals, the quasiconvexification of the cell formula is different from the asymptotic formula in general. To this aim, we construct three examples in three different settings: the homogenization of a discrete model, the homogenization of a composite material and the homogenization of a homogeneous material on a perforated domain.     

Analysis of seat allocation and overbooking decisions with hybrid information

We investigate a single-leg airline revenue management problem where an airline has limited demand information and uncensored no-show information. To use such hybrid information for simultaneous overbooking and booking control decisions, we combine expected overbooking cost with revenue. Then we take a robust optimization approach with a regret-based criterion. While the criterion is defined on a myriad of possible demand scenarios, we show that only a small number of them are necessary to compute the objective. We also prove that nested booking control policies are optimal among all deterministic ones. We further develop an effective computational method to find the optimal policy and compare our policy to others proposed in the literature.     

Bio-Guided Fractionation of Stem Bark Extracts from Phyllanthus muellarianus: Identification of Phytocomponents with Anti-Cholinesterase Activity

A combination of flash chromatography, solid phase extraction, high-performance liquid chromatography, and in vitro bioassays was used to isolate phytocomponents endowed with anticholinesterase activity in extract from Phyllanthus muellarianus. Phytocomponents responsible for the anti-cholinesterase activity of subfractions PMF1 and PMF4 were identified and re-assayed to confirm their activity. Magnoflorine was identified as an active phytocomponent from PMF1 while nitidine was isolated from PMF4. Magnoflorine was shown to be a selective inhibitor of human butyrylcholinesterase—hBChE (IC₅₀ = 131 ± 9 μM and IC₅₀ = 1120 ± 83 μM, for hBuChE and human acetylcholinesterase—hAChE, respectively), while nitidine showed comparable inhibitory potencies against both enzymes (IC₅₀ = 6.68 ± 0.13 μM and IC₅₀ = 5.31 ± 0.50 μM, for hBChE and hAChE, respectively). When compared with the commercial anti-Alzheimer drug galanthamine, nitidine was as potent as galanthamine against hAChE and one order of magnitude more potent against hBuChE. Furthermore, nitidine also showed significant, although weak, antiaggregating activity towards amyloid-β self-aggregation.