Use of slag (GBFS) generated in charcoal blast furnace as raw material in alkali-activated cement

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Alkali-activated cements are low-environmental-impact binders and can be obtained from the alkaline activation of wastes such as slags and fly ashes,...     

Spin-2 Fields and Helicity

By considering the irreducible representations of the Lorentz group, an analysis of the different spin-2 waves is presented. In particular, the question of the helicity is discussed. It is concluded that, although from the point of view of representation theory there are no compelling reasons to choose between spin-2 waves with helicity σ=±1 or σ=±2, consistency arguments of the ensuing field theories favor waves with helicity σ=±1.     

Chromatographic aspects in high throughput liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

Important parameters to consider when developing a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method are buffer type and concentration, and column geometry. In the work presented here the choice of buffer for the analysis of basic compounds using a polar embedded phase (HyPURITYtrade mark ADVANCE) is illustrated for the analysis of tricyclic antidepressants. Method transfer from a 4.6 mm i.d. column to a 2.1 mm i.d. column is demonstrated for the analysis of triazines and anabolic steroids and their metabolites, with no change in selectivity and with added speed of analysis. Analysis of eight beta-blockers is achieved in 65 seconds by using a short 30 x 4.6 mm C18 column.     

Comparison of direct solid sampling and slurry sampling for the determination of cadmium in wheat flour by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

Two analytical methods for the determination of cadmium in wheat flour by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry without prior sample digestion have been compared: direct solid sampling analysis (SS) and slurry sampling (SlS). Besides the conventional modifier mixture of palladium and magnesium nitrates (10 μg Pd + 3 μg Mg), 0.05% (v/v) Triton X-100 has been added to improve the penetration of the modifier solution into the solid sample, and 0.1% H₂O₂ in order to promote an in situ digestion for SS. For SlS, 30 μg Pd, 12 μg Mg and 0.05% (v/v) Triton X-100 have been used as the modifier mixture. Under these conditions, and using a pyrolysis temperature of 800 °C, essentially no background absorption was observed with an atomization temperature of 1600 °C. About 2 mg of sample have been typically used for SS, although as much as 3-5 mg could have been introduced. In the case of SlS multiple injections had to be used to achieve the sensitivity required for this determination. Calibration against aqueous standards was feasible for both methods. The characteristic mass obtained with SS was 0.6 pg, and that with SlS was 1.0 pg. The limits of detection were 0.4 and 0.7 ng g⁻¹, the limits of quantification were 1.3 and 2.3 ng g⁻¹ and the relative standard deviation (n = 5) was 6-16% and 9-23% for SS and SlS, respectively. The accuracy was confirmed by the analysis of certified reference materials. The two methods were applied for the determination of cadmium in six wheat flour samples acquired in supermarkets of different Brazilian cities. The cadmium content varied between 8.9 ± 0.5 and 13 ± 2 ng g⁻¹ (n = 5). Direct SS gave results similar to those obtained with SlS using multi-injections; the values of both techniques showed no statistically significant difference at the 95% confidence level. Direct SS was finally adopted as the method of choice, due to its greater simplicity, the faster speed of analysis and the better figures of merit.     

Molecular Hybridization Strategy on the Design,Synthesis, and Structural Characterization of Ferrocene-N-acyl Hydrazones as Immunomodulatory Agents

Immunomodulatory agents are widely used for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases, but the range of side effects of the available drugs makes necessary the search for new immunomodulatory drugs. Here, we investigated the immunomodulatory activity of new ferrocenyl-N-acyl hydrazones derivatives (SintMed(141–156). The evaluated N-acyl hydrazones did not show cytotoxicity at the tested concentrations, presenting CC₅₀ values greater than 50 µM. In addition, all ferrocenyl-N-acyl hydrazones modulated nitrite production in immortalized macrophages, showing inhibition values between 14.4% and 74.2%. By presenting a better activity profile, the ferrocenyl-N-acyl hydrazones SintMed149 and SintMed150 also had their cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effect evaluated in cultures of peritoneal macrophages. The molecules were not cytotoxic at any of the concentrations tested in peritoneal macrophages and were able to significantly reduce (p < 0.05) the production of nitrite, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Interestingly, both molecules significantly reduced the production of IL-2 and IFN-γ in cultured splenocytes activated with concanavalin A. Moreover, SintMed150 did not show signs of acute toxicity in animals treated with 50 or 100 mg/kg. Finally, we observed that ferrocenyl-N-acyl hydrazone SintMed150 at 100 mg/kg reduced the migration of neutrophils (44.6%) in an acute peritonitis model and increased animal survival by 20% in an LPS-induced endotoxic shock model. These findings suggest that such compounds have therapeutic potential to be used to treat diseases of inflammatory origin.     

Microchip free-flow electrophoresis on glass substrate using laser-printing toner as structural material

In this work, a microfluidic free-flow electrophoresis device, obtained by thermal toner transferring on glass substrate, is presented. A microdevice can be manufactured in only 1 h. The layout of the microdevice was designed in order to improve the fluidic and electrical characteristics. The separation channel is 8 microm deep and presents an internal volume of 1.42 microL. The deleterious electrolysis effects were overcome by using a system that isolates the electrolysis products from the separation channel. The Joule heating dissipation in the separation channel was found to be very efficient up to a current density of 8.83 mA/mm(2) that corresponds to a power dissipation per unit volume of running electrolyte of 172 mW/microL. Promising results were obtained in the evaluation of the microdevices for the separation of ionic dyes. The microfluidic device can be used for a continuous sample pretreatment step for micro total analysis system.     

Effect of europium(III) chloride on the aggregation behavior of sodium dodecyl sulfate

The effect of EuCl3 on the aggregation processes of sodium dodecyl sulfate was investigated. Electrical conductivity data, combined with Eu(III) luminescence measurements, suggest that the formation of micelles involving EuCl3 and SDS occurs at low SDS concentration; the formation of these mixed aggregates was also monitored by light scattering, which indicates that the addition of EuCl3 to SDS concentration at values below the critical micelle concentration of the pure surfactant results in a much higher light scattering than that found just with SDS micelles. It was also found that the Eu(III)/DS- complexes are formed with a binding ratio which varies between 20 and 4, depending on the initial concentration of Eu(III). As the concentration increases, turbidity occurs initially, but solutions become clear subsequently. In contrast to the behavior of SDS in the presence of aluminum(III), no flocculation was observed. From the analysis of electrical conductivity data and comparison with other systems, it is suggested that growth of aggregates happens, probably with formation of nonspherical systems. At the highest concentrations these may involve just Eu(III) and DS- ions. The effect of temperature on the SDS micellization process was studied. The calculated free energy of SDS micellization is not dependent on the initial EuCl3 but is dependent on the final balance between the presence of counterions in solution (ionic strength) and the temperature.     

Copper acetylacetonate anchored onto amine-functionalised clays

Copper (II) acetylacetonate was immobilised directly onto two clays, laponite (Lap) and K10-montmorillonite (K10), and after their amine functionalisation with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). All the materials were characterised by nitrogen adsorption isotherms at -196 degrees C, elemental analysis, TG-DSC, XRD, and IR spectroscopy. The K10-based materials were also characterised by XPS. The APTES-functionalised K10 showed higher copper loading than K10, indicating that the clay functionalisation enhanced the complex immobilisation; on the contrary, in Lap-based materials higher metal content was obtained by direct complex anchoring, probably due to the delaminated nature of Lap which induced the particles aggregation on functionalisation with APTES. All the results pointed out that the Cu complex was anchored onto the amine-functionalised clays by Schiff condensation between the amine groups of anchored APTES and the carbonyl groups of the acetylacetonate ligand, whereas direct immobilisation proceeded mostly through interaction between the metal centre and the clay surface hydroxyl groups.     

A mild high yielding synthesis of oxazole-4-carboxylate derivatives

Several 2,5-disubstituted oxazole-4-carboxylates were prepared in high yields from the methyl esters of N-acyl-β-halodehydroaminobutyric acid derivatives by treatment with a 2% solution of DBU in acetonitrile. The scope of this reaction was investigated and it was found that dehydrodipeptides having a β-bromodehydroaminobutyric acid residue gave the corresponding oxazoles in good yields. The photophysical properties of some of the oxazoles prepared were studied in four solvents of different polarity. All compounds have reasonable high fluorescence quantum yields and a moderate solvent sensitivity, which makes them good candidates to be used as fluorescent probes. One of the fluorescent oxazoles prepared was inserted after cleavage of the methyl ester into two model peptides using a conventional solution phase strategy. The photophysical properties of the labelled peptides were studied in ethanol and water and compared with those of the oxazole. The results obtained showed that the oxazole maintains a good fluorescence level and the same solvent sensitivity when linked to a peptide chain.     

Application of Acid and Cold Stresses to Enhance the Production of Clavulanic Acid by Streptomyces clavuligerus

Clavulanic acid (CA) is frequently prescribed for treatment of bacterial infections. Despite the large number of studies concerning CA production, there is still a need to search for more effective and productive processes because it is mainly produced by biochemical route and is chemically unstable. This paper evaluates the influence of acid and cold stresses on CA production by Streptomyces clavuligerus in bench scale stirred tank bioreactor. Four batch cultures were conducted at constant pH (6.8 or 6.3) and temperature (30, 25, or 20 °C) and five batch cultures were performed with application of acid stress (pH reduction from 6.8 to 6.3), cold stress (reduction from 30 to 20 °C), or both. The highest maximum CA concentration (684.4 mg L⁻¹) was obtained in the culture conducted at constant temperature of 20 °C. However, the culture under acid stress, in which the pH was reduced from 6.8 to 6.3 at a rate of 0.1 pH unit every 6 h, provided the most promising result, exhibiting a global yield coefficient of CA relative to cell formation (Y_CA/X) of 851.1 mg_CA g_X⁻¹. High Y_CA/X values indicate that a small number of cells are able to produce a large amount of antibiotic with formation of smaller amounts of side byproducts. This could be especially attractive for decreasing the complexity and cost of the downstream processing, enhancing CA production.