Preparation and characterization of compounds of the system FeAs2−xSex

Compounds of the system FeAs_2?xSe_x were ynthesized both as polycrystalline powders by direct combination of the elements and as single crystals by chemical vapor transport. Electrical and magnetic measurements were made on well-characterized samples. These measurements showed that the substitution of selenium for arsenic in the diamagnetic semiconductor FeAs₂ results in metallic, paramagnetic behavior. These results are consistent with a band model proposed by Goodenough for compounds crystallizing in the marcasite structure.     

The amounts Fe, Ba, Sr, K, Ca and Ti in some lichens growing in Erzurum province (Turkey)

The amounts of Fe, Ba, Sr, K, Ca and Ti were determined qualitatively and quantitatively by using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence in eight lichen species, Pinus sylvestris, rock and soil in district of Erzurum province (Turkey). Lichen species were Cetraria pinastri (Scop.) Gray, Dermatocarpon miniatum (L.) W. Mann, Lecanora muralis (Schreb.) Rabenh., Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf., Ramalina capitata (Ach.) Nyl., Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca (sm.) Zopf., Rhizoplaca melanophthalma (DC.) Leuckert & Poelt, and Xanthoparmelia somloensis (Gyeln.) Hale. The standard addition method was used for the determination of the concentration of Fe, Ba, Sr, K, Ca and Ti. The experimental setup consists of a Si(Li) detector with a resolution of at and annular ⁵⁵Fe and ²⁴¹Am radioactive sources. By the use of intersite, interelement and interspecies comparisons, it is concluded that some metals within the thalli of lichens in Erzurum province may reach high levels even when these plants are growing in rural and isolated sites.     

A Novel and Selective Methylene Blue Imprinted Polymer Modified Carbon Paste Electrode

In this study, methylene blue (MB) imprinted microbeads were synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Differential pulse voltammetric responses of carbon paste electrodes modified with MB imprinted polymer were used to evaluate the adsorption and selectivity features of the polymer. For selectivity studies two basic dyestuffs (thionine blue and toluidine blue) which have similar structure to MB were chosen. Comparison of the voltammetric responses obtained with pure carbon paste and carbon paste modified with either imprinted or nonimprinted polymer electrodes revealed that MB imprinted polymer presented a higher selectivity to the template molecule MB in contrast to structurally similar molecules, thionine blue and toluidine blue.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Spectroscopic Properties of Hexa(4-Bromo-2-Formyl-Phenoxy)Cyclotriphosphazene and Hexa(4-Chloro-2-Formyl-Phenoxy)Cyclotriphosphazene and Fully Substituted Cyclotriphosphazene Derivatives Bearing a Schiff Base at Room Temperature

Abstract

Hexa(4-bromo-2-formyl-phenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene (2) and hexa(4-chloro-2- formyl-phenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene (3) were obtained from the reactions of hexachloro- cyclotriphosphazene (1) with 5-bromosalicylaldehyde and 5-chlorosalicylaldehyde in the presence of (C₂H₅)₃N and K₂CO₃ at room temperature, respectively. The new two organocyclotriphosphazenes bearing formyl groups were reacted with 4-cyano aniline, 2-phenyl aniline, 4-aceto aniline, 5-chloro-2-hydroxy aniline, 2-hydroxy aniline, 4-hydroxy aniline, 2-(4-morpholino)ethyl amine, 4-carboxy aniline, 4-carbomoyl aniline, 2-mercapto aniline, and 5-amino isoquonoline to prepare cyclotriphosphazene derivatives containing a Schiff base at room temperature. However, fully phenoxy-substituted cyclotriphosphazenes containing a Schiff base were isolated from the reactions of the compound 2 and 3 with 5-chloro-2-hydroxy aniline, 2-hydroxy aniline, 4-hydroxy aniline, and 2-(4-morpholino)ethyl amine. The structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P) spectroscopy. According to the results of the analysis, all synthesized compounds were found to be fully substituted organocyclotriphosphazenes, such as hexa[4-bromo-2-(5-chloro-2-hydroxy-pheyliminomethyl)phenoxy]cyclotriphosphaze (2a). All cyclotriphosphazene derivatives synthesized gave fluorescence emission peaks in range between 300 nm and 410 nm.     

New tools for rapid clinical and bioagent diagnostics: microwaves and plasmonic nanostructures

In this timely review, we summarize recent work on ultra-fast and sensitive bioassays based on microwave heating, and provide our current interpretation of the role of the combined use of microwave energy and plasmonic nanostructures for applications in rapid clinical and bioagent diagnostics. The incorporation of microwave heating into plasmonic nanostructure-based bioassays brings new advancements to diagnostic tests. A temperature gradient, created by the selective heating of water in the presence of plasmonic nanostructures, results in an increased mass transfer of target biomolecules towards the biorecognition partners placed on the plasmonic nanostructures, enabling diagnostic tests to be completed in less than a minute, and in some cases only a few seconds, by further microwave heating. The diagnostic tests can also be run in complex biological samples, such as human serum and whole blood.     

A summability process on Baskakov-type approximation

The summability process introduced by Bell (Proc Am Math Soc 38: 548–552, 1973) is a more general and also weaker method than ordinary convergence. Recent studies have demonstrated that using this convergence in classical approximation theory provides many advantages. In this paper, we study the summability process to approximate a function and its derivatives by means of a wider class of linear operators than a family of positive linear operators. Our results improve not only Baskakov’s idea in (Mat Zametki 13: 785–794, 1973) but also the Korovkin theory based on positive linear operators. In order to verify this we display a specific sequence of approximating operators by plotting their graphs.     

Capillary electrophoresis and phenylboronic acid solid phase extraction for the determination of S‐adenosylmethionine/S‐adenosylhomocysteine ratio in human urine

An approach that allows direct analysis of the ratio of S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S‐adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) by using CE is presented. The analytes were extracted on phenylboronic acid phase and eluted with 100 mmol/L HCl. CE separation of the analytes took place in the transient isotachophoresis mode with addition of NaCl and meglumine to the samples. The sensitivity (S/N = 3) and quantification limit (S/N = 10) of the method were 0.07 and 0.2 μmol/L, respectively, using a silica capillary with 50 μm internal diameter and 30.5 cm total length. The BGE was 0.02 mol/L Tris with 1 mol/L HCOOH (pH 2.2), and the separation voltage was 15–17 kV. Accuracy of SAM and SAH analysis in urine was 96 and 105%, respectively; interday precision for the SAM/SAH ratio was within 6%. The theoretical plate number exceeded a million. Total analysis time was 8.5 min.     

Structure elucidation of laser dye coumarin-540A by joint application of X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, prompt fluorescence, UV and visible spectroscopy

X-ray, ultraviolet, and visible light induced photophysical changes of coumarin-540A in ethanol have been studied by the joint applications of X-ray, ultraviolet, and visible spectroscopy. Some impurities were found by X-ray fluorescence measurements. During the high power optical pumping, coumarin showed photochemical changes. Photoproduct emission spectra characteristics showed that photoproduct molecules can also be used as a laser dye at a different emission frequency in the ultraviolet region.