Geometric structure and electronic properties of neutral and anionic Fe2C3 and Fe2C4 clusters, as obtained by density-functional calculations

We calculated the geometrical structures and electronic properties of neutral and anionic Fe2Cn clusters (n = 3,4) using a density-functional method that employs linear combinations of atomic orbitals as basis sets, standard nonlocal norm-conserving pseudopotentials, and the generalized gradient approximation to exchange and correlation. We show that the ground-state structures of Fe2C3 and Fe2C4 are essentially the same in the neutral and anionic states, namely, planar rings that feature nonadjacent Fe atoms. For the anionic clusters, these findings contrast with previously published results.     

Trace elements in a profile of the unsaturated zone of the São Paulo Basin

This study comprises Tertiary sediments (clays, silts, and fine clayey sands) from the unsaturated zone of the Experimental Station in the University of São Paulo, taken from a nine meters depth profile; ten samples were separated in bulk and <53 m fractions. Chemical composition was determined by INAA to ascertain the distribution of trace elements throughout the sediment deposition, and to establish the background parameters, useful for mobilization studies of such elements after industrial waste disposal.     

A switchable radioactive neutron source: Proof-of-principle

The formation of¹⁶⁰Er,¹⁵⁹Dy and¹⁴⁹Gd employing natural dysprosium as target and its irradiation with α-particles was the objective of this work. This is included in a study performed by our group on excitation functions of induced reactions for charged particles on rare earths. A target with metallic foils of Dy was irradiated in the Isochronous Cyclotron at Karlsruhe (Germany) with incident energy up to 88.5 MeV. Due to the contributions of the precursors in the isobaric chains, we were not able to measure the absolute cross sections. Then, the determination of the cumulative cross sections were carried out. Thick target yields for the production of¹⁶⁰Er,¹⁵⁹Dy and¹⁴⁹Gd are also presented. At present we do not know other publications about the functions studied in this work.     

Monitoring the atmospheric stability by using radon concentration measurements: A study in a Central Italy site

Summary Meteorological and radon concentration data referring to a measurement campaign carried out in Urbino, Central Italy, are reported and discussed. This study presents a method allowing monitoring of the vertical atmospheric stability using continuous measurements of radon gas near ground. In particular radon evidences the presence of temperature inversion such as the formation of the nocturnal stable layer and gives information on the vertical turbulence and the motion of air masses. This technique is very useful in describing the temporal evolution of the pollutants in the atmosphere.     

Determination of nitric acid concentration by using europium ion fluorescence

A method is presented for the determination of 2-10M nitric acid based on the fact that the presence of high nitric acid concentration causes an enhancement of the intensity of some bands in the fluorescence spectra of rare earth ions in solution. The 616-nm band of Eu(3+) shows the most dramatic intensity enhancement with increasing nitric acid concentration. The present method, based on the measurement of the ratio of Eu(3+) fluorescent band intensities is shown to be independent of Eu(3+) concentration and relatively free of interference. This robust method allows the presence of an interferent to be determined from the experimental data.     

Spectroscopic evidence for the intermediacy of a 6-R-2,4-diazabicyclo-[3.1.0]hex-2-(3)ene in the photoisomerization of 4-R-1,4-(3,4)-dihydropyrimidines

¹H- and ¹³C-nmr spectroscopy is presented showing that photolysis of 4-(p-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1,4-(3,4)-dihydropyrimidine yields 6-(p-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2,4-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-(3)ene.     

Appareillage pour la mesure de variations rapides de l'emission d'un gaz radioactif par un solide soumis a un traitement thermique,sous atmosphere controlee

An apparatus is described that enabled us to carry out a quantitative kinetic investigation of rather quick physicochemical transformations of divided solids by means of an emission of radioactive gas, as in the emanation method. Especially the details of the reaction cells are given in which surface area measurements by the BET method are also performed, and of the low volume scintillation chamber. Its high efficiency does not depend on the nature of the gas. The diverse components of the device ensure a good quality of pure atmosphere or vacuum, rapid and precise temperature setting and control, and reproducible sweeping of the radioactive gas escaping from the sample.     

On the biological importance of the hydrogen bond breaking potency of fluorocarbons

Fluorocarbons containing higher halogens have the potency of breaking certain hydrogen bonds in solutions. The relative strength of this potency varies in the series F < Cl < Br < I and the presence of hydrogen atoms in the fluorocarbon increases it. There is a striking parallelism between the hydrogen bond breaking and the anaesthetic potency of these molecules. It is suggested that the breaking of hydrogen bonds is an important step in the mechanism of anaesthesia.     

Kinetics of grafting acrylonitrile onto starch

Acrylonitrile (AN) was graft copolymerized onto gelatinized and granular wheat starch in aqueous media in the presence of ceric ammonium nitrate initiator at 91-364 anhydroglucose units (AGU) per cerium (IV) and at 1.08-4.33 AN to AGU ratios. Molecular weights and dispersities of polyacrylonitrile side chains were determined by gel-permeation chromatography. Conversion-time plots of AN polymerizations in both gelatinized and granular starch systems show characteristics common to heterogeneous polymerizations that could be explained on the basis of buried polymer radicals. The rates of polymerizations were directly related to the square root of the corrected cerium(IV) concentration and to the 1.3 power of the AN concentration. Graft copolymerization of AN onto starch, at least during initial stages, is not suitably explained by a kinetic scheme involving termination by polymer radical with cerium(IV) ion.     

Kinetic study of anhydride formation during thermal degradation of isotactic and atactic polymethacrylic acid

A kinetic study of anhydride formation in isotactic and atactic polymethacrylic acids (PMA) has been performed at about 200° using a vacuum thermobalance. The results obey first order kinetics and show that the rate of water loss is about four times higher for the isotactic PMA than for the atactic isomer. The activation energies are almost identical (42 ± 1 kcal per mole); it is concluded that the arrangement of neighbouring carboxyl groups is more favourable for the formation of a cyclic anhydride by intramolecular reaction in the case of the isotactic PMA.