Investigation of ancient pottery from Lefkanti,Greece, by epithermal gamma spectroscopy using loss-free counting technology

For the analysis of pottery fragments from ancient Lefkanti, instrumental neutron activation analysis was used. To have a good throughput of samples, a detectable series of short-lived isotopes was selected for the investigation. The problem of the initial high radioactivity, which normally hinders a fast -spectroscopic analysis, was eluded by using loss-free counting technology. This technology allows the measurement of pottery samples of about 100 mg size 1 day after a 30 min epithermal irradiation. Up to 15 samples could be analyzed in one day under these working conditions, having the possibility to analyze the elements As, Eu, Ga, Gd, La, Mn, Sb, Sm, Th, U, W and Zn, which are enough to perform statistical characterizations of potteries.     

Electroluminescent method for determining hydrogen peroxide and peroxydisulphate ions in aqueous solution using TiO(2) film electrodes

An electrochemical optical sensor system with luminescence response was proposed for the continuous determination of hydrogen peroxide or peroxydisulphate concentration in aqueous solutions. The electroluminescence (EL) of TiO(2) film electrodes, which arises under conditions of the cathodic polarization as a result of the hole injection into the TiO(2) from high-energy OH or SO(4)(2-) radicals produced by the electroreduction of H(2)O(2) or S(2)O(8)(2-) ions on the electrode surface, was used as the analytical signal. The EL response is linearly related, in a logarithmic scale, to the hydrogen peroxide or peroxydisulphate concentration ranging from 10(-3) to 10(-1) M H(2)O(2) and from 5 x 10(-4) to 1 M Na(2)S(2)O(8). It was shown that a substantial increase in the quantum efficiency of the EL and, as a consequence, in the sensitivity of the sensor system can be achieved by doping TiO(2) films with chromium. The potential dependence of the EL spectrum for TiO(2) electrodes in S(2)O(8)(2-) solutions differs essentially from that in H(2)O(2) solutions which allows measurement of the concentration of S(2)O(8)(2-) ions when they coexist with H(2)O(2) in solution.     

Potentiometric and voltammetric detection using a two-channel fountain cell

The design and use of a two-channel fountain cell in potentiometric and voltammetric detection is described. The two flows produced two distinct sectors inside the thin layer region and one of the sectors was used as the internal electrolyte of a reference electrode built into the cell body and the other as the indicator/counter electrode section. The behavior of the flowthrough Ag/AgCl reference electrode was first investigated and found satisfactory and it was then employed as the reference electrode in the subsequent experiments. Continuous and flow-injection measurements were made using the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple in potentiometry and the reduction of Fe(III) in voltammetry.     

Theq-harmonic oscillator and the Al-Salam and Carlitz polynomials

One more model of aq-harmonic oscillator based on theq-orthogonal polynomials of Al-Salam and Carlitz is discussed. The explicit form ofq-creation andq-annihilation operators,q-coherent states and an analog of the Fourier transformation are established. A connection of the kernel of this transform with a family of self-dual biorthogonal rational functions is observed.     

Instability of the paramagnetic state towards incommensurate magnetic order in the 2-d Hubbard model

We determine the instability line separating the paramagnetic phase in the phase diagram of the 2-d Hubbard Model from a phase with incommensurate magnetic order. A mean-field approximation of the Kotliar-Ruckenstein slave boson representation is used to calculate the wave-vector dependent magnetic susceptibility. For largeU/t the instability occurs at a densityn0.37, and a wave-vector close toq=(0,). The dependence ofq onU andn is also given.     

Determination of platinum and palladium in strongly acid solution by means of flow injection analysis

Microamounts of Pt(II/IV) (0.25–800 μg/ml) and Pd(II) (5–600 μg/ml) in> 0.5 M hydrochloric acid can readily be determined by means of a simple FIA method based on the selective reaction of tin(II)chloride with these metals. The FIA method has a high linear dynamic range, and is relatively free from interferences of many transition metals, with the exception of Au and Rh; small amounts of other PGMs can be tolerated. Determination of Pt on a hydrogenation catalyst by this method compares well with that found by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. By monitoring at two or more wavelengths, Pt and Pd can be determined in mixtures by this means, to yield a simple, cost-effective FIA method for possible on-line determinations and quality control of, in particular, Pt containing acidic refinery and other process streams.     

Total synthesis and properties of prostaglandins. 36. Condensation of (+)2-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]-6-octen-3-one with furylacrolein and furylpropionic aldehyde

A study was made of the condensation of bicyclic -lactone I with furylacrolein and furylpropionic aldehyde. Significant differences were observed in the reactivity of the aldols obtained, and in the stereochemical trend of their dehydration reaction.For Communication 35, see [1].Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1035–1039, August, 1993.