Trends in selenium determination/speciation by hyphenated techniques based on AAS or AFS

The field of selenium speciation has been studied for decades and the growing interest in this field seems never to reach a plateau. Although powerful techniques based on mass spectrometry are nowadays used for selenium determination/speciation, few laboratories can support the high cost of such techniques. The hyphenation of chromatography to atomic absorption or atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AAS or AFS) is still a reliable and low-cost alternative for routine laboratories. In this work we present the most important parameters dealing with selenium speciation along with the latest trends in this subject, namely in the items related with sample treatment and hyphenation techniques with AAS and AFS detection.     

Non-Associativity in the Clifford Bundle on the Parallelizable Torsion 7-Sphere

In this paper we discuss generalized properties of non-associativity in Clifford bundles on the 7-sphere S ⁷. Novel and prominent properties inherited from the non-associative structure of the Clifford bundle on S ⁷ are demonstrated. They naturally lead to general transformations of the spinor fields on S ⁷ and have dramatic consequences for the associated Ka?-Moody current algebras. All additional properties concerning the non-associative structure in the Clifford bundle on S ⁷ are considered. We further discuss and explore their applications.     

Exact and heuristic methods to solve a bi-objective problem of sustainable cultivation

Annals of Operations Research - This work proposes a binary nonlinear bi-objective optimization model for the problem of planning the sustainable cultivation of crops. The solution to the problem...     

From Electromagnetism to Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

We study the relationship between Maxwell and Dirac equations for a class of solutions of Maxwell equations that can represent purely electromagnetic particles.     

Reactivity of muonium atoms in aqueous solution

A beam of surface muons (4.1 MeV) was used to generate thermalised muonium atoms (μ⁺e^?) in aqueous solutions. From measurements of the muonium atom relaxation time in the presence of various solutes, bimolecular rate constants were determined and compared with the corresponding reactions of the much heavier isotope, the hydrogen atom.     

General spherically symmetric elastic stars in relativity

The relativistic theory of elasticity is reviewed within the spherically symmetric context with a view towards the modeling of star interiors possessing elastic properties such as the ones expected in neutron stars. Emphasis is placed on generality in the main sections of the paper, and the results are then applied to specific examples. Along the way, a few general results for spacetimes admitting isometries are reviewed, and their consequences are fully exploited in the case of spherical symmetry relating them next to the the case in which the material content of the spacetime is some elastic material. Specific examples are provided satisfying the dominant energy condition and admitting a constitutive equation, including a static two-layer star ‘toy model’ consisting of an elastic core surrounded by a perfect fluid corresponding to the interior Schwarzschild solution matched to the vacuum Schwarzschild solution. This paper extends and generalizes the pioneering work by Magli and Kijowski (Gen Relat Gravit 24:139, 1992), Magli (Gen Relat Gravit 25:1277, 1993; 25:441, 1993), and complements, in a sense, that by Karlovini and Samuelsson in their interesting series of papers (Karlovini and Samuelsson in Class Quantum Grav 20:363, 2003; 21:1559, 21:4531, 2004).     

Exploiting ion-pair formation for the enhancement of electroanalytical determination of pyridoxine (B6) onto polyurethane-graphite electrodes

The present study reports some aspects of ion-pair formation between pyridoxine and dodecyl sulphate under suitable conditions of pH, and its application with analytical purposes. Electrochemical behavior of the analite onto a graphite-polyurethane electrode was assessed by both cyclic and square-wave voltammetries under different conditions (pH from 1.2 to 13.0, with and without surfactant), aiming to study its mechanisms and to define best parameters for such determination exploiting the association of electroanalytical variables and ion-pair formation; besides these, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was also applied to evaluate ion-pair formation and its influence on interfacial fenomena. Best conditions were reach by square-wave voltammetry in pH 4.2 acetate buffer sweeping from + 0.7 to + 1.2 V (vs. Ag|AgCl_sat) in pulses of 50 mV amplitude and 10 mV step, in a frequency of 10 Hz. The concentration of sodium dodecyl sulphate was optimized being the optimal value a constant submicelar concentration of 3 mmol L^-1. Under such conditions a linear dynamic range from 2 to 18 μmol L^-1 was observed, providing faster, more selective and sensitive system. Interference studies were also carried out showing no relevant influence of thiamine, riboflavine and nicotinamide over the analysis of pyridoxine. The system was successfully applied to commercial parenteral samples containing thiamine and pyridoxine as purchased, without further treatment.     

Determination of the relevant magnetic interactions in low-dimensional molecular materials: the fundamental role of single crystal high frequency EPR

A new one-dimensional copper(II) complex with formula [Cu(hfac)(2)(N(3)TEMPO)](n) (hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate and N(3)TEMPO = 4-azido-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl) has been synthesized and investigated by X-ray crystallography, magnetometry and multifrequency single crystal EPR. The system crystallizes in the P1 space group with two non equivalent copper(II) ions in the unit cell, the two nitroxide radicals being coordinated to Cu(1) in axial positions. The copper(II) ions are bridged by N(3)TEMPO radicals resulting in a zig-zag chain structure. The magnetic susceptibility data were at first satisfactorily modeled assuming an alternating spin chain along the monodimensional covalent skeleton, with a ferromagnetic interaction between Cu(1) and the nitroxide moieties and a weaker antiferromagnetic interaction between these and Cu(2) (J(1) = -13.8 cm(-1), J(2) = +2.4 cm(-1)). However, single crystal EPR studies performed at the X- and W-band clearly demonstrate that the observed magnetic monodimensional character of the complex is actually due to the intermolecular contacts involving N(3)TEMPO ligands. This prompted us to fit the magnetic data using a consistent model, pointing out the fundamental role of single crystal EPR data in defining a correct model to describe the magnetic properties of molecular low dimensional systems.     

Lipase Production in Solid-State Fermentation Monitoring Biomass Growth of Aspergillus niger Using Digital Image Processing

The aim of this study was to monitor the biomass growth of Aspergillus niger in solid-state fermentation (SSF) for lipase production using digital image processing technique. The strain A. niger 11T53A14 was cultivated in SSF using wheat bran as support, which was enriched with 0.91% (m/v) of ammonium sulfate. The addition of several vegetable oils (castor, soybean, olive, corn, and palm oils) was investigated to enhance lipase production. The maximum lipase activity was obtained using 2% (m/m) castor oil. In these conditions, the growth was evaluated each 24 h for 5 days by the glycosamine content analysis and digital image processing. Lipase activity was also determined. The results indicated that the digital image process technique can be used to monitor biomass growth in a SSF process and to correlate biomass growth and enzyme activity. In addition, the immobilized esterification lipase activity was determined for the butyl oleate synthesis, with and without 50% v/v hexane, resulting in 650 and 120 U/g, respectively. The enzyme was also used for transesterification of soybean oil and ethanol with maximum yield of 2.4%, after 30 min of reaction.