On the Accuracy of Hyperspherical Harmonics Approaches to Photonuclear Reactions

Using the Lorentz integral transform (LIT) method we compare the results for the triton total-photodisintegration cross section obtained using the correlated hyperspherical harmonics (CHH) and the effective interaction hyperspherical harmonics (EIHH) techniques. We show that these two approaches, while rather different both conceptually and computationally, lead to results which coincide within high accuracy. The calculations which include two- and three-body forces are of the same high quality in both cases. We also discuss the comparison of the two approaches in terms of computational efficiency. These results are of major importance in view of applications to the much debated case of the four-nucleon photoabsorption.     

Photodisintegration of Light Nuclei

The first microscopic calculation of inelastic reactions on nuclei with mass number A = 6 is presented. In particular, we consider the total photoabsorption cross section of ⁶He and ⁶Li. It is shown that the halo nucleus ⁶He exhibits two types of dipole resonances, the normal giant dipole resonance and a low-energy soft dipole resonance associated with the excitation of the outer neutrons. Comparing our results with available experimental data we note the role of P-wave interaction. Calculations are performed using the Lorentz integral transform (LIT) method and the effective interaction in the hyperspherical harmonics formalism (EIHH).     

First principles studies of vanadia-titania monolayer catalysts: mechanisms of NO selective reduction

The selective reduction of NO with NH(3) catalyzed by isolated VO(x) species grafted onto TiO(2) (anatase) is studied by means of periodic density functional calculations. NH(3) is adsorbed molecularly by the bare support both as a Lewis-bonded complex at (101) 5-fold coordinated Ti sites, and as a H-bonded complex at (001) Ti-OH sites. Analogous interactions are predicted for stable submonolayer VO(x) species, which provide V(5+) Lewis acid sites and V-OH sites. Neither Ti-OH nor submonolayer V-OH groups act as Br?nsted acids toward NH(3). Reaction pathways where both Lewis-bonded and H-bonded NH(3) complexes yield a NH(2)NO intermediate are found. In the former case, a (rate-determining) deprotonation step of NH(3) is required, whereas, in the latter, NH(2)NO is formed directly through a concerted mechanism. This suggests that many channels may contribute to the NO reduction process.     

Measurement of baseline atmospheric plutonium-239, 240 and americium-241 in the vicinity of the waste isolation pilot plant

This study presents preliminary results on mercury distribution, released by gold mining activities, in soils from Vila Nova River region, an area located in Serra do Navio, Amapá, in the Brazilian Amazon. The soil samples were separated in two grain sizes, sand (between 2 and 0.063 mm) and silt+clay (<63 μm), and have been analysed by radiochemical neutron activation analysis. The precision and accuracy of the method were verified by means of the reference material analysis GXR-5 (USGS).     

Knotting of random ring polymers in confined spaces

Stochastic simulations are used to characterize the knotting distributions of random ring polymers confined in spheres of various radii. The approach is based on the use of multiple Markov chains and reweighting techniques, combined with effective strategies for simplifying the geometrical complexity of ring conformations without altering their knot type. By these means we extend previous studies and characterize in detail how the probability to form a given prime or composite knot behaves in terms of the number of ring segments N and confining radius R. For 50 < or =N < or =450 we show that the probability of forming a composite knot rises significantly with the confinement, while the occurrence probability of prime knots are, in general, nonmonotonic functions of 1R. The dependence of other geometrical indicators, such as writhe and chirality, in terms of R and N is also characterized. It is found that the writhe distribution broadens as the confining sphere narrows.     

Permeative flows in cholesterics: shear and Poiseuille flows

By using a lattice Boltzmann scheme that solves the Beris-Edwards equations of motion describing liquid-crystal hydrodynamics, we study the response of cholesterics to shear and Poiseuille flows. The geometry we focus on is a flow along the direction of the helical axis, which is known to give rise to permeation. For both shear and Poiseuille flow we find that the boundary conditions on the director field are crucial in determining the rheological properties of the liquid crystal. For helices pinned at the boundaries, a small forcing leads to a large viscosity increase whereas a stronger forcing induces a sharp decrease towards the Newtonian value. This shear thinning behavior is in agreement with experiments and previous analytic results. If, on the other hand, the director is free to rotate at the walls, different behaviors are found depending on the symmetry of the steady-state primary flow. Some of the cases considered are compared to a similar imposed flow but with the helix lying perpendicular to the plates, for which no viscosity increase is observed.     

Scaling of a collapsed polymer globule in two dimensions

Extensive Monte Carlo data analysis gives clear evidence that collapsed linear polymers in two dimensions fall in the universality class of athermal, dense self-avoiding walks, as conjectured by Duplantier [Phys. Rev. Lett. 71, 4274 (1993)].10.1103/PhysRevLett.71.4274 However, the boundary of the globule has self-affine roughness and does not determine the anticipated nonzero topological boundary contribution to entropic exponents. Scaling corrections are due to subleading contributions to the partition function corresponding to polymer configurations with one end located on the globule-solvent interface.     

Dual CD system-modified MEEKC method for the determination of clemastine and its impurities

A dual system of CDs was used for the first time in MEEKC with the aim of determining clemastine and its three main related impurities in both drug substances and tablets. The addition of methyl-β-cyclodextrin and heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin to the microemulsion pseudo-stationary phase was essential to increase the resolving power of the system to obtain a baseline separation among the compounds. The best microemulsion composition was identified by mixture design and the effects of the factors concentrations of CDs and voltage were investigated by a response surface study applying a Central Composite Design. In both cases, Derringer's desirability function made it possible to find the global optimum, which corresponded to the following combination: microemulsion, 89.8% 10 mM borate buffer pH 9.2, 1.5% n-heptane and 8.7% of SDS/n-butanol in 1:2 ratio; 18 mM methyl-β-cyclodextrin, 38 mM heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin, 17 kV. By applying these conditions, the separation was completed in about 5.5 min. The method was validated following International Conference on Harmonisation guidelines and was applied to a real sample of clemastine tablets.     

Synthesis and molecular structure of hydrido(tetrahydroborato)(1,1,1-tris(diphenylphosphinomethyl)ethane)-iron(II)

Sodium tetrahydroborate reacts with iron(II) tetrafluoroborate and 1,1,1-tris(diphenylphosphinomethyl)ethane (triphos) to give the complex (triphos)-FeH(BH₄) whose molecular structure, determined from X-ray data consists of monomolecular units in which the iron atom is six-coordinated by the three phosphorus atoms of the ligand, two hydrogen atoms of the BH₄ group, and a hydridic hydrogen atom. Variable temperature ³¹P NMR spectra reveal stereochemical non-rigidity of the complex in solution.     

Multifunctional Small Molecules as Potential Anti-Alzheimer’s Disease Agents

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a severe multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of neurons in the brain. Despite research efforts, the pathogenesis and mechanism of AD progression are not yet completely understood. There are only a few symptomatic drugs approved for the treatment of AD. The multifactorial character of AD suggests that it is important to develop molecules able to target the numerous pathological mechanisms associated with the disease. Thus, in the context of the worldwide recognized interest of multifunctional ligand therapy, we report herein the synthesis, characterization, physicochemical and biological evaluation of a set of five (1a–e) new ferulic acid-based hybrid compounds, namely feroyl-benzyloxyamidic derivatives enclosing different substituent groups, as potential anti-Alzheimer’s disease agents. These hybrids can keep both the radical scavenging activity and metal chelation capacity of the naturally occurring ferulic acid scaffold, presenting also good/mild capacity for inhibition of self-Aβ aggregation and fairly good inhibition of Cu-induced Aβ aggregation. The predicted pharmacokinetic properties point towards good absorption, comparable to known oral drugs.