Elastic properties of the Ta–V system: bcc Ta0.33V0.67 and C15 TaV2

Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy was used to measure the elastic constants of bcc Ta_0.33V_0.67 over the temperature range 3.5–300?K; the results were compared to earlier measurements on C15 TaV₂. The temperature dependence of the polycrystalline shear modulus is completely different in the two phases; that of the bcc phase decreases with temperature whereas that of the C15 phases increases in an anomalous fashion. This difference is consistent with a model involving doubly-degenerate levels at the X point of the Brillouin zone in the C15 phase with the Fermi level lying near the doubly degenerate level. This model accounted for the unusual behaviour of the C15 phase. Debye temperatures were determined from the ultrasonic measurements: 295?K for the C15 phase and 315?K for the bcc phase.     

Retention,direct detection,and quantitation of palladium (II) using high-performance liquid chromatography and evaporative light scattering detection

This study demonstrates the use of high-performance liquid chromatography and evaporative light scattering detection for the direct detection and quantitation of palladium II. After evaluating the effects of buffer concentration and pH, the separation of cobalt II, copper I, copper II, nickel II, and palladium II was accomplished using a Chromolith® Performance SI monolithic column with a hydrophilic interaction chromatography mode gradient elution. Typical validation parameters were evaluated to assess the method’s quantitative performance for palladium II which included specificity, accuracy, precision, linearity, stability, and limit of detection. This technique provides a unique and practical alternative method for the accurate quantitation of palladium II.     

Structural characteristics of different types of nanoparticles synthesised in mesomorphic metal alkanoates

The class of thermotropic ionic liquid crystals (LCs) of the metal alkanoates possesses a number of unique properties, such as intrinsic ionic conductivity, high dissolving ability and ability to form time-stable mesomorphic glasses. These ionic LCs can be used as nanoreactors for the synthesis and stabilisation of different types of nanoparticles (NPs). Thus, some semiconductors, metals and core/shell NPs were chemically synthesised in the thermotropic ionic liquid crystalline phase (smectic A) of the cadmium octanoate (CdC₈) and of the cobalt octanoate (CoC₈). By applying the scanning electron microscopy, the cadmium and cobalt octanoate composites containing CdS, Au, Ag and core/shell Au/CdS NPs have been studied. NPs’ sizes and dispersion distribution of the NPs’ size in the nanocomposites have been obtained.     

Determination of sulfate and chloride ions in highly saline oilfield water by capillary electrophoresis using bilayer-coated capillaries and indirect absorption detection

Analysis of highly saline oilfield waters for anions presents challenges. Traditional analytical techniques used for such analysis tend to suffer from both poor sensitivity and selectivity due to the high concentrations of salt present in the samples. A capillary electrophoresis method was developed for the simultaneous determination of chloride and sulfate anions which is relevant to the oilfield analysis industry and of economic value. Due to the extremely high concentrations of chloride in highly saline oilfield waters, it is difficult to achieve baseline electrophoretic separation necessary for accurate quantitation. By using a capillary with a noncovalently bound bilayer coating using Polybrene, a cationic polymer and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), an anionic surfactant and a buffer consisting of 50 mM TRIS, 30 mM SDS, 5% methanol and 26 mM chromium trioxide (CrO₃) at pH 6.7, baseline separation (R_s > 1.5) of chloride and sulfate was achieved. To mimic possible oilfield water samples, model water solutions of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% chloride containing low ppm sulfate were prepared and successfully analysed using the method developed. In addition, the method was applied to determine chloride and sulfate anions in highly saline oilfield water samples. The accuracy of the method developed was verified by analysing NIST certified standards of chloride and sulfate. The results obtained for chloride and sulfate with the indirect CE-UV method were in close agreement (94–100% accuracy; <2.5% relative standard deviations) with those of the certified standard analysed by ion chromatography.     

Irradiation of a cone by a magnetic dipole

Th electromagnetic field produced by a magnetic dipole in thepresence of a perfectly conducting cone of arbitrary cross-sectionis determined. The solution is used to find out how a currenton the cone travelling towards the apex is reflected. Some valuesof the reflection coefficient are calculated. In particular,it is shown that there is a sort of resonance with the reflectionincreasing significantly as the cone approaches a plane.     

Structural studies and T c dependence in La2−x Dy x Ca y Ba2Cu4+y O z type mixed oxide superconductors

A new series of mixed oxide superconductors with the stoichiometric composition La_2−x Dy _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z (x=0.0 − 0.5, y=2x) has been studied for structural and superconductiong properties. Our earlier studies on La_2−x (Y/Er) _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z series, show a strong dependence of T _c on hole concentration (p _sh). In the present work, the results of the analysis of the neutron diffraction measurements at room temprerature on x=0.3 and 0.5 samples are reported. It is interesting to know that Ca substitutes for both La and Ba site with concomitant displacement of La onto Ba site. Superconductivity studies show that maximum T _c is obtained for x=0.5, y=1.0 sample (T _c ∼ 75 K), for La_1.5Dy_0.5Ca₁Ba₂Cu₅O _z (La-2125).     

18O-isotope effect in 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: 5—Substituent group electronic effects in substituted acetophenones

A series of para- and meta-substituted acetophenones were prepared which were highly labeled with ¹⁸O at the carbonyl function. The natural abundance ¹³C NMR spectra of the compounds were recorded and the ¹⁸O-isotope-induced shifts of the carbonyl carbon were measured in order to determine possible substituent group electronic effects on the ¹⁸O-isotope shift. The isotope shifts were found to be correlated with a number of properties which demonstrate the molecular basis of the isotope shift. Good correlations were obtained for the isotope shift as a function of σ_p⁺, the carbonyl stretching frequency, the carbonyl group bond order, the n→π^**transition of the carbonyl group and the chemical shift of the ipso carbon. In contrast, no correlation was observed between the magnitude of the ¹⁸O-induced isotope shift and the ¹³C chemical shift of the carbonyl carbon. These properties are discussed in connection with the theoretical basis of the isotope shift.     

5,5-Fused thiophene gamma-lactams as templates for serine protease inhibition

Novel 5,5-fused thiophene lactams are potent inhibitors and acylating agents of HNE and PPE.