The topological center of the spectrum of some distal algebras

The topological center of the spectrum of the Weyl algebra W, i.e. the norm closure of the algebra generated by the set of functions , is characterized in a recent paper by Jabbari and Namioka (Ellis group and the topological center of the flow generated by the map , to appear in Milan J. Math.). By the techniques essentially used in the cited paper, the topological center of the spectrum of the subalgebra W _k , the norm closure of the algebra generated by the set of functions , will be characterized, for all k∈ℕ. Also an example of a non-minimal dynamical system, with the enveloping semigroup Σ, for which the set of all continuous elements of Σ is not equal to the topological center of Σ, is given.     

A new Pd‐Schiff‐base complex on boehmite nanoparticles: Its application in Suzuki reaction and synthesis of tetrazoles

Boehmite nanoparticles are not air or moisture sensitive, therefore have been prepared in water without inert atmosphere using inexpensive materials. Pd‐isatin‐boehmite was synthesized and used as heterogeneous organometallic catalyst for the synthesis of 5‐substituted 1H‐tetrazoles and C‐C band formation. Pd‐isatin‐boehmite characterized by XRD, TGA, SEM and ICP‐OES techniques. This catalyst was reused for several times without significant loss of its catalytic efficiency or palladium leaching. Heterogeneity of this catalyst has been studied using ICP‐OES technique.     

The near-corner mass transfer associated with turbulent flow in a square duct

Mass transfer to a nearly fully developed turbulent flow in a square duct is studied. Measurements are taken either on one or two adjacent walls in the region of a developing mass transfer boundary layer. Effects of the secondary flow on mass transfer are observed near the corners. The effects are initially small, but grow to a significant degree further downstream. The location of the maximum and its lateral spread is affected by the Reynolds number, as well as the adjacent wall mass transfer.

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Stoffübertragung in der Nähe einer Ecke bei turbulenter Strömung in einem quadratischen Rohr

Zusammenfassung Es wird über den Massentransport in einer nahezu vollentwickelten turbulenten Strömung in einem Kanal mit quadratischem Querschnitt berichtet. Messungen werden an einer oder an zwei benachbarten Wänden im Bereich der sich entwickelnden Massenübergangsgrenzschicht durchgeführt. Im Bereich der Kanalecken werden Effekte der Sekundärströmung beobachtet. Diese Effekte sind anfänglich gering, wachsen jedoch weiter stromabwärts beträchtlich an. Die Lage des Maximums und seine laterale Ausbreitung werden sowohl durch die Reynoldszahl als auch durch den benachbarten Massenübergang zur Wand beeinflußt.

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Nomenclature D Duct's span - Dh Hydraulic diameter - Re Reynolds number (U _bulk Dh/v) - Sh Sherwood number - U Axial velocity - U _bulk Bulk velocity - x, y, z Coordinate system, Fig. 1 - x Axial distance from the duct's inlet - Kinematic viscosity Dedicated to Prof. Dr.-Ing. U. Grigull's 80th birthday     

A cortisol nanocomposite-based electrochemical sensor for enantioselective recognition of mandelic acid

An electrochemical chiral sensor was designed based on graphene (GR) as a catalyst for signal enhancement. Hydrocortisone has been immobilized as a chiral selector on GR to discriminate electrochemical signals of mandelic acid (MA) enantiomers. A two-step electrodeposition strategy was used to fabricate hydrocortisone-loaded overoxidized polypyrrole film (HC-OPPy) on graphene-modified glassy carbon electrode, which was successfully utilized as a working electrode for direct monitoring of MA enantiomers based on an inhibitory sensing mechanism. The stepwise modification of the surface was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Because of the different interactions of enantiomers with the chiral electroactive platform, voltammetric signals with different intensities were observed for S-MA and R-MA at 1.36 and 1.40 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), respectively. The introduced design for the chiral sensor, with exploiting the chemometrics tools such as partial least squares, principle component regression, and genetic algorithm, was able to discriminate highly overlapping signals of MA enantiomers in their mixtures. The hydrocortisone-based sensor showed a linear response towards MA enantiomers within a concentration range of 1.0–25 mM with a detection limit of 0.25 mM (S/N = 3). The sensor not only extends the enantioselective sensing of MA enantiomers but also stimulates new opportunities for investigating stereo-selective behavior of hydrocortisone. The recognition mechanism was also investigated using docking analysis and DFT calculations.

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Graphical abstract ?

     

Spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of molybdenum (VI) based on catalytic reduction of safranine by hydrazine dihydrochloride

Summary A simple and rapid kinetic method for the determination of traces of molybdenum (0.1–4.0 g/ml) based on its catalytic effect on the reduction of safranine by hydrazine dihydrochloride is reported. The reaction is monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decreasing absorbance of safranine at 520 nm by the fixed time method. The method is sensitive, precise and free from interferences from many anions and cations. The experimental limit of detection is 100 ng/ml and the relative standard deviation for 1.0 g/ml Mo(VI) is 1.56%. The procedure was successfully applied to the determination of molybdenum in a steel alloy.     

Conductance study of complex formation of thallium and silver ions with several crown ethers in acetonitrile,acetone and dimethylformamide solutions

The complexation reactions between Tl⁺ and Ag⁺ ions and several crown ethers have been studied conductometrically in acetonitrile, acetone and dimethylformamide solutions at 25°C. The stability constants of the resulting 1:1 complexes were determined, and found to decrease in the order DA18C6>DC18C6>DB30C10>18C6>DB21C7>DB24C8>DB18C6>B15C5 >12C4, in the case of Tl⁺ complexes, and in the order DA18C6>DC18C6>18C6>DB18C6 >DB24C8>DB30C10B15C5>DB21C7 for Ag⁺ complexes. There is an inverse relationship between the stabilities of the complexes and the Gutamnn donicity of the solvents. The influence of a number of atoms in the macrocycle and of substituents in the polyether ring on the stability of the complexes is discussed.     

Graphene/poly(ortho-phenylenediamine) nanocomposite material for electrochemical supercapacitor

Reduced graphene oxide was synthesized by simple chemical processing of graphite. Electron microscopy investigations of synthesized graphene showed slightly folded transparent sheets with a few square micrometers dimension. Poly(ortho-phenylenediamine)/graphene/Pt electrode was electrochemically fabricated in a 2.0-M H₂SO₄ solution by means of multiple potential cycling. Due to the catalytic effect of graphene on the oxidative electropolymerization of ortho-phenylenediamine, the ortho-phenylenediamine/graphene (PoPD/GR) nanocomposite showed greatly enhanced electrical properties and excellent capacitive behavior. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, galvanostatic charge/discharge curves, and voltammetric investigations revealed that PoPD/GR nanocomposite represented good capacitive behavior with a specific capacitance as high as 308.3 F g^?1 at 0.1 A g^?1. It is almost three times higher than that of pure graphene (111.7 F g^?1). In addition, the nanocomposite electrode retained more than 99 % of the initial capacity after 1,500 cycles at a current density of 1 A g^?1.     

Fabrication of graphene/Fe3O4@polythiophene nanocomposite and its application in the magnetic solid-phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from environmental water samples

Polythiophene (PT) was used as a surface modifier of graphene/Fe₃O₄ (G/Fe₃O₄) composite to increase merit of it, and also overcome some limitations and disadvantages of using G/Fe₃O₄ alone as solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbent. An in-situ chemical polymerization method was employed to prepare G/Fe₃O₄@PT nanocomposites. Application of this newly designed material in the magnetic SPE (MSPE) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as model analytes, in the environmental water samples was investigated. The characterization of the hybrid material was performed using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. Seven important parameters, affecting the extraction efficiency of PAHs, including: amount of adsorbent, adsorption and desorption times, type and volume of the eluent solvent, initial sample volume and salt content of the sample were evaluated. The optimum extraction conditions were obtained as: 4 min for extraction time, 20 mg for sorbent amount, 100 mL for initial sample volume, toluene as desorption solvent, 0.6 mL for desorption solvent volume, 6 min for desorption time and 30% (w/v) for NaCl concentration. Good performance data were obtained at the optimized conditions. Detection limits were in the range of 0.009–0.020 μg L⁻¹ in the real matrix. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges from 0.03 to 80 μg L⁻¹ with correlation coefficients (R²) between 0.995 and 0.998 for all the analytes. Relative standard deviations were ranged from 4.3 to 6.3%. Appropriate recovery values, in the range of 83–107%, were also obtained for the real sample analysis.