Influence of proton-skin thickness on the α decays of heavy nuclei

We investigate the effect of proton-skin thickness on the α decay process. We consider 188 neutrondeficient nuclei belonging to the isotopic chains from Te(Z = 52) to Pb(Z = 82). The calculations of the half-life are carried out in the framework of the preformed cluster model, with the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin penetration probability and assault frequency. It is shown that the proton-skin thickness(?p) of the daughter nucleus gives rise to a total α-daughter nucleus interaction potential of relatively wide deep internal pocket and a thinner Coulomb barrier of less height. This increases the penetration probability but decreases the assault frequency. The overall impact of the proton-skin thickness appears as a decrease in the decay half-life. The proton-skin thickness decreases the stability of the nucleus. The half-lives of the proton-skinned isotopes along the isotopic chain decrease exponentially with increasing the proton-skin thickness, whereas the Qα-value increases with ?p. α-decay manifests itself as the second favorite decay mode of neutron-deficient nuclei, next to the β+-decay and before proton-decay. It is indicated as main, competing, and minor decay mode, at 21%, 7%, and 57%, respectively, of the investigated nuclei.     

Extraction and analysis of different Cannabis samples by headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with GC-MS method was developed for the extraction and analysis of cannabinoids from Cannabis samples. Different commercially available fibres were evaluated; polydimethylsiloxane 100 microm was selected as the most efficient one. In order to enhance sensitivity and reduce analysis time, the sampling temperature was studied and it showed that extraction should be performed at a high temperature (150 degrees C). In relation with the high lipophilicity of cannabinoids, a relatively long desorption time (3 min) was necessary to ensure a total transfer from the fibre into the injection port of the gas chromatograph. The method was finally applied to the extraction of Swiss marijuana samples from different regions. Data treatment by principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis allowed a discrimination of the different batches.     

H-type aggregation of functional metal ion sensing phthalocyanines: Synthesis,characterization and electrochemistry

We report, in this study, the preparation and physical characterization of the peripherally functionalized ionophore ligand, 4,5-bis(6-hydroxyhexan-3ylthio)-1,2-dicyanobenzene (1) and its branched thioalcohol-substituted phthalocyanines, 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octakis{6-hydroxyhexan-3-ylthio)-metal (II) or (III) phthalocyanines {M{Pc[SCH(C₃H₇)(C₂H₅OH)]₈} {M = Pb(II) (2), Zn(II) (3), Cu(II) (4), Co(II) (5) and Mn(III), X = Cl⁻ (6)} which can selectively bind soft-metal ions such as silver (I) and palladium (II). It was observed by means of UV–Vis absorption spectrophotometry that the aggregates formed lead to a low solubility of the phthalocyanines in protic solvents, such as low molecular alcohols. However, the addition of AgNO₃ and Na₂PdCl₄ into a THF–MeOH solution of {M{Pc[SCH(C₃H₇)(C₂H₅OH)]₈X} {M = Pb(II) (2), Zn(II) (3), Cu(II) (4), Co(II) (5) and Mn(III), X = Cl⁻ (6)} induced optical changes, which indicated the formation of twisted H-type dimers (blue shift, face-to-face fashion) of {M{Pc[SCH(C₃H₇)(C₂H₅OH)]₈} complexes, bound by four PdCl₂ and AgNO₃ units in THF solution. Elemental analysis data, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS), FT-IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR, and UV–Vis spectral data were used as complementary techniques. Voltammetry and in situ spectroelectrochemistry of the complexes were performed on Pt in DMSO/TBAP. The first reduction and oxidation processes of 5 were found to be split due to the presence of facile equilibria between the species coordinated differently at axial positions. The Mn(III)Pc(−2)X⁻ complex (6) displayed well-defined colour changes during its reduction processes. The redox behaviour of the Mn(III)Pc(−2)X⁻ complex was observed to be affected significantly by the existence of oxygen in solution due to the formation of μ-oxo MnPc species, Mn(III)Pc–O–PcMn(III). This effect was clarified well by in situ spectroelectrochemical measurements.     

Synthesis, H- or J-type aggregations,electrochemistry and in situ spectroelectrochemistry of metal ion sensing lead(II) phthalocyanines

We report, in this study, peripherally 3- and 4-substituted functionalized ionophore ligands (1–3) and their α- and β-tetra polyalcohol substituted lead(II) phthalocyanines M{Pc[S–CH(C₃H₇)(C₂H₅OH)]₄} (7, 9 and 11) and M{Pc[S–C₆H₁₂(OH)]₄} (8, 10 and 12) which are a mixture of different isomers. The complexes have been fully characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS (MALDI-TOF) and UV–Vis spectral data. These complexes induced H-type (face-to-face fashion) or J-aggregate (edge-to-edge) dimers when titrated with AgNO₃ or Na₂PdCl₄ in a THF–MeOH solution. Cyclic and square wave voltammetry studies showed that the complexes gave three one-electron ligand-based reductions and two one-electron oxidation couples having diffusion controlled mass transfer character. Assignments of these redox couples were confirmed by spectroelectrochemical measurements. The observation of split Q bands, which are characteristic spectral behavior of metal-free phthalocyanines, indicates demetallization of the complexes during the spectroelectrochemical measurement under the applied potentials. The types of the substituents on the ring of the phthalocyanines affect the demetallization process of the complexes.     

In vitro antioxidant and in vivo photoprotective effects of an association of bioflavonoids with liposoluble vitamins

A new tendency in cosmetic formulations is the association of botanical extracts and vitamins to improve skin conditions by synergic effects. The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity of associated bioflavonoids, retinyl palmitate (RP), tocopheryl acetate (TA) and ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate (ATIP), as well as their photoprotective effects in preventing increased erythema, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and sunburn cell formation in hairless mouse skin. The antioxidant activity of solutions containing the association or each substance separately was evaluated in vitro by a chemiluminescence assay. The photoprotective effect was evaluated by means of in vivo tests. Dorsal skin of hairless mice was treated daily by topical applications for 5 days with formulations containing or not containing (vehicle) the flavonoid-vitamins association (5%). The skin was irradiated (UVA/B) 15 minutes after the last application. The results showed that bioflavonoids had in vitro antioxidant properties and also that when they were associated with vitamins their antioxidant activity was more pronounced. On the other hand, erythema and UV damage to the permeability barrier function (TEWL) was not significantly reduced by previous treatment with the flavonoid-vitamin-association formulations, when compared to the irradiated vehicle-treated area. However, the treatment protected the skin from UV damage because it reduced the number of sunburn cells, when compared to the vehicle-treated area. Finally, the association of vitamins and bioflavonoids added to a dermocosmetic formulation showed a relevant biological activity in terms of photoprotection, because the association of bioflavonoids and vitamins acted by different mechanisms, such as antioxidation and absorption of UV radiation, which suggests its use in antiaging and photoprotective products.     

Photochemical Transformation of Colchicine: A Kinetic Study

Spectroscopic methods and theoretical calculations were used to study the photophysical properties of colchicine (1). The characteristic bands of colchicine (1) transitions occurring at ∼245 nm and 350 nm arise from n–π ^* and π–π ^* transitions, and were found to be blue shifted with increasing polarity index of the solvent and red shifted (bathocrhomic) with increasing acidity of the media. Solvent type and polarity were found to affect both the rate constant and photo conversion yield. Excitation of colchicine (1) at 366 nm populates the S1 orbital, from which the photoreaction of colchicine (1) initially produces lumicolchicine directly in its ground state by a concerted disrotatory electrocyclization (i.e., 4π electrocyclization involving the tropolone ring). The acidity of the media affects both rate constants and conversion yield; both of these were inversely proportional to the acid concentration. The presence of acid decreases the photo conversion yield of colchicine (1) from 90% to 40%. The ionic strength affects both the rate constants and the photo conversion yield; rate constants are inversely related to the ionic strength. The photochemistry of colchicine (1) is explained on the basis of the initial formation of a solvation complex in the ground state.     

Effect of octupole and higher deformations on Coulomb barrier

The effect of octupole deformation, β₃, and the higher multipole deformations, β₆ and β₈, on the distribution of barriers in orientation degrees of freedom, is studied. Coulomb barriers are derived in the frame work of the double folding model with the realistic M3Y nucleon–nucleon interaction and its density dependent version. ⁴⁸Ca + ²⁴⁴Pu spherical-deformed nuclear interacting pair is considered, as an example, to study the effect of deformation parameters on the height and position of the Coulomb barrier. Although the dependence of the Coulomb barrier parameters on the higher deformations is complicated, numerically, if it is treated in microscopic way, we found a simple linear variation of barrier parameters with the different orders of deformation. We found that the variation of the barrier parameters with deformation exactly follows the change of the half density radius of the deformed nucleus in the direction of the separation vector between the centers of mass of the interacting nuclei. This suggests a simple and straightforward way to predict the behavior of the barrier parameters with different orders of deformations. We compared the results of present work with a similar recent study of the same quantities based on simple expression derived by Wong for the Coulomb part and proximity approach for the nuclear part of heavy ion potential, respectively.     

Experimental investigations of SDS adsorption on the Algerian rock reservoir: chemical enhanced oil recovery case

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The adsorption of surfactant on reservoir rocks or sands is one of the main factors that can significantly reduce the effectiveness of surfactant flooding for...