Ab initio molecular dynamics simulation of liquid Al88Si12 alloys

First-principles molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to study the structures, dynamics, and electronic properties of liquid Al88Si12 in the temperature ranging from 898 to 1298 K. The temperature dependence of static structure factors, pair correlation functions, and electronic density-of-states are investigated. The structural properties obtained from the simulations are in good agreement with the x-ray diffraction experimental results.     

A mixed metal phosphate incorporating isonicotinate ligand: synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of Cu(HINT)(VO2)(PO4)

A mixed metal phosphate incorporating isonicotinate ligand, Cu(HINT)(VO₂)(PO₄), was hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and magnetic susceptibility. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with cell parameters a=22.033(1) Å, b=6.2986(3) Å, c=16.0202(9) Å, β=121.001(1), and Z=8. The structure consists of two-dimensional neutral sheets of CuVO₂(PO₄) with the dipolar isonicotinate ligand being coordinated to Cu ions as a pendent group. Adjacent sheets are connected by hydrogen bonding. Each sheet consists of infinite chains of CuO₆ octahedra sharing trans edges which are connected by double chains of vanadyl(V) phosphate via corner sharing. Magnetic study results indicate the presence of intrachain ferromagnetic coupling between Cu ions. The magnetic exchange parameter was estimated as 2J/k =51.83 K based on an S=1/2 equally spaced ferromagnetic chain model.     

Chemistry of O-Benzoquinones and Masked O-Benzoquinones IV. Synthesis of O-Spirodienonelactones from Unsymmetric Catechols

We describe the syntheses of 6, 8-di-tert-butyl-, 7, 9-di-tert-butyl., 6,7-di-n-propyl and 8, 9-di-n-propyl-O-spirodienonelactone from 3, 5-di-tert-butylcatechol and 3, 4-di-n-propylcatechol.     

Effect of evaporation temperature on the formation of particulate membranes from crystalline polymers by dry-cast process

The membrane formation of crystalline poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVAL), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), and polyamide (Nylon-66) membranes prepared by dry-cast process was studied. Membrane morphologies from crystalline polymers were found to be strongly dependent on the evaporation temperature. At low temperatures, all the casting solution evaporated into a particulate morphology that was governed by the polymer crystallization mechanism. The rise in the evaporation temperature changed EVAL membrane structure from a particulate to a dense morphology. However, as the temperature increased PVDF and Nylon-66 membranes still exhibited particulate morphologies. The membrane structures obtained were discussed in terms of the characteristics of polymer crystallization in the casting solution theoretically. At elevated temperatures the crystallization was restricted for the EVAL membrane because the increase rate in the polymer concentration was fast relative to the time necessary for growth of nuclei. Nonetheless, the time available for PVDF and Nylon-66 with stronger crystalline properties was large enough to form the crystallization-controlled particulate structure that differed in particle size only. In addition, particles in the PVDF membrane were driven together to disappear the boundary, but those in the Nylon-66 membrane exhibited features of linear grain boundary. The difference in particle morphology was attributed to the Nylon-66 with the most strongly crystalline property. Therefore, the kinetic difference in the crystallization rate of the polymer solution play an important role in dominating the membrane structure by dry-cast process.     

Hair as an indicator of environmental exposure in Hong Kong

Eleven human hair samples were taken from the Chinese residents of Hong Kong for the study of hair trace elemental level and environmental exposures. Absolute neutron activation analysis and Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectrometry were applied in the determination of the trace elemental level. All results are reported in parts per million except for sulfur and oxygen which are reported in percent. The trace element content of hair from a drug addict was found to be considerably different from other sampled people. Comparison of the normal concentrations of the trace elements of the Chinese residents of Hong Kong was made with those from people of various other national, socio-cultural and environmental backgrounds. It was found that together with a few other trace elements, Ni, Sr, Zr and Hg content of the Chinese Residents of Hong Kong show a higher level than those of the other sampled people.     

Temperature dependence of CO insertion on S-, Ag-, and Cu-promoted Rh/SiO2 catalysts

The addition of sulfur and silver to Rh/SiO₂ inhibits hydrogenation of C₂H₄, but promotes CO insertion and extends the linearity of Arrhenius curves for CO insertion above 543 K.

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Rh/SiO₂ C₂H₄, CO CO 543 .

     

Immunochemical determination of dioxins in sediment and serum samples

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are considered highly toxic contaminants and the environmental and biological monitoring of these compounds is of great concern. Immunoassays may be used as screening methods to satisfy the growing demand for rapid and low cost analysis. In this work, we describe the application of an immunoassay that uses 2,3,7-trichloro-8-methyldibenzo-p-dioxin (TMDD) as a surrogate standard for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) to sediment and human serum samples. Sample extraction and preparation methods were developed with the aim to establish the simplest, cost-effective and efficient removal of the matrix interferences in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The overall method for sediments is based on a hexane extraction; clean up by a multilayered silica gel column and an activated carbon column; an organic solvent exchange with DMSO–Triton X-100 and ELISA measurement. The gas chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry (GC–HRMS) validation studies (n = 13) revealed that the method is suitable for the toxic equivalents (TEQ) screening of dioxin in sediments with a method detection limit of about 100 pg g⁻¹ dry sediment with a precision of 13–33% R.S.D. The analysis of a large number of samples originating from different sources would be required to establish more precisely the screening level, as well as the number of false positives and negatives of dioxin TEQ by the immunoassay for sediments. The immunoassay method for sediment analysis offers improvement in speed, sample throughput, and cost in comparison to GC–HRMS. Dioxins were determined in serum samples after a simple liquid–liquid extraction and solvent exchange into DMSO–Triton X-100 without further dilution. The current method (approximate method LOQ of 200 pg ml⁻¹ serum) is not sufficiently sensitive for the determination of dioxins in serum to measure acceptable exposure limit.