Comparison of various liquid chromatographic methods for the analysis of avermectin residues in citrus fruits

Various liquid chromatographic (LC) techniques for analyzing avermectin (Abamectin) were compared after extraction of residues from citrus fruit samples by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD). LC with UV and fluorescence detection were used as also was LC coupled to the mass spectrometer by an electrospray interface. The results obtained by the three methods were compared in terms of sensitivity and selectivity. The combination of MSPD extraction and LC with fluorescence detection have made it possible to quantify 0.5 microg kg(-1) of Abamectin in 0.5 g of orange sample, with an overall average recovery of 94%. The procedure provides a simple and sensitive method for monitoring Abamectin residues in citrus fruit at the levels required by legislation.     

Oxidative dehydrogenation (OXD) of C3?C4 paraffins over transition metal oxides

The main features of the OXD of propane and isobutane over the oxides of iron and copper are reported and compared with those of OXD ofn-butane over these oxides.     

The role of aromaticity on the building of nanohybrid materials functionalized with metalated (Au(III), Ag(III), Cu(III)) extended porphyrins and single‐walled carbon nanohorns: A theoretical study

An ab initio, systematic study on the aromaticity involving the group of metalated extended porphyrins, termed meso‐hexakis(pentafluorophenyl)‐substituted[26]hexaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.1) (HP), was performed for the first time. The aromatic behavior of the system shifted to antiaromatic in the [28]HP analogue, due to the presence of hydrogen atoms that break the orbital symmetry. The absorption bands observed in the experiment were assigned to an intraligand charge transfer, where the intrametallic character is also important. The excited states reveal the absorption of visible light and the possibility of electronic transfer to different systems. We propose a system such as single‐walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs), due to their special electronic properties, and predict a novel nanohybrid material. The evidence of electronic communication between both species is presented in this work. The HP aromaticity and the spatial configuration of the interaction with SWCNHs are also related to the strength of electronic transfer among the systems, making the HP metalated antiaromatic species and their corresponding nanohybrids potential candidates to be used as building blocks in photovoltaic cell materials. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

On centripetal flows of entities in scale‐free networks with nodes of finite capability

We examine the transmission of entities from the peripheries of scale‐free networks toward their centers when the nodes of the network have finite processing capabilities. We look at varying network utilization, U and find that clogging of the network sets in after a threshold value has been exceeded, and that the congestion sets in at the downstream nodes (those nearer to the collector) having large numbers of upstream neighbors. Investigation of the question of the degree of correlation of several characteristics of scale‐free networks (such as the average path length to the collector <l_(min)> and the average clustering coefficient ) with the dynamics of centripetal flow in them reveals a negative answer: any correlation is indirect and will manifest in the number of producer nodes (which dictate the effective heaviness of the flow) and the interconnectedness of the feeder nodes, those nodes which are immediate neighbors of the collector node. An examination of reinforcement strategies shows dramatic improvements in both the finishing rate, and the average total transmission time, when the more centrally‐placed nodes are reinforced first, showing that the entities spend a large amount of their lifetime waiting in line at those nodes (which constitute the bottlenecks in the network) compared to the nodes in the periphery. Our results reinforce the importance of a network's hubs and their immediate environs, and suggest strategies for prioritizing elements of a network for optimization. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 283–295, 2015     

Local duality for structured ring spectra

We use the abstract framework constructed in our earlier paper [8] to study local duality for Noetherian ${\mathbb{E}}_{\infty }$-ring spectra. In particular, we compute the local cohomology of relative dualizing modules for finite morphisms of ring spectra, thereby generalizing the local duality theorem of Benson and Greenlees. We then explain how our results apply to the modular representation theory of compact Lie groups and finite group schemes, which recovers the theory previously developed by Benson, Iyengar, Krause, and Pevtsova.     

Gasification in steam of a bituminous coal from Peñarroya (Cordoba,Spain) and of different samples prepared from it

The gasification with steam of a bituminous coal from Peñarroya (Cordoba, Spain) (H—O) and of several samples prepared from either by acid treatment (H—H, H—N, H—F and H—F(3)) or by thermal treatment (H—O—C) was studied under both dynamic and isothermal conditions (10 deg/min and 40 min at 1000°).It was found that only for the samples prepared by hydrofluoric acid treatment, H-F and H—F(3), did the gasification effected under such experimental conditions take place in a complete manner.

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Zusammenfassung Die Dampfvergasung von bituminöser Kohle (H—O) (Penarroya, Cordoba, Spanien) und von daraus durch Säurebehandlungen (H—H, H—N, H—F und H-F(3)) oder thermische Behandlung (H—O—C) hergestellten Proben wurde unter dynamischen und isothermen Bedingungen (10 °/min und 40 min bei 1000°) untersucht. Es wurde festgestellt, daß nur die durch Flußsäurebehandlung hergestellten Proben (H—F und H—F(3)) unter den experimentellen Bedingungen vollständig vergasbar sind.

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(10°/ 40 1000°) () , . , , , .

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The authors are grateful to the CAICYT of Spain for the financial support on Project No. 0794/82.     

Comparative study of net analyte signal-based methods and partial least squares for the simultaneous determination of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid by stopped-flow kinetic analysis

A comparative study about advantages and limitations of net analyte signal (NAS)-based methods (NBMs) and partial least squares (PLS) calibration in kinetic analysis has been performed. The different multivariate calibration methods were applied to the determination of binary mixtures of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid, by stopped-flow kinetic analysis. The reactions of oxidation of these compounds with cerium(IV), in sulphuric acid medium, were monitored by following the changes on the fluorescence of the oxidation products, in stopped-flow mode. The differences on the kinetic profiles obtained at λ_ex=256 nm and λ_em=351 nm, were used to determine mixtures of both compounds by multivariate calibration of the kinetic data, using PLS-1, a modification of hybrid linear analysis (HLA) and net analyte pre-processing combined with classical least squares (NAP/CLS) methods. The NBMs allowed the selection of optimal time data regions by calculating the minimum error indicator function (EIF), improving the results and making NBMs very convenient for the analysis. In addition, the use of the net analyte signal concept allows the calculation of the analytical figures of merit, limit of detection (LOD), sensitivity and selectivity, for each component.     

Liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometric analysis of benzoylurea insecticides in citrus fruits

A liquid chromatography (LC) method for the quantitative determination of three benzoylurea insecticide residues (diflubenzuron, flufenoxuron and hexaflumuron) in citrus fruits is described. Residues were successfully separated on a C18 column by methanol/water gradient elution. Detection was by negative-ion, selected-ion monitoring atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (APCI-MS); the main ions were [M - H]-, and the secondary fragment ions were [M - H - HF]-. Useful confirmatory information can thus be obtained at low extraction voltages from losses of HF. Detection limits for standard solutions were 10 fg injected and good linearity and reproducibility were obtained. The optimum LC/APCI-MS conditions were applied to the analysis of benzoylureas in oranges. Samples were extracted using matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD), in which orange samples were homogenized with Cs, placed onto a glass column and eluted with dichloromethane. Detection limits of 2 microg kg(-1) in the crop were obtained. Average recoveries from citrus fortified with approximately (25-1000 microg kg(-1)) ranged from 87 to 102%. The method was applied to field-treated orange samples and benzoylureas were sometimes detected at concentration levels lower than maximum residue limits.