Molecular Complexes of Crown Ethers in Crystals and Solutions

A review of the experimental and theoretical studies of the crown ether complexes with polar molecules in their crystals, solutions, and in a gas phase is given. The type of the molecular bonds in the complexes, their stoichiometry, and the change in the macrocycle conformation during complex formation are considered, as well as the effect of the macrocycle structure and the nature of the medium on the efficiency of the molecular bonding. New data are given on the enthalpies of transfer of the crown ethers from tetrachloromethane into solvents capable of forming hydrogen bonds. The enthalpies of specific interactions of macrocycles with the molecules of the solvents in the medium of the same solvents are characterized. The conformations of the crown ethers in the media under study are discussed.     

A rapid and sensitive extractive spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) in pharmaceutical and environmental samples using benzildithiosemicarbazone.

Benzildithiosemicarbazone (BDTSC) is proposed as a sensitive and selective analytical reagent for the extractive spectrophotometric determination of copper(II). BDTSC reacts with copper(II) in the pH range 1.0-7.0 to form a yellowish complex. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range 0.5-0.4 microg cm(-3). The yellowish Cu(II)-BDTSC complex in chloroform shows a maximum absorbance at 380 nm, with molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity values of 1.63 x 10(4) dm3 mol(-1) cm(-1) and 0.00389 microg cm(-2), respectively. A repetition of the method is checked by finding the relative standard deviation (RSD) (n = 10), which is 0.6%. The composition of the Cu(II)-BDTSC complex is established as 1:1 by slope analysis, molar ratio and Asmus' methods. An excellent linearity with a correlation coefficient value of 0.98 is obtained for the Cu(II)-BDTSC complex. The instability constant of the complex calculated from Edmond and Birnbaum's method is 7.70 x 10(-4) and that of Asmus' method is 7.66 x 10(-4), at room temperature. The method is successfully employed for the determination copper(II) in pharmaceutical and environmental samples. The reliability of the method is assured by analyzing the standard alloys (BCS 5g, 10g, 19e, 78, 32a, 207 and 179) and by inter-comparison of experimental values, using an atomic absorption spectrometer.     

Inverse problems for a mathematical model of redox sorption

We consider a mathematical model of sorption that allows for external diffusion kinetics and a redox reaction. Two inverse problems are considered for this model, uniqueness is proved, and numerical solution methods are proposed. The efficiency of the numerical methods is investigated by computer experiments. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Matematika i Informatika, No. 23, pp. 15–23, 2006.     

Growth and study of single crystals of (Na,K)NbO<Subscript>3</Subscript> solid solutions

(Na, K)NbO₃ crystals with a perovskite structure and a KNbO₃ content up to 40 mol % were grown from flux with the use of the solvent NaBO₂. The dielectric measurements of the crystals grown revealed phase transitions that had never been observed before in ceramic samples.     

Ultrashort pulse laser osteotomy

Laser treatment of bone tissue has already been the subject of many studies to find substitutes for mechanical instruments that are nowadays used in implantology and orthopaedics. Mainly lasers with pulse durations in the μs region have been tested leaving surface features that are not always satisfactory. Therefore, in the present study laser osteotomy has been performed with a 330 fs Yb:glass laser, λ = 1040 nm, at a pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz. For bovine spongiosa, compacta, and cartilage, the ablation thresholds as well as the ablation rates for various pulse energies have been determined. Additionally, quadratic areas have been ablated in bone tissue. The remaining morphology has been analyzed via scanning electron microscopy. Laser ablation has also been performed with an Er, Cr:YSGG laser, λ = 2780 nm, PRR = 20 Hz, τ ～ 50 μs. The results of USPL and Erbium laser ablation are compared.     

Diffusion,solubility, and electrical properties of scandium and praseodymium in silicon

An integrated study of diffusion, solubility, and electrical properties of scandium and praseodymium in silicon annealed in various media and temperature ranges (1100–1280 °C) was performed for the first time. The tracer technique, autoradiography, measurements of isothermic capacity and current relaxation, conductivity, and the Hall effect were used for the investigations. The diffusion parameters, solubility, and an acceptor character of scandium and praseodymium impurities in silicon were determined. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 1, pp. 75–77, January, 2007.     

Sound propagation in an unstable atmospheric layer

The equation of sound propagation in an unstable medium produced by the presence of supersaturated water vapor in it, which can appear in a hurricane area, is derived. This equation takes into account the effects of sound velocity dispersion, amplification, damping, and nonlinear effects. Some solutions to this equation are presented, illustrating the specific features of sound propagation in an unstable medium. Published in Akusticheskiĭ Zhurnal, 2007, Vol. 53, No. 3, pp. 477–480.