An approach for solving a modification of the extended rapid transit network design problem

In this paper we deal with a slight modification of the extended rapid transit network design problem to allow circular lines. A two-stage approach is proposed for solving this problem. In the first stage, an integer model is solved for selecting the stations to be constructed and the links between them. It drastically reduces the dimension of a modification of a 0–1 model given in the literature to adapt it to our problem. In the second stage, the line design problem is solved by means of a procedure that assigns each selected link to exactly one line under certain constraints. We report some computational experiments that show that our approach also produces a drastic reduction on the computational effort required for solving the modification of the 0–1 model given in the literature.     

Energy deposition model for I-125 photon radiation in water

In this study, an electron-tracking Monte Carlo algorithm developed by us is combined with established photon transport models in order to simulate all primary and secondary particle interactions in water for incident photon radiation. As input parameters for secondary electron interactions, electron scattering cross sections by water molecules and experimental energy loss spectra are used. With this simulation, the resulting energy deposition can be modelled at the molecular level, yielding detailed information about localization and type of single collision events. The experimental emission spectrum of I-125 seeds, as used for radiotherapy of different tumours, was used for studying the energy deposition in water when irradiating with this radionuclide.     

Dianions of Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids in Synthesis. Synthesis of Juvocimene I

Juvocimene I is prepared by a non ambiguous synthesis based on the regioselective alkylation of 4-methylhexa-2,4-dienoic acid, and Wittig olefination of the aldehyde corresponding to the alkylated acid.     

Direct amperometric determination of tert-butylhydroquinone in biodiesel

The direct amperometric determination of tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) in biodiesel at an unmodified glassy carbon electrode is reported. A biodiesel aliquot was added into an electrochemical cell containing a 75% (v/v) ethanol-water solution under stirring (with final concentration of 50 mmol L⁻¹ HClO₄). The amperometric method involved the continuous application of three sequential potential pulses to the working electrode (700 mV for 300 ms, 0 mV for 100 ms and −50 mV for 1 s). TBHQ was continuously monitored at the first (direct oxidation) and optionally at the second (reduction) potential pulse while the third potential pulse was applied for cleaning of the electrode surface. For comparison, the samples were also analyzed by high-performance liquid-chromatography and a good agreement between the results was verified. Recovery values for spiked samples were between 90% and 95% and the reproducibility of the proposed method was around 5% (n = 5). The proposed method can be easily adapted for on-site analysis.     

Dendronized Anionic Gold Nanoparticles: Synthesis,Characterization, and Antiviral Activity

Anionic carbosilane dendrons decorated with sulfonate functions and one thiol moiety at the focal point have been used to synthesize water‐soluble gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) through the direct reaction of dendrons, gold precursor, and reducing agent in water, and also through a place‐exchange reaction. These nanoparticles have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy, TEM, thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV/Vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and zeta‐potential measurements. The interacting ability of the anionic sulfonate functions was investigated by EPR spectroscopy with copper(II) as a probe. Different structures and conformations of the AuNPs modulate the availability of sulfonate and thiol groups for complexation by copper(II). Toxicity assays of AuNPs showed that those produced through direct reaction were less toxic than those obtained by ligand exchange. Inhibition of HIV‐1 infection was higher in the case of dendronized AuNPs than in dendrons.     

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) copolymers containing 5‐nitroisophthalic units. II. Crystallization studies

The microstructure and crystallization behavior of a set of poly(ethylene terephthalate‐co‐5‐nitroisophthalate) copolymers (PETNI) containing 5‐nitroisophthalic units in the 10–50 mol % range were examined and compared to those of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(ethylene terephthalate‐co‐isophthalate) (PETI) copolymers. A ¹³C NMR analysis of PETNI copolymers in a trifluoroacetic acid solution indicates that they are random copolymers with average sequence lengths in accordance with ideal polycondensation statistics. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies show that PETNI containing 5‐nitroisophthalic units up to 20 mol % are able to crystallize and that crystallization takes place in these copolymers at much slower rates than in PET. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction from powder and fibers reveals that crystallizable PETNI adopts the same triclinic crystal structure as PET, with the nitroisophthalate units being excluded from crystallites. Fourier transform infrared in combination with cross‐polarization/magic‐angle spinning ¹³C NMR spectroscopy demonstrates the occurrence of a gauche–trans conversion encompassing the crystallization process. A correlation between DSC and spectroscopic data leads us to conclude that the content of trans conformer in the noncrystallized phase of PETNI is higher than in both PET and PETI copolymers and suggests that secondary crystallization in the homopolymer must proceed by a mechanism different than that in copolymers. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 1553–1564, 2001     

Bromine determination by neutron activation analysis and its distribution in the atmosphere

Bromine, one of the main participants in ozone layer destruction, is 10 to 100 times more effective than chlorine. There are two principal sources of methyl bromide emissions: the oceans and some pesticides that are used in farming. In this work, bromine was detected in premium and magna sin gasolines (2.86±0.96 and 1.54±0.38 ppm, respectively) as well as in condensed water found in exhaust pipes of vehicles. In addition, samples of rainwater were also analyzed to determine atmospheric bromine concentration. In water samples Br concentrations ranging from 2.09 to 0.06 ppm were found. The techniques utilised in our research were neutron activation analysis and high voltage electrophoresis, the latter to determine the chemical form of bromine in condensed water samples. Finally, suspended particles from rainwater were also analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Conformational selection of glycomimetics at enzyme catalytic sites: experimental demonstration of the binding of distinct high-energy distorted conformations of C-, S-, and O-glycosides by E. Coli beta-galactosidases

We show that the conformational features of the molecular complexes of E. coli beta-galactosidase and O-glycosides may differ from those formed with closely related compounds in their chemical nature, such as C- and S-glycosyl analogues. In the particular case presented here, NMR and ab initio quantum mechanical results show that the 3D-shapes of the ligand/inhibitor within the enzyme binding site depend on the chemical nature of the compounds. In fact, they depend on the relative size of the stereoelectronic barriers for chair deformation or for rotation around Phi glycosidic linkage.     

Room temperature phosphorescence of 1-naphtalenacetamide included in beta-cyclodextrin in presence of 1,3-dibromopropane

The spectral characteristics of the inclusion of 1-naphthalenacetamide in beta-cyclodextrin have been studied by luminescence methods. The addition of bromoalcohols or bromoalkanes produces a decrease of the fluorescence of the inclusion complex, giving rise to a new band corresponding to phosphorescence emission. The emission intensity is much higher in the presence of bromoalkanes than in the presence of bromoalcohols. The deoxygenation of the solutions is achieved by flowing nitrogen, by the addition of sodium sulphite and by a combination of both methods, which results in the most effective approach. The phosphorescence emission is produced in the turbid suspension formed in the presence of the bromoalkane. The formation of microcrystals seems necessary to obtain phosphorescence emission from the ternary system.