Di(2-ethylhexyl)sulfoxide as an extractant for plutonium(IV) from nitric acid medium

The liquid-liquid extraction behavior of plutonium(IV) from aqueous nitric acid media into n-dodecane by di(2-ethylhexyl)sulfoxide (DEHSO) was investigated over a wide range of conditions. Optimum-parameters such as the aqueous phase acidity, reagent and metal concentrations, etc., were established for efficient extraction-separation of tracer as well as macro levels of plutonium. It was found that the extraction increased with increasing nitric acid concentration up to 6M HNO₃ and then decreased. Extraction also increased with increasing extractant concentration. After loading of the organic phase with 2 to 50 mg/ml of U(VI), extractability of Pu(IV) became considerably lower. Recovery of Pu(IV) from the organic phase was accomplished using dilute uranium(IV) nitrate as the strippant.     

A FIBER-OPTIC RATIO FLUOROMETER FOR MUTANT ISOLATION

Mutants with altered fluorescence are likely to be modified in pigment composition or photochemistry. They can thus help address a variety of problems in photobiology, particularly in the areas of photosynthesis, photomorphogenesis and photobehavior. To aid in the screening for such mutants, we have developed an instrument for detecting fluorescence intensity relative to scattered light intensity. The instrument employs fiber optics for illumination and detection, and an analog electronic circuit to compute the ratio between fluorescence and scattered light. An application of the fluorometer to screen for Arabidopsis mutants altered in chlorophyll accumulation is described.     

Non-linear σ-model and CP(n−1) at 2 + ε dimensions

Two systems, O(n) non-linear σ-model and CP^(n?1), are studied in the light of Elitzur's theorem, on the disappearance of infrared singularities at two dimensions. The consequences of the theorem are expressed in dimensional regularization, and issues like the proper analytic continuation to d = 2 + ε, the peculiarities of momentum-space Green functions near d = 2 and their renormalization, and the exponentiation of Green functions are clarified.The analysis is applied to compute the renormalization constants, and the gauge-invariant critical exponent η associated with the wave function of CP^(n?1) at one order higher than previously done. Finally, we conjecture on a possible connection between infrared finiteness and renormalizability.     

Influence of multiwall carbon nanotubes on morphology and electrical conductivity of PP/ABS blends

Polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS) blends with multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) were prepared by melt mixing. PP/ABS blends without MWNT revealed coarse co continuous structures on varying the ABS content from 40 to 70 wt %. Bulk electrical conductivity of the blends showed lower percolation threshold (0.4–0.5 wt %) in the 45/55 co continuous blends whereas the percolation threshold was between 2 and 3 wt % in matrix‐particle dispersed morphology of 80/20 blends. Interestingly, droplet size was observed to decrease with addition of MWNT above percolation threshold in 80/20 blends. Further, the bulk electrical conductivity was found to be dependent on the melt flow index of PP. The non‐polar or weakly polar nature of blends constituents resulted in the temperature independent dielectric constant, dielectric loss, and DC electrical conductivity. Rheological analysis revealed the formation of 3D network‐like structure in 80/20 PP/ABS blends at 3 wt % MWNT. An attempt was made to understand the relationship between rheology, morphology, and electrical conductivity of these blends. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 2286–2295, 2008     

PHYCOERYTHROCYANINS FROM Westiellopsis prolifica AND Nostoc rivulare: CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PHYCOVIOLOBILIN CHROMOPHORE IN BOTH STATES*

Abstract— Phycoerythrocyanin or fractions enriched in it have been isolated from the filamentous cyanobacteria, Westiellopsis prolifica ARM 365 and Nostoc rivulare ARM 212. Both show the photoreversible photochromism (difference maxima at 503 and 570 nm) characteristic of this pigment, which is related to the phycoviolobilin chromophore on the α-subunit. Native phycoerythrocyanin and its β-subunit show little if any reversible photochemistry in the 600–620 nm region, where the phycocyanobilin chromophores absorb maximally. Instead the phycocyanobilin chromophores are bleached irreversibly. At the same time, the data show that reversible photochemistry is a useful analytical tool to detect phycoerythrocyanin in cyanobacterial extracts. Fluorescence measurements indicate that: (i) the 510 nm absorbing isomer of the violobilin chromophore has only little fluorescence; and (ii) the energy transfer from the violobilin chromophores to the cyanin chromophores is efficient only in the 570 nm form.     

Flexural fatigue behavior of threaded connections for large diameter pipes

Full-scale flexural fatigue tests were conducted to investigate the fatigue behavior of a patented threaded connection for large diameter (0.61 m (24 in) outside diameter, 25.4 mm (1 in) wall thickness) offshore pipes. Fifteen fatigue tests were performed by subjecting the threaded connection to constant amplitude stress ranges (between 69 MPa (10 ksi) and 151.8 MPa (22 ksi) on gross cross section) with zero mean stress. The corresponding measured fatigue lives varied from 45000 to 4852200 cycles. Fatigue failures were in the form of cracks through the thickness of the wall and located at the root of the first full contact thread. The failure surfaces were ‘typical’ with identifiable zones of crack initiation, propagation and fracture. Linear regression analysis of the experimental results, namely the applied stress range (S _r ) and the measured number of cycles to failure (N) data, in the log-log domain gave anR ² value of 0.88 and the least-squares best fit equation asS _r (MPa)=1573.2N ^−0.212. The 90% probable fatigue strength prediction equation was estimated asS _r =1393.8N ^−0.212. This equation is recommended for design purposes.     

Generalization of some duality theorems in nonlinear programming

Pseudoconvexity of a function on one set with respect to some other set is defined and duality theorems are proved for nonlinear programming problems by assuming a certain kind of convexity property for a particular linear combination of functions involved in the problem rather than assuming the convexity property for the individual functions as is usually done. This approach generalizes some of the well-known duality theorems and gives some additional strict converse duality theorems which are not comparable with the earlier duality results of this type. Further it is shown that the duality theory for nonlinear fractional programming problems follows as a particular case of the results established here.     

Oxidative Bromination of Aromatic Compounds Using O-Iodoxybenzoic Acid with Tetraethylammonium Bromide

A mild and selective procedure for the bromination of activated arenes using o-iodoxybenzoic acid and tetraethylammonium bromide is presented. The reactions were carried out at room temperature and gave moderate to excellent yields.     

Asymmetric synthesis of a dopamine D1 agonist,dihydrexidine from d-serine

A scalable asymmetric synthesis of trans-2-amino-6,7-dimethoxy-1-phenyltetralin 2 and its N-nosyl derivative 12 have been achieved from Garner aldehyde derived from easily available d-serine using a stereoselective PhMgBr addition, Wittig reaction and TFA-mediated Friedel–Crafts cyclization as the key steps. The synthesis of dihydrexidine is accomplished from the N-nosyl-2-amino-1-phenyltetralin 12.