Trace and essential elements determination in baby formulas milk by INAA and k 0-INAA techniques

As a part of the food analysis program executed at Es-Salam research reactor by neutron activation analysis laboratory, the concentration of As, Ba, Br, Ca, Fe, K, La, Rb and Zn in baby formulas milk have been determined by using INAA and k ₀-NAA techniques. It was found that the concentration of all elements obtained by both techniques was relatively identical for the three brands of the 0–6 and 6–12 months of analyzed samples. In addition, the analytical results have been compared with those given by producers.     

Partial Characterization of Xylanase Produced by Caldicoprobacter algeriensis,a New Thermophilic Anaerobic Bacterium Isolated from an Algerian Hot Spring

To date, xylanases have expanded their use in many processing industries, such as pulp, paper, food, and textile. This study aimed the production and partial characterization of a thermostable xylanase from a novel thermophilic anaerobic bacterium Caldicoprobacter algeriensis strain TH7C1^T isolated from a northeast hot spring in Algeria. The obtained results showed that C. algeriensis xylanase seems not to be correlated with the biomass growth profile whereas the maximum enzyme production (140.0 U/ml) was recorded in stationary phase (18 h). The temperature and pH for optimal activities were 70 °C and 11.0, respectively. The enzyme was found to be stable at 50, 60, 70, and 80 °C, with a half-life of 10, 9, 8, and 4 h, respectively. Influence of metal ions on enzyme activity revealed that Ca⁺² enhances greatly the relative activity to 151.3 %; whereas Hg²⁺ inhibited significantly the enzyme. At the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the production of xylanase by the thermophilic bacterium C. algeriensis. This thermo- and alkaline-tolerant xylanase could be used in pulp bleaching process.     

Transfert du trichloréthylène en milieu poreux à partir d'un panache de vapeursMass transfer of trichloroethylene in a porous medium from a vapor plume

A large scale experiment has been carried out on an experimental facility to study the mass transfer of trichloroethylene (TCE) in a partially saturated porous medium. 5 liters of TCE have been infiltrated in the vadose zone of the site. The mass transfer of TCE from the vapor plume in the unsaturated zone towards the top of groundwater was quantified based on an analytical and a numerical approach. The mass of the pollutant measured at the exit of the model is well represented by the two mathematical approaches. It is found that the transfer of TCE towards the groundwater from the vapor plume is weak, which corresponds to 285 g of TCE, approximately 4% of the initial mass. To cite this article: H. Benremita, G. Schäfer, C. R. Mecanique 331 (2003).     

Search for the stannous ion in a chloride/fluoride matrix: cases of Ba1−x Sn x Cl1+y F1−y and of Ba2SnCl6

With the exception of anhydrous SnCl₂, in divalent tin fluorides and chlorides, tin(II) is always covalent bonded, i.e. its valence orbitals are hybridized and the tin lone pair is located in one of the hybrid orbitals. This lone pair is highly stereoactive and generates a large efg, resulting in a large quadrupole splitting. A doubly disordered Ba_1?x Sn _x Cl_1+y F_1?y solid solution has been prepared and found to contain either ionic tin(II) (Sn²⁺ ions) or a mixture of ionic and covalent tin(II), depending on x, y and the method of preparation. The ionic tin(II) spectrum in Ba_1?x Sn _x Cl_1+y F_1?y gives a Mössbauer single line that is broadened by the lattice efg, like in SnCl₂. Now, Sn²⁺ has been found to be present in an undistorted octahedral coordination in a newly isolated compound, Ba₂SnCl₆. It should be the first example of Sn²⁺ that is fully ionic and has a perfectly spherical lone pair.     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Algerian Phlomis bovei De Noé subsp. bovei

The chemical composition of essential oil obtained by steam distillation of dried aerial parts of Phlomis bovei De Noé subsp. bovei collected from Algeria, was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Seventy five constituents (corresponding to 86.37% of the total weight) were identified. The main components were: germacrene D, beta-caryophyllene, beta-bournonene, thymol and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the oil was evaluated against six gram (+/-) bacteria and three pathogenic fungi, using the agar dilution technique. It was found that the oil exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against most of the tested microorganisms.     

Ring-closing metathesis towards functionalised pentacyclic steroids

A new synthetic pathway towards pentacyclic steroids was described via a ring-closing metathesis reaction as the key step.     

Naphthalene‐1,5‐diammonium bis[trifluoridostannate(II)]

The structure of the title compound, (C₁₀H₁₂N₂)[SnF₃]₂, is made up of alternating layers of cations and anions, where the anion layers form extended polymeric sheets through a series of secondary Sn...F bonds. Strong N—H...F hydrogen bonds crosslink adjacent cation and anion layers, thereby building a three‐dimensional network.     

A new isoflavone glycoside from the aerial parts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Retama sphaerocarpa</Emphasis>

A new isoflavone glycoside, genistein 7-O-xylosyl 8-C-glucoside (1), was isolated from the leaves of Retama sphaerocarpa. Its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic methods.