Zero sets of polynomials: one versus two variables

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Zero sets of polynomials: one versus two variables

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Progresses in treatment of collagen and keratin-based materials with silver nanoparticles

The treatment of chromium tanned sheepskins with poly(hydroxyl urethane) and dispersion of chemically synthesized nanosilver showed the best resistance to fungi and bacterial exposure tests. These collagen-based materials containing different amounts of nanosilver were investigated by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy. The influence of sheepskins treated with silver nanoparticles on the wound healing process was assessed and the nanoparticles concentration seems to have a positive effect up to 370 ppm and does not influence the inflammatory process above this concentration.     

Incorporation of siloxanes in hydrolytically degradable structures: I. Poly(anhydride)s synthesis

New poly(anhydride)s containing amino acids and siloxane segments have been synthesized. The synthetic method involves the polycondensation in solution of the organic diacids (N-trimellitylimidoglycine, 1a, N-trimellitylimido-γ-aminobutiric acid, 1b, and N-trimellitylimido-ε-aminocapronic acid, 1c) obtained from the proper amino acids with a siloxane diacid (1,3-bis(3-carboxypropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane, 2a, α,ω-bis(3-carboxypropyl)oligodimethylsiloxane, 2b, or 1,3-bis(sebacomethyl)tetramethyl-disiloxane, 2c). The acetylation method was used for the activation of the two types of diacids (organic and siloxanic). Optimization of synthesis parameters was made.The structures and morphology of partial and final products were determined by IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Inherent viscosities were determined and some preliminary solubility and hydrolytic stability tests were also performed.     

About the Mulliken electronegativity in DFT

In the framework of density functional theory, a new formulation of electronegativity that recovers the Mulliken definition is proposed and its reliability is checked by computing electronegativity values for a large number of elements. It is found that the obtained values, which are compared with previously proposed electronegativity scales, fulfill the main periodic criteria.     

Synthesis,characterization, and catalytic activity of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) palladacycle complexes

Palladacycle dimers possessing bridging halides can be easily cleaved by using N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) to generate novel monomeric complexes. The structure of one of these was determined by single-crystal diffraction study and consists of a square-planar coordination around the palladium center where the NHC ligand is trans to the amine of the palladacycle. The complex was found to be equally active in aryl amination and alpha-arylation of ketones even at very low catalyst loading (0.02 mol %). Primary and secondary alkyl/arylamines are equally active partners in coupling reactions. [reaction: see text]     

Potential application of the reaction between hydroquinone and chromate with respect to the kinetic determination of iron

The analytical potential of the reaction between hydroquinone and chromate in acidic media is explored with respect to the kinetic determination of iron in water samples. The extent of the reaction is followed spectrophotometrically at 350 nm. The reaction occurs more quickly in the presence of the metal ion, but the values of absorbance at reaction initiation and completion are not altered. No other transitional metal ion affects the course of the reaction, regardless of its concentration. This fact represents the most eye-catching and analytically exploitable aspect of this indicator reaction. Three procedures used to obtain calibration graphs from the same kinetic data are discussed: slope, fixed and variable time techniques. The reaction follows a sequence of two consecutive steps, both of first-order with respect to the colored species. First-order kinetics is preserved in the presence of iron. Curve fitting is used to determine the corresponding rate coefficients. The slope method requires much data and uses plots of rate constants against analyte concentration for calibration purposes. In this case, the best detection limit (0.5 mg l^–1) is given by the faster stage. On the other hand, the rate-determining step enables more precise results. The fixed and variable time methods rely on similar principles: they register either the value of absorbance achieved at a predetermined reaction time (here, 50 s) or the time interval required for the absorbance to drop to a predetermined value (here, 0.15 absorbance at 350 nm). In both cases, ratios between the average value from the blind runs and all individual values are plotted against the analyte concentration. The best results (detection limit of 0.3 mg l^–1) are derived from the variable time procedure. Advantageously, neither of the techniques require the entire kinetic curve, and so sophisticated equipment is not needed.     

Simple (imidazol-2-ylidene)-Pd-acetate complexes as effective precatalysts for sterically hindered Suzuki-Miyaura couplings

[reaction: see text] A simplified synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)Pd-carboxylate complexes and their activity in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions are described. Coupling of sterically hindered aryl and activated alkyl chlorides bearing beta-hydrogens has been successfully achieved.