Influence of chain length and degree of branching of alcohol + chlorobenzene mixtures on determination and modelling of V by CEOS and CEOS/G mixing rules

The densities of binary mixtures of (1-propanol, or 1-butanol, or 2-butanol, or 1-pentanol + chlorobenzene) have been measured at temperatures 288.15, 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15 K and atmospheric pressure while for the system (2-methyl-2-propanol + chlorobenzene) measurements were performed at the same pressure and temperatures 303.15, 308.15, 313.15, 318.15 and 323.15 K. All measurements were performed by means of an Anton Paar DMA 5000 digital vibrating-tube densimeter. Excess molar volumes V^E were determined and fitted by the Redlich–Kister equation. It was observed that in all cases, V^E increase with rising of temperature. The values of limiting excess partial molar volumes have been calculated, as well. The obtained results have been analysed in terms of specific molecular interactions present in these mixtures taking into consideration effect of the chain length of alcohols, degree of branching in the chain, relative position of the alkyl and OH group in an alcohol and the effect of temperature on them. In addition, the correlation of V^E binary data was performed with the Peng–Robinson–Stryjek–Vera cubic equation of state (PRSV CEOS) coupled with the van der Waals (vdW1) and CEOS/G^E mixing rule introduced by Twu, Coon, Bluck and Tilton (TCBT). Also, the possibility of cross prediction between V^E and VLE by means of the NRTL parameters of G^E model available in literature and those incorporated in the TCBT model was tested.     

Malonic acid concentration as a control parameter in the kinetic analysis of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction under batch conditions

The influence of the initial malonic acid concentration [MA]0 (8.00 x 10(-3) < or = [MA]0 < or = 4.30 x 10(-2) mol dm(-3)) in the presence of bromate (6.20 x 10(-2) mol dm(-3)), bromide (1.50 x 10(-5) mol dm(-3)), sulfuric acid (1.00 mol dm(-3)) and cerium sulfate (2.50 x 10(-3) mol dm(-3)) on the dynamics and the kinetics of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reactions was examined under batch conditions at 30.0 degrees C. The kinetics of the BZ reaction was analyzed by the earlier proposed method convenient for the examinations of the oscillatory reactions. In the defined region of parameters where oscillograms with only large-amplitude relaxation oscillations appeared, the pseudo-first order of the overall malonic acid decomposition with a corresponding rate constant of 2.14 x 10(-2) min(-1) was established. The numerical results on the dynamics and kinetics of the BZ reaction, carried out by the known skeleton model including the Br2O species, were in good agreement with the experimental ones. The already found saddle node infinite period (SNIPER) bifurcation point in transition from a stable quasi-steady state to periodic orbits and vice versa is confirmed by both experimental and numerical investigations of the system under consideration. Namely, the large-amplitude relaxation oscillations with increasing periods between oscillations in approaching the bifurcation points at the beginning and the end of the oscillatory domain, together with excitability of the stable quasi-steady states in their vicinity are obtained.     

Observations and spectral simulations of the7Li2 21 Σ u + →X 1 Σ g + transition

The⁷Li₂ 2¹ Σ _u ⁺ →X ¹ Σ _g ⁺ electronic transition has a bound-bound and a bound-free part due to the double minimum nature of the upper 2¹ Σ _u ⁺ state. We have studied this transition both experimentally and by performing spectral simulations. When inner well was excited the bound-free part at 4525 Å was observed due to the collisions between Li ₂ ^* and argon. We found that when levels above the barrier are excited the bound-free emission is strongly affected by collisional relaxation of Li ₂ ^* by Li atoms. Conditions for the observation of the bound-free part are discussed.     

Semiquinol and phenol compounds from seven <Emphasis Type="Italic">Senecio</Emphasis> species

In this paper, examination of the aerial parts of seven Senecio species from Serbia and Montenegro is reported. Phytochemical investigation of Senecio erucifolius led to the isolation and characterization of semiquinol butyl 2-(1-hydroxy-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dienyl)acetate (I), along with methyl 2-(1-hydroxy-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dienyl)acetate (jacaranone, II), and methyl 2-(4-hidroxyphenyl)acetate (III). The structure of I was established based on spectroscopic studies (¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, IR, and CI-MS). Compound II was also isolated from S. carpathicus and S. subalpinus. The presence of jacaranone in the methanol extracts of S. wagneri, S. othonnae, and S. paludosus was confirmed by LC/ESI-TOF MS.     

Presmectic wetting and supercritical-like phase behavior of octylcyanobiphenyl liquid crystal confined to controlled-pore glass matrices

The influence of controlled-pore glass (CPG) confinement on the phase behavior of octylcyanobiphenyl liquid crystal (LC) is studied by means of x-ray scattering and high precision calorimetry. For CPG samples with pore diameter 2R>24 nm, the smectic order parameter temperature dependence eta(T) reveals apparent presmectic ordering far above the bulk smectic A-nematic (SmA-N) phase transition for both nontreated and silane-treated CPG matrices. The behavior of eta(T) is qualitatively similar in all samples, well obeying the mean field approach (MFA) in which the surface wetting tendency plays the dominant role. In contrast, the critical fluctuations remain important in the specific heat data, which cannot be described within the MFA. We show experimentally that randomness and surface wetting become dominant over finite-size effects for 2R approximately<10 nm, in agreement with theoretical analysis. In nontreated samples, the noncritical character of the static disorder and the interfacial LC-CPG coupling almost completely suppress the quasi-SmA-N and nematic-isotropic phase transitions at 2R approximately 15.1 and approximately 7.5 nm, respectively.     

Morphological characterization of ex situ prepared bismuth film electrodes and their application in electroanalytical determination of the biomolecules

A study on the preparation and characterization of the potentiostatically prepared bismuth films (BiFs), in order to obtain satisfactory electroanalytical tool, is presented. BiFs formed on glassy carbon were characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dependence of the BiFs properties upon electrolytes composition and electrochemical parameters are discussed and diagnostic criteria that allow estimation of the BiF morphology are proposed. Analytical performance data of the formed BiF electrodes were obtained by their application to the determination of glutathione (GSH) and folic acid (FA) using square-wave cathodic stripping voltammetry. The dependence of the analytical performance of the formed BiFs on their specific surface areas, along with their different morphology, is discussed. Adequate method and parameters for the electrochemical formation of optimal BiF, in order to fulfill the analytical requirements, are proposed. The best analytical performance was obtained with films formed from acetic buffer solution spiked with EDTA, as a consequence of the improved surface coverage and most arranged homogenous structure of the film. This electrode displays a linear response range toward GSH with estimated detection limit of 0.005 μM and sensitivity of 3.28 μA μM^?1 for linear range of 0.01 to 0.1 μM. Also, the utilization of the BiF electrode for the determination of FA was demonstrated by direct electroreduction of FA.     

A Selective Conversion of Benzylic Alcohols to the Corresponding Carbonyl Compounds by Means of an Ag(III) Complex

 Carbonyl compounds of the type XPhCOR (R = H, Me, Ph; X = H, Me, Cl, Br) are prepared in high yields by reaction of the corresponding benzylic alcohols XPhCHOHR with KNa₄ [Ag(HIO₆)₂]×12H₂O in alkaline solution. This method allows the selective oxidation of benzylic alcohols in compounds containing other types of alcoholic functional groups.     

Guided modes in left-handed waveguides

We investigate basic properties of linear guided modes in a waveguide slab with the core of a material with simultaneously negative effective permittivity and permeability surrounded by a normal dielectric cladding. The existence and dispersion of all possible types of guided modes have been studied in detail. We demonstrate that the two orthogonally polarized, TE and TM slow guided modes, with the same frequency and the same wave number can exist simultaneously. Their group velocities, however, can be parallel or anti-parallel.     

Modeling of relay helix functional dynamics and feasibility of experimental verification by neutron scattering

Cellular long-range transport involves motor proteins (MPs) (especially, kinesin and myosin) which contain a so-called relay helix. Its motion is of crucial importance to the conversion of chemical energy released in ATP hydrolysis into the coordinated mechanical movement of the entire motor protein. In this paper, we propose two combined nonlinear mechanisms for this particular functional activity and suggest the application of neutron scattering assays to experimentally determine the incoherent dynamic structure factor S(q,ω). We argue that this type of experiment is not only feasible but it could offer significant insights into the mechanism of MP function at a molecular level.     

Ring defects in a strongly confined chiral liquid crystal

We find numerically that a regular array of isolated ring defects can exist as a stable state in a highly chiral liquid crystal confined in a thin cell imposing fixed planar anchoring at the parallel confining surfaces. This peculiar defect structure can be stable when the cell thickness d is around 3/4 of the helical pitch p. A cell of thickness 3p/4 with parallel surface anchoring is incompatible with helical alignment that favors d=mp/2 (with m being an integer). Formation of ring defects can thus be regarded as a result of frustrations between the helical alignment with a specific pitch and the confining surfaces that prevent it.