On structure of upper semicontinuity

The refinement of a Choquet theorem on (strong) upper semi-continuity and its relation to the Vainstein lemma are dealt with here. Relevance of subcontinuity is discussed. Consequently, an improvement of a characterization theorem of Dolecki and Rolewicz is achieved.     

Effect of End-Capping and Surface Coverage on the Mechanism of Solvent Adsorption

Adsorption of acetonitrile and methanol was measured on non-endcapped and endcapped octadecyl stationary phases. The results enabled us to characterize the effect of end-capping on the adsorption of the organic modifiers. Our results clearly demonstrate how the end-capping groups modify the chromatographic properties of adsorbents. Differences between solvent adsorption mechanisms are also discussed. Adsorption of acetonitrile is governed by hydrophobic effects whereas methanol is adsorbed by the organic ligand by a hydrophobic interaction and by the residual silanols by hydrogen-bond formation and dipole–dipole interactions.     

Thermal characteristics and analysis of pyrolysis effects during the mechanical alloying process of Astaloy CrM powders

Mechanical alloying processes are carried out usually with addition of some lubricants, referred to also as a process control agents (PCA). About 1–2 wt% of a PCA (usually stearic acid) is normally added to prevent excessive cold welding amongst the powder particles, especially when powders of ductile metals are milled. However, lubricants (maybe disintegrated after MA process) must be removed in the early stages of heating during the sintering process. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of the MA process especially (i) milling time and (ii) influence of lubricant addition on thermal effects during heating of iron powder (Astaloy CrM) with the addition of 1 wt% stearic acid measured by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG) techniques. Removal of the lubricants during heating of the blended powders and exhaust gases from the furnace were monitored by quadruple mass spectrometry (QMS). Determination of the physical and technological properties of the powder mixture obtained from MA was performed with a laser particle sizer. Distribution of particle sizes, flow and apparent density were also measured. Furthermore, the shape and morphology of the powders were characterised by a light optical microscope (LOM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM).     

Multifunctionality in Bimetallic LnIII[WV(CN)8]3− (Ln=Gd,Nd) Coordination Helices: Optical Activity,Luminescence, and Magnetic Coupling

Two chiral luminescent derivatives of pyridine bis(oxazoline) (Pybox), (SS/RR)‐iPr‐Pybox (2,6‐bis[4‐isopropyl‐2‐oxazolin‐2‐yl]pyridine) and (SRSR/RSRS)‐Ind‐Pybox (2,6‐bis[8H‐indeno[1,2‐d]oxazolin‐2‐yl]pyridine), have been combined with lanthanide ions (Gd³⁺, Nd³⁺) and octacyanotungstate(V) metalloligand to afford a remarkable series of eight bimetallic CN^?‐bridged coordination chains: {[Ln^III(SS/RR‐iPr‐Pybox)(dmf)₄]₃[W^V(CN)₈]₃}_n ? dmf ? 4 H₂O (Ln=Gd, 1 ‐SS and 1 ‐RR; Ln=Nd, 2 ‐SS and 2 ‐RR) and {[Ln^III(SRSR/RSRS‐Ind‐Pybox)(dmf)₄][W^V(CN)₈]}_n ? 5 MeCN ? 4 MeOH (Ln=Gd, 3 ‐SRSR and 3 ‐RSRS; Ln=Nd, 4 ‐SRSR and 4 ‐RSRS). These materials display enantiopure structural helicity, which results in strong optical activity in the range 200–450 nm, as confirmed by natural circular dichroism (NCD) spectra and the corresponding UV/Vis absorption spectra. Under irradiation with UV light, the Gd^III‐W^V chains show dominant ligand‐based red phosphorescence, with λ_max≈660 nm for 1 ‐(SS/RR) and 680 nm for 3 ‐(SRSR/RSRS). The Nd^III‐W^V chains, 2 ‐(SS/RR) and 4 ‐(SRSR/RSRS), exhibit near‐infrared luminescence with sharp lines at 986, 1066, and 1340 nm derived from intra‐f ⁴F_3/2→⁴I_{9/2,11/2,13/2} transitions of the Nd^III centers. This emission is realized through efficient ligand‐to‐metal energy transfer from the Pybox derivative to the lanthanide ion. Due to the presence of paramagnetic lanthanide(III) and [W^V(CN)₈]^3? moieties connected by cyanide bridges, 1 ‐(SS/RR) and 3 ‐(SRSR/RSRS) are ferrimagnetic spin chains originating from antiferromagnetic coupling between Gd^III (S_Gd=7/2) and W^V (S_W=1/2) centers with J _{1 ‐(SS)}=?0.96(1) cm^?1, J _{1 ‐(RR)}=?0.95(1) cm^?1, J _{3 ‐(SRSR)}=?0.91(1) cm^?1, and J _{3 ‐(RSRS)}=?0.94(1) cm^?1. 2 ‐(SS/RR) and 4 ‐(SRSR/RSRS) display ferromagnetic coupling within their Nd^III‐NC‐W^V linkages.     

Improvement of derivatized amino acid detection sensitivity in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography by means of acid-induced pH-mediated stacking technique

Derivatization is a frequently used sample preparation procedure applicable to the enhancement of analyte detection sensitivity. Amino acids mostly require derivatization prior to electrophoretic or chromatographic analysis, especially if spectrophotometric detection is used. This study presents an on-line preconcentration technique for derivatized amino acids. The sensitivity of the method was improved by the utilization of the proposed acid-induced pH-mediated stacking mechanism. The method is demonstrated by preconcentration of amino acids labeled with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. Use of optimized conditions for a large sample volume injection (40 s, 13.8 kPa) followed by electrokinetic injection of 0.1 M HCl (20 s, 10 kV) gave a 20- to 30-fold enhancement of sensitivity. The significance of the sweeping mechanism and pseudo-isotachophoresis for the on-line sample focusing and the influence of parameters on the preconcentration process were discussed. The applicability of the elaborated method was demonstrated using human urine samples.     

Functionalized polymeric stationary phases for ion chromatography

Synthesis and properties of the multilayered stationary phases, which contain quaternary amine functional groups for the analysis of anions by ion chromatography, are described. The bonded phases were characterized by elemental analysis, solid-state (13)C NMR spectroscopy and chromatographic methods. The surface of 1,4-di(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenol (solid support) was coated with polymeric layers formed by condensation polymerization of primary amine with diepoxide. Each layer of the anion exchange stationary phase consists of copolymer of methylamine (MA) and 1,4-butanedioldiglycidyl ether (BDDE). A series of stationary phases with different numbers of polymerized layers were tested. The separation of an inorganic anions sample (F(-), Cl(-), NO(2)(-), Br(-), NO(3)(-), additionally HPO(4)(2-) and SO(4)(2-)) was performed. In the measurement, a hydroxide, carbonate, bicarbonate and their mixture were used as mobile phases.     

High-resolution spectroscopy of jet-cooled 1,1'-diphenylethylene: electronically excited and ionic states of a prototypical cross-conjugated system

The photophysics of a prototypical cross-conjugated π-system, 1,1'-diphenylethylene, have been studied using high-resolution resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization excitation spectroscopy and zero kinetic energy photoelectron spectroscopy, in combination with advanced ab initio calculations. We find that the excitation spectrum of S(1) displays extensive vibrational progressions that we identify to arise from large changes in the torsional angles of the phenyl rings upon electronic excitation. The extensive activity of the antisymmetric inter-ring torsional vibration provides conclusive evidence for a loss of symmetry upon excitation, leading to an inequivalence of the two phenyl rings. Nonresonant zero kinetic energy photoelectron spectroscopy from the ground state of the neutral molecule to the ground state of the radical cation, on the other hand, demonstrates that upon ionization symmetry is retained, and that the geometry changes are considerably smaller. Apart from elucidating how removal of an electron affects the structure of the molecule, these measurements provide an accurate value for the adiabatic ionization energy (65274 ± 1 cm(-1) (8.093 eV)). Zero kinetic energy photoelectron spectra obtained after excitation of vibronic levels in S(1) confirm these conclusions and provide us with an extensive atlas of ionic vibronic energy levels. For higher excitation energies the excitation spectrum of S(1) becomes quite congested and shows unexpected large intensities. Ab initio calculations strongly suggest that this is caused by a conical intersection between S(1) and S(2).     

On the ideal (<Emphasis Type="Italic">v</Emphasis><Superscript>0</Superscript>)

The σ-ideal (v ⁰) is associated with the Silver forcing, see [5]. Also, it constitutes the family of all completely doughnut null sets, see [9]. We introduce segment topologies to state some resemblances of (v ⁰) to the family of Ramsey null sets. To describe add(v ⁰) we adopt a proof of Base Matrix Lemma. Consistent results are stated, too. Halbeisen’s conjecture cov(v ⁰) = add(v ⁰) is confirmed under the hypothesis t = min{cf(c), r}. The hypothesis cov(v ⁰) = ω ₁ implies that (v ⁰) has the ideal type (c, ω ₁, c).      

Dendrimer modified silica gel for anion exchange chromatography: synthesis, characterization and application

The novel grafted silica supports were investigated. The anion exchanger was prepared by chemical modification of a bare silica gel surface. The support was coated with a polymeric moiety formed by condensation polymerization of primary amine with diepoxide. The synthesized copolymer of methylamine (MA) and 1,4-butanedioldiglycidyl ether (BDDE) exhibited a dendrimer structure. The prepared materials were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy and solid state (13)C and (29)Si NMR CP-MAS spectroscopy. The porous structure of the adsorbents was investigated using the low temperature nitrogen adsorption (LTNA) method. It allows determination of the influence of the topology of packing materials on their chromatographic properties. Imaging was also carried out on the surfaces of the synthesized materials by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The obtained stationary phase was applied in ion chromatography for the separation of inorganic anions (F(-), Cl(-), NO(2)(-), Br(-), NO(3)(-), HPO(4)(2-), SO(4)(2-), ClO(4)(-)). Bicarbonate buffer was used as a mobile phase.     

A novel double-sampled square-wave voltammetric technique combined with quadruple-disk metallic-glassy carbon electronic tongue for isotonic beverages profiling

This work demonstrates that quadruple-disk electrodes with an innovative design, iridium-platinum, platinum-glassy carbon, and iridium-glassy carbon can effectively function as a single sensor and act as a voltammetric electronic tongue in food profiling. The key strategy used was a novel technique called double-sampled differential square-wave voltammetry (DSSWV), which increased the resolution and enabled extraction of the full, hidden information available in the measuring signals. Four clustering validity indices, namely the Calinski – Harabasz index, Davies – Bouldin index, Silhouette index and gap statistics were employed to select the optimal sensor and methodology for interpreting the current samples. The best expected results were obtained using an iridium-platinum electrode combined with overall cathodic potential modulation using the DSSWV technique. Principal component analysis and polar dendrogram confirmed the correct clustering of different isotonic beverages. However, it was also demonstrated that in some variants of measurement and signal interpretation, it was not possible to group the samples appropriately.