Structural and electrical characterisation of strontium zirconate proton conductor co-sputter deposited coatings

SrZr_1−x Y _x O₃ coatings were co-sputtered from metallic Zr–Y (84–16 at.%) and Sr targets in the presence of a reactive argon–oxygen gas mixture. The structural and chemical features of the film have been assessed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The electrical properties have been investigated for different substrates by Complex Impedance Spectroscopy as a function of crystalline state, temperature and atmosphere. The as-deposited coatings are amorphous and crystallise after annealing at 673 K for 2 h under air. The stabilisation of the perovskite structure is a function of the nominal composition. The films are dense and present a good adhesion on different substrates. Crystallisation and mechanical stresses are detected by alternating current (AC) impedance spectroscopy. Significant ionic conductivity in the 473–823 K temperature range is evidenced in air. Two different conduction regimes in the presence of steam are attributed to a modification of the charge carrier nature. In spite of low conductivity values (σ ~10⁻⁶ S.cm⁻¹ at 881 K), the activation energies are in agreement with that of Y-doped strontium zirconate ceramics (~0.7 eV in air).     

Application of the finite volume method in the simulation of saturated flows of binary Mixtures with particular emphasis on Non-Darcy motions through porous media

Non-Darcy flows in saturated porous media with significative boundary and inertia effects are modelled applying the Continuum Theory of Mixtures approach and simulated by discretization of the governing equations by the finite volume method.

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Sommario Flussi di tipo ‘Non-Darcy’ in mezzi porosi saturi, con significativi effetti di bordo ed inerziali, vengono modellati applicando l'approccio della Teoria delle Miscele per il Continuo e simulati mediante discretizzazione delle equazioni governanti con il metodo del volume finito.

     

A method for protein accessibility prediction based on residue types and conformational states

Prediction of protein accessibility from sequence, as prediction of protein secondary structure is an intermediate step for predicting structures and consequently functions of proteins. Most of the currently used methods are based on single residue prediction, either by statistical means or evolutionary information, and accessibility state of central residue in a window predicted. By expansion of databases of proteins with known 3D structures, we extracted information of pairwise residue types and conformational states of pairs simultaneously. For solving the problem of ambiguity in state prediction by one residue window sliding, we used dynamic programming algorithm to find the path with maximum score. The three state overall per-residue accuracy, Q₃, of this method in a Jackknife test with dataset of known proteins is more than 65% which is an improvement on results of methods based on evolutionary information.     

Simultaneous determination of cobalt and palladium in micellar media using H-point standard addition method and partial least square regression

A simple, sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method for the simultaneous determination of Co(II) and Pd(II) using partial least square (PLS) calibration and H-point standard addition method is described. The method is based on the complex formation of Co(II) and Pd(II) with 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) in acidic media and in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a micellizing agent. Acidic media and the presence of a micellar system improve selectivity and sensitivity, respectively. By applying PLS calibration, Co(II) and Pd(II) can be determined in the range of 0.20-2.0 and 0.40-4.0 microg ml(-1), respectively. The relative errors of prediction for the determination of Co(II) and Pd(II) in the 10 prediction samples were 1.69 and 1.72%, respectively. The results of applying H-point standard addition method show that Co(II) and Pd(II) can be determined simultaneously with concentration ratio of Co(II) to Pd(II) varying between 7:1 and 1:8 in the mixed samples. Both proposed methods (PLS and HPSAM) were applied to the determination of Co(II) and Pd(II) in several alloy solutions with satisfactory results.     

Diene-transmissive cycloadditions: control of monocycloaddition by self-assembly on a Lewis acid template

The sequential control of diene-transmissive Diels-Alder reactions to expand their versatility for natural product synthesis and the preparation of diversity oriented libraries is described. Self-assembly of the components (trienol 5 and methyl acrylate) via a Lewis acid template proceeds with regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselective [(S)-BINOL added] control to the monoadduct. In contrast, no cycloaddition reaction occurred at 22 degrees C in the absence of catalyst. This protocol obliterates the necessity of tether installation for an intramolecular cyclization. [reaction: see text].     

Effects of Seed Roasting Temperature on Sesame Oil Fatty Acid Composition,Lignan, Sterol and Tocopherol Contents,Oxidative Stability and Antioxidant Potential for Food Applications

Roasting is a key step for preparing sesame oil that leads to important changes in its organoleptic properties and quality. In this study, white sesame seeds were roasted for 20 min in an electric oven at different temperatures (120, 150, 180, 210, 250 and 300 °C). The oils extracted from unroasted and roasted seeds were compared for their chemical composition: fatty acids (including trans isomers), phytosterols, lignans (sesamin and sesamolin), tocopherols and total phenolic compounds, as well as their oxidative stability and antiradical capacity. There were no obvious differences in the oil densities, refractive indexes or iodine values, but the saponification values were affected by temperature. Relevant primary and secondary lipid oxidation were observed at T > 250 °C, resulting in a higher p-anisidine value and K232 as well as K268 values. Roasting improved oil yield (from 33.5 to 62.6%), increased its induction period (from 5.5 to 10.5 h) and enhanced the total phenolic content (from 152 to 194 mg/100 g) and antiradical activity of the extracted oil. Depending on roasting temperature, a gradual decline was recorded in total amounts of phytosterols (up to 17.4%), γ-tocopherol (up to 10.6%), sesamolin (maximum of 27.5%) and sesamin (maximum of 12.5%). All the investigated oils presented a low quantity in triglyceride polymers, clearly below the maximum tolerated quantity according to the European regulation. The optimal roasting temperature for obtaining high nutritional grade oil within the permissible values was 210 °C. The unsaponifiable components (including lignans and sterols) extracted from roasted seeds have been shown to be natural additives to fresh meatball products to extend shelf life. The results of this study may help to boost the nutritional content of plant-based diets by allowing for the use of roasted sesame seed oil and its components.     

The effect of La-substitution on magnetic properties of nanosized Sr1−xLaxTi0.05Zn0.2(Fe)11.75−δ(Fe)δO19 powders

A series of La-substituted M-type Sr hexaferrite powders Sr_1−xLa_xTi_0.05Zn_0.2Fe³⁺_11.75O₁₉, wherein x ranges from 0.1 to 0.5 with a step of 0.1, have been prepared by the conventional ceramic method and were then milled in a high energy mill to prepare nanosized powders. XRD investigation of the calcined and the milled powders shows that single phase hexaferrite structure has been formed after calcining and has not changed after milling. The lattice parameters and the mean crystallite sizes of the samples have been determined from the XRD data and Scherrer's formula. The results show that the lattice parameters (“а” and “c”) decrease with increase in La-substitution and the mean crystallite size of the milled powders is about 17 nm. Coercivities and magnetizations of the samples in a magnetic field of 16 kOe have been determined from the room temperature hysteresis loops. It was found that both parameters increase with La substitutions up to 0.3 and then decrease for higher substitutions. These variations were attributed to the enhancement of hyperfine field and spin-canting magnetic structure when La content increases. In addition, the magnetizations were smaller for the nanosized samples in comparison with those of bulk ones, which were discussed according to the core-shell model. Also the results show that annealing of the nanosized samples up to 500 °C can enhance coercivity and magnetization of the samples, which is discussed based on crystallite size growth.     

Synthesis, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, magnetic properties and biological activity studies of Co(II) and Co(II) complexes with Schiff base dye ligands

Three azo group-containing Schiff base ligands, namely 1-{3-[(3-hydroxypropylimino) methyl]-4-hydroxyphenylazo}-4-nitrobenzene (2a), 1-{3-[(3-hydroxypropylimino) methyl]-4-hydroxyphenylazo}-2-chloro-4-nitrobenzene (2b) and 1-{3-[(3-hydroxypropylimino) methyl]-4-hydroxyphenylazo}-4-chloro-3-nitrobenzene (2c) were prepared. The ligands were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, 13C- and 1H-NMR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Next the corresponding copper(II) and cobalt(II) metal complexes were synthesized and characterized by the physicochemical and spectroscopic methods of elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, magnetic moment measurements, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and (DSC). The room temperature effective magnetic moments of complexes are 1.45, 1.56, 1.62, 2.16, 2.26 and 2.80 B.M. for complexes 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a 4b, and 4c, respectively, indicating that the complexes are paramagnetic with considerable electronic communication between the two metal centers.     

Straightforward Approach Toward Dihydrothiazoles via Intramolecular Bromocyclization

An intramolecular bromonium ion–assisted cyclization with sulfur as an internal nucleophile is described. Starting from benzoyl chlorides, this method provides an easy procedure for the synthesis of dihydrothiazole derivatives in moderate to good yields.