Synthesis of core‐shell structured carboxylated microparticles with a straightforward procedure and their evaluation as a polymer support

Poly(trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate) microspheres with a narrow size distribution were obtained by precipitation polymerization. They were subsequently modified by surface grafting with acrylic acid in a polar ethanol–water reaction medium, without stabilizer, yielding core‐shell particles with diameters in the micrometer range. The resulting polymeric material was characterized by SEM and potentiometric titration, FTIR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. It was shown that the particle characteristics (size, size distribution, and functionality) obtained by this straightforward procedure can be controlled by modifying the synthesis parameters (monomer concentration, agitation rate, and temperature). The high functionality, the chemical and physico‐mechanical stability, as well as the possibility to control the performances of the resulting polymeric materials by synthesis allow its applications in various areas. Envisaging separation and catalysis domains, Cu(II), Cd(II), and Cr(III) uptake capacity from aqueous solutions was investigated under noncompetitive conditions as a function of synthesized particle functionality, time, and pH range. It was also found that the addition of the carboxylated microparticles to polyethylene stabilized with α‐tocopherol improved the thermo‐oxidative behaviour of the polymeric material. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5889–5898, 2005     

An algorithm for ordinal sorting based on ELECTRE with categories defined by examples

This work proposes a Progressive Assisted Sorting Algorithm (PASA) based on a multicriteria evaluation ELECTRE-type method. The purpose of the PASA is to aid a decision maker to progressively sort a set of alternatives into a set of categories, which we considered are ordered (ordinal sorting), following a consistency principle. We consider the principle that if an alternative outranks (is as good as) a second one, then it must belong to the same category or to a better category. The set of alternatives already sorted by the decision maker will implicitly define the categories, and will constrain the range of categories where other alternatives may be sorted. We show how the same idea may be used in an aggregation/disaggregation approach, considering some parameters of ELECTRE are not fixed a priori, but are constrained only by the examples provided. In this context, we establish a “convex-shape property” stating that the range of possible categories for an alternative is always an interval of categories. A discussion contrasting this approach with ELECTRE TRI is included in the conclusions.     

A procedure for the evaluation of vibrations induced by the passing of a train and its application to real railway traffic

In recent years, ground vibrations have become an important issue due to the growing awareness of the society about environmental living conditions. In this way, vibrations caused by trains running near houses or workplaces are considered disturbing for residents. Within this framework, this paper presents a procedure to estimate the vibration path caused by the passing of a train. In order to achieve this, the equations which describe the physical phenomenon are set in the frequency and wavenumber domain and solved by using the Fourier Transform. The obtained analytical solution is transformed back into the time and space domain by means of the Fourier series. The obtained theoretical results are compared with experimental measurements carried out in the Madrid–Barcelona High Speed Line in order to analyse the performance of this procedure.     

First structural characterization of a protactinium(V) single oxo bond in aqueous media

The present work describes the first structural studies of protactinium(V) in sulfuric and hydrofluoric acid media using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The results show unambiguously the absence of the trans-dioxo bond that characterizes the other early actinide elements such as U and Np. In concentrated sulfuric acid (13 M), Pa(V) is proved to exhibit a single oxo bond as postulated in the literature for species in more dilute media. In a 0.5 M HF medium, XANES and EXAFS spectra indicate the absence of any oxo bond: Pa(V) exists in the form of a pure fluoro complex.     

Isothermal titration calorimetry of Ni(II) binding to histidine and to N-2-aminoethylglycine

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is used to study the complexation thermodynamics of Ni(II) with histidine (His) and with N-2-aminoethylglycine (EDMA). The titrations were performed in HEPES and Tris buffers at various ionic strengths and pH values around 8. The results show the influence of the experimental conditions on the shape and fitting parameters of the calorimetric curves. For the studied systems, the main reaction is concomitant with a number of side reactions which contribute to the global energy measured. From the calorimetric data measured, the formation constants for the species NiHEPES⁺, Tris⁺His⁻, TrisNiHis⁺ and [Ni(EDMA)₂OH]⁻ have been evaluated for the first time and the values obtained properly validated.     

Binaphthyl platform as starting materials for the preparation of electron rich benzo[g,h,i]perylenes. Application to molecular architectures based on amino benzo[g,h,i]perylenes and carborane combinations

Valuable amino benzo[g,h,i]perylenes have been obtained through a one pot electrophilic aromatic substitution--Scholl reaction sequence. Novel molecular architectures combining 3D-o-carborane and planar amino benzo[g,h,i]perylene units are described. Photophysical properties of amino benzo[g,h,i]perylene and the carborane-appended derivatives are discussed.     

Quinic acids from Aster caucasicus and from transgenic callus expressing a beta-amyrin synthase

Several different classes of secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, triterpenoid saponins and quinic acid derivatives, are found in Aster spp. (Fam. Asteraceae). Several Aster compounds revealed biological as well as pharmacological activities. In this work, a phytochemical investigation of A. caucasicus evidenced the presence of quinic acid derivatives, as well as the absence of triterpene saponins. To combine in one species the production of different phytochemicals, including triterpenes, an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of A. caucasicus was set up to introduce A. sedifolius beta-amyrin synthase (AsOXA1)-encoding gene under the control of the constitutive promoter CaMV35S. The quali-quantitative analysis of transgenic calli with ectopic expression of AsOXA1 showed, in one sample, a negligible amount of triterpene saponins combined with higher amount of quinic acid derivatives as compared with the wild type callus.     

History of Cobaltabis(dicarbollide) in Potentiometry,No Need for Ionophores to Get an Excellent Selectivity

This work is a mini-review highlighting the relevance of the θ metallabis(dicarbollide) [3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻ with its peculiar and differentiating characteristics, among them the capacity to generate hydrogen and dihydrogen bonds, to generate micelles and vesicles, to be able to be dissolved in water or benzene, to have a wide range of redox reversible couples and many more, and to use these properties, in this case, for producing potentiometric membrane sensors to monitor amine-containing drugs or other nitrogen-containing molecules. Sensors have been produced with this monoanionic cluster [3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻. Other monoanionic boron clusters are also discussed, but they are much fewer. It is noteworthy that most of the electrochemical sensor species incorporate an ammonium cation and that this cation is the species to be detected. Alternatively, the detection of the borate anion itself has also been studied, but with significantly fewer examples. The functions of the borate anion in the membrane are different, even as a doping agent for polypyrrole which was the conductive ground on which the PVC membrane was deposited. Apart from these cases related to closo borates, the bulk of the work has been devoted to sensors in which the θ metallabis (dicarbollide) [3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻ is the key element. The metallabis (dicarbollide) anion, [3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻, has many applications; one of these is as new material used to prepare an ion-pair complex with bioactive protonable nitrogen containing compounds, [YH]_x[3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]_y as an active part of PVC membrane potentiometric sensors. The developed electrodes have Nernstian responses for target analytes, i.e., antibiotics, amino acids, neurotransmitters, analgesics, for some decades of concentrations, with a short response time, around 5 s, a good stability of membrane over 45 days, and an optimal selectivity, even for optical isomers, to be used also for real sample analysis and environmental, clinical, pharmaceutical and food analysis.