Ion chromatographic separation of car☐ylic acids prediction of retention data

The retention behavior of biologically relevant monovalent (formic, acetic, propionic, lactic and pyruvic) and divalent (oxalic, malonic, succinic, fumaric, maleic and tartaric acids) car☐ylic acids together with inorganic analytes (chloride and sulphate) has been studied. The separation was performed on a latex-based strong anion-exchange resin using carbonate buffer systems in suppressed IC. The retention behaviour of analytes was investigated at different pH values and [HCO₃⁻]+[CO₃²⁻] concentrations. A theoretical model, involving ion-exchange equilibria of sample and eluent anions, was derived and applied to the chromatographic data obtained. Chromatographic ion exchange selectivity values were determined and retention data were calculated for the anions using different carbonate eluent conditions. The average of errors between the predicted and the measured retention volumes of the analytes studied does not exceed 4.0%. The study effectively characteristics the behaviour of different analytes under elution conditions of practical importance.     

Fractal nanochannels as the basis of the ionic transport in AgI-based glasses

We propose a new model to explain the transport properties of AgI-based fast ion conducting glasses. The main factor affecting the ionic conductivity is the mobility of the Ag+ carriers, that is controlled by the Ag local environment. We model the ionic conductivity in terms of a percolation between a low-conducting phase (purely oxygen-coordinated sites), and a high-conducting one (iodine/oxygen, I/O, coordinated sites). The percolation takes place along pathways with fractal structure. The nature of the glass network, and namely its connectivity and dimensionality, plays a significant role only for low I/O values, originating the transport and thermal anomalies observed in borate and phosphate glasses.     

Structural researches on metal complexes with ligands containing the pyridoxal moiety: X-ray structure of chloro(N-pyridoxylidene-N′-salicyloylhydrazinato) copper(II) Monohydrate

Summary The x-ray crystal structure of the title complex is described Crystals are monoclinic, space groupP2₁/n, with unit-cell dimensions:a=18.070(2),b=13.471(2),c=6.788(2) Å,=94.70(1),Z=4. The structure was solved from diffractometer data by Patterson and Fourier methods and refined by least-squares techniques toR=5.0% for 2451 independent reflections. It consists of complex molecules, in which the copper atom square planar coordination comprises the chlorine atom, Cu-Cl=2.240(3) Å, and the organic ligand which acts as terdentate through the oxygen atom [Cu-O=1.948(3) Å] and a nitrogen atom, [Cu-N=1.933(5) Å] from the hydrazidic chain and the oxygen atom, [Cu-O = 1.894(4) Å] from the pyridoxal group.     

PHOTOBEHAVIOR OF EUGLENA GRACILIS: ACTION SPECTRUM FOR THE STEP-DOWN PHOTOPHOBIC RESPONSE OF INDIVIDUAL CELLS

Abstract—Light-induced behavioral responses of Euglena gracilis have been investigated in single cells by means of a video system coupled to an optical microscope. Light intensity-effect curves at different wavelengths in the near UV and visible range have been determined. From these curves the action spectrum for the step-down photophobic response of Euglena has been calculated. From a comparison with the results obtained using a population method by means of a phototaxigraph, it is concluded that a single photomotile reaction is responsible for cell accumulation, brought about by trapping in the light spot and possibly by phototaxis towards scattered light from organisms already in the light field.     

Ultrasound effects on the Mn(III) - promoted addition of amidoalkyl radicals to olefins

Amidoalkyl radicals, generated from amides by Mn(OAc)₃ in acetic acid react with phenyl substituted alkenes to generate five-membered lactones or lactams. Ultrasound at ambient temperature significantly accelerates these single electron transfer reactions even when compared with conventional conditions under reflux or simple mechanical stirring. In some cases sonication leads to unusual products.     

Numerical calculation of domains of analyticity for perturbation theories in the presence of small divisors

We study numerically the complex domains of validity for KAM theory in generalized standard mappings. We compare methods based on Padé approximants and methods based on the study of periodic orbits.     

Outer product analysis of electronic nose and visible spectra: application to the measurement of peach fruit characteristics

Visual aspect and aroma are among the most important features of fruit that determine consumer preferences. Electronic nose and spectroscopic techniques have shown positive results in evaluating some basic analytical parameters of fruit and global features such as the cultivar.In this paper, we illustrate and discuss a study aimed at evaluating the improvement derived by the fusion of visible spectra and electronic nose data. These experiments were performed on a population of yellow peaches belonging to two cultivars. Each sample was measured by visible optical spectroscopy and by electronic nose. In addition, a number of reference parameters were also measured by conventional destructive methodologies.Collected data were analysed individually and then fused together in order to classify the two cultivars and to estimate the reference parameters. Data fusion was performed building the outer product matrix for each measurement. The set of matrices was then successively unfolded and analysed by conventional chemometrics tools.Results were improved using outer products, for instance in classification average percentage errors of 25, 10, and 7 for electronic nose, spectra, and outer product, respectively was achieved. Regression analysis provides the evidence of a substantial orthogonal appearance of the datasets, which offer former hidden information on fruit classification.     

Chemical and radiochemical characterization of depleted uranium (DU) in Kosovo soils

As is well known ammunitions containing depleted uranium (DU) were used by NATO during the Balkan war. The paper deals with the determination of uranium alpha emitting radiosotopes in Kosovo soils by chemical separation and alpha spectrometry. The samples were collected by CISAM (Centro Interforze Studi ed Applicazioni Militari, S. Piero a Grado, Livorno) in the period November 1999-April 2000. The DU distribution in soil appeared very disomogeneous; the isotope weight percentages for U-238, U-235 and U-234 resulted 99.76, 0.24 and 7.24.10(-4) respectively; consequently the activity distribution was 86.42%, 1.31%, 11.63% and the isotope ratios were 1.52.10(-2) and 0.134 for U-235/U-238 and U-234/U-238 showing clearly the presence of DU. A small peak at 4.49 MeV (U-236) in the alpha spectrum indicated that the used DU was the by-product of exhausted uranium reprocessing. In order to determine the chemical and physiological solubility of uranium a fractionation study was carried out by using the Tessier method: 55% of uranium showed a fair solubility, but 45% was solubilized only by 8 M HNO3.     

Fracture and debonding of a thin film on a stiff substrate: analytical and numerical solutions of a one-dimensional variational model

We study multi-fissuration and debonding phenomena of a thin film bonded to a stiff substrate using the variational approach to fracture mechanics. We consider a reduced one-dimensional membrane model where the loading is introduced through uniform inelastic (e.g., thermal) strains in the film or imposed displacements of the substrate. Fracture phenomena are accounted for by adopting a Griffith model for debonding and transverse fracture. On the basis of energy minimization arguments, we recover the key qualitative properties of the experimental evidences, like the periodicity of transverse cracks and the peripheral debonding of each regular segment. Phase diagrams relate the maximum number of transverse cracks that may be created before debonding takes place, as a function of the material properties and the sample’s geometry. The theoretical results are illustrated with numerical simulations obtained through a finite element discretization and a regularized variational formulation of the Ambrosio–Tortorelli type, which is suited to further extensions in two-dimensional settings.