Different spectrophotometric methods for antioxidant activity assay of four Romanian herbs

The present study investigates the antioxidant activities of some Romanian plants, using different spectrophotometric methods (FRAP I, FRAP II, and CUPRAC). The plants investigated are hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha), bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), rosehip (Rosa canina), and chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa). Hawthorn is used to treat a wide variety of inflammatory conditions, but the primary use is generally restricted for treating hypertension, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, and arrhythmia. Investigations have proved the safe and reliable use of plant and plant extracts for treatment of cardiovascular disorders.     

Further on Set-Valued Equilibrium Problems and Applications to Browder Variational Inclusions

In this paper, we introduce some concepts of convexity and semicontinuity for real set-valued mappings similar to those of real single-valued mappings. Then, we obtain different results on the existence of solutions of set-valued equilibrium problems generalizing in a common way several old ones for both single-valued and set-valued equilibrium problems. Applications to Browder variational inclusions, with weakened conditions on the involved set-valued operator, are given.     

Die Untersuchung einer Laboratoriumsanlage nach dem Heiß-Kalt-System mit einfachem Durchfluß der Fluide

Es wird ein Heiβ-Kalt-System mit einfachem Durchfluβ der Fluide untersucht. Dabei wird gezeigt, daβ zwischen den Isotopenkonzentrationen des Gases und der Flüssigkeit lineare Beziehungen bestehen. Eine Möglichkeit zur experimentellen Bestimmung der realen Werte der Parameter der Kolonne wird angegeben.     

New Aspects of Polymers Containing Quaternary Ammonium Groups

It was established that linear polymers with quaternary ammonium groups are obtained by the reaction of chloromethylated polystyrene (CMPS) with hydroxyalkylic tertiary amines when the amines contain one or two hydroxyl groups, and that crosslinked polymers are obtained with aminoether groups when the amines have three hydroxyl groups, i.e., tris(2-hydroxyethy1)amine. The aminoether units appear by intramolecular rearrangement of quaternary ammonium structural units. Kinetic studies on the synthesis of polymers with quaternary ammonium groups from CMPS, poly(N,N-dimethylamino-ethylmethacrylate), and poly(N,N-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide), were performed. The main factors which influence the kinetics of reactions are steric hindrance of near neighboring groups, hydrophilic effect for hydroxyalkylamines and polymer-solvent interaction.     

The obtaining of NiCr2O4 nanoparticles by unconventional synthesis methods

This paper presents a study regarding the obtaining of NiCr₂O₄ by two new unconventional synthesis methods: (i) the first method is based on the formation of Cr(III) and Ni(II) carboxylate-type precursors in the redox reaction between the nitrate ion and 1,3-propanediol. The thermal decomposition of these complex combinations, at ~300 °C, leads to an oxide mixture of Cr₂O_3+x and NiO, with advanced homogeneity, small particles and high reactivity. On heating this mixture at 500 °C, Cr₂O₃ reacts with NiO to form NiCr₂O₄, which was evidenced by FT-IR and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) analysis; (ii) the second method starts from a mechanical mixture of (NH₄)₂Cr₂O₇ and Ni(NO₃)₂·6H₂O. On heating this mixture, a violent decomposition at 240 °C with formation of an oxides mixture (Cr₂O₃ + CrO₃) and NiO takes place. On thermal treatment up to 500 °C, an intermediary phase NiCrO₄ is formed, which by decomposition at ~700 °C leads to NiCr₂O₄, evidenced by FT-IR and XRD analysis. NiCr₂O₄ is formed, in both cases, starting with a temperature higher than 400 °C, when the non-stoichiometric chromium oxide (Cr₂O_3+x ) loses the oxygen excess and turns to stoichiometric chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃), which further reacts with NiO.     

Thermal study of a shape memory alloy (SMA) spring actuator designed to insure the motion of a barrier structure

The study concerns an experimental model using a SMA spring actuator for improving the whole performance of a barrier structure. The study is, specifically, focused on the thermal analysis of the SMA spring material and on determination of the SMA spring working time periods at different values of the activating electric current inducing different phase changing speeds.     

Erratum to: “In vitro biological activity comparison of some hydroxyapatite-based composite materials using simulated body fluid”

The original version of the article was published in Cent. Eur. J. Chem. 11(10) (2013) pp. 1583–1598. Unfortunately, the original version of this article contains a mistake in the affiliation section. The affiliation for R?zvan Stefan is Veterinary Medicine Faculty, University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine, RO-400372 Cluj Napoca, Romania.     

Mesomorphic behaviour and TSDC measurements of ortho-metallated palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes with S,O-donor co-ligands

A series of ortho-metallated Pd and Pt complexes containing an imine ligand carrying three alkoxy chains and N-benzoylthiourea derivatives as co-ligands were prepared and their liquid crystalline properties investigated. Their structures were assigned based on elemental analysis, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, whereas thermal properties were investigated by differential scanning calotimetry and polarising optical microscopy. All the compounds exhibit monotropic transitions involving nematic and smectic A phases, with the mesomorphic behaviour strongly related to the type of N-benzoylthiourea as well as the metal centre used. The thermally stimulated depolarisation current technique was employed to determine the conduction mechanism, phase transition temperature and the activation energies for one of the ortho-metallated Pd complexes.