Multivariate optimization of an axially-viewed inductively coupled plasma multichannel-based emission spectrometer for the analysis of environmental samples

An experimental design procedure was applied to optimize the operating conditions of an axially-viewed inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer instruments equipped with echelle optics with cross dispersion and charge transfer device. The multivariate effect of carrier gas flow rate and r.f. power on several analytical figures was investigated and discussed. Both ultrasonic and pneumatic nebulization were used. For the final choice of the optimum, different criteria were taken into account, mainly plasma robustness, instrumental precision, analyte and background net emission, detection limits and signal-to-background ratios. It was found that the use of moderate power (1100W) and mean carrier gas flow rate (0.75 L/min) allows to obtain sufficient plasma robustness, satisfactory precision, and excellent signal-to-background ratios and limits of detection, favorable for ultratrace element determinations in environmental matrices.     

Adsorption kinetics, orientation, and self-assembling of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on gold: a combined ATR-IR, PM-IRRAS, and QCM study

The adsorption of N-acetyl-L-cysteine from ethanol solution on gold has been studied by in situ attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy, polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, and a quartz crystal microbalance. After an initial fast adsorption, in situ ATR-IR revealed two considerably slower processes, besides further adsorption. The appearance of carboxylate bands and the partial disappearance of the carboxylic acid bands demonstrated that part of the molecules on the surface underwent deprotonation. In addition, the C=O stretching vibration of the carboxylic acid group shifted to lower and the amide II band to higher wavenumbers, indicating hydrogen-bonding interactions within the adsorbate layer. Based on the initial ATR-IR spectrum, which did not reveal deprotonation, the orientation of the molecule within the adsorbate layer was determined. For this, density functional theory was used to calculate the transition dipole moment vectors of the vibrational modes of N-acetyl-l-cysteine. The projections of the latter onto the z-axis of the fixed surface coordinate system were used to determine relative band intensities for different orientations of the molecule. The analysis revealed that the amide group is tilted with respect to and points away from the surface, whereas the carboxylic acid is in proximity to the surface, which is also supported by a shift of the C-O-H bending mode. This position of the acid group favors its deprotonation assisted by the gold surface and easily enables intermolecular interactions. Periodic acid stimuli revealed reversible protonation/deprotonation of part of the adsorbed molecules. However, only non-hydrogen-bonded carboxylic acid groups showed a response toward the acid stimuli.     

Synthesis, structural determination and photo-antiproliferative activity of new 3-pyrazolyl or -isoxazolyl substituted 4-hydroxy-2(1H)-quinolinones

A convenient route to new 3-quinolinonyl-pyrazoles and isoxazoles is described through cyclization of 3-[(E)-3-(dimethylamino)-2-propenoyl]-4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone. The phototoxicity as well as the cytotoxic activities of the title compounds are evaluated against leukemia- and adenocarcinoma-derived cell lines in comparison to the normal human keratinocytes.     

On resolvable Golomb rulers,symmetric configurations and progressive dinner parties

Journal of Algebraic Combinatorics - We define a new type of Golomb ruler, which we term a resolvable Golomb ruler. These are Golomb rulers that satisfy an additional “resolvability”...     

Statistical properties of shocks in Burgers turbulence

We consider the statistical properties of solutions of Burgers' equation in the limit of vanishing viscosity, , with Gaussian whitenoise initial data. This system was originally proposed by Burgers^[1] as a crude model of hydrodynamic turbulence, and more recently by Zel'dovichet al..^[12] to describe the evolution of gravitational matter at large spatio-temporal scales, with shocks playing the role of mass clusters. We present here a rigorous proof of the scaling relationP(s)s ^1/2,s1 whereP(s) is the cumulative probability distribution of shock strengths. We also show that the set of spatial locations of shocks is discrete, i.e. has no accumulation points; and establish an upper bound on the tails of the shock-strength distribution, namely 1–P(s)exp{–Cs ³} fors1. Our method draws on a remarkable connection existing between the structure of Burgers turbulence and classical probabilistic work on the convex envelope of Brownian motion and related diffusion processes.Inadvertently the sequel to this article, Statistical Properties of Shocks in Burgers Turbulence, II. Tail Probabilities for Velocities, Shock-Strengths and Rarefaction Intervals has already appeared in an earlier issue of Commun. Math. Phys. (Commun. Math. Phys.169, 45–59 (1995).     

Practical aspects of Mössbauer spectroscopy instrumentation

The setting up and updating of a Mössbauer laboratory imply the acquisition and assembling of different units. Guidelines concerning either the construction or the acquisition of the various parts which compose a Mössbauer spectrometer are given in this paper.     

WKB-type approximations for second-order differential equations in -algebras

Rigorous asymptotic approximations of the WKB (or Liouville-Green) type are obtained for a basis of solutions to in the framework of -algebras. Both cases and are included, thus generalizing the classical theory for scalar equations developed by F.W.J. Olver to matrix as well as to infinite-dimensional equations.

     

Reactions of Substituted Boryl Radicals with Nitroalkanes. EPR, Kinetic, and Product Studies

The radical-initiated reaction of amine-boranes and phosphine-boranes, LBH(3) (L = R(3)N, R(3)P) with aliphatic nitro compounds has been investigated in order to explore the possibility of reducing tertiary nitroalkanes to the corresponding hydrocarbons. In all the examined cases boroxy nitroxides, RN(O(*))OBLH(2), resulting from the addition of ligated boryl radicals, LBH(2)(*), to an oxygen atom of the nitro group were detected and characterized by EPR spectroscopy. This reaction occurs at room temperature with a rate constant of 1.5 x 10(7) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) for LBH(2)(*) = Me(3)NBH(2)(*) and RNO(2) = Me(3)CNO(2). The boroxy nitroxides from tertiary nitroalkanes decay by a fragmentation reaction occurring with cleavage of the nitrogen-oxygen bond, rather than of the carbon-nitrogen bond as would be required for the reduction to the corresponding alkane to take place. The Arrhenius parameters for this fragmentation have been determined in few cases.     

Formation of ferrocyanides-IV Th(IV), Nd(III), UO(2)(II) and Hg(II)

The stoichiometry of the reaction between ferrocyanide and thorium, neodymium, uranyl ion and mercury(II) has been investigated. The first three give single products irrespective of the order of addition of the reagents, but the last does not. If mercury(II) is added to ferrocyanide Hg(2)Fe(CN)(6) is obtained, but if ferrocyanide is added to mercury(II) various cyanide complexes of mercury are formed. The K(sp) values for the precipitates are reported.