The dynamics of multidimensional cosmological models in the presence of quantum effects. I. The case FRW ×T D at high temperatures

The dynamical system approach is applied to the study of dynamics of multidimensional cosmological models with topology FRW ×T ^D (D-dimensional torus) in the presence of high-temperature quantum effects. The stability methods developed in the paper of Szydowski (Gen. Rel. Grav.,20, 221, 1988) are used in the analysis of typical states of the metric in the neighborhood of singularities and for large time values. The problems of dynamical dimensional reduction, structure of singularities, isotropization, etc., are discussed in this context.     

Sensitised decomposition of microcystin-LR using UV radiation

UV radiation was applied to degrade cyanobacterial hepatotoxin, microcystin-LR in the presence of phycocyanin as a model natural sensitiser. The concentrations of both the toxin and the pigment used in the experiments were higher by several orders of magnitude than found in the environment. The photoreaction parameters were optimised. The process was found to be of limited use for water treatment due to its low efficacy. Additionally, pronounced UV-induced bleaching of the pigment significantly reducing the photoreaction rates of the toxin was observed for the highest UV radiation intensities applied.     

A model of adsorption at liquid-solid interface involving association in the bulk phase

A model of monolayer adsorption of binary liquid mixtures on homogeneous and heterogeneous solid surfaces involving association of one component in the bulk phase is discussed. Suitable model calculations, illustrating association and heterogeneity effects, have been performed according to an equation derived for adsorption excess. This equation has been examined by using the experimental data of adsorption of alcohols from benzene andn-heptane on silica gel.

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Adsorptionsmodell für die Grenzfläche Feststoff-Flüssigkeit unter Berücksichtigung der Assoziation in der Flüssigkeitsphase

Zusammenfassung Es wird ein Adsorptionsmodell binärer, flüssiger Mischungen an homogenen und heterogenen Oberflächen von Feststoffen unter Beachtung der Assoziation eines der Bestandteile in der Flüssigkeitsphase diskutiert. Mit der aus dem Oberflächenüberschuß abgeleiteten Gleichung wurden entsprechende Modellberechnungen durchgeführt, die die mit Assoziation und Heterogenität verbundenen Effekte illustrieren. Die Gleichung wurde für die experimentellen Daten der Alkoholadsorption aus Benzol undn-Heptan an Kieselgel überprüft.

     

PHOTOCYTOTOXICITY OF CURCUMIN

Curcumin, bis (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-l,6-diene-3,5-dione, is a yellow-orange dye derived from the rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa. Curcumin has demonstrated phototoxicity to several species of bacteria under aerobic conditions (Dahl, T. A., et al. , 1989, Arch. Microbiol. 151 183), denoting photodynamic inactivation. We have now found that curcumin is also phototoxic to mammalian cells, using a rat basophilic leukemia cell model, and that this phototoxicity again requires the presence of oxygen. The spectral and photochemical properties of curcumin vary with environment, resulting in the potential for multiple or alternate pathways for the exertion of photodynamic effects. For example, curcumin photogenerates singlet oxygen and reduced forms of molecular oxygen under several conditions relevant to cellular environments. In addition, we detected carbon-centered radicals, which may lead to oxidation products (see accompanying paper). Such products may be important reactants in curcumin's phototoxicity since singlet oxygen and reduced oxygen species alone could not explain the biological results, such as the relatively long lifetime (t¹²= 27 s) of the toxicant responsible for decreased cell viability.     

Evaluation of a purge-and-trap injection system for capillary gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry for the determination of volatile selenium compounds in water

A method is presented for the selective determination of the volatile selenium species dimethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide, using a commercially available purge-and-trap injection system coupled to capillary gas chromatography-microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The efficiency of the purging step was evaluated and the parameters affecting the purge and trap processes were optimized. The method was applied to the determination of volatile selenium compounds in lake water. Relative detection limits of 2ng/l for dimethylselenide and dimethyldiselenide, corresponding to an absolute detection limit of 10 pg, were achieved.     

Complexing properties of methyl and phenyl glycine derivatives in their compounds with H+, Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II)

The influence of the solvent and the substituents on the complexing properties of methyl and phenyl glycine derivatives is discussed. On the basis of a computer analysis of potentiometric titration results, the composition and the stability constants of the complexes ofN-methylglycine,N,N-dimethylglycine,N-phenylglycine and phenylglycine with H⁺ and with Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) were determined. The ligand-metal coordination mode as well as the zwitterion level in percent in ligand/proton systems were determined by spectral analyses and equilibria studies.

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Komplexbildung der Methyl- und Phenylglycin-Derivate in ihren Verbindungen mit dem Proton und Ni(II), Cu(II) und Zn(II)

Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß des Lösungsmittels und der Substituenten auf die komplexbildenden Eigenschaften der Methyl- und Phenylglycin-Derivate wird diskutiert. Anhand einer Computer-Analyse von potentiometrischen Daten wurden die Zusammensetzung und die Beständigkeitskonstanten der Komplexe vonN-Methylglycin,N,N-Dimethylglycin,N-Phenylglycin und Phenylglycin mit H⁺, Ni(II), Cu(II) und Zn(II) festgestellt. Mittels spektroskopischer Methoden und Gleichgewichtstudien wurde der Koordinationstyp des Liganden mit dem Metall festgestellt sowie der Prozentanteil des Zwitterions im Ligand/Proton-System.

     

Boson-fermion duality in four dimensions: Comments on the paper of luther and schotte

The Fock space for the fermion field can be identified with the Fock space for the boson field, provided the overall numbers of internal degrees of freedom are the same. As a consequence, the respective free field Hamiltonian systems are equivalent (dual): the four-component neutrino model is thus equivalent to the doublet of independent (electric and magnetic, respectively) Maxwell fields, which are quantized in the Coulomb gauge. This statement arises on the field theory level, and seems to make doubtful the claim that realistic photons can be constructed from (bound) neutrino pairs: each (anti)neutrino degree should be represented by the photon-type (electric and magnetic, respectively) degree of freedom.     

Structural assignment of organotin hydrides containing the oxazoline ligand

A series of triorganotin hydrides and diorganotin dihydrides containing the optically active 2-(4-isopropyl-2-oxazolinyl)-5-phenyl ligand have been characterized by means of the multinuclear low-temperature NMR investigations, the results of which are discussed. In the corresponding organotin hydrides values of the ¹J(¹H-^117/119Sn) couplings appeared to be temperature dependent, supporting an axial/equatorial position of the hydrogen attached to the tin.     

Electron-stimulated desorption from ionic crystal surfaces

Inelastic interactions of electrons with surfaces of ionic crystals result in emission of various particles such as ions, atoms and molecules. We will review such electron-stimulated desorption processes for the particular class of ionic crystals, namely for alkali halides. In this case, a dominant fraction of the emission is in the form of halogen and alkali atoms characterized by a thermal (Maxwellian) spectrum of translational energies. For several alkali halides (potassium and rubidium chlorides, bromides, and iodides), however, a significant part of the halogen atoms is ejected with nonthermal energies, i.e. energies of the order of 0.1 eV. The results of recent systematic studies of angular-resolved kinetic energy distributions of the emitted particles will be reported and current views on the electronic mechanisms of desorption will be described. In particular, it will be shown that the ESD mechanism can be understood in terms of the model involving a surface localisation of the so called “hot-holes” created by electron bombardment of alkali halides. A role of hot holes in ESD processes will further be discussed in relation to very recent experimental results obtained for the KBr crystals doped with In impurities which act as efficient hole traps.