Refinements of the Weyl Pure Geometrical Thick Branes From Information‐Entropic Measure

This work aims to analyse the so‐called configurational entropy in the Weyl pure geometrical thick brane model. The Weyl structure plays a prominent role in the brane thickness of this model. We find a set of parameters associated to the brane width where the configurational entropy exhibits critical points. The information‐theoretical measure sets bounds into parameter of Weyl pure geometrical brane model. In addition, we also argue that a similar approach can be useful to analyze the corrections to Newtonian and Coulombian potentials in Weyl scenarios.     

A renormalization group explanation of numerical observations of analyticity domains

A recent paper considers the dependence of the size of analyticity domains of some functions appearing in KAM theory as a function of the distance to breakdown. They tentatively conclude that the relation is linear. In this note we argue that McKay's renormalization group picture predicts a power-law dependence with an exponent close to 1 but not equal to 1.     

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.     

Experimental NMR and MS study of benzoylguanidines. Investigation of E/Z isomerism

Molecules containing the guanidinic nuclei possess several pharmacological applications, and knowing the preferred isomers of a potential drug is important to understand the way it operates pharmacologically. Benzoylguanidines were synthesized in satisfactory to good yields and characterized by NMR, Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI‐MS) and Fourrier Transform InfraRed Spectroscopy techniques (FTIR). E/Z isomerism of the guanidines was studied and confirmed by NMR analysis in solution (¹H‐¹³C Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence (HSQC) and Heteronuclear Multiple‐Bond Correlation (HMBC), ¹H‐¹⁵N HMBC, ¹H‐¹H Correlation Spectroscopy (COSY) and Nuclear Overhauser Effect Spectroscopy (NOESY) experiments) at low temperatures. Compounds with p‐Cl and p‐Br aniline moiety exist mainly as Z isomer with a small proportion of E isomer, whereas compounds with p‐NO2 moiety showed a decrease in proportion of isomer Z. The results are important for the application of these molecules as enzymatic inhibitors. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determination of Pb,Zr, Ti,Sr, Cr,Nb and La in lead zirconate titanate ceramics by particle‐induced X‐ray emission

A particle‐induced X‐ray emission (PIXE) technique has been used in the determination of the principal components Pb, Zr and Ti and the substituting elements Sr, Cr, Nb and La in lead zirconate titanate ceramics. In general, precision of analysis was concentration dependent from each element under study. For Pb, precision varied between 0.13% and 0.16%, at higher concentration of 59.32–64.5%. It was around 6–9% for Sr, Cr and Nb at concentrations of 1% or lower. Particular attention was devoted to the estimation of the analysis trueness. With this purpose, three methods were applied: (1) comparison of PIXE and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry concentrations, (2) recovery study and (3) comparison with a laboratory standard. Trueness of analysis was around 100 ± 10% for the evaluated elements Pb, Zr, Ti, Sr and Cr. The expected stoichiometry and elemental composition homogeneity of a wide group of produced ceramics were confirmed by the PIXE technique. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Advances in Microwave-Assisted Combinatorial Chemistry Without Polymer-Supported Reagents

Summary Combinatorial methodologies have dramatically changed the chemical research and discovery process, offering an unlimited source of new molecule entities to be screened for activity. The application of microwave irradiation in Combinatorial Chemistry and high-throughput synthesis has become increasingly popular. By taking advantage of this energy source, compound libraries for lead generation can be assembled in a fraction of time required by conventional thermal heating. This review focuses on the advances in developing synthetic methodologies in microwave without polymer-supported reagents suitable for combinatorial chemistry, including the advances in microwave-assisted fluorous synthesis technology.     

A novel method of nanocrystal fabrication based on laser ablation in liquid environment

Metal nanoparticles can be prepared by a novel technique that consists of the laser ablation of a solid target immersed in a water solution of a metal salt. Silicon was chosen as the most adequate target to synthesize silver and gold nanoparticles from a water solution of either AgNO₃ or HAuCl₄. The influence of both the silver nitrate concentrations and the irradiation time of the Si target on the optical properties of the Au and Ag nanoparticles have been investigated. The crystalline nature of the metal nanoparticles has been determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Average size and particle size distribution have been measured by means of TEM. The absorbance spectra show the characteristic band of the surface resonant plasmon of silver and gold nanoparticles.     

Effervescence-assisted carbon nanotubes dispersion for the micro-solid-phase extraction of triazine herbicides from environmental waters

Extraction techniques are surface-dependent processes since their kinetic directly depends on the contact area between the sample and the extractant phase. The dispersion of the extractant (liquid or solid) increases this area improving the extraction efficiency. In this article, the dispersion of a nanostructured sorbent at the very low milligram level is achieved by effervescence thanks to the in situ generation of carbon dioxide. For this purpose, a special tablet containing the effervescence precursors (sodium carbonate as carbon dioxide source and sodium dihydrogen phosphate as proton donor) and the sorbent [multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)] is prepared. All the microextraction steps take place in a glass beaker containing 100 mL of the sample. After the extraction, the MWCNTs, enriched with the extracted analytes, are recovered by vacuum filtration. Methanol was selected to elute the retained analytes. The extraction mode is optimized and characterized using the determination of nine herbicides in water samples as model analytical problem. The absolute recoveries of the analytes were in the range 48–76 %, while relative recoveries were close to 100 % in all cases. These values permit the determination of these analytes at the low microgram per liter range with good precision (relative standard deviations lower than 9.3 %) using ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) combined with ultraviolet detection (UV).