Proposed lower bound for the shear viscosity to entropy density ratio in some dense liquids

Starting from relativistic quantum field theories, Kovtun et al. (2005) have quite recently proposed a lower bound η/s??/(4πkB), where η is the shear viscosity and s the volume density of entropy for dense liquids. If their proposal can eventually be proved, then this would provide key theoretical underpinning to earlier semiempirical proposals on the relation between a transport coefficient η and a thermodynamic quantity s. Here, we examine largely experimental data on some dense liquids, the insulators nitrogen, water, and ammonia, plus the alkali metals, where the shear viscosity η(T) for the four heaviest alkalis is known to scale onto an ‘almost universal’ curve, following the work of Tankeshwar and March a decade ago. So far, all known results for both insulating and metallic dense liquids correctly exceed the lower bound prediction of Kovtun et al.     

Selective transition metal extraction by reverse micelles

In this report we have studied the extraction of a series of heavy metals ions (Cu2+, Ni2+, Fe3+, Cr3+, CrO4(2-)) from water bulk solutions by means of reverse micelles. The parameters explored are the nature and concentration of the accompanying electrolyte, as well as the surfactant nature and its concentration. The extracted metals can be recovered and eventually concentrated in a new water solution carrying out a back extraction. The extracted amount of metal is strongly dependent on the charge of the metal to be extracted. Therefore the extracted water solution is enriched in higher charge metal. Anions of amphoteric metals, like the chromate ions, can be quantitatively separated from their positive cations, like Cr3+ by properly choosing the cationic or the anionic surfactants. The transfer of the metal is essentially controlled by electrostatic forces. A model based on the Poisson-Boltzmann distribution allow us to get the potential profile inside the water pool by determining the concentrations of the surfactant counter ions. From the potential profile and mass balance it is possible calculate the extraction percentage.     

Periodic forcing of ion channel gating: An experimental approach

To get information about the gating process of single ion channels it is important to carry out the periodic modulation of a physical parameter affecting the channels while they are recorded by the patch clamp technique. This paper outlines a possible experimental approach in the case that the membrane potential is the modulated parameter.     

Tautomerism in alloxan

Ab initio STO-3G, 3-21G and 6-31G calculations have been used to investigate the energetics of the tautomerism in alloxan. The geometries of the tautomers have been fully optimized at STO-3G level. The results indicate that tautomerism in alloxan in the vapour is highly unlikely, the trioxo structure being by far the most stable structure. The population analysis of the alloxan anion gives evidence that the preferred protonation site is offered by the central oxygen atom, and rules out the opposite oxygen atom as a possible protonation site.     

Derivatization and high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of urinary glycolic acid

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of urinary glycolic acid is proposed, based on pre-column derivatization with phenylhydrazine coupled with the enzymatic oxidation of glycolate to glyoxylate. The phenylhydrazone formed is separated by liquid chromatography and detected at 324 nm. The minimum detectable concentration of glycolate was 10.0 mumol/l. The recovery of glycolate added to urine averaged 96.1%. The day-to-day coefficients of variation calculated by analysis of two urine samples with normal and high glycolate contents were 4.6 and 7.5%, respectively. Results of analyses of urine samples from healthy persons, idiopathic calcium stone formers and Type I primary hyperoxaluria patients are reported.     

Integral refinable operators exact on polynomials

We study integral refinable operators of integral type exact on polynomials of even degree constructed by using refinable B-bases of GP type. We prove a general theorem of existence and uniqueness. Then we study the L^p$L^p$-norm of these operators and we give error bounds in approximating functions and their derivatives belonging to suitable classes. Numerical results and comparisons with other quasi-interpolatory operators having the same order of exactness on polynomial reproduction are presented.     

Water,salt, and ethanol diffusion through membranes for water recovery by forward (direct) osmosis processes

Measurements of the diffusive permeances of water, NaCl, and ethanol through several, unoptimized membranes are presented. Such data can facilitate analysis and development of water recovery from highly impaired sources using hybrid processes based on forward (direct) osmosis (FO) with aqueous ethanol solutions as the “osmotic” agent. The membranes we have studied include anion and cation exchange materials and cross-linked poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) gels, the latter being a membrane chemistry commercially used for ethanol dehydration via pervaporation. The measured transport properties are reported and suitability of these materials for an FO-based water recovery process is discussed in the context of process simulations.     

Conformational properties of thiophene oligomers

The molecular geometries and the torsional potentials about the inter‐ring C‐C bond in α‐oligothiophenes (α‐nTh, n=2–4) have been calculated by means of conventional ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) calculations employing the hybrid B3LYP and BH&HLYP functionals. The position and the energetics of the critical points in the potential energy curve generated by rotation about the inter‐ring C? C bond are shown to be dependent on the computational method. DFT calculations, in comparison with MP2 calculations, favour conjugative interactions, while steric and coulombic interactions are equally treated by both methods. On oligomerization the electron delocalisation increases slightly, the p‐charge being preferentially confined within the rings, although it is sufficient to move the molecular structure towards co‐planarization and to increase the barrier through the perpendicular conformation. The IR and Raman spectra on the relevant rotamers of α‐2Th have been computed at HF/6–31G* and B3LYP/6–31G* levels. The comparison with the experiment is excellent. It has been found that small twisting from the planar conformation has no apparent effects, while 90° twisting and isomerization to the syn‐gauche form produce significant frequency and intensity variations which could be useful probes in conformational studies. The simulated IR and Raman spectra of the α‐2Th rotamers are consistent with a smallπ‐electron delocalisation between the rings.