Propensity,probability, and quantum physics

Popper's idea of propensities constituting the physical background of predictable probabilities is reviewed and developed by introducing a suitable formalism compatible with standard probability calculus and with its frequency interpretation. Quantum statistical ensembles described as pure cases (eigenstates) are shown to be necessarily not homogeneous if propensities are actually at work in nature. An extension of the theory to EPR experiments with local propensities leads to a new and more general proof of Bell's theorem. No joint probabilities for incompatible observables need to be introduced.     

Effect of electrolyte type on the electrokinetic behavior of carboxylated polystyrene model colloids

Carboxylated polystyrene latex particles were prepared by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of styrene using an azoinitiator (ACPA), which provides carboxyl end groups on the latex surface. Two latexes were characterized using TEM, PCS, conductimetric and potentiometric titrations, and electrophoretic mobility. To determine the hydrophobic or hydrophilic character of these latexes, the maximum adsorption of a nonionic surfactant (Triton X-100) was also studied and compared with other type of latexes. The electrophoretic mobility of these functionalized model colloids was studied in the presence of various types of inorganic electrolytes. The _e curves of these latexes exhibit a smooth maximum at an electrolyte concentration of around 10^–3 and 5·10^–3 M for 11, 21 and 12 electrolytes. When a 31 electrolyte (LaCl₃) was used, the electrophoretic mobility changed to positive values at high concentration due to the specific adsorption of lanthanum species. In general, the surface characteristics of these carboxylated latexes are very different in comparison to other latexes with the same functionality because the carboxyl groups are provided by the initiator, while in most of the cases these groups are provided by ionic comonomers (acrylic, methacrylic acids, etc.) used in the copolymerization with styrene.     

Complete assignment of 1H and 13C NMR data for three aryltetralin lignan lactones

We describe the complete 1H and 13C NMR analysis of three aryltetralin lignan lactones (polygamain, morelensin and 4,5-dimethoxymorelensin) using modern NMR techniques such as COSY, HMQC, HMBC, 2D-J-resolved and NOE experiments. The relative stereochemistry of these compounds, which is very important with regard to their biological activity, was completely determined.     

Colloidal stability of sulfonated polystyrene model colloids. Correlation with electrokinetic data

In this work we describe the colloid stability of functionalized latexes: two sulfonated polystyrene model colloids with the same particle size and different surface charge densities. The critical coagulation concentration (ccc) was determined in the presence of two electrolytes (11 and 22), being around 0.75 M and 0.075 M, respectively. By the DLVO theory the electrokinetic and colloid stability data were correlated to calculate the Hamaker constant at both experimental conditions. By comparing the experimental and theoretical values of the Hamaker constant, it is possible to get more information about the colloidal stabilization mechanism of functionalized latexes. In the case of sulfonated latexes, the electrostatic and seric contributions occur, with different influence for each latex depending of their surface electric charge.     

Synthesis and Structural Studies of 4-Thioxopyrimidines with Antimicrobial Activities

Summary. This work describes a two-step, one-pot synthetic method for the formal aza-[3 + 3] cycloaddition between N-alkyl substituted enaminones and benzoyl isothiocyanate, which afforded 4-thioxopyrimidines in reasonable yields. Reaction of acyclic enaminone with a sterically hindered group attached to the nitrogen atom afforded pyridine-2-thione, yet in low yield. The antibacterial, antifungal, and trypanocidal activities of the thioxopyrimidines were evaluated and five compounds exhibited moderate activity against Candida albicans, Micrococcus luteus, and Trypanosoma cruzi. The solid state structures of a thioxopyrimidine, an organic disulfide, and a 1,2,4-triazole were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Adsorptive stripping voltammetric behaviour of copper complexes of some heterocyclic azo compounds

Controlled adsorptive accumulation of copper complexed with TAN, TAC, TAR and TAM (heterocyclic azo-compounds) on a static mercury drop electrode provides the basis for the direct stripping measurement of this element in the nanomolar concentration level. The ligand TAN exhibited great sensitivity and better separation of the peak current of the ligand in relation to the complex. The reduction current of adsorbed complex ions of copper is measured by linear scan cathodic stripping voltammetry, preceded by a period of accumulation of a few minutes. The peak potential is at approximately -0.37 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Optimal experimental parameters were found to be a TAN concentration of 1 x 10(-5)M, an accumulation potential of -0.22 V, and a solution pH of 3.7 (acetate buffer). The detection limit is 0.8nM after a 5-min accumulation with a stirred solution, and the response is linear up to 50 mug/l. Many common cations and anions do not interfere in the determination of copper. The interference of titanium is eliminated by addition of fluoride ion. Results are reported for a fresh water sample.     

Quantification of total chromium and hexavalent chromium in UHT milk by ETAAS

Procedures for the quantification of total chromium and hexavalent chromium in UHT milk samples are presented. Total chromium was determined directly in milk with the addition of a surfactant and a mixture of Pd and Mg as a chemical modifier. For the selective separation of hexavalent chromium, the sample pre-treatment consisted in precipitation of proteins and elution of the supernatant through a Chromabond NH2 column. The metal was eluted with nitric acid. Both total chromium and hexavalent chromium were evaluated by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization using the same instrumental conditions. The detection limits were 0.2 and 0.15 microgram l-1 for total chromium and hexavalent chromium, respectively. The linearity ranges under the optimized conditions were 0.2-20 and 0.15-50 micrograms l-1. For total chromium the precision was 4.9 and 5.7% for the analytical and the over-all procedure, respectively, and for hexavalent chromium 4.3 and 4.9%, respectively. The validation of both procedures was performed by the standard additions method and the recoveries were higher than 93% in all cases. For total chromium, a certified reference material was also used to validate the methodology. The methods were applied to the determination of total chromium and hexavalent chromium in 60 UHT milk samples.     

Haloacetylated enol ethers. 7 . Synthesis of 3-aryl-5-trihalomethylisoxazoles and 3-aryl-5-hydroxy-5-trihalomethyl-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles

β-Aryl-β-methoxyvinyl trihalomethyl ketones 1a-g, 2a-g [aryl = p-YC₆H₄ where Y= H, Me, OMe, F, Cl, Br, NO₂] are cyclocondensed with hydroxylamine hydrochloride to afford the 3-aryl-5-hydroxy-5-trihalomethyl-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles 3a-g, 4a-f in good yield. The dehydratation of compounds 3a-g with concentrated sulfuric acid, led the corresponding 3-aryl-5-trichloromethylisoxazoles 5a-g . An alternative one-pot procedure yields 3-aryl-5-trihalomethylisoxazoles 5,6a-g directly by cyclocondesation of 1,2a-g with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in the presence of an excess of concentrated hydrochloric acid.     

Application of amberlite XAD-2 resin for general toxicological analysis.

The use of Amberlite XAD-2 resin for the extraction of drugs has been extended to the processing of either direct aliquots of blood and stomach contents or aqueous dialysates of the latter, as well as to that of aqueous Stas-Otto deproteinated extracts of tissue. A two-step elution provides the subsequent recovery of standard acid, neutral, basic compounds, and the more polar, water-soluble drugs and drug metabolites. Inorganics may be recovered from the eluate resulting from passage of the original solution through the resin. Extraction with columns of 1-2 g of Amberlite XAD-2 resin is shown to provide the best general approach for separations in pure form of nearly all toxic compounds from up to 500 g of tissue as well as from biological fluids and stomach contents.     

Non-abelian tensor square of finite-by-nilpotent groups

Let G be a group. We denote by \({\nu(G)}\) an extension of the non-abelian tensor square \({G \otimes G}\) by \({G \times G}\). We prove that if G is finite-by-nilpotent, then the non-abelian tensor square \({G \otimes G}\) is finite-by-nilpotent. Moreover, \({\nu(G)}\) is nilpotent-by-finite (Theorem A). Also we characterize BFC-groups in terms of \({\nu(G)}\) among the groups G in which the derived subgroup is finitely generated (Theorem B).