Concentration of iodine traces in solution by filtering through activated carbon

The retention of iodine traces (ppb) was investigated in small activated carbon filters (50 mg) from solution at a yielding rate exclusively determined by pH. Retention is approximately 100% at pH values of 4–6, while no retention of iodine traces occurs after filtering them through an activated carbon filter from very acidic and basic solutions (pH values of 1 and 11, respectively) with 0% yielding rate. Since activated carbon is a very pure material, this procedure may be an alternative method of the activation analysis of iodine traces in foodstuffs, because the half-life of ¹²⁸I, formed by (n,g) reaction, is only 25 minutes. It does not allow either the sample to be placed readily in solution or the radioisotope to be separated after irradiation with the purpose of attaining maximal accuracy and sensitivity in this type of analysis.     

Polyhydrogenosiloxanes: Powerful Tools for Silanization of Commercial Monolithic Rods

An in situ method of bonding monolithic rods clad in poly-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) based on polyhydrogenosiloxane is described. The hydrogenosiloxanes provide good solubility for the substances used in the silanization reaction in aromatic hydrocarbon solvents (non-aggressive to PEEK). The reaction of the Si-H bond with silanol groups produces hydrogen as a non-aggressive byproduct to the environment. This hydrogenosiloxane method is illustrated in the synthesis of monomeric and polymeric acceptor-bonded, monolithic phases. The use of these new bonded monolithic rods for the separation of PAHs in normal phase LC is described.     

Phase Transformations in Fe–Mn Alloys Induced by Ball Milling

Hyperfine Interactions - We have studied the dependence on the milling time of the amounts of metastable fcc and hcp phases produced by ball milling on Fe-13.7 wt% Mn alloys by Mössbauer...     

Influence of fundamental frequency and source elevation on the vertical localization of complex tones and complex tone pairs

This study investigates the vertical localization of single complex tones (monads) and simultaneous complex tone pairs (dyads), especially as it is affected by their fundamental frequency and source elevation. Two complex tone timbres are considered: one consisting of five low-order harmonics, and the other of all odd harmonics (a square wave). Sound sources were at -15, 0, 15, and 30 deg from the horizontal plane at ear height. For eight subjects, this source array was in the median plane, and for a further nine subjects, it was directly to the subject's left (lateral plane). The subjects localized the angle of the auditory image(s) of one or two complex tones around the vertical plane containing the sound sources. Mean responses for the five-harmonic complex tones show a systematic effect (referred to as Pratt's effect) of fundamental frequency on vertical localization--whereby high-frequency complex tones are localized to positions higher than low-frequency complex tones for equivalent source positions. For the square wave, the sound-source position dominates localization, although some effect of fundamental frequency is evident for median plane sources.     

Improved synthesis of disaccharides with Escherichia coli β-galactosidase using bio-solvents derived from glycerol

A noticeably increase in activity, keeping total regioselectivity was found in the synthetic behaviour of Escherichia coli β-galactosidase in glycerol-based solvents using a 1:7 molar ratio of donor (pNP-β-Gal): acceptor (GlcNAc). Yields of up to 97% of β(1→6) with different solvents were found. These reactions take place without noticeable hydrolytic activity and with total regioselectivity, representing a considerable improvement over the use of aqueous buffer or conventional organic solvents. There is a clear dependence of the catalytic results on the solvent structure, which is analysed in terms of polarity and hydrophobicity.     

High-pressure synthesis and structural behavior of sodium orthonitrate Na3NO4

Sodium orthonitrate (Na₃NO₄) is an unusual phase containing the first example of isolated tetrahedrally bonded NO₄³⁻ groups. This compound was obtained originally by heating together mixtures of Na₂O and NaNO₃ for periods extending up to >14 days in evacuated chambers. Considering the negative volume change between reactants and products, it was inferred that a high-pressure synthesis route might favor the formation of the Na₃NO₄ compound. We found that the recovered sample is likely to be a high-pressure polymorph, containing NO₄³⁻ groups as evidenced by Raman spectroscopy. The high-pressure behavior of Na₃NO₄ was studied using Raman spectroscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell above 60 GPa. We found no evidence for major structural transformations, even following laser heating experiments carried out at high pressure, although broadening of the Raman peaks could indicate the onset of disordering at higher pressure.     

Antibacterial activity of anthraquinone derivatives from Heterophyllaea pustulata (Rubiaceae)

Photosensitizing anthraquinones isolated from Heterophyllaea pustulata Hook f. (Rubiaceae), namely soranjidiol, rubiadin, damnacanthal and 5,5'-bisoranjidiol, showed antibacterial activity (bacteriostatic/bactericide) on Staphylococcus aureus. The mechanism of action seems to involve an increase in the levels of superoxide anion (O(2)(·-)) and/or singlet molecular oxygen ((1)O(2)). Moreover, the effect of actinic irradiation as a boosting agent for the production of both reactive species of oxygen as well as its influence on antibacterial activity was assessed. The routine susceptibility assay (minimum inhibitory concentration determination) was carried out by means of the broth macrodilution method. Bactericide activity was determined counting the colony-forming units per milliliter (cfu/mL) in plate. The O(2)(·-) production was determined by means of an indirect photobiological assay (Nitroblue Tetrazolium test), and the production of (1)O(2) was followed using an indirect steady-state method, with methionine as the (1)O(2) chemical quencher.