Benzenoid Molecules with Uniform Distribution of π-Electrons within Rings

In a recent work it was demonstrated that in linear hexagonal chains the distribution of π-electrons into rings (as computed by means of the Randić–Balaban method) is uniform, irrespective of the nature of the terminal fragments. We now establish that an analogous, yet somewhat more complex, uniformity in the π-electron distribution exists also in double linear hexagonal chains, as well as in some other benzenoid systems.     

Quantum diffusion of positive muons

Recent studies of the diffusion of positive muons in metals, particularly aluminium, are reviewed. At low temperatures, quantum tunnelling is an important process for the mobility of the muons and experiments aimed at the study of tunnelling in the presence of phonons and conduction electrons are discussed. The concept of quantum diffusion is introduced and the conditions for quantum diffusion and quantum propagation (i.e. band-like motion) in normal and superconducting metals are compared.     

Convergence of dynamical zeta functions

I study poles and zeros of zeta functions in one-dimensional maps. Numerical and analytical arguments are given to show that the first pole of one such zeta function is given by the first zero ofanother zeta function: this describes convergence of the calculations of the first zero, which is generally the physically interesting quantity. Some remarks on how these results should generalize to zeta functions of dynamical systems with pruned symbolic dynamics and in higher dimensions follow.     

Some homological properties of commutative semitrivial ring extensions

LetR be a commutative ring with 1 andM anR-module. If:M _R MR is anR-module homomorphism satisfying(mm)=(mm) and(mm)m=m(mm), the additive abelian groupRM becomes a commutative ring, if multiplication is defined by (r,m)(r,m)=(rr+(mm),rm+rm). This ring is called the semitrivial extension ofR byM and and it is denoted byR M. This generalizes the notion of a trivial extension and leads to a more interesting variety of examples. The purpose of this paper is to studyR M; in particular, we are interested in some homological properties ofR M as that of being Cohen-Macaulay, Gorenstein or regular. A sample result: Let (R,m) be a local Noetherian ring,M a finitely generatedR-module and Im() m. ThenR M is Gorenstein if and only if eitherRM is Gorenstein orR is Gorenstein,M is a maximal Cohen-Macaulay module andMM ^*, where the isomorphism is given by the adjoint of.     

Forward-backward multiplicity correlations in σ+ p,K + p andpp collisions at 250 GeV/c

Forward-backward multiplicity correlations in σ⁺,K ⁺ p andpp collisions at 250 GeV/c ( \(\sqrt s \) =22 GeV) are given for all charges and for the different charge combinations. The correlations are found to be caused predominantly by centrally produced particles. It is demonstrated that this result is an agreement with observations at the ISR and the CERNp \(\bar p\) -Collider. The results are compared to expectations from LUND, DPM and FRITIOF Monte Carlo models and a geometrical picture relating correlations in hadron-hadron collisions toe ⁺ e ^? data in terms of impact parameters is tested.     

Application of stir bar sorptive extraction for wine analysis

Stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to analyse wine samples for three applications: flavour and compositional analysis; 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA), a common off-aroma in wine; and agrochemicals. SBSE was found to be orders of magnitude more sensitive than modern conventional methodology, allowing for lower detection and quantitation levels, and improved confirmation of identity; SBSE often gave better signal to noise in scan mode than other methods in selective ion monitoring (SIM) mode. With the help of their characteristic mass spectra all agrochemicals could be identified unambiguously at concentrations of 10 microg L(-1) in wine and a further 100 constituents were detected in a Cabernet Sauvignon sample. Thus it is now possible to analyse complex samples such as wine by scan mode, with better confirmation of identity, and without sacrificing sensitivity, where previously SIM methodology had to be used.     

Underpotential deposition of tin(II) on a gold disc electrode and determination of tin in a tin plate sample

This work describes a study of the underpotential deposition (UPD) of Sn²⁺ on a polycrystalline gold disc electrode using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronocoulometry (CC). Sn²⁺ ions showed well-defined peaks from UPD and UPD stripping (UPD-S) in 1 mol/L HCl solutions, while bulk deposition (BD) and BD stripping (BD-S) of the ions were also observed. The measured UPD shifts, E_UPD, between the UPD-S and the BD-S peaks were more than 200 mV. The UPD charge and the surface coverage of tin were measured by CC. A new method for determining Sn²⁺ was therefore developed, based on the excellent electrochemical properties of the Au/Sn UPD system. A plot of the UPD-DPASV (differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry) signal versus the Sn(II) concentration was obtained for [Sn(II)] of 1.98×10^–7 to 3.64×10^–5 M. The method developed here has been applied to determine the tin in a tin plate sample.     

Determination of zearalenone and ochratoxin A in soil

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites, formed by the action of fungi on agricultural crops in the field or during storage. These metabolites are highly toxic to animals and humans and high levels have been measured in agricultural crops. In order to evaluate human risks due to ingestion of mycotoxin-contaminated food different methods have been developed for analysis of mycotoxins in cereals and maize. In this project the focus was on mycotoxins in agricultural soil and the fate of these toxins in the soil-water-plant system. Two different mycotoxins were selected in the study: zearalenone (ZON) produced by species of Fusariumor Aspergillusand ochratoxin A (OTA) produced by species of Penicillium. We developed a method for analysis of these toxins in soil. Soil samples were extracted with methanol-water (9:1) and purified by solid-phase extraction (SPE, C8-columns). The final extract was analysed using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. A Phenyl Hexyl column was used to separate the toxins. The detection limits obtained were 0.1 and 1.0 microg kg(-1) dry weight (dw) for OTA and ZON, respectively. The developed method has been used for analysis of different soils in connection with growth chamber experiments. The soil types used in the growth chamber experiments were a sandy soil, a sandy clay soil, and a soil with high content of organic matter. The recovery was determined as 85.8 and 93.4% and the repeatability to 5.1 and 12.8% for OTA and ZON, respectively. The reproducibility obtained was 8.5 and 15.0% for soil samples, representing concentration levels from 0.2-30 microg kg(-1) dw (OTA) and from 1.0-100 microg kg(-1) dw (ZON).     

Synthesis, spectroscopic and thermal studies of the copper(II) aspartame chloride complex

Aspartame adduct of copper(II) chloride Cu(Asp)₂Cl₂·2H₂O (Asp=aspartame) is synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT IR, UV/vis, ESR spectroscopies, TG, DTG, DTA measurements and molecular mechanics calculations. Aqueous solution of the green solid absorbs strongly at 774 and 367 nm. According to the FT IR spectra, the aspartame moiety coordinates to the copper(II) ion via its carboxylate ends, whereas the ammonium terminal groups give rise to hydrogen bonding network with the water, the chloride ions or neighboring carboxylate groups. The results suggest tetragonally distorted octahedral environment of the copper ions.