A facile gamma-ray method for radiodegradation of bilirubin in chloroform

Kinetics and concentration profile associated with the regulated radiodegradation of bilirubin in an organic solvent were assessed. The pure unconjugated specimen was prepared in chloroform (40.0 μM). The depletion of bilirubin was almost linear with dose, and complete degradation was accomplished with doses in excess of 100 Gy. The method was also evaluated for the explicit production of the long-wavelength isomer of biliverdin, which was characterized spectrometrically by an absorbance band in the region 600–650 nm. Results including differences in air, N₂ and O₂ purged samples are presented to identify the atmospheric medium for optimum production of biliverdin. The process was regulated by controlling the dose. The general rate constant of the depletion process was estimated at a dose rate of 5.67·10⁻²Gy·s⁻¹. The method is a convenient substitute for light illumination studies of bilirubin. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Weak solutions for a hyperbolic system with unilateral constraint and mass loss

We consider isentropic gas dynamics equations with unilateral constraint on the density and mass loss. The γ and pressureless pressure laws are considered. We propose an entropy weak formulation of the system that incorporates the constraint and Lagrange multiplier, for which we prove weak stability and existence of solutions. The nonzero pressure model is approximated by a kinetic BGK relaxation model, while the pressureless model is approximated by a sticky-blocks dynamics with mass loss.     

Dispersion analysis of the least‐squares finite‐element shallow‐water system

The frequency or dispersion relation for the least‐squares mixed formulation of the shallow‐water equations is analysed. We consider the use of different approximation spaces corresponding to co‐located and staggered meshes, respectively. The study includes the effect of Coriolis, and the dispersion properties are compared analytically and graphically with those of the mixed Galerkin formulation. Numerical solutions of a test problem to simulate slow Rossby modes illustrate the theoretical results. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using the new in–in method for the synthesis of polyisoprene/polystyrene heteroarm star polymers

The basis of the two‐step in–in method is as follows: star polymers with poly(divinyl benzene) cores, synthesized by the arm‐first method, include many unreacted double bonds in their core, and these double bonds can be attacked by the carbanions of some monomers such as styrene and dienes. In this work, linear polyisoprene chains were used to attack the double bonds existing in the poly(divinyl benzene) cores of polystyrene star polymers, so that a heteroarm star polymer with polystyrene and polyisoprene arms was synthesized. It was later well characterized with size exclusion chromatography, light scattering, viscometry, UV spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and ¹H NMR. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 135–142, 2003     

Degradation of Metal 2-Acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate-N-Vinylpyrrolidine Copolymers in Aqueous Solutions Containing Different Cations

The influence of single- and double-charged cations on degradation of metal 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate-N-vinylpyrrolidine copolymers in aqueous solutions in the presence of potassium peroxodisulfate, K₂S₂O₈, at 50 and 70°C was studied by viscosimetry.     

Preparation and Characteristics of a Cation Exchanger Based on Oxidized Anthracite

The features of anthracite oxidation as influenced by temperature and time were determined. Physicochemical and sorption characteristics of the resulting cation exchanger were studied.     

Thermal analysis as a tool in the study of GMM in Angra Dos Reis region,Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

Angra dos Reis/Itaguai region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a very problematic area due to the instability of slope and landslides, due to geological and geomorphological conditions and to the significant and continuous human occupation over favorable areas is prone to the triggering of landslides. The samples were analyzed by thermogravimetry (TG), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). This paper analyzes and characterizes the clay minerals and presence of water, gravitational mass movements’ sites and compares it with sites where gravitational mass movements do not occur. Indeed, this analysis also attempts to verify the presence of minerals.