Fluorimetric Analysis of Five Amino Acids in Chocolate: Development and Validation

Amino acids present ergogenic action, helping to increase, protect, and restore the muscular system of young athletes. Moreover, the encapsulation of five relevant amino acids in chocolate pellet form will appeal to them, facilitating their daily consumption. A reliable HPLC fluorimetric method was developed to detect and quantitatively determine L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Histidine, L-Valine, and β-Alanine in chocolate using aniline as an internal standard. Experimental design methodology was used to investigate and optimize the clean-up procedure of the samples. Therefore, three extraction techniques (solid-phase extraction (by two different SPE cartridges) and liquid–solid extraction (LSE)) were compared and evaluated. The LOQ values in chocolate varied from 24 to 118 ng/g (recovery 89.7–95.6%, %RSD < 2.5). Amino acids were pre-column derivatized with o-phthalaldehyde (OPA), while derivatization parameters were thoroughly investigated by experimental design methodology. The analysis was performed by HPLC-fluorescence (emission: λ = 455 nm, excitation: λ = 340 nm) method using a C₁₈ column and a mixture of phosphate buffer (pH = 2.8; 20 mM)-methanol as a mobile phase in gradient elution. The method was validated (r² > 0.999, %RSD < 2, LOD: 10 ng mL⁻¹ for histidine and leucine, 2 ng mL⁻¹ for alanine and valine, and 4 ng mL⁻¹ for Isoleucine) according to the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines.     

Dynamic stall modelling on airfoils based on strong viscous–inviscid interaction coupling

The prediction of the aerodynamic performance of pitching airfoils in stall conditions is considered in the context of strong viscous–inviscid interaction modelling. The aim of the work is to demonstrate the capabilities of a low‐cost dynamic stall model well suited for engineering applications. The model is formulated on the basis of a standard panel method combined with a vortex blob approximation of the wake. The development of the boundary layer over the airfoil and the evolution of the shear layer in the wake are taken into account by means of strong viscous–inviscid interaction coupling. To this end a transpiration layer is added to the inviscid formulation which represents the displacement effect viscosity results in the flow while the non‐linear coupled equations are solved simultaneously. Separation is modelled by introducing a second wake originating from the separation point (‘double‐wake’ concept) which is provided as part of the boundary layer solution. The theoretical presentation of the model is supported with favourable comparisons to four sets of wind tunnel measurements. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Noncontact optical tomography of turbid media

Optical tomography of turbid media has so far been limited by systems that require fixed geometries or measurements employing fibers. We present a system that records noncontact optical measurements from diffuse media of arbitrary shapes and retrieves the three-dimensional surface information of the diffuse medium. We further present a novel method of combining this composite data set and obtain accurate fluorescence reconstructions. This approach offers significant experimental simplicity and yields high-information-content datasets. The performance of this novel tomographic approach is demonstrated with experimental reconstructions of phantoms.     

Physical layer impairment aware wavelength routing algorithms based on analytically calculated constraints

A quality-of-service (QoS)-aware routing engine for a transparent optical network that accounts for physical layer impairments (PLI) is presented. PLI are studied collectively by means of Q-factor. The latter is calculated by analytical methods that speed up the calculation and allow application in a dynamic network. Two path establishment algorithms are deployed: the shortest-path and the shortest widest path. The impact of PLI awareness on the QoS is measured in terms of blocking probability and load balance. Any of the physical parameters can be used as an optimization variable in order to assess their effect on performance degradation at system and network level. The impact of the path establishment algorithm on the optimization parameter is analysed.     

The thermo-mechanical behavior of thin metal films under nanosecond laser pulse excitation above the thermoelastic regime

This article presents experimental results supported by advanced three-dimensional modeling for the dynamics emerging from the interaction of nanosecond laser pulses with thin metal films on dielectric substrates, especially at the melting and ablation regimes. Matter dynamics, such as the generation and propagation of surface acoustic waves and permanent deformations, are imaged with the use of a very high spatial and temporal resolution interferometric method accompanied by white-light interferometry. A three-dimensional finite element model is developed aiming to fully describe the spatiotemporal dynamics and predict with high accuracy the thermo-mechanical phenomena around melting and ablation regimes where phase changes take place. The ability of very high spatial and temporal resolution, the whole-field three-dimensional imaging as well as the simultaneous study of the laser pulse–thin film interaction regimes, makes this study valuable for applications where detailed knowledge of the thermo-mechanical behavior of matter under pulsed laser excitation is critical.     

Hexasubstituted Benzenes with Ultrastrong Dipole Moments

Hexasubstituted benzenes have been synthesized with the highest known dipole moments, as determined by dielectric spectroscopy and DFT methods. Based on the preparation of 4,5‐diamino‐3,6‐dibromophthalonitrile, combined with a novel method to synthesize dihydrobenzimidazoles, these benzene derivatives have dipole moments in excess of 10 debye. Such dipole moments are desirable in ferroelectrics, nonlinear optics, and in organic photovoltaics. Structure determination was achieved through single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, and the optical properties were determined by UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

High‐density polyethylene layered silicate nanocomposites: Effect of mechanical stretching on the crystal‐to‐crystal transformations,morphology, and extent of exfoliation

High‐density polyethylene/clay nanocomposites were elongated until breakage to investigate the effect of the mechanical stretching on the crystal‐to‐crystal transformations and their morphology. Crystalline transformations of the polymer matrix were studied via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffraction measurements. It was concluded that the stress‐induced crystal‐to‐crystal transformations from orthorhombic structures to monoclinic and pseudohexagonal structures as well as the back‐transformation during relaxation were hindered by the presence of the clay. X‐ray diffraction studies on stretched samples showed that the mechanical stretching led from an intercalated structure to an almost exfoliated structure. These findings agreed with scanning electron micrographs, in which the beneficial effect of stretching on the exfoliation of the clay was evident. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 914–924, 2006     

Decomposition of NH3 on Pd and Ir Comparison with Pt and Rh

The unimolecular decompositions of NH₃ on polycrystalline wires and foils of Pd and Ir are examined and compared with the corresponding ones on Pt and Rh. The reactions were carried out in a differential flow reactor, at pressures from 0.01 to 1 Torr and temperatures from 500 to 1900 K. It was found that the rates of product formation could be fit by Langmuir-Hinshelwood unimolecular rate expressions, with an accuracy of ±20% under all conditions. Ammonia decomposes to N₂ and the rate of decomposition is fastest on Ir by several orders of magnitude when compared with that on the other metals, becoming flux limited above about 750 K. Ir appears to be the choice catalyst for dehydrogenating ammonia. The heats of adsorption of NH₃ on Pt, Rh and Pd are similar and equal to 16.7, 16.8 and 17.4 kcal/mol, respectively. The apparent activation energy for this reaction is similar on Pt and Rh and equal to 21 kcal/mol, while for Pd and Ir it is 26.2 and 31.2 kcal/mol, respectively.