Continuously tunable photonic microwave filter based on a spatial light modulator

An optical microwave filter architecture which can be continuously tuned is proposed and demonstrated. The architecture is based on a nematic liquid crystal spatial light modulator in parallel configuration and has the potential to control a large number of taps. Proof-of concept experimental results are provided.     

Sulphur content estimation of Venezuelan heavy oil by fast neutron and gamma transmission technique

A compact and modern equipment for implementing the fast neutron and γ-ray transmission technique (FNGT) has been developed in order to estimate the sulphur content of crude oil. FNGT is employed for non- destructive analysis of different kinds of samples. The compact system presented in this work represents an improvement of our previous experimental set-up [1, 2]. It makes use of a ²⁵²Cf source, an EJ-301 liquid scintillator detector (2″ × 2″) with excellent n/γ discrimination capabilities, and modern nuclear electronics based on fast digitizers. The fast neutron and gamma transmission technique was employed to study a system for on-line sulphur concentration measurement in Venezuelan heavy sour oil. The range of sulphur concentrations investigated is between 0.1 and 6.5 wt%. The equipment performances and limitations are compared with those predicted by a Monte Carlo model built in GEANT4 v10.01. The results show the possibility to implement a compact unit for on-line determination of sulphur concentration in crude oil.

     

Di(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)-dibenzo-18-crown-6: A “light fluorous” recyclable phase transfer catalyst

A series of dibenzo-18-crown-6 lariat ethers containing two C₇H₁₅ (11), (CH₂)₂C₆F₁₃ (14), (CH₂)₂C₈F₁₇ (15), NHC₇H₁₅ (18) and NHCH₂C₆F₁₃ (19) sidearms were prepared and the single crystal X-ray structure of cis-4,4′-di(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyl)-dibenzo-18-crown-6 (15a) is reported. The “light fluorous” dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether (14) has emerged as a stable and robust PTC catalyst, which can be recycled efficiently by fluorous solid-phase extraction, and gives better PTC catalytic activity compared to the parent, non-fluorinated PTC catalyst, dibenzo-18-crown-6, and the alkylated derivative (11) in aliphatic and aromatic nucleophilic substitutions.     

Development of fast screening methods for the analysis of veterinary drug residues in milk by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

Two rapid multi-residue screening methods for the determination of 21 veterinary drugs in milk by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) have been developed and compared. For both methods, veterinary drugs were extracted from milk samples using a rapid extraction procedure based on the modification of the well-known QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) method, and no further clean-up steps were necessary. One screening method was based on the selection of a characteristic neutral loss or product ion of the various families of compounds, whereas another one was based on the choice of a selected reaction monitoring (SRM) for each compound. These methods were compared with regards to false negatives, cut-off values and the unreliability region. The total run time for both methods was 3 min, allowing quick selection of samples that contained veterinary drugs. Non-negative samples were re-analyzed by the UHPLC-MS/MS confirmation/quantification method, which consisted in the monitoring of two SRM for each compound. The methods were validated according to international guides. The proposed analytical methods allow for the identification and confirmation of the target veterinary drugs at trace levels employing quick analysis time.     

pH effect on the photochemistry of 4-methylcoumarin phosphate esters: caged-phosphate case study

There are numerous reports of coumarin ester derivatives, in particular phosphate esters, as photocleavable cages in biological systems. Despite the comprehensive analysis of the photocleavage mechanism, studies of 4-methylcoumarin caged phosphates and/or nucleotides were always performed at constant pH. In this work, we present the study of the pH effect on the photochemistry of (7-diethylaminocoumarin-4-yl)methyl phosphate (DEACM-P). Fluorescence and photocleavage quantum yields, as well as the fluorescence decay times were measured as a function of the pH. It was found that the pH produces significant changes in the overall photochemical quantum yield of DEACM-P, and the observed changes are complementary to those obtained from the fluorescence quantum yield. Deprotonation of DEACM-HPO(4)(-) to yield DEACM-PO(4)(2-), produces a decrease in the photochemical quantum yield (from 0.0045 to 0.0003) and an increase in the fluorescence quantum yield (from 0.072 to 0.092). Moreover, from the analysis of the decay times, we have also found that hydroxyl ion is not only relevant, but it is mechanistically involved in the photoreaction of DEACM-HPO(4)(-).     

Application of a quick,easy, cheap,effective, rugged and safe-based method for the simultaneous extraction of chlorophenols,alkylphenols, nitrophenols and cresols in agricultural soils,analyzed by using gas chromatography–triple quadrupole-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry

Due to the different physico-chemical properties of phenols, the development of a methodology for the simultaneous extraction and determination of phenolic compounds belonging to several families, such as chlorophenols (CPs), alkylphenols (APs), nitrophenols (NTPs) and cresols is difficult. This study shows the development and validation of a method for the analysis of 13 phenolic compounds (including CPs, APs, NTPs and cresols) in agricultural soils. For this purpose, a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS)-based procedure was developed, validated and applied to the analysis of real samples. A derivatization step prior to the final determination by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to a triple quadrupole analyzer operating in tandem mass spectrometry (QqQ-MS/MS) was performed by using acetic acid anhydride (AAA) and pyridine (Py). The optimized procedure was validated, obtaining average extraction recoveries in the range 69–103% (10 μg kg⁻¹), 65–98% (50 μg kg⁻¹), 76–112% (100 μg kg⁻¹) and 76–112% (300 μg kg⁻¹), with precision values (expressed as relative standard deviation, RSD) ≤ 22% (except for 4-chlorophenol) involving intra-day and inter-day studies. Furthermore, 15 real soil samples were analyzed by the proposed method in order to assess its applicability. Some phenolic compounds (e.g. 2,4,6-trichlorophenol or 4-tert-octylphenol) were found in the samples at trace levels (<10 μg kg⁻¹).     

Finding the dominant energy transmission paths in statistical energy analysis

A key issue for noise, vibration and harshness purposes, when modelling the vibroacoustic behaviour of a system, is that of determining how energy is transmitted from a given source, where external energy is being input, to a target where energy is to be reduced. In many situations of practical interest, a high percentage of the transmitted energy is driven by a limited set of dominant paths. For instance, this is at the core of the existence of transmission loss regulations between dwellings. In this work, it is shown that in the case of a system modelled with statistical energy analysis (SEA), the problem of ranking dominant paths can be posed as a variation of the so-called K shortest path problem in graph theory. An algorithm for the latter is then modified and adapted to obtain the sorted set of K dominant energy transmission paths in a SEA model. A numerical example to show its potential for practical applications is included.     

Spatial distribution of AT- and GC-rich DNA within interphase cell nuclei of Triatoma infestans Klug

Heterochromatin bodies in single- and multichromocentered interphase cell nuclei of Triatoma infestans, a vector of Chagas disease, have been suggested to contain AT-rich DNA, based on their positive response to Q-banding and Hoechst 33248 treatment. No information exists on whether GC-rich DNA is also present in these nuclei and whether it plays a role on chromatin condensation. Considering that methodologies more precise than those previously used to determine DNA base composition in situ are currently available, and that the spatial distribution of chromatin areas differing in composition in interphase cell nuclei of different species is a matter of interest, the localization of AT- and GC-rich DNA in T. infestans nuclei is revisited here. The methodologies used included DAPI/AMD and CMA(3)/Distamycin differential staining, Feulgen-DNA image analysis following Msp I and Hpa II enzymatic digestion, 5-methylcytidine immunodetection, AgNOR response, confocal microscopy, and the 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AZA) demethylation assay. The results identified the presence of AT-rich/GC-poor DNA in chromocenters and evenly distributed AT and GC sequences in euchromatin. A GC-rich DNA zone encircling the chromocenters was also found but it could not be associated with NOR regions. To corroborate the DNA AT-richness in T. infestans nuclei, bioinformatic analyses were also performed. Methylated cytosine was evident at some points of the chromocenters' edge in single- and multichromocentered nuclei and at the euchromatin of multichromocentered nuclei and could be transiently affected by the 5-AZA treatment. The present results suggest that in the particular case of chromocenters of the hemipteran T. infestans, cytosine methylation is not a relevant factor involved in chromatin condensation.     

Chromatin supraorganization, mitotic abnormalities and proliferation in cells with increased or down-regulated lox expression: Indirect evidence of a LOX-histone H1 interaction in vivo

Lysyl oxidases (LOXs) are enzymes that permit the covalent crosslinking of the component chains of collagen and elastin. These enzymes are present inside the nuclei of certain mammalian cells. Previous studies have proposed LOX binding to histone H1 in vitro, and histone H1 is known to control global chromatin compaction and mitotic chromosome architecture. Therefore, in the present study, we analyzed chromatin supraorganizational changes, mitotic abnormalities, mitotic indices and cell death ratios in COS-7 and NRK-49F cells with high and low lox expression levels, respectively. The objective was to support biochemical data of LOX-H1 interaction, by providing evidence of chromatin remodeling in vivo, under different lox expressions. Chromatin decondensation assessed by image analysis was observed in COS-7 cells with increased lox expression. This decondensation is suggested to be promoted by LOX actions on histone H1, which loosens the DNA-H1 complex. In NRK-49F cells transfected with antisense lox or subjected to treatment with beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), chromatin condensation and nuclear phenotypic variability were found, which may be due to reduced LOX-H1 interaction. When lox expression was increased in COS-7 cells, the frequency of irregular chromosome plates was not affected, but cell proliferation decreased and "cell death preceded by multinucleation" increased. In NRK-49F cells there was accelerated proliferation induced by transfection with the antisense lox, and confirmed when cells were treated with BAPN. Apoptosis increased in NRK-49F cells only with BAPN treatment whereas cell death preceded by multinucleation increased only after antisense lox transfection. The data presented herein regarding chromatin remodeling indirectly support the hypothesis that LOX binds to histone H1 in vivo. Cell proliferation in COS-7 and NRK-49F cells and cell death at least in COS-7 cells agree with predicted effects of LOX interference in these processes.