Isolation of Bisphenol A-Tolerating/degrading Shewanella haliotis Strain MH137742 from an Estuarine Environment

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - The human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) occurs frequently. Once, this compound was one of the highest volume chemicals produced worldwide and used as a...     

Kinetics of the amorphous—anatase phase transformation in copper doped titanium oxide

Samples of TiO₂ doped with 2 and 5 mol% of Cu²⁺ were prepared by the sol-gel process. Titanium(IV) isopropoxide and copper(II) nitrate were used as precursors. The samples were prepared as monolithic shapes, dried at 80°C for 72 h and heat treated at various temperatures in the range 200–900°C for 2 h. The structural transformation and texture of the samples were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and nitrogen adsorption. Significant changes were observed during the crystallization process; on the one hand, the crystallization profiles show that crystallization occurs uniformly and is practically insensitive to the dopant concentration, but when the transformation at a given temperature is followed as a function of time, the rate of the amorphous-anatase transformation is larger for the sample containing 2 mol% Cu²⁺. Electron spin resonance (ESR) results show that in this sample there is no segregation of Cu²⁺ ions. The sample containing 2 mol% of Cu²⁺ was selected for the kinetic studies and the temperatures selected were 300, 325, 350, 375 and 400°C, which were taken from the amorphous to anatase crystallization profile. An activation energy of 137 ± 4 kJ/mol for the crystallization process was estimated from the kinetic data. These results showed that the effect of the open structure present in the TiO₂ amorphous phase provides the atomic mobility required for the crystallization. On the other hand, the differences in the crystallization rate due to the amount of Cu²⁺ were explained by the segregation of copper ions to the surface of the samples.     

A molecular tool kit for the variable design of logic operations (NOR, INH, EnNOR)

A simple set of five components was used to design molecular logic gates based on phthalimide-sensitised Tb(III) luminescence, including the first report of an enabled NOR (EnNOR) gate.     

Probabilization of Logics: Completeness and Decidability

The probabilization of a logic system consists of enriching the language (the formulas) and the semantics (the models) with probabilistic features. Such an operation is said to be exogenous if the enrichment is done on top, without internal changes to the structure, and is called endogenous otherwise. These two different enrichments can be applied simultaneously to the language and semantics of a same logic. We address the problem of studying the transference of metaproperties, such as completeness and decidability, to the exogenous probabilization of an abstract logic system. First, we setup the necessary framework to handle the probabilization of a satisfaction system by proving transference results within a more general context. In this setup, we define a combination mechanism of logics through morphisms and prove sufficient condition to guarantee completeness and decidability. Then, we demonstrate that probabilization is a special case of this exogenous combination method, and that it fulfills the general conditions to obtain transference of completeness and decidability. Finally, we motivate the applicability of our technique by analyzing the probabilization of the linear temporal logic over Markov chains, which constitutes an endogenous probabilization. The results are obtained first by studying the exogenous semantics, and then by establishing an equivalence with the original probabilization given by Markov chains.     

On sequences of Hurwitz polynomials related to orthogonal polynomials

ABSTRACT

In this contribution, we explore the well-known connection between Hurwitz and orthogonal polynomials. Namely, given a Hurwitz polynomial, it is shown that it can be decomposed into two parts: a polynomial that is orthogonal with respect to some positive measure supported in the positive real axis and its corresponding second-kind polynomial. Conversely, given a sequence of orthogonal polynomials with respect to a positive measure supported in the positive real axis, a sequence of Hurwitz polynomials can be constructed. Based on that connection, we construct sequences of Hurwitz polynomials that satisfy a recurrence relation, in a similar way as the orthogonal polynomials do. Even more, we present a way to construct families of Hurwitz polynomials using two sequences of parameters and a recurrence relation that constitutes an analogue of Favard's theorem in the theory of orthogonal polynomials.     

A Fluorescent and Phosphorescent Nanoporous Solid: Crystalline Calix[4]arene

Calix[4]arene forms elongated nanoporous microcrystals. The pores are linear nano-channels (1.7 nm diameter) arranged in a honeycomb network. The crystals luminesce at room temperature according to a variety of processes that include monomer fluorescence (lifetime of ca. 1.1 ns), dimer fluorescence (lifetime of ca. 5.4 ns), and monomer phosphorescence (lifetime of ca. 2 s). The dimers result from pi-orbital overlap of adjacent phenol groups from neighboring nano-channels, with C-C distances of ca. 4 A.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic, electrochemical and structural characterization of Cu(II) complexes with asymmetric NN′OS coordination spheres

A set of four Cu(II) complexes, [Cu(cdnapen)], [Cu(cdnappd)], [Cu(cdMenappd)] and [Cu(cdMeMeOsalpd)], derived from Schiff base ligands with an asymmetric NN′OS coordination sphere have been synthesized. The molecular and the crystal structures have been determined by X-ray diffractometry. The structural results confirm that the complexes are tetra coordinated. The copper (II) ion coordinates to two nitrogen atoms from the imine moiety of the ligand, a sulfur atom from the methyl dithiocarboxylate moiety and a phenolic oxygen atom. The complexes show an unusual tetrahedral distortion to the square-planar geometry around the metal centre in spite of the pseudomacrocyclic skeleton of the ligand. The complexes were further characterized by cyclic voltammetry and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The degree of tetrahedral distortion of the complexes appears to be dependent on the number of carbon atoms of the aliphatic bridge and the nature of the coordinating atoms.     

Maximal Unstable Dissipative Interval to Preserve Multi-scroll Attractors via Multi-saturated Functions

In this paper, we present families of piecewise linear systems which are controlled by a continuous piecewise monoparametric control function for the generation of monoparametric families of multi-scroll attractors. Thus, the maximum range of values that the parameter set can take in order to preserve the useful dynamics for generating of multi-scroll attractors is found and it will be called maximal robust dynamics interval. This class of dynamical systems is the result of combining two or more unstable “one-spiral” trajectories. We give necessary and sufficient conditions in order to preserve multi-scroll attractors in terms of a parameter, i.e., a family of multi-scroll attractors is generated by means of a family of switching systems with multiple monoparametric companion matrices. Lastly, we provide an example to show how the developed theory works.     

Examination of analyte partitioning to monocationic and dicationic imidazolium-based ionic liquid aggregates using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography

Solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography has been used to study the partitioning behaviour of several analytes to four monocationic and two dicationic imidazolium-based ionic liquid (IL) aggregates. The 14 different analytes studied consisted of aliphatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, and esters. The obtained partition coefficients for analytes that exhibited partitioning into the IL-aggregates ranged from 30 to 5200. Hydrophobic analytes (with octanol-water partition coefficients higher than 300) appear to be preferably extracted over more polar analytes revealing the possibility of carrying out selective extractions using these aggregate systems. Monocationic IL-aggregates generally exhibited higher partition coefficients compared to analogous dicationic ILs. The micellar shape of the IL-aggregates also influences the extent of analyte partitioning.     

Transport inefficiency in branched-out mesoscopic networks: an analog of the Braess paradox

We present evidence for a counterintuitive behavior of semiconductor mesoscopic networks that is the analog of the Braess paradox encountered in classical networks. A numerical simulation of quantum transport in a two-branch mesoscopic network reveals that adding a third branch can paradoxically induce transport inefficiency that manifests itself in a sizable conductance drop of the network. A scanning-probe experiment using a biased tip to modulate the transmission of one branch in the network reveals the occurrence of this paradox by mapping the conductance variation as a function of the tip voltage and position.