Synthesis, crystal structure and mono-dimensional thallium ion conduction of TlFe0.22Al0.78As2O7

A new solid solution TlFe_0.22Al_0.78As₂O₇ has been synthesized by a solid-state reaction. The structure of the title compound has been determined from a single-crystal X-ray diffraction and refined to final values of the reliability factors: R(F²)=0.030 and wR(F²)=0.081 for 1343 independent reflections with I>2σ(I). It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1, with a=6.296(2) Å, b=6.397(2) Å, c=8.242(2) Å, α=96.74(2)°, β=103.78(2)°, γ=102.99(3)°, V=309.0(2) Å³ and Z=2. The structure can be described as a three-dimensional framework containing (Fe/Al)O₆ octahedra connected through As₂O₇ groups. The metallic units and diarsenate groups share oxygen corners to form a three-dimensional framework with interconnected tunnels parallel to the a, b and c directions, where Tl⁺ cations are located. The ionic conductivity measurements are performed on pellets of the polycrystalline powder. At 683 K, The conductivity value is 5.23×10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ and the ionic jump activation energy is 0.656 eV. The bond valence analysis reveals that the ionic conductivity is ensured by Tl⁺ along the [001] direction.     

New series of acridines and phenanthrolines: synthesis and characterization

New series of acridines and phenanthrolines have been prepared from β-chlorovinyl aldehydes and various aniline derivatives allowing the installation of valuable substituents, such as ketone, nitro or amino groups at the heterocyclic core. X-ray analyses confirmed the structures of acridines and phenanthrolines as well as the presence of partially hydrogenated rings and their crucial impact on the overall shape of the acridine-based architectures. ¹H NMR revealed the helical behaviour of several acridine motives. Comparison of UV data between architectures and influence of number of partially hydrogenated rings is also described.     

Facile Preparation of Mn3O4 Hausmanite Nanoplates from a New Octahedral Manganese (III) Schiff Base Complex

A novel bidentate Schiff base ligand L (L = N-(4-amino-2-chloro-phenyl)-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde) and the subsequent octahedral manganese(III) Schiff base complex MnL ₃ have been synthesized and characterized by, FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses (CHN). Additionally, Schiff base ligand has been characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis of the ligand and its metal complexes reveals their thermal stability and decomposition pattern. Thus, the MnL ₃ complex has been investigated as a novel precursor for the facile preparation of Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles via solid-state thermal decomposition under aerobic conditions, at a temperature of ca. 450 °C The resulting Mn₃O₄ nanocrystals were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRPD studies reveal the characteristic diffraction peaks indexed to the Mn₃O₄ hausmanite structure, while the absence of additional peaks tends to clearly indicate the high purity of the sample. In addition, the TEM/SEM investigations displayed the nanoplate shape of the rather monodisperse crystalline Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles, with an average diameter of ca. 10 nm. The statistical distribution of the nanoparticles size has to be provided with an histogram graphic.     

The effects of geometrical parameters on carrier states and optical transitions in a quantum ring

Using a numerical method via the electron effective mass theory, a model of a quantum ring (QR) with a shape very close to the real one and taken from an experimental work, we investigate the electron states in a semi-conductor QR, studying the influence of the ring’s geometrical parameters on the electron spectrum and on the optical transitions. Our hetero structure evolves from a single quantum dot (QD) to a QR. We find that the one-electron ground state presents an absolute minimum when studied as a function of the ring radius. The reliability of the calculations is checked with experimental data.     

AC electrical properties study and equivalent circuit of a monovalent-mixed pyrophosphate

NaAgPbP₂O₇ was prepared with a solid-state reaction. The electrical properties were investigated by using impedance measurements in the frequency range from 200 Hz to 5 MHz with the TEGAM 3550 ALF automatic bridge monitored by a microcomputer between 581 K and 703 K. The Z′ and Z″ versus frequency plots are well fitted to an equivalent circuit model. The conductivity data obey the universal power law. The conductivity in the material is due to the hopping of monovalent ions parallel to (001) plane.     

Purification and Biochemical Characterization of an Acid-Stable Lipase from the Pyloric Caeca of Sardine (Sardinella aurita)

A lipolytic activity was located in the sardine digestive glands (pyloric caeca), from which a sardine digestive lipase (SaDL) was purified. Pure SaDL has a molecular mass of 43 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. The enzyme was found to be more active on short-chain triacylglycerols than on long-chain ones. SaDL does not present the interfacial activation phenomenon. Control experiments were performed under the same experimental conditions, with dromedary and turkey pancreatic lipases and showed a positive interfacial activation phenomenon. Sodium deoxycholate (NaDC) has an inhibitory effect on the lipase activity. The pure enzyme lost 40% of its activity in presence of 8 mM NaDC. SaDL was found to be mostly stable at low pH values. Interestingly, no colipase was detected in the sardine pyloric caeca. Analogous results were reported for the scorpion and the crab digestive systems. This is in line with the idea that colipase might has evolved in mammal animals simultaneously with the appearance of an exocrine pancreas. No similarity was found between the NH₂-terminal amino acid residues of SaDL and those of lipases from the digestive tract of other species. Altogether, these results suggest that SaDL is a member of a new group of lipases belonging to aquatic species.     

The stochastic bid generation problem in combinatorial transportation auctions

In this paper, we deal with the generation of bundles of loads to be submitted by carriers participating in combinatorial auctions in the context of long-haul full truckload transportation services. We develop a probabilistic optimization model that integrates the bid generation and pricing problems together with the routing of the carrier’s fleet. We propose two heuristic procedures that enable us to solve models with up to 400 auctioned loads.     

DSC study of the kinetic parameters of the metastable phases formation during non-isothermal annealing of an Al–Si–Mg alloy

Kinetics of β″ and β′ precipitations in an AlSiMg have been studied under non-isothermal conditions using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. The variation of the activation energy as a function of transformed fraction is determined using two isoconversional methods of Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Friedman. The results obtained using the two methods show a change in the activation energy for both metastable phases precipitations as a function of transformed fraction. The results obtained from KAS method as compared with those obtained from Friedman method, show some major disagreements between the two methods. The growth exponent, determined by Ozawa method, decreases as a function of temperature for both phases.