Affine Arithmetic: Concepts and Applications

Affine arithmetic is a model for self-validated numerical computation that keeps track of first-order correlations between computed and input quantities. We explain the main concepts in affine arithmetic and how it handles the dependency problem in standard interval arithmetic. We also describe some of its applications.     

Latest results on J/ϕ suppression

We present preliminary results on J/? production in Pb-Pb collisions at 158 GeV/nucleon, obtained in the analysis of the most recent data sample collected by NA50 experiment in year 2000. The results are compared with an updated absorption curve deduced from new high statistics protonnucleus data. The measurements reported here confirm the anomalous J/? suppression already observed by NA50 from previously collected data samples.     

Synthesis of substituted 5-aminomethyl tetrahydro-isoquinolines and dihydro-isoindoles

The synthesis of ten substituted aminomethylene tetrahydro-isoquinolines is described, proceeding in eight steps from 5-hydroxyisoquinoline via reductive amination of N-Boc tetrahydro-isoquinoline 5-carboxaldehyde. Likewise, reductive amination was used to prepare four substituted dihydro-isoindoles from the corresponding aldehyde. The dihydro-isoindole ring system was conveniently accessed via a 2+2+2 cycloaddition reaction.     

Potentiometric studies on the complexation of copper(II) by phenolic acids as discrete ligand models of humic substances

Studies on the complexation of copper(II) by phenolic acids, as ligand models of humic substances were done by potentiometry. The acids under study were: 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid or hydrocaffeic acid (1), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (2) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid or protocatechuic acid (3). Acidity constants of the ligands and the formation constants of metal-ligand complexes were evaluated by computer programs. The carboxylic group of the phenolic acids has different pK_a1 values, being the dissociation constants intrinsically related with the distance between the function and the aromatic nucleus. The results obtained allow concluding that acidity constants of the catechol moiety of the compounds are similar with pK_a2 and pK_a3 values between 9.47-9.41 and 11.55-11.70. The complexation properties of the three ligands towards copper(II) ion are quite similar, being the species found not different either in nature or stability. Although the model ligands have some structural differences no significant differences were found in their complexation properties towards copper(II). So, it can be postulated that complexation process is intrinsically related with the presence of a catechol group.     

Lipase from a Brazilian StrainPenicillium citrinum Cultured in a Simple and Inexpensive Medium st]Heat-Denaturation, Kinetics, and pH Stability

This work is a study of lipase production by a Brazilian strain ofPenicillium citrinum using an inexpensive and simple medium without organic nitrogen sources and of some important industrial properties, including thermostability in relation to ionic strength. The maximal lipase activity (1585 U/L) was obtained whenPenicillium citrinum was cultured on 0.75% ammonium sulfate complemented with minerals salts instead of yeast extract. Although this activity was about 55% lower than that produced in medium with yeast extract (2850 U/L), the specific activity (7.8 U/mg proteins) was higher than that obtained with the yeast extract (4.9 U/mg proteins). The morphology of fungus changed totally, with yeast extract there are smooth, solid, and spherical pellets whereas on ammonium sulfate there are small “hairy” pellets uniformly suspended in the medium. The effect of ferrous (Fe⁺⁺) ions was carried out using medium MA with and without Fe⁺⁺ ions. Lipase production byPenicillium citrinum in medium MA requires Fe⁺⁺ ions, the absence of which caused a decreased of about 50% in the specific activity (3.5 U/mg proteins). The utilization of commercial, locally available oils as carbon sources, such as soybean oil (236 U/L) and corn oil (74 U/L) resulted in lower activity compared to olive oil, showing that lipase production byPenicillium citrinum is specifically induced by olive oil. Potassium concentration in the medium can effects the production of lipase (1 mM (1585 U/L), 10 mM (1290 U/L), and 30 mM (1238 U/L), 50 mM (195 U/L), and 100 mM (2 U/L). The crude culture filtered was susceptable to thermal deactivation. It was stable at pH 6.0, but was not stable at the optimum pH (8.0-8.5) at 50 mM. At the low ionic concentration (1-25 mM) this lipase was stable at low pH (3.5-4.0). The activation energy was 22.4 ±2.2 Kcal. mol 1.     

Hamaker constants in integrated circuit metalization

A new method for determining Hamaker constants was examined for materials of interest in integrated circuit manufacture. An ultra-high vacuum atomic force microscope and an atomic force microscope operated in a nitrogen environment were used to measure the interaction forces between metals, dielectrics, and barriers used during the metalization portion of integrated circuit manufacturing. The materials studied included copper, silver, titanium nitride, silicon dioxide, poly(tetrafluoroethylene), and parylene-N. Spheres coated with a material of interest were mounted on AFM cantilevers and brought into contact with substrates of interest. The interaction force was measured as the cantilever approached the substrate but before the two surfaces came into contact, and also when the particle was pulled out of contact with the substrate. The Hamaker constant calculation from the contact measurement is based on an adhesion model that quantifies the contribution of geometrical, morphological and mechanical properties of materials to the measured adhesion force. Hamaker constants determined with this new approach were compared with values found by using the Derjaguin approximation for a sphere to describe the interaction force as the cantilever approaches the surface. Both approaches produced similar values for most of the systems studied, with variations of less than 10%.     

Electrospray mass and tandem mass spectrometry of homologous and isomeric singly, doubly, triply and quadruply charged cationic ruthenated meso-(phenyl)m-(meta- and para-pyridyl)n (m + n = 4) macrocyclic porphyrin complexes

Ten homologous or isomeric singly, doubly, triply and quadruply charged cationic macrocyclic complexes I-Va, bn+ (n = 1-4) formed by the coordination of [Ru(bipy)2Cl]+ to the pyridyl N-atoms of a series of meso-(phenyl)m-(meta or para-pyridyl)n-porphyrins (m + n = 4) were transferred to the gas phase and structurally characterized by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass (MS) and tandem mass (MS/MS) spectrometry. Previously known to be stable in solution and in the solid state, I-Va, bn+ are found to constitute also a new class of stable, long-lived multiply charged gas-phase ions with spatially separated charge sites. Increasing intramolecular electrostatic repulsion from Ia, b+ to IVa, b3+ facilitates in-source and tandem collision-induced dissociation (CID). However, for the quadruply charged ions Va, b4+, electrostatic repulsion is alleviated mainly by ion pairing with the CF3SO3- counterion forming the salt clusters [Va,b/CF3SO3]3+ and [Va,b/(CF3SO3)2]2+ with reduced charge states. Ion-pairing that yields [IVa,b/CF3SO3]2+ is also observed as a minor ESI process for the triply charged ions IVa, b3+. The gaseous ions I-Va, bn+ (n = 2, 3 or 4) dissociate by sequential 'charge partitioning' with the formation of two cationic fragments by the release of [Ru(bipy)2Cl]+. The meta (a) and para (b) isomers and the positional isomers II2+ and III2+ display nearly identical ESI-MS and ESI-MS/MS spectra. ESI-MS/MS of I-Va, bn+ shows that the Ru-py(P) is, intrinsically, the weakest bond since this bond breaks preferentially upon CID.     

Liquid chromatography-diode array detection-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry/nuclear magnetic resonance analyses of the anti-hyperglycemic flavonoid extract of Genista tenera. Structure elucidation of a flavonoid-C-glycoside

The anti-hyperglycemic flavonoid extract obtained from Genista tenera was first studied by liquid chromatography (LC)-diode array detection (DAD) which showed the presence of two major compounds. One of them was identified as genistein-7-O-glucoside. Luteolin-7-O-glucoside was detected as a minor constituent, while luteolin-7,3'-di-O-glucoside and rutin were found in trace amounts. LC-DAD-ESI-MS and NMR were used to confirm the structure of these compounds and allowed the elucidation of the structure of the unknown major compound, which is the flavonoid 5,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone-8-C-glucoside.     

Synthesis of a Naphthalimide Functionalized Calix[4]arene; A Host Type Fluorophore for Inclusion Compounds in Organic Medium

This article reports the synthesis and the properties of 5,11,17,23-tetra(t-butyl)-25,27-bis-(ethoxy-1,8-naphthalimide)-26,28-hidroxy-calix[4]arene and the formation of an inclusion compound in organic medium. This functionalized calix[4]arene was conceived as the association of a potential host species with a good fluorophore for optical sensoring purposes. Calix[4]-NI as we will call it, maintains its ‘cone-pinched’ configuration and exhibits typical naphthalimide fluorescence bands in non-polar solvents. Its ability to interact with guest species via hydrogen bonding in its endo-hydrophilic cavity to form inclusion compounds was verified with absorption and fluorescence measurements using N-ethanol-1,8-naphthalimide as guest species, which was projected to fit exactly the host cavity and to interact with its naphthalimide π electrons. For this reason, it was possible to follow the formation of the inclusion compound with electronic spectroscopy.