Thermodynamic derivative properties and densities for hyperbaric gas condensates: SRK equation of state predictions versus Monte Carlo data

The ability of Soave–Redlich–Kwong cubic equation of state (SRK EoS) to predict densities and thermodynamic derivative properties such as thermal expansivity, isothermal compressibility, calorific capacity, and Joule–Thompson coefficients, for two gas condensates over a wide range of pressures (up to 110 MPa) was studied. The predictions of the EoS were compared to Monte Carlo simulation data obtained by Lagache et al. [M.H. Lagache, P. Ungerer, A. Boutin, Fluid Phase Equilibr. 220 (2004) 221]. Two completely different alpha functions for the SRK EoS attractive term were used and their respective effects on the predictions of such properties were analyzed. Also, two different forms of the crossed terms of the attractive parameter, a_ij, and three expressions of the crossed terms of the repulsive parameter, b_ij, were combined in different ways, and predictions were carried out. Little sensitivity of the properties on the chosen alpha function, except for the calorific capacities, was found in the systems studied. The most commonly used combination rules to model phase behavior of reservoir fluids, i.e. geometric and arithmetic forms of a_ij and b_ij, respectively, predicted very deficient results for these fluids at extreme conditions, specially for density calculations.     

Differentiation between tracks and damages in SSNTD under the atomic force microscope

We have observed three-dimensional sponge-like structures as well as strips of connecting pits on the surface of the LR 115 detector after etching, which can be confused with the small tracks formed after short etching time. We have employed an atomic force microscope (AFM) to study these “damages” as well as genuine alpha tracks for short etching time. It was found that while the track and damage openings could be similar in size and shape, the depths for the damages were consistently smaller. Therefore, the depth of the pits will serve as a clear criterion to differentiate between tracks and other damages. The ability to discriminate between genuine tracks from other damages is most important for etching for short time intervals.     

Retention,enantioselectivity and enantiomeric elution order of propranolol and its ester derivatives on an alpha1-acid glycoprotein-bonded column

Summary The retention, enantionselectivity and enantiomeric elution order of racemic propranolol (PP) and its ester derivatives (O-acetyl,-propionyl,-butyrul and-valeryl PP) on an ₁-acid glycoprotein (AGP)-bonded column have been investigated by changing eluent composition (eluent pH, buffer concentration, type and content of organic modifier). The retention of these cationic solutes, PP and its ester derivatives, was influenced by eluent pH, ionic strength and organic modifier content. The enantioselectivity was dependent on eluent pH and type of organic modifier. Reversal of the enantiomeric elution order of ester derivatives of PP (O-propionyl-butyryl) and-valeryl PP) occurred around eluent pH 6–7. These results suggst that chiral recognition or binding properties may be altered by the change in eluent composition, espeically eluent pH and type of organic modifier.     

Evaluation of in vitro,in silico antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of bioactivity based isolated “Pakistanine” from Berberis baluchistanica

Bioassay based fractionation of methanolic extract of Berberis baluchistanica (Berberidaceae), used traditionally for internal injuries, led to the isolation of known compounds (1–4). The structure of these compounds was elucidated by different spectroscopic analysis and available literature data. Antidiabetic and antioxidant potentials of B. baluchistanica fractions and isolated compounds were evaluated using in vitro alpha- amylase and DPPH assays. The isolated compounds were identified as obamegine (1), pakistanine (2), 8-oxyberberine (3) and baluchistine (4). Obamegine was reported from many other species of this genus but it is first time isolated from B. baluchistanica in present study. Moreover, in vitro pakistanine (2) was found as bioactive lead molecule for hypoglycemic (IC₅₀:40.26 µg/ml) and antioxidant (IC₅₀:14.15 µg/ml) activities compared to acarbose (IC₅₀:33.68 µg/ml) and ascorbic acid (IC₅₀:0.41 µg/ml). To the best of our knowledge, no previous data were available for these biological activities. Additionally, in silico antidiabetic and antioxidant activity of pakistanine against two proteins, α-amylase (-9.7 kcal/mol) and tyrosinase (-8.7 kcal/mol) are reported here for the first time. The molecular docking binding interactions authenticate and support the above-mentioned activities and are helpful in predicting the mechanism of action of pakistanine (2).     

Capillary electrophoresis enzyme immunoassay for alpha-fetoprotein and thyroxine in human serum with electrochemical detection

A novel CE-based enzyme immunoassay (CE-EIA) method was developed in o-aminophenol (OAP)-H(2)O(2)-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) system and applied to benign liver disease and hyperthyroidism research in the clinical practical field. In the presented method, after the enzyme immunoreaction, the HRP-labeled antibody or HRP-labeled antigen catalyzed the enzyme substrate OAP and H(2)O(2). The product of the enzymatic catalysis reaction 2-aminophenoxazine-3-one (AP) was determined using electrochemical detection on a Pt electrode at the outlet of the reaction capillary. Factors influencing the performance, including running buffer concentration, separation, and detection voltage, were investigated to the optimum conditions. Noncompetitive and competitive models were utilized to detect alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and thyroxine (T(4)) in human sera, respectively. The linear ranges and the detection limits (S/N = 3) were from 1.5 to 66.6 ng/mL and 0.48 ng/mL for AFP, and from 1.7 to 260.0 ng/mL and 1.0 ng/mL for T(4). The results of this method were linear proportional to those of spectrophotometric ELISA method, giving a good prospect for a new clinical diagnostic instrument.     

Heavy-element chemistry --Status and perspectives

In the past ten years, nuclear chemists have made considerable progress in developing fast on-line separation techniques, which allowed to chemically characterize the first four transactinide elements Rf (rutherfordium, Z = 104), Db (dubnium, Z = 105), Sg (seaborgium, Z = 106), and recently also Bh (bohrium, Z = 107). In all cases the isolated nuclides were unambiguously identified by observing genetically linked decay chains. Nuclides with production cross-sections of less than 100 pb and half-lives as short as a few seconds have been chemically isolated. Thus, chemists have discovered or significantly contributed to the characterization of the nuclear-decay properties of a number of transactinide nuclei. New techniques with greatly improved overall efficiencies should allow chemists to extend their studies to even heavier elements such as Hs (hassium, Z = 108) and to the recently discovered superheavy elements with Z = 112 and 114, which can be produced only with picobarn cross-sections. Received: 21 March 2002 / Accepted: 16 May 2002 / Published online: 31 October 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: andreas.tuerler@psi.ch     

Nanoindentation and the indentation size effect: Kinetics of deformation and strain gradient plasticity

A study of the indentation size effect (ISE) in aluminum and alpha brass is presented. The study employs rate effects to examine the fundamental mechanisms responsible for the ISE. These rate effects are characterized in terms of the rate sensitivity of the hardness, , where H is the hardness and is an effective strain rate in the plastic volume beneath the indenter. can be measured using indentation creep, load relaxation, or rate change experiments. The activation volume V∗, calculated based on which can traditionally be used to compare rate sensitivity data from a hardness test to conventional uniaxial testing, is calculated. Using materials with different stacking fault energy and specimens with different levels of work hardening, we demonstrate how increasing the dislocation density affects V∗; these effects may be taken as a kinetic signature of dislocation strengthening mechanisms. We noticed both H and exhibit an ISE. The course of V∗ vs. H as a result of the ISE is consistent with the course of testing specimens with different level of work hardening. This result was observed in both materials. This suggests that a dislocation mechanism is responsible for the ISE. When the results are fitted to a strain gradient plasticity model, the data at deep indents (microhardness and large nanoindentation) exhibit a straight-line behavior closely identical to literature data. However, for shallow indents (nanoindentation data), the slope of the line severely changes, decreasing by a factor of 10, resulting in a “bilinear behavior”.     

Alpha particle and deuteron impactL-shell ionization of Ar,Cu, Ge,Br, Zr and Ag

Alpha particle and deuteron impactL-subshell ionization cross-sections of Ar, Cu, Ge, Br, Zr and Ag have been computed using Vriens’ expressions for ionization cross-section of atoms due to impact of heavy charged particles. The effects of Coulomb deflection of the projectile and increase in binding of the target electron in the presence of projectile have been incorporated. Hartree-Fock velocity distributions for the target electrons have been used in the present calculations. The simple binary encounter approximation model is found to give results which are in satisfactory agreement with those obtained from experiments and from other theories.     

Influence of alkyl chain length of alpha olefin sulfonates on surface and interfacial properties

Alpha olefin sulfonates (AOS) with various alkyl chain lengths have been used to investigate the influence of alkyl chain length on the interfacial properties at air–water, liquid paraffin–water, and parafilm–water interfaces. It was found that the critical micelle concentration decreased with increasing alkyl chain length, while the efficiency of reducing surface tension was inverse relationship with alkyl chain length. The diffusion coefficient obviously reduced with an increase of surfactant concentration and alkyl chain length. The C_14-16AOS shows better wettability and emulsification than C_16-18AOS and C_20-24AOS. For foaming properties, the foamability and foam stability dramatically decreased with increasing alkyl chain length.     

Radiochemical characterization of spring waters in Balaton Upland, Hungary, estimation of radiation dose to members of public

Hungary is rich in spring waters. A survey studying the naturally occurring alpha emitter radionuclides in 30 frequently visited and regularly consumed spring waters was conducted out in the Balaton Upland region of Hungary.²²⁶Ra, ²²⁴Ra, ²³⁴U, ²³⁸U and ²¹⁰Po activity concentrations were determined by using alpha spectrometry after separation from matrix elements. Average concentration (mBq L^{− 1}) of ²²⁶Ra, ²²⁴Ra, ²³⁴U, ²³⁸U and ²¹⁰Po in the spring waters is varied from 2.1 to 601, from < 1.1 to 65.4, from 3.9 to 741.9, from < 0.44 to 274.3 and from 2 to 15.2 respectively. In most cases radioactive disequilibrium was observed between uranium and radium isotopes. The doses for the analyzed samples of spring water are in the range 3.59–166.73 μSv y^{− 1} with an average 18.2 μSv y^{− 1} .This is well below the 100 μSv y^{− 1} reference level of the committed effective dose recommended by WHO. Only one water sample had a dose higher than 100 μSv y^{− 1}, mainly due to the contribution from radium (²²⁶Ra, ²²⁴Ra) and ²¹⁰Po isotopes. This study provides important information for consumers and authorities about their internal radiological exposure risk from spring water intake.