Cyclic fatty acid monomer: Isolation and purification with solid phase extraction

The application of a combined solid phase extraction (SPE)/clean-up procedure to the isolation of a purified fraction containing all the monomeric cyclic fatty acid methyl esters is described. Extraction of the nonpolar lipid components from nonurea-adducting (NUA) filtrates is performed on a reverse phase octadecyl bonded silica minicolumn. Stepwise elution of the SPE-retained materials through silica gel using several solvents allowed the separation of a pure fraction containing the cyclic monomers that can be used for a more reliable quantitative estimation of these compounds in edible fats and oils.     

Chemical synthesis and spectroscopic characteristics of C18 1,2-disubstituted cyclopentyl fatty acid methyl esters

The chemical synthesis of methyl 9-(2′-n-butylcyclopentyl)nonanoate and methyl 10-(2′-n-propylcyclopentyl)-decanoate was performed using a Wittig reaction between 2-alkylcyclopentanones and the corresponding ω-carbomethoxyalkyl triphenylphosphonium bromides. The intermediate alkylcyclopentylidene alkanoate esters were isolated from the reaction mixture, characterized by spectrometric methods, and then catalytically hydrogenated to the desired cyclopentyl esters. Gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that the final products contained a mixture oftrans- andcis-ring isomers with small amounts of other cyclic by-products. The GC-retention features, the mass fragmentation pattern, and the spectroscopic characteristics of both the final and the unsaturated intermediate products are discussed.     

Time-Temperature-Transformation Curves for Kaolinite-α-Alumina

The C-shaped time-temperature-transformation curves (T-T-T curves) of cristobalite formation and the L-shaped T-T-T curves of α-alumina reaction were established for a high-purity kaolinite-α-alumina mixture during heating. The results revealed that cristobalite formation in kaolinite was retarded by the presence of α-alumina between 1250° and 1350°C and was totally prohibited above 1380°C due to the reaction of kaolinite with α-alumina to form secondary mullite. The reaction of α-alumina with kaolinite was initiated at about 1250°C. It became quite extensive above 1380°C and was extremely fast at 1600°C and above, indicating the strong effect of the eutectic liquid formation at ∼1587°C in silica-alumina. The effectiveness of the established T-T-T curves was demonstrated and discussed.     

Surface modification of stainless steels: green technology for corrosion protection

Many methods of corrosion protection rely on toxic chemicals such as hexavalent chromium (Cr⁶⁺), which is the species responsible for protection in conversion coatings, anodizing baths and as a pigment in polymer coatings. Despite many attemps to replace Cr⁶⁺ and other harzardous chemicals in corrosion protection, very little progress has been made. Passive layers containing Ce and Mo have already been formed on materials such as A17075 and A12024, and their corrosion behaviour has been shown to improve by inhibition of both anodic and cathodic reaction. In this work the results of applying these coatings to SS304 and 316 will be presented. The layers were studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS), and the corrosion behaviour was followed by EIS and d.c. current methods.     

Inhibition of potato cyst nematode hatch by lignans fromBupleurum salicifolium (Unbelliferae)

A series of lignans fromBupleurum salicifolium Soland (Umbelliferae) were tested for nematostatic activity on the cysts and freed secondstage juveniles of the potato cyst nematodesGlobodera rostochiensis andG. pallida. None of the six lignans tested—bursehernin, matairesinol, syringaresinol, the novel product buplerol, guayarol, and a derivative, nortrachelogenin triacetate—showed nematicidal activity in an in vitro analysis with second-stage juveniles, but significant differences were noted when the lignans were assayed for nematostatic activity as cyst hatching inhibitors. Bursehernin and matairesinol showed the greatest activity, at concentrations of 50 ppm. This is the first known instance of a natural product inhibiting the hatch of the nematodeG. pallida. The HID (hatching inhibiting dose) of bursehernin was estimated, and some conclusions were drawn about the structure-activity relationships of the lignans under study.     

Responses by amphisbaenianBlanus cinereus to chemicals from prey or potentially harmful ant species

We tested the ability of amphisbaenians (Blanus cinereus) to discriminate between odors of ant species selected as prey (Pheidole pallidula) and odors of potentially harmful ant species (Messor barbarus) that are avoided. Tongue-flick rate to swabs impregnated with ant odors, cologne, or deionized water differed among treatments, showing that amphisbaenians were able to discriminate ant species odors. Amphisbaenians showed an aggressive response and bit applicators bearing the odor of harmful ants, while the odor of prey ants did not elicit bites to swabs. The possible evolutionary advantage of identifying and avoiding harmful ants is discussed in relation to the fossoriality of amphisbaenians.     

Effectiveness of nitrogen incorporation to enhance the photoelectrochemical activity of nanostructured TiO2:NH3 versus H2-N2 annealing

Highly ordered TiO(2) nanohole layers were synthesized by anodic oxidation of titanium foils using ethylene glycol and ammonium fluoride as the electrolyte. The effectiveness of different methods, namely annealing at 500?°C in NH(3) and in H(2) diluted in N(2), to incorporate nitrogen into TiO(2) and thus extend its photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity to the visible range was studied. The intra-gap levels introduced by both processes were identified by means of XPS and PL measurements. Water splitting experiments demonstrated that annealing in H(2) improved the photocatalytic activity of pure TiO(2), while annealing in ammonia led to a decrease in the PEC performance.     

Airborne ultrasonic vortex generation using flexible ferroelectrets

Cellular ferroelectrets exhibit interesting electromechanical- acoustical characteristics. Their recent appearance and remarkable properties open up new possibilities for the design and development of ultrasonic transducers. In particular, the feasibility of fabricating ultrasonic vortex generators using ferroelectret films is demonstrated in this work. To this end, a transducer prototype was built by gluing the material onto a tangential-helical surface (outer diameter: 40 mm, pitch: 3.45 mm). Experimental results agree well with the theoretical estimation of the pressure and phase of the acoustic field in the near field and far field, which corroborates the potential of ferroelectrets to customize special acoustic fields. Furthermore, the proposed fabrication procedure is inexpensive and represents a new alternative for exploring and analyzing the special characteristics of acoustical helical wavefronts.     

Tritrichomonas foetus adhere to superhydrophilic vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube surface

For the first time, we show that Tritrichomonas foetus can adhere on superhydrophilic vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNT) films. Scanning electron microscopy shows an unusual adhesion with a higher membrane filopodium projection in all directions, directly attached to superhydrophilic VACNT tips.     

Volatiles from Duck Feces Attractive to Mexican Fruit Fly

Aqueous extracts of three types of bird feces were attractive to laboratory-colony Mexican fruit flies in laboratory bioassays. Extracts of black-bellied whistling duck feces were chosen for further analysis. Duck feces extract was attractive to both sugar-fed and sugar-starved flies but was more attractive to sugar-fed flies. Protein deprivation of flies had no effect on their response. Duck feces incubated in water for 24 hr were more attractive than those incubated for longer periods. Duck feces extract was attractive at pH 5–9, but was most attractive at pH 9, indicating that more than one class of chemicals contributed to attractiveness of the feces. Major components of headspace of duck feces extracts collected by solid-phase microextraction and identified by GC-MS, GC-FID, and GC-FTD included ethanol, propanol, phenol, ammonia, low-molecular weight amines, and pyrazines. In general, chemicals containing nitrogen proved most attractive to sugar-fed flies. However, dimethylamine and 1-pyrroline were nearly equally attractive to sugar-fed and sugar-deprived flies. Two chemicals without nitrogen were attractive to sugar-deprived flies; none were attractive to sugar-fed flies. A synthetic mixture was prepared containing ammonia, methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, 1-pyrroline, phenol, and 2-ethylhexanol in amounts found in odor of duck feces extract. The synthetic mixture was 96% as attractive as duck feces extract to sugar-fed flies and 80% as attractive to sugar-deprived flies.