Adsorption Behavior of Halogenated Anesthetic and Water Vapor on Cr‐Based MOF (MIL‐101) Adsorbent. Part I. Equilibrium and Breakthrough Characterizations

A synthesized chromium‐based metal organic framework (Cr‐MOF) was used for the adsorption of halogenated anesthetics, i.e., sevoflurane (SF). Adsorption isotherm and breakthrough experiments involving SF (reference sorbate) and water vapor were measured at 298 K and atmospheric pressure on both Cr‐MOF and a commercially used reference adsorbent. The Cr‐MOF MIL‐101 showed a significantly higher SF adsorption capacity and much higher selectivity relative to water vapor compared to the reference adsorbent. Binary‐mixture breakthrough tests demonstrated a “roll‐up effect” for SF on the reference adsorbent while no such effect was observed on MIL‐101.     

Studio del resto di formule di quadratura mediante l'esame del segno della funzione d'influenza

Sommario Si sa che le proprietà del resto nelle formule di quadatura dipendono essenzialmente dalla struttura della funzione d'influenza. Pertanto, in questo lavoro, si è introdotta una nuova tecnica che permette di riconoscere casi, parzialmente noti, in cui la funzione d'influenza è a segno costante e, di conseguenza, il resto assume la formaE=k.f ^(N+1) (ξ).

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Summary We know that the properties of the remainder in the quadrature formulae depend essentially from the structure of the influence's function. Therefore, in this work we have introduced a new technique that let us study partially well-known cases, in which the influence's function is of constant sign and, consequently, the remainder assumes the form:E=k.f ^(N+1) (ξ).

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Lavoro svolto nell'ambito delle attività del G.N.A.F.A. e dell'Istituto per le Applicazioni del Calcolo.     

Commentary: Who measures those who measure? The future of assessing research activity in Canadian psychology.

The recent article in Canadian Psychology by Carleton, Peluso, and Asmundson (2010) assessing the research activity of Canadian psychology departments with graduate programmes has generated substantial feedback. We are very pleased to have provided not only an initial data set for review by departments and individuals, but also to have prompted what we believe is an important discussion. The current article responds to a thoughtful critique and extension of our initial work (Symons, 2011). Herein we address and expand on each of the comments raised by Symons in an attempt to fully delineate the successes and challenges for our profession as we take the next steps in this area of research. Also, in light of the review and other anecdotal feedback received to date, we make further recommendations for using the data available from the Web of Knowledge, the rankings we provided, and the data provided by Symons. We conclude with directions for future research that we believe will help further the area. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Ceratitis capitata homologue of the Drosophila sex-determining gene sex-lethal is structurally conserved, but not sex-specifically regulated

In Drosophila, Sxl functions as a binary switch in sex determination. Under the control of the primary sex-determining signal, it produces functional protein only in XX animals to implement female development. Here we report that, in contrast to Drosophila, the Sxl homologue in the Medfly, Ceratitis capitata, expresses the same mRNAs and protein isoforms in both XX and XY animals irrespective of the primary sex-determining signal. Also, experiments with two inducible transgenes demonstrate that the corresponding Ceratitis SXL product has no significant sex-transforming effects when expressed in Drosophila. Similar results have been obtained for the Sxl homologue of Musca domestica (Meise, M., Hilfiker-Kleiner, D., Brunner, C., D?bendorfer, A., N?thiger, R. and Bopp, D. (1998) Development 125, 1487-1494). Our findings suggest that Sxl acquired its master regulatory role in sex determination during evolution of the Acalyptratae group, most probably after phylogenetic divergence of the genus Drosophila from other genera of this group.     

Evaluation of phase relations in the Nb-Cr-Al system at 1000°C using a diffusion-multiple approach

A high-efficiency diffusion-multiple approach was used to map most of the phase relations of the Nb-Cr-Al ternary system at 1000°C. This system is very valuable for the design of niobium silicide-based composites. These composites have high potential as a replacement for Ni-base superalloys for jet engine applications. Both Cr and Al are alloying elements for these composites; thus the Nb-Cr-Al phase diagram, especially the stability of the oxidation-resistant Laves phase, is important information for the composite design. A partial 1000°C isothermal section was constructed from the results obtained using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) from a diffusion multiple made up of Nb, Cr, NbAl₃, and NbSi₂. The stabilization of the C14 Laves phase by Al dominates the 1000°C isothermal section, and the solubility of Al in the C14 Laves phase is as high as ∼45 at.%.     

Development of a biosensor for monitoring of glycerol during alcoholic fermentation

A biosensor for the measurement of glycerol in FIA was constructed using covalently immobilized glycerokinase and glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase in conjunction with a Pt based hydrogen peroxide probe. Different immobilization strategies have been studied including random and asymmetric immobilization onto a polymeric support and immobilization onto two different membranes. The latter resulted in the best configuration for batch measurement. The most effective configuration for measurement in FIA was the immobilization of glycerokinase in a glass beads reactor coupled with glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase on a preactivated Immobilon AV membrane kept at the electrode surface. Using a 250-microliter injection loop, 3 mmol ATP(Mg+2) in 0.1 M borate buffer pH 8.5 and a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min, a linear response in the 2 x 10(-6)/10(-3) mol/l range and a detection limit of 5 x 10(-7) mol/l were obtained for glycerol. Lifetime of the glycerol-3-phosphate membrane was extended up to 1 month by storage in the working buffer containing 1% DEAE-dextran and 5% lactitol. More than 350 samples can be assayed with this system. The biosensor was used to monitor off-line glycerol production during alcoholic fermentations carried out at different pHs and temperatures.     

Aromatic DNA adducts in relation to dietary and other lifestyle factors in Spanish adults

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between bulky DNA adducts in white blood cells (WBC) and lifestyle factors in a sample from the Spanish cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). 296 subjects aged between 35 and 64 years, from five regions, were included. Food intake was estimated with a computerized version of dietary history questionnaire. Daily intake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) was estimated using a database with information on food content of potential carcinogens. Data on lifestyle and health factors were collected and DNA adducts measured using the nuclease P1 ³²P-postlabelling technique. Geometric means of adducts were similar for men and women (4.11/10⁹ and 3.94/10⁹ nucleotides, respectively). Highest levels of adduct were observed in non-smokers and non-occupationally exposed. Meat intake, oils and fats were associated with higher levels of adducts, but all non-statistically significant. Higher intakes of calcium, sodium and phosphorus were associated with lower adducts levels. Summarising, our study shows that bulky adducts measured by ³²P-postlabelling in DNA from WBC do not correlate with the usual diet of healthy Spanish adults. Although it has been proposed that diet be the main source of PAH in nonsmokers without occupational exposure, DNA adducts do not seem to be suitable biomarkers of dietary PAH in general population.     

Una variazione del metodo di Halley

Sommario In questa nota si studia una classe di metodi iterativi, per la ricerca delle radici di una equazione, che include il metodo di Halley. Si prova che ogni metodo della classe è del terzo ordine e si calcola la costante di errore per ognuno di essi. Si individuano poi quei metodi della classe che sono globalmente convergenti per funzioni genus zero o uno. Infine is trova un metodo che ha una costante in valore assoluto più piccola di quella di Halley. Tale metodo è di tipo razionale e involge le stesse derivate di quello di Halley.

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We study a class of iterative methods devoted to the search of the roots of an equation. The class includes Halley's method. We prove each method belonging to the class to be of third order and for it evaluate the error constant. Among such methods we identify the ones which are globally convergent for zero or one genus functions. In particulary we find a method which has an error constant whose absolute value is less than the Halley's one. This is a rational one-point method which involves the same derivatives as Halley's method.

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Lavoro svolto nell'ambito del gruppo G.N.I.M.