Bose-Einstein condensation in dark power-law laser traps

We investigate theoretically an original route to achieve Bose-Einstein condensation using dark power-law laser traps. We propose to create such traps with two crossing blue-detuned Laguerre-Gaussian optical beams. Controlling their azimuthal order $\ell$ allows for the exploration of a multitude of power-law trapping situations in one, two and three dimensions, ranging from the usual harmonic trap to an almost square-well potential, in which a quasi-homogeneous Bose gas can be formed. The usual cigar-shaped and disk-shaped Bose-Einstein condensates obtained in a 1D or 2D harmonic trap take the generic form of a "finger" or of a "hockey puck" in such Laguerre-Gaussian traps. In addition, for a fixed atom number, higher transition temperatures are obtained in such configurations when compared with a harmonic trap of same volume. This effect, which results in a substantial acceleration of the condensation dynamics, requires a better but still reasonable focusing of the Laguerre-Gaussian beams

The Effect of the Stationary Phase on Resolution in the HPLC-Based Separation of Racemic Mixtures Using Vancomycin as a Chiral Selector: A Case Study with Profen Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

\ua9 2023 by the authors.Chiral resolution is a technique of choice, making it possible to obtain asymmetric and enantiomerically pure compounds from a racemic mixture. This study investigated the behavior of vancomycin when used as a chiral additive in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to separate enantiomers of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ketoprofen, ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, and naproxen enantiomeric impurities. We compared two achiral stationary phases (C18 and NH2) to assess the impact of mobile phase composition and stationary phase on the vancomycin retention time in the racemic resolution of drug enantiomers. Our results demonstrated the successful enantioseparation of all drugs using vancomycin in the mobile phase (phosphate buffer 0.05 M/2-propanol, 50/50) with an NH2 column. This enhanced separation on the NH2 column resulted from the chromatography system’s efficiency and vancomycin dimers’ stereoselective interaction on the NH2 surface. This study underscores the importance of stationary phase selection in the chiral resolution of NSAIDs with vancomycin as a chiral additive. It offers valuable insights for future research and development of NSAID chiral separation methods, highlighting potential vancomycin applications in this context

Comprehensive Analysis of Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Potential, and Antibacterial Activity of <em>T. polium</em>

\ua9 2024 by the authors.This study aims to thoroughly examine the chemicals and effects of the ethanol extract from T. polium’s upper parts. We used the Soxhlet method for extraction, resulting in an extract with a significant yield of 20.6%. Qualitative analysis identified a variety of compounds, such as tannins, saponins, reducing compounds, terpenoids, quinones, and alkaloids. In quantitative analysis using the colorimetric method, we found the extract was rich in total flavonoids (20.78 mg equivalent QE/g DW extract) and total polyphenols (227.43 mg equivalent GAE/g DW extract). To assess antioxidant potential, we used the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method, with ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as standards. The extract showed moderate activity in both the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and FRAP methods at concentrations of 65 \ub5g/mL and 21 mg/mL, respectively. Additionally, we tested the ethanolic extract against various bacteria using the disk diffusion technique on agar medium. The results indicated that the T. polium extract had moderate effectiveness against Gram-negative bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 and Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, as well as Gram-positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633. We further investigated the composition of the ethanolic extract through LC-MS/MS analysis, establishing a detailed profile of phenolic compounds, with six flavonoids identified as the main polyphenolic constituents. This thorough evaluation provides insights into the potential therapeutic uses of T. polium

Formulation and Characterization of Double Emulsions W/O/W Stabilized by Two Natural Polymers with Two Manufacturing Processes (Comparative Study)

\ua9 2024 by the authors.Four distinct types of multiple emulsions were synthesized using xanthan gum and pectin through two distinct manufacturing processes. The assessment encompassed the examination of morphology, stability, and rheological properties for the resulting water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsions. Formulations were meticulously crafted with emulsifiers that were compatible with varying compositions. Remarkably stable multiple emulsions were achieved with a 0.5 wt% xanthan concentration, demonstrating resilience for nearly two months across diverse storage temperatures. In contrast, multiple emulsions formulated with a higher pectin concentration (2.75 wt%) exhibited instability within a mere three days. All multiple emulsions displayed shear-thinning behavior, characterized by a decline in apparent viscosity with escalating shear rates. Comparatively, multiple emulsions incorporating xanthan gum showcased elevated viscosity at low shear rates in contrast to those formulated with pectin. These results underscore the pivotal role of the stepwise process over the direct approach and emphasize the direct correlation between biopolymer concentration and emulsion stability. This present investigation demonstrated the potential use of pectin and xanthan gum as stabilizers of multiple emulsions with potential application in the pharmaceutical industry for the formulation of topical dosage forms

The Making of the NEAM Tsunami Hazard Model 2018 (NEAMTHM18)

The NEAM Tsunami Hazard Model 2018 (NEAMTHM18) is a probabilistic hazard model for tsunamis generated by earthquakes. It covers the coastlines of the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and connected seas (NEAM). NEAMTHM18 was designed as a three-phase project. The first two phases were dedicated to the model development and hazard calculations, following a formalized decision-making process based on a multiple-expert protocol. The third phase was dedicated to documentation and dissemination. The hazard assessment workflow was structured in Steps and Levels. There are four Steps: Step-1) probabilistic earthquake model; Step-2) tsunami generation and modeling in deep water; Step-3) shoaling and inundation; Step-4) hazard aggregation and uncertainty quantification. Each Step includes a different number of Levels. Level-0 always describes the input data; the other Levels describe the intermediate results needed to proceed from one Step to another. Alternative datasets and models were considered in the implementation. The epistemic hazard uncertainty was quantified through an ensemble modeling technique accounting for alternative models’ weights and yielding a distribution of hazard curves represented by the mean and various percentiles. Hazard curves were calculated at 2,343 Points of Interest (POI) distributed at an average spacing of ∼20 km. Precalculated probability maps for five maximum inundation heights (MIH) and hazard intensity maps for five average return periods (ARP) were produced from hazard curves. In the entire NEAM Region, MIHs of several meters are rare but not impossible. Considering a 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years (ARP≈2,475 years), the POIs with MIH >5 m are fewer than 1% and are all in the Mediterranean on Libya, Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece coasts. In the North-East Atlantic, POIs with MIH >3 m are on the coasts of Mauritania and Gulf of Cadiz. Overall, 30% of the POIs have MIH >1 m. NEAMTHM18 results and documentation are available through the TSUMAPS-NEAM project website (http://www.tsumaps-neam.eu/), featuring an interactive web mapper. Although the NEAMTHM18 cannot substitute in-depth analyses at local scales, it represents the first action to start local and more detailed hazard and risk assessments and contributes to designing evacuation maps for tsunami early warning.publishedVersio

Guiding principles for the development and application of solid-phase phosphorus adsorbents for freshwater ecosystems

While a diverse array of phosphorus (P)-adsorbent materials is currently available for application to freshwater aquatic systems, selection of the most appropriate P-adsorbents remains problematic. In particular, there has to be a close correspondence between attributes of the P-adsorbent, its field performance, and the management goals for treatment. These management goals may vary from a rapid reduction in dissolved P to address seasonal enrichments from internal loading, targeting external fluxes due to anthropogenic sources, or long term inactivation of internal P inventories contained within bottom sediments. It also remains a challenge to develop new methods and materials that are ecologically benign and cost-effective. We draw on evidence in the literature and the authors’ personal experiences in the field, to summarise the attributes of a range of P-adsorbent materials. We offer 'guiding principles' to support practical use of existing materials and outline key development needs for new materials

Biochemical and molecular characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa CTM50182 organic solvent-stable elastase

An extracellular alkaline elastase was produced from Pseudomonas aeruginosa CTM50182. It was chromatographically purified using HPLC and Mono Q Sepharose column. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) analysis revealed that the purified enzyme (called AMPP) was a monomer with a molecular mass of 33,015.18 Da. The N-terminal 29 amino acid sequence of AMPP showed high homology with those of Pseudomonas elastases. It showed optimal activity at pH 12 and 80 degrees C and was stable at a pH range of 9-12 after 120 h of incubation. Its thermoactivity and thermostability were upgraded in the presence of 5 mM Co2+. Its half-life times at 70 and 80 degrees C were 16 and 10 h, respectively. It was completely inhibited by ethylene glycol-bis (beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), and 1,10-phenanthroline, suggesting that it belongs to the metalloprotease family. AMPP also exhibited high catalytic efficiency, organic solvent-tolerance, and hydrolysis. The lasB gene encoding AMPP was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The biochemical properties of the extracellular purified recombinant enzyme (rAMPP) were similar to those of native AMPP. This organic solvent-stable protease could be considered a potential candidate for application as a biocatalyst in the synthesis of enzymatic peptides. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Diagnosis of Discrete-Time Singularly Perturbed Systems Based on Slow Subsystem

This paper deals with the diagnosis of discrete-time singularly perturbed systems presenting two time scales property. Parity space method is considered to generate the fault detection residual. The focus is in two directions. First, we discuss the residual illconditioning caused by the singular perturbation parameter. Then, the use of the slow subsystem is considered to make the fault diagnosis easier. It is shown that the designed diagnostic algorithm based on reduced order model is close to the one synthesized using the full order system. The developed approach aims at reducing the computational load and the ill-conditioning for stiff residual generation problem. Two examples of application are used to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method