Electrochemical Reduction of Trinitrotoluene on a Modified Platinum Electrode

Poster presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry, Nice, France, September 26 – October 1, 201

The galvanostatic reduction on modified platinum electrode and determination of trinitrotoluene in neutral solution

The study of the electrochemical reduction on acetonitrile modified platinum electrode and determination of trinitrotoluene (TNT) in neutral solution by simple galvanostatic technique is presented here. The obtained potential-time responses on the applied constant cathodic current pulses showed two potential transitions before achieving the steady-states, referring to the multi-step reduction process of nitro groups in TNT molecule. The calibration curves of the dependence of the square root of the first transition time (τ 0.5) on the TNT concentration were linear in the ranges 4.4 – 303.8 μM and 0.09 – 4.40 μM for applied constant current of 0.1 mA. The detection limit was 0.09 μM. The method was tested in the river water. The results indicated the sensitivity of the galvanostatic method for TNT determination in the environmental samples. From the first transition on the E-t curves the characteristics important for the understanding the mechanism of the reduction process were obtained. It was found that four electrons are involved in the reduction process of the first nitro group, indicating that the reduction product in a neutral electrolyte is hydroxylamine.\ud Keywords

The Progeny of Stellar Dynamics and Stellar Evolution within an N-body model of NGC 188

We present a direct N-body simulation modeling the evolution of the old (7 Gyr) open cluster NGC 188. This is the first N-body open cluster simulation whose initial binary population is directly defined by observations of a specific open cluster: M35 (150 Myr). We compare the simulated color-magnitude diagram at 7 Gyr to that of NGC 188, and discuss the blue stragglers produced in the simulation. We compare the solar-type main sequence binary period and eccentricity distributions of the simulation to detailed observations of similar binaries in NGC 188. These results demonstrate the importance of detailed observations in guiding N-body open cluster simulations. Finally, we discuss the implications of a few discrepancies between the NGC 188 model and observations and suggest a few methods for bringing N-body open cluster simulations into better agreement with observations.Comment: Contributed talk at IAUS 266 'Star clusters: basic galactic building blocks', R. de Grijs and J.R.D. Lepine, eds. 6 pages, 4 figure

Quantitative imaging of Rac1 activity in Dictyostelium cells with a fluorescently labelled GTPase-binding domain from DPAKa kinase.

Small Rho GTPases are major regulators of the actin cytoskeleton dynamics in eukaryotic cells. Sophisticated tools used to investigate their activity in living cells include probes based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and photoactivation. However, such methods are of limited use in quickly migrating cells due to a short time available for image acquisition leading to a low signal-to-noise ratio. Attempts to remedy this effect by increasing the intensity of illumination are restricted by photobleaching of probes and the cell photosensitivity. Here we present design and characterization of a new fluorescent probe that selectively binds to active form of Rac1 GTPases, and demonstrate its superior properties for imaging in highly motile Dictyostelium cells. The probe is based on the GTPase-binding domain (GBD) from DPAKa kinase and was selected on the basis of yeast two-hybrid screen, GST pull-down assay and FRET measurements by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. DPAKa(GBD) probe binds specifically to GTP-bound Rac1 at the cell membrane and features a low cytoplasmic background. The main advantage of DPAKa(GBD) in comparison with similar probes is its finely graded intensity distribution along the entire plasma membrane, which enables quantitative measurements of the Rac1 activity in different parts of the membrane. Finally, expression of DPAKa(GBD) induces no adverse effects on cell growth, motility and cytokinesis

Modelling the evolution and nucleosynthesis of carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars

We present the results of binary population simulations of carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars. We show that nitrogen and fluorine are useful tracers of the origin of CEMP stars, and conclude that the observed paucity of very nitrogen-rich stars puts strong constraints on possible modifications of the initial mass function at low metallicity. The large number fraction of CEMP stars may instead require much more efficient dredge-up from low-metallicity asymptotic giant branch stars.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, to appear in the proceedings of IAU Symposium 252 "The Art of Modelling Stars in the 21st Century", April 6-11, 2008, Sanya, Chin

Non-isothermal dehydration of equilibrium swollen radiolytically sinthesized Fe3O4 – PVA ferrogel nanocomposite

In this study, the Fe3O4 - PVA ferrogel nanocomposite was synthesized by gamma irradiation. Obtained ferrogel had greater swelling capacity and activation energy of dehydratation as measured by thermogravimetric analysis under non-isothermal conditionsPhysical chemistry 2008 : 9th international conference on fundamental and applied aspects of physical chemistry; Belgrade (Serbia); 24-28 September 200

Position Specific Morphological Characteristics of Top-Level Male Handball Players

With the aim of determining the common morphological features of senior male handball players and of analyzing their specificities i.e. the probable variation between the four playing positions (back court players, wings, pivots, goalkeepers), 25 anthropometric measures were applied to the sample of 49 players, members of three top-quality handball teams. The basic descriptive parameters were calculated and then an analysis of variance and a cluster analysis were performed. A mesomorphic, athletic body- type was obtained with a marked longitudinal skeleton dimensionality, but also with a balanced ratio between the skeletal system and muscle mass and with low values of subcutaneous fat tissue. Back court players and goalkeepers are superior in terms of outstanding skeletal dimensions and circumferences. Line players, i.e. wings and pivots, have somewhat lower longitudinal measures, whereas pronounced voluminosity and a slightly higher fat tissue value differentiate pivots from players in other positions. Cluster analysis revealed a greater homogeneity in the morphological profiles of the samples of line players (wings and pivots) than in the profiles of backs or goalkeepers. The obtained position-related differences in morphological characteristics of players suggest that the experienced players from the sample were earlier successfully subjected to the selection process and oriented to a particular playing position because of the observed correspondence between their body-type and specific kinesiological demands of the position in question. Therefore, in top-quality team-handball it would be recommendable to select players whose morphological profiles are as compatible as possible with positional specificities in the demand for the game

Inhibiting effect of acetonitrile on oxygen reduction on polycrystalline pt electrode in sodium chloride solution

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was studied on the polycrystalline Pt electrode in 0.1 M NaCl electrolyte containing various amounts of acetonitrile (AcN). The state of the electrode surface was characterized by the cyclic voltammetry in oxygen free electrolytes, while ORR studies were performed on the polycrystalline Pt rotating disc electrode by the linear sweep voltammetry in oxygen saturated electrolytes. The acetonitrile is chemisorbed on Pt over a wide potential range, inhibiting both hydrogen adsorption and oxide formation. The extent of AcN chemisorption depends on its concentration in the solution. Initial potential of oxygen reduction is shifted negatively, while the ORR current is increasingly reduced with the increase of AcN concentration. Complete inhibition of ORR in the potential range of AcN and Cl-anion coadsorption is achieved for (0.1 M NaCl + 1 M AcN) solution

Stellar population synthesis of post-AGB stars: the s-process in MACHO47.2496.8

The low-metallicity RV Tauri star MACHO47.2496.8, recently discovered in the Large Magellanic Cloud, is highly enriched in carbon and heavy elements produced by the slow neutron capture process (s-process), and is most probably a genuine post-C(N-type) asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star. We use the analysis of the abundances of MACHO47.2496.8 to constrain free parameters in AGB models. We test which values of the free parameters describing uncertain physical mechanisms in AGB stars, namely the third dredge-up and the features of the 13C neutron source, produce models that better match the abundances observed in MACHO47.2496.8. We carry out stellar population synthesis coupled with s-process nucleosynthesis using a synthetic stellar evolution code. The s-process ratios observed in MACHO47.2496.8 can be matched by the same models that explain the s-process ratios of Galactic AGB and post-AGB stars of metallicity > Z_sun/10, except for the choice of the effectiveness of 13C as a neutron source, which has to be lower by roughly a factor of 3 to 6. The less effective neutron source for lower metallicities is also required when comparing population synthesis results to observations of Galactic halo $s$-enhanced stars, such as Pb stars. The 12C/13C ratio in MACHO47.2496.8 cannot be matched simultaneously and requires the occurrence of extra-mixing processes. The confirmed trend of the decreased efficiency of the 13C neutron source with metallicity requires an explanation from AGB s-process models. The present work is to date the first comparison between theoretical models and the detailed abundances of an extragalactic post-AGB star.Comment: accepted for publication on Astronomy & Astrophysics Letter