Modified Chebyshev algorithm: some applications

Two applications of the modified Chebyshev algorithm are considered. The first application deals with the generation of orthogonal polynomials associated with a weight function having singularities on or near the end points of the interval of orthogonality. The other application involves the generation of real Szego polynomials.

Preconcentration of rutin at a poly glutamic acid modified electrode and its determination by square wave voltammetry

The voltammetric determination of rutin in 0.04 mol l(-1) B-R buffer (pH 4.0) by square wave voltammograms (+0.41 V vs. Ag/AgCl(sat.)) at a poly glutamic acid modified glassy carbon electrode was found to be several orders of magnitude lower than that on a bare glassy carbon electrode. Rutin can be preconcentrated on the films of poly glutamic acid and presented linear relationship from concentration of 7 x 10(-7) to 1 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) in 0.04 mol l(-1) B-R buffer pH 4.0. The method was successfully applied to the determination of rutin in pharmaceutical formulation without any pretreatment.

Effectiveness of surface protection for resin-modified glass-ionomer materials

Objective: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of various surface treatments for resin-modified glass-ionomer restorative materials by determining dye uptake spectrophotometrically. Method and materials: Two hundred twenty-four specimens, 4.1 mm in diameter and 2.0 mm thick, were made of 3 materials: Vitremer, Fuji II LC, and Photac-Fil Aplicap. Specimens were divided into 15 groups. The positive and negative control specimens remained unprotected, while the experimental specimens were protected with Heliobond light-activated bonding resin, Colorama nail varnish, or surface coatings indicated by the manufacturers of the glass-ionomer materials. Finishing Gloss for Vitremer, Fuji Varnish for Fuji II LC, and Ketac Glaze for Photac-Fil. The disks were immersed in 0.05% methylene blue for 24 hours except for the negative control group, which was immersed in deionized water. After 24 hours, the disks were removed, washed, and individually placed in 1 mL of 65% nitric acid for 24 hours. The solutions were centrifuged and the spectrophotometric absorbance was determined at 606 nm. The dye uptake was expressed in micrograms of dye per milliliter, and the results were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: There were no differences in dye uptake among the 3 resin-modified glass-ionomer restorative materials, however, all of them required surface protection. Conclusion: the best surface protection for the 3 evaluated materials was obtained with Heliobond light-activated bonding resin.

Voltammetric determination of persulfate anions using an electrode modified with a Prussian blue film

Prussian blue [PB, iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II)] films are effective for the electrocatalysis of the persulfate (peroxodisulfate)/sulfate redox system. This has been exploited in the voltammetric determination of persulfate anions using a PB-modified platinum disc electrode. A linear correlation between electrocatalytic current and persulfate concentration was found for the range 5 x 10(-5) to 3 x 10(-3) mol dm(-3), using 0.100 mol dm(-3) potassium chloride as supporting electrolyte at pH 4. This analytical method has the advantages of speed and ease of operation in relation to traditional titrimetric methods for persulfate determination. The applicability of the method to the determination of persulfate in a commercial hair bleaching 'booster' product is demonstrated. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Determination of absolute configuration of 1,3-diols by the modified Mosher's method using their di-MTPA esters

1,3-Diols are frequently involved in biologically important compounds and, therefore, determination of the stereochemistry of these structural elements, in particular those in acyclic systems, has been one of the focuses of attention in natural products chemistry. The modified Mosher's method, commonly used for the determination of the absolute configuration of secondary alcohols, was applied to determine the absolute configuration of 1,3-diols with their di-MTPA esters. Several epimeric pairs of syn- and anti-1,3-diols with known absolute configurations were converted to the corresponding di-MTPA esters and the Delta delta values were then calculated. For the acyclic syn-1,3-diols, the Delta delta values were systematically arranged as predicted from the basic concept of the modified Mosher's method, demonstrating that the method is valid for these compounds. In contrast, the Delta delta values were irregularly arranged for the acyclic anti-1,3-diols and, accordingly, this method is not valid for these cases. These results are complementary to those of the previously reported CD exciton chirality method and, hence, the combined use of the modified Mosher's method and the CD exciton chirality method can determine the absolute configuration of the acyclic 1,3-diols. Also, this method is successfully applicable to cyclic 1,3-diols irrespective of their relative stereochemistry. (C) 2002 Wiley-lass, Inc.

Amperometric differential determination of ascorbic acid in beverages and vitamin C tablets using a flow cell containing an array of gold microelectrodes modified with palladium

A simple and attractive method for quantification of ascorbic acid (AA) in beers, soda, natural juices and commercial vitamin C tablets was achieved by combining Bow injection analysis and amperometric detection. An array of gold microelectrodes electrochemically modified by deposition of palladium was employed as working electrode which was almost unaffected by fouling effects. Ascorbic acid was quantified in beverages and vitamin tablets using amperometric differential measurements. This method is based on three steps involving the flow injection of: 1) the sample plus a standard addition of AA, 2) the pure sample, and 3) the enzymatically-treated sample. The enzymatic treatment was carried out with Cucumis sativus tissue, which is a rich source of ascorbate oxidase, at pH 7. The calibration plots for freshly prepared ascorbic acid standards were very linear in the concentration range of 0.18-1.8 mg L-1 with a relative standard deviation (RSD) < 1%, while for real samples the deviations were between 2.7% to 8.9%.

Ferroelectric and dielectric properties of lanthanum-modified bismuth titanate thin films obtained by the polymeric precursor method

Lanthanum-modified bismuth titanate, Bi4-xLaxTi3O12 (BLT), thin films with a La concentration of 0.75 was grown on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates by using the polymeric precursor solution and spin-coating method. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed rounded grains, which is not typical for these system. The BLT films showed well-saturated polarization-electric field curve which 2P(r) = 41.4 muC/cm(2) and V-c = 0.99 V. The capacitance dependence on the voltage is strongly nonlinear, confirming the ferroelectric properties of the film resulting from the domains switching. These properties make BLT a promising material for FERAM applications.

Structural and physicochemical characteristics of lintnerized native and sour cassava starches

The comprehension of the structure of starch granules is important for the understanding of its physicochemical properties. Native and sour cassava starches after being analyzed with respect to their pasting properties and baking expansion capacity, were treated with 2.2 N HCl at 38 degreesC for a maximum of nine days. The starch granules remaining after lintnerization were analyzed for amylose content and intrinsic viscosity, by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and chromatographic analysis. The results indicated that the acid hydrolysis on all starches occurred in two steps. The first one, with high hydrolysis rate, was characterized by a quick degradation of the amorphous part of the granules whereas the second step, with lower hydrolysis rate, was characterized by a higher resistance of the organized areas of the granules to acid treatment. Most of the amylose chains were found in the amorphous areas of starch granules only a small percentage was involved in the crystalline regions. The microscopic and chromatographic analysis demonstrated that the acid hydrolysis was not able to disrupt the entire granular crystalline structure. Fermented starch showed amylose and/or amylopectin chain fractions resistant to pullulanase, probably due to structural alterations during fermentation.

Application of a glassy carbon electrode modified with poly(glutamic acid) in caffeic acid determination

Glassy carbon electrodes were coated with films of poly( glutamic acid) ( PG), and the modified electrode proved to be very effective in the oxidation of caffeic acid. The performance of the film was also tested with ascorbic acid, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid and chlorogenic acid. At pH 5.6, all the hydroxycinnamic acids yield a higher peak current intensity when oxidized after incorporation in the PG-modified electrode, and only the oxidation of ascorbic acid exhibits overpotential reduction. At pH 3.5 only caffeic and chlorogenic acid are incorporated in the modified electrode and exhibit a well-defined oxidation wave at +0.51 V and +0.48 V, which is the base for their determination. Linear calibration graphs were obtained from 9 x 10(-6) mol L-1 to 4 x 10(-5) mol L-1 caffeic acid by linear voltammetric scan and from 4 x 10(-6) mol L-1 to 3 x 10(-5) mol L-1 by square wave voltammetric scan. The method was successfully applied to the determination of caffeic acid in red wine samples without interference from other hydroxycinnamic acids or ascorbic acid.

Label-free DNA detection based on modified conducting polypyrrole films at microelectrodes

A label-free electrochemical detection method for DNA hybridization based on electrostatic modulation of the ion-exchange kinetics of a polypyrrole film deposited at microelectrodes is reported. Synthetic single-stranded 27-mer oligonucleotides (probe) have been immobilized at 2,5-bis(2-thienyl)-N-(3-phosphorylpropyl)pyrrole film formed by electropolymerization on the previously formed polypyrrole layer. The 27- or 18-mer target oligonucleotides were monitored via the electrochemically driven anion exchange of the inner polypyrrole film. The performance of the miniaturized DNA biosensor system was studied in respect to selectivity, sensitivity, reproducibility, and regeneration of the sensor. Control experiments were performed with a noncomplementary target of 27-mer DNA and 12 base-pair mismatched 18-mer sequences, respectively, and did not show any unspecific binding. Under optimized experimental conditions, the label-free electrochemical biosensor enabled the detection limits of 0.16 and 3.5 fmol for the 18- and 2 7-mer DNA strand, respectively. Furthermore, we demonstrate reusability of the electrochemical DNA biosensor after successful recovery of up to 100% of the original signal by regenerating the DNA label-free electrode with 50 mM HCl at room temperature.

Evaluation of a highly sensitive amperometric biosensor with low cholinesterase charge immobilized on a chemically modified carbon paste electrode for trace determination of carbamates in fruit, vegetable and water samples

A highly sensitive amperometric biosensor for determination of carbamate pesticides directly in water, fruit and vegetable samples has been evaluated, electrochemically characterized and optimized. The biosensor strip was fabricated in screen printed technique on a ceramic support using silver-based paste for reference electrode, and platinum-based paste for working and auxiliary electrodes. The working electrode was modified by a layer of carbon paste mixed with cobalt(II) phthalocyanine and acetylcellulose. Cholinesterase (ChE) enzymes with low enzymatic charge were immobilized on this layer. The operational simplicity of the biosensor consists in that a small drop (similar to 50 mu l) of substrate or sample is deposited on a horizontally positioned biosensor strip representing the microelectrochemical cell. The working potential of the biosensor was 370 mV versus Ag/AgI on a ship reference electrode preventing the interference of electroactive species which are oxidable at more positive potentials. The biosensor was applied to investigate the degradation of two reference ChE inhibitors in freeze dried water under different storage conditions and for direct determination of some N-methylcarbamates (NMCs) in fruit and vegetable samples at ppb concentration levels without any sample pretreatment. A comparison of the obtained results for the total carbamate concentration was done against those obtained using HPLC measurements. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Application of the modified Cam-Clay model to a residual soil

The modified Cam - Clay model was used to model experimental results of a saturated residual sandy soil from Sao Carlos - SP. Triaxial compression tests were performed using Bishop - Wesley cell with internal transducers to measure axial and radial strains. It was observed that the model fairly fitted experimental results, specially the principal stress difference at critical state. In general it was observed a good qualitative agreement between experimental and predicted strain values, considering compression or expansion of the samples. However, in all the stress path used, but 100 degrees and 140 degrees, the model yielded strains larger than that measured in the tests.

Aggregation behaviour of hydrophobically modified poly(allylammonium) chloride

The behaviour of hydrophobically modified poly(allylammonium) chloride having octyl, decyl, dodecyl and hexadecyl side chains has been studied in aqueous solution using fluorescence emission techniques. Micropolarity studies using the I-1/I-3 ratio of the vibronic bands of pyrene show that the formation of hydrophobic microdomains depends on both the length of the side chain and the polymer concentration. The I-1/I-3 ratio of the polymers with low hydrophobe content (less than 5% mel) changes substantially when reaching a certain concentration. These changes are assigned to aggregation originating from interchain interactions. This behaviour is also confirmed by the behaviour of the monomer/excimer emission intensities of pyrene- dodecanoic acid used as a probe. For polymers having dodecyl side chains and hydrophobe contents higher than 10%, aggregates are formed independently of the polymer concentration. Anisotropy measurements show that microdomains resulting from the inter- and/or intramolecular interactions are similar to those observed for cationic surfactants. Viscosity measurements show that the coil dimensions are substantially decreased for the polymers having high hydrophobe contents, indicating intramolecular associations.

Flow injection amperometric detection of ascorbic acid using a Prussian Blue film-modified electrode

The PB film-modified electrode was used as an amperometric detector for flow injection analysis of ascorbic acid. The modified electrode detector showed good sensitivity, stability and reproducibility. The calibration curve for ascorbic acid was linear over the concentration range from 5.0 x 10(-6) to 1.0 x 10(-3) mol l(-1) with a slope of 19.9 mA mol(-1) per litre and a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The detection limit of this method was 2.49 x 10(-6) mol l(-1). The relative standard deviation of six replicate injections of 2.5 x 10(-4) mol l(-1) ascorbic acid was 2.5%. The results obtained for ascorbic acid determination in pharmaceutical products are in good agreement with those obtained by using the procedure involving the reaction between triiodide and ascorbic acid. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrical characterization of lanthanum-modified bismuth titanate thin films obtained by the polymeric precursor method

Lanthanum-modified bismuth titanate, Bi4-xLaxTi3O12 (BLT), thin films with a La concentration ranging from 0 to 0.75 were grown on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates using a polymeric precursor solution and spin-coating method. The scanning electron microscopy shows a change of morphology with increasing the lanthanum concentration. The BLT films show well-saturated polarization-electric field curves whit remnant polarizations of 14.7, 20.5, 21.5, and 20.4 muC/cm(2) for x = 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75, respectively. The dielectric constant of BLT (x = 0.75 mol% La) is equal to 158 while dielectric loss remain low (tandelta = 0.0018).