A simple,rapid and sensitive method based on modified multiwalled carbon nanotube for preconcentration and determination of lead ions in aqueous media in natural pHs

In this study, multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was modified by the pyridine group using a silane agent and characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermal analysis (TG/DTA), and elemental analysis (CHN) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The application of this sorbent was investigated in determination of lead ions in aqueous samples, using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Through this study, different parameters such as pH and sample flow rate on adsorption process and eluent concentration, volume and flow rate were optimized. The limit of detection (LOD), the relative standard deviation and the recovery of the method were 2 ng mL^?1, 1.3% and 99.7%, respectively. Two standard reference materials (NIST 1571 and NIST 1572) were used to verify accuracy of this method. Finally, the sorbent was successfully applied for extraction and determination of low levels of Pb(II) ions in aqueous samples.     

Mixed formulations for a class of variational inequalitiesFormulations mixtes pour une classe d'inéquations variationnelles

This Note is an attempt to extend the mixed finite element method to a class of variational inequalities including the problems of Signorini and of unilateral contact in elasticity with or without friction. Existence and uniqueness for the continuous and the discrete problems as well as error estimates are established in a general abstract framework. As a result, the mixed approximation of the Signorini problem is proved to converge with an error bound in h^3/4. To cite this article: L. Slimane et al., C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, Ser. I 334 (2002) 87–92     

Syntheses of 5‐alkylthio‐1,3‐diaryl‐1,2,4‐triazoles

Arylation of the readily available 3‐alkythio‐5‐aryl‐1,2,4‐triazoles gave 5‐alkylthio‐1,3‐diaryl‐1,2,4‐triazoles in moderate yield. The structures of the latter were confirmed by NOE and ¹³C‐NMR.     

On the equitability of multiply-connected monolayered cyclofusene

Multiply-connected monolayered cyclofusene (MMC) is a fused hexacyclic system with an exterior region and at least two interior empty regions called holes, as in figure 1. Each hexacyle has either: (a) two edges belonging to an exterior boundary and at least one hole, or (b) two edges belonging to boundaries of at least two holes. Let G be the graph of a given MMC. We show that G is equitable if and only if the set of vertices belonging to three hexacycles is equitable.     

A tabu search heuristic for solving the CLSP with backlogging and set-up carry-over

In this paper, the multi-item, single-level, capacitated, dynamic lot sizing problem with set-up carry-over and backlogging, abbreviated to CLSP⁺, is considered. The problem is formulated as a mixed integer programming problem. A heuristic method consisting of four elements: (1) a demand shifting rule, (2) lot size determination rules, (3) checking feasibility conditions and (4) set-up carry-over determination, provides us with an initial feasible solution. The resulting feasible solution is improved by adopting the corresponding set-up and set-up carry-over schedule and re-optimizing it by solving a minimum-cost network flow problem. Then the improved solution is used as a starting solution for a tabu search procedure, with the value of moves assessed using the same minimum-cost network problem. Computational results on randomly generated problems show that the algorithm, which is coded in C++, is able to provide optimal solutions or solutions extremely close to optimal. The computational efficiency makes it possible to solve reasonably large problem instances routinely on a personal computer.     

A facile synthesis of new 3-(2-benzimidazolyl)-2-alkyl-4-(3H)-quinazolinones under microwave irradiation

Preparation of 2-amino-N-(1-H-benzimidazol-2-yl)benzamide and a variety of new 3-(2-benzimidazolyl)-2-alkyl-4-(3H)-quinazolinones using isatoic anhydride, 2-aminobenzimidazole and orthoesters under microwave irradiation are described.     

Nuclear spin relaxation study of aqueous raffinose solution in the presence of a gadolinium contrast agent

Paramagnetic enhancement of nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rates (PREs) was measured in aqueous solution of the trisaccharide raffinose in the presence of a gadolinium(III) complex, GdDTPA-BMA, used as a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent. The relaxation enhancement of aqueous protons was measured over a broad range of magnetic fields, using field-cycling apparatus in addition to conventional spectrometers. The nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion profile thus obtained was interpreted with a recently developed model, allowing for both inner- and outer-sphere relaxation. The relaxation enhancement for the carbon-13 nuclei in raffinose was studied under high-resolution conditions at three magnetic fields, whereas the sugar proton PRE was measured at two fields. The PRE of the sugar nuclei could be interpreted in a consistent way, assuming that it was caused by the outer-sphere mechanism. The electron spin relaxation was found to be a less important source of modulation of the electron-nuclear dipole-dipole interaction than the mutual translational diffusion.     

Cooperative effects in phospholipid monolayers induced by a peptide from HIV-1 capsid protein

The study of interactions between biological molecules and model membranes is essential for the understanding of a number of physiological mechanisms involved in viral infections and dissemination. In this paper, the analysis of the interaction between a peptide from the p24 protein of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) and a phospholipid monolayer has pointed to a cooperative response in which very small amounts of peptide p24-1 (e.g. 0.05 mol%) can lead to measurable effects. Monolayer surface pressure and surface potential isotherms were affected for peptide concentrations as low as 0.05 mol%, with saturation at 0.5 mol%. The expansion effect from p24-1 is confirmed by changes in morphology of the monolayers using Brewster angle microscopy. Even though p24-1 is disordered in aqueous solutions, the interaction with dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) causes it to adopt an alpha-helix structure, as shown by circular dichroism (CD) data for multilamellar vesicles (MLV). The expansion of the phospholipid monolayer in a cooperative way may imply that p24-1 has potential antiviral activity, by participating in the cell rupture, with no need of specific receptors in the membrane.