Petrogenetic peculiarities of Fe-Ti oxide minerals in the processes of crystallization and evolution of late Cretaceous volcanic complexes of the Lesser Caucasus

Drawing from the determined differences between iron-titanium oxide minerals, we analyzed the conditions of crystallization and evolution of late-Cretaceous magmatic complexes of the Lesser Caucasus. It was found that the rocks of basalt-andesibasalt complex, which correspond to the early substage (upper Coniacian-lower Santonian) of late-Cretaceous volcanism in the Qazakh, Agjakand, Agdara depressions, have crystallized in the conditions of relatively highly- thermobaric crystallization of titanomagnetite, poorly differentiated and evolutionized according to the Fenner trend. In the second substage of volcanism, due to decrease in permeability of the Earth’s crust, the elevation of the remaining magma to the upper horizons was hindered. Therefore, within the Qazakh depression, shallow intermediate sites of crystallization developed where moderately titaniferous magnetite crystallized with the participation of oxidized fluids earlier than hornblende, pyroxene and plagioclase. Thus, the remaining magma evolutionized its composition through Bowen’s reaction series. In the Agjakand and Agdara depressions, change of previous expansion to compaction was the cause of hindering of partly fractioned portion of the magma. The latter thermally interacted with the above-embedded maghemite, hematite and in a number of cases magnetite. In the Khojavand depression, rocks of trachibasalt- trachiodolerite complex, which characterize the late substage of the Santonian volcanism, contain moderately titanium magnetites and maghemites. In the second substage of volcano-plutonism, rocks of tephrite-teshenite complex developed. There, accompanied by oxidized fluids, highly-clayey titanomagnetite crystallized before chrome-diopside and salite. However, the ulvospinel titanomagnetite in teshenites, having associated with barkevikite and kaersutite, crystallized at a relatively higher temperature. Within the Senonian volcanites of the Azykh depression, along with the moderately-titanium magnetite, chromic titanomagnetite and rarely chromite was determined. Similar mineralogical diversities are also characteristic for the Gochas depression.

On the oxido-degradation of emetine

The reaction series occurring during the degradation process of a complex molecule is seldom disclosed. The interest is enhanced if the molecule under consideration has biological activity, as is the case of emetine. In this communication we provide the reactions that take place during the oxidation of this five ringed molecule. The electron flow, step by step, is given from the alkaloid to the different oxidation products obtained with several oxidizers. Since chloric acid is a strong oxidant, we describe the degradation process with this reagent. The route is correct inasmuch as the same products were obtained, including the intermediates.

An In Vivo Proposal of Cell Computing Inspired by Membrane Computing

Intractable problems are challenging and not uncommon in Computer Science. The computing generation we are living in forces us to look for an alternative way of computing, as current computers are facing limitations when dealing with complex problems and bigger input data. Physics and Biology offer great alternatives to solve these problems that traditional computers cannot. Models like Quantum Computing and cell computing are emerging as possible solutions to the current problems the conventional computers are facing. This proposal describes an in vivo framework inspired by membrane computing and based on alternative computational frameworks that have been proven to be theoretically correct such as chemical reaction series. The abilities of a cell as a computational unit make this proposal a starting point in the creation of feasible potential frameworks to enhance the performance of applications in different disciplines such as Biology, BioMedicine, Computer networks, and Social Sciences, by accelerating drastically the way information is processed by conventional architectures and possibly achieving results that presently are not possible due to the limitations of the current computing paradigm. This paper introduces an in vivo solution that uses the principles of membrane computing and it can produce non-deterministic outputs.

The Chemistry of Lindo and Fages Colour Tests

Lindo test for strychnine identification is based on the reaction of the alkaloid with potassium chlorate in the presence of sulphuric acid. Fages identified chlorates and bromates using strychnine in nitric acid. In fact, it is the same reaction but with different strong acid, and the product to be identified being interchanged. The reaction series occurring in these tests has not being described. We provide the electron flow from the alkaloid to the complex oxidation product resulting from the powerful oxidation properties of chloric acid.

Combustion Synthesis of FeAl-based Composites from Thermitic and Intermetallic Reactions

Combustion syntheses involving intermetallic and thermitic reactions were conducted to fabricate FeAl–TiB2–Al2O3 composites. Two combustion systems consisting of Fe, Al, Ti, Fe2O3 and B2O3 were studied for formation of xFeAl–yTiB2–Al2O3 composites with x = 1.5–3.5 and y = 0.5–0.8. In the reaction series, thermitic reduction of Fe2O3 and B2O3 by Al thermally activated the reaction between Fe and Al. As a result, the combustion wave of the synthesis reaction was sufficiently exothermic to propagate in a self-sustaining manner. With an increase in TiB2 and FeAl of the composites, the decrease of reaction exothermicity resulted in a decline of the combustion wave velocity and reaction temperature. The activation energy Ea = 88.92 kJ/mol was deduced for the synergetic combustion reaction. Based on XRD analysis, a thorough phase conversion was achieved and composites composed of FeAl, TiB2, and Al2O3 with different contents were obtained. The SEM micrograph showed the FeAl-based composite with a dense and connecting morphology.

Approaches to the Synthesis of Highly Substituted Aromatic and Fused Rings: Metal-Catalysed versus Thermal Cyclisation

A domino reaction has been used for the construction of lactonamycin derivatives. This research led to a comparison study between palladium-mediated cascade cyclisations and thermal alkyne [2+2+2] cyclisations. A palladium-mediated cyclisation of alkenyl bromides with alkynes and furans has been shown to furnish highly substituted aromatic rings. Penta- and hexasubstituted aromatic rings have also been prepared by the thermolysis of suitably substituted alkynes under microwave conditions. Tetrasubstituted pyridines can also be prepared using nitriles instead of alkynes. This work will provide a new and interesting array of drug templates; mechanistic details are discussed for both reaction series.