Track etch membranes (TEMs) for separation sciences from BARC-TIFR Pelletron accelerator

Track etch membranes (TEMs) program at 14 UD Pelletron accelerator at TIFR, Mumbai, India using 25 micron thick polyethylene terepthalate film is described. Large scale preparation of TEMs by scanning heavy ion beams using a electromagnetic scanner and rolling mechanism using a geared D.C. motor and vacuum rotary feed through are presented. The selection of ions of suitable energy and etching parameters for making various pore sizes were investigated using Rutherford scattered beam from Pelletron accelerator. Pore size and pore density were measured using scanning electron microscope. Scanning width up to 35 cm and irradiation up to 22 m were successfully carried out using this facility. Some applications carried out using these membranes are also mentioned.     

Thermodynamics of industrially-important,enzyme-catalyzed reactions

The thermodynamics of 10 industrially-important, enzyme-catalyzed reactions are examined. The reactions discussed are: the conversions of penicillin G to 6-amino-penicillinic acid using the enzyme penicillin acylase; starch to glucose using amylases; glucose to fructose using glucose (xylose) isomerase; cellulose to glucose using cellulase; fumaric acid and ammonia to L-aspartic acid using L-aspartase; transcinnamic acid and ammonia to L-phenylalanine using L-phenylalanine ammonia lyase; L-histidine to urocanic acid and ammonia using L-histidine ammonia lyase; lactose to glucose and galactose using lactase; and the reactions catalyzed by amino acylases and proteases. The selection of these processes was based on the economic value of the products and their intrinsic industrial importance. The available thermodynamic properties, such as equilibrium constants, Gibbs energies (delta G degrees), enthalphies (delta H degrees), and heat capacity changes (delta Cp degrees) of these enzyme-catalyzed reactions, are reviewed and summarized. Recommendations are made for future research in this area.     

DECREASED HOST CELL REACTIVATION OF UV-IRRADIATED ADENOVIRUS 5 BY FIBROBLASTS FROM COCKAYNE'S SYNDROME PATIENTS

Abstract— Over a period of 5 years, we performed 29 experiments in which survival curves of UV-irradiated adenovirus were determined using fibroblast strains from 10 normal persons and from 7 persons having Cockayne's syndrome. In all of these, the survival of UV-irradiated adenovirus 5 was less when assayed using monolayers of fibroblasts from Cockayne's syndrome patients than from normal persons. Survival curves using normal fibroblasts were, within error, straight lines on a log survival vs. linear fluence plot. Survival curves obtained using Cockayne's syndrome fibroblasts showed 2 components: an initial sensitive component, reflecting the behavior of approx. 75% of the infected cells, followed by a component having normal sensitivity. In the 28 experiments that were considered reliable, 58 curves were done using Cockayne's fibroblasts, 41 using normal human fibroblasts. Although experimental variation was encountered, there was no individual case in which sensitivity as measured using Cockayne's was equal to (or less than) the sensitivity measured using normal fibroblasts.     

Precipitation of zinc sulfide by hydrolysis of thioacetamide in the presence of hydrazine hydrochloride

Zinc sulfide can be precipitated quantitatively from solutions buffered at pH 2 using thioacetamidehydrazine hydrochloride mixtures as precipitants. Optimum results are obtained using equimolar quantities of thioacetamide and hydrazine hydrochloride. Coprecipitation of cobalt sulfide was studied using citrate-citric acid, and sulfate-bisulfate buffers. Optimum separations are achieved using a sulfate-bisulfate buffer containing ammonium thiocyanate.     

Influence of peak-broadening and interdetector volume error on size-exclusive chromatographic analysis with dual viscometric-concentration detection using the universal calibration method

The effect of peak-broadening and error in interdetector volume on the local calibration curve and experimental molecular-mass averages obtained by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) with dual concentration/viscosity detection, and determination of molecular mass using the universal calibration (UC) method, is theoretically examined using a polymer sample with a molecular-mass distribution (MMD) approximated by the log-normal function. Although peak-broadening is often neglected, its effect on the slope of the local calibration curve and, consequently, on the experimentally obtained values of the weight-to-number average ratio is large. To obtain the right values of these parameters, a numerical correction is usually recommended. While using the UC method, the relationships between the extent of peak broadening, calibration slopes and interdetector volume are complex and can contribute to the occurrence of undiscovered errors. For this reason, an understanding of this problem, using a model, is necessary. The results of the UC method are compared with those obtained using dual-detection with known Mark-Houwink-Kuhn-Sakurada parameters (MHKS method), light-scattering (LS)/concentration detection as well as with the results obtained using conventional calibration. Due to peak-broadening, the slope of a local calibration curve and the weight-to-number average ratio, (Mw/Mn)", obtained using the UC method, increase compared to the theoretical values, whereas they decrease using the MHKS or LS methods. The increase when using the UC method is even larger compared to evaluation using conventional calibration. The effect of the error in interdetector volume on the slopes of local calibrations and the weight-to-number average ratios is opposite in the UC method to that found using the MHKS and LS methods.     

A comparative study of the correction of systematic errors in the quantitation of pyrethroids in vegetables using calibration curves prepared using standards in pure solvent

A comparative study of two mathematical approaches was performed in order to correct systematic errors due to the presence of the unexpected interferences which appear when the quantitation of the analyte in real samples is carried out with calibration curves built using standards in pure solvent. These methods consisted in the establishment of different mathematical expressions which transform the concentration (Cs) obtained using calibration graphs built using pure solvent into the corrected concentration (C(M)) that should be obtained if the quantitation is carried out with calibration curves built using standards dissolved in blank matrix extracts. In the two approaches the correction is performed from the results of an intermediate precision study which was carried out using both calibration graphs (prepared using pure solvent and blank matrix extract). By using ANCOVA to compare the slope of both solvent-based and matrix-matched calibration graphs, matrix effect was found in the determination of deltamethrin in tomato and acrinathrin in tomato and pepper. In these cases, both approaches led to good results.     

Controlled synthesis of nonspherical microparticles using microfluidics

The controlled synthesis of nonspherical microparticles using microfluidics processing is described. Polymer droplets, formed by shearing a photopolymer using a continuous water phase at a T-junction, were constrained to adopt nonspherical shapes by confining them using appropriate microchannel geometries. Plugs were obtained by shearing the polymer phase at low shear rates, while disks were obtained by flattening droplets using a channel of low height. The nonspherical shapes formed were permanently preserved by photopolymerizing the constrained droplets in situ using ultraviolet light. Monodisperse plugs and disks of different lengths and diameters were obtained by varying the flow rates of the two phases.     

Estimation of Ethyl Cellulose Layer Thickness of Coated Polyethylene Oxide Particles Using Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Particles of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were coated using ethyl cellulose (EC). Equations and a method were proposed to estimate the EC layer thickness by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) based on melting or crystallization heat of phase-change materials. The result shows that EC layer thickness of polyethylene oxide particles determined using DSC is consistent with the result using an optical microscope.     

微柱液相色谱和电化学检测法测定鼠脑微透析液中神经传递物质

报道了使用微柱色谱和电化学检测器测定鼠脑微透析液中神经传递物质的方法。儿茶酚胺，５－羟色胺和代谢物的检测限为 ０． １～０． ５ ｐｇ。含有乙酰胆碱酯酶和胆碱氧化酶的柱后反应器使分离后的乙酰胆碱和胆碱转化成过氧化氢．再用铂电极或过氧化物酶修饰过的玻碳电极检测过氧化氢。乙酰胆碱的检测限当使用怕电极时是５０× １０－１５ｍｏｌ，当使用酶修饰电极时是１０×１０－１５ｍｏｌ。     

Diversity oriented synthesis of tricyclic compounds from glycals using the Ferrier and the Pauson-Khand reactions

Diversity oriented synthesis of tricyclic compounds was achieved using a combination of the Ferrier reaction and the Pauson-Khand reaction. Ferrier reaction was effected using NbCl5, and the Pauson-Khand reaction was carried out using Co2(CO)8, acetonitrile-dimethoxyethane. Michael additions using various alkyl, aryl, and heterocyclic thiols were also performed successfully. The Ferrier, Pauson-Khand, and Michael addition reactions were found to be highly diastereoselective.     

生物质气为燃料的燃料电池理论电动势计算

The electromotive force (e.m.f.) of solid oxide fuel cells using biomass produced gas (BPG) as the fuels is calculated at 700-1,200 K using an in-house computer program, based on thermodynamic equilibrium analysis. Tour program also predicts the concentration of oxygen in the fuel chamber as well as the concentration of equilibrium species such as H2, CO, CO2 and CH4. Compared with using hydrogen as a fuel, the e.m.f.for cells using BPG as the fuels is relative low and strongly influenced by carbon deposition. To remove carbon deposition, the optimum amount of H2O to add is determined at various operating temperatures.Further the e.m.f, for cells based on yttria stabilized zirconia and doped ceria as electrolytes are compared.The study reveals that when using BPG as fuel, the depression of e.m.f, for a SOFC using doped ceria as electrolyte is relatively small when compared with that using Yttria stabilized zirconia.     

Study of the influence of surfactants on the transfer of gases into liquids by inverse gas chromatography

Analyses of amino acids and peptides were performed using a quartz microchip and an interface for microchip electrophoresis-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MCE-ESI-MS). In MCE-ESI-MS, negative pressure caused by ESI increased band broadening and deteriorated separation. We tried to suppress the negative pressure and improve separation using a microchip with a long separation channel. Separations of peptide standards were compared using two microchips with long separation channel (58.9 mm) and short one (22.9 mm). Theoretical plate numbers and resolution were improved significantly using the former. The theoretical plate numbers of [Val4]angiotensin was 8600 using the former and 1700 using the latter. When background electrolytes of low pH were used in an uncoated quartz microchip, electrokinetic injection was difficult because of weak electroosmotic flow. The use of successive multiple ionic polymer layers coating of the microchip channel stabilized electrokinetic injection and permitted analysis of amino acids and peptides even under low pH conditions. Separation of amino acids was successfully performed using formic acid solution (pH 2.5) as background electrolyte.     

General, robust, and stereocomplementary preparation of beta-ketoester enol tosylates as cross-coupling partners utilizing TsCl-N-methylimidazole agents

We have developed a general, robust, and cost-effective method for the (E)- or (Z)-stereocomplementary enol tosylation of beta-ketoesters using TsCl- N-methylimidazole (NMI)-Et3N or LiOH. TsCl coupled with NMI formed a highly reactive N-sulfonylammonium intermediate. Stereocongested secondary alcohols were smoothly sulfonylated using Ts(Ms)Cl-NMI-Et3N. beta-Ketoesters underwent (E)-selective tosylation using TsCl-NMI-Et3N and (Z)-selective tosylation using TsCl-NMI-LiOH (total of 23 examples; 60%-99% yield). Stereoretentive Negishi and Sonogashira couplings using enol tosylates proceeded successfully to give trisubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated esters.     

Reaction of benzoxazine-based phenolic resins with strong and weak carboxylic acids and phenols as catalysts

The reaction of 3,4-dihydro-3,6-dimethyl-2H-1,3-benzoxazine using strong and weak carboxylic acids and phenols as catalysts has been studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The auto-accelerated curing using sebacic acid as catalyst is further documented using ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and dielectric analysis. Termination of curing, using strong acids or no catalyst, are discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1913–1921, 1999     

Effect of reaction solvent on the preparation of thermo-responsive stationary phase through a surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) brush grafted silica beads, a thermo-responsive chromatographic stationary phase, were prepared through a surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using 2-propanol, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and water as reaction solvents. The rate of grafting PIPAAm on silica bead surfaces was different and found to be dependent on the reactivity of reaction solvent. Temperature-dependent elution profiles of hydrophobic steroids from the prepared-beads-packed columns were found to be different, although the graft amounts of PIPAAm were similar on silica bead surfaces. Especially, prepared beads using 2-propanol exhibited a higher resolution than those using DMF. Calibration curves using glucose and pullulan suggested that beads prepared using DMF prohibited analytes to diffuse into the pores. On the contrary, beads prepared using 2-propanol allowed analytes to diffuse into the pores. The pore diameter of the prepared beads, measured by N(2) adsorption-desorption measurement, suggested that beads using 2-propanol has relatively larger pore diameter than those using DMF. Thus, the reaction solvent in surfaces-initiated ATRP affected the grafting configuration of PIPAAm on porous silica-bead surfaces, leading to the different separation efficiency of stationary phase for bioactive compounds.     

Development and method validation for testosterone and epitestosterone in human urine samples by liquid chromatography applications

An isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of testosterone (T) and epitestosterone (ET) in human urine using liquid-liquid or solid-phase extraction (SPE) is developed and validated. The optimum separation is achieved using a Hypersil C(18) column, water-acetonitrile (57:43, v/v) as the mobile phase and UV-absorbance detection at 245 nm. The recoveries obtained for T and ET in liquid-liquid and SPE demonstrate that these procedures are interchangeable. Quantitation limits for T and ET are 8.6 and 5.4 ng/mL using solvent extraction and 7.3 and 5.7 ng/mL using SPE, respectively. The proposed method is used to evaluate the urinary T, ET, and the T/ET ratio for a healthy male population using liquid-liquid extraction, and the T and ET excretion profile for nine healthy men using SPE.     

Comparative analysis of the conformational profile of substance P using simulated annealing and molecular dynamics

The present study describes an extensive conformational search of substance P using two different computational methods. On the one hand, the peptide was studied using the iterative simulated annealing, and on the other, molecular dynamics simulations at 300 and 400 K. With the former method, the peptide was studied in vacuo with a dielectric constant of 80, whereas using the latter study the peptide was studied in a box of TIP3P water molecules. Analysis of the results obtained using both methodologies was carried out using an in-house methodology using a cluster analysis method based on information theory. Comparison of the two sampling methodologies and the different environment used in the calculations is also analyzed. Finally, the conformational motifs that are characteristic of substance P in a hydrophilic environment are presented and compared with the experimental results available in the literature.     

Preparation of Metal-free phthalocyanine using the benzenetellurolate ion

Metal-free phthalocyanine was prepared from o-phthalonitrile using the benzenetellurolate ion in ethanol. Furthermore, the yield of metal-free phthalocyanine using the benzenetellurolate ion was compared with that using the benzeneselenolate ion or the benzenethiolate ion.     

Supercritical fluid extraction of Kava lactones from Kava root and their separation via supercritical fluid chromatography

Summary Seven Kava lactones were extracted from Kava root using both pure and 15% ethanol modified CO₂. Most of the Kava lactones were extracted employing 100% CO₂ with an efficiency greater than 90% relative to conventional solvent extraction using organic solvents. Extraction efficiency did not increase significantly when using 15% ethanol-modified CO₂ as an extraction fluid. Separation of extracted Kava lactones was obtained using various packed columns and methanol-modified CO₂. An optimized separation was achieved using either an amino or protein C₄ column at 125 atm and 80°C. Semi-preparative separation of Kava lactones was also obtained using two columns connected in series.     

Gonadal dose measurement in diagnostic nuclear medicine using thermoluminescent dosimeters

Instead of using the Medical Internal Radiation Dose Committee (MIRD) concept to calculate the gonadal dose during diagnostic examination using radiopharmaceuticals, measurements of gonadal doses using thermoluminescent dosimeters were studied. The results obtained are comparable with that calculated using the MIRD concept. Five frequently used examinations were investigated, viz., liver, brain, thyroid, bone scintigraphy and cholescintigraphy. The calibration of thermoluminescent dosimeters are fully described, and the experimental techniques are also fully presented.