Inclusion Complexation of Carbaryl and β-Cyclodextrin in Solution and in the Solid State

This study was carried out with the aim ofinvestigating the interactions between-cyclodextrin and carbaryl, a carbamatepesticide, and their effect on some physico-chemicalproperties of carbaryl, such as aqueous solubility andlipophilicity. The interactions between carbaryl and-cyclodextrin were thoroughly investigated bothin solution and in the solid state. The effect of-cyclodextrin on the aqueous solubility ofcarbaryl was evaluated by the phase solubility method.The amount of carbaryl dissolved increased linearlywith the addition of -cyclodextrin according toan A_L type plot and without precipitation of thecomplex. The apparent stability constant of thecomplex was 289 ± 21 M^-1, assuming a 1 : 1stoichiometry; this value was confirmed by a methodbased on circular dichroism measurements.Equimolar carbaryl/-cyclodextrin solid systemswere prepared by physical-mixing and freeze-drying,and fully characterised by Differential ScanningCalorimetry, X-ray powder diffractometry and FourierTransform Infra-Red analysis. The results of the solidstate study demonstrated that the freeze-drying methodyields a system with a high degree of amorphisationand yields an inclusion complex.The dissolution profile of the pesticide was affectedby the physico-chemical properties of each solidsystem, the freeze-dried form dissolving more rapidly. However, the physical association of-cyclodextrin and carbaryl enhanced the aqueoussolubility of the insecticide as well.     

Radon concentrations in kindergartens and schools in two cities: Kalisz and Ostrów Wielkopolski in Poland

Plastic PicoRad detectors with activated charcoal have been used for radon monitoring in local kindergartens and schools in two cities, Kalisz and Ostrów Wielkopolski, in the region of Greater Poland. Detectors were exposed for a standard time of 48 h during the autumn and winter of 2011 in 103 rooms (Kalisz) and 55 rooms (Ostrów Wlkp), respectively. The detectors were calibrated in the certified radon chamber of the Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection in Warsaw, Poland. The arithmetic and geometric means of indoor radon concentrations in the examined rooms were 46.0 and 30.3 Bq/m³ for Kalisz and 48.9 and 29.8 Bq/m³ for Ostrów Wlkp, respectively. The measured levels of the indoor radon concentrations were relatively low, since the main source of indoor radon for these low storey (max. three storeys) buildings is radon escaping from the underlying soil with a low ²²⁶Ra concentration (~15 Bq/m³). Therefore, the calculated annual effective doses from that source for the children in Kalisz and Ostrów Wlkp were also low 0.35 mSv.     

Anion-exchange separation and determination of thorium and uranium in Eskişehir-Beylikahir ore in Turkey

Eskişehir-Beylikahir ore contains rare earth elements (REE) and thorium as bastnaesite mixed with barite, calcite and fluorite and small amounts of uranium. The mineralogical composition and Th, U, REE contents of the ore samples taken from different sectors of the same region show important variations. For the spectrophotometric determination of Th and U in the ore, successive anion-exchange and solvent extraction procedures are carried out to separate U and Th from each other and from accompanying interfering elements. The accuracy and precision of the method is demonstrated by intercomparison of the thorium standard reference samples S-14, S-15 and S-16 of IAEA. In all cases very good agreement was obtained.     

Quantum-coherence and correlations in π-conjugated molecules and multichromophoric systems

Chemistry is intrinsically founded on quantum mechanical principles and examples of quantum-mechanical phenomena abound on a range of energy and length scales. In this article some examples of quantum-mechanical phenomena that can be probed by optical spectroscopy are discussed. Recent experimental studies of quantumcoherence in electronic energy transfer in π-conjugated polymers are reported as examples of weak correlations. The nature of the electron-hole binding energy for excitons in organic systems is investigated as a case of intermediate correlations. Possible experimental probes of strong correlations involved in chemical reactions are critically examined in the final section of the paper.     

Proteomics and Its Application in Biomarker Discovery and Drug Development

Proteomics is a research field aiming to characterize molecular and cellular dynamics in protein expression and function on a global level. The introduction of proteomics has been greatly broadening our view and accelerating our path in various medical researches. The most significant advantage of proteomics is its ability to examine a whole proteome or sub-proteome in a single experiment so that the protein alterations corresponding to a pathological or biochemical condition at a given time c…     

Pollution characteristics of atmospheric fine particles and their secondary components in the atmosphere of Shenzhen in summer and in winter

Two field measurements for atmospheric fine particles were conducted in Baoan district of Shenzhen during the summer and winter in 2004. Totally 30 sets of 24 h samples were collected, and then the mass concentrations and chemical compositions were determined. The seasonal varia- tions and secondary pollution characteristics of fine particles during the sampling periods were dis-cussed with meteorological factors. The results show that seasonal variations of atmospheric particles are significant in Shenzhen. The average mass concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 in summer were 35 μg·m-3 and 57 μg·m-3, respectively, and those in winter were 99 μg·m-3 and 135 μg·m-3, respec-tively. The concentrations of both PM2.5 and PM10 in winter increased 184% and 137%, respectively, compared to those in summer. PM2.5 accounted for 61% and 75% of PM10 in summer and in winter, respectively, indicating severe fine particle pollution in Shenzhen. During the summer and winter sampling periods, the mean OC/EC ratios were 3.4 and 1.6, respectively. The estimated secondary organic carbon (SOC) averagely accounted for 56% and 6% of the total OC in summer and in winter, respectively, which implies a major contribution of SOC to OC in summer. During the continuous high temperature period in summer, both the concentrations and fractions of secondary aerosol compo-nents in PM2.5 were highly elevated, suggesting severe secondary pollution again. The prevailing wind was from South China Sea in summer, and the air quality was good. The prevailing wind in winter was from Mainland China to the north, and the polluted air mass led to poor air quality.     

Free Radicals in the Photolysis and Radiolysis of Polymers: IV. Radicals in γ- and UV-Irradiated Wood and Lignin

Free radicals formed in the radiolysis and photolysis of wood and lignin were studied using X-band and D-band EPR measurements. It was found that singlet spectra at g 2, which appeared upon the low-temperature (77 K) - and UV irradiation of wood and lignin, or singlets detected in a posteffect on heating the irradiated samples belong to radicals having conjugated carbon–carbon bonds. Formyl radicals in -irradiated wood and peroxide radicals in - and UV-irradiated wood were detected for the first time using EPR spectra. The radiation-chemical and quantum yields of radical formation reactions were determined. In wood at 77 K, G _R 3.2 1/100 eV and _R 2 × 10^–3.     

Microtektites and Glassy Microspherules in Loess: Their Discoveries and Implications

It is first in continental sediment-loess that 16 microtektites and 3 ablated glassy Si-Mg microspherules were found. They occur only in the upper layer of L8, a 40—70-cm horizon above the B/M boundary. The age of deposition is about 0.72 Ma. Microtektites in loess are usually sphere, speroid, kidney-form, tear-drop and irregular debris in shape. They are transparent and translucent, and some have the shade of green, amber and yellow in color. Their sizes range from 65 to 220μm. Most of microtektites were badly pitted and corroded, but there remain bubbles, cavities and scorious and flow microstructure in some ones. On the basis of their major oxide compositions, microtektites in loess may be divided into three chemical groups that are described as normal, bottle-green and high-aluminium microtektite. They are similar in chemical composition to microtektites in deep-sea cores. Geochemistry of trace elements show that the origin of microtektite is very complicated and their parent materials are from mu     

Intermediate Filaments in Higher Plant Cells and Their Reconstitution in vitro

Delicate networks of 10-nm filaments were found to exist widely in suspension cells of cultured carrot and root tip cells of pea by selective extraction combined with whole mount and diethylene glycol distearate plastic embedment-free section for electron microscopy. These filament components are polypeptides of 52, 58, 62—64 and 50kD using Western blot analysis. A relatively uniform 10-nm filaments, as well as bundle of such filaments could be reconstituted in vitro. The reconstituted filaments were indistinguishable from native plant intermediate filaments in morphology and protein components. Thus the intermediate filaments are actually present in cytoplasm of higher plants. We also found no obvious specificity in tissues and species by comparison of the proteins among various types of plant cells.     

Research and Practice in Green Chemical Technologies

Green chemistry is also called environment harmless or environment friendly chemistry. Green chemistry requires to use new synthetic methods, engineering technologies and processes to eliminate or reduce by-products, wastes or products that harmful to human health, community safety, and ecology environment. Green chemistry pursues to control the usage of the harmful and toxic materials, reduce waste emission, avoid necessity to treat the wastes; Green Chemistry advocates wastes management from…     

γ-Radiation-Initiated Polymerization of Acrylonitrile in Aqueous Solution and in Emulsion

The γ-radiation-initiated polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) at 25[ddot] C has been studied, both in aqueous solution and in emulsion, at dose rates between 70 and 175 krad/hr. The effect of added emulsifier, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), on reaction rates, R_p, and on polymer molecular weight, M_n, has been investigated. G (monomer polymerized) values ranged from 7,500 in aqueous solution to 20,000 in bulk to 45,000 in emulsion, all based on the total energy absorbed. In the aqueous solution polymerization, where R_p is approximately first order in initial monomer concentration over the range 0.15 ± [AN]_o ± 1.06 moles/liter, addition of SLS increases R_p but does not influence the order of the reaction with respect to [AN]_o. In the emulsion system at 70 krad/hr and at a phase volume ratio AN/H₂O of 1/2, (PR = 1/2), R_p varies as [SLS]^0.1 over the concentration range 0.01 ± [SLS] ± 2.5± wt/vol of aqueous phase. At the same PR value, and at 80 krad/hr, M_n of the polymer (measured by viscometry in dimethylformamide solution) is effectively independent of [SLS] in the range of 0.01 ± [SLS] ± 10± wt/vol of aqueous phase. Initial R_p values are either independent of PR in the range 1/3 ± PR ± 1/1 or exhibit an insensitive and unsystematic dependence thereon. Based on measurements at 70 and at 175 krad/hr, the intensity exponent of R_p at PR = 1/2 is approximately 0.4.     

Occurrence and distribution of metals and porphyrins in Nigerian coal minerals

The metal contents of Nigerian coal minerals were analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Calcium, Na, and Fe occurred as the major elements with concentrations ranging from 9 782 μg/g for Ca to 432 μg/g for Na whereas K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Cr, Zn, Pb, and Cu, which occurred at trace levels ranged from 673.73 μg/g for Mg to 2.97 μg/g for Mn. The results of the quantitative analysis of porphyrins extracted from the coal minerals showed that Onyeama coal has the highest amount of porphyrins (ca～0.96 μg/g) while Okpara has the lowest (ca～0.30 μg/g). The porphyrins were qualitatively characterized by a combination of thin layer chromatography (TLC), infrared, and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometers. The results of the mid infrared analysis (MIR) showed the presence of absorption bands at 3 440 cm～1～3 450 cm-1 and 1 640 cm-1～1 680 cm-1 , which are owing to the stretching vibrations of N - H and C = C of aromatics, with C- H out of plane (oop) bending vibrations at wavenumbers less than 900 cm-1, all of which are characteristic absorptions of porphyrin free base. The ultraviolet-visible data showed prominent peaks at ～400 nm(Soret band) and at wavelength ranges of 535 nm～550 nm(β-band) and 565 nm～ 600 nm (α-band) for the coal porphyrins analyzed. The geochemical significance of the metals and porphyrins in coal minerals are discussed.     

Carbazole-functionalized polyfluorenes: synthesis and conformational properties in chloroform solution and β-phase formation in copolyfluorene films

Novel copolyfluorenes (CPFs) containing 2.5 or 10 mol% of carbazole-2,7-diyl (2,7-Cz) or carbazole-3,6-diyl (3,6-Cz) derivatives in the backbone have been synthesized by means of palladium-catalyzed Suzuki polymerization under microwave irradiation. The structure of the CPF polymers was also modified by insertion of additional 2-ethylhexyl or carbazole, diaryloxadiazole, or triphenylamine units via 3,6-Cz or 2,7-Cz comonomer units in the side chains of polymers. The self-organization of molecules in chloroform solutions was investigated using light scattering and within a wide concentration interval. Analysis of the behavior of the CPFs showed that the synthesized copolymers have an increased equilibrium rigidity of molecules with a Kuhn segment length A = (10–15) nm. The A value decreases with the introduction of Cz-units into the macromolecule in the meta-position. It is shown that chemical structure of the CPFs and thermal treatment in the temperature range 60–150 °C have a dominant effect on the optoelectronic properties as well as on microstructures of their films.     

Fluoroquinolones in soil—risks and challenges

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are among the most important antibacterial agents used in human and veterinary medicine. Because of the growing practice of adding manure and sewage sludge to agricultural fields these drugs end up in soils, where they can accumulate and have adverse effects on organisms. This paper presents an overview of recent developments in the determination of FQs in solid environmental matrices and describes the risks and challenges (persistence, fate, effects, and remediation) which result from their presence in soil. Figure Pathways into the environment for FQs     

Tree-gel and loop-gel conversions in nonlinear polymerization

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Simultaneous LC−UV Analysis of Mirodenafil and Its Two Main Metabolites in Rat Plasma and Urine, and in Tissue Homogenates

A simple, rapid, and reproducible isocratic reversed-phase LC method has been established for simultaneous analysis of mirodenafil and its two main metabolites, SK3541 and SK3544, in rat plasma, urine, and tissue homogenates. Samples were deproteinized with acetonitrile containing sildenafil (internal standard). The compounds were separated on a C₁₈ column with 52:48 (v/v) 0.02 m ammonium acetate buffer (pH 6)—acetonitrile as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.4 mL min^?1. UV detection was at 254 nm and detection limits of mirodenafil, SK3541, and SK3544 in plasma were 0.03, 0.05, and 0.1 μg mL^?1, respectively. The method is applicable to pharmacokinetic studies of mirodenafil and its metabolites in rats.     

Apparent molar volumes and compressibilities of electrolytes and ions in γ-butyrolactone

The densities of tetraphenylphosphonium bromide, sodium tetraphenylborate, lithium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate and lithium bromide in γ-butyrolactone at (288.15, 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15) K and speed of sound at 298.15 K have been measured. From these data apparent molar volumes V_Φ at (288.15, 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15) K and the apparent molar isentropic compressibility K_S,Φ, at T = 298.15 K of the salts have been determined. The apparent molar volumes and the apparent molar isentropic compressibilities were fitted to the Redlich, Rosenfeld and Mayer equation as well as to the Pitzer and Masson equations yielding infinite dilution data. The obtained limiting values have been used to estimate the ionic data of the standard partial molar volume and the standard partial isentropic compressibility in γ-butyrolactone solutions.     

Pseudorotaxanes of β-Cyclodextrin with Diamino End-functionalized Oligo-phenyl and -benzyl Compounds in Solution and in the Solid State

-Cyclodextrin forms a 1:1 host:guest inclusion complex ([2]pseudorotaxane) with 4-[2-(4-aminophenyl)ethyl]-benzenamine (1) in water as determined by 1D and 2D NMRexperiments. In the crystalline state, the structure of the complex has revealed a 2:2 stoichiometry, with two CD molecules forming head-to-head dimers byH-bonds between the secondary O3 hydroxyl groups and enclosing two molecules of the guest. The packing mode of the present complex is encountered for the first time, since it does not belong to any of the four known packing types of the dimeric CD inclusion complexes. On the other hand,N ¹,N ⁴-bis(4-aminophenyl)-1,4-benzenedimethanamine 2), which is longer than 1 by a phenylene diamine unit, has not afforded any crystals, at present, however it threads into CD in aqueous solution forming most probably [2]- and [3]pseudorotaxanes. The solution structures and the equilibria in this system are investigated.     

Cloning and Sequencing of Trichosanthin Gene and Its Expression in Escherichia coli and Tobacco Plant

A Trichosanthin gene was cloned from Trichosanthes kirilowii genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Nucleotide sequence data indicated that we obtained the coding region of the mature Trichosanthin peptide as well as its signal peptide at the N-terminus. Comparisons of our sequence with the previously reported nucleotide sequences of this gene showed 99.25% homology, yet there were notable differences between the previously reported amino acid sequence and our deduced result. This gene was subcloned into a highlevel expression plasmid (pJLA502) of E. coli under the control of a P_RP_L promoter, and we observed the gene product after temperature induction. The gene was further cloned into plant intermediate vector pE3 under the control of a CaMV 35S promoter, and transferred into a tobacco genome using the agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer system. Western blotting analysis of the protein extracted from Escherichia coli and transgenic tobacco plants proved that the Trichosanthin gene has been