Electroanalytical study of proflavine intercalation in 5-methyl or inosine-containing amplicons

Amplicons corresponding to the GC-rich p53 exon 5 and its analogues, synthesized by substituting 60% of cytosine by 5-methyl-cytosine, or 60% of guanosine by inosine and GC-poor p53 exon 6 were synthesized and investigated electrochemically, in the presence and absence of proflavine, by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Incorporation of base analogues and the thermal stability of the resulting amplicons were tested in the presence of a fluorescent probe (Sybr–Green). Peak current at 1.0 V was lower for methylated than for unmethylated PCR amplicons and was similarly affected by proflavine intercalation. In contrast, considerable peak current differences were observed in the presence of proflavine for unmodified exon 5 v.s. exon 6 or inosine-containing amplicons. Thermal analysis verified the expected shifts in melting temperature (T _m) due to the base analogue incorporation and GC-content variations. In conclusion, methylated and unmethylated PCR amplicons could be distinguished in model DNA systems using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and use of proflavine could serve as an electrochemical probe for identifying different DNA conformations.     

FTIR spectroscopic characterization of Nafion®–polyaniline composite films employed for the corrosion control of stainless steel

Nafion®–polyaniline (PAn) composite films deposited by a two-step process on a stainless steel (SS) substrate were characterized in this study using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy under various conditions employed to evaluate their anticorrosion properties. The SS|Nafion® electrode was first prepared by placing a certain amount of Nafion® on the SS substrate, and then polymerization of aniline was carried out potentiodynamically on the SS|Nafion® electrode. The SS|Nafion®–PAn electrodes subjected to both potentiodynamic polarization and open-circuit conditions in sulfuric acid solutions without and with chlorides appeared to have distinct differences in their FTIR spectra. It is proposed that under the electrochemical conditions used in this study, the PAn is mostly formed inside the Nafion® membrane with a high proportion of oligomers influencing the ionic transport through the membrane. The inhibition of pitting corrosion arises primarily from the enhanced permselectivity of the composite film due to the Nafion® membrane that prevents chloride transport. An essential beneficial effect comes also from the PAn redox properties on the growth of the passive oxide film. Even under severe corrosion conditions, Nafion®–PAn films retain their redox activity and chemical stability, whereas the membrane crystallinity seems to be enhanced.

     

A conformal mapping for a rectilinear congruence

In this paper we deal with oriented rectilinear congruences in a three-dimensional Euclidean space E³ establishing a conformal mapping between their middle surface and their middle envelope. We give some properties and determine a special class of them, which have a minimal middle envelope.     

Spectroscopic studies of NbCl5 and TaCl5 in methanol solutions. An investigation of the alcoholysis and the formation of organic compounds

Transition Metal Chemistry -     

Mechanical reinforcement and water repellency induced to cellulose sheets by a polymer treatment

The present study reports a simple method to control the mechanical and surface properties of cellulose fiber networks and to protect them from humidity, without altering their initial morphology. This is achieved by dip coating the fiber networks in solutions containing different amounts of ethyl cyanoacrylate monomer (ECA). Under ambient humidity and due to the presence of the -OH groups of the cellulose, the ECA polymerizes around each individual cellulosic fiber forming a thin poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) (PECA) shell. PECA was found to interact with the cellulose surface via hydrogen bonding as evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis measurements. The detailed surface characterization reveals that only 3.5 wt% of ECA in solution is sufficient to form compact PECA cladding around every cellulose fiber. After the proposed treatment the cellulose sheets become hydrophobic, well protected from the environmental humidity and with increased Young’s modulus.     

FTIR spectroscopic characterization of Nafion®–polyaniline composite films employed for the corrosion control of stainless steel

Nafion?–polyaniline (PAn) composite films deposited by a two-step process on a stainless steel (SS) substrate were characterized in this study using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy under various conditions employed to evaluate their anticorrosion properties. The SS|Nafion? electrode was first prepared by placing a certain amount of Nafion? on the SS substrate, and then polymerization of aniline was carried out potentiodynamically on the SS|Nafion? electrode. The SS|Nafion?–PAn electrodes subjected to both potentiodynamic polarization and open-circuit conditions in sulfuric acid solutions without and with chlorides appeared to have distinct differences in their FTIR spectra. It is proposed that under the electrochemical conditions used in this study, the PAn is mostly formed inside the Nafion? membrane with a high proportion of oligomers influencing the ionic transport through the membrane. The inhibition of pitting corrosion arises primarily from the enhanced permselectivity of the composite film due to the Nafion? membrane that prevents chloride transport. An essential beneficial effect comes also from the PAn redox properties on the growth of the passive oxide film. Even under severe corrosion conditions, Nafion???/em>PAn films retain their redox activity and chemical stability, whereas the membrane crystallinity seems to be enhanced.     

Spin incommensurability and two phase competition in cobaltites

The perovskite LaCoO3 evolves from a nonmagnetic Mott insulator to a spin cluster ferromagnet (FM) with the substitution of Sr2+ for La3+ in La1-xSrxCoO3. The clusters increase in size and number with x and the charge percolation through the clusters leads to a metallic state. Using elastic neutron scattering on La1-xSrxCoO3 single crystals, we show that an incommensurate spin superstructure coexists with the FM spin clusters. The incommensurability increases continuously with x, with the intensity rising in the insulating phase and dropping in the metallic phase as it directly competes with the commensurate FM, itinerant clusters. The spin incommensurability arises from local order of Co3+-Co4+ clusters but no long-range static or dynamic spin stripes develop. The coexistence and competition of the two magnetic phases explain the residual resistivity at low temperatures in samples with metalliclike transport.     

Determination of pharmaceuticals from different therapeutic classes in wastewaters by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive analytical method has been developed and validated for simultaneous determination of pharmaceuticals from different therapeutic classes, i.e. five sulfonamide (SA) and trimethoprim antimicrobials and the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac, in effluent wastewaters at trace levels. Effluent samples from treatment of wastewater were enriched by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using the Waters Oasis HLB cartridge. The analytes were identified and quantified by reversed-phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry operated in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode, using positive electrospray ionization. The pharmaceuticals were, consequently, quantified both by use of isotopically labelled internal standards and by standard addition methods to address the issue of matrix effects related to signal suppression by co-eluting compounds. Average recoveries from fortified samples were usually >70%, with relative standard deviations below 20%. Method detection limits in wastewater matrices were between 7.0 and 10 ng L(-1). Identification points (IPs) were used for unequivocal identification of target analytes in real samples. Diclofenac, trimethoprim, and sulfamethoxazole were mainly detected, in the concentration range 10 to 400 ng L(-1), in effluent samples collected from four different sewage-treatment plants in Greece.     

Development and validation of a multi-residue method for the determination of pesticides in processed fruits and vegetables using liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive multi-residue analytical method, utilizing ethyl acetate extraction and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS-MS), has been developed and validated for simultaneous determination of 28 pesticides of different chemical classes (polar organophosphates, carbamates, strobilurines, neonicotinoids, amides, pyrimidines, benzimidazoles, imidazoles and triazoles), and their transformation products, in processed fruit and vegetables. Two precursor-product ion transitions were monitored for each pesticide in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. Linearity (r (2) > or = 0.99) was good over the concentration range 0.5 to 100 microg L(-1) for all the pesticides, and instrumental detection limits ranged from 0.1 to 1 microg L(-1). Mean recovery for fruit and vegetables spiked at 0.010 mg kg(-1) ranged from 65 to 94.4%, and relative standard deviations ranged from 9.0 to 20.0%. When the amount spiked was 0.050 mg kg(-1) recoveries ranged from 72.5 to 90% and relative standard deviations were from 6.1 to 19.0%. Method detection limits were from 0.002 to 0.007 mg kg(-1) for the different food matrices studied. The method was used to monitor pesticide residues in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.