Phenotyping apolipoprotein E*3-leiden transgenic mice by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometric identification

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) plays an important role in cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism, being one of the major structural components of chylomicrons and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) remnants. ApoE functions as a ligand in the receptor-mediated uptake of these remnants from the blood by the liver. A variant form of ApoE, apolipoprotein E*3-Leiden, shows reduced affinity for the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, and results in the dominant expression of type III hyperlipoproteinemia. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) has been used to characterise protein expression in serum samples from control and transgenic mice expressing the human ApoE*3-Leiden mutation, fed a cholesterol-rich diet, and transgenic mice fed a normal diet. For the identification of proteins, single silver-stained spots were excised from the 2-DE gels and subjected to in-gel enzymatic digestion. Extracted peptides were analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). This proteomic approach has enabled the ApoE*3-Leiden variant to be positioned in a 2-DE separation of serum proteins, and has identified changes in the expression of haptoglobin, indicating that this protein may provide a marker for the potential onset of atherosclerosis.     

Multi-element analysis by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry of airborne particulate matter collected with a low-pressure cascade impactor

A method was developed for the elemental analysis of size segregated particles ranging from 0.03 to 10 microns. Sampling and analysis problems are discussed in this paper. Particles were collected with a Dekati low-pressure cascade impactor. PTFE filters coated with oleic acid were used as substrate. Particles were microwave digested in closed vessels. The optimum digestion mixture was composed of HNO3 (1 mL), HF (50 microL) and H2O (1 mL). The optimal power setting and digestion time were studied in order to achieve an efficient digestion. A ca. 35 min microwave digestion cycle at a 650 W maximum power allowed complete digestion of the samples. Special emphasis was placed on the pressure in the closed vessels to avoid sample losses. Solution samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry using an ultrasonic nebuliser for 18 elements (Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, S, Sr, Ti, V, Zn). This procedure was tested with NIST Standard Reference Material 1648 Urban Particulate. Recoveries for certified elements ranged from 95 to 105% except for Al (90%). The influence of cascade impactor materials was investigated with 44 field samples. Strong artefacts due to contamination were shown for analysis at environmental concentrations of Al, Cr, Mn and Ni.     

Spectrofluorimetric kinetic determination of selenium (IV) by flow injection analysis in cationic micellar medium

A sensitive catalytic kinetic spectrofluorimetric method for determining ng ml(-1) of selenium by flow injection analysis has been developed. The method, based on the catalytic effect of Se (IV) on the reduction of resorufin by sulphide, in the presence of cetylpyridinium chloride, is monitored spectrofluorimetrically (lambda(ex)=480 nm; lambda(em)=583 nm). The linearity range of the calibration graph is dependent on the concentration of sulphide. The variables affecting the rate of the reaction were investigated. The method is simple, rapid, precise, sensitive, and widely applicable. The limit of detection is 1 ng ml(-1) Se (IV), and the calibration range is 5-1000 ng ml(-1). Sampling rate is 60 samples h(-1), and the relative standard deviation of 12 determinations of 100 ng ml(-1) Se was 0.76%. The determination of Se (IV) in the presence of Se (VI) and total selenium is described. The method was applied to the determination of Se in selenium tablets, and several synthetic samples.     

Light Scattering Study of the Effect of n-Butanol on the Micellar Properties of Undecylammonium Chloride in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

Light scattering measurements have been performed on aqueous solutions of undecylammonium chloride in the presence of 0 to 0.2 mol dm(-3) NaCl and 0 to 0.5 mol dm(-3) n-butanol at 25 degrees C. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), aggregation number, and degree of dissociation of the micelles have been determined. The observed decrease of the CMC with the increase of the n-butanol concentration was explained by the effect of the n-butanol on water structure and by the selective solvation of the micelles with n-butanol, which counteract the decrease of the polar character of the solvent caused by n-butanol addition. An observed increase in the degree of dissociation of the micelles and a decrease in the aggregation number following alcohol addition have been explained by considering the effect of this additive on the electrostatic and other interactions involved in free energy of micellization. Our results support the concept of opposing effects between n-butanol and NaCl on the cooperativity in the micellization process of this surfactant, with the n-butanol disfavoring micellar growth. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Reaction of Hypercoordinate Dichlorosilanes Bearing 8-(Dimethylamino)-1-naphthyl Group(s) with Magnesium: Formation of the 1,2-Disilaacenaphthene Skeleton

Migration of NMe(2) from C(naphthyl) to Si and Si-Si and Si-C bond formation to give a 1,2-disilaacenaphthene skeleton occurred in the reaction of hypercoordinate dichlorosilanes bearing the 8-(dimethylamino)-1-naphthyl group with two equivalents of magnesium [e.g., Eq. (a)]. The intermediate was isolated as the 1-isopropoxy derivative after quenching the reaction mixture with isopropyl alcohol.     

Potentiometric titrations in methanol/water medium: Intertitration variability

Homogeneous sets of data from strong acid-strong base potentiometric titrations in a mixed solvent medium (9:1 v/v methanol/water), performed by means of the glass electrode, at various constant ionic strengths and with different reference electrodes, have been analysed by statistical criteria. A standardized procedure has been established to obtain reliable potentiometric data in mixed solvents. It has been demonstrated how, with the aid of a proper linearized model, analysis of variance (ANOVA) applied to the standardization titrations can be used to test the reliability of a potentiometric chain in a medium other than pure water. The error expected in the stability constants thus evaluated is related to the intertitration error of the operational pK*(')(w), for the same medium and the same chain. The results obtained by applying ANOVA to the mixed solvent data substantially confirm the trend found for aqueous media, the intertitration error being larger than the intratitration error for all the parameters investigated (E(')(0), pK*(')(w), mean equivalence volume). The stochastic error thus obtained depends on the ionic medium used and on the kind of reference electrode employed in the electrochemical chain.     

低温加氢催化剂的设计: 理论与实践

简要总结了我们在C=C及C=O双键低温加氢双金属催化剂方面的最新研究成果. 首先, 我们以环己烯加氢为探针反应, 证明了平行使用多种研究手段的重要性, 包括单晶表面的基础研究与DFT计算, 多晶表面的合成与表征, 负载型催化剂的制备与性能测试等. 其次, 总结了双金属催化剂在其他加氢反应, 如丙烯醛C=O双键的选择性加氢, 苯的低温加氢, 以及乙炔的选择性加氢等反应中的应用. 最后, 讨论了利用金属碳化物代替贵金属Pt以减少双金属催化剂中Pt用量的可能性.     

Thermal decomposition kinetics of titanium hydride and Al alloy melt foaming process

Metal foams, now one of research foci, are a newclass of materials with low densities and novel physi-cal, mechanical, thermal, electrical and acoustic prop-erties[1—8]. Demands from high-tech make Al alloyfoam, which has much higher specific strength than ofpure Al foam, the new development focus[9—11]. Melt foaming process is one of the approaches tofabricate Al foam and Al alloy foam and their porestructure (pore diameter and porosity) has close rela-tionship with the thermal decompo…     

The dipole moment, polarizabilities, and first hyperpolarizabilities of HArF. A computational and comparative study

The electronic and vibrational contributions to the dipole moment, polarizabilities, and first hyperpolarizabilities of HArF are reported. These have been computed by using a series of systematically built basis sets and a hierarchy of computational methods. HArF has a very large first hyperpolarizability along the z axis. This has been rationalized by invoking the difference in the electronic structure between the ground and the first excited state. The argon fluorohydride has been recently derived and characterized. The present study provides complementary data for the understanding of the electronic structure of this interesting argon derivative.     

Tosylation of endocrine-disruptive alkylphenolic compounds in a solid-phase reaction system consisting of C18-modified silica gel and aqueous buffer solution

The tosylation reaction of endocrine-disruptive alkylphenolic compounds in a solid-phase aqueous system was investigated with the aim of developing an environment-friendly and efficient derivatization method for HPLC analyses of environmental samples. The phenols were rapidly and efficiently converted to the tosyl derivatives on a commercially available ODS solid-phase cartridge by passing an aqueous buffer solution through it. The solid-phase aqueous tosylation system has been incorporated into a preconcentration step performed by solid-phase extraction from environmental water.