Pigmentation of White,Brown, and Green Chicken Eggshells Analyzed by Reflectance,Transmittance, and Fluorescence Spectroscopy

We report on the reflectance, transmittance and fluorescence spectra (λ=200–1200 nm) of four types of chicken eggshells (white, brown, light green, dark green) measured in situ without pretreatment and after ablation of 20–100 μm of the outer shell regions. The color pigment protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) is embedded in the protein phase of all four shell types as highly fluorescent monomers, in the white and light green shells additionally as non-fluorescent dimers, and in the brown and dark green shells mainly as non-fluorescent poly-aggregates. The green shell colors are formed from an approximately equimolar mixture of PPIX and biliverdin. The axial distribution of protein and colorpigments were evaluated from the combined reflectances of both the outer and inner shell surfaces, as well as from the transmittances. For the data generation we used the radiative transfer model in the random walk and Kubelka-Munk approaches.     

On the use of steady-state signal equations for 2D TrueFISP imaging

To explain the signal behavior in 2D-TrueFISP imaging, a slice excitation profile should be considered that describes a variation of effective flip angles and magnetization phases after excitation. These parameters can be incorporated into steady-state equations to predict the final signal within a pixel. The use of steady-state equations assumes that excitation occurs instantaneously, although in reality this is a nonlinear process. In addition, often the flip angle variation within the slice excitation profile is solely considered when using steady-state equations, while TrueFISP is especially known for its sensitivity to phase variations. The purpose of this study was therefore to evaluate the precision of steady-state equations in calculating signal intensities in 2D TrueFISP imaging. To that end, steady-state slice profiles and corresponding signal intensities were calculated as function of flip angle, RF phase advance and pulse shape. More complex Bloch simulations were considered as a gold standard, which described every excitation within the sequence until steady state was reached. They were used to analyze two different methods based on steady-state equations. In addition, measurements on phantoms were done with corresponding imaging parameters. Although the Bloch simulations described the steady-state slice profile formation better than methods based on steady-state equations, the latter performed well in predicting the steady-state signal resulting from it. In certain cases the phase variation within the slice excitation profile did not even have to be taken into account.     

Further conventions for NMR shielding and chemical shifts IUPAC recommendations 2008

IUPAC has published a number of recommendations regarding the reporting of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data, especially chemical shifts. The most recent publication [Pure Appl. Chem. 73, 1795 (2001)] recommended that tetramethylsilane (TMS) serve as a universal reference for reporting the shifts of all nuclides, but it deferred recommendations for several aspects of this subject. This document first examines the extent to which the ¹H shielding in TMS itself is subject to change by variation in temperature, concentration, and solvent. On the basis of recently published results, it has been established that the shielding of TMS in solution [along with that of sodium-3-(trimethylsilyl)propanesulfonate, DSS, often used as a reference for aqueous solutions] varies only slightly with temperature but is subject to solvent perturbations of a few tenths of a part per million (ppm). Recommendations are given for reporting chemical shifts under most routine experimental conditions and for quantifying effects of temperature and solvent variation, including the use of magnetic susceptibility corrections and of magic-angle spinning (MAS).

This document provides the first IUPAC recommendations for referencing and reporting chemical shifts in solids, based on high-resolution MAS studies. Procedures are given for relating ¹³C NMR chemical shifts in solids to the scales used for high-resolution studies in the liquid phase. The notation and terminology used for describing chemical shift and shielding tensors in solids are reviewed in some detail, and recommendations are given for best practice.     

Covalent immobilization of Pseudomonas cepacia lipase on semiconducting materials

Lipase from Pseudomonas cepacia was covalently immobilized on crystalline silicon, porous silicon and silicon nitride surfaces. The various stages of immobilization were characterized using FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy. The surface topography of the enzyme immobilized surfaces was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The quantity of the immobilized active enzyme was estimated by the para-nitrophenyl palmitate (pNPP) assay. The immobilized lipase was used for triglyceride hydrolysis and the acid produced was detected by a pH sensitive silicon nitride surface as a shift in the C-V (capacitance-voltage) characteristics of an electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor capacitor (EISCAP) thus validating the immobilization method for use as a biosensor.     

CHEMLEARN: microcomputer-based training for CHEMLINE, an alternative to formal classroom training

CHEMLINE (CHEMical Dictionary OnLINE), the National Library of Medicine's online chemical dictionary file, is primarily used by librarians and information scientists to enhance the retrieval of bibliographic information associated with chemical substances. This paper will discuss CHEMLEARN, a microcomputer-based training program designed to provide inexpensive, easily accessible self-instruction as an alternative to formal classroom training in the use of CHEMLINE. CHEMLEARN allows novice users to learn at their own pace and with considerable program feedback. In addition, it provides the skilled searcher with a way to reinforce or recall previously learned search techniques without incurring online charges. CHEMLEARN may be used in place of formal training or as a precursor to or a refresher following formal training.     

The (−)-gossypol-2,4-pentanedione (1:2) inclusion complex

(–)-Gossypol and 2,4-pentanedione form an inclusion complex in a one-to-two molar ratio. The compound crystallizes in the tetragonal P4₁2₁2 space group and has unit cell dimensions of a=b = 10.9966(7) Å and c = 60.213(4) Å. Both solvent molecules are in the enol form and occupy two distinct cavities within the structure. The first cavity is formed between pairs of gossypol naphthalene rings and contains a pair of symmetry-related solvent molecules that each accept a hydrogen bond from one of the surrounding gossypol molecules. The four molecules together form a wedge-shaped assembly that is repeated throughout the cell. The assemblies stack to form columns, and adjacent columns are aligned parallel to form layers. Neighboring layers are oriented at 90° angles, which accounts for the fourfold symmetry of the space group. The second solvent cavity is located in isolated pockets that form between the layers. These solvent molecules also accept hydrogen bonds from the surrounding gossypol molecules. Although many gossypol solvates have been reported, this structure is unusual in a number of features. It is the first report of a chiral non-conglomerate gossypol solvate. It is also the only known chiral gossypol inclusion complex to not lose appreciable amounts of solvent when removed from its mother liquor.     

Flat Pseudo-Reimannian manifolds with a nilpotent transitive group of isometries

Flat pseudo-Riemannian manifolds with a nilpotent transitive group of isometries are shown to be complete. Also flat pseudo-Riemannian homogeneous manifolds with non-trivial holonomy are shown to contain a complete geodesic.     

Bounds on a class of partial partitions of a vector space over gf(2):a graph theoretical approach

A collection Q of linearly independent w-suhicfs of the n-dimensional vector space V(n) over GF(2) is a w-quilt if whenever X and Y are distinct elements of Q, then X is disjoint from the linear span of Y. The main problem is to determine the maximum possibility cardinality of a w-quilt in V(n) for fixed w and n. Here a graph T(Q) is associated with each quilt Q. The connected components of T(Q) are shown to be complete graphs and the structure of the subquilts corresponding to these components is completely determined. By use of Ramsey type arguments these results are shown to lead to new upper bounds on the cardinality of a w-quilt in V(n) where n = w + 2, a case of particular interest.     

Determination of carbendazim in blueberries by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

A fluorescent reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the analysis of carbendazim in blueberries. Recoveries of fortified blueberries at 27 and 810 ng/g were more than adequate with good precision. Forty commercial blueberry samples were analyzed and the amount of carbendazim ranged from none detected (detection limit of 15 ng/g) to 155 ng/g. Confirmation of carbendazim in the blueberry samples was made by enzyme immunoassay and UV photodiode array.