Spectral properties of selected UV-blocking and UV-transmitting covering materials with application for production of high-value crops in high tunnels

The spectral properties of selected UV-blocking and UV-transmitting covering materials were characterized by means of a UV-VIS spectroradiometer or a UV-VIS spectrometer to provide researchers and growers with guidelines for selecting suitable materials for use in studying the effects of ambient solar UV radiation on the production of tomatoes and other high-value crops in high tunnels. A survey was made of a wide range of plastic covering materials to identify commercially available products that had the desired characteristics of transmitting high levels of photosynthetically active radiation and of being stable under ambient solar UV radiation. The study was focused on evaluating films that either blocked or transmitted UV wavelengths below 380 nm to determine comparative growth, yield and market quality and to provide a tool for integrated pest management. Based on this survey, two contrasting covering materials of similar thickness (0.152 mm) and durability (4-year polyethylene), one a UV-blocking film and the other a UV-transmitting film, were selected and used to cover two high tunnels at Beltsville, MD. Spectroradiometric measurements were made to determine comparative spectral irradiance in these two high tunnels covered with these materials and under ambient solar UV radiation. Comparative measurements were also made of selected glass and plastic materials that have been used in UV exclusion studies.     

Complexes of iron(III) salen and saloph Schiff bases with bridging dicarboxylic and tricarboxylic acids

Six new dinuclear or trinuclear FeIII complexes involving tetradentate Schiff bases N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine (salenH2) or bis(salicylidene)-o-phenylenediamine (salophH2) with 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, acetylenedicarboxylic acid or 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid have been synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analysis, i.r. spectroscopy, thermal analyses, conductivity measurements and variable-temperature magnetochemical measurements to the temperature of liquid nitrogen. The complexes can be characterized as high-spin distorted octahedral FeIII bridged by carboxylic acids. The dicarboxylic or tricarboxylic acids play a role as bridges for weak antiferromagnetic intramolecular exchange. The antiferromagnetic coupling parameters J vary in the -1.99 to -5.47cm-1 range for the dimers, whilst the values are -2.35 and -1.42cm-1 for the salen and saloph trimers, respectively. One complex, namely [{Fe(saloph)}2(2,5-dicarpy)]middot H2O, obeys the Curie-Weiss law. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Stereospecific ion-molecule reactions of anabolic-type steroid tertiary alcohols with proton-donating cations

Isobutane and methane chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra of C-17a-epimeric, 17a-substituted 3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10),8-tetraen-17a-ols and at C-17-epimeric 17-substituted 3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-ols, as well as of some their derivatives, have been studied. In each epimeric pair, the peak intensity ratio [MH-H(2)O](+) / [MH](+) is greater for stereoisomers having an axial (or quasi-axial) hydroxyl group. The same regularity in the peak intensity ratio [MH-CH(3)COOH](+) / [MH](+) is valid for acetates in the D-homo series. The observed quantitative differences in CI mass spectra of epimers are explained by steric hindrance of the attack of the proton-donating cation caused by the angular 18-methyl group. No differences in the ease of elimination of the silanol molecule were observed in CI mass spectra of epimeric silyl ethers.     

Quantum mechanical valence study of a bond-breaking–bond-forming process in triatomic systems

The recently introduced set of the quadratic, two-electron covalent and ionic valence indices is used to investigate the bond-breaking–bond-forming (BB-BF ) process in an atom exchange reaction between H₂ and X (X = H, F—I) as well as in the O₂—H system. Valence changes accompanying selected charge reorganizations are examined within the three-orbital model and valence diagrams for symmetric transition states (TS s) are given. The UHF valence data for Li₂O and CO₂ and the H—H—X, O—O—H, and O—H—O (ABC) TS s (collinear and angular) are reported and compared to valence data in the separated fragments limits (SFL ), AB and BC. The overall valence, ν(ABC), and the total (ionic plus covalent) diatomic valences, ν_AB and ν_BC, are used as measures of the overall bond-order in a concerted BB–BF reaction, to test the postulate of the bond-energy–bond-order (BEBO ) model. In collinear TS s of H₂X, ν ? ?1, i.e., one bonding electron pari, is found to be roughly preserved, whereas in the angular H₂X and in collinear O—H—O TS s, the effect of increased valence at the saddle-point is observed, relative to that of diatomic fragments (reactiants or products). For the angular O—O—H TS , a similar increase in | ν (ABC)| relative to both O₂ and OH SFL s is detected; smaller changes relative to the O₂ data are found in the collinear TS . This observation is in agreement with earlier predictions from the intersecting-state model. The relative diatomic valences, ν/ν and ν/ν, are shown to conserve the overall relative bond multiplicity around 1 in both collinear and angular TS s of the H₂—X systems. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Determination of ephedrine alkaloids in botanicals and dietary supplements by HPLC-UV: collaborative study

An international collaborative study was conducted of a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV method for the determination of the major (ephedrine [EP] and pseudoephedrine [PS]) and minor (norephedrine [NE], norpseudoephedrine [NP], methylephedrine [ME], and methylpseudoephedrine [MP]) alkaloids in selected dietary supplements representative of the commercially available products. Ten collaborating laboratories determined the ephedrine-type alkaloid content in 8 blind replicate samples. Five products contained ephedra ground herb or ephedra extract. These 5 products included ground botanical raw material of Ephedra sinica, a common powdered extract of Ephedra sinica, a finished product containing only Ephedra sinica ground botanical raw material, a complex multicomponent dietary supplement containing Ma Huang, and a high-protein chocolate flavored drink mix containing Ma Huang extract. In addition, collaborating laboratories received a negative control and negative control spiked with ephedrine alkaloids at high and low levels for recovery studies. Test extracts were treated to solid-phase extraction using a strong-cation exchange column to help remove interferences. The HPLC analyses were performed on a polar-embedded phenyl column using UV detection at 210 nm. Repeatability relative standard deviations (RSDr) ranged from 0.64-3.0% for EP and 2.0-6.6% for PS, excluding the high protein drink mix. Reproducibility relative standard deviations (RSDR) ranged from 2.1-6.6% for EP and 9.0-11.4% for PS, excluding the high protein drink mix. Recoveries ranged from 84.7-87.2% for EP and 84.6-98.2% for PS. The data developed for the minor alkaloids are more variable with generally unsatisfactory HORRATS (i.e., >2). However, since these alkaloids generally add little to the total alkaloid content of the products, the method gives satisfactory results in measuring total alkaloid content (RSDr 0.85-3.13%; RSDR 2.03-10.97%, HORRAT 0.69-3.23, exclusive of the results from the high protein drink). On the basis of these results, the method is recommended for Official First Action for determination of EP and PS in dietary supplements exclusive of the high protein drinks.     

Modified valence indices from the two-particle density matrix

The modified ionic and covalent valence indices are introduced, defined in the framework of the two-particle density matrix, with respect to the reference state of separated atoms or ions (SAL ). They include only quadratic contributions in changes of the molecular charge-and-bond order matrix elements, relative to the SAL . General properties of the modified valence indices are examined and illustrative qualitative results for model systems are presented. Numerical UHF SCF MO valence data for selected diatomic and triatomic molecules are reported and interpreted in terms of the valence saturation effect and the ionic vs. covalent valence competition. A three-orbital valence model of a symmetric transition state of the bond-forming–bond-breaking reaction supports the BEBO model postulate of preservation of the total “bond order.” The model predictions are compared with the UHF numerical values. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Methodology of using expert systems for structure elucidation of organic molecules by their spectra

Major axioms underlying structure elucidation of molecules by their characteristic spectral data are considered. The amount of information obtained by solving the problem on structure elucidation of molecules serves as a basis to evaluate the quality of solution. Conditions for computer-aided solution of problems using expert systems (ES) are analyzed. Reasons for incorrect or zero solutions and for inconsistencies leading to negative results are examined. The role of additional information as a necessary condition for correct solution is discussed. On the basis of this analysis, a general strategy for structure elucidation of molecules by their spectra using ES is suggested. The principal idea is to use the iteration method, gradually increasing the rigidity of constraints. Strategies named ARCHEOLOGIST and SCULPTOR are discussed. Examples are given. Russian Scientific Research Institute of Organic Synthesis. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 548–558, May–June, 1995. Translated by L. Smolina     

Fluorous,chromatography-free Mitsunobu reaction

[formula: see text] The reaction of secondary and primary alcohols with highly fluorinated 3,4,5-tris(5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,12,12,12-heptadecafluorododecan- 1-yloxy)benzoic acid in the presence of Ph3P and DIAD in THF at room temperature (fluorous Mitsunobu) resulted in a simple, chromatography-free isolation protocol with excellent yields (83-96%).     

Kinetics of self-condensation of acetone over heterogeneous Ba(OH)2 and Sr(OH)2 catalysts

Catalytic performance of Ba(OH)₂ and Sr(OH)₂ in self-condensation of acetone was examined in the temperature range from 273 to 303 K. A kinetic model of second order with respect to acetone was used for interpretation of the results obtained for the diacetone alcohol formation.This revised version was published online in December 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.