Pulsed titration sensors: Part 1: A breath-by-breath CO2 sensor

A novel electrochemical sensor for the determination of CO₂ in expired breath is described. The sensor works by generating from the reduction of O₂ in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) in a generating pulse. There is a rapid titration reaction between the and any CO₂ present. In the recovery pulse the amount of unreacted is determined. The larger the concentration of CO₂ the less is found in the recovery pulse. The solubilities and diffusion coefficients of O₂ and CO₂ in DMSO have been determined using rotating disc voltammetry and rotation speed step experiments. The stoichiometry, the product, and the rate constant of the titration reaction have been determined using ring—disc voltammetry and laser Raman spectroscopy. The operation and the effect of adventitious water on the sensor are described. Results are presented which show that the sensor can indeed measure the breath-by-breath rhythm of expired CO₂ from a human subject.     

Design of molecular two-photon probes for in vivo imaging. 2H-Benzo[h]chromene-2-one derivatives

2H-Benzo[h]chromene-2-one derivatives showing appreciable water solubility, significant two-photon cross sections, high photostability, cell permeability, low toxicity, and ability to be converted to a protein TP probe have been developed by incorporating all of the needed functions within a small molecule.     

The use of a thermally reversible bond for molecular imprinting of silica spheres

A silica monomer-estrone complex (EstSi) having a thermally cleavable urethane bond and a cross-linkable triethoxysilane group was synthesized. From EstSi and TEOS, spherical silica particles with sizes of 1.5-3 mum were prepared. The template molecules were removed from the silica matrix by heating at 180 degrees C in DMSO in the presence of water, generating a cavity with an amino group. The control silica particles that had the same sizes and shapes were obtained with aminopropyl triethoxysilane and TEOS. When ethylene glycol was added in place of H2O, an ethyl alcoholic group was formed in the cavity. Their recognition ability and specific binding for estrone were characterized by uptake experiments. The estrone-imprinted silica particles showed a much higher recognition ability than the control silica particles and higher selectivity for estrone than testosterone propionate.     

Scope and mechanistic study of the ruthenium-catalyzed ortho-C-H bond activation and cyclization reactions of arylamines with terminal alkynes

The cationic ruthenium hydride complex [(PCy(3))(2)(CO)(CH(3)CN)(2)RuH](+)BF(4)(-) was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the C-H bond activation reaction of arylamines and terminal alkynes. The regioselective catalytic synthesis of substituted quinoline and quinoxaline derivatives was achieved from the ortho-C-H bond activation reaction of arylamines and terminal alkynes by using the catalyst Ru(3)(CO)(12)/HBF(4).OEt(2). The normal isotope effect (k(CH)/k(CD) = 2.5) was observed for the reaction of C(6)H(5)NH(2) and C(6)D(5)NH(2) with propyne. A highly negative Hammett value (rho = -4.4) was obtained from the correlation of the relative rates from a series of meta-substituted anilines, m-XC(6)H(4)NH(2), with sigma(p) in the presence of Ru(3)(CO)(12)/HBF(4).OEt(2) (3 mol % Ru, 1:3 molar ratio). The deuterium labeling studies from the reactions of both indoline and acyclic arylamines with DCCPh showed that the alkyne C-H bond activation step is reversible. The crossover experiment from the reaction of 1-(2-amino-1-phenyl)pyrrole with DCCPh and HCCC(6)H(4)-p-OMe led to preferential deuterium incorporation to the phenyl-substituted quinoline product. A mechanism involving rate-determining ortho-C-H bond activation and intramolecular C-N bond formation steps via an unsaturated cationic ruthenium acetylide complex has been proposed.     

A Surfactant Bridge Model for the Nonlinear Electrorheological Effects of Surfactant-Activated ER Suspensions

In surfactant-activated electrorheological (ER) suspensions it is observed that the ER response shows linear ER behavior (F~E(2)) at small surfactant concentrations and nonlinear ER behavior (F~E(n), n approximately 1) at large surfactant concentrations. Here, a surfactant bridge model is developed to explain the nonlinear ER behavior of surfactant-activated ER suspensions. The model shows that the formation and size of a surfactant bridge depend on various variables, especially the electric field strength, the surfactant surface tension, and the initially adsorbed amount of surfactants on particles. The predicted dependence of the formation and size of a surfactant bridge on the electric field strength and the initially adsorbed amount of surfactants is consistent with the observations. Also, the model indicates that there is a critical minimum electric field E(crit) for the formation of a surfactant bridge, and the estimated E(crit) shows good agreement with the observations. The force acting between particles is composed of the electrostatic force and force associated with surface tension. However, it is found that the contribution of the force associated with surface tension can be ignored and the electrostatic force is dominant regardless of the formation of surfactant bridges between particles. When surfactant bridges are formed between particles, the predicted force shows nonlinear ER behavior (F~E(n), n approximately 1), consistent with the observed nonlinear ER behavior at large surfactant concentrations. When no surfactant bridge is formed, the predicted force is proportional to the electric field squared (F~E(2)), consistent with the interfacial polarization. The model can successfully predict the nonlinear ER behavior at large surfactant concentrations, confirming that the nonlinear ER behavior of surfactant-activated ER suspensions arises from the observed formation of surfactant bridges between particles. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

The characteristics of integrins expression in decidualized human endometrial stromal cell induced by 8-Br-cAMP in in vitro

Integrins are heterodimeric glycoproteins that have been found to undergo dynamic temporal and spatial changes in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. Specificity of integrins is known to be different in human endometrial stromal cells and decidual cells. These shifts of integrins suggested to play an important role in embryo implantation and can be modulated by progesterone, cAMP derivatives, and cytokines. The mechanisms of decidualization and its precise physiological role are still not clearly understood and in vitro systems could provide an alternative that overcomes limitations of studying such complex biological phenomena in vivo at the time of implantation. This study was undertaken to establish an in vitro model system for human decidualization using 8-bromo-cAMP and to investigate the characteristics of stromal integrin expression in vitro by 8-Br-cAMP. Endometrial stromal cells were isolated and cultured, and then were induced to decidualize by 0.5 mM 8-Br-cAMP for 15 days. Immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometric analyses of the integrin subunits (alpha1, alpha4, alpha5, alpha6, beta1 and alphavbeta3) were performed at day 9. In the presence of 8-Br-cAMP, the staining intensity of alphavbeta3 was significantly higher than control and measurements for alpha1, alpha4, alpha5, alpha6, and beta1 were similar. Immunofluorescent localization of the integrins reflected the differences obtained from the flow cytometric analyses described above. In summary, the expression of alphavbeta3 integrin increased in stromal cells in vitro decidualized by 8-Br-cAMP and this up-regulation of alphavbeta3 integrin expression during decidualization might influence on human implantation.     

AN ACTION SPECTRUM FOR LETHAL PHOTOSENSITIZATION OF Candida albicans BY 8-MOP AFTER LOW-DOSE BROAD-BAND UV-A IRRADIATION; AN ACTION SPECTRUM FOR 8-MOP 4′,5′- MONOADDUCTS?

An action spectrum was obtained for lethal photosensitization of Candida albicans that had been pre-irradiated with a sub-lethal low dose of broad-band UV-A after incubation with 8-methoxypsoralen and then washed to remove any non-photobound 8-methoxypsoralen. The resultant spectrum with a peak in the 320-335 nm region was similar to that obtained by a conventional method (single irradiation only) and also to the absorption spectrum of the 4',5'-monoadduct. These data support the hypothesis that the chromophore for lethal photosensitization by 8-methoxypsoralen is the 8-methoxypsoralen/DNA 4',5'-monoadduct rather than 8-methoxypsoralen itself.     

Two-proton correlations in the target fragmentation region of nuclear collisions at 200A GeV

Correlations between protons are studied in the target fragmentation region of reactions of protons and¹⁶O with C, Cu, Ag, Au and of³²S with Al and Au at 200A GeV. The emitted protons were measured with the Plastic Ball detector in the WA80 experiment at the CERN SPS. The comparison of the correlation function with calculations, assuming a spherical, gaussian shaped source with a lifetime τ=0 fm/c, allows the extraction of radius parameters. The values are very close to those expected from the geometry of the target nuclei and increase with the target mass as αA _Target ^1/3 . Even in proton induced reactions the whole target nucleus is involved. The dependence of the radii on centrality, polar angleθ _lab, and energy, and their relation to measured proton yields are presented.