Two new asterosaponins from the starfish Asterias rubens: application of a cryogenic NMR probe head

We report two new asterosaponins from the Baltic starfish Asterias rubens along with their ¹H and ¹³C NMR data. The compounds were isolated after on‐flow liquid chromatography–NMR–mass spectrometry screening indicated that they had not been identified before. The one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR experiments used to elucidate the structures were recorded using a 5 mm cryogenic probe head. The advantages of cryogenic probes for this kind of examination in comparison with conventional probe heads are discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High-Throughput Screening of Ten Microcystins and Nodularins, Cyanobacterial Peptide Hepatotoxins, by Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry

Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry was evaluated in the high-throughput analysis of microcystins and nodularins, cyanobacterial peptide hepatotoxins. Extracts originating from cyanobacterial strains and field material were separated on a 30 mm × 4 mm I.D. Merck Purospher STAR RP-18e column using a rapid gradient of aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile, ionised by electrospray technique and analysed on a Micromass Quattro II triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer operated in the selected ion recording (SIR) mode. The total analysis time per sample was 2.8 min corresponding to 514 samples a day. The system showed good robustness during a series of 320 repetitive injections of a field sample containing three major microcystins.     

Infrared thermography of masonry structures

The attention of the present paper was devoted to nondestructive evaluation of masonry structures with a Focal Plane Array infrared camera. Tests were carried out in laboratory on specimens, which simulated one- and two-layer structures, with defects of different geometry and nature and located at different depths. The defects detection was analysed through a cause/effect relationship between the characteristics of defects and hosting material and the observed defect thermal signature, or contrast, on the hosting material.     

超声波提取-等离子体原子发射光谱测定何首乌中的磷脂

采用超声波提取法提取中药何首乌中磷脂类化合物,探讨了提取溶剂用量、提取时间及超声功率等因素对磷脂提取率的影响,结合ICP-AES分析法对提取的磷脂类化合物进行了测定.结果表明,对于1.5 g何首乌,用20 mL Folch试剂,超声提取35 min,超声功率为24 kHz的条件下磷脂提取率较高.     

Determination of gold in ore by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with flow-injection on-line sorbent extraction preconcentration

Gold in ores was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry following on-line preconcentration by sorbent extraction in a flow-injection system. The medium polarity adsorption resin Amberlite XAD-8 packed in a 220-μl micro-column was used to collect gold(III) from hydrochloric acid sample solutions for 40 s at 7.6 ml/min. Ethanol was used to elute the adsorbed analytes into the nebulizer. Optimization studies were made on sample loading rate, elution rate and sample acidity. Some possible interferences on the determination are discussed. A 35-fold enrichment was achieved at a sampling frequency of 60 h^?1 and with an RSD of 1.4%. The detection limit (3σ) and 2 μg l^?1. Results for gold in ore samples showed good agreement with those obtained using activated carbon adsorption preconcentration. The recoveries were 97–108%.     

Kinetic studies of antimony and selenium atomization processes including a chemical modifier during their determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

We have studied antimony and selenium atomization processes including a chemical matrix modifier (palladium-containing activated carbon) during their determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. We have developed and fine-tuned an experimental setup for determining the kinetic characteristics (activation energy and frequency factor) for element atomization processes from measurements in the initial section of the analytical signal. We provide a rationale for the most likely mechanism for the interactions that occur. The results of the kinetic studies of the atomization processes showed that the modifier we developed was highly effective, as a result of formation of a thermally stable condensed system C-Pd-A (where A is the analyte). __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 4, pp. 530–534, July–August, 2006.     

The structure of monolayer SiO2 on Mo(1 1 2): A 2-D [Si-O-Si] network or isolated [SiO4] units?

In this letter, atomically resolved scanning tunneling microscopic (STM) images obtained from monolayer SiO₂/Mo(1 1 2) are presented. The results are consistent with a previously proposed structural model of isolated [SiO₄] units based on vibrational features observed by high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) and infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRAS), and oxygen species identified by ultra-violet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS). These results are inconsistent with a structural model that assumes a two-dimensional (2-D) [Si-O-Si] network. These data illustrate that a metal substrate, although coated with an oxide thin layer, can be directly imaged at the atomic-scale with STM.     

A fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric analysis of crown ether complexes [1]

Analyses of crown ether complexes of alkali metal ions and characterization of the complexes formed inm-nitrobenzyl alcohol have been carried out by fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry. By using m-nitrobenzyl alcohol as a matrix for measurements, the stoichiometry of the complexes was assessed on the basis of the observed FAB peaks. In addition, the formation of crown ether-alkali metal complexes at a 2 : 1 molar ratio was enhanced by increasing the ionic radius of the metal ion in agreement with previous observations. On these grounds, FAB mass spectrometry may provide a rapid means for investigation of the complexation behavior of crown ethers and the stoichiometry of the complexes.