Combined high-pressure liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay method for the quantitation of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol and some of its metabolites in human plasma

A high-pressure liquid chromatography-radioimmunoassay (HPLC-RIA) method for the measurement of cannabinoid levels in plasma is described. The method is capable of quantifying 0.1 ng of a cannabinoid in 1 ml of plasma. The experimental procedure consists of an initial separation of cannabinoids in a plasma extract by HPLC followed by collection of the HPLC eluate and RIA. A chromatogram consisting of the cross-reacting cannabinoids in plasma may then be constructed. The plasma concentrations of cannabinoids with retention volumes equivalent to those of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinol and mono-hydroxylated metabolites have been measured by this technique.     

Generalized theory of gravitation

The mathematical formulation of the nonsymmetric gravitation theory (NGT) as a geometrical structure is developed in a higher-dimensional space. The reduction of the geometrical scheme to a dynamical theory of gravitation in four-dimensional space-time is investigated and the basic physical laws of the theory are reviewed in detail.     

Representing the command and control process in simulation models of conflict

Command and Control is the process by which military personnel in war command their forces to take account of military aims and objectives. Across NATO, there is a growing realisation that the proper representation of Command and Control (C2) in models of conflict is very important. Since it essentially concerns itself with the representation of human decision-making, this is recognised as one of the most difficult areas for defence analysis. One approach to this problem is through the use of large rule-based expert systems. The work reported here lays out an alternative approach founded on the use of Bayesian inference and transitions between different mission ‘states’, leading to what we call the the mission based approach to Command and Control. These ideas are already being incorporated into the next generation of simulation models currently under development which range across the land/air, maritime and peacekeeping areas of application.     

Fluorescent 'two-faced' polymer wafers with embedded pyrene-functionalised gelator nanofibres

Pyrene-functionalised gelators self-assemble into nano-fibrillar organogels in DMSO/styrene/divinylbenzene mixtures, which when polymerised yield polymer wafers with two distinct faces, only one of which is fluorescent and has embedded gelator nanofibres.     

Scalable synthesis of the VEGF-R2 kinase inhibitor JNJ-17029259 using ultrasound-mediated addition of MeLi-CeCl3 to a nitrile

The preparation of the selective VEGF-R2 kinase inhibitor 10 (JNJ-17029259) is described in which the key precursor, 4-(5-isoxazolyl)benzonitrile, undergoes clean transformation to the corresponding cumylamine derivative with CeCl(3)-MeLi in THF. This high-yielding cerium mediated transformation is robust, reproducible, and readily scalable based on a requirement for the anhydrous CeCl(3) to be milled and subjected to ultrasound treatment prior to addition of methyllithium.     

Metastable two-component gel-exploring the gel-crystal interface

This paper reports a two-component system in which molecular recognition rapidly leads to the formation of a homogeneous fibrillar gel that, over a period of hours, aggregates via fibre-fibre interactions to yield microcrystals--providing insight into the relationship between nanoscale gels and microscale crystals.     

The system dynamics of future warfare

The dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the unification of Germany have led to a new world order in which political structures have undergone substantial realingnent. NATO has been at the centre of this process of change which has led to the collapse of Soviet communism and the liberation of eastern Europe. Defence Operational Analysis (or Operational Research) played a significant part in this process. However, with the rapid changes of the last few years, many models and assumptions suddenly became irrelevant. A need arose for a major Land/Air conflicts across a range of future scenarios. This paper describes the structure of a System Dynamics model developed to meet this need. It also indicates the way in which the model has changed to take account of rapidly evolving political perceptions and concepts of operation.