Nanogram detection of m-dinitroaromatics and their derivatives A re-evaluation of the spot-test based on the janovsky reaction

The spot-test for m-dinitroaromatics and their derivatives, based on the Janovsky reaction, is re-investigated. The sensitivity of the spot-test has been much enhanced by changing the solvent and using the novel “pellet” spot-test. With the “pellet” spot-test and dimethylsulphoxide, 4–50 ng of m-dinitroaromatic compounds and their derivatives can be detected. The change from acetone (used in the original spot-test) to dimethylsulphoxide changes the reaction product in most cases.     

Gaseous metal silicides. II. Thermodynamic study of the molecules AuSi, Ausi2 and Au2Si with a mass spectrometer

The gaseous equilibria involving the molecules AuSi, AuSi₂ and Au₂Si have been studied by means of the Knudsen effusion technique combined with mass spectrometric analysis of the vapor. The experimentally determined reaction enthalpies were combined with appropriate literature data to obtain the following atomization energies (in kJ mole⁻¹): D⁰₀[AuSi(g)] = 301.0 ± 6.0, D⁰₀[Au₂Si(g)] = 582.7 ± 15 and D⁰₀[AuSi₂(g)] = 602.1 ± 15. The corresponding D⁰₂₉₈ values are: 305.2 ± 6.0, 589.1 ± 15 and 610.5 ± 15, and the standard heats of formation, ΔH⁰_f,298, 518.6, 602.9 and 668.9, respectively.

Comparison of the atomization energies of these silicon—gold molecules with the literature values for the corresponding germanium—gold and tin—gold molecules indicates similarity in the nature of bonding.     

Kinetic Spectrophotometric Determination of Metoprolol Tartrate in Commercial Dosage Forms

A kinetic spectrophotometric method has been described for the determination of metoprolol tartrate in commercial dosage forms. The procedure is based on the reaction of the drug with 1‐chloro‐2, 4‐dinitrobenzene (CDNB) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) at 100 ± 1 °C. The reaction is investigated by measuring the change in absorbance with time at 420 nm. Fixed‐time (ΔA) and equilibrium methods are chosen for obtaining the calibration curves. Both calibration curves were found to be linear over the concentration range of 5‐60 μg mL^?1. The regression analysis of calibration data resulted in the linear regression equations of ΔA = ?1.608 × 10^?4 + 3.96 × 10^?3 C and A = 7.31 × 10^?4 + 1.90 × 10^?2 C for fixed time (ΔA) and equilibrium methods, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) for fixed time and equilibrium methods are 1.16 and 0.415 μg mL^?1, respectively. The method has been successfully applied to the quantitation of metoprolol tartrate in commercial dosage forms. Statistical comparison of the results shows that there is no significant difference between the proposed methods and El‐Ries's spectrophotometric method.     

A predator–prey model with disease in the prey species only

A predator–prey model with transmissible disease in the prey species is proposed and analysed. The essential mathematical features are analysed with the help of equilibrium, local and global stability analyses and bifurcation theory. We find four possible equilibria. One is where the populations are extinct. Another is where the disease and predator populations are extinct and we find conditions for global stability of this. A third is where both types of prey exist but no predators. The fourth has all three types of individuals present and we find conditions for limit cycles to arise by Hopf bifurcation. Experimental data simulation and brief discussion conclude the paper. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Neutron total cross-sections and resonance parameters of Mo and Ta

Experimental results of transmissions for the samples of natural molybdenum with thickness 0.0192 atoms/barn and for the four samples of natural tantalum with thickness 0.0222, 0.0111, 0.0055 and 0.0025 atoms/barn are presented in this work. Measurements were carried out at the Pohang Neutron Facility which consists of a 100 MeV Linac, water-cooled tantalum target, and 12 m flight path length. Effective total cross-sections were extracted from the transmission data, and resonance parameters were obtained by using the code SAMMY. The present measurements were compared with other measurements and with the evaluated nuclear data file ENDF/B-VI.8.      

Polarity Estimate of the Hydrophobic Binding Sites in Erythroid Spectrin: A Study by Pyrene Fluorescence

The apparent dielectric constant, , of the hydrophobic pyrene binding sites in erythroid spectrin and human serum albumin (HSA) were estimated using the linear relationship [Turro, N.J., Kuo, P.L., Somasundaran, P. and Wong, K. (1986). J. Phys. Chem. 90, 288–291] between the ratio of the first (373 nm) and the third (384 nm) vibronic peak intensities (l₁/l₃) and the dielectric constant of the bulk medium. Binding of the hydrophobic fluorescent probe, pyrene, to erythroid spectrin and HSA was determined from concentration dependent change in the ratio l₁/l₃ from the emission spectra. Pyrene binds to spectrin (K_app = 6.2 × 10⁶ M^–1) with a higher affinity than that of HSA (K_app = 3.7 × 10⁴ M^–1) and the binding in both cases are saturable. The for spectrin and HSA was estimated to be 7 ± 2.1 and 5.4 ± 1.6 respectively. A case study with spectrin, covalently labeled with pyrene maleimide, have been presented for aging of pyrene-labelled spectrin showing the potential of the use of vibrational peak ratios (l₁/l₃) in the study of polarity of microenvironments in the neighborhood of cysteine residues of a protein. Large changes in the pyrene spectral components indicated conformational changes in the cysteine microenvironment of the protein upon storage at 4°C.     

An observation on the origin of secondary flow in straight noncircular ducts

This note is concerned with the origin of secondary flow in straight noncircular ducts. A critical examination of the analytical expressions for the secondary flow production terms is made to show that the essential requirement for secondary flow is a finite gradient of the difference in the turbulent stresses in the plane of the duct cross section in a peripheral direction. This conclusion has been reached following an investigation of the turbulent stress distributions in unidirectional pipe flow and assumes that, in general, the normal stresses only are significant in secondary flow production. An observation is made on “vorticity reversal” in the immediate vicinity of the boundary of a noncircular duct.