Spectrophotometric resolution of ternary mixtures of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, dextromethorphan hydrobromide, and sodium benzoate in syrups using wavelength selection by net analyte signals calculated with hybrid linear analysis

Hybrid linear analysis (HLA), as a recent factor-based multivariate calibration technique, was applied for the spectrophotometric determination of ternary mixtures of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (PSU), dextromethorphan hydrobromide (DXT), and sodium benzoate (BNZ). The utilized HLA was assisted by a wavelength selection procedure which was based on the calculation of the net analyte signal (NAS) regression plot in any considered wavelengths window for each test sample, in addition to a moving window strategy for searching the region with maximum linearity of NAS regression plot (minimum error indicator (EI)). HLA was applied because it was simpler to adapt to the NAS regression plot methodology, and also used less factors than partial least squares (PLS). An orthogonal array design was applied for formation of calibration and prediction sets in the concentration ranges 0-7500 μmol L⁻¹ for PSU, 0-300 μmol L⁻¹ for DXT, and 0-1400 μmol L⁻¹ for BNZ. The method had the ability to select wavelength regions that minimize the effect of non-linearity of the spectral data, in addition to that of non-modeled interferences. The application of the selected wavelength regions improved the obtained relative standard error of predictions for PSU, DXT, and BNZ, respectively, from 5.24, 8.67, and 5.48% to 2.19, 5.21, and 3.62% (using lower number of factors). To check the ability of the proposed method in selection of linear regions of spectra, a test for detecting non-linear regions of spectral data in multivariate spectroscopic assays was also described. Additives in the commercial syrup samples did not interfere with their determinations. The method was successfully applied for the determination of pseudoephedrine HCl, dextromethorphan HBr, and sodium benzoate in cough suppressant syrup samples.     

近红外(NIRS)技术分析小样品油菜籽芥酸和含油量的应用研究

以完整油菜籽为样品,采用旋转杯和安培瓶两种样品杯、每种样品分为4×2种不同样品量并通过不同光谱预处理来优化油菜籽芥酸和含油量的近红外分析模型。结果表明:油菜籽各小样品含油量模型的决定系数(R2)从93.93%到96.93%不等,均方差(RMSECV)从0.56到0.79不等;油菜籽各小样品芥酸模型的决定系数(R2)从96.91%到98.42%不等,均方差(RMSECV)从1.73到2.43不等。随着样品量的逐渐增加,油菜籽芥酸和含油量不同样品杯模型各参数逐渐有所优化;同一样品厚度时,油菜小样品芥酸和含油量的旋转样品杯模型各参数均略优于安培瓶样品模型;不同样品量的NIRS模型,W3和W4差异不大,依次优于W2和W1。最小样品量AW1为0.3g。优化油菜小样品模型时,应该选择全部的预处理方法,根据优化结果选择最佳模型。外部检验结果表明:不同重量小样品(W1/0.3g、W2/1.0g、W3/2.0g和W4/4.0g)模型之间及其与标准化学值之间在0.01水平上差异不显著,说明W1和W2小样品模型同样可应用于油菜品质育种材料的分析选择。     

Volumetric Properties of Binary Mixtures of Isomeric Butanols and C8 Solvents at 298.15 K

Excess molar volumes, V _m ^E, over the whole composition range for binary mixtures of 1-butanol, 2-butanol, and 2-methyl-2-propanol + 1-octanol, or 2-octanol, or di-n-butyl ether, or n-hexylacetate were determined at 298.15 K from density measurements carried out with a vibrating-tube densimeter. Small V _m ^E values, both positive and negative, are displayed by mixtures containing 1- or 2-octanol, whereas positive and larger values are always found for mixtures containing dibutyl ether and hexylacetate. These results can be justified in terms of H-bonding interactions and/or steric hindrance due to the branched alkyl chains. Partial molar volumes at infinite dilution of the isomeric butanols in the C8 compounds were also calculated from the apparent molar volumes in dilute solution. The solute-solvent interactions and the effects of the local organisation of the solvent around the butanol molecules were discussed using the void and cavity volumes as different estimates of the intrinsic volume of the molecules. The volumetric behavior of butanols seems to be determined by the solute-solvent interactions rather than packaging effects.     

Model networks of end-linked polydimethylsiloxane chains

Summary Elastomeric networks of high extensibility were prepared by end-linking mixtures of vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane chains having molecular weights of approximately 600 and 11,000 g mol^–1, with silanes chosen to give junction functionalities ranging from 3 to 8. The resulting bimodal networks were studied in elongation, at 25 °C, to their rupture points, and in swelling equilibrium in benzene at room temperature. The elongation moduli [f ^*] were found to be in satisfactory agreement with previous results obtained by end-linking hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane chains. Values of [f ^*] at low and moderate deformations gave relatively low values of the ratio of elasticity constants 2C ₂/2C ₁, which is a measure of the extent to which the elongation changes from approximately affine to nonaffine as the elongation increases. The low values obtained for this ratio are presumably due to diminished interpenetration of configurational domains in the case of very short chains. In spite of its small magnitude, 2C ₂/2C ₁ does show some decrease with increase in , as predicted by the recent molecular theory of rubberlike elasticity developed by Flory. The swelling equilibrium results were also found to be in satisfactory agreement with theory. The elongation moduli increased significantly at high elongations, and the values of the elongation at which the upturn was first discernible were very nearly independent of , This is consistent with the interpretation of this anomalous behaviour in terms of limited chain extensibility. The maximum extensibility generally decreased somewhat with increase in and this caused a decrease in both the ultimate strength and the toughness of the elastomer, as measured by the energy required for rupture.     

Solution of periodic Poisson's equation and the Hartree–Fock approach for solids with extended electron states: Application to linear augmented plane wave method

We formulate a Hartree–Fock‐LAPW method for electronic band structure calculations. The method is based on the Hartree–Fock–Roothaan approach for solids with extended electron states and closed core shells where the basis functions of itinerant electrons are linear augmented plane waves. All interactions within the restricted Hartree–Fock approach are analyzed and in principle can be taken into account. In particular, we obtained the matrix elements for the exchange interactions of extended states and the crystal electric field effects. To calculate the matrix elements of exchange for extended states, we first introduce an auxiliary potential and then integrate it with an effective charge density corresponding to the electron exchange transition under consideration. The problem of finding the auxiliary potential is solved by using the strategy of the full potential LAPW approach, which is based on the general solution of periodic Poisson's equation. Here, we use an original technique for the general solution of periodic Poisson's equation and multipole expansions of electron densities. We apply the technique to obtain periodic potentials of the face‐centered cubic lattice and discuss its accuracy and convergence in comparison with other methods. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002     

Hydrophobic Molecular Similarity from MST Fractional Contributions to the Octanol/water Partition Coefficient

Summary The use of a recently proposed hydrophobic similarity index for the alignment of molecules and the prediction of their differences in biological activity is described. The hydrophobic similarity index exploits atomic contributions to the octanol/water transfer free energy, which are evaluated by means of the fractional partitioning scheme developed within the framework of the Miertus-Scrocco-Tomasi continuum model. Those contributions are used to define global and local measures of hydrophobic similarity. The suitability of this computational strategy is examined for two series of compounds (ACAT inhibitors and 5-HT₃ receptor agonists), which are aligned to maximize the global hydrophobic similarity using a Monte Carlo-simulated protocol. Indeed, the concept of local hydrophobic similarity is used to explore structure–activity relationships in a series of COX-2 inhibitors. Inspection of the 3D distribution of hydrophobic/hydrophilic contributions in the aligned molecules is valuable to identify regions of very similar hydrophobicity, which can define pharmacophoric recognition patterns. Moreover, low similar regions permit to identify structural elements that modulate the differences in activity between molecules. Finally, the quantitative relationships found between the pharmacological activity and the hydrophobic similarity index points out that not only the global hydrophobicity, but its 3D distribution, is important to gain insight into the activity of molecules. J.M.M. and S.P. have contributed equally to this study.     

A model for short alpha-neurotoxin bound to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor from Torpedo californica: comparison with long-chain alpha-neurotoxins and alpha-conotoxins

Short-chain alpha-neurotoxins from snakes are highly selective antagonists of the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Although their spatial structures are known and abundant information on topology of binding to nAChR is obtained by labeling and mutagenesis studies, the accurate structure of the complex is not yet known. Here, we present a model for a short alpha-neurotoxin, neurotoxin II from Naja oxiana (NTII), bound to Torpedo californica nAChR. It was built by comparative modeling, docking and molecular dynamics using 1H NMR structure of NTII, cross-linking and mutagenesis data, cryoelectron microscopy structure of Torpedo marmorata nAChR [Unwin, N., 2005. Refined structure of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor at 4A resolution. J. Mol. Biol. 346, 967-989] and X-ray structures of acetylcholine-binding protein (AChBP) with agonists [Celie, P.H., van Rossum-Fikkert, S.E., van Dijk, W.J., Brejc, K., Smit, A.B., Sixma, T.K., 2004. Nicotine and carbamylcholine binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as studied in AChBP crystal structures. Neuron 41 (6), 907-914] and antagonists: alpha-cobratoxin, a long-chain alpha-neurotoxin [Bourne, Y., Talley, T.T., Hansen, S.B., Taylor, P., Marchot, P., 2005. Crystal structure of Cbtx-AChBP complex reveals essential interactions between snake alpha-neurotoxins and nicotinic receptors. EMBO J. 24 (8), 1512-1522] and alpha-conotoxin [Celie, P.H., Kasheverov, I.E., Mordvintsev, D.Y., Hogg, R.C., van Nierop, P., van Elk, R., van Rossum-Fikkert, S.E., Zhmak, M.N., Bertrand, D., Tsetlin, V., Sixma, T.K., Smit, A.B., 2005. Crystal structure of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor homolog AChBP in complex with an alpha-conotoxin PnIA variant. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 12 (7), 582-588]. In complex with the receptor, NTII was located at about 30 A from the membrane surface, the tip of its loop II plunges into the ligand-binding pocket between the alpha/gamma or alpha/delta nAChR subunits, while the loops I and III contact nAChR by their tips only in a 'surface-touch' manner. The toxin structure undergoes some changes during the final complex formation (for 1.45 rmsd in 15-25 ps according to AMBER'99 molecular dynamics simulation), which correlates with NMR data. The data on the mobility and accessibility of spin- and fluorescence labels in free and bound NTII were used in MD simulations. The binding process is dependent on spontaneous outward movement of the C-loop earlier found in the AChBP complexes with alpha-cobratoxin and alpha-conotoxin. Among common features in binding of short- and long alpha-neurotoxins is the rearrangement of aromatic residues in the binding pocket not observed for alpha-conotoxin binding. Being in general very similar, the binding modes of short- and long alpha-neurotoxins differ in the ways of loop II entry into nAChR.     

1D + 1D model of a DMFC: localized solutions and mixedpotential

Our 1D + 1D model of DMFC reveals a new effect. At infinitely small total current in the cell, near the channel inlet forms a “bridge”, a narrow region with finite local current density. The bridge short-circuits the electrodes, thus reducing cell open-circuit voltage. In our previous work the effect is described for the case of equal methanol λ^a and oxygen λ^c stoichiometries. In this Letter, we analyze the general case of arbitrary λ^a and λ^c. In the case of λ^a > λ^c current may occupy finite domain of the cell surface. Asymptotic solution for the case of λ^a  λ^c shows, that the size of this domain is proportional to oxygen stoichiometry. In the opposite limit of λ^a  λ^c local current exponentially decreases with the distance along the channel. Asymptotic solutions suggest that the bridge forms regardless of the relationship between λ^a and λ^c. In all cases local current density in the bridge increases with the rate of methanol crossover and decreases with the growth of the “rate-determining” stoichiometry. The expression for voltage loss at open-circuit is derived.     

Electron beam induced purification of dilute off gases from industrial processes and automobile tunnels

The electron beam process has proved to be an efficient method for the removal of inorganic pollutants from flue gas. Since it simulates natural processes which occur in the atmospheric photochemistry, it appeared attractive to investigate the potential of the e-beam process to clean off-gases which contain hydrocarbon and inorganic trace components. Such emissions arise from industrial processes and from automobile tunnels. Commercial solvents were vaporized in air and irradiated with energetic electrons (300 keV). CO, CO₂ and aerosol particles were found as products and were determined quantitatively. The aerosol particles can be collected by a gravel bed filter and can be removed by combustion or biological degradation. From experiments and model calculations it was found that the e-beam process is a very economic tool to remove hydrocarbons from large off-gas volumes at initial concentrations of 50–100 mg C/m³, and that NO_x can be removed very efficiently from tunnel off-gas.     

Design strategies for controlling the molecular weight and rate using reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer mediated living radical polymerization

Living radical polymerization has allowed complex polymer architectures to be synthesized in bulk, solution, and water. The most versatile of these techniques is reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), which allows a wide range of functional and nonfunctional polymers to be made with predictable molecular weight distributions (MWDs), ranging from very narrow to quite broad. The great complexity of the RAFT mechanism and how the kinetic parameters affect the rate of polymerization and MWD are not obvious. Therefore, the aim of this article is to provide useful insights into the important kinetic parameters that control the rate of polymerization and the evolution of the MWD with conversion. We discuss how a change in the chain‐transfer constant can affect the evolution of the MWD. It is shown how we can, in principle, use only one RAFT agent to obtain a polymer with any MWD. Retardation and inhibition are discussed in terms of (1) the leaving R group reactivity and (2) the intermediate radical termination model versus the slow fragmentation model. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3189–3204, 2005