Rate coefficients for the gas‐phase reaction of isoprene with NO3 and NO2

Rate coefficients for the gas‐phase reaction of isoprene with nitrate radicals and with nitrogen dioxide were determined. A Teflon collapsible chamber with solid phase micro extraction (SPME) for sampling and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC/FID) and a glass reactor with long‐path FTIR spectroscopy were used to study the NO₃ radical reaction using the relative rate technique with trans‐2‐butene and 2‐buten‐1‐ol (crotyl alcohol) as reference compounds. The rate coefficients obtained are k(isoprene + NO₃) = (5.3 ± 0.2) × 10^?13 and k(isoprene + NO₃) = (7.3 ± 0.9) × 10^?13 for the reference compounds trans‐2‐butene and 2‐buten‐1‐ol, respectively. The NO₂ reaction was studied using the glass reactor and FTIR spectroscopy under pseudo‐first‐order reaction conditions with both isoprene and NO₂ in excess over the other reactant. The obtained rate coefficient was k(isoprene + NO₂) = (1.15 ± 0.08) × 10^?19. The apparent rate coefficient for the isoprene and NO₂ reaction in air when NO₂ decay was followed was (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10^?19. The discrepancy is explained by the fast formation of peroxy nitrates. Nitro‐ and nitrito‐substituted isoprene and isoprene‐peroxynitrate were tentatively identified products from this reaction. All experiments were conducted at room temperature and at atmospheric pressure in nitrogen or synthetic air. All rate coefficients are in units of cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, and the errors are three standard deviations from a linear least square analyses of the experimental data. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 57–65, 2005     

The rates of the exchange reactions between [Gd(DTPA)]2- and the endogenous ions Cu2+ and Zn2+: a kinetic model for the prediction of the in vivo stability of [Gd(DTPA)]2-, used as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging

The kinetic stability of the complex [Gd(DTPA)]2- (H5DTPA = diethylenetriamine-N,N,N',N",N"-pentaacetic acid), used as a contrast-enhancing agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is characterised by the rates of the exchange reactions that take place with the endogenous ions Cu2+ and Zn2+. The reactions predominantly occur through the direct attack of Cu2+ and Zn2+ on the complex (rate constants are 0.93+/-0.17 M(-1) s(-1) and (5.6+/-0.4) x 10(-2)M(-1) S(-1), respectively). The proton-assisted dissociation of [Gd(DTPA)]2- is relatively slow (k1 = 0.58+/-0.22 M(-1) s(-1)), and under physiological conditions the release of Gd3+ predominantly occurs through the reactions of the complex with the Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions. To interpret the rate data, the rate-controlling role of a dinuclear intermediate was assumed in which a glycinate fragment of DTPA is coordinated to Cu2+ or Zn2+. In the exchange reactions between [Gd-(DTPA)]2- and Eu3+, smaller amounts of Cu2+ and Zn2+ and their complexes with the amino acids glycine and cysteine have a catalytic effect. In a model of the fate of the complex in the body fluids, the excretion and the "dissociation" of [Gd(DTPA)]2- are regarded as parallel first-order processes, and by 10 h after the intravenous administration the ratio of the amounts of "dissociated" and excreted [Gd(DTPA)]2- is constant. From about this time, 1.71% of the injected dose of [Gd(DTPA)]2- is "dissociated". The results of equilibrium calculations indicate that the Gd3+ released from the complex is in the form of Gd3+-citrate.     

Plexin B3 promotes neurite outgrowth,interacts homophilically,and interacts with Rin

Background  

Plexins, known to date as receptors of semaphorins, are implicated in semaphorin-mediated axon repulsion and growth cone collapse. However, subtype-specific functions of the majority of the nine members of the mammalian plexin family are largely unknown. In order to investigate functional properties of B-plexins, we analyzed the expression of human and murine plexin B3 and expressed full-length human plexins B2 (B2) and B3 (B3) in NIH-3T3 cells.     

The Rotational Spectrum of SiHF3 in the Vibrational State υ6=2: Observation of Direct l-Type Resonance Transitions

The υ₆=2 vibrational state of the main isotopomer of trifluorosilane, ²⁸SiHF₃, has been investigated in the centimeter- and millimeter-wave ranges. Rotational spectra following the Δ J=1, Δk=Δ l=0 selection rule have been measured up to J=24 and K=23 and for both values of ∣l∣. Two types of direct l-type resonance transitions induced by the (Δ l=Δk=±2) interaction could be observed by means of waveguide Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy in the range 8-26 GHz: 252 transitions following the Δ J=0, Δl=Δk=±2 selection rule covering values of J=7-39 and G=∣k-l∣ from 1 to 18 and 90 transitions following the Δ J=0, Δl=Δ k=±4 selection rule covering values of J=17-52 and G from 1 to 4. Due to the strong (2,2) resonance, 18 A₁-A₂ splittings of the k=l=±2 states from J=36-53 could also be observed. Accidental near-degeneracies lead to strong perturbations due to Δ (k-l)=±3 interactions, enabling the observation of perturbation-allowed transitions with selection rules k=±3(l=±2)↔±4(±2), ±2(±2), A₊↔ ±1(?2), A₋ and ± 1(0)↔± 6(±2). In a multiple-fit analysis the experimental data have been refined using five reduced forms of the effective Hamiltonian as proposed by Sarka and Harder [J. Mol. Spectrosc.197, 254-261 (1999)]. Parameters up to seventh order have been determined including the axial rotational constant C for both values of ∣l∣ and the vibrational separation of the ∣l∣=0 and 2 states. The unitary equivalence of the determined parameter sets has been demonstrated up to fifth order. Differences of the rotational constants in the various parameter sets have been explained by the theory of reduction. Sign relations of the fitted parameters and general features of the direct l-type resonance spectrum in a υ_t=2 level are discussed.     

Rapid analysis of caffeine in various coffee samples employing direct analysis in real-time ionization–high-resolution mass spectrometry

The development and use of a fast method employing a direct analysis in real time (DART) ion source coupled to high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) for the quantitative analysis of caffeine in various coffee samples has been demonstrated in this study. A simple sample extraction procedure employing hot water was followed by direct, high-throughput (<1 min per run) examination of the extracts spread on a glass rod under optimized conditions of ambient mass spectrometry, without any prior chromatographic separation. For quantification of caffeine using DART-TOFMS, an external calibration was used. Isotopically labeled caffeine was used to compensate for the variations of the ion intensities of caffeine signal. Recoveries of the DART-TOFMS method were 97% for instant coffee at the spiking levels of 20 and 60 mg/g, respectively, while for roasted ground coffee, the obtained values were 106% and 107% at the spiking levels of 10 and 30 mg/g, respectively. The repeatability of the whole analytical procedure (expressed as relative standard deviation, RSD, %) was <5% for all tested spiking levels and matrices. Since the linearity range of the method was relatively narrow (two orders of magnitude), an optimization of sample dilution prior the DART-TOFMS measurement to avoid saturation of the detector was needed.     

The Mystery of a Band Vanishing upon Isotopic Substitution: The Case of the v(3) = 1 State of FClO(3)

F. Meguellati, G. Graner, K. Burczyk, and H. Bürger [J. Mol. Spectrosc. 185, 392-402 (1997)] reported in their paper on nu(3)(A(1)) bands of the (35,37)Cl and (16,18)O isotopomers of FClO(3) that the nu(3) bands, which, although weak, could be well observed for the (16)O isotopomers, disappear almost completely in the spectra of the (18)O isotopomers. Because the A and B values for the (18)O isotopomers are so similar that these molecules are very close to spherical tops, much closer than the values for the (16)O species, disappearance of the band was ascribed to selection rules for tetrahedral molecules, the A(1) vibrations of which are inactive. Alternative explanations are proposed in this paper and analyzed. The most likely explanation is that a coincidence among the intensity parameters is responsible for a very low value of the dipole moment derivative; a weak Fermi resonance with the (v(6) = 2, l = 0) state may also participate in the final total wipeout of the band. It is believed that the last mechanism may be of more general interest. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Development of an enzymatic fiber-optic biosensor for detection of halogenated hydrocarbons

An enzyme-based biosensor was developed by co-immobilization of purified enzyme haloalkane dehalogenase (EC 3.8.1.5) and a fluorescence pH indicator on the tip of an optical fiber. Haloalkane dehalogenase catalyzes hydrolytic dehalogenation of halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, which is accompanied by a pH change influencing the fluorescence of the indicator. The pH sensitivity of several fluorescent dyes was evaluated. The selected indicator 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein was conjugated with bovine serum albumin and its reaction was tested under different immobilization conditions. The biosensor was prepared by cross-linking of the conjugate in tandem with haloalkane dehalogenase using glutaraldehyde vapor. The biosensor, stored for 24 h in 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) prior to measurement, was used after 15 min of equilibration, the halogenated compound was added, and the response was monitored for 30 min. Calibration of the biosensor with 1,2-dibromoethane and 3-chloro-2-(chloromethyl)-1-propene showed an excellent linear dependence, with detection limits of 0.133 and 0.014 mM, respectively. This biosensor provides a new tool for continuous in situ monitoring of halogenated environmental pollutants.     

Determination of A0 for the symmetric top molecules

A new method for the determination of the constant A₀ in symmetric top molecules is proposed. This method utilizes the data for the overtone bands of a doubly degenerate vibration of symmetry species E_1u. Transitions necessary for the determination of A₀ have been indicated for all symmetric top symmetry groups. The precision of A₀ values determined according to the method suggested is also discussed.     

On the Power Function of the Likelihood Ratio Test for MANOVA

We prove that the power function of the likelihood ratio test for MANOVA attains its minimum when the rank of the location parameter matrix Θ decreases from s to 1. This provides a theoretical justification of a result that is known in the literature based only on numerical studies.