Effects of Cd(II) and Zn(II) complexes with bioactive ligands on some photosynthesizing organisms

The effects of the complexes of the type M(L)₂(nia)₂ (M = Cd or Zn; L = acetate (ac) or NCS⁻; nia = nicotinamida) on reduction of chlorophyll content in suspensions of Chlorella vulgaris and inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport in spinach chloroplasts were investigated. The inhibitory effects of the studied compounds depended on the central metal atom as well as on the structure of L ligands. In general, the toxicity of M(NCS)₂(nia)₂ was higher than that of M(ac)₂(nia)₂ and the compounds containing cadmium were more toxic than those with Zn. Dry mass of plants cultivated in the presence of the studied complexes (c = 100 μmol dm⁻³) showed a decrease related to control plants. The uptaken metal (Cd or Zn) was accumulated mainly in the roots. In general, application of M(ac)₂(nia)₂ compounds led to higher accumulated metal content in dry mass of plant organs (in mg g⁻¹) related to M(NCS)₂(nia)₂ administration. In plants treated with Zn(NCS)₂(nia)₂ lower content of essential metals Mn and Cu was found than in those treated with Zn(ac)₂(nia)₂. Toxic effects of the studied M(L)₂(nia)₂ compounds could be caused by exchange of their ligands with potential “biotic S-, O-, and N-donor ligands” occurring in the plant cells.     

Chromium(III) Hydroxide Solubility in the Aqueous K+-H+-OH?-CO2-HCO 3? -CO 32? -H2O System: A?Thermodynamic Model

Chromium(III)-carbonate reactions are expected to be important in managing high-level radioactive wastes. Extensive studies on the solubility of amorphous Cr(III) hydroxide solid in a wide range of pH (3–13) at two different fixed partial pressures of CO₂(g) (0.003 or 0.03 atm.), and as functions of K₂CO₃ concentrations (0.01 to 5.8 mol⋅kg⁻¹) in the presence of 0.01 mol⋅dm⁻³ KOH and KHCO₃ concentrations (0.001 to 0.826 mol⋅kg⁻¹) at room temperature (22±2 °C) were carried out to obtain reliable thermodynamic data for important Cr(III)-carbonate reactions. A combination of techniques (XRD, XANES, EXAFS, UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, thermodynamic analyses of solubility data, and quantum mechanical calculations) was used to characterize the solid and aqueous species. The Pitzer ion-interaction approach was used to interpret the solubility data. Only two aqueous species [Cr(OH)(CO₃)₂²⁻ and Cr(OH)₄CO₃³⁻] are required to explain Cr(III)-carbonate reactions in a wide range of pH, CO₂(g) partial pressures, and bicarbonate and carbonate concentrations. Calculations based on density functional theory support the existence of these species. The log ₁₀ K° values of reactions involving these species [{Cr(OH)₃(am) + 2CO₂(g)⇌Cr(OH)(CO₃)₂²⁻+2H⁺} and {Cr(OH)₃(am) + OH⁻+CO₃²⁻ ⇌Cr(OH)₄CO₃³⁻}] were found to be −(19.07±0.41) and −(4.19±0.19), respectively. No other data on any Cr(III)-carbonato complexes are available for comparisons.     

Nitrite formation in aerated aqueous azide solutions: A radiation chemical study

Gamma radiolysis of oxygenated 1–10 mM azide solutions was carried out at various pH values. In oxygenated 10 mM azide solutions, H₂O₂ and NO ₂ ⁻ were observed as radiolytic products while NH3 was not. The concentration of H₂O₂ reached its maximum level at a dose of 1 kGy, whereas NO ₂ ⁻ yield increased non-linearly beyond 2 kGy in this system. Both in aerated and oxygenated systems, G(NO ₂ ⁻ ) and G(H₂O₂) were found to vary with N ₃ ⁻ concentration. The yield of NO ₂ ⁻ was found to be dependent on both dose rate and pH. On pulse radiolysis, NO ₂ ⁻ was found as a radiolytic product in aerated 1 mM azide solution at pH 6.8. In this system the intermediate generated exhibits absorbance around 250 nm. The overall results obtained during the present study reveal that in presence of both reducing radical (mainly e _aq ⁻ ) and oxygen, N ₃ ⁻ produced an intermediate possibly NH₂O ₂ ^• radical, which is the prime source for NO ₂ ⁻ generation.     

The Structure of Gallium in Strongly Alkaline,Highly Concentrated Gallate Solutions—a Raman and <Superscript>71</Superscript>Ga-NMR Spectroscopic Study

Highly concentrated alkaline gallate solutions with 0.23≤[Ga(III)]_T≤2.32 mol⋅dm⁻³ and 1≤[NaOH]_T≤15 mol⋅dm⁻³ have been prepared and investigated by Raman and ⁷¹Ga-NMR spectroscopy. Both the Raman and ⁷¹Ga-NMR spectra are consistent with the presence of only one Ga-bearing species in these solutions, the tetrahedral hydroxocomplex, Ga(OH)₄⁻. Contact ion pairs were found to cause variations in the Raman and ⁷¹Ga-NMR parameters that are at the edge of detectability. Other species that have been claimed to exist in the literature, like higher hydroxo complexes (i.e., Ga(OH)₆³⁻) or the μ-oxo-bridged dimer (i.e., (OH)₃Ga-O-(OH)₃²⁻), were not detected by these spectroscopic techniques. If such solution species exist at all, their concentrations are below the detection limit of Raman and ⁷¹Ga-NMR spectroscopy. The behavior of gallium appears to be very similar to that of aluminium under identical conditions, except that the dimeric species detected in aluminate solutions is undetectable in analogous gallates.     

Isothiocyanate and selenocyanate complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Co(II) with a pyridylpyrazole-based ligand: synthesis,characterization, and structure

Mononuclear NCS^? containing complexes, [M(NCS)₂L] (L?=?N,N-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)aminomethylpyridine), [Cu(NCS)₂L′] (L′?=?N-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)aminomethylpyridine), and NCSe^? containing complexes [ML(NCSe)(H₂O)]ClO₄ (M?=?Ni⁺², Co⁺²) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic, and physico-chemical methods. Structural studies of [Cu(NCS)₂L′] show copper is five coordinate with distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry with two cis NCS^?. [M(NCS)₂L] and [ML(NCSe)(H₂O)]ClO₄ (M?=?Ni⁺² and Co⁺²) are expected to be octahedral.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and spectroscopic properties of two new complexes containing azido or dicyanamido bridges

Two new complexes, [Cu(L₁){N(CN)₂}]·ClO₄ (1) (L₁ is 1,8-dimethyl-1,3,6,8,10,13-hexa-azacyclotetradecane) and [Co(L₂)(N₃)₂]·ClO₄ (2) (L₂ is 5,7,7,12,14,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetra-azacyclotetradecane) have been synthesized and characterized. The compounds crystallize in the monoclinic system P2₁ space group for 1 and P2₁/n for 2. Single crystal X-ray analysis reveals that the compound 1 assumes a one-dimensional structure via hydrogen-bonding interactions, in which each Cu(II) ion is coordinated by four nitrogen atoms from ligand L₁ and one nitrogen atom from [N(CN)₂]⁻ anion. For compound 2, each Co(III) ion is coordinated by four nitrogen atoms of ligand L₂ and two nitrogen atoms from N₃ ⁻ anion.     

Equilibrium study on the reactions of boric acid with some cis -diaqua CrIII-complexes

Substitution inertcis-diaqua Cr^III complexes: cis-[(L^x−)Cr^III(H₂O)₂]^(3−x)+ derived from N-donor ligands (L^x−) viz., bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline (x = 0) and N,O-donor ligands viz., nitrilotriacetate and anthranilate N,N-diacetate (x = 3) titrate as diprotic acids in aqueous solution and enhance the acidity of otherwise weakly acidic boric acid (H₃BO₃) producing mononuclear and binuclear mixed ligand Cr^III-borate complexes: [(L)Cr(H₂BO₄)]^x− and [(L)Cr(BO₄)Cr(L)]^(1−2x)+ respectively through coordination of the H₂O and/or OH⁻ ligands, cis-coordinated in the Cr^III-complexes on the electron deficient B^III-atom in H₃BO₃ with release of protons. Deprotonation of the parent Cr^III-complexes and their reactions with H₃BO₃ have been investigated by potentiometric method in aqueous solution,I = 0.1 mol dm⁻³ (NaNO₃) at 25 ±0.1°C. The equilibrium constants have been evaluated by computerized methods and the tentative stoichiometry of the reactions have been worked out on the basis of the speciation curves     

CEPA calculations on open-shell molecules. II. Singlet-triplet energy splitting in π2 configurations of diatomic molecules

The CEPA-PNO method is used for calculating the energy difference ΔE _ST between the³∑⁻ and the¹Δ states of diatomic molecules in electronic π² configurations. An analysis of the contribution of electron correlation to ΔE _ST is performed in terms of physically understandable effects such as direct correlation, dynamic spin polarization, semiinternal and internal excitations. It is shown that these effects are of completely different importance for the molecules treated in this study: For C₂ the direct correlation between the two singly occupied π-orbitals is the dominant correlation contribution to ΔE _ST; for O₂, S₂, SO the internal excitation π _u ² → π _g ² is predominant, whereas for NH and PH there is a close competition between the direct correlation and the spin polarization of the underlying σ-orbitals. The basis set dependence of these effects is investigated, in particular for NH. Our final results reproduce experimental values of ΔE _ST within 0.05–0.10 eV.     

Biosynthesis of furanochromones in Pimpinella monoica

During a search for bioactive compounds from indigenous plants,Pimpinella monoica (Umbelliferae) was found to contain furocoumarin, isopimpenellin (3) and five biogenetically related furocoumarins viz khellin (1), visnagin (2), visamminol (4), ammiol (5) and khellol (6). Labelled (i) and (2) were isolated from [1−¹⁴C]- and [2−¹⁴C]-acetates. Labelling pattern, determined by degradation of biosynthesised compounds, establishes the polyketide origin of their aromatic and pyrone rings while the furan ring originates via an acetate-mevalonate pathway. The plant also utilises glycine and leucine as substratevia acetate. Biotransformation of [3−³H]-visnagin to (6) but not to (2) was also observed.     

Fac-mer equilibria of coordinated iminodiacetate (IDA2?) in ternary CuII(ida)(H?1B)? complex formation (B = imidazole, benzimidazole) in aqueous solution

pH potentiometric and spectrophotometric investigations on the complex formation equilibria of Cu^II with iminodiacetate (ida²⁻) and heterocyclic N-bases, viz. imidazole and benzimidazole (B), in aqueous solution in binary and ternary systems using different molar ratios of the reactants indicated the formation of complexes of the types, Cu(ida), Cu(ida)(OH)⁻, (ida)Cu(OH)Cu(ida)⁻, Cu(B)²⁺, Cu(H^-1B)⁺, Cu(ida)(H₋₁B)⁻, (ida)Cu(B)Cu(ida) and (ida)Cu(H₋₁B)Cu(ida)⁻. Formation constants of the complexes at 25 ±1° at a fixed ionic strength,I = 0.1 mol dm⁻³ (NaNO₃) in aqueous solution were evaluated and the complex formation equilibria were elucidated with the aid of speciation curves. Departure of the experimental values of the reproportionation constants(ΔlogK _cu) of ternary Cu(ida)(H₋₁B)⁻ complexes from the statistically expected values, despite their formation in appreciable amounts at equilibrium, were assigned tofac(f)-mer(m) equilibria of the ida²⁻ ligand coordinated to Cu^II, as the N-heterocyclic donors, (H₋₁B)⁻, coordinatetrans- to the N-(ida²⁻) atom in the binary Cu(ida) _f complex to form the ternary Cu(ida) _m (H₋₁B)⁻ complexes     

Electrochemical study on screen-printed carbon electrodes with modification by iron nanoparticles in Fe(CN)<Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>4−/3−</Superscript> redox system

The remarkable enhancement of electron transfer on screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) with modification by iron nanoparticles (Fe_nano), coupled with Fe(CN)₆ ^4−/3− redox species, was characterized with an increase of electroactive area (A _ea) at electrode surface together with a decrease of heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k°) in the system. Hence, Fe_nano-Fe(CN)₆ ³⁻ SPCEs with deposition of glucose oxidase (GOD) demonstrated a higher sensitivity to various glucose concentrations than Fe(CN)₆ ³⁻/GOD-deposited SPCEs. In addition, an inhibited diffusion current from cyclic voltammograms was also observed with an increase in redox concentration and complicated the estimation of A _ea. Further analysis by the electrochemical impedance method, it was shown that this effect might be resulted from the electrode surface blocking by the products of activated complex decomposition.     

η3-Propargyl complexes of molybdenum, tungsten, and rhenium

The reactions of the Me _n C₆H_6−n M(CO)₃ (M=Cr, Mo, W;n=3, 5, 6) and C₅R₅M(CO)₃ (M=Mn, Re; R=H, Me) complexes with propargyl alcohol in acidic media under UV irradiation were studied. Novel Me _n C₆H_6−n M(CO)₂(η³-C₃H₃)BF₄ (M=Mo, W;n=3, 5, 6) and C₅R₅Re(CO)₂(η³-C₃H₃)CF₃SO₃ complexes with the 3ē-propargyl ligand were synthesized, and their properties compared with those of similar η³-allyl derivatives. The structure and dynamic propeties of the compounds obtained are discussed. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1796–1803, September, 1999.     

Synthesis and spectral properties of titanium(iv) polynuclear hydroxo complexes stabilized in solution by the [PW11O39]7− heteropolyanion

Unsaturated heteropolyanions (HPA) [PW₁₁O₃₉]⁷⁻ stabilize Ti^IV hydroxo complexes in aqueous solutions (Ti: PW₁₁ [PW₁₁O₃₉]⁷⁻⪯12, pH 1–3). Spectral studies (optical,¹⁷O and³¹P NMR, and IR spectra) and studies by the differential dissolution method demonstrated that Ti^IV hydroxo complexes are stabilized through interactions of polynuclear Ti^IV hydroxo cations with heteropolyanions [PW₁₁TiO₄₀ ⁵⁻ formed. Depending on the reaction conditions, hydroxo cations Ti _n−1O _x H _y ^m+ either add to oxygen atoms of the W−O−Ti bridges of the heteropolyanions to form the complex [PW₁₁TiO₄₀·Ti _n−1O _x H _y ] ^k− (at [HPA]=0.01 mol L⁻¹) or interact with Ti^IV of the heteropolyanions through the terminal o atom to give the polynuclear complexes [PW₁₁O₃₉Ti−O−Ti _n−1O _x H _y ]^q− (at [HPA]=0.2 mol L⁻¹). When the complexes of the first type were treated with H₂O₂, Ti^IV ions added peroxo groups. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 914–920, May, 1997.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Polyoxometalate–Polyamino Dendritic Hybrid Compounds

Organic–inorganic hybrid compounds were prepared by the reaction of a tin chloride-substituted polyoxometalate, [PSn(Cl)W₁₁O₃₉]⁴⁻ with tris(2-aminoethyl)amine, and poly(propylene)imine (DAB-Am) tetraamine and octaamine dendrimers. Translational diffusion coefficients of the hybrid compounds were measured in DMSO-d ₆ by the stimulated echo diffusion (STE) NMR technique. Molecular radii were derived from the diffusion coefficients by the Stokes–Einstein equation and appeared to be incorrect because of fast exchange on the NMR time scale of the counter cation in the solution, which led to an averaging of the NMR signal and high diffusion coefficients. An effective hydrodynamic diameter of the [PSn(Cl)W₁₁O₃₉]⁴⁻–polypropylenimine octaamine hybrid adduct was measured in a light scattering experiment.     

Redox chemistry of o- and m -hydroxycinnamic acids: A pulse radiolysis study

Radiation chemical reactions of^•OH, O^•−, N₃ ^•and e _aq ^t- witho- and m-hydroxycinnamic acids were studied. The second-orderrateconstantsforthereaction of^•OH with ortho and meta isomers in buffer solution at pH7 are 3.9±0.2 × 10⁹ and 4.4 ± 0.3 × 10⁹ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1 respectively. At pH 3 the rate with the ortho isomer was halved (1.6 ± 0.4 × 10⁹ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1) but it was unaffected in the case of meta isomer (k = 4.2±0.6 × 10⁹dm³mol^-1 s^-1). The rate constant in the reaction of N₃ ^• with the ortho isomer is lower by an order of magnitude (k = 4.9 ± 0.4 × 10⁸ dm³ mol^-1s^-1). The rates of the reaction of e _aq ^t- with ortho and meta isomers were found to be diffusion controlled. The transient absorption spectrum measured in the^•OH witho-hydroxycinnamic acid exhibited an absorption maximum at 360 nm and in meta isomer the spectrum was blue-shifted (330 nm) with a shoulder at 390 nm. A peak at 420 nm was observed in the reaction of O^bb−with theo-isomer whereas the meta isomer has a maximum at 390 and a broad shoulder at 450 nm. In the reaction of the absorption peaks were centred at 370–380 nm in both the isomers. The underlying reaction mechanism is discussed.     

Syntheses,Structures, and Thermal Reactivity of New ZnII and CdII Thio‐ and Selenocyanato Coordination Compounds

Reaction of Zn^II and Cd^II thiocyanate or selenocyanate with pyrazine leads to the formation of new Zn^II and Cd^II coordination compounds. The structures of [Zn(NCSe)₂(pyrazine)₂]_n ( 1A ), [Cd(NCS)₂(pyrazine)₂]_n ( 2A ) and [Cd(NCSe)₂(pyrazine)₂]_n ( 3A ) consist of octahedrally coordinated metal cations which are surrounded by two terminal N‐bonded anions and two μ₂‐bridging pyrazine molecules. The metal cations are connected via the pyrazine ligands into layers, which are further linked by weak intermolecular S···S respectively Se···Se interactions. Investigations on the thermal degradation behavior of 1A , 2A , and 3A using simultaneous differential thermoanalysis and thermogravimetry as well as X‐ray powder diffraction, IR‐ and Raman spectroscopy prove that on heating, the pyrazine‐rich compound 1A decomposes in one step into zinc selenocyanate without the formation of a pyrazine‐deficient intermediate. In contrast, for compounds 2A and 3A a stepwise decomposition is observed, leading to the formation of the pyrazine‐deficient compounds [Cd(NCS)₂(pyrazine)]_n ( 2B‐I and 2B‐II ) and [Cd(NCSe)₂(pyrazine)]_n ( 3B ) as intermediates. The structures and the thermal reactivity are discussed and compared with that of related transition metal thiocyanates and selenocyanates with pyridine as N‐donor ligand.     

Application of the Specific Ion Interaction Theory → the Solubility Product and First Hydrolysis Constant of Europium

The specific ion interaction theory (SIT) was applied to the first hydrolysis constants of Eu(III) and solubility product of Eu(OH)₃ in aqueous 2, 3 and 4 mol⋅dm⁻³ NaClO₄ at 303.0 K, under CO₂-free conditions. Diagrams of pEu_aq versus pC_H were constructed from solubilities obtained by a radiometric method, the solubility product log₁₀ K_{sp, Eu(OH)3}^I {Eu(OH)_3(s) Eu_aq³⁺+ 3OH_aq⁻ } values were calculated from these diagrams and the results obtained are log₁₀ K_sp,Eu(OH)3^I = − 22.65 ± 0.29, −23.32 ± 0.33 and −23.70 ± 0.35 for ionic strengths of 2, 3 and 4 mol⋅dm⁻³ NaClO₄, respectively. First hydrolysis constants {Eu_aq³⁺+H₂O Eu(OH)_(aq)²⁺+H⁺ } were also determined in these media by pH titration and the values found are log₁₀β_Eu,H^I = − 8.19 ± 0.15, −7.90 ± 0.7 and −7.61 ± 0.01 for ionic strengths of 2, 3, and 4 mol⋅dm⁻³ NaClO₄, respectively. Total solubilities were estimated taking into account the formation of both Eu³⁺ and Eu(OH)²⁺ (7.7 < pC_H < 9) and the values found are: 1.4 × 10⁻⁶ mol⋅dm⁻³, 1.2 × 10⁻⁶ mol⋅dm⁻³ and 1.3 × 10⁻⁶ mol⋅dm⁻³, for ionic strengths of 2, 3 and 4 mol⋅dm⁻³ NaClO₄, respectively. The limiting values at zero ionic strength were extrapolated by means of the SIT from the experimental results of the present research together with some other published values. The results obtained are log₁₀ K_{sp, Eu(OH)3}^o = − 23.94 ± 0.51 (1.96 SD) and log₁₀β_Eu,H⁰ = − 7.49 ± 0.15 (1.96 SD).     

Magnetic properties of fullerene salts containing d- and f-metal cations (Co2+, Ni2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, Eu2+, Cd2+). Specific features of the interaction between C60·? and the metal cations

The interaction between the radical anions C₆₀ ^·− and divalent d- and f-metal (Co, Fe, Ni, Mn, Eu, Cd) cations in DMF and acetonitrile-benzonitrile (AN-BN) mixture was studied. Black solid polycrystalline salts (C₆₀ ^·−)₂{(M²⁺)(DMF) _x } (x = 2.4–4, 1–6) containing the radical anions C₆₀ ^·− and metal(ii) cations solvated by DMF were prepared for the first time and their optical and magnetic properties were studied. The salts containing Co²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Ni²⁺ are characterized by antiferromagnetic interactions between the radical anions C₆₀ ^·−, which result in unusually large broadening of the EPR signal of C₆₀ ^·− upon lowering the temperature (from 5.55–12.6 mT at room temperature to 35–40 mT at 6 K for Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺). The salts containing Mn²⁺ and Eu²⁺ form diamagnetic dimers (C₆₀ ⁻)₂, which causes a jumpwise decrease in the magnetic moment of the complexes and disappearance of the EPR signal of C₆₀ ^·− in the temperature range 210–130 K. A feature of salt 6 is magnetic isolation of the radical anions C₆₀ ^·− due to the presence of diamagnetic cation Cd²⁺. The salts prepared are unstable in air and decompose in o-dichlorobenzene or AN. Reactions of C₆₀ ^·− with metal(ii) cations in AN-BN mixture result in decomposition products of the salts that contain neutral fullerene dimers and metals solvated by BN. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1909–1919, September, 2008.     

Hydrothermal alteration of BaxMIVxCe2?2 x (PO4)2 [MIV=Zr, Hf] as hosts for minor actinides

Ba_xM^IV _xCe_2−2x (PO₄)₂ [M^IV=Zr, Hf] monazite-like compounds were succesfully synthesized by solid state reaction for x≤0.2 (M^IV=Zr) and x≤0.1 (M^IV=Hf). The low miscibility of BaM^IV(PO₄)₂ (M^IV=Zr, Hf) compounds in CePO₄ was explained on the basis of the monoclinic-to-trigonal phase transition that occurs at 733 K in BaZr(PO₄)₂ and at 798 K in BaHf(PO₄)₂. The hydrothermal alteration of these compounds was tested using a modified MCC-1 static leaching test in acid (1 mol·dm⁻³ HCl) and basic (1 mol dm⁻³ KOH) solutions at 373 K, 473 K and 573 K; both the experimental fluids and the reacted solid specimens were analyzed by different analytical techniques and the reaction mechanisms were elucidated. All the tested compounds are stable in 1 mol·dm⁻³ HCl until 573 K. The stability of the monazites in 1 mol·dm⁻³ KOH is a function of the temperature.     

Dependence of geminal1H−1H and31P−1H spin-spin coupling constants on the specific intramolecular C−H...X interaction

Participation of the proton in a specific intramolecular C−H...X (X=N, 0) interaction leads to an increase in its geminal¹H−¹H and¹H−³¹P spin-spin coupling constants (SSCC). According toab initio calculations carried out in the 6–31G^** basis set, the observed effect is mainly due to the change in the diamagnetic spin-orbital contribution to SSCC. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 306–309, February, 1997.