Bacterial growth response to photoactive quinones

Quinones are known producers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that may be toxic in natural aquatic environments. In this study, the effects of parent quinones and their photodegradation products on bacterial growth were determined, and photochemical ROS formation rates were measured. Using (3)H-leucine incorporation to measure growth of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and natural seawater bacterioplankton, growth inhibition was observed when samples were exposed to dichlone, chloranil and sodium anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQ2S). For seawater, compared with other quinones tested, dichlone showed the greatest toxicity in the dark, and AQ2S toxicity was greatest during simultaneous exposure to sunlight. Photodegraded chloranil and dichlone showed decreased toxicity compared with nonirradiated samples. For P. aeruginosa, AQ2S and its photodegradation products showed the greatest toxicity during simultaneous exposure to sunlight. Chloranil photodegradation products showed reduced toxicity compared with the parent compound during simultaneous exposure to sunlight. Dichlone was the only compound to show any toxicity to P. aeruginosa in the dark, and its photodegradation products were more toxic than the parent compound. Based on the results of dark and light controlled experiments measuring bacterial growth and estimated ROS production rates, ROS alone does not account for relative differences in toxicity between these quinones.     

Influence of Gemini Surfactant with Modified TiO2 Nanoparticles on the Interfacial Tension of Oil/Water

The research on the impacts of modified TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) on interfacial tension (IFT) is in its infancy. Our work focuses on the IFT of the modified TiO₂ and Gemini surfactant N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-N,N′-dimyristyl-1,2-ethane diammonium dichlone (YND1233) complex solutions for reservoir stimulation purposes. The factors of YND1233, modified TiO₂ NPs, temperature, aging stability, adsorption loss, and mineralized degree were explored with the comparison of unmodified TiO₂ NPs and YND1233 as contrast samples. The results indicate that the dynamic IFTs decrease and then increase with the concentrations of YND1233 and modified TiO₂ NPs, and the minimum IFT appears at 0.200 and 0.010 wt%, respectively. YND1233/modified TiO₂ complex solutions show lower and more stable IFTs, better temperature resistance, longer aging time, and lower adsorption on the surface of quartz sand. The modified TiO₂ NPs and YND1233 in the YND1233/modified TiO₂ complex solution can be adsorbed to the interface and decrease the IFTs through synergistic effect. A mixed diffusion-kinetic mechanism is provided for the adsorption and interactions with Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ involved in YND1233/modified TiO₂ complex solution.     

Titanium-dioxide-mediated photocatalysed reaction of selected organic systems

The photocatalysed reaction of four selected organic systems, namely dichlone (1), 2-amino-5-chloropyridine (2), benzoyl peroxide (3) and 3-chloro perbenzoic acid (4), has been investigated in an acetonitrile/water mixture in the presence of titanium dioxide and oxygen. An attempt has been made to identify the products formed during the photo-oxidation process using the GC/MS analysis technique. The photolysis of dichlone (1) leads to the formation of phthalic anhydride (11) and 1H-indene-1,2,3-trione (10), whereas 2-amino-5-chloropyridine (2) gave rise to 2,2′-diamino bipyridyl (14), 2-pyridinamine (16), 2-hydroxy-5-chloropyridine (18), bipyridyl (19) and 2-amino bipyridyl (21). The photolysis of benzoyl peroxide (3) yielded a mixture of products such as benzoic acid (24), biphenyl (27), biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid (29) and benzoic acid phenyl ester (30). Two intermediate products, as 3-chlorobenzaldehyde (35) and hydroxyl added 3-chlorobenzaldehyde (33), have been identified in the case of 3-chloro perbenzoic acid (4). The products have been identified by comparing the molecular ion and mass fragmentation peaks of the products with those reported in the GC-MS library. A probable mechanism for the formation of the products has been proposed.     

Measurement of lead-210, bismuth-210, and polonium-210 in environmental samples

Mathematical equations governing the ratio of²¹⁰Bi/²¹⁰Pb and²¹⁰Po/²¹⁰Pb activities are used to explain the ingrowth of²¹⁰Bi and²¹⁰Po in environmental samples during post collection. Procedures are described for radiochemical separation of²¹⁰Pb,²¹⁰Bi, and²¹⁰Po in a state of radioactive disequilibrium and quantification by alpha- and beta-counting. Also, the special case is considered where²¹⁰Bi is in equilibrium with²¹⁰Pb, but both are in disequilibrium with²¹⁰Po. In this case, the activities of both²¹⁰Pb and²¹⁰Po are computed by measuring²¹⁰Po activity twice, using alpha-counting.     

New developments in the production of theranostic pairs of radionuclides

A brief historical background of the development of the theranostic approach in nuclear medicine is given and seven theranostic pairs of radionuclides, namely ^44gSc/⁴⁷Sc, ⁶⁴Cu/⁶⁷Cu, ⁸³Sr/⁸⁹Sr, ⁸⁶Y/⁹⁰Y, ¹²⁴I/¹³¹I, ¹⁵²Tb/¹⁶¹Tb and ¹⁵²Tb/¹⁴⁹Tb, are considered. The first six pairs consist of a positron and a β^?-emitter whereas the seventh pair consists of a positron and an α-particle emitter. The decay properties of all those radionuclides are briefly mentioned and their production methodologies are discussed. The positron emitters ⁶⁴Cu, ⁸⁶Y and ¹²⁴I are commonly produced in sufficient quantities via the (p,n) reaction on the respective highly enriched target isotope. A clinical scale production of the positron emitter ^44gSc has been achieved via the generator route as well as via the (p,n) reaction, but further development work is necessary. The positron emitters ⁸³Sr and ¹⁵²Tb are under development. Among the therapeutic radionuclides, ⁸⁹Sr, ⁹⁰Y and ¹³¹I are commercially available and ¹⁶¹Tb can also be produced in sufficient quantity at a nuclear reactor. Great efforts are presently underway to produce ⁴⁷Sc and ⁶⁷Cu via neutron, photon and charged particle induced reactions. The radionuclide ¹⁴⁹Tb is unique because it is an α-particle emitter. The present method of production of ¹⁵²Tb and ¹⁴⁹Tb involves the use of the spallation process in combination with an on-line mass separator. The role of some emerging irradiation facilities in the production of special radionuclides is discussed.     

Heterodyne measurements of hot bands and isotopic transitions of N2O near 7.8 µm

Heterodyne frequency measurements are reported for absorption transitions of N₂O in the frequency range from 1257 to 1335 cm^?1. The measurements use a CO laser as a transfer oscillator whose frequency is measured directly against combinations of frequencies of two stabilized CO₂ lasers whose frequencies are well known. A tunable diode laser is locked to the N₂O absorption feature and the frequency difference is measured between the diode laser and the CO laser. Thev ₃ fundamental bands of the¹⁵N¹⁴N¹⁶O and¹⁴N¹⁵N¹⁶O isotopes are reported. Measurements are also given for the 00⁰2–00⁰1, 02⁰1–02⁰0, and 02²1–02²0 vibrational transitions of N₂O. A table of frequencies is given for the 00⁰2–00⁰0 band near 2560 cm^?1 based on these and earlier measurements.     

Determination of 129I/127I ratios in environmental samplesusing neutron activation analysis

Studies on the behavior of ¹²⁹I in the environment are greatly enhanced when the concentration of the radioiodine can be related to stable ¹²⁷I. The background ratios of ¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I of 10^-10 and lower, found in uncontaminated areas, are best measured using accelerator mass spectrometry. However, there are many examples of studies where ratios higher than 10^-8 have been measured, even in places located remotely from nuclear reprocessing activities. In the vicinity of reprocessing plants it is possible to find ratios between 10⁰ and 10^-7, which can be detected easily using neutron activation analysis (NAA). Stable iodine is readily determined at concentrations below 1 mg/kg in environmental materials with instrumental NAA and radiochemical techniques can be used to measure ¹²⁹I to below mBq concentrations. Therefore, where there are elevated concentrations of ¹²⁹I it is possible to use a combination of neutron activation techniques to determine ¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I ratios. This paper describes how NAA is used to measure ¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I ratios in milk, vegetation, and atmospheric samples. Instrumental NAA is used to measure both ¹²⁹I and ¹²⁷I where the ratio is between 10⁰ and 10^-3. A radiochemical procedure is used to measure ¹²⁹I at ratios between 10^-3 and 10^-7, with a thermal neutron flux of 10¹⁶ m^-2·s^-1.     

Laser-excited molecular flourescence spectrometry for the determination of traces of nonmetals : Part 1. determination of traces of fluoride,chloride and bromide based on diatomic molecules in a graphite furnace

For the determination of flouride, chloride and bromide, a suitable metal ion is added in a modified graphite tube atomizer. After drying and ashing, the substances are vaporized and diatomic molecules between the metal and nonmetal are formed. These molecules are excited by a pulsed dye laser and the resulting fluorescence is measured. At constant metal concentration, the fluorescence is proportional to the halide concentration. The diatomic molecules used are MgF, InCl and AlBr. The detection limits are 11 pg of fluoride, 15 pg of chloride and 70 pg of bromide in the 10-μl injections, corresponding to 6 x 10^?8 mol l^?1 fluoride, 4 x 10^?8 mol l^?1 chloride and 9 x 10^?8 mol l^?1 bromides.     

Use of Ag(II) as a removable template in porphyrin chemistry: diol cleavage products of [meso-tetraphenyl-2,3-cis-diolchlorinato]silver(II)

The use of Ag^II as a removable template in synthetic porphyrin chemistry is described. Mild procedures for the insertion of Ag^II into chlorins and the demetallation of the [chlorinato]Ag^II complexes are delineated. The UV-vis spectra of the novel [chlorinato]Ag^II complexes are discussed. The diol cleavage products of [meso-tetraphenyl-2,3-diolchlorinato]silver(II) under a number of conditions are characterized and compared to those resulting from the cleavage of the corresponding free base diol chlorin or its Ni^II complex, highlighting the unique templating effect of Ag^II. The scopes and limits of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) for the analysis of Ag^II chlorins is described. The use of Ag^II as a templating metal is superior over Ni^II or Zn^II for the preparation of free base pyrrole-modified porphyrins along metal templated pathways.     

Linear Copper Complex Arrays as Versatile Molecular Strings: Syntheses,Structures, Luminescence,and Magnetism

The defined linear arrangement of metal atoms in discrete coordination complexes or polymers is still one of the most intriguing challenges in synthetic chemistry. These chain arrangements are of fundamental importance, because of their potential applications as molecular wires and single molecule magnets (SMM) in microelectronic devices on a molecular scale. Oligonuclear Group 11 metal complexes with suitable bridging ligands, specifically those that are based on copper as the first choice of a cheap precursor coinage metal, are of particular interest in this regard. This is due to the superior luminescence properties of these linear clusters that often show d¹⁰⋅⋅⋅d¹⁰ interactions in their molecular structures. The combination of Cu^I with heavier coinage metal ions results in tunable emissive arrays that are also stimuli-responsive. Thus, both linear multinuclear Cu^I and linear heteropolymetallic Cu^I/Ag^I as well as Cu^I/Au^I clusters are excellent candidates for applications in molecular/organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs). Alternatively, paramagnetic multinuclear cupric arrays are prominent as potential molecular wires with enhanced magnetic properties through multiple coupled d⁹ centers. This Review covers the whole range of linear multinuclear assemblies of cuprous and cupric ions in complexes and coordination polymers, their syntheses, photophysical behavior, and magnetic properties. Moreover, recent advances in the rapidly progressing field of hetero-Cu^I/Ag^I and Cu^I/Au^I molecular strings are also discussed.     

Conductometric Titration of Chlorhexidine and Proguanil

Abstract

Conductometric titrations of chlorhexidine and proguanil are reported. The procedure is based on the copper-bi-guanide reaction which gives a pink solid. Studies at several pH values, and presence of NH₃ and ethanol are carried out. 3 ml of 0.2 M NH3, 9ml of 0.01 M NaOH diluted to 60 mL with 15% ethanol are added to 5ml of biguenide aqueous solution and titrated awith cooper acetate. Concentrations of Chlorhexidine in 5.9x10^?5 - 3.4x10^?4 M range are determined. Fareignspecies presence is studied too.

Biguanides are found in several pharmaceutical formulations and industrial samples.

Estimetion of chlorhexidine and proguanil salts with the standard method lacks selectivity since it is based on perchloric acid titration in acetic acid medium¹. Some recent papers about determination of chlorhexidine and proguanil have been publisghed: potentiometric titration of chlorhexidine² polarographic determinetion of praguanil and chlorhexidine^3,4 spectrophotometric assay of chlorhexidine in contact lens solutions⁵ and suppositories⁶, HPLC of proguanil in serum sam-ples⁷ and chlorhexidine in several samples ^8,9,10,10,11 or G C ^12,13 and mass fragmentography^14,15.     

Natural radionuclides in groundwaters

The²³⁴U and²³⁰Th radionuclides are highly retarded by factors of 10⁴ to 10⁵ in basalt groundwater (Hanford) and briny groundwaters from Texas, and geothermal brine from the Salton Sea Geothermal Field (SSGF). In basalt groundwaters (low ionic strength), Ra is highly sorbed, while in brines (high ionic strength), Ra is soluble. This is probably because the sorption sites are saturated with Na⁺ and Cl^– ions, and RaCl₂ is soluble in brines.²¹⁰Pb is soluble in SSGF brine, probably as a chloride complex. The²³⁴U/²³⁰Th ratios in basalt groundwaters and brines from Texas and SSGF are nearly unity, indicating that U is in the +4 state, suggesting a reducing environment for these aquifers.     

Some problems of parametric neutron activation analysis based on the use of radioactive daughters of longer-lived mothers with low mother/daughter half-life ratios

The theoretical and practical aspects of the use of radioactive daughters originated from the decay of longer-lived radioactive mothers in parametric activation analysis, when the ratio: mother half-life to daughter half-life is less than 10, are discussed. The mother-daughter relationships: ⁴⁷Ca/⁴⁷Sc; ⁹⁵Zr/⁹⁵Nb; ¹⁴⁰Ba/¹⁴⁰La; ⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc and ¹¹⁵Cd/^115mIn are selected as models for the study. The cases when the radionuclide of interest is formed through both direct and indirect routes are also analyzed. As illustrative example, the direct reaction and the reaction chain: ⁴⁷Ti(n,p)⁴⁷Sc/⁴⁶Ca(n,γ)⁴⁷Ca(β⁻)⁴⁷Sc are evaluated with respect to the determination of the elements involved and their reciprocal interferences.     

Qualitative and quantitative measurements of radioiodines

Some methods for measurements of radioiodines are discussed. Three isotopes of iodine are presented in detail;¹²⁵I,¹²⁹I and¹³¹I. Limited discussions of¹²³I and¹²⁶I are also given. Measurements of these isotopes are examined for both the NaI(TI) and liquid scintillation systems. The properties of the decay schemes are utilized to explain the mode of measurements of the isotopes in these two types of detectors. Methods of standardization of the radioiodines are discussed. Special emphasis is given to the direct standardization of¹²⁵I as compared to so called “Mock¹²⁵I” standards.     

Oxidic glasses as hosts for migrating metal ions

The results of experiments where Tl⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions are electrolysed into a sodium borate glass (35 mol% Na₂O and 50 °C) are brought up to date in order to take into account recent developments in the chemistry of borate glasses. It is first necessary to consider the unique chemistry of the oxide(-II) species in terms of its electronegativity, electronic polarisability and acid–base properties, and the significant relationship between these is discussed. It is described how the Lewis basicity of oxidic materials such as glasses can be expressed quantitatively on the optical basicity scale and how determinations are made by various experimental methods. These methods include optical spectroscopy of ‘probe’ ions such as Tl⁺ or Pb²⁺, measurement of electronic polarisability and far-infrared spectroscopic ‘rattling’ frequencies of constituent metal ions. When Pb²⁺ ions are electrolysed into the sodium borate glass, it is found that there is migration of Na⁺ ions away from and of O^2? ions towards the (lead) anode with formation of PbO. There is almost complete depletion of Na₂O in the anode region so that the composition of the glass approximates to B₂O₃. A similar process occurs to a limited degree in the case of thallium, but the Tl⁺ ions are able to penetrate more deeply into the glass. Their ultraviolet ¹S₀?→?³P₁ frequency indicates that the sites they occupy have much greater basicity than the bulk glass. The two-site model of Kamitsos proposes that in borate glasses, there are higher and lower basicity sites, and the measured optical basicity of Tl⁺ indicates occupation of the higher sites. Since it has been shown that BO₄ groups in the glass are weakly basic, it is unlikely that they are involved in the higher sites. It is discussed how the higher site basicity implies greater covalency in the interaction of the Tl⁺ ion with the oxide(-II)s that constitute the pathway, and it is suggested that this is an important factor in the electromigration process.     

LCGTO MP LSD calculations for the diatomics PdX (X = C,Si, Ge,Sn)

Results are presented of a theoretical study of RhC, PdC, PdSi, PdGe and PdSn metal-alloy diatomics performed with the LCGTO MP LSD method. For the RhC molecule the computed electronic structure and spectroscpic constants are in good agreement with experimental data. The ground state of RhC is found to be ²Σ⁺ withe the lowest-lying excited state, ²II, at 10654 cm⁻¹ above the ground state, in good agreement with experiment and with ab initio CI calculations. For PdC and the other Pd-group IV A dimers the ground state is predicted to be ¹Σ and the two lowest-lying excited state are ³II (at 2718 cm⁻¹ for PdC) and ³gS (at 12164 cm⁻¹ for PdC). Our results are in disagreement with ab initio CI studies for PdC, which found a ³Σ ground state with a ³II lowest-lying excited state, and for PdGe, which found a ³II ground state followed by ³Σ⁻ and ¹Σ⁺.     

Long range 13C?13C coupling constants. A review

A large number of ¹³C? ¹³C coupling constants from a diversity of compounds are now available. Attempts have been made to classify this information in order to illustrate how these data are obtained, how signs are determined and how both two- and three-bond couplings can lead to structural information. Coupling constants in aromatic compounds are now well documented, substituent effect trends have been established and correlations with bond orders are noticed. Comparison of ¹³C? ¹³C couplings with ¹³C? ¹H couplings is mentioned. Theoretical calculations are dealt with, and these can now be properly evaluated as both magnitudes and signs of the experimental couplings are known. Finally, the occurrence of long range couplings in biosynthetic material is briefly surveyed.     

Eu3+ concentration dependent optical properties and energy transfer from host Gd3+ to Eu3+ in GdF3 nanocrystals

By using a hydrothermal method, a series of Eu³⁺ concentration dependent GdF₃ nanocrystals have been synthesized. The crystalline structures of samples are characterized by XRD patterns, the morphology and size of the samples are illustrated by FE-SEM images, and the optical properties of the samples are presented by PL excitation and emission spectra. The energy transfer from host Gd³⁺ to Eu³⁺ is observed in the Eu³⁺ doped GdF₃ nanocrystals. The optical properties of Eu³⁺ and the energy transfer efficiency from host Gd³⁺ to Eu³⁺ are discussed on the basis of the Eu³⁺ concentration dependent integrated PL excitation and emission spectra of Gd³⁺ and Eu³⁺. The discussion on optical properties of Eu³⁺ and the energy transfer from Gd³⁺ to Eu³⁺ is meaningful to design and synthesize Gd³⁺ based compounds.     

Mixed Beds for Selective Removal of Ammonium Carbonate in Dialysate

We have studied experimentally and theoretically the exchange of NH₄ ⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺, and H⁺ ions in zeolite beds, weakly-acidic resin beds, and mixed beds of the zeolite and the resin. The zeolite is highly selective for NH₄ ⁺ and K⁺, whereas the resin with carboxyl functional groups is highly selective for Ca⁺⁺ and Mg⁺⁺. The effluent histories of single exchanger beds can be well predicted by the Multicomponent Chromatography Theory developed by Helfferich and Klein (1970). These histories are mainly the result of ion competition for ion exchanger sites; they can not be adjusted to meet the goal that NH₄ ⁺ ions are removed and simultaneously the pH and concentrations of all the major physiological cations are maintained at normal values. The effluent histories of mixed beds, on the other hand, can be adjusted. We have designed a mixed bed which can meet the goal except that for each equivalent of NH₄ ⁺ removed, 0.3 equivalents of Na⁺ are returned. The effluent histories of K⁺ and NH₄ ⁺ for the mixed beds are similar to those of the zeolite beds, whereas the Ca⁺⁺ and Mg⁺⁺ histories are similar to those of the resin beds.     

Computational Approaches for Redox Potentials of Iron(IV)-oxido Complexes

The potential of the redox couple Fe^IV=O / Fe^III–O is of interest for the reactivity of the high-valent nonheme iron oxidants in enzymes and bioinspired small molecule systems but, unfortunately, experimentally it so far is very poorly described. Discussed are three computational methods that are used in combination with available experimental data derived from titrations of Fe^IV=O species with ferrocene derivatives in dry acetonitrile, and from spectroelectrochemical titrations of Fe^III–OH complexes in wet acetonitrile, i.e. describing the Fe^IV=O / Fe^III–OH couple – both data sets are known to have some ambiguities. First, a DFT-based method is used to compute the E° values of 14 Fe^IV=O / Fe^III–O couples with an error margin of around 110 mV. A subset of four species of the original data set is used to evaluate a DLPNO-CCSD(T) based approach, and another subset of complexes, where the spectroelectrochemically determined Fe^IV=O / Fe^III–OH potentials are also known, are used for a Bordwell-Polanyi analysis, which also yield pK_a values. It is shown that the three approaches lead to a consistent picture but due to possible ambiguities with the experimental data, it currently is not possible to fully evaluate the accuracy of the used approaches.