Kosmotrope character of maltose in water mixtures

It is well known that water plays a fundamental role for living beings, because the nature of water transformations provides for the ability to preserve biostructures. Solute can be classified as “kosmotropes” or “chaotropes” depending on the interaction strength with water. In the case of solutes destroying the natural hydrogen bonded network of water, called “kosmotropes” or “structure-makers”, the denaturation processes can be inhibited.

The aim of this work is to investigate the vibrational behaviour of maltose/H₂O mixtures in order to characterise the changes induced by the sugar on the H₂O hydrogen-bonded network. The obtained findings point out that maltose has a destructuring effect on the water tetrahedral network and emphasise its kosmotrope character.     

Consumer attitudes to radiation and irradiated potatoes at “radiation fair” in Osaka, Japan

“Radiation Fair” has been held in summer vacation season in August for more than 10 years in Osaka, the largest city of western Japan, for the purpose of public education and information transfer of radiation and radiation-related technology. We distributed questionnaires to the visitors for recent 3 years to inquire their status toward radiation and irradiated products including irradiated potatoes as well as impression toward the displays. According to the survey results, more than 60% of the kids visitors were satisfied with this exhibition as informative, more than half of the older visitors (16 years old and upward) indicated that they recognized the word of “radiation” when they were at elementary school and the most significant sources of this information were school lessons and the mass media. Consumer's image toward radiation seems to shift to more “positive” when correct knowledge about radiation is given. More than half of consumers did not know “irradiated potatoes” but the percentage indicating that irradiated potatoes was definitely hazardous was less than 10%.     

The radiation resistance of the bioburden from medical devices

An extensive study of the radiation resistance of microbial species constituting the bioburden of a number of different medical devices obtained from Japanese medical device manufacturers has been carried out. A standard protocol for determining radiation resistance was used and validated at the fourteen centres involved in the study. Individual microbial isolates from the bioburden obtained from seven different devices manufactured in these centres were studied. A total of 3742 unselected isolates were obtained, of which 197 failed to survive long enough for subsequent radiation resistance studies. The remainder were subjected to an initial screen test to identify those organisms that were sensitive to the lethal effects of radiation with a D₁₀ of < 1.5kGy. The 465 isolates that survived the screen doses were then tested for survival in an incremental series of radiation doses using methods similar to those of Whitby (1979) and Yan and Tallentire(1995). The isolates from “dry” devices were more resistant than those obtained from the one water filled (“wet”) device studied. The overall distribution of radiation resistance among the isolates was considered to be similar to that forming the “Standard Distribution of Resistance” (SDR) included in the ISO International Standard 11137 “Sterilization of Health Care Products — Requirements for validation and routine control — Radiation sterilization”.     

Zur nomenklatur der phane—II

The new term “Phanes” has been clearly defined and a nomenclature system tentatively developed. This system is comprehensible and of general application and at the same time relatively simple. The notations “nucleus”, “bridge”, “number of bridge members” and “number of ring members” are defined. In order to get a definite characterisation of the phanes which contain a carbocyclic nucleus, a carbocyclic and heterocyclic bridge the following terms: “carbophanes”, “carba-phanes” and “hetera-phanes” have been newly introduced. The prefix “hetera-” has been proposed as a general expression and as a representative term for the syllables “aza-”, “oxa-”, “thia-” and so on. The so called “a-nomenclature” is clearly called “hetera-nomenclature”. The new expressions “heteralogous” and “substitulogous” are explained. As the various examples will show, the “Phane-Nomenclature” can also be applied to the naming of complicated metallocenophanes.     

Optical potential theory of diatom-diatom scattering. II. Indistinguishable molecules

The theory of vibro-rotational energy exchange in “indistinguishable” diatom-diatom scattering is formulated in terms of effective potentials. Due the necessity of considering both “symmetric” and “antisymmetric” molecular two-particle states, the formalism has a characteristic (two-by-two matrix structure. A mathematical generalization of Schwinger's theory of sources allows a compact derivation of exact and approximate expressions for t “optical” and “transition” potentials of elastic and inelastic processes, respectively. Finally, considerations based on a partial wave analysi of the working equations, suggest that the present theory should be more readily amenable to numerical implementations than the close coupling approach     

Effectivity of solvents-A new approach in non-aqueous acid-base titrimetry

A new approach for selection of a suitable solvent system as a medium for non-aqueous acid—base titration is proposed. The essence of the approach is the development of a new criterion called “effectivity”. The latter is based on consequences of the Brønsted and Izmailov acid—base theories and represents a quantitative measure for improving or worsening the titration conditions of acids and bases in non-aqueous solvents as compared with water. The “effectivity” E is given by the relation E = ΔpK_s - ΔpK_s where ΔpK_s is the difference between the logarithmic values of the autoprotolysis constants of water and the solvent in question, and ΔpK is the so-called medium effect. The latter is a constant value which shows that acids and bases with the same charge alter their strength to the same extent when transferred from water into a non-aqueous solvent. The medium effect is calculated by statistical treatment of a great number of acid—base constants determined experimentally both in water and the non-aqueous solvent in question. The effectivity of the solvents most often used in non-aqueous acid—base titrimetry, determined by this approach, shows that in many cases these solvents offer significant advantages over water, but drawbacks are also observed. Some limitations of the approach are discussed. Special attention is paid to dimethylsulphoxide and its mixtures with water, which prove to be highly effective media for the acid—base titration of many substances.     

Decomposition of silane on solid P4O10

Silane undergoes thermal decomposition on the surface of “phosphorus pentoxide” ( P₄O₁₀) into its elements around 200–400°C. The hydrogen formed partially reduces the P₄O₁₀ forming lower oxides of phosphorus and water. Elemental silicon is precipitated as reddish-brown solid, which is separated by dissolving out the phosphorus oxides. Silica and disiloxane are not formed in the reaction.     

Contact angle relaxation on low energy surfaces

The spontaneous relaxation of the water—vapour interface, in contact with the “low energy” solids poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), has been investigated after forced advancing and receding movement. A tensiometric apparatus has been used to probe the three-phase contact zone during relaxation for periods of up to 24 h. The measured force—time trace differs from that which might be anticipated, due to extraneous phenomena such as bulk evaporation/condensation/absorption. It is clear that even for a pure low viscosity liquid such as water, an imbalance in interfacial energies in the neighbourhood of the three-phase contact line (TPCL) exists for extended periods. Measurements have been made at both high and low water vapour pressures. In the advancing case, the TPCL is pinned and equilibration occurs via an essentially evaporative mechanism. In the receding case, the TPCL is mobile and the approach to equilibrium, which also occurs by an evaporative mechanism, is much slower. Indeed our results lead us to question whether equilibrium in the receding case is experimentally accessible. Contact angle hysteresis was found to be significantly smaller in magnitude than that typically measured within seconds or a few minutes of the cessation of forced TPCL movement.     

Implicit allowance for “specific” hydrogen bonding contributions to hydration energies in quantum chemically based continuum models: a phenomenological perspective

The abilities of some quantum mechanically based continuum models to accurately predict hydration energies, even where “specific” hydrogen bonding interactions to the aqueous solvent are anticipated, suggests that such effects are implicitly allowed for in the electrostatic model. Examples of this phenomenon involving various ’onium ions are presented and discussed in the context of COSMO, SM2, and a revised version of the authors’ previously described PCM method.     

ISO radiation sterilization standards

This presentation provides an overview of the current status of the ISO radiation sterilization standards. The ISO standards are voluntary standards which detail both the validation and routine control of the sterilization process. ISO 11137 was approved in 1994 and published in 1995. When reviewing the standard you will note that less than 20% of the standard is devoted to requirements and the remainder is guidance on how to comply with the requirements.

Future standards developments in radiation sterilization are being focused on providing additional guidance. The guidance that is currently provided in informative annexes of ISO 11137 includes: device/packaging materials, dose setting methods, and dosimeters and dose measurement, currently, there are four Technical Reports being developed to provide additional guidance:

1. 1. AAMI Draft TIR, “Radiation Sterilization Material Qualification”

2. 2. ISO TR 13409-1996, “Sterilization of health care products — Radiation sterilization — Substantiation of 25 kGy as a sterilization dose for small or infrequent production batches”

3. 3. ISO Draft TR, “Sterilization of health care products — Radiation sterilization Selection of a sterilization dose for a single production batch” li]4. ISO Draft TR, “Sterilization of health care products — Radiation sterilization-Product Families, Plans for Sampling and Frequency of Dose Audits.”

     

Strong effects of the bridge configuration on photoinduced charge separation in rigidly linked donor-acceptor systems

Photoinduced electron-transfer rates are reported for two pairs of rigid bichromophoric molecules 1(6)/2(6) and 1(8)/2(8). In the first pair electron donor and acceptor are separated by six, in the second pair by eight, carbon—carbon σ bonds. While these σ bonds provide an all-trans coupling path in 1(6) and 1(8), that path contains s-cis elements in 2(6) and 2(8), which - as shown by X-ray structure data and by spectroscopic evidence - leads to a slight decrease in the effective, spatial donor-acceptor separation. Nevertheless, photoinduced electron transfer in each of the “stretched” compounds is about one order of magnitude faster than in the corresponding “bent” compound. This remarkable effect is interpreted as resulting from the unique ability of an all-trans array of σ bonds to mediate electronic through-bond interaction (TBI). Interestingly the solvent dependence of the rate of photoinduced electron transfer is significantly larger in the “bent” systems, thus indicating that superexchange via solvent molecules becomes competitive with TBI if an all-trans array is not available.     

“In situ” radiation cleaning of underground water contaminated with cyanides - six years of experience

The locality of underground water, contaminated with cyanides, has been successfully cleaned by using the hydraulic barrier method (assembly of pumped wells) since 1986. The average cyanide concentrations in the outflow exceeded 35 m per litre. Contamination had to be eliminated before the discharge into the sewer system. The radiation approach “in situ” i.e. decomposition of cyanides by barrier, was applied and is still being used today. The cyanide concentration was lowered more than one order of magnitude. This process was approved by the Czechoslovak radiation security authorities and further applications of “in Situ” regeneration of underground water contamination is anticipated.     

Calculation of detection limits for a single-laboratory ion-chromatographic method to determine parts-per-trillion ions in ultrapure water

This paper addresses the calculation of detection limits (DLs) for ion-chromatographic data at low part-per-trillion (w/w) levels. The main objectives are: (1) to explain two statistical techniques (the EPA or “3σ” approach and the Hubaux-Vos method), (2) to calculate DLs using each procedure, (3) to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each statistical approach and (4) to decide if the analytical method is appropriate for quantifying anions at the 50-ppt level in deionized water. The analytes of interest are: fluoride, chloride, nitrite, bromide, nitrate, sulfate and phosphate. All work was performed on a Dionex DX500 microbore unit, using an AS11 column. Results indicate that the H-V method gives a more realistic (and higher) DL than does the 3σ. Assuming false-negative and false-positives probabilities of 10% or less, this analytical method is not acceptable for quantifying anions at the desired level.     

Evaluation of the surface tension measurement of axisymmetric drop shape analysis (ADSA) using a shape parameter

A quantitative criterion called “shape parameter” to evaluate the quality of surface tension measurement of Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis (ADSA) is presented. ADSA is a powerful technique for the measurement of interfacial tensions and contact angles of pendant drops, sessile drops, and bubbles. Despite the general success of ADSA, deficient results may be obtained for drops close to spherical shape. Therefore, the “shape parameter” was used to determine the range of drop shapes in which ADSA succeeds or fails. The “shape parameter” is a dimensionless parameter that expresses quantitatively the difference in shape between a given experimental profile and an inscribed circle. The surface tension measurements of ADSA were evaluated for both pendant drop and constrained sessile drop configurations using the shape parameter. Different shapes of the pendant drop were studied using different sizes and materials of holders. For each drop configuration, a “critical shape parameter” was defined based on the minimum value of the shape parameter that guarantees an error of less than ±0.1 mJ/m². Furthermore, the effects of the type of liquid and constellation on the “critical shape parameter” were studied.     

Unknown identification using reference mass spectra. Quality evaluation of databases

The high success of the “uncertified” mass spectrometry spectral collection started in 1956 demonstrated qualitatively that a partial reference mass spectrum, even one measured routinely, can be of real value. Correct matchings were still possible despite reference errors, which almost never led to close matches that were incorrect. This study shows quantitatively that the number of different compounds, not the number of peaks in a spectrum, is by far the most important determinant of database efficiency for identifying a “global” unknown. A statistical evaluation of matching performance shows that only 6, 12, and 18 peaks in a reference spectrum are 13%, 67%, and 96%, respectively, as valuable as hundreds of peaks. Also, a separately measured second spectrum of the same compound is 50% as valuable as the first. Database expansion that tripled the number of possible wrong answers only reduced the proportion of correct identifications by 5%. Corrections of a mass or abundance error in each of six reference spectra increase the database matching performance by as much as the addition of one spectrum of a new compound. A new “matching quality index” based statistically on these values indicates that the largest database is also by far the most effective for matching unknowns.     

Are pore size distributions in microfiltration membranes measurable by two-phase flow porosimetry?

The issue of evaluating equivalent pore diameter distributions in membrane microfilters from gas-liquid (g-l) porosimetry data has been critically examined. Experiments performed with one isotropic and one composite anisotropic membrane in both possible orientations revealed conspicous dependence of the obtained (g-l) porosimetry peaks on imposed pressure ramp rates, p. Interference of this kinetic effect can be eliminated from the measured data by extrapolation to p = 0. The ramp rate effect is most likely caused by tortuous pore length distribution, and relatively long times required for liquid expulsion. For two experiments, the observed effects of p could be reconciled with predictions of the Schlesinger-Bechhold theory [Bechold et al., Kolloid Z., 55 (1931) 172–198]. The data obtained with the thin top layer of the composite membrane facing intruding air directly did deviate somewhat from the theory. Pores characterized by (g-l) porosimetry are likely of the “throat type”, and their size distribution is considerably more narrow than that obtained for the “node-type” pores by SEM-image analysis [Zeman and Denault, J. Membrane Sci., 71 (1992) 221–231]. A single bivariate distribution function was constructed for these two distinct pore populations. Flow-weighted or number fraction distributions can be calculated from the extrapolated porosimetry data. For narrow ranges of “throat” diameters, these distributions are fairly similar.     

Uncertainties of gas chromatographic measurement of troublesome pesticide residues in apples employing conventional and mass spectrometric detectors

In recent years the declaration of estimated uncertainty of measurement has become an integral part of analytical results. This study presents the assessment of results generated within the analysis of selected pesticides represented by carbamates, pyrethroides and azoles, residues of which may be found in treated apples. Multiresidue method used for analysis of spiked samples (residues at levels 0.040–0.163 mg/kg) consisted of (i) ethyl acetate extraction, (ii) GPC clean-up and (iii) identification/quantification of residues by GC. Procedures utilizing either conventional (electron-capture, nitrogen–phosphorus) or mass-selective detectors (quadrupole and ion trap analyzer) were evaluated. The results generated through alternative strategies of uncertainty estimation (“bottom-up”, “top-down”) were compared.

Using the “bottom-up” approach uncertainty of extraction which comprises two components—(i) repeatability of extraction and (ii) uncertainty of extraction recovery was shown to represent the main source of combined standard uncertainty (values of uncertainty of extraction for tested pesticides ranged from 4.6% to 21.6%). On the other hand, uncertainties associated with the GC calibration (uncertainties of weighing and diluting standards, uncertainties of purity of standards) were not so important (most of them did not exceed 2%). Combined standard uncertainties associated with the described analytical method ranged for individual compounds from 9.3% to 24.3%. Similar values of combined standard uncertainties were obtained using the alternative “top-down” approach.     

Carbohydrate pyrolysis mechanisms from isotopic labeling: Part 1: The pyrolysis of glycerin: Discovery of competing fragmentation mechanisms affording acetaldehyde and formaldehyde and the implications for carbohydrate pyrolysis

The flash pyrolysis of glycerin was investigated by the use of isotopic labeling with ¹³C, in conjunction with GC/MS analysis of the products. The formation of acetaldehyde and acrolein was shown to occur by unimolecular reaction. Acetaldehyde was found to be produced by at least two competing mechanisms. Mechanism “A” delivered C-2 of glycerin to the carbonyl group of acetaldehyde, whereas mechanism “B” delivered C-2 of glycerin to the methyl group of acetaldehyde. Formaldehyde was exclusively derived from C-1 or C-3 by either mechanism. The partition between the two mechanistic paths was found to be influenced by the presence of potassium salts and acids, but not by the presence of benzoyl peroxide or galvanoxyl. Mechanism “A” is postulated to be a concerted cyclic version of the Grob Fragmentation, proceeding through an intermediate which is hydrogen-bonded between the 1- and 3-hydroxyl groups to simultaneously generate enol-acetaldehyde, formaldehyde and H₂O. Mechanism “B” as favored by the presence of alkali is postulated to involve hydrogen-bonding between adjacent hydroxyl groups and to be an alkaline version of the pinacol rearrangement followed by retro-aldol fragmentation of the intermediary 3-oxopropoxide anion. These mechanistic classes are both fundamentally important, not only for their effect on glycerin, but for being able to provide numerous means of initial pyrolytic carbon–carbon bond breakage along carbohydrate carbon-chains, given the numerous 1,2,3-triol interactions that are possible. Further nomenclature is introduced to refine the distinctions among isotopomers and isotopologs (ipsomer, ipsolog, naturalomer, “nominal” isotopolog, ubiquilog), as extensions of a concept previously adopted by IUPAC.     

Rheological properties of deionized Chinese ink

Rheological properties for Chinese ink in exhaustively deionized aqueous media were carefully examined. In the steady shear measurement, the shear viscosities of the ink could be well explained by considering the “effective” volume fraction of the particles in the ink including the electrical double layers and by using Einstein's equation for dilute suspension viscosity, when the particle volume fraction was substantially low. In the case that the volume fraction was higher, the shear viscosities showed extremely higher than those from Einstein's prediction, though the ink remained a Newtonian liquid. In the stress-strain measurement, the shear moduli were observed at strain smaller than 0.2. The “weak” aggregation among the particles in the ink under no shear or low shear rates was supported. It should be noted that the glue in the suspension plays an important role for the good liquidity of the ink and for the “weak” bridges among the particles resulting its good dispersion stability.