Introduction of Marinelli effective solid angles for correcting the calibration of NaI(Tl) field gamma-ray spectrometry in TL/OSL dating

A study is made of the corrections that are needed in the evaluation of the annual radiation dose, for use in TL/OSL-dating, via NaI(Tl) field gamma-ray spectrometry (monitoring of K, Th and U), calibrated via voluminous blocks that are simulating the Auger hole measuring conditions. Two cases are considered: the Heidelberg granite calibration block, which was found to be quasi-infinite, and the Oxford concrete calibration blocks, for which effective concentrations of elements are reported so as to account for their non-infiniteness. The calculations, via the software package ANGLE, are based on the concept of effective solid angles for Marinelli geometries.     

Effect of hydrothermal treatment on the gelatinisation properties of potato starch as measured by differential scanning calorimetry

Gelatinisation temperatures as a function of moisture content were determined for potato starch. The native starch was then hydrothermally treated at a temperature 3% (Kelvin degrees) below the gelatinisation peak temperature and at moisture levels varying from 20 to 67% (by weight). Gelatinisation temperatures, temperature ranges and enthalpy values were affected for all treated samples. However, two sample populations could be distinguished: those samples treated under limited moisture conditions and other samples treated in the presence of extragranular moisture. A two-step hydrothermal treatment further increased the gelatinisation temperature, but the effect of the second step was small in comparison to that of the first.We thank the Belgian Nationaal Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek for research positions as aspirant (H. Jacobs) and post-doctoraal onderzoeker (R. C. Eerlingen).     

A microcalorimetric study of the different states of argon and nitrogen adsorbed AT 77 K on silicalite-I and ZSM-5

The adsorption of argon and nitrogen on a series of MFI-type zeolites (silicalite-I (Si/Al>1000) and HZSM-5 (16相似文献   

Arsido iron carbonyl clusters

Summary The XAsFe₄(CO)₁₄ (X = Cl, Br) clusters have been prepared and characterised and a new synthesis under mild conditions has been found for As₂Fe₃(CO)₉. The latter complex has at least two isomeric structures in solution.A preliminary account of this work was given in a lecture.The terms pnicogen and pnictide have been introduced as group names for the group Va family of elements analogous to the use of chalcogen and chalcogenid as group names for the group VIa elements.     

On the selection of the optimal plasticizer for calix[n]arene-based ion-selective electrodes: Possible correlation between the ion selectivity and the ‘softness’ of the plasticizer

A criterion for the selection of a suitable plasticizer for calix[n]arene-based ion-selective electrodes is discussed. The cation selectivity of plasticized membranes without the ligand was first measured as a reference. The membranes can be roughly classified into two groups. The first group shows cation selectivity in the order Cs⁺+>K⁺>Na⁺>Li⁺. The membranes in the second group are made of phosphorus plasticizers, which show a selectivity in the reverse order. The plasticizers in the first group featured a linear relationship between the dipole moment of the plasticizer (calculated by a PM3 method) and the ratio of cesium selectivity to lithium selectivity. The linear relationship supports the view that the polar membrane which includes a soft plasticizer with a large dipole moment shows selectivity for Cs⁺, whereas the nonpolar membrane including the soft plasticizer with the small dipole moment shows much lower selectivity for Cs⁺. Next, 2-fluorphenyl-2-nitrophenyl ether (FPNPE) which showed the highest Cs⁺ selectivity and tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate (TEHP) which showed the highest Li⁺ selectivity were mixed in an appropriate ratio to make membranes with a different affinity for hard ions. The metal selectivities of several crown-based and calixarene-based ionophores were examined in these membranes. Although a few exceptions exist, the polar soft membrane is favorable when the interfering metal ion is hard, whereas the hard membrane is favorable when the interfering metal ion is soft.     

In Memoriam Vladimir Prelog (1906–1998): Some Personal Reminiscences

Some persons, by virtue of the classic status of their achievements and the lengthy duration of their careers, become legends in their own time and are often incorrectly believed to be no longer with us. As a case in point, in the early 1980s Charles Scribners Sons invited me to write an article on the American organic chemist Carl Shipp (Speed) Marvel for its Dictionary of Scientific Biography. Because one of the criteria for inclusion in DSB was that the subject be deceased, I informed the publisher that Marvel was very much alive (After Marvel had died at the age of 93 in 1988, I wrote the previously requested DSB article).     

Plutonium-244 and strange xenon components in the solar system

A number of strange xenon components have been reported in the literature during the past three decades; for example, AVCC (average carbonaceous chondrite), CCF (carbonaceous chondrite fission) xenon, xenon-X, xenon-H, xenon-L, xenon-S, xenon-U, SUCOR (surface correlated xenon), BEOC (Bern Oberflächen-Correliert) xenon, and so on. It is often assumed that they reprsent the isotopic compositions of more or less pure or primordial components of xenon. If one attempts to interpret the existing xenon isotope data for meteorites and lunar samples, assuming that they are pure or primordial, however, one encounters all sorts of problems and no coherent theory concerning the variation of the isotopic composition of xenon in the solar system emerges. We have therefore re-examined over 4,000 sets of existing xenon isotope data for meteorites and lunar samples. The results indicate that these strange xenon components are mixtures of²⁴⁴Pu fission xenon and atmospheric xenon, whose isotopic compositions have been altered by the processes of a) mass-fractionation, b) spallation and c) neutron-capture reactions.     

Zimtsäureester der Dihydroxypivalinsäure

Zusammenfassung Es wird über die Herstellung der Dihydroxypivalinsäure (I) und ihrer Cinnamoylester vom Schmp. 111,5° (II) und 85,5° (III) berichtet.Gleichzeitig Mitt. III der Reihe Zur Frage der cis-trans-Asymmetrie organischer Verbindungen.     

Synthesis of a Calix[4]arene Containing 'Hard' and 'Soft' Metal Ion Binding Sites

Co-receptor 1,3-calix[4]-di(aza-benzo)crown-crown-6 (1-H) designed with one calix[4]arene in a 1,3-alternate conformation and hard and soft metal ion binding sites has been prepared according to three pathways (A-C). Pathway B, consisting of two different 1 + 1 condensations with ditosylate derivatives, was shown to be the most efficient.     

Isothermal and isobaric PVT-measurements of anionic polystyrenes

PVT-measurements of anionic polystyrenes on heating have shown that, depending on the mode of operation, specific relaxation zones within the glass transition range are observed. Isothermal PVT curves exhibit always relaxation zones independent whether the pressure is increased or decreased during the scan. The shift of the relaxation zones to higher temperatures is, however, higher for isothermal scans with increasing pressure. These relaxation zones are explained by pressure-dependent changes of the state of the polymeric sample isothermally scanned within the glass transition range. At lower pressures the polymer is actually in the molten state, whereas at higher pressures it may be in the metastable glassy state and the actual state depends on the rate of pressure change. In isobaric PVT curves relaxation zones in heating scans are exhibited only if the pressure applied during glass formation differs from the pressure applied during the heating scan. The observed pressure-dependent shift of the glass temperatures to higher temperatures was higher for the studied polystyrenes of different molecular weight that had a higher glass temperature at normal pressure. But the specific molecular weight influence on the width of the relaxation zone could not be ascertained. An attempt to calculate characteristic volume relaxation times failed because of insufficient precision of the measurements.Dedicated to Professor Bernhard Wunderlich on the occasion of his 65th birthdayAcknowledgement is made to the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 60) for financial support of this research.     

Classification of auxin plant hormones by interaction property similarity indices

Although auxins were the first type of plant hormone to be identified, little is known about the molecular mechanism of this important class of plant hormones. We present a classification of a set of about 50 compounds with measured auxin activities, according to their interaction properties. Four classes of compounds were defined: strongly active, weakly active with weak antiauxin behaviour, inactive and inhibitory. All compounds were modeled in two low-energy conformations, P and T, so as to obtain the best match to the planar and tilted conformations, respectively, of indole 3-acetic acid. Each set of conformers was superimposed separately using several different alignment schemes. Molecular interaction energy fields were computed for each molecule with five different chemical probes and then compared by computing similarity indices. Similarity analysis showed that the classes are on average distinguishable, with better differentiation achieved for the T conformers than the P conformers. This indicates that the T conformation might be the active one. Further, a screening was developed which could distinguish compounds with auxin activity from inactive compounds and most antiauxins using the T conformers. The classifications rationalize ambiguities in activity data found in the literature and should be of value in predicting the activities of new plant growth substances and herbicides.     

Modulated differential scanning calorimetry

The Modulated Differential Calorimetry (MDSC) is applied to the determination of the reversibility in the cholesteryl chloride, which presents a cholesteric monotropic phase between the isotropic and crystalline states. The experimental modulation parameters that govern this method i.e. frequency, amplitude and heating/cooling rate, are determined. MDSC curves and complementary thermomicroscopical observations assign melting, crystallization and liquid cholesteric transition as non reversing, and clarification as reversing.     

Minerological studies on five plastic fire clays

Mineralogical studies on five plastic fire clays of India have been carried out by DTA, TG and electron microscopy. Studies were done on both as received and <1 fraction of clays. Results indicated that all the clays were predominantly kaolinite in nature and showed the main endothermic peak between 540° and 590°C and the exothermic peak between 920° and 985°C. A large exothermic peak at 810°C and a weight loss of 5.35% between 700° and 900°C in case of Barachatarma clay indicated the presence of graphitic carbon in the same. Both Neyveli and Badampahar clays contained illite and goethite. Electron micrographs of Mohuamilan and Neyveli clays showed hexagonal flakes of well-ordered kaolinite. Some tubular particles were seen in Chittorpur, Neyveli and Badampahar clays in addition to the kaolinite particles.The authors are thankful to Dr. B. K. Sarkar, director of the Institute for his kind permission to publish this paper.     

The application of ‘Z’-shaped UV cells in open-tubular capillary column liquid chromatography

Summary Z-shaped UV cells for packed capillary columns cannot be used in open-tubular capillary column liquid chromatography (OT-LC) because of their relatively large volume. With post-column solvent make-up, a commercial Z-shaped cell (volume 100 nl) was used in our OT-LC system, resulting in 9-fold sensitivity increase against on-column UV detection and with little efficiency loss. A small volume (5 nl) Z-shaped cell allows the direct coupling of the cell to high efficiency columns. For dilute samples, 9-19-fold sensitivity enhancement could be obtained. However, column efficiency decreases with increasing signal level as a result of peak deformation.     

Synthesis and properties of a new family of cyclodextrin analogues

The chemical synthesis of a series of cyclic oligosaccharides built up from (14)-linked alternatingD– andl-pyranosidic units is described for the first time. Key intermediates employed were disaccharides representing minimal repeating units. These disaccharides (monomers) have been prepared in specifically modified forms so that they bear both glycosyl donor (cyanoethylidene group) and glycosyl acceptor (trityloxy group) functions. Polycondensation-cyclisation of these disaccharide monomers, catalysed by TrC1O₄ under normal conditions of dilution, has led to series of homologous cyclic oligosaccharides with an even number of sugar residues (6, 8, 10, 12,etc.) in each case. Cyclic hexa- and octa-saccharides, based onl-rhamnose andD-mannose as the alternating monosaccharides units, have been deprotected to produce analogues of - and -cyclodextrins (CDs) and the X-ray crystal structure of the cyclic octasaccharide has been determined.     

Symmetry and other properties of second-order phenomenological coefficients and thier significance in a chemical system

Using a second-order phenomenological equationJ _i = _j L _ij X_j + _{j, k} L _ijk X_j X_kand assuming that the system is at a state near equilibrium, it has been shown that the symmetry ofL _ijk is retained with respect to the permutations of suffices i j and k Furthermore, using the second-order flux equations, the thermodynamic stability criterion is expressed. The symmetry is shown to be retained in a reaction scheme representing the emplate model. The significance of the stability criterion as expressed by the higher-order phenomenological coefficients is discussed.     

Preparation and characterization of Mg(II)-, Ca(II) and Cd(II) complexes of 1,2-ethanediol and water

Mixed ligand complexes of different compositions were prepared with water, sulfate ion and 1,2-ethanediol as ligand. IR spectra and the thermoanalytical curves of the complexes were recorded. Oxygen atoms bound by one or two coordinate bonds to the metal ion, or by hydrogen-bonds in the crystal, were observed. As for the water molecule, 1,2-ethanediol molecules of crystal and monohydrate type were found, depending on the type of binding of the oxygen atoms.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The application of modulated differential scanning calorimetry to the glass transition

The modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) technique superimposes upon the conventional DSC heating rate a sinusoidally varying modulation. The result of this modulation of the heating rate is a periodically varying heat flow, which can be analysed in various ways. In particular, MDSC yields two components (reversing and non reversing) of the heat flow, and a phase angle. These each show a characteristic behaviour in the glass transition region, but their interpretation has hitherto been unclear. The present work clarifies this situation by a theoretical analysis of the technique of MDSC, which introduces a kinetic response of the glass in the transition region. This analysis is able to describe all the usual features observed by MDSC in the glass transition region. In addition, the model is also able to predict the effects of the modulation variables, and some of these are discussed briefly.Financial support has been provided by the DGICYT (Project no.PB93/1241). J.M.H. wishes to acknowledge financial assistance for a sabbatical period from the Generalitat de Catalunya.     

Distance geometry analysis of ligand binding to drug receptor sites

Summary The method known as distance geometry approach for receptor mapping procedures is discussed. In this method a ligand binding to a certain receptor is considered as a collection of ligand points. Binding sites of the receptor are either empty or filled site points; a ligand point might bind to an empty site point; filled site points indicate that at that point no binding is possible. A binding mode of a ligand is a list of which ligand points coincide with which empty binding sites. The applicability of the method for QSAR studies is discussed; as examples are mentioned the dihydrofolate reductase, ₁- and ₂-receptors. Finally, some ideas on future developments in receptor mapping are discussed.DEDICATION This article is dedicated to the late Dr. Teake Bultsma who introduced the distance geometry approach into our department.     

Marie Anne Paulze Lavoisier: The Mother of Modern Chemistry

Marie Anne Pierrette Paulze was a significant contributor to the understanding of chemistry in the late 1700s. Marie Anne married Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, known as the Father of Modern Chemistry, and was his chief collaborator and laboratory assistant. Marie Anne Lavoisier translated Richard Kirwans Essay on Phlogiston from English to French which allowed her husband and others to dispute Kirwans ideas. She drew many sketches and carved engravings of the laboratory instruments used by Lavoisier and his colleagues. She edited and published Lavoisiers Memoirs and hosted many parties where eminent scientists discussed new chemistry and ideas. As a result of her close work with Antoine Lavoisier, it is difficult to separate her individual contributions from his, but it is correctly assumed that much of the work accredited to him bears her fingerprints.