Complex formation of copper(II) with chrome azurol s

The complex formation of copper(II) with chrome azurol S (CAS) was studied by spectrophotometric and potentiometric methods. In the pH range 5–7, two complexes with the composition Cu(H₂O)₂HCAS- and (Cu(H₂O)₂)₂CAS were detected; the stability constants were calculated to be log K = 4.02 ±0.05 and log K = 13.7±0.1, respectively (at 25° and ionic strength 0.1 (KCl)). A comparison is made between the copper(II)-CAS and iron(III)-CAS systems.     

Elemental concentration in the cortex and hippocampus of Wistar rats by X-ray total reflection fluorescence with synchrotron radiation

Summary The study of trace element levels is of great importance due to their relevance in agingand several neurodegenerative diseases. This work compares the elemental concentrations in different postnatal ages and between the temporal cortex, entorhinal cortex and hippocampus from Wistar rats, using X-ray total reflection fluorescence with synchrotron radiation. Ten elements were determined in brain samples: Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, (at trace level) and P, S, Cl and K (at major levels). The elements that increased with aging in cortical areas were: S, K, Fe, Cu and Zn. Ca and Zn levels decreased with advancing age in the hippocampus. In addition to this, Ti, Mn and Fe levels were more conspicuous in the entorhinal cortex.     

Conformational Study of Naringenin in the Isolated and Solvated States by Semiempirical and Ab Initio Methods

Naringenin is a natural widespread flavanone occurring in different foodstuffs that presents several important biological activities. Although its properties are well documented, its mechanisms of action are still controversial. The present article reports a conformational analysis of naringenin, using the semiempirical AM1 and ab initio methods, at the Hartree–Fock level of theory. The 3-21G, 3-21G*, 6-31G, and 6-31G** basis sets were used. The electron correlation effects were included through the Møller–Plesset second-order perturbation theory. The solvation of naringenin has been investigated through the standard SCRF, the supermolecule (SM), and the combined SM/SCRF models. The results have shown that there are two degenerate forms of naringenin, differing mainly by the orientation of a hydroxyl group (C4—OH). The energy barrier for the interconversion between them is ca. 6 kcal.mol^–1, suggesting some conjugation between the -system of the aromatic B ring and the hydroxyl group (C4—OH).     

Synthesis of racemic 5,9-dimethylheptadecane,the sex pheromone of Leucoptera scitella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetidae)

A new synthesis of racemic 5,9-dimethylheptadecane, from the readily available geranyl acetate, has been effected. Field trials have revealed its high attraction activity forL. scitella males.     

Physical,chemical and immunological characteristics of continuous-density lipoproteins isolated by single-spin gradient ultracentrifugation

The isolation of various lipoproteins of very low, intermediate, low and high density from 5 ml of serum was obtained by single-step ultracentrifugation in a potassium bromide density gradient obtained by smoothing a discontinuous gradient during the run (120 000g, 48 h, 4°C; Beckman SW27 rotor). The density profiles were reproducible. The lipoproteins were characterized by electron microscopy, fluorescence polarization, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and complete chemical assays. The composition of the entire lipoprotein spectrum was in accordance with previous results. The lipoprotein molecular mass, particle size distribution, Apo AI/AII ratio and microviscosity varied according to the density range.     

IR spectroscopy of wood and its main components. XVIII. IR spectra of preparations of lignosulfonic acids from the wood of coniferous and broad-leaved species

General features characterizing the IR spectra of lignosulfonic acids obtained from the wood of coniferous and broad-leaved species have been established the use of which together with quantitative spectral and chemical characteristics of preparations of lignosulfonic acids from spruce- and birchwoods will permit, in spectro-chemical investigations, the characteristics of analogous preparations obtained from the wood of coniferous and broad-leaved species to be given.     

1,4-dioxane as a solvent in spectroscopy and photochemistry

Commercially available 1,4-dioxane, even of spectroscopic grade, contains various impurities that arise mostly from reaction of the solvent with oxygen. Aspects relevant to the spectroscopy and photochemistry of the dioxane/oxygen system are discussed. Methods of purification and storage of the solvent are presented.     

Comparative studies of reactions of commercial polymers with molecular oxygen,singlet oxygen,atomic oxygen and ozone—I. Reactions with cis-1,4-polybutadiene

The oxidation of cis-1,4-polybutadiene by molecular oxygen, singlet oxygen, atomic oxygen and ozone has been studied using u.v. and i.r. spectroscopic methods. Some possible implications of the results of oxidation in the presence of singlet oxygen (parallel free radical oxidation) and atomic oxygen (formation of NO₂ and its reaction with polymer) are discussed. Chain scission was observed during all types of oxidation. A new mechanism involving opening of double bonds and formation of biradicals has been considered in detail.     

Different chemical dynamics for different conformers of biological molecules: photoionization of glycine

Single-photon ionization dynamics of two conformers of glycine is studied by classical trajectory simulations using the semiempirical PM3 potential surface in "on the fly" calculations. Initial conditions for the trajectories are weighted according to the Wigner distribution function computed for the initial vibrational ground state. Vertical ionization in the spirit of the classical Franck-Condon principle is assumed. The dynamics of the two conformers are compared during the first 10 ps. The comparison shows very different dynamical behavior for the two conformers. In particular, the chemical fragmentation pathways differ in part. Also, one of the conformers gives much higher rates of conformational transitions, while the other conformer gives larger chemical fragmentation yields. The example shows significantly different chemical dynamics for two conformers close in energy and separated by a low barrier.     

On the optimal partitioning of data with K-means,growing K-means,neural gas,and growing neural gas

In this paper, the performance of new clustering methods such as Neural Gas (NG) and Growing Neural Gas (GNG) is compared with the K-means method for real and simulated data sets. Moreover, a new algorithm called growing K-means, GK, is introduced as the alternative to Neural Gas and Growing Neural Gas. It has small input requirements and is conceptually very simple. The GK leads to nearly optimal values of the cost function, and, contrary to K-means, it is independent of the initial data set partition. The incremental property of GK additionally helps to estimate the number of "natural" clusters in data, i.e., the well-separated groups of objects in the data space.