Synthesis and molecular structures of dialkylselenonium methylide complexes of indium tribromide

The reaction of bromomethyl-dibromo-indium(III), Br₂InCH₂Br with dialkylselenides, R¹SeR² (R¹ = CH₃, R² = CH₂C₆H₅; R¹ = C₂H₅, R² = CH₂C₆H₅; R¹ = R² = CH₂C₆H₅) afforded the corresponding dialkylselenonium methylide complexes of indium tribromide, Br₃InCH₂SeR¹R², which were fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Principal component analysis of the effects of wavefunction modification on the electrostatic potential of indole

The molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) of the indole molecule was calculated in a three‐dimensional grid in which the molecule was centered at the origin. To evaluate the dependence of MEP on the type of calculation, semiempirical, ab initio, and density functional theory methods with different basis sets were employed. The data matrix generated by these calculations was analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA). The appearance of outliers and the effect of wavefunction modifications such as the introduction of electron correlations and diffuse functions were highlighted by the use of PCA. The spatial localization of such effects around the molecule was possible from the loadings values associated with the graphical analysis of the grid points. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Direct determination of gallium on polyurethane foam by X-ray fluorescence

Gallium chloride is easily extracted from 6M HCl by comminuted polyether-type polyurethane foam. After the extraction step, the gallium absorbed by the PU foam can be quantitatively determined by X-ray fluorescence. A procedure for the direct determination of gallium absorbed by PU foam by XRFS is thus described. Gallium is determined at levels as low as 60 ng/ml (C(L)), with a calibration sensitivity of 424 cps ml/mug, within a linear range 0.1-2.30 mug/ml. The procedure investigated was successfully applied to determination of gallium in aluminum alloys, bauxite and industrial residue samples.     

Thermodynamic properties of the ternary system MTBE+1-propanol+hexane

Experimental excess molar enthalpies and excess molar volumes of the ternary system x₁MTBE+x₂1-propanol+(1-x₁-x₂) hexane and the involved binary mixtures have been determined at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure. Excess molar enthalpies were measured using a standard Calvet microcalorimeter, and excess molar volumes were determined from the densities of the pure liquids and mixtures, using a DMA 4500 Anton Paar densimeter. The UNIFAC group contribution model (in the versions of Larsen et al., and Gmehling et al.) has been employed to estimate excess enthalpies values. Several empirical expressions for estimating ternary properties from experimental binary results were applied.     

Trace and major elements in serum of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia

Summary Major and trace elements were determined in serum of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) using total reflection X-ray fluorescence induced by synchrotron radiation (SRTXRF). CML affects 1 to 2 people per 100,000 and accounts for 7-20% cases of leukemia. It was possible to determine the concentrations of the following elements: P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br and Rb. Using analysis of variance (ANOVA) it was observed that the contents of the P, S, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu and Rb elements differed significantly at a = 0.05 between groups of healthy subjects and CML patients and also genders (males and females).     

Nickel determination in osteoblast-like cell culture medium by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry with a mercury microelectrode

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of nickel, which is an alloying element in commonly used metallic biomaterials, on the biomaterials mineralization process. An electrochemical method was developed to quantify this metal ion in osteoblast-like cell culture medium (OST) by performing adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV) with dimethylglyoxime (DMG) at a mercury film microelectrode (MFM). The optimized analytical conditions and the square-wave CSV parameters for the analysis are: DMG concentration: 5.00 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹; ammonium chloride buffer: 0.10 mol L⁻¹ (pH 9.2); frequency: 50 Hz, amplitude 20 mV; step: 2 mV; adsorption time: 10 s, deposition potential: −0.70 V and reduction potential: −1.20 V. The limit of detection was 7.70 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ for an adsorption time of 10 s. The results achieved by CSV using the MFM were compared to those obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) to ensure the reliability of the electrochemical method. The mineralization process was evaluated by biochemical and histochemical assays.     

IAEA analytical quality assurance programmes to meet the present and future needs of developing countries

For many years the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been promoting analytical quality assurance and quality control in its Member States with emphasis on measurands that are amenable to analysis by nuclear and related techniques, i.e. radionuclides, trace elements, and stable isotopes. This paper reviews briefly the rationale for some of these activities, particularly in relation to the needs of participants in developing countries arising out of co-ordinated research programmes, technical co-operation projects and global and regional networks. Emphasis is given to biological and environmental reference materials with a matrix of natural origin. Also described are some activities arising out of the requirements of ISO-25 and other relevant international quality standards.     

Immobilization of protein on ferromagnetic Dacron

Ferromagnetic Dacron (polyethyleneterephthalate) is proposed as a matrix to immobilize proteins covalently. Dacron in powder was magnetized by reacting ferrous (Fe+2) and ferric (Fe+3) ions with its hydrazide form at pH 8.3. Ferromagnetic hydrazide Dacron was converted to ferromagnetic azide Dacron and amyloglucosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.3) was covalently bound through the latter group. The catalytic property of the enzyme was preserved (8% of the specific activity estimated for the soluble enzyme) and all the magnetic amyloglucosidase Dacron derivative was recovered by using a magnetic field. No activity was detected in the supernatant.     

Alpha emitters from uranium mining in the environment

Uranium mining and milling activities usually generate an enhancement of radionuclide concentrations in the environment that may cause increased radiological exposure to mankind. For risk assessment and radiological protection of man and environment in these areas, usually, it is needed to implement radiological surveillance of water, soils, agricultural products, aerosols, and mining waste discharges as well. Radionuclides to be monitored in priority are alpha-emitting nuclides of the uranium natural series. Radioactivity analysis of materials from uranium mining areas of Portugal shows departure from secular radioactive equilibrium amongst uranium series radionuclides, thus rendering invalid the assumption of equilibrium and requiring the actual determination of each radionuclide. Radionuclide measurements performed with high resolution alphaspectrometry, as reported herein, produce accurate results on specific radionuclides that are essential in computing radiation doses to critical groups of the population.     

UV-LYSOGENIC INDUCTION OF Λ PHAGE IN lexA1 MUTANTS OF Escherichia coli: KINETICS OF THE PROCESS

Abstract— Although the lex gene has been described until recently as being required for lysogenic induction, both our work and the work of others have reported Λ prophage induction in some lexA mutants. However, the characteristics of the process were not defined. We describe UV induction of prophage in a lexA1 mutant at a slightly lower level and requiring 2 times longer than the wild type. As demonstrated in some work, in cells treated with low levels of rifampicin (RIF) no new synthesis of RecA protein is needed for the prophage induction although the onset of lysis is delayed. We suggest that the lysogenic induction in lexA cells is due to the same mechanism that induces prophage in the wild type cells treated with RIF. That is, the induction is due to the cleavage of Λ represser by the basal RecA protease in the DNA-single-strand gap, since RecA protease and monomer represser both have high affinity for this type of DNA. So, LexA protein need not be cleaved for the prophage induction.
No Weigle-reactivation (WR) was detected in the lex mutant even after a long post-irradiation incubation, suggesting that unlike prophage induction, WR requires LexA protein cleavage.