Yrast excitations in129Te

Using an 11.4MeV/u¹³⁶Xe beam of the UNILAC accelerator of GSI and a^natW target, A=184 isobars were produced and separated by using an on-line mass separator. A new isomeric state was found in¹⁸⁴Hf. This state decays with a half-life of 48(10) s and emits three -rays of 73, 482, and 555 keV as well as lower-lying cascade transitions. The hindrance of the 73 keV-E1 transition with K=8 is compared with those of other even-even hafnium isotopes. The half-life of¹⁸⁴Lu was estimated to be between 15 and 25s.     

Observations of the low Earth orbit radiation environment from Mir

Recent measurements of the high-energy charged particle environment with the Radiation Environment Monitor (REM) aboard the Russian Mir space station are presented. Ionizing dose rates in a silicon detector have been measured with two shieldings. The dose is mainly accumulated in two distinct areas, the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) and the region of closest approach to the magnetic poles. Whereas the radiation in the South Atlantic Anomaly varied little during 1995, large changes of the daily absorbed doses in the polar regions are observed. A comparison of REM doses with the NASA AP-8 and AE-8 radiation models revealed major differences. AP-8 tends to underestimate the average REM doses, whereas AE-8 overestimates REM doses, and rather describes the worst case.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for mitoxantrone in plasma using electrochemical detection

A sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay was developed for the quantitation of mitoxantrone in plasma using electrochemical detection. Bisantrene was chosen as the internal standard. A reversed-phase, 10-microns muBondapak C18 analytical column (30 cm X 3.9 mm) with an isocratic mobile phase of 28% acetonitrile in 80 mM sodium formate buffer (pH 3.0) was used. The eluent was monitored by both electrochemical detection at an applied potential of +0.75 V vs. Ag/AgCl and visible absorbance at 660 nm. Only electrochemical detection was able to quantitate the internal standard and provided ten times higher sensitivity than visible absorbance for mitoxantrone with a detection limit as low as 0.1 ng/ml. Calibration curves in the range 0.1-1000 ng/ml showed good linearity (r = 0.998) and precision (coefficient of variation less than 10%). This HPLC method utilized a reproducible and inexpensive liquid-liquid extraction procedure. Using methylene chloride, the extraction efficacy of mitoxantrone from plasma was 85.3% with a coefficient of variation less than 2.1%. This new assay was then applied to measure mitoxantrone concentrations in plasma obtained from two leukemic patients receiving 12 mg/m2 mitoxantrone as a 1-h infusion.     

5-(N-Arylnortropan-3-yl)- and 5-(N-Arylpiperidin-4-yl)-2,4-diaminopyrimidines. Novel Inhibitors of Dihydrofolate Reductase

Based on a computer-assisted analysis of the three-dimensional structure of the binary complex of E.coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) with methotrexate, 5-(N-arylnortropan-3-yl)- and 5-(N-arylpiperidin-4-yl)-2,4-diaminopyrimidines 2 and 4 were designed as inhibitors of DHFR. Syntheses of the designed compounds have been carried out. The most potent compound 2a inhibited E. coli DHFR with K_i = 0.49.10^?9M. The activities within the series of compounds synthesized could be rationalized by molecular-modelling experiments which served as the basis of this work. Several compounds within the presented series exhibit antimalarial activities in vitro and in vivo.     

Self-Assembled Nanoparticle Surface Patterning for Improved Digital Image Correlation in a Scanning Electron Microscope

A self-assembled gold nanoparticle surface patterning technique is presented that enables nanometer spatial resolution for digital image correlation (DIC) experiments in a scanning electron microscope. This technique, originally developed for surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrates, results in the assembly of individual 15–136 nm diameter gold nanoparticles over the surface of the test sample. The resulting dense, randomly isotropic, and high contrast pattern enables DIC down to an unprecedented image resolution of approximately 4 nm/pixel. The technique is inexpensive, fast, results in even coverage over the entire surface of the test sample, and can be applied to metallic and non-metallic substrates as well as curved or delicate specimens. In addition, the pattern is appropriate for multi-scale experimental investigations through the utilization of nanoparticle aggregates that collect on the surface in combination with the pattern formed by individual nanoparticles.     

Development and Use of Antibodies in Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Immunosensors for Environmental Monitoring

The interaction between antibody and antigen is characterised by relatively high affinity and specificity, making this type of reaction a prime candidate for use as an analytical tool. The interaction may be combined with biosensors in the production of immunosensors for environmental monitoring. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies have had a significant impact in analytical detection systems over the past few decades with antibody fragments becoming important in recent years. Production of antibodies to small haptens requires the initial conjugation of hapten to a larger carrier molecule. Once hapten-carrier conjugates have been produced, polyclonal, monoclonal and various antibody fragments may be produced by differing protocols. A critical step in the production of antibody fragments is the development of efficient screening procedures to identify suitable antibody-producing clones and this has been reviewed in this article. Various antibody types may then be used in the generation of immunosensors for the monitoring of environmental pollutants. The selection of the appropriate sensor technology applicable for the determination of an antibody-antigen interaction is of prime importance for immunosensor development. One example of such an application is surface plasmon resonance-based biosensors, as they provide real-time analysis of interactions between the antibody and antigen of interest.     

膜流动电位测试中Ag-AgCl电极的制备及稳定性研究

膜的动电特性研究中,往往采用流动电位方法。该方法中,Ag-Ag Cl测试电极的质量是影响测试准确性的关键要素。本文采用正交试验设计和方差分析,着重考察电解法制备Ag-Ag Cl电极过程中,电流强度(I)、氯化时间(t)、电解质溶液浓度(CHCl)、电极来源(n)、烘烤温度(T)、活化电极溶液浓度(CKCl)等因素对Ag-Ag Cl电极稳定性的影响。得到Ag-Ag Cl电极的最优制备参数为:电流密度3.0m A/cm2,氯化时间50min,盐酸浓度0.1mol·L-1,烘烤温度120℃,活化电极溶液(KCl)浓度0.001mol·L-1;最显著影响因素为电极来源,显著影响因素为氯化时间和烘烤温度。对最优条件组合下制备的AgAg Cl电极,进行了稳定性实验,结果表明:制备的电极具有较好的稳定性,24h内电极电位漂移量小于0.10mv,7天内电极电位漂移量小于0.2mv;在聚偏氟乙烯中空纤维超滤膜流动电位测试中,流动电位与流动压差具有良好的线性和可重复性,回归曲线R20.99,变化规律符合Helmholtz-Smoluehowski公式,可以较好满足膜的流动电位测试要求。