All-solid-state reference electrodes based on conducting polymers

A novel construction of solution free (pseudo)reference electrodes, compatible with all-solid-state potentiometric indicator electrodes, has been proposed. These electrodes use conducting polymers (CP): polypyrrole (PPy) or poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). Two different arrangements have been tested: solely based on CP and those where the CP phase is covered with a poly(vinyl chloride) based outer membrane of tailored composition. The former arrangement was designed to suppress or compensate cation- and anion-exchange, using mobile perchlorate ions and poly(4-styrenesulfonate) or dodecylbenzenesulfonate anions as immobilized dopants. The following systems were used: (i) polypyrrole layers doped simultaneously by two kinds of anions, both mobile and immobilized in the polymer layer; (ii) bilayers of polypyrrole with anion exchanging inner layer and cation-exchanging outer layer; (iii) polypyrrole doped by surfactant dodecylbenzenesulfonate ions, which inhibit ion exchange on the polymer/solution interface. For the above systems, recorded potentials have been found to be practically independent of electrolyte concentration. The best results, profound stability of potentials, have been obtained for poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) or polypyrrole doped by poly(4-styrenesulfonate) anions covered by a poly(vinyl chloride) based membrane, containing both anion- and cation-exchangers as well as solid potassium chloride and silver chloride with metallic silver. Differently to the cases (i)-(iii) these electrodes are much less sensitive to the influence of redox and pH interferences. This arrangement has been also characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronopotentiometry.     

Structure and properties of the (HCl)2H2O cluster observed by chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy

The rotational spectrum of the cyclic (HCl)(2)H(2)O cluster has been identified for the first time in the chirped pulse, Fourier transform microwave spectrum of a supersonically expanded HCl/H(2)O/Ar mixture. The spectrum was measured at frequencies 6-18.5 GHz, and transitions in two inversion-tunneling states, at close to 1?:?3 relative intensity, have been assigned for the parent species. The two single (37)Cl isotopic species, and the double (37)Cl species have been assigned in the natural abundance sample, and the (18)O and HDO species of the cluster were identified in isotopically enriched samples. The rich nuclear quadrupole hyperfine structure due to the presence of two chlorine nuclei has been satisfactorily fitted and provided useful information on the nonlinearity of intermolecular bonds in the cluster. The r(s) heavy atom geometry of the cluster was determined and the strongest bond in the intermolecular cycle r(O···HCl) = 3.126(3) ?, is found to be intermediate in length between the values in H(2)O···HCl and (H(2)O)(2)HCl. The fitted spectroscopic constants and derived molecular properties are compared with ab initio predictions, and a discussion of complexation effects in these three clusters is made.     

Potentiometric responses of ion-selective electrodes after galvanostatically controlled incorporation of primary ions

A new method of quantitative incorporation of primary cations into ion-selective membrane by means of galvanostatic cathodic polarization/conditioning, before measurement step, was proposed and tested on the example of potassium-selective electrode with ionophore - valinomycin in poly(vinyl chloride) based membrane and with polypyrrole solid contact. Open circuit potential values recorded after polarization can be quantitatively explained by changes of primary cations and ionophore concentration in the surface part of the membrane. The influence of potassium ions concentration in the membrane (in relation to ion exchange sites amount) on the shape of potentiometric calibration plots was also observed. Improved characteristics, with extended linear range, can be obtained for membrane of minor loading with primary cations (around 25%), the responses are relatively stable in course of following calibrations.     

Piezo-electric properties of polypropylene laminates with a non-woven layer

Piezoelectric properties of non-uniform dielectric structures with an elastic layer made of polypropylene unwoven fabric are presented. The properties were characterised by d₃₃ piezoelectric coefficient, measured as a function of pressure p applied to the structure. A hyperbolic type of d₃₃ = f(p) dependence was found for prepared samples. A new model describing d₃₃ = f(p) dependence observed for the structures has been proposed. Linear dependence of elasticity modulus on pressure p has been assumed in the model. The d₃₃ values determined on the basis of the model were compared with experimental data and a good agreement was found.     

Fingerprinting Noncanonical and Tertiary RNA Structures by Differential SHAPE Reactivity

Many RNA structures are composed of simple secondary structure elements linked by a few critical tertiary interactions. SHAPE chemistry has made interrogation of RNA dynamics at single-nucleotide resolution straightforward. However, de novo identification of nucleotides involved in tertiary interactions remains a challenge. Here we show that nucleotides that form noncanonical or tertiary contacts can be detected by comparing information obtained using two SHAPE reagents, N-methylisatoic anhydride (NMIA) and 1-methyl-6-nitroisatoic anhydride (1M6). Nucleotides that react preferentially with NMIA exhibit slow local nucleotide dynamics and usually adopt the less common C2'-endo ribose conformation. Experiments and first-principles calculations show that 1M6 reacts preferentially with nucleotides in which one face of the nucleobase allows an unhindered stacking interaction with the reagent. Differential SHAPE reactivities were used to detect noncanonical and tertiary interactions in four RNAs with diverse structures and to identify preformed noncanonical interactions in partially folded RNAs. Differential SHAPE reactivity analysis will enable experimentally concise, large-scale identification of tertiary structure elements and ligand binding sites in complex RNAs and in diverse biological environments.     

Structure elucidation and complete NMR spectral assignments of two new sesquiterpene lactone xylosides from Lactuca triangulata

Two new sesquiterpene lactone xylosides, derivatives of the guaianolides 9alpha-hydroxyleucodin and 9alpha-hydroxy-11,13-dehydroleucodin, were isolated from roots of Lactuca triangulata. Their structures were established on the basis of (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra, 2D NMR (HMQC, HMBC, COSY, NOESY) techniques and comparison with the literature data. The compounds represent the first example of sesquiterpene lactone xylosides.     

Rotational spectra of quinoline and of isoquinoline: spectroscopic constants and electric dipole moments

Rotational spectra of quinoline and of isoquinoline have been observed in the centimeter- and millimeter-wave regions. The spectra were assigned on the basis of bands formed by high-J transitions, which were measured up to J″?128 and ν?234 GHz. Complementary measurements were also made on low-J, centimeter-wave spectra observed in supersonic expansion and with fully resolved nuclear quadrupole hyperfine structure. Accurate rotational, centrifugal distortion and hyperfine splitting constants for the ground states of both molecules are reported. The electric dipole moments for the two molecules were also determined from Stark effect measurements and are μ_a=0.14355(19), μ_b=2.0146(17), μ_tot=2.0197(17) D for quinoline, and μ_a=2.3602(21), μ_b=0.9051(14), μ_tot=2.5278(20) D for isoquinoline. The experimental observables were found to be rather accurately predicted by MP2/6-31G** ab initio calculations, and corresponding molecular geometries are also reported.     

Assignment and analysis of the rotational spectrum of bromoform enabled by broadband FTMW spectroscopy

The rotational spectrum of the bromoform molecule is complicated by overlap of extensive hyperfine splitting structure of three bromine nuclei belonging to four isotopic species of comparable abundance. We have been able to achieve an unambiguous assignment of this spectrum on the basis of complete hyperfine patterns of the lowest-J rotational transitions recorded at conditions of supersonic expansion with chirped-pulse, broadband Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The mm-wave rotational spectrum was then also studied up to J = 131 and 318 GHz, and extensive measurements are reported for four isotopic species of HCBr₃ and four DCBr₃ species. Precise values of many spectroscopic constants have been determined from global fits of all measurements for a given isotopic species and have been substantiated by comparisons among the various isotopic species and with results of ab initio calculations. The experimental measurements allowed determination of the axial rotational constant C for the symmetric top species, evaluation of nuclear quadrupole hyperfine splitting constants in the principal quadrupole axes of the bromine nucleus, and extension of the range of known values of the h₃ splitting constant. The r_z geometry of HCBr₃ was also determined.     

Gamma background measurements in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory

In situ gamma-ray measurements were taken at eight locations in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory (Italy). Count rates for gamma radiation within the energy range of 7–2,734 keV varied from 8 to 60 γ s^?1. The arithmetic mean was 49 γ s^?1 for measurements taken without a collimator. The average gamma flux inside the Lab was 0.25 γ cm^?2 s^?1. The sedimentary rocks surrounding the Lab are characterized by low activity concentrations of uranium and thorium, equal to 1.7 and 1.4 Bq kg^?1, respectively.