Phase Relations in the Ni–Mn–Ga Ternary System and Aging Effect on Shape Memory Properties of Ferromagnetic Ni<Subscript>2</Subscript>MnGa Sputtered Films

Summary. Isothermal sections of the Ni–Mn–Ga ternary phase diagram at 1073 and 1273 K were investigated over a wide range of alloy compositions. The range of the β-Ni₂MnGa phase, its equilibria with the γ-(Mn, Ni), α′-Ni₃Ga, and γ-Ni₃Ga₂ phases, and the liquidus and solidus lines were determined experimentally. The aging effect on the shape memory effect (SME) of Ni₂MnGa sputtered films was also investigated. The two-way SME of the constraint-aged films was confirmed by the temperature change.     

A density functional study on magnetic exchange interaction between Mn(II) ion and nitronyl nitroxide radical in <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-metal-radical complexes

The magneto-structural correlation between a Mn(ll) ion, coordinated in an octahedral environment, and two nitronyl nitroxide radical ligands in trans- and cis-metal-radical complexes is investigated by the broken symmetry (BS) approach within density functional theory (DFT). The dependences of coupling constants J on three structural parameters: (i) bond angle θ (Mn-O-N (nitroxide)); (ii) rotating angle ψ, defined by the nitronyl nitroxide radical plane rotating around the axial Mn-O (nitroxide); (iii) bond distance R (Mn-O (nitroxide)) are directly calculated. Our calculations showed that both trans- and cis-Mn(ll)-radical complexes behave a stronger antiferromagnetic interaction, consistent with experiments. In view of molecular orbital theory, the direct exchanges, including σ-type and π-type exchanges, are responsible for the magnetic exchange pathways. There is a preferable linear correlation between the calculated coupling constants J and the overlap integral squares S b between the local magnetic orbitals at the various rotating angle ψ at the fixed bond angle θ and bond distance R, in both trans- and cis-Mn(ll)-radical complexes.     

Surface modification of pyrophyllite with amino silane coupling agent for the removal of 4-nitrophenol from aqueous solutions

The surface of naturally hydrophobic mineral pyrophyllite was modified to hydrophilic by treatment with prehydrolyzed N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APEO) coupling agent to prepare a novel and effective adsorbent for the removal of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) from aqueous solutions. XRD, FTIR, and SEM analyses were used to characterize the surface modification. It was found that after the grafting procedure, heat treatment at 110 degrees C results in condensation reaction between the OH groups of the APEO molecule and the hydroxyl groups and/or oxygen atoms on the pyrophyllite surface and the adsorption of 4-NP by APEO-modified pyrophyllite involves interactions between dissociated 4-NP molecules and protonated amine groups of APEO molecules attached to the mineral surface. Adsorption equilibrium data for 4-NP adsorption on APEO-treated and untreated pyrophyllite were most satisfactorily fitted using the Freundlich adsorption isotherm and adsorption capacity was found to be 0.268 mg/g for modified pyrophyllite whereas it was only 0.105 mg/g for untreated pyrophyllite.     

A simplified assay of furosemide in plasma and urine by high-pressure liquid chromatography.

A simplified high-pressure liquid chromatograhic method for determination of furosemide in plasma and urine has been developed using a fluorometric detector directly coupled to the column effluent. The method includes an ether extraction from acidified biologic samples. The mobile phase used for chromatography on a reversed-phase column (C15 hydrocarbon permanently bonded to silica particles) is sufficiently acidic to induce fluorescence of furosemide. The methylester of furosemide is employed as an internal standard. The sensitivity is 0.1 and 0.25 microgram per ml plasma and urine, respectively. The applicability to pharmacokinetic studies of furosemide is shown.     

Classifying wine according to geographical origin via quadrupole-based ICP–mass spectrometry measurements of boron isotope ratios

The potential of quadrupole-based ICP–MS as a tool for B-isotopic analysis of wines and its usefulness in provenance determinations were assessed. A precision of 0.1–0.25% RSD (corresponding to a relative standard deviation of the mean of three replicate measurements of 0.06–0.12%) was sufficient to establish small differences in the B isotope ratios in wines from different geographical origins. Each sample measurement was bracketed by measurements of a standard and mass bias drift correction made by interpolation. Sample preparation was kept to a minimum to avoid possible fractionation. Dilution of the wine samples by a factor of 100 with 0.65% HNO₃ was found to reduce matrix-induced mass discrimination substantially. Wines from three wine-producing regions, Stellenbosch, Robertson, and Swartland, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, and wines from specific regions in France (Bergerac) and Italy (Valpolicella) were analyzed by ICP–QMS for their B-isotopic compositions. It was concluded that the ¹¹B/¹⁰B ratios can be used to characterize wines from different geographical origins. Average ¹¹B/¹⁰B ratios in red wines from South Africa (Stellenbosch), France (Bergerac), and Italy (Valpolicella) were found to differ by between 0.5 and 1.5%.     

Carnitine in Pregnancy

Summary. By the 12^th week of gestation, mean whole blood and plasma carnitine levels are already significantly (p<0.01) lower than those of controls, with a further significant (p<0.01) decrease up to parturition. Diminished carnitine levels may cause a downregulation of carnitine palmitoyltransferase1 (CPT1), both the liver isoform (CPT1A) and muscle isoform (CPT1B), carnitine palmitoyltransferase2 (CPT2), and carnitine acetyltransferase (CRAT) in white blood cells of pregnant women, as determined by real time PCR using the LightCyclerSYBR Green technology.L-Carnitine-L-tartrate supplementation of 2 g/d resulted in an up to 10-fold increase of the relative mRNA abundances of CPT1B, CPT2, and OCTN2 and a 5-fold increase of CPT1A, and CRAT.There is a relationship between the relative mRNA levels of CPT1A and CPT1B and the FFA plasma levels. The substitution of 2 g L-carnitine-L-tartrate/d resulted in significant (p<0.001) lower FFA levels compared to untreated controls and the groups substituted with 0.5 and 1 g L-carnitine/d although plasma carnitine levels were not significantly increased. The most substantial effect was the reduced portion of acylcarnitines on total carnitine in those women receiving 2 g L-carnitine-L-tartrate.Carnitine substitution resulted in an enhanced excretion of both, free carnitine and acylcarnitines, whereas acetylcarnitine accounts for 50–65% of total acylcarnitines.The results of the present study provide evidence that L-carnitine supplementation in pregnancy in sufficient doses avoids a striking increase of plasma FFAs, which are thought to be the main cause of insulin resistance and consequently gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).     

Preliminary study on dual fluorescence behavior of porphyrin

It is well known that porphyrin derivatives play a key role in the primary process of photo-synthesis[1], in which porphyrins directly absorb the sunlight or indirectly acquire excitation en-ergy from light-harvesting antenna system to reach their excited state, and then donate electrons to quinone acceptors to yield a series of charge-separated species. In general, only first singlet ex-cited state of porphyrins is involved in energy transfer process[2]. However, highly excited state (S2 stat…     

Comparative inhibition by substrate analogues 3-methoxy- and 3-hydroxydesaminokynurenine and an improved 3 step purification of recombinant human kynureninase.

Background  

Kynureninase is a key enzyme on the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism. One of the end products of the pathway is the neurotoxin quinolinic acid which appears to be responsible for neuronal cell death in a number of important neurological diseases. This makes kynureninase a possible therapeutic target for diseases such as Huntington's, Alzheimer's and AIDS related dementia, and the development of potent inhibitors an important research aim.     

The de novo design of median molecules within a property range of interest

Summary In this paper an application is presented of the median molecule workflow to the de novo design of novel molecular entities with a property profile of interest. Median molecules are structures that are optimised to be similar to a set of existing molecules of interest as an approach for lead exploration and hopping. An overview of this workflow is provided together with an example of an instance using the similarity to camphor and menthol as objectives. The methodology of the experiments is defined and the workflow is applied to designing novel molecules for two physical property datasets: mean molecular polarisability and aqueous solubility. This paper concludes with a discussion of the characteristics of this method.