EFFECTS OF IONOPHORES AND RUTHENIUM RED ON THE PHOTOTAXIS OF STENTOR COERULEUS AS MEASURED BY SIMPLE DEVICES

Abstract— Two simple methods of phototaxis measurements have been applied to study the effects of ionophores on the negative phototactic response in Stentor coeruleus. The inhibitory effects of Ca²⁺-ionophore (A23187), Ca²⁺-blocking agent (Ruthenium Red), and K⁺ -ionophore (valinomycin) on photo-taxis have been determined. Results suggest that the influx of Ca²⁺ plays a transducing role in the phototaxis of Stentor.     

Development and validation of an isotope-dilution electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method with an on-line sample clean-up device for the quantitative analysis of the benzene exposure biomarker S-phenylmercapturic acid in human urine

An isotope-dilution electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) method with an on-line sample clean-up device, for the quantitative analysis of human urine for the benzene exposure biomarker S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA), was developed and validated. The sample clean-up system was constructed from an autosampler, a reversed-phase C18 trap cartridge, a two-position switching valve, and controlling computer software and hardware. The sample clean-up system was interfaced via 1/20 splitting to the ESI source of a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer using negative ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring for SPMA and the isotope-labeled internal standard. A strategy was adopted to acquire pooled blank urine matrix and quality control samples spiked with standards. Validated procedures and data on method specificity, detection limits, standard curves, precision and recovery, sample storage stability, and inter-laboratory comparison are presented. The analytical system was fully automated. No tedious manual sample clean-up procedures are required. With the selectivity and the sensitivity provided by ESI-MS/MS detection, the analytical system can be used for high-throughput and accurate determination of SPMA levels in human urine samples, as a biomarker for environmental as well as occupational benzene exposure.     

The Chemistry of Tetrafluoroallene： One－pot Synthesis of Trifluoromethylindolizines from 1,3－Diiodo－1,1,3,3－tetrafluoropropane by 1,3－Dipolar Cycloaddition

Heating a mixture of 1, 3-diiodo-1, 1, 3, 3-tetrafluoropropane (2), K2CO3, pyridinium bromides (3) in CH3CN at 65℃ for 10 h gives the corresponding trifluoromethylindolizines.     

Theoretical study of “deep” fragmentation of hemin ion with successive loss of methyl and vinyl groups

The electronic and geometric structures, energy stability, normal mode frequencies, and spin density distribution have been calculated by the density functional theory B3LYP method with the Gen = 6-31+G*(Fe) + 6-31G(C,H,N,O), 6-31G*, and 6-311++G** basis sets for the deep fragmentation products of the free hemin ion with successive removal of methyl and vinyl groups in the electronic states with different multiplicities. The computation results are compared with the available experimental data and previous computation results for the fragmentation products of the isolated heme molecule and hemin ion with removal of carboxymethyl groups. The trends in the behavior of these properties are analyzed as a function of multiplicity, external charge, and the number of peripheral substituents at the porphyrin core.     

Racemization of chiral amino alcohols III: Effect of Mg or Ca addition on the activity and stability of the Co/γ-Al2O3 catalyst

The racemization of R-(-)-2-amino-1-butanol in a reaction using Co/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts and catalysts modified by Mg or Ca was investigated in this paper. Complete racemization was achieved with a yield of over 83% at using the Mg modified Co/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst under optimized reaction conditions of 170°C and 2.5 MPa of H₂. The catalysts were thoroughly characterized by XRD, XPS, TPR, SEM and TEM. The addition of Mg and Ca may be advantageous for dispersing and stabilizing the active species of the Co/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst, protecting from sintering, significantly improving its catalytic activity and stability.     

Kinetic Study of the Bromine-Catalyzed Isomerization of Methyl- and Chloro-Maleic Acids in Aqueous Ce(IV)-Br -H2SO4 Medium

Methylmaleic (citraconic, CTA) acid and methylfumaric (measaconic, MSA) acid in aqueous sulfuric acid solution undergo bromine-catalyzed reversible cis-trans isomerization in the presence of ceric and bromide ions. The positional isomerization of CTA or MSA to itaconic acid (ITA) is not observed. The method of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to study the kinetics of this catalyzed isomerization. The major catalytic species is best expressed as the Br^?₂ · radical anion. Under suitable catalytic conditions, there is a tendency for the [MSA]/[CTA] ratio to reach an equilibrium value of 4.10 at 25° for the CTA+Br^?₂ · ? MSA+Br^?₂ · reaction. Chloromaleic (CMA) and chlorofumaric (CFA) acids undergo similar isomerization with an equilibrium [CFA]/[CMA] ratio of 10.3 at 25°. The isomerization of maleic acid (MA) to fumaric acid (FA) is essentially irreversible with 50 as the lower limit of the equilibrium [FA]/[MA] ratio. The substituent has an important effect on the reversibility of this catalyzed isomerization of butenedicarboxylic acids. The thermodynamic parameters ΔH° and ΔS° at 25° for the CTA+Br^?₂ · ? MSA+Br^?₂ · reaction were found to be ?5.1±0.7 kj/mol and ?6.0±3.3 J/mol K, respectively. The present method gives a plausible way to measure the differences in enthalpy and entropy between the trans- and cis-isomers of butenedicarboxylic acids (CRCO₂H=CR'CO₂H) in aqueous solution.