Interaction of tetraphenyl-porphyrin derivatives with DPPC-liposomes: an EPR study

The effect of the symmetry and polarity of the porphyrin molecules on their membrane localization and interaction with membrane lipids were investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). For this purpose, two glycoconjugated tetraphenyl porphyrin derivatives were selected, respectively, symmetrically and asymmetrically substituted. Small unilamellar liposomes composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and spin labeled stearic acids were prepared. The spin probe was located at the 5th or 7th or 12th or 16th position of the hydrocarbon chain in order to monitor various regions of the lipid bilayer. EPR spectra of porphyrin-free and porphyrin-bound liposomes were recorded at various temperatures below and above the phase transition temperature of DPPC. The effect on membrane fluidity proved to be stronger with the asymmetrical porphyrin derivative than with the symmetrical one. The rigidity increased when the spin label was near lipid head groups. The difference observed between control and porphyrin-treated samples when measured below the main lipid transition temperature disappeared at higher temperature. When the spin label was near the end of the hydrophobic tails, the symmetrical porphyrin derivative caused increase in fluidity, while the asymmetrical one slightly decreased it. To explain this phenomenon we propose that the asymmetrical derivative exerts a stronger ordering effect caused by its fluorophenyl group located at the level of the lipid heads, which is attenuated to the hydrophobic tails. The perturbing effect of the symmetric derivative could not lead to similar extent of ordering at the head groups and looses the hydrocarbon chains deeper in the membrane.     

Combinatorial synthesis of carbon nanotubes by the catalytic chemical vapor deposition method

Summary Bimetallic (Fe-Co) catalyst samples prepared from different precursors over various supports were tested in carbon nanotube (CNT) production. In order to quicken the evaluation of the performance of the catalysts a combinatorial arrangement was used.</o:p>     

Rate constant for the reaction of OH radicals with CH3C(O)Cl determined by direct kinetic method

Summary The fast flow technique with OH resonance fluorescence detection has been applied at T = 298 ± 2 K to study the kinetics of the overall reaction: H + CH₃C(O)Cl → products (1) A rate constant value of k₁ = (1.02 ± 0.12) x 10¹⁰ cm³ mol^-1 s^-1 has been determined which is the first direct kinetic parameter reported for reaction (1) in the literature (the error given refers to 2σ accuracy).     

Exterior algebras related to the quantum group O(O q(3))

For the 9-dimensional bicovariant differential calculi on the quantum group O(O _q(3)) several kinds of exterior algebras are examined. The corresponding dimensions, bicovariant subbimodules and eigenvalues of the antisymmetrizer are given. Exactly one of the exterior algebras studied by the authors has a unique left invariant form with maximal degree.     

Molecular complexation and binding studied by electrophoretic NMR spectroscopy

Electrophoretic mobilities obtained on a molecularly selective manner by electrophoretic NMR can be used to provide a quantitative characterization of the composition and stoichiometry of molecular complexes. This is demonstrated in complexes formed by uncharged cyclodextrins which attain an electrophoretic mobility upon inclusion of charged surfactants.     

OPLC Comparison of Methods for Aqueous Extraction of Sennae folium and Tiliae flos Plant Samples

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A new, simplified open-vessel microwave extraction (OVME) method has been used to prepare aqueous extracts of Sennae folium and...     

Study of gas generation in real L/ILW containers

To obtain reliable estimates of the quantities and rates of the gas production in L/ILW a series of measurements was carried in the last 7 years in Hungary. The typical gas production rates were 0.05–0.2 STP litre gas/day for CO₂ and CH₄ generation, and less for H₂. No explosive gas mixture was indicated in the L/ILW drums during the investigated storage period. Compositions of headspace gases in closed L/ILW vaults were in agreement with gas generation processes observed in L/ILW drums. The stable carbon isotope measurements show that the main source of the CO₂ gas is the degradation of organic matter and indicates microbial degradation processes as the main sources of CH₄. Typical tritium activity concentrations were <10 Bq/l gas in the drums and <1,000 Bq/l gas in the vaults. Typical ¹⁴C activity values of the headspace gases were <2.0 Bq/l gas in the drums and <1,000 Bq/l gas in the vaults.     

Reactions of 2-Deoxy-4, 5-O-Isopropylidene-D-Erythro- and D-Threo-Pent-1-Enose Derivatives

ABSTRACT

The reactivity of the title compounds has been studied toward different nucleophiles and electrophiles. Unlike other ketene dithioacetals, compounds 3-5 did not add nucleophiles to the double bond. Instead, in the presence of Lewis acids they underwent substitution reaction at position 3. If the nucleophile was not strong enough, formation of 6 and 7 were observed. With 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranose (18), a 3:1 mixture of 11 and 12 was formed from 4. These observations may be interpreted in terms of easy formation of the allylic carbocation I which gives diastereomers with nucleophiles. However, this allylic ether-like behaviour was ruled out by the fact that compounds 9 and 10 did not undergo [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement with lithium diisopropylamide. With N-bromosuccinimide compound 3 gave the 2-bromo derivative 8. Compounds 3 and 8 resisted common mercury salt assisted demercaptalization procedures.     

Effect of atmospheric pressure variations on the <Superscript>222</Superscript>Rn activity concentration in the air of a wine cellar

We have measured the variation of atmospheric pressure and of ²²²Rn activity concentration in the air of a wine cellar with an AlphaGAURD type ionization chamber radon monitor. We have found that the ²²²Rn activity concentration varies inversely with pressure. To explain this behavior we have done model calculations. We have compared the results of model calculations with the results of experimental measurements, and we have found that the model is capable to reproduce some part of the variation of ²²²Rn activity concentration.     

Linus Pauling’s quest for the structure of proteins

Linus Pauling, arguably the greatest chemist of the twentieth century, never publicly admitted that there was a race for the determination of the structure of the most important biopolymers. But according to his competitors there was a race, in fact, there were two, and Pauling won one and lost the other. He had a tremendous amount of ideas, many of them worthless, but a few were spectacular. Not only did he make seminal discoveries, he was also a master of announcing them in a most dramatic way. Eventually, Pauling shifted toward politics and controversial issues, but his science ensured him his place among the greats. Here, we follow Pauling’s route to the discovery of the alpha-helix; the defeat of the star-studded British team in the same quest; and a seemingly unrelated story about the fate of the theory of resonance that assured Pauling’s victory yet at the same time it was excommunicated in the Soviet Union.