An evaluation of activated bismuth isotopes in environmental samples from the former Western Pacific Proving Grounds

²⁰⁷Bi (T _1/2 = 32.2 y) was generated by activation of weapons material during a few "clean" nuclear tests at the U.S. Western Pacific Proving Grounds of Enewetak and Bikini Atolls. The radionuclides first appeared in the Enewetak environment during 1958 and in the environment of Bikini during 1956. Crater sediments from Bikini with high levels of ²⁰⁷Bi were analyzed by gamma-spectrometry in an attempt to determine the relative concentrations of ²⁰⁸Bi (T _1/2 = 3.68·10⁵ y). The bismuth isotopes were probably generated during the "clean", 9.3 Mt Poplar test held on 7/12/58. The atom ratio of ²⁰⁸Bi to ²⁰⁷Bi (R value) ranges from 12 to over 200 in sections of core sediments from the largest nuclear crater at Bikini atoll. The presence of bismuth in the device is suggested to account for R values in excess of 10.     

Identification of hydrolysis products of AlCl(3)*6H(2)O in the presence of sulfate by electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and computational methods

ElectroSpray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS) and computational methods (DFT, MP2, and COSMO) were used to investigate the hydrolysis products of aluminium chloride as a function of sulfate concentration at pH 3.7. With the aid of computational chemistry, structural information was deduced from the chemical compositions observed with ESI-MS. Many novel types of hydrolysis products were noted, revealing that our present understanding of aluminium speciation is too simple. The role of counterions was found to be critical: the speciation of aluminium changed markedly as a function of sulfate concentration. Ab initio calculations were used to reveal the energetically most favoured structures of aluminium sulfate anions and cations selected from the ESI-MS results. Several interesting observations were made. Most importantly, the bonding behaviour of the sulfate group changed as the number of aqua ligands increased. The accompanying structural rearrangement of the clusters revealed the highly active role of sulfate as a ligand. The gas phase calculations were expanded to the aquatic environment using a conductor-like screening model. As expected, the bonding behaviour of the sulfate group in the minimum energy structures was distinctly different in the aquatic environment compared to the gas phase. Together, these methods open a new window for research in the solution chemistry of aluminium species.     

Nanoporous metal organic framework materials for hydrogen storage

Hydrogen is expected to play an important role in future transportation as a promising alternative clean energy source to carbon-based fuels.One of the key challenges to commercialize hydrogen energy is to develop appropriate onboard hydrogen storage systems,capable of charging and discharging large quantities of hydrogen with fast enough kinetics to meet commercial requirements.Metal organic framework (MOF) is a new type of inorganic and organic hybrid nanoporous particulate materials.Its diverse networks can enhance hydrogen storage through tuning the structure and property of MOFs.The MOF materials so far developed adsorb hydrogen through weak disperston interactions,which allow significant quantity of hydrogen to be stored at cryogenic temperatures with fast kinetics.Novel MOFs are being developed to strengthen the interactions between hydrogen and MOFs in order to store hydrogen under ambient conditions.This review surveys the development of such candidate materials,their performance and future research needs.     

ULTRAVIOLET ERYTHEMA SENSITIVITY IN ANAMNESTIC (I-IV) and PHOTOTESTED (1–4) CAUCASIAN SKIN PHOTOTYPES: THE NEED FOR A NEW CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

Abstract— The anamnestic skin phototypes (ASP) I-IV^1,2 of 21 Caucasian volunteers were compared with their phototested skin phototypes (PSP) using solar simulating, broadband UV radiation. The Commission Internationale de' éclairage (CIE)-weighted (i.e. erythemally effective) minimal erythema doses (MED) for solar simulating radiation varied from 20 mJ/cm² (PSP type 1) to 57 mJ/cm² (PSP type 4). In only 11 of 21 volunteers did the ASP (I-IV) and PSP (1–4) classifications coincide, and the MED values of the volunteers within the different ASP groups (I-IV) overlapped considerably. To compare the reactivity to erythematogenic radiation of different wavelengths, narrowband monochromator irradiations were performed at 298 nm, 310 nm and 330 nm. The CIE-weighted MED values at these wavelengths (20–80 mJ/cm²) corresponded well with those obtained in the broadband testing. Our results indicate that, with classification by interrogation, Caucasian skin can reliably be classified into only two subtypes, corresponding to Fitzpatrick phototypes I–III and phototype IV, respectively. A classification into four sensitivity types can be achieved by phototesting, only. We propose that the concept of ASP should be used with caution. The concept of PSP 1–4 should be favored.     

Total synthesis of (±)-tangutorine and chiral HPLC separation of enantiomers

The first total synthesis of racemic tangutorine, a novel indole alkaloid, was performed in 7 steps. The key reactions, dithionite reduction and acidic cyclization provided easy access with good yields to the tangutorine skeleton. Comprehensive NMR spectroscopic data of new compounds are given. Chiral HPLC separation of enantiomers is reported.     

A mild novel synthesis of simple 1-oxo-β-carbolines

A new route using very mild reaction conditions is described for the transformation of indoloquinolizidines and to the 1-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carbolines and      

Erythemally Weighted Radiometers in Solar UV Monitoring: Results from the WMO/STUK Intercomparison

The first international intercomparison of erythemally weighted (EW) broadband radiometers was arranged in 1995 to improve the accuracy and comparability of the measurements carried out by solar UV monitoring networks. The intercomparison was arranged at the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in Helsinki, Finland, in cooperation with the University of Innsbruck and with support from the World Meteorological Organization. Altogether 20 EW meters of six different types from 16 countries were (1) tested in the laboratory by measuring the spectral and angular responsivities and (2) calibrated in solar radiation against two reference spectroradiometers. Calibration factors (CFs) for the EW meters were determined by using simultaneously measured EW solar UV spectra as a calibration reference. The CFs averaged over solar elevations higher than 35° varied from 0.87 to 1.75, with the estimated uncertainty being ±10%. As a result of this intercomparison, for the first time the calibrations of more than 100 EW radiometers around the world are possible to trace to the same origin. The present experience indicates that the accuracy of temperature-controlled EW radiometers is not significantly lower than the accuracy of spectroradiometers provided that strict quality assurance/quality control procedures are followed.