Liquid chromatographic analysis of vitamin B6 in reconstituted infant formula: collaborative study

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method was validated for the determination of total vitamin B6 in infant formula. Total vitamin B6 was quantified by converting the phosphorylated and free vitamers into pyridoxine. Pyridoxine was determined by ion pair reversed-phase LC with fluorescence detection. The method was subjected to an AOAC collaborative study involving a factory-manufactured, milk- and soy-based infant formula. Each was spiked at 3 concentrations in the range of 0-1 microg/g and sent as blind duplicate to participant laboratories. Nine laboratories returned valid data which were statistically analyzed for outliers and precision parameters. The repeatability relative standard deviation (RSD(r)) ranges were 2.0-4.0 and 3.5-5.9% for fortified milk- and soy-based formulas, respectively. The reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSD(R)) ranges were 8.2-8.4 and 6.7-11.2% for fortified milk- and soy-based formulas, respectively. HORRAT values ranged from 0.42 to 0.53, indicating that the precision of the method is acceptable. The mean RSD(r):RSD(R) values were 0.60 and 0.55 for milk- and soy-based formulas, respectively. As expected, RSDs for the unfortified samples were higher, but their HORRAT values (0.81 and 2.06) helped define a realistic limit of quantitation as 0.05 microg/g. Recovery data were quantitative and varied between 81.4 and 98.0% (mean = 89.8%) for each of 6 spiked materials.     

The synthesis and electronic structure of a novel [NiS4Fe2(CO)6] radical cluster: implications for the active site of the [NiFe] hydrogenases

A novel [NiS4Fe2(CO)6]cluster (1: 'S(4)'=(CH(3)C(6)H(3)S(2))(2)(CH(2))(3)) has been synthesised, structurally characterised and has been shown to undergo a chemically reversible reduction process at -1.31 V versus Fc(+)/Fc to generate the EPR-active monoanion 1(-). Multifrequency Q-, X- and S-band EPR spectra of (61)Ni-enriched 1(-) show a well-resolved quartet hyperfine splitting in the low-field region due to the interaction with a single (61)Ni (I=3/2) nucleus. Simulations of the EPR spectra require the introduction of a single angle of non-coincidence between g(1) and A(1), and g(3) and A(3) to reproduce all of the features in the S- and X-band spectra. This behaviour provides a rare example of the detection and measurement of non-coincidence effects from frozen-solution EPR spectra without the need for single-crystal measurements, and in which the S-band experiment is sensitive to the non-coincidence. An analysis of the EPR spectra of 1(-) reveals a 24 % Ni contribution to the SOMO in 1(-), supporting a delocalisation of the spin-density across the NiFe(2) cluster. This observation is supported by IR spectroscopic results which show that the CO stretching frequencies, nu(CO), shift to lower frequency by about 70 cm(-1) when 1 is reduced to 1(-). Density functional calculations provide a framework for the interpretation of the spectroscopic properties of 1(-) and suggest that the SOMO is delocalised over the whole cluster, but with little S-centre participation. This electronic structure contrasts with that of the Ni-A, -B, -C and -L forms of [NiFe] hydrogenase in which there is considerable S participation in the SOMO.     

Quinoxaline-oligopyrroles: improved pyrrole-based anion receptors

Novel quinoxaline derivatives bearing dipyrromethane or tripyrromethane substituents act as improved anion receptors as compared to the unsubstituted dipyrrolylquinoxaline core from which they are derived.     

Synthesis and Characterization of nido-[1,1,2,2-(CO)(4)-1,2-(PPh(3))(2)-1,2-FeIrB(2)H(5)]: A Heterobimetallaborane Analogue of nido-[B(4)H(7)](-)

The synthesis and characterization of nido-[1,1,2,2-(CO)(4)-1,2-(PPh(3))(2)-1,2-FeIrB(2)H(5)] (1) is reported. 1 is formed in low yield as a degradation product from the reaction between [{&mgr;-Fe(CO)(4)}B(6)H(9)](-) and trans-Ir(CO)Cl(PPh(3))(2) in THF and is characterized from NMR, IR, and analytical data and by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with a = 12.8622(12), b = 14.3313(12), c = 23.579(3) ?, beta = 97.12(2) degrees, Z = 4, V = 4257.0(8) ?(3), R(1) = 4.83%, and wR(2)()(F(2)) = 12.43%. The heterobimetallaborane structure may be viewed as a derivative of the binary boron hydride nido-[B(4)H(7)](-) and is related to the known homobimetallatetraborane analogues [Fe(2)(CO)(6)B(2)H(6)] and [Co(2)(CO)(6)B(2)H(4)]. 1 exhibits proton fluxionality in its (1)H NMR spectrum, which is related to that found in the latter two compounds.     

Templating S100A9 amyloids on Aβ fibrillar surfaces revealed by charge detection mass spectrometry,microscopy, kinetic and microfluidic analyses

The mechanism of amyloid co-aggregation and its nucleation process are not fully understood in spite of extensive studies. Deciphering the interactions between proinflammatory S100A9 protein and Aβ₄₂ peptide in Alzheimer''s disease is fundamental since inflammation plays a central role in the disease onset. Here we use innovative charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) together with biophysical techniques to provide mechanistic insight into the co-aggregation process and differentiate amyloid complexes at a single particle level. Combination of mass and charge distributions of amyloids together with reconstruction of the differences between them and detailed microscopy reveals that co-aggregation involves templating of S100A9 fibrils on the surface of Aβ₄₂ amyloids. Kinetic analysis further corroborates that the surfaces available for the Aβ₄₂ secondary nucleation are diminished due to the coating by S100A9 amyloids, while the binding of S100A9 to Aβ₄₂ fibrils is validated by a microfluidic assay. We demonstrate that synergy between CDMS, microscopy, kinetic and microfluidic analyses opens new directions in interdisciplinary research.

Templating mechanism of S100A9 amyloids on Aβ fibrillar surfaces during amyloid co-aggregation process was revealed by synergy of biophysical methods including charge detection mass spectrometry, microscopy, kinetic and microfluidic analyses.     

Brucine salts of l‐α‐hydr­oxy acids: brucinium hydrogen (S)‐malate penta­hydrate and anhydrous brucinium hydrogen (2R,3R)‐tartrate at 130 K

The structures of two brucinium (2,3‐dimeth­oxy‐10‐oxostrychnidinium) salts of the α‐hydr­oxy acids l ‐malic acid and l ‐tartaric acid, namely brucinium hydrogen (S)‐malate penta­hydrate, C₂₃H₂₇N₂O₄⁺·C₄H₅O₅⁻·5H₂O, (I), and anhydrous brucinium hydrogen (2R,3R)‐tartrate, C₂₃H₂₇N₂O₄⁺·C₄H₅O₆⁻,(II), have been determined at 130 K. Compound (I) has two brucinium cations, two hydrogen malate anions and ten water mol­ecules of solvation in the asymmetric unit, and forms an extensively hydrogen‐bonded three‐dimensional framework structure. In compound (II), the brucinium cations form the common undulating brucine sheet substructures, which accommodate parallel chains of head‐to‐tail hydrogen‐bonded tartrate anion species in the inter­stitial cavities.     

Creation and comparison of MS/MS spectral libraries using quadrupole ion trap and triple-quadrupole mass spectrometers

Searchable libraries of MS/MS spectra, obtained using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) with data-dependent scan mode switching on both quadrupole ion trap and triple-quadrupole mass spectrometers in conjunction with electrospray ionization, are presented. The effects on library search scores of changing the parameters for producing collision-induced dissociation (CID) on both instrument types are systematically evaluated. These observations serve as a basis for determining a universal set of conditions for building MS/MS libraries. A group of 19 closely related steroids was used. The ability to obtain library-searchable spectra at low concentrations is demonstrated for the analysis of a sample of progesterone spiked with hydroxyprogesterone impurities at 0.1 and 0.01%.     

Optimization challenges in the structured low rank approximation problem

In this paper we illustrate some optimization challenges in the structured low rank approximation (SLRA) problem. SLRA can be described as the problem of finding a low rank approximation of an observed matrix which has the same structure as this matrix (such as Hankel). We demonstrate that the optimization problem arising is typically very difficult: in particular, the objective function is multiextremal even for simple cases. The main theme of the paper is to suggest that the difficulties described in approximating a solution of the SLRA problem open huge possibilities for the application of stochastic methods of global optimization.     

Hexagonal Si−Ge Class of Semiconducting Alloys Prepared by Using Pressure and Temperature

Multi-anvil and laser-heated diamond anvil methods have been used to subject Ge and Si mixtures to pressures and temperatures of between 12 and 17 GPa and 1500–1800 K, respectively. Synchrotron angle dispersive X-ray diffraction, precession electron diffraction and chemical analysis using electron microscopy, reveal recovery at ambient pressure of hexagonal Ge−Si solid solutions (P6₃/mmc). Taken together, the multi-anvil and diamond anvil results reveal that hexagonal solid solutions can be prepared for all Ge−Si compositions. This hexagonal class of solid solutions constitutes a significant expansion of the bulk Ge−Si solid solution family, and is of interest for optoelectronic applications.