D = 5 Einstein-Maxwell-Chern-Simons black holes

Five-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory with a Chern-Simons coefficient lambda = 1 has supersymmetric black holes with a vanishing horizon angular velocity but finite angular momentum. Here supersymmetry is associated with a borderline between stability and instability, since for lambda > 1 a rotational instability arises, where counterrotating black holes appear, whose horizon rotates in the opposite sense to the angular momentum. For lambda > 2 black holes are no longer uniquely characterized by their global charges, and rotating black holes with vanishing angular momentum appear.     

Mass and energy flow management in the sector of surface treatment

Vehicle refinishing body shops are concerned by the environmental policy against photochemical air pollution caused by VOC emissions. For supporting these small enterprises the mass and energy flow model IMPROVE has been developed. Based on an LCA-approach, the process steps of vehicle refinishing are modelled. The model IMPROVE helps to disseminate the consequences of product substitution in comparison to so far used products and techniques in the body shop. For the dissemination of experiences practical guidelines have been developed. Moreover, a comprehensible tool for the Solvent Balance is being offered. Thus, various means are available for consulting and also for strategic production planning for the SME in the sector.     

Determination of aliskiren in human serum quantities by HPLC–tandem mass spectrometry appropriate for pediatric trials

The orally active direct renin inhibitor aliskiren is approved for the treatment of essential hypertension in adults. Analytical methods utilized in clinical studies on efficacy and safety have not been fully described in the literature but need a large sample volume ranging from 200 to 700 μL, rendering them unsuitable particularly for pediatric applications. In the assay presented only 100 μL of serum is needed for mixed‐mode solid‐phase extraction. The chromatographic separation was performed on Xselect^TM C₁₈ CSH columns with mobile phase consisting of methanol–water–formic acid (75:25:0.005, v/v/v) and a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. Running in positive electrospray ionization and multiple reaction monitoring the mass spectrometer was set to analyze precursor ion 552.2 m/z [M + H]⁺ to product ion 436.2 m/z during a total run time of 5 min. The method covers a linear calibration range of 0.146–1200 ng/mL. Intra‐run and inter‐run precisions were 0.4–7.2 and 0.6–12.9%. Mean recovery was at least 89%. Selectivity, accuracy and stability results comply with current European Medicines Agency and Food and Drug Administration guidelines. This successfully validated LC‐MS/MS method with a wide linear calibration range requiring small serum amounts is suitable for pharmacokinetic investigations of aliskiren in pediatrics, adults and the elderly. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemical and environmental sampling: quality through accreditation, certification and industrial standards

Executive summary In the CEN/STAR Trends Analysis workshop on Sampling, initiated by request of the Nordic Innovation Centre, specially invited experts provided presentations on demands about regulation concerning sampling quality, sampling standard developments, quality assurance systems and practical experience from different sampling situations and cases. The workshop arrived at recommendations on the importance of proper sampling for environmental and product control purposes, especially to support European regulations, trade agreements and monitoring of environment. Sampling is an integrated part of the whole measurement process and should therefore be especially considered from the viewpoint of the end-user of the results. There is a need for raising quality control issues in sampling and for the establishment of a more uniformly co-ordinated European quality system for sampling. With the standard methods available, there are in principle two different ways of achieving third party assessment of the sampling protocols and procedures: accreditation of sampling organisations based upon international, national, or in-house standards and methods, and certification of individual samplers’ competences for sampling. Several activities or efforts as well as research and standardisation needs for raising the quality issues in sampling were identified and presented in a paper by the workshop.All the presentations and Workshop Proceedings are electronically available on the Nordic Innovation Centre's web site at and more specifically at     

Simultaneous quantitative and qualitative analysis of aliskiren,enalapril and its active metabolite enalaprilat in undiluted human urine utilizing LC‐ESI‐MS/MS

The benefit–risk ratio of combined blocking by the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren and an angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor (e.g. enalapril) on the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system is discussed. No method was available for simultaneous determination of both drugs in urine. A novel sensitive method for simultaneous quantification in undiluted human urine was developed which enables systematic pharmacokinetic investigations, especially in poorly investigated populations like children. Matrix effects were clearly reduced by applying solid‐phase extraction followed by a chromatographic separation on Xselect^TM C₁₈ CSH columns. Mobile phase consisted of methanol and water, both acidified with formic acid. Under gradient conditions and a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min the column effluent was monitored by tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization. Calibration curves were constructed in the range of 9.4–9600 ng/mL regarding aliskiren, 11.6–12000 ng/mL for enalapril and 8.8–9000 ng/mL for enalaprilat. All curves were analyzed utilizing 1/x²‐weighted quadratic squared regression. Intra‐run and inter‐run precision were 3.2–5.8% and 6.1–10.3% for aliskiren, 2.4–6.1% and 3.9–7.9% for enalapril as well as 3.1–9.4% and 4.7–12.7% regarding enalaprilat. Selectivity, accuracy and stability results comply with current international bioanalysis guidelines. The fully validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic investigation in healthy volunteers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

N‐Methyl‐2, 2'‐Dipicolylamine Complexes as Potential Models for Metal‐Mediated Base Pairs

Metal‐mediated base pairs can be used to insert metal ions into nucleic acids at precisely defined positions. As structural data on the resulting metal‐modified DNA are scarce, appropriate model complexes need to be synthesized and structurally characterized. Accordingly, the molecular structures of nine transition metal complexes of N‐methyl‐2, 2'‐dipicolylamine (dipic) are reported. In combination with an azole‐containing artificial nucleoside, this tridentate ligand had recently been used to generate metal‐mediated base pairs (Chem. Commun. 2011 , 47, 11041–11043). The Pd^II and Pt^II complexes reported here confirm that the formation of planar complexes (as required for a metal‐mediated base pair) comprising N‐methyl‐2, 2'‐dipicolylamine is possible. Two Hg^II complexes with differing stoichiometry indicate that a planar structure might also be formed with this metal ion, even though it is not favored. In the complex [Ag₂(dipic)₂](ClO₄)₂, the two Ag^I ions are located close to one another with an Ag ··· Ag distance of 2.9152(3) Å, suggesting the presence of a strong argentophilic interaction.     

Szentiamide, an N-formylated cyclic depsipeptide from Xenorhabdus szentirmaii DSM 16338T

Szentiamide (1) a new cyclic hexadepsipeptide was isolated from the culture broth of the entomopathogenic bacterium Xenorhabdus szentirmaii DSM 16338T. The structure was elucidated by analysis of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectra and high resolution mass spectrometry. The amino acids were determined to be D-leucine, L-threonine, D-phenylalanine, D-valine, L-tyrosine and L-tryptophane after hydrolysis and derivatization with D-FDVA [Nalpha-(2,4-dinitro-5-fluorophenyl)-D-valinamide].