Substitution-Inert Metal Complex Mobile Phases in Non-Suppressed Cation Chromatography

Substitution-inert metal complexes, [Co(edda)(H₂O)₂]⁺, (Co(edda)(en)]⁺, [Co(edda)(dmen)]⁺, [Co(en)₂-(gly)]²⁺, [Co(en)₂(acac)]²⁺, and [Co(trien)(gly)]²⁺ in their nitrate salt solutions are used as eluents in nonsuppressed cation chromatography (where edda = ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetic acid, en = ethylenediamine, dmen = N,N′-dime-thylethylenediamine, gly = glycine, acac = acetylacetone, and trien = triethylenetetraamine). It is found that all the mono- and di-valent charged complexes can be used to separate alkali and alkaline earth metal cations, respectively. The separations for monovalent cations are sometimes comparable to those using ultrapure HNO₃ solutions. However, the divalent Ca²⁺ and Sr²⁺ ions cannot be resolved using the metal complex eluents. On the other hand, a selected, direct non-suppressed IC separation of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) ions is demonstrated for the first time using a substitution-inert metal complex eluent and a conductivity detector. Comparisons of these eluents with those reported previously, i. e. HNO₃ and ethylenediammonium salt solution are made and explanations are proposed to account for the different selectivities observed where possible. The future development of this technique is also briefly discussed.     

Comparison of uncoated, pyro-coated and totally pyrolytic graphite tubes for the HGA-500 electrothermal atomiser

The analytical performance of three uncoated electrographite tubes, three pyro-coated electrographite tubes, one tantalum carbide (TaC) coated electrographite tube, and three totally pyrolytic graphite (TPG) tubes has been evaluated and compared. A test programme was devised to determine the useful operational lifetime of each tube, and assess the influence of tube age on the sensitivity of lead, manganese and vanadium measurements by atomic absorption spectrometry. The TPG tubes were found to be more durable than the other types studied, but the lifetime advantage depended on the thickness of the pyrolytic graphite. The best TPG tube, of 720 μm wall-thickness, lasted 2.5 times longer than the pyro-coated tubes, and 5 times longer than the uncoated electrographite tubes.The TPG tubes gave slightly poorer AAS sensitivity for lead, equivalent sensitivity for manganese, and 4 times better sensitivity for vanadium than the pyro-coated electrographite tubes. Also, with TPG, signal magnitude was more consistent throughout the lifetime of a tube. For each of the test elements studied, poorest sensitivity was encountered with the TaC-coated electrographite tube.     

The synthesis of low melting liquid crystalline lanthanide complexes with triflate counter-anions

Paramagnetic liquid crystalline complexes of the formula [LnL(LH)₂][CF₃SO₃]₂ have been synthesised, where LH is the ligand N-dodecyl-4-(3',4'-didodecyloxybenzoyloxy)salicylaldimine and Ln is a lanthanide metal. When compared with analogous nitrate complexes, the transition temperatures are rather low.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novobiocin Core Analogues as Hsp90 Inhibitors

Development of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) C‐terminal inhibitors has emerged as an exciting strategy for the treatment of cancer. Previous efforts have focused on modifications to the natural products novobiocin and coumermycin. Moreover, variations in both the sugar and amide moieties have been extensively studied, whereas replacements for the coumarin core have received less attention. Herein, 24 cores were synthesized with varying distances and angles between the sugar and amide moieties. Compounds that exhibited good anti‐proliferative activity against multiple cancer cell lines and Hsp90 inhibitory activity, were those that placed the sugar and amide moieties between 7.7 and 12.1 Å apart along with angles of 180°.     

Window on Washington

Abstract

Causality: Models, Reasoning, and Inference by Judea Pearl, Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Reviewed by Roderick P. McDonald     

Advanced Polymer Designs for Direct-Ink-Write 3D Printing

The rapid development of additive manufacturing techniques, also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, is driving innovations in polymer chemistry, materials science, and engineering. Among current 3D printing techniques, direct ink writing (DIW) employs viscoelastic materials as inks, which are capable of constructing sophisticated 3D architectures at ambient conditions. In this perspective, polymer designs that meet the rheological requirements for direct ink writing are outlined and successful examples are summarized, which include the development of polymer micelles, co-assembled hydrogels, supramolecularly cross-linked systems, polymer liquids with microcrystalline domains, and hydrogels with dynamic covalent cross-links. Furthermore, advanced polymer designs that reinforce the mechanical properties of these 3D printing materials, as well as the integration of functional moieties to these materials are discussed to inspire new polymer designs for direct ink writing and broadly 3D printing.     

Disseminating a warning message to evacuate: A simulation study of the behaviour of neighbours

Large-scale evacuations are a recurring theme on news channels, whether in response to major natural or manmade disasters. The role of warning dissemination is a key part in the success of such large-scale evacuations and its inadequacy in certain cases has been a ‘primary contribution to deaths and injuries’ (Hayden et al., 2007). Along with technology-driven ‘official warning channels’ (e.g. sirens, mass media), the role of unofficial channel (e.g. neighbours, personal contacts, volunteer wardens) has proven to be significant in warning the public of the need to evacuate. Although post-evacuation studies identify the behaviours of evacuees as disseminators of the warning message, there has not been a detailed study that quantifies the effects of such behaviour on the warning message dissemination. This paper develops an Agent-Based Simulation (ABS) model of multiple agents (evacuee households) in a hypothetical community to investigate the impact of behaviour as an unofficial channel on the overall warning dissemination. Parameters studied include the percentage of people who warn their neighbours, the efficiency of different official warning channels, and delay time to warn neighbours. Even with a low proportion of people willing to warn their neighbour, the results showed considerable impact on the overall warning dissemination.