Effects of humidity and temperature during irradiation on the response of blue PMMA dosimeter

Effects of relative humidity conditions in the irradiation chamber and of temperature of the chamber on the response of 3 mm thick light blue poly (methyl methacrylate) sheets have been studied. The response was measured spectrophotometrically at 402, 450, 596 and 612 nm. The response of the dosimeter is independent of the relative humidity (12–97%) during irradiation if the response is measured within 24 h of irradiation. If the response is measured after longer storage time, the absorbance at 402 and 450 nm increases significantly. At these two wavelengths the response of the dosimeter is also independent of the temperature of the irradiation chamber in the range of 0 to 40 °C. However, at higher temperatures (60, 80 °C), the response is not uniform.     

The concerted addition of HBr to aryl alkynes; orthogonal pi bond selectivity

In a weakly acidic solution, the addition of HBr to 1-phenylprop-1-yne produces predominantly the anti-Markovnikov product. In this paper, we consider five possible explanations for this behavior and conclude that the concerted addition is occurring on the acetylenic pi bond orthogonal to the extended aromatic pi system. The electronic effect of the distal methyl group and the steric hindrance of the coplanar phenyl ring combine to promote bromide attack at the beta carbon. Attack on this pi bond is insensitive to the electronic effect of meta and para substituents on the ring but is very (sterically) sensitive toward all ortho substituents.     

Structural characterization of nanosized CeO(2)-SiO(2), CeO(2)-TiO(2), and CeO(2)-ZrO(2) catalysts by XRD, Raman, and HREM techniques

Structural characteristics of nanosized ceria-silica, ceria-titania, and ceria-zirconia mixed oxide catalysts have been investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, BET surface area, thermogravimetry, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM). The effect of support oxides on the crystal modification of ceria cubic lattice was mainly focused. The investigated oxides were obtained by soft chemical routes with ultrahighly dilute solutions and were subjected to thermal treatments from 773 to 1073 K. The XRD results suggest that the CeO(2)-SiO(2) sample primarily consists of nanocrystalline CeO(2) on the amorphous SiO(2) surface. Both crystalline CeO(2) and TiO(2) anatase phases were noted in the case of CeO(2)-TiO(2) sample. Formation of cubic Ce(0.75)Zr(0.25)O(2) and Ce(0.6)Zr(0.4)O(2) (at 1073 K) were observed in the case of the CeO(2)-ZrO(2) sample. Raman measurements disclose the fluorite structure of ceria and the presence of oxygen vacancies/Ce(3+). The HREM results reveal well-dispersed CeO(2) nanocrystals over the amorphous SiO(2) matrix in the cases of CeO(2)-SiO(2), isolated CeO(2), and TiO(2) (anatase) nanocrystals, some overlapping regions in the case of CeO(2)-TiO(2), and nanosized CeO(2) and Ce-Zr oxides in the case of CeO(2)-ZrO(2) sample. The exact structural features of these crystals as determined by digital diffraction analysis of HREM experimental images reveal that the CeO(2) is mainly in cubic fluorite geometry. The oxygen storage capacity (OSC) as determined by thermogravimetry reveals that the OSC of the mixed oxide systems is more than that of pure CeO(2) and is system dependent.     

Co-activation of Gi and Gq proteins exerts synergistic effect on human platelet aggregation through activation of phospholipase C and Ca2+ signalling pathways

Our previous studies have shown that subthreshold concentrations of two platelet agonists exert synergistic effects on platelet aggregation. Here we studied the mechanism of synergistic interaction of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and epinephrine mediated platelet aggregation. We show that 5-HT had no or little effect on aggregation but it did potentiate the aggregation response of epinephrine. The synergistic interaction of 5-HT (1-5 microM) and epinephrine (0.5-2 microM) was inhibited by alpha2-adrenoceptor blocker (yohimbine; IC50= 0.4 microM), calcium channel blockers (verapamil and diltiazem with IC50 of 10 and 48 mM, respectively), PLC inhibitor (U73122; IC50=6 microM) and nitric oxide (NO) donor, SNAP (IC50=1.6 microM)). The data suggest that synergistic effects of platelet agonists are receptor-mediated and occur through multiple signalling pathways including the activation PLC/Ca2+ signalling cascades.     

Crystal structure of koraiol — A sesquiterpene alcohol with a new type of carbon skeleton from the oleoresin ofPinus koraiensis

An x-ray structural investigation has been made of a new sesquiterpene alcohol — koraiol — in the form of its complex with pyridine (2:1). The cyclobutane rings are nonplanar and the foldings of rings A and B amount to 17 and 31°, respectively. The seven-membered ring has the chair form.     

Depolymerization Study of Pakistani Lignite Coal Influence of Pre‐treatments on Product Slate

Influence of pretreatments, i.e., demineralization and pre‐soaking in some solvents on the yields of liquefied products obtained from hydro‐depolymerization of Pakistani coal in a pool of hydrogen has been discussed. Results of hydrogenation experiments demonstrated that demineralizing the coal sample prior to liquefaction caused the yields to decrease compared with the virgin coal samples. The contribution of mineral matter of coal has been evaluated by comparing the yields of liquid products of virgin and leached samples. Increase in the yields obtained from the hydrogenation experiments of swollen coal samples was not satisfactorily significant.     

A novel and expeditious approach to unusual spirolactam building blocks

A rapid access to 7-azaspiro[4.5]decan-6-ones 1 involving three regio- and chemoselective reactions starting from tetrabromonorbornyl derivatives is described. The alkaline H(2)O(2) cleavage reaction of monosubstituted alpha-diketones 9 furnished the potential bridged bicyclic lactones 10in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner. The radical-mediated, intermolecular bridgehead C-C bond formation of the versatile bridged lactones 10 with acrylonitrile followed by LAH reduction of the adduct 13 intriguingly leads to the formation of novel spirolactam building blocks 1.     

Thermodynamic dissociation constants of salicylic and monochloroacetic acids in mixed solvent systems from conductance measurements at 25°C

The molar conductances of dilute solutions of salicylic and monochloroacetic acids in binary mixtures of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetone, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane with water have been measured at 25°C. The Lee-Wheaton conductance equation was fitted to the data in order to derive thermodynamic dissociation constants and limiting molar conductances. The results were compared with those in the literature pertaining to analogous media, mostly derived potentiometrically. The findings are interpreted in terms of a solvent effect on the ionization of these acids in mixed solvent systems.This paper is dedicated to the late Professor Raymond M. Fuoss on his 3^rd anniversary.     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Activity of n-Tributyltin Derivatives of Pharmaceutically Active Carboxylates

Summary.  Tributyltin(IV) derivatives of six different pharmaceutically active carboxylates were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by different analytical techniques (elemental analysis; infrared, NMR, and mass spectroscopy). ¹¹⁹Sn NMR data were also recorded in six different coordinating and non-coordinating solvents. The antibacterial activities of the compounds were tested using ten different bacteria relative to the reference drugs ampicillin and cephalexin. Received September 20, 2001. Accepted (revised) December 6, 2001     

Three new cholinesterase-inhibiting cis-clerodane diterpenoids from Otostegia limbata

Three new tricyclic cis-clerodane type diterpenoids trivially named as limbatolide A (1), limbatolide B (2) and limbatolide C (3) have been isolated from the roots of Otostegia limbata along with two known compounds; oleanic acid and beta-sitosterol. The structure elucidation of the new compounds was based primarily on two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques. Compounds 1-3 displayed inhibitory potential in a concentration-dependent manner against acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE; EC 3.1.1.8) enzymes, respectively.