Micellar enhanced ultrafiltration of cadmium

The preconcentration of cadmium from aqueous colloid solution containing 8-hydroxyquinoline as extractant, laurylsulphate natrium as surfactant,n-butanol as co-surfactant was performed using micellar ultrafiltration technique. Filters with different pore size and materials were used to achieve a separation from liquid solutions. The cadmium recoveries depending on different conditions (pH, concentration of surfactant) were determined and the results are explained in the terms of colloidal parameters in the compare with the classical solvent extraction.     

Isotachophoretic analysis of the dihydrofolate reductase reaction in the presence of methotrexate and ascorbic acid

The antifolate methotrexate (MTX) is widely used in cancer chemotherapy. In this study, we show that MTX (MTX-Glu1) and MTX-polyglutamates (MTX-Glu2-5) strongly inhibited the growth of the leukemic cell line MOLT-4. This effect, however, was mitigated by ascorbic acid. We investigated whether ascorbic acid is able to reduce dihydrofolic acid (DHF) to tetrahydrofolic acid (THF) directly or by circumventing the MTX inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). The inhibition of this NADPH-dependent reduction of DHF by MTX-Glun in the absence or presence of ascorbate, was determined by analytical isotachophoresis. Using 0.01 M HCl/histidine, pH 6.0, as a leading electrolyte (L) and 0.005 M 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES)/histidine, pH 6.0, as a terminating electrolyte (T), MTX-Glun derivatives including MTX-Glu1 could be easily separated, whereas the quantitative estimation of THF was not possible. A quantitative characterization of the DHFR reaction by measuring NADPH, NADP+ and ascorbate was achieved with another system (L: 0.01 M HCI/beta-alanine, pH 3.73; T: 0.01 M caproic acid, pH 3.27). Nanomolar concentrations of MTX-Glu1-5 inhibited consumption of NADPH and production of NADP+. Ascorbic acid was not able to reduce DHF, neither directly nor after inhibition of DHFR by MTX. However, ascorbic acid seemed to diminish the oxidation of THF and this may account for its capacity to reduce the inhibitory effect of MTX on MOLT-4 cells.     

Identification of irradiated foods by monitoring radiolytically produced hydrocarbons

Many countries allow the treatment of foods with low doses of ionizing radiation to reduce microbial and insect infestations, inhibit maturation, and extend shelf life. Therefore, a reliable method is needed to identify irradiated foods and to determine their compliance with respect to allowable absorbed radiation dose. Several approaches for the identification of irradiated foods have been developed such as measurement of radiolytic products, chemiluminescence, and thermoluminescence, and the use of electron spin resonance spectroscopy to measure free radicals trapped in bone. A method for the determination of radiolytically produced hydrocarbons was developed in our laboratory to evaluate the utility of monitoring these compounds as indicators of food irradiation. The method involves the extraction of the radiolytic hydrocarbons from foods and their quantitation by gas chromatography. Concentrations of the radiolytically produced hydrocarbons increased linearly with radiation doses ranging from 0 to 6 kGy. The limit of detection appears to be approximately 1 kGy. The method was found to be useful for the identification of gamma-irradiated foods such as shrimp, frog legs, pork, beef, and poultry. Results of the method evaluation studies of these food matrices as well as factors affecting hydrocarbon production and determination will be presented.     

Photodegradation of a 1,3,4-thiadiazole-urea herbicide. Isolation,characterization, X-ray crystal structure and synthesis of photoproducts

The photodegradation of 1,3-dimethyl-1-(2-(3-fluorobenzylthio)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-5-yl)urea as a thin film and in solution is described. The two photoproducts from thin-film photolysis were characterized by spectral and synthetic methods. The X-ray crystal structure of one of the photoproducts is also reported. The rearrangements were shown to involve an S-to-N benzyl migration, followed by a sulfur-oxygen substitution.     

Can colloidal particles flocculate at two energy minima simultaneously in a quiescent medium?

The effect of electrostatic repulsion forces on the gravity-induced flocculation of non-Brownian particles in a quiescent medium is analyzed, and the phenomenon that colloidal particles can simultaneously flocculate at both the primary minimum and the secondary minimum of the total interaction curve of DLVO theory is proved. A narrow strip region describing this "combined" flocculation behavior exists on the stability diagram, and the concept of a limiting trajectory can be applied to explain this interesting result.     

Vanadium determination in rat tissues and biological reference materials by neutron activation analysis

Vanadium was determined in adrenal gland, brain, ileum, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, myocard, skin, spleen, gonads, thyroid, and tibia of rats fed with normal diet and exposed to high vanadium doses in drinking water. Both radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) were employed. The RNAA procedure consisted in dry ashing samples prior to irradiation and vanadium separation from the irradiated samples by extraction with N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine (BPHA) in toluene from 5 mol·l^–1 HCl. Vanadium accumulation as a function of a type of the tissue, exposure time, sex of rats, and administration of V(IV) or V(V) was studied. For quality assurance purposes, the biological (standard) reference materials NBS SRM 1571 Orchard Leaves, NBS SRM 1577a Bovine Liver, IAEA H-4 Animal muscle, and Bowen's Kale were analyzed.Presented at the 2nd Balkan Conference on Activation Analysis and Nuclear-Related Analytical Techniques, Bled, 4–6 October, 1989.     

Structure—activity relationships for <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> oxime reactivation of chlorpyrifos-inhibited acetylcholinesterase

Organophosphorus pesticides parathion, chlorpyrifos, and malathion inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) via phosphorylation of its active site. AChE reactivators and anticholinergics are compounds used as antidotes in the case of intoxication by these AChE inhibitors. In this work, chlorpyrifos, a representative member of this pesticide family, was used to inhibit the AChE activity of rat brain. The effect of twenty-one structurally different AChE reactivators was tested in vitro and subsequently, the relationship between their chemical structure and biological activity was outlined.     

Influence of oxygen concentration on optical properties of semi-insulating polycrystalline silicon films

Optical properties of semi-insulating polycrystalline silicon (SIPOS) films were investigated over the wide region of wavelengths. The vibrational modes of Si-O-Si and Si-Si bonds were studied by IR and Raman spectroscopy. A pronounced effect of oxygen content on the measured spectra was observed. Optical constants of SIPOS films have been compared with those of amorphous silicon and glassy silicon dioxide and their values have been successfully interpreted in terms of the theory of effective medium. The results have shown that the amorphous character prevails in the as-deposited SIPOS films.