FLUORESCENCE PROPERTIES OF PORPHYRIN-GLOBIN FROM HUMAN HEMOGLOBIN

Fluorescence excitation and emission spectra, decays, and quantum yields are reported for the porphyrin-globin of hemoglobin (Hb^desFe) in aqueous solution of pH 8, at 4°C. A very weak fluorescence was observed in the UV (maximum at 334 nm), due to tryptophan and tyrosine residues, in addition to the strong porphyrin emission in the visible (maxima at 624 and 692 nm) reported previously. The absorption and fluorescence properties of the porphyrins of Hb^desFe were compared to those for free porphyrin in organic solvents and in aqueous solution. The close similarity of the fluorescence decays and quantum yields in Hb^desFe and in solution indicate the absence of stronger, specific porphyrin-protein interactions; however, slight spectral shifts point to the existence of water molecules in the Hb^desFe porphyrin environment. The fluorescence study also demonstrates the existence of efficient Trp-porphyrin energy transfer of Förster type. The extent of transfer is in satisfactory agreement with the value expected from crystallographic data for hemoglobin. The results are discussed and compared to previous fluorescence studies of hemoglobin and apohemoglobin. An improved method for the preparation of Hb^desFe is reported.     

Über Münzmetall‐Quecksilber‐Chalkogenidhalogenide. IV1) Hydrothermalsynthese und Kristallstruktur von CuHgSI und CuHg2S2I

On Coinage Metal Mercury Chalcogenide Halides. IV Hydrothermal Synthesis and Crystal Structure of CuHgSI and CuHg₂S₂I The hydrothermal reaction of CuI with α‐HgS in diluted aqueous HI‐solution as solvent at 180 °C yields dark red crystals of CuHgSI. The compound crystallizes orthorhombic in the space group Pna2₁ with a = 718.3(1) pm, b = 834.3(2) pm and c = 698.9(1) pm and Z = 4. CuHg₂S₂I was obtained by the hydrothermal reaction of CuI with α‐HgS in diluted HI‐solution at 300 °C as black crystals. The compound crystallizes orthorhombic in the space group Cmc2₁ with a = 1261.8(3) pm, b = 722.4(1) pm and c = 693.7(1) pm and Z = 4. Both crystal structures could be explained as distorted version of the Wurtzite structure type in which two different types of anion‐lattices are built up.     

α‐Tris(2,4‐pentanedionato‐κ2O,O′)cobalt(III) at 240, 210, 180, 150 and 110 K

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Co(C₅H₇O₂)₃], has been investigated by a multi‐temperature measurement. In contrast to the isomorphous Al compound, the title compound exists in the studied temperature range as its monoclinic α polymorph (space group P2₁/c) and does not undergo a phase transition. Rigid‐body TLS analyses have been performed and the anisotropic thermal expansion tensor α_ij has been determined. The cell axes show a linear expansion behavior with respect to the temperature, but the slope is significantly different. A possible explanation are the different strengths of different intermolecular C—H...O contacts, which run in different crystallographic directions.     

Traceability and its role in interlaboratory comparisons (proficiency testing programmes), modeled on trace element determination in biological materials

 Traceability is not always evident in proficiency testing programs, although this is a requirement in ISO/IEC Guide 43-1. The assigned, or "true", value in most programs is not traceable to an independent entity. The test materials should generally be similar in nature to those routinely tested by participating laboratories. This is far from always the case and it is important to realize that if the difference is large, there may be no traceability to the testing program. It is also important that results from participation in proficiency tests are cited when papers are published, in order to enhance reliability/credibility of the published data.

     

Ultrafast excited-state dynamics of adenine and monomethylated adenines in solution: implications for the nonradiative decay mechanism

The DNA base adenine and four monomethylated adenines were studied in solution at room temperature by femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. Transient absorption at visible probe wavelengths was used to directly observe relaxation of the lowest excited singlet state (S(1) state) populated by a UV pump pulse. In H(2)O, transient absorption signals from adenine decay biexponentially with lifetimes of 0.18 +/- 0.03 ps and 8.8 +/- 1.2 ps. In contrast, signals from monomethylated adenines decay monoexponentially. The S(1) lifetimes of 1-, 3-, and 9-methyladenine are similar to one another and are all below 300 fs, while 7-methyladenine has a significantly longer lifetime (tau = 4.23 +/- 0.13 ps). On this basis, the biexponential signal of adenine is assigned to an equilibrium mixture of the 7H- and 9H-amino tautomers. Excited-state absorption (ESA) by 9-methyladenine is 50% stronger than by 7-methyladenine. Assuming that ESA by the corresponding tautomers of adenine is unchanged, we estimate the population of 7H-adenine in H(2)O at room temperature to be 22 +/- 4% (estimated standard deviation). To understand how the environment affects nonradiative decay, we performed the first solvent-dependent study of nucleobase dynamics on the ultrafast time scale. In acetonitrile, both lowest energy tautomers of adenine are present in roughly similar proportions as in water. The lifetimes of the 9-substituted adenines depend somewhat more sensitively on the solvent than those of the 7-substituted adenines. Transient signals for adenine in H(2)O and D(2)O are identical. These solvent effects strongly suggest that excited-state tautomerization is not an important nonradiative decay pathway. Instead, the data are most consistent with electronic energy relaxation due to state crossings between the optically prepared (1)pipi* state and one or more (1)npi* states and the electronic ground state. The pattern of lifetimes measured for the monomethylated adenines suggests a special role for the (1)npi* state associated with the N7 electron lone pair.     

Der erste Polyiodokomplex – Triethylsulfoniumtriiodomercurat(II)-tris(diiod), (Et3S)[Hg2I6]1/2 · 3 I2

The First Polyiodo Complex – Triethylsulfoniumtriiodomercurate(II)-tris(diiodine), (Et₃S)[Hg₂I₆]_1/2 · 3 I₂ After Raman spectroscopic investigation of the system HgI₂/Et₃SI_x, x = 3, 5, 7, triethylsulfoniumtriiodomercuratetris(diiodine), (Et₃S)[Hg₂I₆]_1/2 · 3 I₂ was synthesized by reacting of HgI₂ and liquid Et₃SI₇. The compound crystallizes at room temperature triclinically in the space group P1 with a = 879.4(7), b = 1 209.1(5), c = 1 291.5(5) pm, α = 96.16(3)°, β = 103.82(6)°, γ = 99.05(5)° and Z = 2. The crystal structure is composed of disordered Et₃S⁺ cations, the centrosymmetric complex anion [HgI_2/2I₂]₂^2? and three connecting iodine molecules I₂.     

Weighted proximity search

Journal of Heuristics - Proximity search is an iterative method to solve complex mathematical programming problems. At each iteration, the objective function of the problem at hand is replaced by...     

The use of polymeric amines to enhance the mechanical properties of lignocellulosic fibrous networks

Cationic polyelectrolytes (polyallylamine and polyvinylamine with different molecular masses) were adsorbed onto lignocellulosic fibres from unbleached and unbeaten spruce chemical fibres with different kappa numbers to investigate the effects on the mechanical properties of the final paper materials. Adsorption isotherms were first established to determine the maximum quantity of polymer that could be adsorbed onto each type of fibre. Paper sheets were then made with different amounts of added polyelectrolyte, and the structural and mechanical properties of the sheets were investigated, as well as the effect of an extra heating. The use of fibres with different kappa numbers led to different responses in terms of adsorption, and thus to differences in the mechanical properties of the resulting sheets. The tensile strength index was significantly increased (almost 50 % improvement in the best case) as a consequence of this polyelectrolyte adsorption onto the fibres, even at as low an adsorption level as 2 mg/g. The heating of paper sheets for 10 min at 160 °C was also shown to improve the tensile strength index by about 10 % for pulps with high kappa number.     

Hexaphenylditetrels – When Longer Bonds Provide Higher Stability

We present a computational analysis of hexaphenylethane derivatives with heavier tetrels comprising the central bond. In stark contrast to parent hexaphenylethane, the heavier tetrel derivatives can readily be prepared. In order to determine the origin of their apparent thermodynamic stability against dissociation as compared to the carbon case, we employed local energy decomposition analysis (LED) and symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) at the DLPNO-CCSD(T)/def2-TZVP and sSAPT0/def2-TZVP levels of theory. We identified London dispersion (LD) interactions as the decisive factor for the molecular stability of heavier tetrel derivatives. This stability is made possible owing to the longer (than C−C) central bonds that move the phenyl groups out of the heavily repulsive regime so they can optimally benefit from LD interactions.     

Calculation of the vibration–rotational transition intensities of water molecules trapped in an argon matrix: stretching O–H vibrations spectral region

The frequencies and intensities of vibration–rotational transitions of water molecules in an argon matrix were calculated for temperatures of 6 and 30 K. The rigid asymmetric top approximation was used with available literature values of the effective rotational constants in the ground and excited vibrational states. The calculations were carried out by taking into account the existence of a non-equilibrium population distribution between the rotational levels of ortho- and para-water isomers. It was assumed that the temperature relaxation of the population of rotational levels is independent of the ortho- and para-isomers. Comparison of the results of the theoretical calculations with experimental literature data shows good agreement for the majority of the rotational structure lines for symmetric and antisymmetric stretching vibrations both in the frequency values and in the values of the relative intensities.