When is a -block?

Let and be distinct prime numbers and let be a finite group. If is a -block of and is a -block, we study when the set of ordinary irreducible characters in the blocks and coincide.

     

A gravimetric study of water vapour sorption on hydrated cement pastes

To study the pore structure of hardened cement pastes water vapour sorption isotherms are measured in a gravimetric way. The accuracy appeared to be restricted by water vapour effects on the balance (a Cahn 2000 micro balance) and by the employed type of secondary fulcra. It takes several days before the total amount of water vapour is adsorbed or desorbed when the vapour pressure is changed. Therefore a method of extrapolation is employed to calculate the equilibrium amount from the course of the mass change with time.     

A method for the determination of some organophosphorus insecticides in human serum

Summary A simple and rapid method for the determination of organophosphorus insecticides in serum of poisoned patients is described. The compounds are extracted with benzene and the extraction residue is gas chromatographed on a glass capillary column with alkali flame ionisation detection. Concentrations from 2 ng cm⁻³ can be determined. As an example, results of the analysis of serum samples of three patients, poisoned with parathion and methylparation, are given.     

Motuporamines, anti-invasion and anti-angiogenic alkaloids from the marine sponge Xestospongia exigua (Kirkpatrick): isolation, structure elucidation, analogue synthesis, and conformational analysis.

Extracts of the sponge Xestospongia exigua collected in Papua New Guinea were positive in a new assay for anti-invasion activity. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the identification of the three known motuporamines A (1), B (2), and C (3) along with the new motuporamines D (4), E (5), and F (6) and a mixture of G, H, and I (15). Motuporamines A (1), B (2), and C (3) and the mixture of G, H, and I (15) were responsible for the anti-invasion activity of the crude extract. Motuporamine C (3) has also been found to be anti-angiogenic. A series of analogues of the motuporamines have been synthesized and evaluated for anti-invasive activity. These SAR results revealed that a saturated 15-membered cyclic amine fused to the natural motuporamine diamine side chain (13) represented the optimal structure for anti-invasive activity in this family. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of one of the analogues 20 showed that in the solid state its 16-membered macrocyclic amine fragment adopted the [4444] quadrangular conformation predicted by calculations to be the lowest energy conformation for the corresponding cycloalkane, cyclohexadecane. These data along with literature X-ray data and conformational analysis for derivatives of azacyclotridecane have been used as precedents for predicting the lowest energy ring conformations of other motuporamines. The SAR data from the natural and synthetic motuporamines have been combined with the conformational analyses to provide an outline of the functionality and shape required for activity in this family of alkaloids and to design a new analogue 49 that showed good anti-invasion activity.     

(Zr6B)Cl11-xI2+x] (0< or = x < or = 6): a new mixed-halide structure with zigzag cains of clusters in multiply twinned crystals

The new [(Zr6B)Cl11-xI2+x] phase (with 0 < or = x < or = 6) is obtained from reactions of ZrI4, ZrCl4, and elemental Zr and B for 2-4 weeks in sealed Ta tubing at 800-850 degrees C. Single crystals of [(Zr6B)Cl6.44(7)I6.56] have been characterized by X-ray diffraction at room temperature (orthorhombic Pbcn, Z = 4, a = 12.365(2) A, b = 15.485(3) A, c = 13.405(2) A). This structure contains zigzag chains of boron-centered (Zr6B) octahedra that are interconnected by Cl(i-i) halides. Further three-dimensional connectivity is achieved by I(a-a-a) bridges. The noncluster interconnecting two-bonded X(i) sites are occupied statistically by a mixture of Cl and I. For each site both positions were resolved. This structure forms within a phase width of 0 < or = x < or = 6 at temperatures between 800 and 850 degrees C. Crystals of this phase appear to be always multiply twinned.     

The synthesis of alkaloids of the ergotoxin group. 70. Section on ergot alkaloids

The syntheses of the alkaloids of the ergotoxine-group i.e. ergocristine, α- and β-ergokryptine, and ergocornine, are described. Using starting material with known stereochemistry these syntheses allowed to determine the absolute configurations also at C-2′ and C-12′ in the peptide part, which could not be derived from analytical data. All ergot alkaloids of the peptide type possess the same stereochemical structure.     

Solvothermal Synthesis and Crystal Structures of Alkali Molybdates

Within the frame of systematic morphological studies concerning the solvothermal formation of nanoscale and microscale molybdenum oxides from the interaction of a molybdenum‐based precursor such as MoO₃⋅2 H₂O with ionic additives such as alkali and earth alkali halides, we studied – with the aim to elaborate preparative guidelines – the influence of the precursor structure and the alkali halide upon the crystal structure of the emerging alkali polymolybdates in terms of solvothermal fields and high‐throughput solvothermal techniques. The discussion of the resulting crystal structures revealed a structure‐directing potential of the alkali cations that was explored for the synthesis of new mixed alkali polymolybdates.     

Development of a novel high-throughput assay for the investigation of GlyT-1b neurotransmitter transporter function

The glycine transporter (GlyT-1b) is a Na(+)/Cl(-)-dependent electrogenic transporter which mediates the rapid re-uptake of glycine from the synaptic cleft. Based on its tissue distribution, GlyT-1 has been suggested to co-localise with the NMDA receptor where it may modulate the concentration of glycine at its co-agonist binding site. This data has led to GlyT-1 inhibitors being proposed as targets for disorders such as schizophrenia and cognitive dysfunction. Radiolabelled uptake assays (e.g. [(3)H]glycine) have been traditionally used in compound screening to identify glycine transporter inhibitors. While such an assay format is useful for testing limited numbers of compounds, the identification of novel glycine uptake inhibitors requires a functional assay compatible with high-throughput screening (HTS) of large compound libraries. Here, the authors present the development of a novel homogenous cell-based assay using the FLIPR membrane potential blue dye (Molecular Devices) and FLEXstation. Pharmacological data for the GlyT-1 inhibitors Org 24598 and ALX 5407 obtained using this novel electrogenic assay correlated well with the conventional [(3)H]-glycine uptake assay format. Furthermore, the assay has been successfully miniaturised using FLIPR(3) and therefore has the potential to be used for high-throughput screening.