Magnetic and structural properties of Cr1−tTitAs

The pseudobinary CrAsTiAs system has been investigated by X-ray and neutron diffraction and magnetic susceptibility measurements at temperatures between 10 and 1000 K. The phase diagram includes paramagnetic regions with the MnP-, NiAs-, and TiP-type structures and a low-temperature helimagnetic, MnP-type state for0.00 ≦ t ≦ 0.10 of Cr_1?tTi_tAs. The first-order para- to helimagnetic transition in Cr_1?tTi_tAs is accompanied by a hysteresis of 10–15 K. The results are discussed in relation to the findings for other Cr_1?tT_tAs(T =V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) andCrAs_1?xX_x (X = P, Sb, Se) phases.     

Homo- and hetero-nuclear chromium(III) complexes with natural ligands. Part 2. Oxo- and hydroxo-bridged chromium(III)/vanadium(V) species

Six new heteropolynuclear chromium(III)/vanadium(V) complexes with natural ligands: glycine, glutaminic, nicotinic and asparginic acids, have been isolated and physicochemically characterised. The complexes have been analysed using spectroscopic (diffuse reflectance u.v.–vis., i.r.), magnetic methods and by FAB mass spectra. Spectral analyses with the digital filter and band deconvolution methods are presented. Additionally, preliminary toxicity studies have been performed.     

Environmental effects on a prion's helix II domain: copper(II) and membrane interactions with PrP180-193 and its analogues

An abnormal interaction between copper and the prion protein is believed to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. Copper binding has been mainly attributed to the N-terminal domain of the prion protein, but this hypothesis has recently been challenged in some papers which suggest that the C-terminal domain might also compete for metal anchoring. In particular, the segment corresponding to the helix II region of the prion protein, namely PrP180-193, has been shown both to bind copper and to exhibit a copper-enhanced cytotoxicity, as well as to interact with artificial membranes. The present work is aimed at extending these results by choosing the most representative model of this domain and by determining its copper affinity. With this aim, the different role played by the electrostatic properties of the C- and N-termini of PrP180-193 (VNITIKQHTVTTTT) in determining its conformational behaviour, copper coordination and ability to perturb model membranes was investigated. Owing to the low solubility of PrP180-193, its copper affinity was evaluated by using the shorter PrPAc184-188NH2 (IKQHT) analogue as a model. ESI-MS, ESR, UV/Vis, and CD measurements were carried out on the copper(II)/PrPAc184-188NH2 and copper(II)/PrP180-193NH2 systems, and showed that PrPAc184-188NH2 is a reliable model for the metal interaction with the helix II domain. The affinity of copper(II) for the helix II fragment is higher than that for the octarepeat and PrP106-126 peptides. Finally, the different ability of PrP180-193 analogues to perturb the DPPC model membrane was assessed by DSC measurements. The possible biological consequences of these findings are also discussed briefly.     

A note on debye potentials for spherically gyrotropic media

The Debye potentials are generalized to the case of electromagnetic fields in spherically gyrotropic media. A medium is called spherically gyrotropic if it is locally gyrotropic with the distinguished axis having a radial direction determined by a central point. Expressions for electromagnetic fields in terms of the generalized potentials are presented and the system of differential equations for the potentials is derived. The results are summarized in the form of a theorem. Basic facts about the Debye potentials in isotropic media are recalled.     

Microgravimetric Investigations of High-Temperature Superconductors

It has been confirmed that, in oxide superconductors, the superconducting transition temperature T_c depends strongly on the oxygen content and oxygen ordering. The microgravimetric method is very useful in the analysis of oxide superconductors, because it allows investigations in vacuum and controlled environments in classical applications: thermogravimetric analysis, kinetics and thermodynamics of reaction, determination of oxygen contents in redox reactions, investigations of the correlation of the deviation from stoichiometry and carrier concentration and also the combined measurement of mass and additional parameters, e.g. evolved gas analysis, etc. Selected papers are reviewed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Solubility of Solid 2,3-Dimethylbutane and Cyclopentane in Liquid Argon and Nitrogen at the Standard Boiling Points of the Solvents

The solubilities of solid 2,3-dimethylbutane and cyclopentene in liquid argon at a temperature of 87.3 K and in liquid nitrogen at 77.4 K have been measured by the filtration method. The hydrocarbon contents in solutions were determined using gas chromatography. GC–MS was used to identify impurities in solutes. The experimental value of the mole fraction solubility of solid 2,3-dimethyl-butane in liquid argon at 87.3 K is (8.26 ± 1.60) × 10^–6 and (2.77 ± 0.94) × 10^–8 in liquid nitrogen at 77.4 K. The experimental value of the mole fraction solubility of solid cyclopentene in liquid argon at 87.3 K is (5.11 ± 0.44) × 10^–6 and (4.60 ± 0.76) × 10^–8 in liquid nitrogen at 77.4 K. The Preston–Prausnitz method was used for calculation of the solubilities of solid hydrocarbons in liquid argon in the temperature range 84.0–110.0 K and in liquid nitrogen from 64.0 to 90.0 K. The solvent–solute interaction parameters l ₁₂ were also calculated. At 90.0 K liquid argon is a better solvent for investigated solid hydrocarbons than is liquid nitrogen.     

Simultaneous Determination of Cefuroxime Axetil and Cefuroxime in Pharmaceutical Preparations by Thin-Layer Chromatography and Densitometry

Summary Conditions have been established for identification and quantification of cefuroxime axetil and cefuroxime by thin-layer chromatography and densitometry. Good separation of these compounds was achieved on silica gel by use of chloroform–ethyl acetate–glacial acetic acid–water, 4:4:4:1 (v/v), as mobile phase. UV densitometry was used to detect spots on chromatograms. Under these conditions the limits of detection for cefuroxime axetil and cefuroxime were 40 ng and 30 ng, respectively. Recoveries of cefuroxime axetil and cefuroxime were 99.93% and 97.94%, respectively.     

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Ferrocenyl and Ruthenocenyl Analogues of Etoposide: Discovery of a Novel Dual Inhibitor of Topoisomerase II Activity and Tubulin Polymerization

Two series of the ferrocenyl and ruthenocenyl analogues of etoposide bearing 1,2,3-triazolyl or aminoalkyl linker were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic properties, influence on the cell cycle, ability to induce tubulin polymerization, and inhibition of topoisomerase II activity. We found that the replacement of the etoposide carbohydrate moiety with a metallocenyl group led to organometallic conjugates exhibiting differentiated antiproliferative activity. Biological studies demonstrated that two ferrocenylalkylamino conjugates were notably more active than etoposide, with submicromolar or low-micromolar IC₅₀ values towards SW620, etoposide-resistant SW620E, and methotrexate-resistant SW620M cancer cell lines. Moreover, the simplest ferrocenylmethylamino conjugate exerted dual inhibitory action against tubulin polymerization and topoisomerase II activity while other studied compounds affected only topoisomerase II activity.