Direct determination of estriol 3- and 16-glucuronides in pregnancy urine by column-switching liquid chromatography with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Using column-switching liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we developed an improved analytical method of urinary estriol glucuronides. This new method is derived predominantly from maternal and fetal precursors in pregnancy. We used in the following procedure: first, we filtered urine samples with a membrane filter. Next, we directly injected the 50 microL aliquot of urine samples onto a pre-column. Then, after activating the column-switching valve, we backflushed the loaded samples onto the C(18) analytical column. Urine samples can be assayed within 20 min without any sample preparation steps. We monitored separated estriol glucuronides by negative electrospray ionization (ESI) and selected-reaction monitoring (SRM). The calibration range of estriol-3-glucuronide (E3-3G) and estriol-16-glucuronide (E3-16G) was 0.1-20 microg/mL and the linearity of the method was 0.9984 for E3-3G and 0.9987 for E3-16G. The limits of detection at a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 3 were 10 ng/mL (E3-3G) and 5 ng/mL (E3-16G). The analytical recovery was over 85% and, in general, inter-day and intra-day variability for precision and accuracy were less than 10%. When applied to a pregnancy urine sample to biomedical monitoring of the function of the maternal/fetal unit, the proposed method allowed rapid and sensitive screening for the detection of E3-3G and E3-16G.     

Azinoiminophosphorane mediated synthesis of 5H, 7H‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐c][1,3]benzoxazepin‐7‐ones and 6H,8H‐1,2,4‐triazolo‐[1,5‐c][1,3]oxazepin‐6‐ones

The aza‐Wittig reactions of benzophenone‐, acetophenone‐ and benzaldehyde l‐[(triphenylphosphoranyl‐idene)amino]ethylidenehydrazones (4) with phthalic anhydride, 2,3‐dimethylmaleic anhydride and 7‐oxabi‐cyclo[2,2,l]hept‐5‐ene‐2,3‐dicarboxylic anhydride ( 5a ) provide a new route to 5H,7H‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐c]‐[1,3]benzoxazepin‐7‐ones 8a‐c or 6H,8H‐1,2,4‐triazolo[1,5‐c][1,3]oxazepin‐6‐ones 8d‐h via the thermal reaction of the expected azinoimine lactones 6 .     

Oligothiophene isocyanides for platinum-based molecular electronic applications

Understanding molecular orientation on a metal surface is key to designing molecular electronic device junctions. Though platinum device electrodes are of particular interest as a more stable alternative to the often used gold electrodes, the chemisorption of conducting molecules onto platinum surfaces has not been thoroughly studied. We present herein the first detailed study of the ability and manner in which soluble oligothiophene isocyanides, of lengths ranging from 2 to 7 nm, chemisorb onto platinum surfaces and nanoparticles. It was found that these oligothiophene isocyanides stand at a 41 degrees angle from the platinum surface normal, suggesting their applicability in molecule-bridged platinum electrode devices.     

On the classification of simple vertex operator algebras

Inspired by a recent work of Frenkel-Zhu, we study a class of (pre-)vertex operator algebras (voa) associated to the self-dual Lie algebras. Based on a few elementary structural results we propose thatV, the category of Z₊-graded prevoasV in whichV[0] is one-dimensional, is a proper setting in which to study and classify simple objects. The categoryV is organized into what we call the minimalk ^th types. We introduce a functor —which we call the Frenkel-Lepowsky-Meurman functor—that attaches to each object inV a Lie algebra. This is a key idea which leads us to a (relative) classification of thesimple minimal first type. We then study the set of all Virasoro structures on a fixed minimal first typeV, and show that they are in turn classified by the orbits of the automorphism group Aut((V)) in cent((V)). Many new examples of voas are given. Finally, we introduce a generalized Kac-Casimir operator and give a simple proof of the irreducibility of the prolongation modules over the affine Lie algebras.     

In situ disorder-order transformation in synthetic gallosilicate zeolites with the NAT topology

Here, we report that synthetic gallosilicate molecular sieves with the NAT topology and Si/Ga ratios close to but slightly higher than 1.50 undergo an in situ transformation under their crystallization conditions. The materials have been studied ex situ by using powder X-ray diffraction, elemental and thermal analyses, and multinuclear MAS NMR. The transformation is characterized by a change in the distribution of Si and Ga of the NAT framework, from a quite (but not completely) disordered phase to a very highly (but not completely) ordered one, accompanied by a change from tetragonal to orthorhombic symmetry. During most of the solution-mediated transformation, no noticeable signs of fresh precipitation, phase segregation, or changes in the chemical composition are detected. Intermediate materials show variations in the degree of Si-Ga ordering and orthorhombic distortion and are not physical mixtures of the disordered and ordered phases. Ab initio calculations strongly suggest a preferential siting of Si in the tetrahedral sites involved in a smaller number of 4-rings in the NAT topology (i.e., the low multiplicity site). The cost of violations of Loewenstein's rule has also been calculated. For this topology and chemical composition the preferential siting and Loewenstein's rule drive together the system to the ordered configuration. A Monte Carlo sampling procedure affords a reasonable model for the initial, mainly disordered state, which fits well within the experimental disorder-order series.     

Syntheses of 1beta-methylcarbapenems bearing 5-methyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidinone

A new series of 1beta-methylcarbapenems 1a-d bearing 5-methyl-4-mercaptopyrrolidinone rings has been prepared and evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity and pharmacokinetic parameters. Most compounds showed excellent antibacterial activity and high stability to dehydropeptidase-1. We have synthesized optically active 5-methyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidinones from enantiomerically pure aziridine esters.     

Integral equation theory for two-dimensional polymer melts

The polymer reference interaction site model theory is investigated for two-dimensional polymer melts composed of freely-jointed hard disk chains and tangent-disk rods. Exact results for the intramolecular pair correlation functions are input into the theory, and predictions of the theory for the intermolecular pair correlation functions are tested via comparison with simulation. The theory is not as accurate for this system as it is for three-dimensional polymer melts, and the quantitative predictions are not good except at the highest area fractions. Possible reasons for the deficiency in the theory are discussed.