Colored pI standards and gel isoelectric focusing in strongly acidic pH

Colored, low molecular weight pI markers have been developed for isoelectric focusing (IEF) in acidic pH range. Their isoelectric points (pIs) were determined by direct measurement of the pH of the focused bands after completion of IEF on polyacrylamide gels. The practicable suitability of the proposed pI markers as pI standards for IEF was tested by applying gel IEF. The acidic pH gradient was created either by commercial synthetic carrier ampholytes or by mixture of simple buffers consisting of acids (non-ampholytes) and ampholytic buffers. By applying simple acids, it was possible to extend the acidic pH range beyond those achievable with commercial synthetic carrier ampholytes. By using an experimental arrangement without electrode electrolyte reservoirs with electrodes creating the fixed end of the gel, the strongly acidic pH gradient was stable even for prolonged focusing time.     

Magnetic poly(glycidyl methacrylate) particles prepared in the presence of surface‐modified γ‐Fe2O3

Maghemite (γ‐Fe₂O₃) colloid has been synthesized by coprecipitation of ferrous and ferric salts in alkaline medium and oxidation. The obtained nanoparticles were complexed with a phosphate macromonomer—penta(propylene glycol) methacrylate phosphate (PPGMAP). Complexes with the weight ratio PPGMAP/γ‐Fe₂O₃ 0.01–10 were investigated using a range of characterization methods. The amount of PPGMAP attached to the particles was about 22 wt %. The size and size distribution of the γ‐Fe₂O₃ core particles in the dry state was measured by TEM. To complete the TEM images, the hydrodynamic size of the nanoparticles including polymer shell and the maghemite core was determined by DLS measurements in toluene. Magnetic poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) nanospheres were obtained by Kraton G 1650‐stabilized and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile‐initiated polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) in toluene or toluene/cyclohexane mixture in the presence of PPGMAP‐coated γ‐Fe₂O₃ colloid. The effect of Kraton G 1650 concentration on the morphology, PGMA nanosphere size and polydispersity was investigated. The particles were characterized also by both thermogravimetric analysis and magnetic measurements. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4982–4994, 2009     

Radiolysis of oxalic and citric acids using gamma rays and accelerated electrons

The radiation technique was tested as a method for degradation of organic complexants in spent decontamination solutions. Aqueous solutions containing oxalic and/or citric acid were irradiated under different conditions. Kinetics of radiolysis of both acids was studied; the effects of various parameters, presence of inorganic ions and saturation by various gases on their degradation were investigated. Results show that irradiation leads to a sufficient degree of removal of both acids from the solution.     

Whole genome amplification induced bias in the detection of KRAS‐mutated cell populations during colorectal carcinoma tissue testing

Whole genome amplification replicates the entire DNA content of a sample and can thus help to circumvent material limitations when insufficient DNA is available for planned genetic analyses. However, there are conflicting data in the literature whether whole genome amplification introduces bias or reflects precisely the spectrum of starting DNA. We analyzed the origins of discrepancies in KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog gene) mutation detection in six of ten samples amplified using the GenomePlex® Tissue Whole Genome Amplification kit 5 (WGA5; Sigma‐Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) and KRAS StripAssay® (KRAS SA; ViennaLab Diagnostics, Vienna, Austria). We undertook reextraction, reamplification, retyping, authentication, reanalysis, and reinterpretation to determine whether the discrepancies originated during the preanalytical, analytical, and/or interpretative phase of genotyping. We conclude that a combination of glass slide/sample heterogeneity and biased amplification due to stochastic effects in the early phases of whole genome amplification (WGA) may have adversely affected the results obtained. Our findings are relevant for both forensic genetics testing and massively parallel sequencing using preamplification.     

A stereoselective total synthesis of the HCl salts of mycestericins F,G and ent-F

The total synthesis of the HCl salts of two natural sphingolipid-related amino acid derivatives, mycestericins F 4 and G 5 together with unnatural ent-4·HCl, starting from the four crucial scaffolds 6, 8, 9, 11 and utilizing the Wittig reaction to build the C₂₀ backbone, has been achieved. The selection of selective functional group interconversions accompanied with suitable protection–deprotection protocols in the coupling products 20 and 34 gave the desired structures.     

Reduction of silver ions to silver with polyaniline/poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogels and aerogels

The macroporous conducting polymer cryogels were prepared by the oxidation of aniline hydrochloride in the frozen aqueous solutions of poly(vinyl alcohol) at ? 24 °C. Corresponding polyaniline aerogels supported with poly(vinyl alcohol) have been obtained after thawing of cryogels followed by freeze-drying. Silver was deposited on the composites using the ability of polyaniline to reduce silver ions after the immersion in silver nitrate solutions. Swollen cryogels were coated only on the surface with macroscopic silver particles due to the closed-pore structure in cryogels and limited penetration of silver ions into macropores. The diffusion of silver ions to freeze-dried aerogels was better and further improved by vacuum treatment. Silver microcubes were produced in the pores, the weight fraction of silver in dry composites being typically several per cent, a maximum 13 wt%. The conductivity of the aerogels compressed to pellets depended on the processing and the highest value was 0.27 S cm^?1. The aerogels containing silver were characterized in detail with Raman spectroscopy.     

Effect of oxidant on electronic transport in polypyrrole nanotubes synthesized in the presence of methyl orange

Polypyrrole nanotubes with diameter 60–400 nm are synthesized with methyl orange as template and various oxidants, iron(III) chloride hexahydrate, iron(III) sulfate hydrate, and ammonium peroxydisulfate. The highest electrical conductivity of compressed pellets, 66 S cm^?1, is found for iron(III) chloride. Regions with 3D variable range hopping in series with ordered regions near metal–insulator transition govern the charge transport. Other oxidants and globular morphology provide less conducting samples, <10 S cm^?1. The transport mechanism is identified with the heterogeneous model of tunneling between (bi)polaronic clusters with parallel contribution of Arrhenius‐like activated conductivity. The results of conductivity are correlated with the protonation level reflected in the infrared spectra and with the ratio of bipolaron/polaron bands revealed by Raman spectroscopy. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1147–1159     

A convenient approach to an advanced intermediate for (+)-lactacystin synthesis

A fully stereoselective preparation of the advanced intermediate 24 for the synthesis of (+)-lactacystin from known 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-gulofuranose (2), as the source of chirality, has been achieved. The C-5 methyl group was introduced via a Wittig olefination followed by Pd/C-mediated hydrogenation of the conformationally restricted alkene 11 in a highly stereoselective manner. The stereogenic tetrasubstituted carbon centre at C-3, with an amino group, was installed stereoselectively via an Overman rearrangement, which was efficiently controlled by a saccharide environment.     

Determination of bromadiolone in pheasants and foxes by differential pulse voltammetry

Bromadiolone, a commercially used anticoagulant rodenticide, was determined in tissues of various animals by differential pulse voltammetry with a carbon-paste electrode. Under the most suitable experimental conditions (step potential of 25?mV?s^?1 and 0.2?mol?L^?1 acetate buffer, pH 4.2), the limit of detection was 0.5?ng?mL^?1. The electroanalytical method was consequently used to investigate the bromadiolone transport within the food chain. Pheasants were exposed to bromadiolone and then used as feed for a fox. The average levels were 528 and 198?ng of bromadiolone per gram of fresh weight of liver of pheasant and fox, respectively. Due to the surprisingly lower content of bromadiolone in the latter, a basic biochemical analysis, particularly blood coagulation, was performed. Among the parameters studied (thrombin time, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and fibrinogen), there was prolongation of the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time.     

On the Roter Type of Chen Ideal Submanifolds

Chen ideal submanifolds M ⁿ in Euclidean ambient spaces E ^n+m (of arbitrary dimensions n ?? 2 and codimensions m??? 1) at each of their points do realise an optimal equality between their squared mean curvature, which is their main extrinsic scalar valued curvature invariant, and their ???C(= ??(2)?C) curvature of Chen, which is one of their main intrinsic scalar valued curvature invariants. From a geometric point of view, the pseudo-symmetric Riemannian manifolds can be seen as the most natural symmetric spaces after the real space forms, i.e. the spaces of constant Riemannian sectional curvature. From an algebraic point of view, the Roter manifolds can be seen as the Riemannian manifolds whose Riemann?CChristoffel curvature tensor R has the most simple expression after the real space forms, the latter ones being characterisable as the Riemannian spaces (M ⁿ , g) for which the (0, 4) tensor R is proportional to the Nomizu?CKulkarni square of their (0, 2) metric tensor g. In the present article, for the class of the Chen ideal submanifolds M ⁿ of Euclidean spaces E ^n+m , we study the relationship between these geometric and algebraic generalisations of the real space forms.