Determination of molybdenum in the presence of 2-(2-benzothiazolylazo)-p-cresol by catalytic-adsorptive stripping voltammetry

The adsorptive collection of the molybdenum (VI) complexed with 2-(2-benzothiazolylazo)-p-cresol (BTAC) coupled with the catalytic current of the adsorbed complex at a static mercury drop electrode yields an ultrasensitive voltammetric procedure for the determination of molybdenum. Optimal experimental conditions were: a stirred acetate buffer 0.2 M (pH 3.5) as supporting electrolyte, a BTAC concentration of 1.0 x 10(-6) M as ligand, and a concentration of 0.1 M potassium nitrate as the oxidizing agent. In addition, a preconcentration potential of -0.080 V vs Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl), equilibration time of 15 s, a frequency of 30 Hz, a scan increment of 2 mV, a pulse amplitude of 0.050 mV, and a drop area of 0.032 cm2 were used. The cyclic voltammogram was recorded using a staircase wave with a scan rate of 100 mV/s. The forward scan starts at the initial potential of -0.080 V and is reversed at -0.90 V. Using the catalytic current at approximately -0.55 V the response to the Mo(VI) was found to be linear over a concentration range of 1.0-10.0 microg/L. The limit of detection is as low as 6.2 x 10(-10) M with 4 min of preconcentration time. The possible interference of other trace ions was investigated. The merits of this procedure are demonstrated using of reference samples.     

Study on suppressed uptake by the liver in 67Ga scintigraphy

During the past 3 years, we have performed 1525 studies of 67Ga scintigraphy and 38 cases of these showed suppressed liver uptake; 19 cases after chemotherapy, 13 cases with liver dysfunction and 6 cases with competitive blockade. Many cases in chemotherapy used cyclophosphamide and vincristine, and were performed 67Ga scan within 1 week after chemotherapy. In cases showed suppressed uptake by liver after chemotherapy, serum Fe was markedly increased and UIBC was markedly decreased (p less than 0.01). This suggested that serum Fe influenced suppressed uptake by liver more than carrier-protein, disturbed hepatic cells, and receptors.     

Adsorptive stripping voltammetric behaviour of copper complexes of some heterocyclic azo compounds

Controlled adsorptive accumulation of copper complexed with TAN, TAC, TAR and TAM (heterocyclic azo-compounds) on a static mercury drop electrode provides the basis for the direct stripping measurement of this element in the nanomolar concentration level. The ligand TAN exhibited great sensitivity and better separation of the peak current of the ligand in relation to the complex. The reduction current of adsorbed complex ions of copper is measured by linear scan cathodic stripping voltammetry, preceded by a period of accumulation of a few minutes. The peak potential is at approximately -0.37 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Optimal experimental parameters were found to be a TAN concentration of 1 x 10(-5)M, an accumulation potential of -0.22 V, and a solution pH of 3.7 (acetate buffer). The detection limit is 0.8nM after a 5-min accumulation with a stirred solution, and the response is linear up to 50 mug/l. Many common cations and anions do not interfere in the determination of copper. The interference of titanium is eliminated by addition of fluoride ion. Results are reported for a fresh water sample.     

Scanning tunneling microscope imaging of (CH3S)2 on Cu(111)

Scanning tunneling microscope (STM) images of isolated molecules of dimethyl disulfide, (CH(3)S)(2), adsorbed on the Cu(111) surface were successfully obtained at a sample temperature of 4.7 K. A (CH(3)S)(2) molecule appears as an elliptic protrusion in the STM images. From density functional theory calculation, it was suggested that the bright part in the protrusion corresponds to the molecular orbital which is widely spread around H atoms in each CH(3) group in the (CH(3)S)(2) molecule. The STM images revealed that the molecules have a total of six equivalent adsorption orientations on Cu(111), which are given by the combination of three equivalent adsorption sites and two conformational isomers for each adsorption site.     

A possible mechanism of fever induced by Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (N-CWS) in experimental animals

The characteristics of fever elicited by the cell wall skeleton of Nocardia rubra (N-CWS) and by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were compared in rabbits, and the possible involvement of the antigenicity of N-CWS was investigated in guinea pigs. In rabbits, fever of more than 0.5 degree C developed after an intravenous (i.v.) injection of 10 micrograms/kg or more of N-CWS, and was monophasic with 30-100 micrograms/kg but biphasic with the highest dose of 300 micrograms/kg. LPS elicited fever with similar characteristics at doses of 0.01-0.1 microgram/kg. With both compounds, the fever was inhibited by indomethacin. Tolerance to N-CWS and LPS appeared after dosing with 30 or 0.1 micrograms/kg, respectively for 10 d. In guinea pigs sensitized with N-CWS, challenge with 1 or 10 micrograms/kg of N-CWS 10 d later, which did not induce fever in the nonsensitized animals, caused fever of more than 0.5 degree C, and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) appeared. N-CWS also elicited fever in nonsensitized guinea pigs bearing N-CWS-sensitized lymphocytes or anti-N-CWS antibody; the fever was higher in the guinea pigs sensitized with the lymphocytes than in those with the anti-N-CWS antibody. In brief, single injections of N-CWS and of LPS elicited fever with similar characteristics, although the potency of N-CWS was weaker. With N-CWS, the fever is proposed to be triggered by the antigenicity of the compound itself, because doses as low as 1 or 10 micrograms/kg elicited fever along with immunological response in N-CWS-sensitized animals, but not in nonsensitized ones.     

Studies on polymers from cyclic dienes. XII. Cationic polymerization of spiro[2,4]hepta-4,6-diene

Polymerizations of spiro[2,4]hepta-4,6-diene were carried out with cationic initiators and Ziegler-type catalysts. This monomer polymerized very rapidly with a variety of cationic initiators, and low monomer and initiator concentrations had to be employed in order to avoid formation of crosslinked polymers. The polymer contained 1,2 and 1,4 addition units, and there was no indication of the opening of the cyclopropyl ring in the monomer unit. The following relationship was obtained: [η] = 4.5 × 10^?8M?_n^1.71. The exponential coefficient of this equation is much greater than those typical of vinyl polymers, suggesting that the polymer chain is very stiff. The polymer showed much enhanced resistance to autoxidation as compared with polycyclopentadiene, and its softening point was above 200°C. These interesting physical and chemical properties of the monomer and the polymer can be associated with their spiro structures.     

Controlled Growth of SrxBa1−xNb2O6 Hopper- and Cube-Shaped Nanostructures by Hydrothermal Synthesis

Controlling the shape and size of nanostructured materials has been a topic of interest in the field of material science for decades. In this work, the ferroelectric material Sr_xBa_1−xNb₂O₆ (x=0.32–0.82, SBN) was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis, and the morphology is controllably changed from cube-shaped to hollow-ended structures based on a fundamental understanding of the precursor chemistry. Synchrotron X-ray total scattering and PDF analysis was used to reveal the structure of the Nb-acid precursor, showing Lindqvist-like motifs. The changing growth mechanism, from layer-by-layer growth forming cubes to hopper-growth giving hollow-ended structures, is attributed to differences in supersaturation. Transmission electron microscopy revealed an inhomogeneous composition along the length of the hollow-ended particles, which is explained by preferential formation of the high entropy composition, SBN33, at the initial stages of particle nucleation and growth.     

The first stereospecific arylation of (Z)‐germyl(stannyl)ethenes with an aryl halide or heteroaryl halide under palladium‐catalysis

A combination catalyst of Pd(dba)₂‐PPh₃‐CuI‐LiCl or Pd(dba)₂‐P(2‐furyl)₃‐CuI‐LiCl effectively catalyzed the cross‐coupling of (Z)‐germyl(stannyl)ethenes with aryl halides, providing novel triethyl(2,2‐diarylethenyl)germanes in good to high yields. The reaction proceeds with retention of configuration. Cross‐coupling results in the formation of phenylene or phenyleneethynylene derivatives with terminal stereochemically defined vinylgermane unit(s). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.