Sorption of Pu(VI) onto TiO2

The sorption of Pu(VI) onto TiO(2) was studied as a function of pH (2-10) and Pu concentration (10(-8)-10(-4) M) under an N(2) atmosphere, in 0.016 and 0.1 M NaClO(4). A batch-wise method was used, in which pH was measured in separate experimental containers after removal of a sample to determine the amount of Pu that had been sorbed. As Pu is radioactive, it was used as a tracer and measured by liquid scintillation counting. No ionic strength dependence was discerned, which was taken as an indication of inner sphere complex formation. In the interval of pH 2-7 the system could be described by the formation of two positively charged surface complexes using a 1-pK Stern model. Sorption of the plutonyl ion (PuO(2)(2+)) and the first hydrolysis species (PuO(2)(OH)(+)) was estimated using FITEQL to logK(1)=6.9 and logK(2)=1.4, respectively.     

Temporary in situ aluminum and zinc tethering in Diels-Alder reactions

[formula: see text] Temporary tethering using aluminum or zinc in Diels-Alder reactions made possible the use of otherwise "noncompatible" combinations of dienes and dienophiles, resulting in the one-step formation of substituted cyclohexene 1,2-bis-methanols. Excellent regioselectivity and also significant stereoselectivity were obtained.     

Critical points in heavy ion irradiated untwinned YBa(2)Cu3O(7-delta) crystals

The critical points in untwinned YBa(2)Cu(3)O(7-delta) crystals with dilute columnar defects are investigated. We find a convergence of a first order vortex melting line with an irreversibility line associated with the onset of the Bose glass critical regime at the lower critical point. In addition, we find that columnar defects raise the upper critical point, implying that vortex line meandering is a basic feature controlling its position.     

Methodological modifications on quantification of phosphatidylethanol in blood from humans abusing alcohol,using high-performance liquid chromatography and evaporative light scattering detection

Background  

Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is an abnormal phospholipid formed slowly in cell membranes by a transphosphatidylation reaction from phosphatidylcholine in the presence of ethanol and catalyzed by the enzyme phospholipase D. PEth in blood is a promising new marker of ethanol abuse depending on the high specificity and sensitivity of this marker. None of the biological markers used in clinical routine at the present time are sensitive and specific enough for the diagnosis of alcohol abuse.     

Multicomponent analysis of drinking water by a voltammetric electronic tongue

A voltammetric electronic tongue is described that was used for multicomponent analysis of drinking water. Measurements were performed on drinking water from a tap and injections of the compounds NaCl, NaN₃, NaHSO₃, ascorbic acid, NaOCl and yeast suspensions could be identified by use of principal component analysis (PCA). A model based on partial least square (PLS) was developed for the simultaneously prediction of identification and concentration of the compounds NaCl, NaHSO₃ and NaOCl. By utilizing this type of non-selective sensor technique for water quality surveillance, it will be feasible to detect a plurality of events without the need of a specific sensor for each type of event.     

Aqueous phase behavior of polyelectrolytes with amphiphilic counterions modulated by cyclodextrin: the role of polyion flexibility

Polyelectrolytes with amphiphilic counterions, PEACs, are water insoluble because the amphiphiles self-assemble into highly charged micelles that strongly associate with the equally highly charged polyions. However, in the presence of water soluble cyclodextrins (CDs) that form inclusion complexes with the amphiphiles and prevent micellization, PEACs become soluble as the dispersed amphiphiles behave essentially as simple monovalent counterions. In this paper, we illustrate, by example, how strongly the ternary phase behavior of PEAC:CD:water depends on the polyion flexibility; for a highly flexible polyion (polyacrylate) the amphiphilic aggregates dictate the phase behavior, whereas a much stiffer polyion (DNA) itself dictates liquid crystalline ordering.     

Hyperfine structure in the 6p5d configuration and isotope shifts in transitions between the 6s5d and the 6p5d configurations in Ba I

High-resolution laser fluorescence spectroscopy, using a single-mode dye laser acting on a collimated atomic beam, has been performed to determine the hyperfine-structure (hfs) constants in six states of the 6p 5d configuration of¹³⁵Ba and¹³⁷Ba. Isotope shifts (IS) for eleven transitions between the 6s 5d and the 6p 5d configurations have also been measured. From an analysis of the energy levels, intermediate angular wavefunctions have been deduced. The wavefunctions are used to evaluate experimental hyperfine parameters from the experimental hfs constants. The parameters are, for the magnetic-dipole interaction compared with theoretical values, and for the electricquadrupole interaction used to estimate the nuclear quadrupole moments for the odd isotopes. The IS in the measured transitions are analysed using a King-plot, with the first resonance line in Ba II as the reference. Specific mass and field shifts are evaluated for the measured transitions. The field shifts have been used to determine the change in mean-square radius between the natural abundant Ba-isotopes.     

FORMATION OF MICROEMULSION AND LIQUID CRYSTAL IN BIOCOMPATIBLE SUCROSE ALKANOATE SYSTEMS

Sucrose monoalkanoates (SE) form microemulsions by mixing with lipophilic cosurfactants such as the middle-chain alcohols, or sucrose polyalkanoates. In the case that sucrose monododecanoate is combined with hexanol, a middle-phase microemulsion is produced and coexists with excess water and oil phases at optimum mixing fraction of SE and hexanol. The bicontinuous structure of the microemulsion was confirmed by means of self-diffusion coefficient on NMR measurement.

A larger solubilization capability of oil is attained to a mixed mono- and poly-dodecanoate system than that of the middle-chain alcohol. It is probably due to the location of most of surfactant molecules at the micro-interface inside the microemulsion. In this system, instead of forming a three-phase region, a lamellar liquid crystal intrudes into multi-phase region since the surfactant layer is rather rigid as which was supported by the results of SAXS and ESR measurements. Further addition of a short-chain alcohol such as propanol to the mixed system leads to the flexible interface, as a consequence three-phase microemulsion with large solubilization is formed.     

A mass spectrometric study on meloxicam metabolism in horses and the fungus Cunninghamella elegans,and the relevance of this microbial system as a model of drug metabolism in the horse

This paper describes a study where the metabolism of the non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug meloxicam was investigated in six horses and in the filamentous fungus Cunninghamella elegans. The metabolites identified were compared between the species, and then the fungus was used to produce larger amounts of the metabolites for future use as reference material. C. elegans proved to be a good model of phase I meloxicam metabolism in horses since all four metabolites found were the same in both species. Apart from the two main metabolites, 5′‐hydroxymethylmeloxicam and 5′‐carboxymeloxicam, a second isomer of hydroxymeloxicam and dihydroxylated meloxicam were detected for the first time in horse urine and the microbial incubations. Phase II metabolites were not discovered in the C. elegans samples but hydroxymeloxicam glucuronide was detected intact in horse urine for the first time in this study. Urine from six horses was further analyzed in a semi‐quantitative sense and 5′‐hydroxymethylmeloxicam gave peaks with much higher intensity compared to the parent drug and the other metabolites, and was detected for at least 14 days after the last given dose in some of the horses. From the results presented in this article, we suggest that analytical methods developed for the detection of meloxicam in horse urine after prohibited use should focus on the 5′‐hydroxymethyl metabolite and that C. elegans can be used to produce large amounts of this metabolite for potential future use as a reference compound. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.