Elemental concentration in the cortex and hippocampus of Wistar rats by X-ray total reflection fluorescence with synchrotron radiation

Summary The study of trace element levels is of great importance due to their relevance in agingand several neurodegenerative diseases. This work compares the elemental concentrations in different postnatal ages and between the temporal cortex, entorhinal cortex and hippocampus from Wistar rats, using X-ray total reflection fluorescence with synchrotron radiation. Ten elements were determined in brain samples: Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, (at trace level) and P, S, Cl and K (at major levels). The elements that increased with aging in cortical areas were: S, K, Fe, Cu and Zn. Ca and Zn levels decreased with advancing age in the hippocampus. In addition to this, Ti, Mn and Fe levels were more conspicuous in the entorhinal cortex.     

Modified sampling and analysis method for large volatility range airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A sampling method has been developed for the measurement for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air by gas chromatography isotope dilution mass spectrometry. The method has been designed to measure the largest possible volatility range of PAHs including the abundant naphthalenes. Sample volumes were approx. 500 m³ in size at a sampling rate of approx. 18 m³/h. The sampler contained three sorption stages for the simultaneous capturing of particle bound and low and high volatile gaseous PAH, respectivley. Recoveries of sampling spikes were on average 90%. The detection limit was approx. 5 pg/m³ for the high boiling range PAH. Results obtained showed a quite steady profile for most PAH in background air in The Netherlands. Comparison of abundance ratios with literature data indicate that traffic exhausts are the major source for the PAH in the area.     

PROFLAVINE MEDIATED PHOTOINACTIVATION OFBACTERIOPHAGE φX174 AND ITS ISOLATED DNA: EFFECTS OF AGENTS MODIFYING VARIOUS PHOTOCHEMICAL PATHWAYS

Abstract. Thiols and disulfides protect both φX174 phage and its isolated DNA from the lethal action of proflavine plus light. The protective ability of these compounds appears to be attributed to the -SH or the -S-S- group and the property to interact with the proflavine-phage DNA complex. The phage inactivation efficiency per proflavine bound to DNA is reduced by 50 to 30% upon addition of cysteine or cystamine. Substances that affect the lifetime of singlet oxygen modify the rate of phage photoinactivation in the presence of proflavine; the inactivation rate is decreased by N^-₃ and increased by D₂O. Irradiation under N₂ atmosphere markedly decreases the phage photosensitization by proflavine. Irradiation with monochromatic light of 440 nm is less efficient than irradiation with light of 440 nm plus 360 nm, and the difference is more pronounced in N₂ than in air. These results are discussed in relation to various possible photochemical pathways.     

Automated chemical separations in routine activation analysis

In recent years increased information is required about the distribution of elements at low concentration levels in the biosphere. Neutron activation analysis can play an important role if it can supply many data at relatively low cost. As some of the concentrations are too low for determination by non-destructive techniques, equipment for chemical separations on a routine basis is necessary. For environmental studies a separation scheme has been developed successfully for arsenic, antimony, cadmium, copper, mercury, selenium and zinc. It is based on a combination of distillation and ion-exchange. Special attention is paid to the prevention of interference from bromine and sodium. Additional information about chromium, cobalt, nickel and tungsten can easily be obtained. Experience gathered with an automated instrument for fifty samples a week is described.     

Static light scattering from microgel particles: model of variable dielectric permittivity

We perform static light scattering experiments on a dilute suspension of microgel particles and model the resultant form factors Pq by assuming an exponentially decaying dielectric permittivity. The result is that Pq is a Lorentzian function of the scattering wavevector q for length scales greater than the particle size; the width approximately corresponding to twice the particle radius. This simple model reasonably accounts for scattered light from both swollen and shrunken microgel phases.     

Di-2-pyridyl ketone 2-furoylhydrazone as a reagent for the fluorimetric determination of low concentrations of aluminium

The synthesis and properties of di-2-pyridyl ketone 2-furoylhydrazone as an analytical reagent are described. A rapid procedure for the fluorimetric determination of aluminium at the 10-100 ng ml level, at pH 6.1-6.5 (lambda(exc) 395 nm, lambda(em) 465 nm) has been established. Interferences have been evaluated, and the procedure has been applied satisfactorily to determination of aluminium in sea-water.     

Reaction of 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane with p-substituted acetophenones in the presence of platinum and rhodium complexes

Hydrosilylation of p-substituted acetophenones XC₆H₄COCH₃ (X = H, Me, MeO, HO, F, Cl, NO₂) with 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane in the presence of rhodium and platinum complexes was studied. The Pt(II) complexes are less active but more selective catalysts of hydrosilylation of acetophenones. Six new 1-(1-arylethoxy)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxanes were prepared.Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 74, No. 11, 2004, pp. 1804–1811.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Zuev, de Vekki, Kuchaev, Vorobev, Skvortsov.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Voltamperometric determination of kinetin with a carbon paste modified electrode

The electrochemical behaviour of kinetin (6-furfurylaminopurine) on a carbon paste modified with OV-17 silicone electrode, is studied. The determination of kinetin is possible working in square wave voltammetric techniques, reaching limits of determination of 38.7 ng ml⁻¹. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine the cytokinin in extracts of apples (previously spiked with kinetin) and the obtained results were in accordance with the results obtained with HPLC-UV.     

Purification of adipoyl-7-amino-3-deacetoxycephalosporanic acid from fermentation broth using stepwise elution with a synergistically adsorbed modulator

Multicomponent adsorption data of a fermentation broth containing adipoyl-7-amino-3-deacetoxycephalosporanic acid (adipoyl-7-ADCA), a cephalosporin precursor for 7-ADCA, and two key impurities, alpha-hydroxyadipoyl-7-ADCA and alpha-aminoadipoyl-7-ADCA were obtained from batch equilibrium and frontal chromatography tests. Amberlite XAD-1600 was chosen as the resin. A rate model was applied to simulate the chromatograms. An alkaline buffer, which by itself has no affinity for the resin, was used as the eluent. The widely used reversed-phase modulator model is inaccurate in explaining the stepwise elution data. A new model, the induced competition model, has been developed to account for apparent retention of the buffer in the presence of adsorbed species. Close agreement between the simulations and the data was achieved with the new model.     

Methods of separation of subcellular particles

Summary Some recent developments in the field of tissue fractionation are briefly reviewed. Separation techniques have been improved considerably, thanks mainly to the construction of various automatic rotors for density gradient centrifugation. Progress has also been made in the analysis of the fractions, through automation of biochemical techniques, and especially through the use of quantitative morphological methods.

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Trennverfahren subcellularer Teilchen

Zusammenfassung Ein Überblick über neuere Entwicklungen auf dem Gebiet der Gewebefraktionierung wird angegeben. Die Trennverfahren konnten wesentlich verbessert werden, hauptsächlich durch die Konstruktion verschiedener automatischer Rotoren zum Zentrifugieren mit Dichtegradient. Auch die Analyse der Fraktionen wurde durch Automation biochemischer Verfahren und besonders durch den Einsatz quantitativer morphologischer Methoden weitgehend verbessert.