Validation of a method for predicting the precision, limit of detection and range of quantitation in competitive ELISA.

The mathematical model for predicting the precision, limit of detection (LOD) and range of quantitation (ROQ) in a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) proposed by Hayashi et al. (Anal. Chem., 2004, 76, 1295) was validated. The model describes the relative standard deviation (RSD) of concentration estimates by the RSDs of pipetting volumes of analyte, enzyme-conjugated antigen, antibody and substrate solutions, and the standard deviation (SD) of inherent absorbances between the wells in an ELISA plate. For 6 kinds of direct competitive ELISA kits, the LOD and ROQ predicted by the model agreed well with those obtained by experiments with real samples. It was also confirmed that the model is applicable to the prediction of uncertainty that depends on the pipetting error of the viscous antiserum solution. The model was demonstrated to be useful for estimating the LOD and ROQ of competitive ELISA.     

Chemically modified proton‐conducting membranes based on sulfonated polyimides: Improved water stability and fuel‐cell performance

A series of branched/crosslinked sulfonated polyimide (B/C‐SPI) membranes were prepared and evaluated as proton‐conducting ionomers based on the new concept of in situ crosslinking from sulfonated polyimide (SPI) oligomers and triamine monomers. Chemical branching and crosslinking in SPI oligomers with 1,3,5‐tris(4‐aminophenoxy)benzene as a crosslinker gave the polymer membranes very good water stability and mechanical properties under an accelerated aging treatment in water at 130 °C, despite their high ion‐exchange capacity (2.2–2.6 mequiv g^?1). The resulting polymer electrolytes displayed high proton conductivities of 0.2–0.3 S cm^?1 at 120 °C in water and reasonably high conductivities of 0.02–0.03 S cm^?1 at 50% relative humidity. In a single H₂/O₂ fuel‐cell system at 90 °C, they exhibited high fuel‐cell performances comparable to those of Nafion 112. The B/C‐SPI membranes also displayed good performances in a direct methanol fuel cell with methanol concentrations as high as 50 wt % that were superior to those of Nafion 112. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3751–3762, 2006     

Investigation of the drying conditions for amidosulfuric acid.

The drying conditions for primary standards of volumetric analysis have a significant effect on the titration results due to changes in the purity, stability and homogeneity. Amidosulfuric acid, a strong acid used as a reference material for volumetric analysis in Japan, was dried in a vacuum desiccator or heated at different temperatures, and then measured by Karl-Fischer titration, thermogravimetry/mass spectroscopy (TG-MS), ion chromatography and coulometric titration. The optimum drying conditions were at 50 degrees C for 24 h with crushing.     

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation mechanisms in kaolinite confirmed by magic-angle spinning

Spin-lattice relaxation mechanisms in kaolinite have been reinvestigated by magic-angle spinning (MAS) of the sample. MAS is useful to distinguish between relaxation mechanisms: the direct relaxation rate caused by the dipole-dipole interaction with electron spins is not affected by spinning while the spin diffusion-assisted relaxation rate is. Spin diffusion plays a dominant role in ¹H relaxation. MAS causes only a slight change in the relaxation behavior, because the dipolar coupling between ¹H spins is strong. ²⁹Si relaxes directly through the dipole-dipole interaction with electron spins under spinning conditions higher than 2 kHz. A spin diffusion effect has been clearly observed in the ²⁹Si relaxation of relatively pure samples under static and slow-spinning conditions. ²⁷Al relaxes through three mechanisms: phonon-coupled quadrupole interaction, spin diffusion and dipole-dipole interaction with electron spins. The first mechanism is dominant, while the last is negligibly small. Spin diffusion between ²⁷Al spins is suppressed completely at a spinning rate of 2.5 kHz. We have analyzed the relaxation behavior theoretically and discussed quantitatively. Concentrations of paramagnetic impurities, electron spin-lattice relaxation times and spin diffusion rates have been estimated.     

Calculation of skin permeability coefficient for ionized and unionized species of indomethacin.

The contribution of ionized and unionized species to the overall permeation of weak electrolytes through the skin was investigated to determine the effect of pH in the vehicle on the permeability of indomethacin (IDM), as a model drug, through hairless rat skin. The permeability of IDM through polydimethylsiloxane (silicone) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) membranes which may reflect lipid and aqueous pathway, respectively, was also measured for comparison. As the pH in the vehicle increased, there was an exponential increase in the skin permeation rate of IDM. The permeation rate of IDM through the silicone membrane was constant independent of pH, whereas that through the pHEMA membrane increased with increasing pH, similar to the skin permeation. The permeability coefficients of ionized and unionized species through the skin estimated using the skin permeation rates and solubilities of IDM at various pHs were 1.50 x 10(-7) and 2.79 x 10(-5) cm/s, respectively. These results indicated that the permeation of ionized species greatly contributed to the total permeation of IDM at higher pH, and that the total permeation rate of IDM was determined by the permeation of unionized species at lower pH. These contributions depend on the pH and pKa values and the ratio of permeability coefficient of each species. It was also confirmed that the skin has at least two kinds of permeation pathways and these two species permeate through a different pathway.     

Electron spin resonance of hydrogen-absorbed graphite-potassium intercalation compounds

The conduction electron spin resonance (CESR) of the graphite—potassium intercalation compounds, C₈ K and C₂₄ K, was studied in hydrogen gas. An enhancement of CESR absorption and a decrease in asymmetry parameter were observed for C₈K in the initial stage of hydrogen absorption, attributed to paramagnetic hydrogen atoms stabilized in the matrix of the compound.