Evolution strategy optimization for adiabatic pulses in MRI.

We propose a new type of adiabatic pulses for uniform inversion of the magnetization in magnetic resonance imaging. We produced these pulses with an evolution strategy optimization, by which the search of the "best solution" has been made more efficient than by deterministic algorithms. The pulse parametrization takes into account an "offset-independent adiabaticity condition," which guarantees insensitivity to RF inhomogeneities. The RF pulse power (both peak and mean) contributes to the cost to be minimized, as well as the error function does: in this way we obtain solutions that require lower energy than the well-known hyperbolic-secant pulse, with no loss of quality in the response profile.     

On the role of Sb excess in Fe–Sb oxides based catalysts

Fe–Sb oxide catalysts with different amounts of Ti were prepared by coprecipitation technique. The stability of the systems is described in terms of the phases formed as a function of the calcination temperature, the Ti content and the use in the reactor.     

Thermodynamics of Organic Mixtures Containing Amines. II. Excess Molar Volumes at 25°C for Methylbutylamine + Alkane Systems and Eras Characterization of Linear Secondary Amine + Alkane Mixtures

Excess molar volumes, at 25°C and atmospheric pressure for methylbutyl amine + n-hexane; + cyclohexane; + n-octane; n-decane; + n-dodecane; + n-tetradecane, or + n-hexadecane systems are reported from densities measured with a vibrating-tube densimeter. The excess functions, molar enthalpy, and volume, for linear secondary amine + n-alkane systems are discussed in terms of interactional and structural effects. In addition, these solutions, which include amines from dimethyl to dioctylamine, are studied in the framework of the ERAS model. The corresponding ERAS parameters are reported. The agreement between experimental data and ERAS results is good for excess enthalpies, excess Gibbs energies, and excess molar volumes. The larger discrepancies are found for the excess volumes when strong free-volume effects are present in the investigated mixtures. The variation with temperature of the thermodynamic properties is well described by ERAS.     

Oxidation of propylene to acrylic acid on a Fe?Mo?Bi oxide system

Data obtained in a flow reactor show that iron(III) molybdate doped by bismuth can oxidize propylene to acrylic acid directly in one step. Part of the catalyst works in a partially reduced form and in the preparation of the catalyst the surface acidity must be controlled.

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Hydration of β-cyclodextrin: A molecular dynamics simulation study

We study by molecular dynamics simulations the hydration of -cyclodextrin. Our simulations show that within these barrel-shaped molecules hydrophobicity dominates, while at the top and bottom sides of the barrel interactions with water are mostly hydrophilic in nature. These results agree with crystallographic data at 120 K and, in particular, with the spontaneous hydration process of a cyclodextrin crystal in wet atmosphere. The predicted structure of the hydration shells is discussed and compared with previous molecular mechanics calculations which report an overall hydrophobic behavior. Moreover, the temperature dependence of the hydration process is discussed.     

Structural basis for the enantioselectivity of an epoxide ring opening reaction catalyzed by halo alcohol dehalogenase HheC

Halo alcohol dehalogenase HheC catalyzes the highly enantioselective dehalogenation of vicinal halo alcohols to epoxides, as well as the reverse reaction, the enantioselective and beta-regioselective nucleophilic ring opening of epoxides by pseudo-halides such as azide and cyanide. To investigate this latter reaction, we determined X-ray structures of complexes of HheC with the favored and unfavored enantiomers of para-nitrostyrene oxide. The aromatic parts of the two enantiomers bind in a very similar way, but the epoxide ring of the unfavored (S)-enantiomer binds in a nonproductive inverted manner, with the epoxide oxygen and Cbeta atom positions interchanged with respect to those of the favored (R)-enantiomer. The calculated difference in relative Gibbs binding energy is in agreement with the observed loss of a single hydrogen bond in the S bound state with respect to the R bound state. Our results indicate that it is the nonproductive binding of the unfavored (S)-enantiomer, rather than the difference in affinity for the two enantiomers, that allows HheC to catalyze the azide-mediated ring opening of para-nitrostyrene oxide with high enantioselectivity. This work represents a rare opportunity to explain the enantioselectivity of an enzymatic reaction by comparison of crystallographic data on the binding of both the favored and unfavored enantiomers.     

HPLC method for the simultaneous analysis of valproic acid and other common anticonvulsant drugs in human plasma or serum

Summary The derivatizing procedure of Moody et al. [20] for valproic acid has been simplified and applied to the simultaneous HPLC determination of valproic acid (VPA), barbital (B), primidone (PRM), phenobarbital (PB) and carbamazepine (CBZ) in serum or plasma of epileptic patients. The sample is deproteinized with acetonitrile containing esterification agents and an aliquot of the supernatant is heated to 70°C for 15 min with 4-bromophenacyl bromide. The reaction mixture is analysed on a C18 column at ambient temperature, with gradient elution and with detection at 205 nm. The time required for the chromatographic analysis is 13 min; identification is based on retention time and quantification is by peak area determination with an internal standard. The calibration curves show good linearity in the range 6.25 to 100 mg/L. The detection limits at a signal: noise ratio 3, ranged from 1 mg/L for B and CBZ to 2–3 mg/L for PRM, PB and VPA. The method described for the simultaneous determination of the five drugs in the same plasma pool, correlated well with isocratic HPLC methods specific for each drug. The simultaneous procedure described allows a reproducible (CVs6.5% within run) and rapid (25 min for sample preparation: 13 min for chromatographic run) therapeutic monitoring of patients treated with VPA and two or more antiepileptic drugs.     

Behavior of 5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]cinnolinones towards hydrazine. Synthesis of benzo[h]cinnolinones and of 4-Aminobenzo[h]cinnolinones

Dehydrogenation and amination of 4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro and 5,6-dihydrobenzocinnolinones in refluxing hydrazine hydrate to give new benzo[h]cinnolinones and 4-aminobenzo[h]cinnolinones are reported, and reaction mechanisms proposed. Experiments were also extended to 4,4a-dihydro-5H-indenopyridazinone which underwent hydrazine induced dehydrogenation to 5H-indenopyridazin-3-one but not subsequent amination.     

Tests of significance using selected sample quantiles

Large sample tests of significance for the location parameter, the scale parameter, and quantiles for a location-scale family of distributions based on a few optimally chosen sample quantiles are considered.