Development and application of a biosensor for hypoxanthine in fish extract

A hypoxanthine biosensor was constructed using immobilized xanthine oxidase and a polarographic electrode. The enzyme was covalently immobilized on a commercially available preactivated nylon membrane. The polarographic electrode detected hydrogen peroxide and uric acid released during the enzymatic reaction. The electrode responded linearly to hypoxanthine concentration in the range 3.6–107 μM. When applied to the determination of hypoxanthine in several fish meats, the results obtained agreed well with those obtained by the conventional enzymatic method. More than 40 assays could be performed with the same membrane and each sample could be assayed in ca. 2–3 min. The biosensor provides a reliable, simple, rapid and economical method for the measurement of hypoxanthine, a useful indicator of fish freshness.     

An improved FIA biosensor for the determination of aspartame in dietary food products

A flow injection analysis (FIA) biosensor system was developed for the determination of the artificial sweetener aspartame (l-aspartyl-l-phenylalanine methyl ester). The system consisted of an enzyme column of pronase immobilized on activated arylamine glass beads and al-amino acid oxidase electrode connected in series. The dipeptide bond of aspartame was cleaved by immobilized pronase to release phenylalanine, which was in turn monitored by the enzyme electrode that usedl-amino acid oxidase, immobilized on a preactivated nylon membrane in combination with an amperometric electrode (platinum vs silver/silver chloride, 700 mV). The response of the FIA biosensor was linear up to 1 mM aspartame with a lower detection limit of 25 μM and had good reproducibility (rsd 0.3%). The FIA biosensor was stable for at least 30 h of continuous use atT _r .Each assay takes 4 min giving a sample throughput of 15 h^?1 When applied to aspartame in dietary food products the results obtained agreed well with those reported by the product manufacturers.     

Some Notes on a Method for Proving Inequalities by Computer

In this article we consider mathematical fundamentals of one method for proving inequalities by computer, based on the Remez algorithm. Using the well-known results of undecidability of the existence of zeros of real elementary functions, we demonstrate that the considered method generally in practice becomes one heuristic for the verification of inequalities. We give some improvements of the inequalities considered in the theorems for which the existing proofs have been based on the numerical verifications of Remez algorithm.     

Synthesis and performance of nickel hydroxide nanodiscs for redox supercapacitors

Herein, we report the facile synthesis of β-Ni(OH)₂ nanodiscs by chemical precipitation method and their use in supercapacitors. β-Ni(OH)₂ nanodiscs are characterized by FTIR, XRD, FESEM, XPS and TGA analysis. Morphological analysis revealed the uniform nanodisc morphology of β-Ni(OH)₂. The supercapacitor behavior is evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements in 1-M aqueous KOH solution with 0- to 0.6-V potential window. The specific capacitance of β-Ni(OH)₂ nanodiscs is found to be 400 F g⁻¹. The energy and power densities of the β-Ni(OH)₂ nanodiscs are found to be 7.15 W h kg⁻¹ and 1716 W kg⁻¹, respectively, at the current density of 1 A g⁻¹. The cycle life test shows the good stability of the electrode with 83 % retention capacitance even after 1500 cycles.

     

A concise approach to a gelsemine core structure using an oxygen to carbon bridge swapping strategy

A tricyclic core structure 2 related to gelsemine 1 was synthesized from an oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octanone 4 by a three-step bridge swapping strategy involving elimination of the bridging ether oxygen and intramolecular Michael addition of a tethered cyanoacetamide unit.     

The monohydrates of the four polar dipeptides l‐seryl‐l‐asparagine,l‐seryl‐l‐tyrosine,l‐tryptophanyl‐l‐serine and l‐tyrosyl‐l‐tryptophan

The crystal structures of the four dipeptides l ‐seryl‐l ‐asparagine monohydrate, C₇H₁₃N₃O₅·H₂O, l ‐seryl‐l ‐tyrosine monohydrate, C₁₂H₁₆N₂O₅·H₂O, l ‐tryptophanyl‐l ‐serine monohydrate, C₁₄H₁₇N₃O₄·H₂O, and l ‐tyrosyl‐l ‐tryptophan monohydrate, C₂₀H₂₁N₃O₄·H₂O, are dominated by extensive hydrogen‐bonding networks that include cocrystallized solvent water molecules. Side‐chain conformations are discussed on the basis of previous observations in dipeptides. These four dipeptide structures greatly expand our knowledge on dipeptides incorporating polar residues such as serine, asparagine, threonine, tyrosine and tryptophan.     

Zur Wertbestimmung des Formaldehyds des Handels

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

O,O-Monochelate complexes of silicon and germanium halides: The derivatives of l-mandelic N,N-dimethylamide

Reactions of O-trimethylsilyl-l-mandelic N,N-dimethylamide (1) with tetrachlorosilane and tetrachlorogermane lead to O,O-monochelate complexes, [1-(dimethylcarbamoyl)-1-phenylmethoxy]trichlorosilane (2) and [1-(dimethylcarbamoyl)-1-phenylmethoxy]trichlorogermane (3). Pentacoordination of silicon and germanium in these complexes was confirmed by X-ray studies.X-ray data show that the Si and Ge atoms in 2 and 3 have TBP environments where the ether oxygen and two halogens are equatorial while the third halogen and the amide oxygen occupy axial positions. The axial O–M and Cl–M (M = Si, Ge) distances are somewhat longer than those in similar compounds of tetracoordinate silicon and germanium.Intramolecular coordination in compounds 1–3 and relative stabilities of different conformations of their molecules were studied by quantum-chemical calculations.     

Preparation and characterization of MgB2 superconductor

The MgB₂ superconductor, synthesized using solid-state and liquid-phase sintering methods, have been characterized for various properties. The upper critical field, irreversibility line and critical current density have been determined using magnetization data. The current-voltage characteristics recorded under an applied magnetic field revealed the existence of vortex glass transition. The surface analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that MgB₂ is sensitive to atmospheric degradation.