Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil of Stachys inflata Benth. from Iran

The chemical composition of a hydrodistilled oil of Stachys inflata Benth. growing wild in Iran was examined by GC/MS. Thirty-nine constituents were identified. The major components of the oil were germacrene-D (16.9%), bicyclogermacrene (16.6%), -pinene (11.3%), -phellandrene (9.8%), bicycloelemene (6.6%), -pinene (5.6%), and spathulenol (3.2%).     

Interaction of zanamivir with DNA and RNA: Models for drug–DNA and drug–RNA bindings

Zanamivir (ZAN) is the first of a new generation of influenza virus-specific drugs known as neuraminidase inhibitors, which acts by interfering with life cycles of influenza viruses A and B. It prevents the virus spreading infection to other cells by blocking the neuraminidase enzyme present on the surface of the virus. The aim of this study was to examine the stability and structural features of calf thymus DNA and yeast RNA complexes with zanamivir in aqueous solution, using constant DNA or RNA concentration (12.5 mM) and various zanamivir/polynucleotide (P) ratios of 1/20, 1/10, 1/4, and 1/2. FTIR and UV–visible spectroscopy are used to determine the drug external binding modes, the binding constant and the stability of zanamivir–DNA and RNA complexes in aqueous solution. Structural analysis showed major interaction of zanamivir with G-C (major groove) and A-T (minor groove) base pairs and minor perturbations of the backbone PO₂ group with overall binding constants of K_{zanamivir–DNA} = 1.30 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ and K_{zanamivir–RNA} = 1.38 × 10⁴ M⁻¹. The drug interaction induces a partial B to A-DNA transition, while RNA remains in A-conformation.     

Determination of vanadium in biological tissue by anion exchange chromatography and neutron activation analysis

A method is described for determination of vanadium in biological tissues. This method consists of a wet digestion of the tissue with nitric acid followed by anion exchange chromatography, neutron irradiation, and radioassay. The chromatographic separation will allow the decontamination of vanadium from radioactivatable sodium and chlorine which are present in large quantities in biological tissues. The validity of the method is evaluated by employing NBS-SRM 157 and 157a Bovine Liver employing the method of standard additions. The method is successfully applied to human, cow and rat liver specimens. The detection limit of the method is one ppb.     

Optical properties of ternary ZnS x Se1−x polycrystalline thin films

Ternary ZnS_xSe_1–x polycrystalline thin films were prepared by evaporation in vacuum of 10^–5 Torr. The molecular fractionx varied in the region ox1. The optical constants (the refractive indexn, the absorption indexk, and the absorption coefficient) were determined in the wavelength range 300–1600nm. A plot representing ₂=f(hv) shows that the ZnS_xSe_1–x polycrystalline thin films of different compositions have two direct transitions corresponding to the energy gapsE andE+. The variation in eitherE orE+ withx indicates that this system belongs to the amalgamation type. Such variation follows a quadratic equation. The bowing parameter was found to be 0.456 eV, roughly equal to the calculated value 0.60 eV using the empirical pseudopotential method based on the virtual-crystal approximation, in which the disorder effect has not been taken into account.     

Anodic stripping voltammetric determination of bismuth after solid-phase extraction using amberlite XAD-2 resin modified with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol

A highly selective and sensitive anodic stripping differential pulse polarographic method has been developed for the determination of trace amount of bismuth in various samples after adsorption of its 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol complex on amberlite XAD-2 resin in the pH range of 2.0-3.0. The retained analyte on the resin recovered with 10.0 ml of 2 M hydrochloric acid and bismuth is determined by anodic stripping differential pulse polarography. In this case, 0.15 μg of bismuth can be concentrated in the column from 1100 ml of aqueous sample, where its concentration is as low as 0.14 ng ml⁻¹ and the linearity is maintained in the concentration range 0.05-160 μg ml⁻¹ in final solution with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 and relative standard deviation of ±1.2%. Various parameters such as the effect of pH, flow rate, and interference of number of metal ions on the determination of bismuth have been studied in detail to optimize the conditions for determination of bismuth in standard alloys: Nippon Keikinzoku Kogyo (NKK CRM No. 916 aluminum alloy); (NKK CRM No. 1021 Al, Si, Cu, Zn alloy); and (NKK CRM No. 920 aluminum alloy), biological samples: National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES, No. 5 human hair; NIES, No. 7 tea leaves) and water samples: (spring water, river water; Kerman water; and Shiraz water).     

Caro's Acid–Silica Gel: An Efficient and Versatile Catalyst for the One-Pot Synthesis of Tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran Derivatives

An efficient one-pot synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran is described. This involved the three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, molononitrile, and dimedone in the presence of a catalytic amount of Caro's acid supported on silica gel in ethanol/water under reflux.     

π-Stacking effects on acid capacity of p-aminobenzoic acid

Structural Chemistry - Acidity changes of p-aminobenzoic acid (pABA) after π-stacking with substituted benzenes (SB) have been investigated using quantum mechanical calculations at the...     

Establishment of a quality system at the Nuclear Analytical Laboratories of the Atomic Energy Authority, Sri Lanka

A quality system according to the requirements of ISO/IEC guidelines has been introduced at the Nuclear Analytical Laboratories of the Atomic Energy Authority, which has received appreciation from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection evaluation reports (RAS/2/010) showing a positive indication to accreditation. The quality system has achieved the “analytical quality” through technical competence by non-conformance management. The experience in the progression towards achieving a quality system is described with examples from zero level to a positive index. This nuclear analytical service laboratory shows long-term stability of performance and enhances its credibility to customers, through the quality system.     

Complexation of Ba2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, and UO22+ Ions with 18-Crown-6 and Dicyclohexyl-18-Crown-6 in Nitromethane and Acetonitrile Solutions by a Competitive NMR Technique Using the 7Li Nucleus as a Probe

[⁷Li] NMR measurements were used to determine the stoichiometry and stability of Li⁺ complexes with 18-crown-6 and dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 in nitromethane and acetonitrile solutions. A competitive [⁷Li] NMR technique was also employed to probe the complexation of Ba²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and UO₂²⁺ ions with the same crown ethers–solvent systems. All the resulting 1 : 1 complexes were more stable in nitromethane than acetonitrile solution. In all cases, the stability of both crown complexes in nitromethane and acetonitrile varied in the order Pb²⁺ > Ba²⁺ > Li⁺ > Cd²⁺ > UO₂²⁺.