An interference method for studying a substance in the vicinity of its critical point

An interference method for measuring certain parameters of a substance in the vicinity of the critical state is proposed. The essence of the method is to decipher the interference pattern arising upon grazing incidence of a laser beam on a curved liquid-vapor interface. The deciphering allows one to determine the difference between the refractive indices of the two phases and the scaling factor of the wetting meniscus shape. This, in turn, makes it possible to calculate the critical exponents for the temperature dependences of the surface tension and the difference in the densities of the two phases. The ratio of these critical exponents for xenon, measured in the paper, is 3.81±0.03.     

Spectral and electrochemical properties of polyaniline-V2O5 composites of the intercalation type

We propose a new approach to obtaining composites of the intercalation type based on polyaniline and V₂O₅. We have determined the characteristics of these composites using x-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and EPR. We show that the compounds obtained exhibit stable redox properties in aqueous and aprotic electrolytes.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 31, No. 6, pp. 361–364, November–December, 1995.We would like to express our thanks to V. G. II'in for help in carrying out the x-ray phase investigations. This work was made possible with the partial support of the International Science Foundation (grant N U6B000).     

High-Sensitivity Determination of Hydrocarbon Impurities in Arsine by Reaction Gas Chromatography

It is shown that the results of determining methane in high-purity arsine by reaction gas chromatography can be overestimated by more than two orders of magnitude. This overestimation is caused by the formation of methane as a side product of the reaction. Cryogenic preconcentration at the injection stage is proposed to improve the accuracy of determination of methane, and the cryofocusing of impurity hydrocarbons is proposed to improve separation. Detection limits of (3–10) × 10^–6 vol % are achieved for C₁–C₅ hydrocarbons.     

Composition and Physicochemical Properties of Schungite Sorbent as Influenced by Thermal Treatment

The chemical composition, specific surface area, and pore structure of a schungite sorbent were studied as influenced by the conditions of thermal treatment.     

Catalytic Oxidation (4th World Congress on Oxidation Catalysis, Potsdam, Germany, September 2001)

This paper presents an overview of the plenary lectures and some of the oral and poster presentations at the 4th International Congress on Oxidation Catalysis in Potsdam (Germany). The main topics were the partial oxidation of alkanes and the oxidation of olefins by H₂O₂. Considerable attention is given to the use of modern physical methods in the mechanistic studies of oxidation catalysis and in the studies of catalyst structures.     

Azines and azoles. 64. Mass spectra and tautomerism of 2-aryl-4,6-dioxo-1,3-thiazines

Mass spectra of 2-aryl-4,6-dioxo-1,3-thiazines were studied and the general fragmentation paths of these compounds determined. Based on mass spectra of compounds with fixed structures, 2-aryl-5,5-dialkyl-4,6-dioxo-1,3-thiazines, 4-alkoxy- and 4-acyloxy-2-aryl-6-oxo-1,3-thiazines, the decomposition paths of the dicarbonyl and hydroxycarbonyl forms were determined. It was concluded on the basis of the obtained data that 2-aryl-4,6-dioxo-1,3-thiazines exist in the gas phase predominantly in the hydroxycarbonyl form.For Communication 63, see [1].Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1409–1412, October, 1987.     

Ab initio Calculation of the Electronic Structure and Equilibrium Geometry of Cortisol and Its Derivatives

The molecular geometries of a series of steroid hormones including cortisol, 9-fluorocortisol, 6-fluorocortisol, and 9-chlorocortisol were optimized by 3-21G and 6-31G* ab initio calculations. The results of calculations on both levels are well consistent with each other and with the experiment. The conformational changes and electron density redistribution occurring in going from cortisol to its 6- and 9-halo derivatives were discussed. A conclusion was made that the O and F atoms can participate in hydrogen bonding with the corresponding structural groups of glucocorticoid receptors.     

Single-cell analysis using capillary electrophoresis: influence of surface support properties on cell injection into the capillary

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is an important tool of chemical cytometry. Whole-cell analysis using CE starts with cell injection into the capillary by either siphoning or electroosmosis. However, strong adherence of the cell to the support surface can prevent efficient cell injection and lead to irreproducible analysis. Here we evaluated several surfaces as potential cell supports for HT29 cells (human colon adenocarcinoma). These cells strongly adhered to the surface of untreated glass or polystyrene. Hydrophobic coating with dimethyldichlorosilane (DMS) or Sigmacote did not significantly reduce cell adhesion. In contrast, cell adhesion was reduced significantly when the surface was modified with hydrophilic polymers (hydrogels) such as poly(2-hydrohyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). In addition to their pronounced antiadhesive properties, PHEMA and PVA coatings were the most biocompatible (had highest survival of cells in contact with surface). Hydrogel-coated polystyrene plates were tested as a commercial alternative to hydrogel-coated glass slides. The cell adhesive properties of such plates were similar to those of PHEMA and PVA. However, the biocompatibility of the plates was lower than that of the other surfaces tested. Moreover, in contrast to PHEMA- and PVA-coated glass slides, the plates were sensitive to UV light and therefore should not be used when fluorescent image microscopy with UV excitation precedes CE. The analyses of the data obtained showed that PHEMA- and PVA-coated glass slides were the most suitable cell supports for cell injection into the capillary.