Preparation and in vitro evaluation of a novel amphiphilic GdPCTA-[12] derivative; a micellar MRI contrast agent

A novel amphiphilic GdPCTA-[12] derivative has been prepared. The complex formed micelles in aqueous solution with a relatively low CMC, 0.15 mM (25 degrees C). The concentration dependent T1-relaxivity (r1) of the system has been described. The maximum T1-relaxivity, 29.2 s-1 mM-1 (20 MHz, 25 degrees C), was higher than for previously described micellar MRI contrast agents. This high T1-relaxivity is a consequence of the favourable water residence time (tau M) and the fact that the complex is heptadentate allowing two water molecules to coordinate to the gadolinium ion (q = 2).     

Thermal physics in carbon nanotube growth kinetics

The growth of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) mediated by metal nanoparticles is considered within (i) the surface diffusion growth kinetics model coupled with (ii) a thermal model taking into account heat release of carbon adsorption-desorption on nanotube surface and carbon incorporation into the nanotube wall and (iii) carbon nanotube-inert gas collisional heat exchange. Numerical simulations performed together with analytical estimates reveal various temperature regimes occurring during SWNT growth. During the initial stage, which is characterized by SWNT lengths that are shorter than the surface diffusion length of carbon atoms adsorbed on the SWNT wall, the SWNT temperature remains constant and is significantly higher than that of the ambient gas. After this stage the SWNT temperature decreases towards that of gas and becomes nonuniformly distributed over the length of the SWNT. The rate of SWNT cooling depends on the SWNT-gas collisional energy transfer that, from molecular dynamics simulations, is seen to be efficient only in the SWNT radial direction. The decreasing SWNT temperature may lead to solidification of the catalytic metal nanoparticle terminating SWNT growth or triggering nucleation of a new carbon layer and growth of multiwall carbon nanotubes.     

Transition probabilities in Sm II via optical nutation

We have measured the transition probabilities for three lines in Sm II. The measurements are made by studying optical nutation with a fast Doppler switching technique in collinear laser spectroscopy on ion beams. The recorded nutation curves are fitted to a quantum-optical theoretical model, and the transition probabilities are extracted. For all three lines, the measured transition probabilities are more accurate than those of earlier published measurements.     

A novel and fast extraction technique as an alternative to conventional separatory funnels

Summary A novel and generally applicable extraction technique is presented as an alternative to the common separatory funnel technique. It is based on the use of a commercially available magnetic stirring plate, which can stir up to six vessels simultaneously, and conventional conical flasks equipped with a specially designed (but easy to make) glass adaptor. The extraction process, which can proceed unattended, has been compared with conventional separatory funnel extraction methods using three different and well established methods: non-aqueous titration, molecular (visible) absorption and atomic absorption spectrometry. The results obtained by the new technique for each method have been compared with those obtained using the standard separatory funnel methods and were found to agree very satisfactory.     

The energetics of ions,atoms, and salts: Sodium and its chloride

In this study we reconcile three seemingly contradictory assertions regarding sodium chloride. First, gaseous sodium chloride is Coulombically bound and highly ionic. Second, upon pulling the molecule apart atomic sodium and chlorine are produced. This is somewhat surprising; despite the high ionicity of NaCl, since IP(Na) > EA(Cl). Third, heterolytically dissociating NaCl(g) into Na⁺+Cl⁺ costs more energy than ionizing gaseous Na into Na⁺+e^?. Does this violate Coulomb's law since the Na-Cl bond distance in NaCl(g) is greater than the average Na nucleus-valance electron distance?     

Synthesis of (+)-goniothalamin and its enantiomer by combination of lipase catalyzed resolution and alkene metathesis

(+)-Goniothalamin has been synthesized by lipase catalyzed resolution of (1E)-1-phenylhexa-1,5-dien-3-ol using vinyl acrylate as acyl donor followed by ring closing metathesis of the formed (1R)-1-[(E)-2-phenylvinyl]but-3-enyl acrylate. The unreacted alcohol from the resolution, (1E,3S)-1-phenylhexa-1,5-dien-3-ol, was esterified non-enzymatically, and used for synthesis of (−)-goniothalamin.     

Comparison of chromatographic ion-exchange resins IV. Strong and weak cation-exchange resins and heparin resins

A comparative study was performed on heparin resins and strong and weak cation exchangers to investigate the pH dependence, efficiency, binding strength, particle size distribution, static and dynamic capacity, and scanning electron microscopy pictures of chromatographic resins. The resins tested include: Heparin Sepharose FF, SP Sepharose FF, CM Sepharose FF, Heparin Toyopearl 650 m, SP Toyopearl 650 m, CM Toyopearl 650 m, Ceramic Heparin HyperD M, Ceramic S HyperD 20, and Ceramic CM HyperD F. Testing was performed with four different proteins: anti-FVII Mab (IgG), aprotinin, lysozyme, and myoglobin. Dependence of pH on retention was generally very low for proteins with high isoelectric point (pI), though some decrease of retention with increasing pH was observed for CM Ceramic HyperD F and S Ceramic HyperD 20. Binding of anti-FVII Mab with pI < 7.5 was observed on several resins at pH 7.5. Efficiency results show the expected trend of increasing dependence of the plate height with increasing flow rate of Ceramic HyperD resins followed by Toyopearl 650 m resins and the highest flow dependence of the Sepharose FF resins corresponding to their pressure resistance. Determination of particle size distribution by two independent methods, coulter counting and SEM, was in good agreement. Binding strength of cation-exchange resins as a function of ionic strength varies depending on the protein. Binding and elution at high salt concentration may be performed with Ceramic HyperD resins, while binding and elution at low salt concentration may be performed with model proteins on heparin resins. Employing proteins with specific affinity for heparin, a much stronger binding is observed, however, some cation exchangers may still be good substitutions for heparin resins. Dynamic capacity at 10% breakthrough compared to static capacity measurements and dynamic capacity displays that approximately 40-80% of the total available capacity is utilized during chromatographic operation depending on flow rate. A general good agreement was obtained between results of this study and data obtained by others. Results of this study may be used in the selection of resins for testing during protein purification process development.     

Synthesis, structures and oxygen atom transfer catalysis of oxo-bridged molybdenum(V) complexes with heterocyclic bidentate ligands (N,X) X = S, Se

The dinuclear μ-oxomolybdenum(V) complexes [Mo₂O₃(PyS)₄] (1), [Mo₂O₃(PySe)₄] (2) and [Mo₂O₃(4-CF₃-PymS)₄] (3) were obtained by similar reactions of the [MoO₂Cl₂(DME)] precursor with the corresponding heterocyclic bidentate (N,X) ligands, X = S, Se, where PyS, PySe and 4-CF₃-PymS are the anions of pyridine-2-thione, pyridine-2-selenolato and 4-trifluoromethyl-2-pyrimidinthiol, respectively. All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, NMR, EI-MS spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The crystal structures of 1–3 all include the common [Mo₂O₃]⁴⁺ core. Compounds 1 and 2 are isostructural. The catalytic oxo-transfer properties of the molybdenum(V) compounds 1 and 2 were studied by the use of PPh₃ in DMSO with a considerably higher catalytic activity for the thionato containing complex 1 than for its selenolato containing analogue 2.     

Asymptotic completeness for a new class of Stark effect Hamiltonians

Existence and completeness of the wave operators is shown for the Stark effect Hamiltonian in one dimension with a potentialV =W, whereW is a bounded function with four bounded derivatives. This class of potentials include some almost periodic functions and periodic functions with average zero over a period (Stark-Wannier Hamiltonians). In the last section we discuss classical particle scattering for the same class of potentials.Partially supported by NSF-grant DMS-8401748