One‐dimensional decavanadate chains in the crystal structure of Rb4[Na(H2O)6][HV10O28]·4H2O

New decavanadate minerals, the products of the leaching or metasomatic processes, are possible in nature via Na/Rb removal/inclusion reactions. As part of our search for novel vanadate phases with varying functionalities, a new phase, tetrarubidium hexaaquasodium hydrogen decavanadate tetrahydrate, Rb₄[Na(H₂O)₆][HV₁₀O₂₈]·4H₂O, has been synthesized by the hydrothermal technique at 553 K. Ten shared edges of V‐centred octahedra form monoprotonated decavanadate cages, which are joined together via hydrogen bonds into one‐dimensional chains parallel to the [101] direction. Within these chains, H atoms are sandwiched between neighbouring polyanions. Na and Rb atoms and H₂O molecules occupy interstices flanked by the anionic chains providing additional crosslinking in the structure. This compound is the second decavanadate with P2/n symmetry. Structural relationships among protonated and deprotonated decavanadates with inorganic cations, including minerals of the pascoite group, are discussed.     

Maleic anhydride and acetylene plasma copolymer surfaces for SPR immunosensing

We report on the successful application of carboxyl-rich plasma polymerized (PP) films as a matrix layer for bioreceptor immobilization in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunosensing. Composition and chemical properties of the carboxyl-rich PP films deposited from a mixture of maleic anhydride and acetylene were investigated. Changes in the films stored in air, water, and buffer were studied and the involved chemical changes were described. Performance in SPR immunosensing was evaluated on interactions of human serum albumin (HSA) with a specific monoclonal antibody. The comparison with the mixed self-assembled monolayer of mercaptoundecanoic acid and mercaptohexanol (MUA/MCH) and one of the most widely used surfaces for SPR, the 2D and 3D carboxymethylated dextran (CMD), was presented to show the efficacy of plasma polymerized matrix layers for biosensing. The PP film-based SPR immunosensor provided a similar detection limit of HSA (100 ng/mL) as MUA/MCH- (100 ng/mL) and 3D CMD (50 ng/mL)-based sensors. However, the response levels were about twice higher in case of the PP film-based immunosensor than in case of MUA/MCH-based alternative. The PP film surfaces had similar binding capacity towards antibody as the 3D CMD layers. The response of PP film-based sensor towards HSA was comparable to 3D CMD-based sensor up to 2.5 μg/mL. For the higher concentrations (> 10 μg/mL), the response of PP film-based immunosensor was lower due to inaccessibility of active sites of the immobilized antibody inside the flat PP film surface. We have demonstrated that due to its high stability and cost-effective straightforward preparation, the carboxyl-rich PP films represent an efficient alternative to self-assembled monolayers (SAM) and dextran-based layers in label-free immunosensing.

Graphical abstract

     

Amine-Iodine Adducts as Simple but Effective Catalysts for the Synthesis of Organic Carbonates from Epoxides and CO2

Catalysis Surveys from Asia - New catalysts prepared by simple mixing of molecular iodine and inexpensive monodonor amines can efficiently catalyze the coupling of CO2 with different epoxides at...     

Selective amidoalkylation of cyclic enamino ketones with N-acyliminium salts of 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines

A series of cyclic enaminoketones were selectively amidoalkylated at the α-carbon in reactions with acyliminium reagents derived from 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines.     

Concerning the interconnections of some parameters of self-organizing oxyhydrate gels and their experimental determination

The appearance of a pulsating current in the elongated cell filled with the zirconium oxyhydrate gel under short-circuited electrodes and constant mixing was shown. The pulsating character of the current is expressed in the form of current splashes. The reason for the appearance of current splashes is the self-organization of the gel with time; to be more exact, the reason is the constant conformational reorganization of the oxyhydrate matrix. When magnetic field acts on the zirconium oxyhydrate gel, increases in both the current values and the current splashes are observed. The increase of the gel particle sizes in a magnetic field is detected. Thus, it is of interest to consider the connection between the period of appearance of current splashes, splashes amplitudes and the sizes of gel aggregate regions.

In this regard, it is important to find out the connection between the parameters of the self-organizing gel cell. We suppose that:

1. In the process of self-organizing, the concentration of monomers forming the matrix in a gel area may change with time.

2. Solution of the task is independent of time. Generally speaking, it is possible to find a time-dependant solution of the task, but it is hardly worth doing.

A novel mass spectrometry cluster for high-throughput quantitative proteomics

We have developed and implemented a novel mass spectrometry (MS) platform combining the advantages of high mass accuracy and resolving power of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) with the economy and speed of multiple ion traps for tandem mass spectrometry. The instruments are integrated using novel algorithms and software and work in concert as one system. Using chromatographic time compression, a single expensive FTICR mass spectrometer can match the throughput of multiple relatively inexpensive ion trap instruments. Liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry data from the two types of spectrometers are aligned and combined to hybrid datasets, from which peptides are identified using accurate mass from the FTICR data and tandem mass spectra from the ion trap data. In addition, the high resolving power and dynamic range of a 12 tesla FTICR also allows precise label-free quantitation. Using two ion traps in parallel with one LC allows simultaneous MS/MS experiments and optimal application of collision induced dissociation and electrontransfer dissociation throughout the chromatographic separation for increased proteome coverage, characterization of post-translational modifications and/or simultaneous measurement in positive and negative ionization mode. An FTICR-ion trap cluster can achieve similar performance and sample throughput as multiple hybrid ion trap-FTICR instruments, but at a lower cost. We here describe the first such FTICR-ion trap cluster, its performance and the idea of chromatographic compression.     

Rosmarinic Acid and Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lavandula vera</Emphasis> MM Cell Suspension Culture: A Comparative Study

The growth and intracellular protein content of lavender (Lavandula vera MM) cell suspension culture was followed along with some antioxidant defense system members—non-enzymatic (rosmarinic acid) and enzymatic [superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) and catalase (EC 1.11.1.6)]. It was found that the media content and the cultivation mode strongly influenced the production of plant defense compounds as well as the ratio between non-enzymatic and enzymatic ones. The bioreactor culture contains about two times more rosmarinic acid, superoxide dismutase, and catalase compared to the shake-flask cultivation. These findings are discussed with respect to the relative stress levels and plant antioxidant orchestra system. It was concluded that investigated defense system components (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) were closely associated in a complex balance. The three isoenzyme forms of SOD (Cu/ZnSOD, FeSOD, and MnSOD) in the cells of Lavandula vera were revealed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis, and the FeSOD isoform exhibited highest activity.     

Application of the Low Frequency Raman Spectroscopy for Studying Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylenes

In the frequency range below ∼150 cm⁻¹, the longitudinal acoustic modes (LAM) localized along straight chain segments (SCS) of macromolecules emerge in the Raman spectra of linear semicrystalline polymers. The LAM frequency is inversely proportional to the SCS length; therefore, the LAM band contour reflects the SCS length distribution in a sample. The opportunities given one by the low-frequency Raman spectroscopy for studying the ordered structures in polyethylene are demonstrated and discussed. The illustrating material consists of both previously published and original data on nucleation and transformation of the ensemble of SCS in powder-like, gelled, and drawn ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.