The potential use of continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry as a tool in forensic soil analysis: a preliminary report

The use of continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (CF-IRMS) as a tool in soil analysis has been assessed as part of a larger study using a number of geological techniques applied in a forensic context. Carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios, delta13C and delta15N, have been analysed to investigate situations which have arisen from crime casework. Three questions have been addressed: the role of spatial variation found over the short-scale (less than 20 m), temporal variation over a period of almost 2 years, and the variation found between source soils and soil transferred to footwear soles during a simple one-stage transfer process. Results are presented for the three experiments. The use of carbon and nitrogen isotopes has been shown to be useful in discriminating between soil types and sample locations, even when sampling occurs at a different time (as might be the case with a crime scene). In cases of primary transfer (from a source soil by a one-stage transfer to another surface, in this case, shoes and boots), the combination of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios is a valuable tool in discriminating between sites and in showing the relationship of the transferred samples to the relevant source soils. Used in combination with other analytical techniques, isotopic analysis may prove to be a useful tool in a forensic context.     

Fabrication of nanoscale metallic spirals using phospholipid microtubule organizational templates

We describe the fabrication of metallic Cu spiral/helical nanostructures prepared via selective electroless metallization of a phospholipid microtubule template. The metallization template is created through selective, sequential adsorption of the oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, sodium poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI), onto nanoscale seams naturally occurring on the microtubule surface. A negatively charged Pd(II) nanoparticle catalyst is bound to the terminal cationic PEI layer of the multilayer film and initiates selective template metallization to form the helical Cu nanostructures. Details of the process are presented, and a mechanism and factors affecting the control of the feature critical dimensions are discussed.     

Computation of the physio-chemical properties and data mining of large molecular collections

Very large data sets of molecules screened against a broad range of targets have become available due to the advent of combinatorial chemistry. This information has led to the realization that ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) and toxicity issues are important to consider prior to library synthesis. Furthermore, these large data sets provide a unique and important source of information regarding what types of molecular shapes may interact with specific receptor or target classes. Thus, the requirement for rapid and accurate data mining tools became paramount. To address these issues Pharmacopeia, Inc. formed a computational research group, The Center for Informatics and Drug Discovery (CIDD).* In this review we cover the work done by this group to address both in silico ADME modeling and data mining issues faced by Pharmacopeia because of the availability of a large and diverse collection (over 6 million discrete compounds) of drug-like molecules. In particular, in the data mining arena we discuss rapid docking tools and how we employ them, and we describe a novel data mining tool based on a ID representation of a molecule followed by a molecular sequence alignment step. For the ADME area we discuss the development and application of absorption, blood-brain barrier (BBB) and solubility models. Finally, we summarize the impact the tools and approaches might have on the drug discovery process.     

Synthesis of two new crown ethers containing selenium and the complexation of one of them with silver and lead

Two new macrocyclic crown ethers containing one or two selenium donor atoms have been prepared. Diselena-18-crown-6 (2) was found to transport silver ions through a methylene chloride bulk membrane at about the same rate as the analogous dithia- (3) and diaza-18-crown-6 (4) compounds and transported lead ions about the same as dithia-18-crown-6 but better than diaza-18-crown-6.     

Density-functional theory calculations of optical rotatory dispersion in the nonresonant and resonant frequency regions

The complex linear response function, which can be employed for calculations of second-order molecular properties in regions of strong absorption, is here extended to encompass the mixed electric-dipole-magnetic-dipole polarizability. The mixed electric-dipole-magnetic-dipole polarizability determines the optical rotation and, when absorption is taken into account, the full anomalous optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) spectra of chiral molecules can be calculated using first-principle quantum-chemical methods. Gauge-origin independence of the results is ensured through the use of London atomic orbitals. To illustrate the importance of taking the absorption process properly into account, we here apply this methodology to the study of the anomalous ORD of hydrogen peroxide, 3R-methylcyclohexanone, 4R-1,1-dimethyl-[3]-(1,2)-ferrocenophan-2-on, and the D(2) isomer of the C(84) fullerene.     

Relative reactivities in vinyl copolymerization

From data in the literature on relative rates of copolymerization it has been possible to evaluate two constants, Q and e, characteristic of an individual monomer, which appear to account satisfactorily for its behavior in copolymerization. The constant Q describes the “general monomer reactivity” and is apparently related to possibilities for stabilization in a radical adduct. The constant e takes account of polar factors influencing copolymerization.     

The Role of Carnitine Acyltransferases in the Maintenance of Cell Function

Summary. Carnitine acyltransferases catalyse equilibria between acyl-CoA esters and the respective acylcarnitines. Therefore, they act not only as pathway enzymes, but also as modulators of acyl-CoA concentrations within individual sub-cellular compartments. Because acyl-CoA esters are potent biologically active metabolites, carnitine acyltransferase activities are potentially able to affect a diverse range of physiological processes, ranging from insulin secretion, to appetite control, and insulin sensitivity of tissues. The distinctive subcellular distributions of the different types of carnitine acyltransferases also enables them to participate in the transfer of acyl moieties across intracellular membranes, and of particular acylcarnitine esters across the plasma membrane and into the plasma. Pharmacological strategies that make use of these properties to improve cell function are discussed.     

Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of coumarin and related compounds

Fourier-transform ¹³C NMR spectra of nine coumarinoid compounds of medicinal interest are reported. All of the carbon resonances are assigned with the aid of various spectral techniques and stable isotopic labeling. The substituent effects on the chemical shifts in several systems are also discussed.     

Ion interaction approach to calculations of volumetric properties of aqueous multiple-solute electrolyte solutions

The ion interaction approach developed by Pitzer was used for the prediction of volumetric properties of mixed electrolyte solutions at 25°C based on parameters calculated from experimental data for single-solute electrolyte solutions. Such an approach was shown to be especially effective for application to the calculation of volumetric properties of natural hypersaline brines and of industrial electrolyte solutions of large complexity. The use of the latest recommended sets of volumetric ion interaction parameters for single electrolyte solutions and symmetrical mixing parameters for Na–K–Cl ion combinations considerably improved the precision of the density calculations of highly concentrated mixed electrolyte solutions and of various natural waters.     

Investigation of cationic organic dyes used as molecular probes by liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry

The positive-ion mass spectra of twelve organic dyes used as molecular probes were measured using liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (LSIMS). Nine of the twelve dyes were singly charged cations and the other three were doubly charged cations. The mass spectra of each of the dyes in m-nitrobenzyl alcohol contain abundant signals for the intact cation, C⁺ (singly charged cation dyes), or for singly-charged forms of the doubly charged cation formed by proton loss, [C²⁺? H⁺]⁺, or halogen counter ion attachment, [C²⁺ + X^?]⁺. Fragmentation is usually minimal under the conditions used. However, the cations of five of the singly charged compounds appear to undergo charge-remote fragmentation. Collision-induced dissociation experiments on a hybrid mass spectrometer of EBqQ geometry at collision energies up to 300 eV failed to access this fragmentation pathway. In contrast to the LSIMS of many other doubly charged organic compounds, two of the dicationic dyes produced a doubly charged ion of reasonable abundance (2–20%) in the mass spectrum. When glycerol was used as a matrix solvent, the addition of the matrix modifier trifluoroacetic acid increased the abundance of C²⁺.