No-D NMR (no-deuterium proton NMR) spectroscopy: a simple yet powerful method for analyzing reaction and reagent solutions

[reaction: see text] The title technique is a convenient and powerful method for directly monitoring or assaying any reaction mixture or reagent solution. Examples of some common processes (Fischer esterification, lithiation, butyllithium/THF compatibility, olefin metathesis, and a quantification assay), each interrogated in its native solvent, are presented. The spectral data are easy to acquire, and the information content makes a compelling case for routine use of No-D NMR spectroscopy.     

Nanoscratch-induced deformation behaviour in B4C particle reinforced ultrafine grained Al alloy composites: a novel diagnostic approach

We report on the novel application of nanoscratch characterization to provide insight into the plasticity mechanisms responsible for the behaviour of composites. Accordingly, we conduct deformation characterization with nanoscratch testing (DCNT) to study the deformation behaviour of two B₄C reinforced ultrafine grained Al alloy tri-modal composites with average B₄C particle sizes of ~1–6?μm and ~500?nm, respectively. To highlight the type of mechanistic information revealed in a DCNT study of composites, we concentrate on the influence of B₄C particle size on deformation mechanisms.     

RP‐HPLC determination of phenylalkanoids and monoterpenoids in Rhodiola rosea and identification by LC‐ESI‐TOF

An HPLC method permitting the simultaneous determination of fourteen analytes (phenylalkanoids and monoterpenoids) from the roots of Rhodiola rosea was developed. A separation was achieved within 35 min using C₁₈ column material and a water–acetonitrile mobile phase, both containing a 0.05% phosphoric acid gradient system and a temperature of 53°C. The method was validated for linearity, repeatability, limits of detection and limits of quantification. The limits of detection and limits of quantification of 14 phenylalkanoids and monoterpenoids were found to be 0.20–1.0 and 0.5–3.5 µg/mL, respectively. The wavelengths used for quantification of phenylalkanoids and monoterpenoids with a diode array detector were 205, 220 and 251 nm. The method was used to analyze the roots of two species of Rhodiola and commercial extracts of R. rosea and provides preliminary evidence of phytochemical differences between North American and Eurasian populations of R. rosea. LC–mass spectrometry coupled with electrospray ionization (ESI) interface method is described for the identification of phenylalkanoids and monoterpenoids in various Rhodiola samples. This method involved the use of the [M + H]⁺, [M + NH₄]⁺ and [M + Na]⁺ ions in the positive ion mode with extractive ion monitoring (EIM). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The conserved protein kinase-A target motif in synapsin of Drosophila is effectively modified by pre-mRNA editing

Background  

Synapsins are abundant synaptic vesicle associated phosphoproteins that are involved in the fine regulation of neurotransmitter release. The Drosophila member of this protein family contains three conserved domains (A, C, and E) and is expressed in most or all synaptic terminals. Similar to mouse mutants, synapsin knock-out flies show no obvious structural defects but are disturbed in complex behaviour, notably learning and memory.     

Self-similar solutions for infiltration of dopant into semiconductors

Communicated by J. Serrin     

Three-dimensional effects on line-of-sight visualization measurements of supersonic and hypersonic flow over cylinders

Flow visualization experiments were performed for supersonic and hypersonic nitrogen test gas flows over a cylinder. The results were used to quantify the influence of three-dimensional effects on optical line-of-sight visualization measurements. Images of cylindrical models of varying aspect ratios (length to diameter) were taken. Shock stand-off distance measurements for the models were compared with a two-dimensional approximation and numerical simulations. For aspect ratios of two and above, the two-dimensional approximation was acceptable within experimental uncertainty. The measured shock stand-off decreased by less than 5% from an asymptotic value for an infinite length cylinder. For smaller aspect ratios, a correction factor for the shock stand-off needs to be applied if comparisons between the two-dimensional approximation and experimental measurements are to be drawn. An estimate of this correction factor has been derived from an empirical fit to the available data.      

Evaluation of extraction methods for quantification of aqueous fullerenes in urine

There is a growing concern about the human and environmental health effects of fullerenes (e.g., C(60)) due to their increasing application in research, medicine, and industry. Toxicological and pharmacokinetic research requires standard methods for extraction and detection of fullerenes from biological matrices such as urine. The present study validates the use of liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) methods in conjunction with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for the quantitative determination of C(60) in human and synthetic urine as compared with ultrapure water. Glacial acetic acid, which is necessary to prevent emulsions during LLE, inhibited C(60) detection by LC-MS, but this could be mitigated with evaporation. Aqueous C(60) aggregates (nC(60)) were spiked at 180 μg/L into the components of a synthetic urine recipe to determine their individual impacts on extraction and detection. Urea, creatinine, and a complex protein (i.e., gelatin) were found to impair SPE, leading to a low recovery rate of 43 ± 4% for C(60) spiked into human urine. In contrast, C(60) was consistently recovered from synthetic matrices using LLE, and recovery in human urine was 80 ± 6%. These results suggest that LLE combined with LC-MS is suitable for studying the clearance of fullerenes from the body. LLE is a robust technique that holds promise for extracting C(60) from other complex biological matrices (e.g., blood, sweat, amniotic fluid) in toxicological studies, enabling a better understanding of the behavior of fullerenes in human and animal systems and facilitating a more comprehensive risk evaluation of fullerenes.     

Untersuchung von Milch

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Bifurcation phenomena in FitzHugh's nerve conduction equations

We consider the second order nonlinear ordinary differential equations developed by FitzHugh to simplify the fourth order current clamped Hodgkin-Huxley nerve conduction equations. We demonstrate the bifurcation, direction, and stability of a family of small periodic solutions as the current parameter I passes through a critical value. Arguments are given which suggest that this family grows to become a large periodic solution, then shrinks, collapsing onto the steady state as I passes through a second critical value. The usefulness of these results in studying the Hodgkin-Huxley equations is discussed.