The use of stable carbon isotope analysis to detect the abuse of testosterone in cattle.

The use of stable carbon isotope analysis to detect the administration of anabolic steroids to cattle was investigated. Samples were extracted by solid-phase extraction on C18 cartridges. Stable isotope ratios (13C:12C) were measured by gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS) of the underivatised extracts. A programmed temperature vaporiser (PTV) injector was installed in the GC-IRMS system, which conferred a number of advantages. First, it allowed large volumes of sample to be injected whilst the injector liner was cool. The solvent was subsequently vented to the atmosphere prior to transfer of the sample to the GC column. Thus a significantly greater amount of sample could be presented for analysis, thereby increasing the sensitivity. Second, by this means virtually all the solvent could be removed prior to analysis. This eliminates solvent peak tailing, which can be a major problem in GC-IRMS. Finally, the PTV allowed the use of higher initial GC oven temperatures, which in turn facilitated the analysis of underivatised steroids by reducing the GC run time and improving the chromatographic peak shape. The carbon isotope composition of 5 beta-androstane-3 alpha,17 alpha-diol, the major metabolite of testosterone found in bovine bile, was measured in bile samples from untreated cattle and from cattle injected intramuscularly with testosterone or a mixture of testosterone esters. There was considerable inter-animal variation in the values obtained and there was no significant difference between samples from treated and untreated animals. However, when the isotopic composition of the metabolite was normalised with respect to that of an endogenous reference compound (cholesterol) in the same sample, the difference between treated and untreated animals become statistically significant.     

Computer simulation study of pattern transfer in AB diblock copolymer film adsorbed on a heterogeneous surface

In this work we investigate how a pattern imposed in a copolymer film at a certain distance from the surface propagates through the film onto an adsorbing heterogeneous surface. We bias the copolymer film to adopt a specified target pattern and then use simulation to design a surface pattern that helps the adsorbed film to maintain that target pattern. We examine the effect of varying the copolymer chain length, the size of the target pattern, and the distance from the surface where the target pattern is applied, z', on the extent of pattern transfer. For each chain length, target pattern, and z' we compare the energy of the system when a pattern is applied in the bulk to the energy when no pattern is applied in order to understand why a certain pattern size is transferred to the surface with higher fidelity than the others. At constant chain length, pattern transfer is best when the pattern size brings the energy of the system close to the energy when no pattern is applied. At constant pattern size, pattern transfer is best in the systems with longer chains. This is because longer chains are more likely to adsorb as brushes and loops which then helps transfer the pattern through the adsorbed film down to the surface.     

The development of an 18-locus Y-STR system for forensic casework

The aim of the present work was to improve the discriminatory potential, and hence the probative value, of Y-STR-based testing by extending the set of Y chromosome STR loci available for forensic casework. In accordance with the requirements of a Y chromosome multiplex analytical system developed specifically for forensic casework use, we have sought to maximize the number of loci able to be co-amplified, ensure appropriate assay sensitivity (1–2 ng of input genomic DNA), balance inter-locus signals and minimize confounding female DNA artifacts. Two Y chromosome STR systems, multiplex I (MPI) and multiplex II (MPII), have been developed which permit the robust co-amplification of 18 Y-STRs. The loci include DYS19, DYS385(a) and (b), DYS388, DYS389I and II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS425, DYS434, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, Y-GATA-C4, Y-GATA-A7.1 (DYS460) and Y-GATA-H4. The two multiplex systems are robust over a wide range of primer, magnesium, and DNA polymerase concentrations and perform well under a variety of cycling conditions. Complete male haplotypes can be obtained with as little as 100–250 pg of template DNA. Although a limited number of female DNA artifacts are observed in mixed stains in which the male DNA comprises 1/100 of the total, the male profile is easily discernible. Slightly modified versions of MPI and MPII demonstrate a significant reduction in female artifacts. Thus, it may not be necessary to employ a differential extraction strategy to obtain a male haplotype (or haplotypes in the case of multiple male donors) in cases of sexual assault. The potential utility of MPI and MPII for forensic casework is exemplified by their ability to dissect out the male haplotype in post-coital vaginal swabs and to determine the number of male donors in mixed semen stains.This study has emphasized the need for novel Y-STR multiplexes developed for forensic use to undergo a series of validation exercises that go beyond simply optimizing the PCR reaction conditions. Specifically, stringent performance checks on their efficacy need to be carried out using casework-type specimens in order to determine potential confounding effects from female DNA.     

Approximate electric potentials

It is shown that the electrostatic energy functional is the only one available for fitting a given potential using approximate electric potentials arising from point charges. The significance of this fitting is examined in terms of splines. To illustrate the method the electron densities of atoms are modelled using point charges at the vertices of tetrahedra and of cubes.     

Effect of additives on the stereochemical integrity and reactivity of alpha-alkoxycarbonyl alkenylcopper intermediates. Optimal conditions for the synthesis of isomerically pure tetrasubstituted alkenes

A systematic study on the effect of additives on the isomerizability of 1-alkoxycarbonyl alkenylcopper(I) intermediates revealed that the lithium chelator 12-crown-4 is significantly more efficient than HMPA at retarding isomerization. On the other hand, 12-crown-4 alone is unable to promote effective coupling with alkyl halides. The combination of 12-crown-4 and a reduced amount of HMPA, however, led to an improved procedure for the preparation of useful, isomerically pure tetrasubstituted alkenes such as allylation reagents and skipped dienes.     

Syntheses and photophysical properties of some 5(2)-aryl-2(5)-(4-pyridyl)oxazoles and related oxadiazoles and furans

A number of 5-aryl-2-(4-pyridyl)oxazoles, a 2-aryl-5-(4-pyridyl)oxazole, the related oxadiazole and furan, several 2-(4-pyridyl)cycloalkano[d]oxazoles, and many of their quaternary salts were prepared. No single standard synthesis was effective for preparation of more than a few of the 25 free bases described; methods often unique to a base were employed. Minor variations in structure sometimes produced large differences in absorption and emission wavelengths, as well as in the magnitude of the extinction coefficient. The salts are of interest as laser dyes, scintillation fluors, biological stains, and shifters for luminescent solar concentrators.     

Atom transfer radical homo‐ and block copolymerization of methyl 1‐bicyclobutanecarboxylate

A non‐olefinic monomer, methyl 1‐bicyclobutanecarboxylate (MBC), was successfully polymerized by the controlled/“living” atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique, resulting in a well‐defined homopolymer, PMBC, with only cyclobutane ring units in the polymer chain. An AB block copolymer poly(methyl 1‐bicyclobutanecarboxylate)‐b‐polystyrene (PMBC‐b‐PS), having an all‐ring unit segment, was also synthesized with narrow polydispersity and designed number‐average molecular weight in addition to precise end groups. The ¹H NMR spectra, glass‐transition temperature, and thermal stability of PMBC, PMBC‐b‐PS, and PS‐b‐PMBC were investigated. The experimental results showed that the cyclobutane rings in the two block polymers improved their thermal stability. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1929–1936, 2002     

Modeling the active sites in metalloenzymes. 3. Density functional calculations on models for [Fe]-hydrogenase: structures and vibrational frequencies of the observed redox forms and the reaction mechanism at the Diiron Active Center.

Optimized structures for the redox species of the diiron active site in [Fe]-hydrogenase as observed by FTIR and for species in the catalytic cycle for the reversible H(2) oxidation have been determined by density-functional calculations on the active site model, [(L)(CO)(CN)Fe(mu-PDT)(mu-CO)Fe(CO)(CN)(L')](q)(L = H(2)O, CO, H(2), H(-); PDT = SCH(2)CH(2)CH(2)S, L' = CH(3)S(-), CH(3)SH; q = 0, 1-, 2-, 3-). Analytical DFT frequencies on model complexes (mu-PDT)Fe(2)(CO)(6) and [(mu-PDT)Fe(2)(CO)(4)(CN)(2)](2)(-) are used to calibrate the calculated CN(-) and CO frequencies against the measured FTIR bands in these model compounds. By comparing the predicted CN(-) and CO frequencies from DFT frequency calculations on the active site model with the observed bands of D. vulgaris [Fe]-hydrogenase under various conditions, the oxidation states and structures for the diiron active site are proposed. The fully oxidized, EPR-silent form is an Fe(II)-Fe(II) species. Coordination of H(2)O to the empty site in the enzyme's diiron active center results in an oxidized inactive form (H(2)O)Fe(II)-Fe(II). The calculations show that reduction of this inactive form releases the H(2)O to provide an open coordination site for H(2). The partially oxidized active state, which has an S = (1)/(2) EPR signal, is an Fe(I)-Fe(II) species. Fe(I)-Fe(I) species with and without bridging CO account for the fully reduced, EPR-silent state. For this fully reduced state, the species without the bridging CO is slightly more stable than the structure with the bridging CO. The correlation coefficient between the predicted CN(-) and CO frequencies for the proposed model species and the measured CN(-) and CO frequencies in the enzyme is 0.964. The proposed species are also consistent with the EPR, ENDOR, and M?ssbauer spectroscopies for the enzyme states. Our results preclude the presence of Fe(III)-Fe(II) or Fe(III)-Fe(III) states among those observed by FTIR. A proposed reaction mechanism (catalytic cycle) based on the DFT calculations shows that heterolytic cleavage of H(2) can occur from (eta(2)-H(2))Fe(II)-Fe(II) via a proton transfer to "spectator" ligands. Proton transfer to a CN(-) ligand is thermodynamically favored but kinetically unfavorable over proton transfer to the bridging S of the PDT. Proton migration from a metal hydride to a base (S, CN, or basic protein site) results in a two-electron reduction at the metals and explains in part the active site's dimetal requirement and ligand framework which supports low-oxidation-state metals. The calculations also suggest that species with a protonated Fe-Fe bond could be involved if the protein could accommodate such species.     

A novel synthetic route to 2-halo-3,4-dicyanopyridines

2-Bromo-3,4-dicyanopyridine 2 was obtained in moderate yield by reacting 1,1,2,2-tetracyano-3-trimethylsiloxycyclobutane 1 with phosphorus tribromide. Similarly, reaction of 1 with chlorinating reagents such as thionyl chloride and oxalyl chloride led to the corresponding 2-chloro-3,4-dicyanopyridine 3 in 40% yield. A reaction mechanism is suggested.