The effect of γ-irradiation and polymer composition on the stability of PLG polymer and microspheres

The effects of lactide:glycolide ratio and γ-irradiation on the stability characteristics of poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (dl-PLG) co-polymer and microspheres were studied. Samples containing 50:50, 65:35, 75:25, 85:15 and 95:5 lactide:glycolide were studied as both the raw polymer and microspheres. The samples were characterised and degradation was monitored using a variety of spectroscopic, chromatographic, thermal and particle analysis techniques. The lactide:glycolide ratio was shown to be an important parameter in controlling the degradation of PLG co-polymer, especially in the microspheres, and the raw polymer samples were observed to be less stable than the microspheres. γ-Irradiation was shown to reduce the molecular weight of the PLG samples without significantly affecting the polydispersity, suggesting a random chain scission degradation mechanism. The detrimental effects of γ-irradiation were shown to continue on storage of the samples for 4 weeks in the solid state at ambient and accelerated conditions.     

An automated fuel element scanning system

This paper describes an automated fuel element scanning system, based upon gamma-ray spectroscopy, that has been developed at the Oak Ridge Research Reactor. The scanning system is located in the reactor pool and allows fuel elements to be scanned nondestructively at various intervals during their core life. Fuel elements are located 430 cm beneath the pool. Gamma-ray measurements (aided by a collimating assembly) are made using a GeLi detector positioned above the pool water. Measurements of¹³⁷Cs count rates from relatively cold elements indicate that the counting data obtained using this apparatus is reproducible within 5%. Power distribution in the reactor's core (element by element) has been derived from¹⁴⁰La counting data. The method of determining power is discussed briefly and some example results are presented.     

The synthesis and stereochemical assignment of exo-7-phenyl-2,5-dioxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane

The synthesis and stereochemical assignment of exo-7-phenyl-2,5-dioxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane is reported. The stereochemical assignment was made based on data obtained from variable temperature nmr spectra.     

Synthesis and stereochemical assignment of endo-7-phenyl-2,5-dioxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane

The synthesis and stereochemical assignment of endo-7-phenyl-2,5-dioxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane is reported. The stereochemical assignment was made based on both spectral and chemical data.     

Novel nucleoside analogues via direct attack of carbon : Nucleophiles on nucleosides containing epoxy-sugars

Direct ring-opening of the epoxide ring in 1-(5′-$\text{O}$-trityl-2′,3′-anhydro-β-D-lyxo-furanosyl) uracil (1) by lithium acetylide or vinylmagnesium bromide/cuprous iodide affords the corresponding 5′-$\text{O}$-trity]-3′-$\text{C}$-substituted-3′-deoxy-$\text{ara}$-uridine species.     

The electronic structure of ArF and Ar2F

Calculations have been performed on the electronic structure, potential energy curves and radiative transition probabilities of ArF and Ar₂F. Our predicted emission spectra for ArF indicates that only the B²Σ⁺_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} → X²Σ⁺_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} transition exhibits a large transition moment and hence a short (≈5 ns) radiative lifetime. Calculations for Ar₂F indicate that the bound upper ionic state has ²B₂ symmetry with ArAr and ArF bond lengths similar to those in the corresponding diatomic species. The terminating state also has ²B₂ symmetry and this polyatomic system should exhibit a relatively long radiative lifetime (≈200 ns)     

Testing partonic charge symmetry at a high-energy electron collider

We examine the possibility that one could measure partonic charge symmetry violation (CSV) by comparing neutrino or antineutrino production through charged-current reactions induced by electrons or positrons at a possible electron collider at the LHC. We calculate the magnitude of CSV that might be expected at such a facility. We show that this is likely to be a several percent effect, substantially larger than the typical CSV effects expected for partonic reactions.     

Analysis of endoproteinase Arg C action on adrenocorticotrophic hormone by capillary electrophoresis and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

The specificity and rate of cleavage of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) peptide bonds by endoproteinase Arg C were analyzed using capillary electrophoresis (CE) and reversed-phase (C18) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Acidic cleavage products were readily resolved by CE in uncoated capillaries using low ionic strength electrolytes. However, products predicted to have a net positive charge greater than 2 or more than 4 positively charged groups per peptide did not migrate out from the capillary at low ionic strength. Addition of salts and zwitterions to the electrolyte decreased capillary-peptide interactions such that all of the ACTH peptides examined were eluted with high efficiency separation by CE. Commercially obtained endoproteinase Arg C preparations exhibited peptidase activity at Lys-15-Lys16 and at Lys16-Arg17 in addition to the expected cleavage at Arg-X bonds. ACTH peptide bond cleavage rates for Arg8-Trp9, Arg17-Arg-18, Lys15-Lys16, and Lys16-Arg17 were 1.46, 0.096, 0.57, and 0.029 mumol min-1 mg-1 respectively. CE separations generally exhibited better resolution and were accomplished in shorter times than C18 HPLC separations. These properties make CE a particularly appropriate method for kinetic analysis of proteolytic enzyme action on peptide substrates.     

Thermomorphic polyethylene-supported olefin metathesis catalysts

The preparation of polyethylene-oligomer (PE(olig))-supported N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHCs) and their Ru complexes is described. These complexes are structurally analogous to their low molecular weight counterparts and can serve as thermomorphic, recoverable/recyclable ring-closing metathesis (RCM) catalysts. Because of the insolubility of PE(olig)-supported species at 25 °C, such complexes can perform homogeneous RCM reactions at 65 °C and, upon cooling, precipitate as solids. This allows for their quantitative separation from solutions of products.