Survey of residual tetracyclines in kidneys of diseased animals in Aichi Prefecture, Japan (1985-1997)

A survey was conducted to determine the incidence of tetracycline antibiotic (TCAs) residues in the kidneys of slaughtered animals that did not pass inspection for human consumption by the Japanese Food Sanitation Law and the Meat Inspection Law at the slaughterhouses in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, from April 1985 to March 1998. The kidneys were analyzed by the AOAC Official Method 995.09. Among 424 animals (147 cattle and 277 pigs), 131 (30.9%) were contaminated with TCAs, including 69 (16.3%) with chlortetracycline (CTC), 61 (14.4%) with oxytetracycline (OTC), 3 (0.7%) with tetracycline (TC), and 1 (0.2%) with doxycycline (DC). One sample (cattle kidney) was contaminated with both OTC and DC. The frequencies of OTC and TC residues were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in cattle than in pigs, whereas, the frequency of CTC was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in pigs. Pig kidney samples collected in 1991-1997 had significantly higher incidences of TCAs and CTC (p < 0.01) residues than those in 1985-1986.     

Submillimeter-wave ESR measurements of Ca1−xCuO2 (x = 0.164) with edge-sharing CuO2 chains

Quasi-one-dimensional (1-D) cupric oxide Ca_1?xCuO₂ (x = 0.164) is the system with 25–40% hole-doped edge-sharing CuO₂ chains. However, the holes are almost localized in Ca_1?xCuO₂ and its magnetic susceptibility with a peak at 30 K was explained by the model considering both 1-D antiferromagnetic chains and spin dimers (Z. Hiroi, M. Okumura, Y. Nabeshima, T. Yamada, M. Takano: J. Phys. Soc. Jpn.69, 1824, 2000). To clarify the magnetic nature of Ca_1?xCuO₂, we performed submillimeter-wave electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements on a powder sample of Ca_0.83?6CuO₂. The resonance above 12 K showed typical powder ESR of Cu²⁺ and theg-values were determined to be g∥= 2.33 and g_⊥ = 2.06 from the analysis. The resonance below 12 K changed completely from ESR. The frequency-field relation of ESR at 1.8 K clearly showed the easy-axis type antiferromagnetic resonance.     

Non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis of p-quinone anion radicals.

The electrophoretic detection of two kinds of p-quinone anion radicals arising from the electrolysis of benzoquinone and chloranil was achieved by employing an acetonitrile medium. Sufficient dehydration of a running solution was necessary for the detection of the benzoquinone anion radical. Oxygen in the running solution also caused a serious decrease in the amount of the benzoquinone anion radical during electrophoresis. The addition of methanol as a hydrogen-donor decreased the electrophoretic mobility of the benzoquinone anion radical significantly, while that of the chloranil anion radical was little changed. This result is interpreted in terms of hydrogen-bonding interaction between the p-quinone anion radicals and methanol, reflecting the magnitude of their proton-accepting ability (benzoquinone anion radical > chloranil anion radical).     

Functionalized pyrolytic highly oriented graphite polymer film for surface‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry in environmental analysis

The pyrolytic highly oriented graphite polymer film (PGS) was first employed to analyze low‐mass analytes in environmental analysis by surface‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI‐MS). PGS is a synthetic uniform and highly oriented graphite polymer film with high thermal anisotropic conductivity. We have found that negative ion mode SALDI‐MS using oxidized PGS (PGS‐SALDI‐MS) can be used to detect [M–H]^? ions from perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and other perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids when the PGS surface is modified with the cationic polymer polyethyleneimine (PEI). The signal intensity of PFOA when employing the PEI modification showed a ten‐fold increase over that obtained from desorption/ionization on porous silicon (DIOS). PFOA was quantified using PGS‐SALDI‐MS and the calibration curve showed a wide linear dynamic range of response (20–1000 ppb). The combination of atmospheric pressure ionization and PGS (AP‐PGS‐SALDI) showed greater signal intensity than vacuum PGS‐SALDI for deprotonated PFOA. Several other environmentally important chemicals, including perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid, pentachlorophenol, bisphenol A, 4‐hydroxy‐2‐chlorobiphenyl, and benzo[a]pyrene, were also successfully used to evaluate PGS‐SALDI‐MS. In addition, we found that nonafluoro‐1‐butanesulfonic acid was able to produce protonated peptides in positive ion PGS‐SALDI‐MS, but that perfluoropentanoic acid and trifluoroacetic acid were not. It is suggested that perfluoroalkylsulfonic acids are better protonating agents than perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids in SALDI‐MS. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Selective separation of water–ethanol mixture through synthetic polymer membranes having carboxylic acid as a functional group

Separation of water–ethanol mixture through a membrane was carried out by pervaporation using a membrane which provided a hydrogen-bonding interaction. A membrane obtained from poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylonitrile) was effective for a selective separation of water from aqueous ethanol solution by pervaporation technique. Spectroscopic and flux analyses verified that this high selectivity toward water was attributed to the hydrogen-bonding interaction between water and acrylic acid (carboxylic acid) unit in the membrane. On the other hand, a membrane from poly(acrylic acid-co-styrene) preferentially permeated ethanol in the low water feed concentration region.     

Application of a coated-wire electrode to an acetylcholine sensor

An acetylcholine sensor was constructed with acetylcholinesterase which was immobilized on a hydrogen ion-selective coated-wire electrode and fundamental properties of this sensor were investigated. Acetylcholine could be determined in the range 0.1–10 rum with response times of 3–10 min. The effects of pH and concentration of buffer solution on the determination and fluctuations in the data obtained with this sensor were also investigated. Possibilities for the practical use of this acetylcholine micro-sensor are suggested.