Estimation scheme for level-dependent uncertainty of analytical result: application for determination of 1-hydroxypyrene in urine

The estimation scheme of uncertainty of determination of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in urine was developed analysing the main stages of the analytical procedure: (1) preparation of 1-OHP standards, (2) creation of the calibration curve for the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis method with the evaluation of recovery, (3) measuring procedure of aliquot of urine, (4) adjusting the pH of aliquot and hydrolysis with enzyme, (5) solid phase extraction, (6) concentration of the extract, (7) injection of the extract to chromatograph and analysing by the HPLC method, (8) calculation of 1-OHP mass from the calibration curve, (9) calculation of 1-OHP concentration in urine. The evaluation of the uncertainty is based on quantification of individual components. Combined uncertainty was calculated using the law of propagation of uncertainties according to the EURACHEM/CITAC guidelines. Level dependence of the uncertainty arises from the calibration curve. The limits of detection and quantification were found to be equal to 0.03 and 0.1 ng/mL, respectively. The calculated expanded level-dependent uncertainty covers 47–27–25% within the concentration range 0.03–0.1–0.4 ng/mL with the materials and equipment used. These parameters could easily be recalculated according to the proposed scheme if there are some changes in the analysis procedure.     

The polysaccharide extracts from the fungi Coprinus comatus and Coprinellus truncorum do exhibit AChE inhibitory activity

The polysaccharide (PSH) extracts from the edible mushroom species Coprinus comatus and Coprinellus truncorum were screened in liquid for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChE) activity. Both extracts were found to display inhibition of the aforementioned enzyme reaching similar IC₅₀ values of 0.62 ± 0.07 and 0.61 ± 0.03 mg/mL, respectively. According to the means of FTIR spectroscopy, these PSH extracts mostly contained β-glucans. However, the presence of some proteins and polyphenolics as minor ingredients were also detected. Compared with existing literature data for anti-AChE activity of the sugar samples, the findings within this study may be treated as a profound bioactivity. Consequently, this study puts some light on the possible use of the screened macrofungi in the palliative treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.     

Cyanato-copper(II) complexes with organic ligands,Part XXIII. Properties and structure characterization of cyanato-copper(II) complexes with aminopyridines

Summary New cyanato-copper(II) complexes with aminopyridines (ampy) were prepared and studied;viz. Cu(NCO)₂(3-ampy)₂ (- and -form), Cu(NCO)₂(3-ampy)₂(H₂O), Cu(NCO)₂(4ampy)₂, and Cu(NCO)₂(2-ampy). According to physical results, the Cu(NCO)₂L₂ complexes exhibitpseudo-octahedral structures with amine nitrogens or cyanate oxygens occupying axial sites. For - and -Cu(NCO)₂(3-ampy)₂ the crystal structure reorganization is connected with a change in axial distortion. The compound Cu(NCO)₂(2-ampy) is square pyramidal or — more probably — rhombic octahedral and its strong antiferromagnetism reveals the N-bridging function of the NCO groups.Part XXII, Ref. 9.     

Synthesis and properties of 1-(6-methoxy)-2-benzothiazolyl)-2-pyridones

Substituted ]-(6-methoxy-2-benzothiazolyt)-2-pyridones were prepared from 2-amino-6-methoxybenzathiazate through N-(6-methoxy-2-benzothiazotyl) cyanvorearmileaznd-3-aryl-N-(6-methoxy-2-benzothiazolyt)-2-cyano-2-propenamides. The cyclization of the latter with malonodinitrile in the presence of piperidine gave the corresponding pyridones. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by¹H NMR and mass spectral data.Department of Organic Chemistry, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Slovak Technical University, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia. Published in Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1402–1404, October, 1995. Original article submitted August 24, 1995.     

Zur Kenntnis der thermischen Zersetzung von Ammoniumhexafluoroscandat,-titanat,-vanadat und-chromat

Thermal analysis supported by kinetic calculations was applied exhaustively to these compounds. Under dynamic conditions, tetrafluorometallates(III), which as intermediates, could not be isolated, for the first three compounds. In each case, the final step was the pure metal(III) fluoride. Ammonium hexafluorochromate(III) decomposed directly to the pure chromium(III) fluoride. The decomposition rate of all compounds slowed down towards the end, probably for kinetic reasons. Polymorphic transitions of ammonium hexafluorotitanate(III) were observed at 35 and 100°C. Ammoniumhexafluoroscandate(III) underwent polymorphic transition at 47°C. The decomposition patterns for all these compounds were similar. Conditions for the preparation of pure ammonium tetrafluorometallates(III) of Sc, Ti and V are described.     

Ground-state properties of benzenoid hydrocarbons by simple bond orbital resonance theory approach

π-electron energies and bond orders of benzenoid hydrocarbons with up to five fused hexagons have been considered by the simple Bond Orbital Resonance Theory (BORT) approach. The corresponding ground states were determined according to four BORT models. In the first three models a diagonalisation of the Hückel-type Hamiltonian was performed in the bases of Kekulé, of Kekulé and mono-Claus and of Kekulé and Claus resonance structures, respectively. In the fourth model a simple BORT ansatz was used. According to this ansatz, the ground state is a linear combination of the positive Kekulé structures, all with equal coefficients. It was shown that π-electron energies and bond orders obtained by these models correlate much better with the PPP energies and bond orders than with the Hückel energies and bond orders. This indicates that a simple BORT approach is quite reliable in predicting the more sophisticated PPP results. Concerning the relative performance of the four BORT models, the best results were obtained with the BORT ansatz. The performance deteriorates with the expansion of the basis set. This is attributed to the fact that in these models the improvement of the basis set is not accompanied with the corresponding improvement of the Hamiltonian. Comparing the BORT-ansatz bond orders with the Pauling bond orders, it was shown that BORT-ansatz bond orders correlate much better with the PPP bond orders. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The additivity principle in pyrolysis—gas chromatography of brown coal

Pyrolysis—gas chromatography of brown coal exhibits additive properties and it is therefore possible to construct the pyrogram of the original coal from the individual pyrograms of the bitumen, humic acids, lignin and humin fractions. The contents of phenols in the pyrograms are typical for all of the above classes except bitumen and are in agreement with the contents of the individual groups in the original coal. The results suggest that the separation does not bring about significant chemical changes in individual brown coal fractions.     

Sorption of caesium and strontium on clinoptilolite-and mordenite-containing sedimentary rocks

The sorption of caesium and strontium from its aqueous solutions by ten clinoptilolite-and mordenite-containing sedimentary materials from Slovakia, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Greece was investigated by batch-type procedure and radiotracer techniques. The concentration of the solutions, that were performed in and without the presence of competing cations (0.005 mol·dm⁻³ KCl) varied between 1·10⁻⁴ and 5·10⁻² mol·dm⁻³. The uptake and distribution coefficient (K _d ) values determined for the materials of the different origin, were correlated with their mineralogical composition and gross cation exchange capacity (CEC). The identification of the specific uptake sites was attempted on the basis of the sorption isotherms and the content of exchangeable cations. The experimental results provide information on the suitability of the individual materials for the treatment of radioactive wastes and their application as backfills in potential nuclear waste repositories.     

Kinetics of the dehydration of CsNd(SO4)2 4 H2O

The kinetics of the dehydration of CsNd(SO₄)₂ · 4 H₂O to CsNd(SO₄)₂ · H₂O and then to CsNd(SO₄)₂ are studied by isothermal weight change. The reactions are phase-boundary-controlled. Reaction mechanism and activation energy depend on sample weight.     

Dilute solutions of nylon 12—II. Relationship between intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight

Samples of poly(12-dodecanelactam) (polylaurolactam, nylon 12) with $\text{M}$_n 1 × 10³?33 × 10³ were prepared. Polymerizations initiated with water or with lauric acid proceeded under conditions for minimum changes in end-group concentration. Values of $\text{M}$_n were calculated from the end-group content and $\text{M}$_n from light scattering in the mixture m-cresol/60 vol% of 2.2,3,3-tetrafluoropropanol. From measurements of intrinsic viscosity in m-cresol, the relationship [n] ? $\text{M}$_n was established in the given range of $\text{M}$_n. The relationship [n] ? $\text{M}$_w for $\text{M}$_w from 3.3 × 10³ to 125 × 10³ has been established.