Mixing Times for the Commuting Chain on CA Groups

Journal of Theoretical Probability - Let G be a finite group. The commuting chain on G moves from an element x to y by selecting y uniformly amongst those which commute with x. The t-step...     

Dramatic influence of the substitution of alkylidene-5H-furan-2-ones in Diels-Alder cycloadditions with o-quinonedimethide as diene partner: en route to the CDEF polycyclic ring system of lactonamycin

An efficient and rapid synthesis of the CDEF ring system of lactonamycinone is reported via a highly chemo- and diastereoselective intermolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition between trans-1,2-disilyloxybenzocyclobutene and the appropriate γ-alkylidenebutenolide. The feasibility and the total chemoselectivity of the [4 + 2] cycloaddition for the construction of a spirolactone moiety via an intramolecular approach (IMDA) using both partners is also described demonstrating the versatility of the γ-alkylidenebutenolide building block.     

Detection and Evaluation of Normal and Malignant Cells Using Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy

The aim of this research is to study the normalized fluorescence spectra (intensity variations and area under the fluorescence signal), relative quantum yield, extinction coefficient and intracellular properties of normal and malignant human bone cells. Using Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy (LIFS) upon excitation of 405 nm, the comparison of emission spectra of bone cells revealed that fluorescence intensity and the area under the spectra of malignant bone cells was less than that of normal. In addition, the area ratio and shape factor were changed. We obtained two emission bands in spectra of normal cells centered at about 486 and 575 nm and for malignant cells about 482 and 586 nm respectively, which are most likely attributed to NADH and riboflavins. Using fluorescein sodium emission spectrum, the relative quantum yield of bone cells is numerically determined.     

Furoquinoline alkaloids from Melicope bonwickii (F.Muell.) T.Hartley

Investigation on the leaves of Melicope bonwickii (F.Muell.) T.Hartley (Rutaceae) afforded a new 7-(2'-hydroxy-3'-chloroprenyloxy)-4-methoxyfuroquinoline (1) together with the known 7-(2',3'-epoxyprenyloxy)-4-methoxyfuroquinoline (2), evellerine (3) kokusaginine (4) and an amide aurantiamide acetate (5). Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant activity against cervical cell lines (Hela).     

A new coumarin and triterpenes from Malaysian Micromelum minutum

A new coumarin, 8,4'-dihydroxy-3',4'-dihydrocapnolactone-2',3'-diol (1) and two known triterpenes, 5(6)-gluten-3-one (2) and 5(6)-gluten-3alpha-ol (3) were isolated from the leaves of Micromelum minutum (Rutaceae) collected from Sepilok, Sabah, Malaysia and their structures were characterized by spectroscopic methods.     

A novel homocystine-agarose adsorbent for separation and preconcentration of nickel in table salt and baking soda using factorial design optimization of the experimental conditions

Homocystine was for the first time, chemically linked to a highly cross-linked agarose support (Novarose) to be employed as a chelating adsorbent for preconcentration and AAS determination of nickel in table salt and baking soda. Nickel is quantitatively adsorbed on a small column packed with 0.25 ml of the adsorbent, in a pH range of 5.5–6.5 and simply eluted with 5 ml of a 1 mol l⁻¹ hydrochloric acid solution.

A factorial design was used for optimization of the effects of five different variables on the recovery of nickel. The results indicated that the factors of flow rate and column length, and the interactions between pH and sample volume are significant.

In the optimized conditions, the column could tolerate salt concentrations up to 0.5 mol l⁻¹ and sample volumes beyond 500 ml. Matrix ions of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺, with a concentration of 200 mg l⁻¹, and potentially interfering ions of Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Mn²⁺, with a concentration of 10 mg l⁻¹, did not have significant effect on the analyte's signal. Preconcentration factors up to 100 and a detection limit of 0.49 μg l⁻¹, corresponding to an enrichment volume of 500 ml, were obtained for the determination of the analyte by flame AAS. Application of the method to the determination of natural and spiked nickel in table salt and baking soda solutions resulted in quantitative recoveries. Direct ETAAS determination of nickel in the same samples was not possible because of a high background observed.     

Reinforcement of a thin plate by a thin layer

We study the bending of a thin plate, stiffened with a thin elastic layer, of thickness δ. We describe the complete construction of an asymptotic expansion with respect to δ of the solution of the Kirchhoff–Love model and give optimal estimates for the remainder. We identify approximate boundary conditions, which take into account the effect of the stiffener at various orders. Thanks to the tools of multi‐scale analysis, we give optimal estimates for the error between the approximate problems and the original one. We deal with a layer of constant stiffness, as well as with a stiffness in δ^?1. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Haloperidol imprinted polymer: preparation,evaluation, and application for drug assay in brain tissue

Several molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were prepared in the present work, and their binding properties were evaluated in comparison with a nonimprinted polymer (NIP). An optimized MIP was selected and applied for selective extraction and analysis of haloperidol in rabbit brain tissue. A molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) method was developed for cleanup and preconcentration of haloperidol in brain samples before HPLC-UV analysis. Selectivity of the MISPE procedure was investigated using haloperidol and some structurally different drugs with similar polarity that could exist simultaneously in brain tissue. The extraction and analytical process was calibrated in the range of 0.05–10 ppm. The recovery of haloperidol in this MISPE process was calculated between 79.9 and 90.4 %. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) of the assay were 0.008 and 0.05 ppm, respectively. Intraday precision and interday precision values for haloperidol analysis were less than 5.86 and 7.63 %, respectively. The MISPE method could effectively extract and concentrate haloperidol from brain tissue in the presence of clozapine and imipramine. Finally, the imprinted polymer was successfully applied for the determination of haloperidol in a real rabbit brain sample after administration of a toxic dose. Therefore, the proposed MISPE method could be applied in the extraction and preconcentration before HPLC-UV analysis of haloperidol in rabbit brain tissue.     

Encapsulation of a binuclear manganese(II) complex with an amino acid-based ligand in zeolite Y and its catalytic epoxidation of cyclohexene

A Schiff base ligand was synthesized by the condensation of salicylaldehyde with l-tyrosine. Interaction of this ligand with Mn(II)-exchanged zeolite Y leads to encapsulation of the ligand within the zeolite and complexation of the metal. The encapsulated complex has been characterized by spectroscopic studies and chemical analyses. This material serves as a catalyst for the oxidation of cyclohexene to cyclohexene epoxide and 2-cyclohexene-1-ol using H₂O₂ as oxidant. The reaction conditions have been optimized for solvent, temperature and amount of oxidant and catalyst. The catalyst shows high activity and selectivity toward production of cyclohexene epoxide in acetonitrile at 60 °C with [H₂O₂]/[C₆H₁₀] = 2.5 molar ratio. Comparison of the encapsulated catalyst with the corresponding homogeneous catalyst showed that the heterogeneous catalyst had higher activity and selectivity than the homogeneous catalyst.