Synthetic peptides with selective affinity for apoptotic cells

The appearance of anionic phosphatidylserine (PS) in the outer monolayer of the plasma membrane is a universal indicator of the early/intermediate stages of cell apoptosis. The most common method of detecting PS on a cell surface is to use the protein annexin V; however, in certain applications there is a need for alternative reagents. Recent research indicates that rationally designed zinc 2,2'-dipicolylamine (Zn2+-DPA) coordination complexes can mimic the apoptosis sensing function of annexin V. Here, a series of fluorescently-labelled, tri- and pentapeptides with side chains containing Zn2+-DPA are prepared and shown to selectively bind to anionic vesicle membranes. Fluorescein-labelled versions of the peptides are used to detect apoptotic cells by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry.     

Deprotonation-electrophile trapping of terminal epoxides

Organolithium-induced deprotonation of terminal epoxides in the presence of appropriate diamine ligands allows trapping with a range of electrophiles, yielding functionalised di- and tri-substituted epoxides in good yields and with control of stereochemistry at the epoxide.     

Morphology and oxygen sensor response of luminescent Ir-labeled poly(dimethylsiloxane)/polystyrene polymer blend films

Polymer films consisting of a linear poly(dimethylsiloxane) end-functionalized with a luminescent Ir(III) complex (Ir-PDMS), blended with polystyrene (PS), function as optical oxygen sensors. The sensor response arises by quenching of the luminescence from the Ir(III) chromophore by oxygen that permeates into the polymer film. The morphology and luminescence oxygen sensor properties of blend films consisting of Ir-PDMS and PS have been characterized by fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The investigations demonstrate that microscale phase segregation occurs in the films. In blends that contain a relatively small amount of Ir-PDMS in PS (ca. 10 wt %), the Ir-PDMS exists as circular domains, with diameters ranging from 2 to 5 mum, surrounded by the majority PS phase. For larger weight fractions of Ir-PDMS in the blends, the film morphology becomes bicontinuous. A novel epifluorescence microscopy method is applied that allows the construction of Stern-Volmer quenching images that quantify the oxygen sensor response of the blend films with micrometer spatial resolution. These images provide a map of the oxygen permeability of the polymer blend films with a spatial resolution of ca. 1 mum. The results of this investigation show that the micrometer-sized Ir-PMDS domains display a 2-3-fold higher oxygen sensor response compared to the surrounding PS matrix. This result is consistent with the fact that PDMS is considerably more gas permeable compared to PS. The relationship of the microscale morphology of the blends to their performance as macroscale optical oxygen sensors is discussed.     

An improved set of mndo parameters for sulfur

The MNDO parameters for sulfur have been reoptimized. Calculations for a number of sulfur compounds indicate a very significant improvement. Inclusion of d AOs failed to correct the errors for compounds of sulfur in its higher valence states. Since d AOs are not included, the calculations are still confined to compounds of divalent sulfur.     

Prediction of yield and long‐term failure of oriented polypropylene: Kinetics and anisotropy

The time‐dependent yield and failure behavior of off‐axis loaded uniaxially oriented polypropylene tape is investigated. The yield and failure behavior is described with an anisotropic viscoplastic model. A viscoplastic flow rule is used with an equivalent stress, based on Hill's anisotropic yield criterion, and the Eyring flow theory combined with a critical equivalent strain definition. This model is based on factorization of the rate and draw ratio dependence and is capable of quantitatively predicting the rate, angle and draw ratio dependence of the yield stress as well as time‐to‐failure in various off‐axis tensile loading conditions characterized solely from the transverse direction. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2026–2035, 2009     

The signal/noise of an HMBC spectrum can depend dramatically upon the choice of acquisition and processing parameters

The effect of various acquisition and processing parameters on the sensitivity of HMBC spectra for typical organic molecules has been systematically investigated. For molecules in the 200–600 molecular weight range, an acquisition time of 0.2 to 0.4 s, a recycle time of no more than 1.0 s, optimization for ⁿJ_CH = 8 Hz and 512 time increments (with two‐ to fourfold linear prediction) are recommended. Some form of sine bell weighting along f₂ and either Gaussian or sine bell weighting along f₁ is suggested. The use of a 0.1‐s acquisition time and/or Gaussian or exponential weighting along f₂ can result in dramatic sensitivity loss, particularly for correlation peaks involving protons with complex splitting patterns, and should be avoided. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of copper oxide impregnants prepared from various precursors for respirator carbons

Copper oxide impregnated activated carbon was prepared by three methods and studied as a respirator carbon. Using techniques such as dynamic flow testing, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), copper oxide impregnants, derived from different sources such as basic copper carbonate (Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂), copper nitrate (Cu(NO₃)₂) and copper chloride (CuCl₂) reacted with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), have been studied. Dynamic flow tests performed using sulfur dioxide (SO₂), ammonia (NH₃) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) challenge gases allow the determination of the stoichiometric ratio of reaction (SRR) between challenge gas and impregnant. Thermal gravimetric analysis experiments showed that an inert heating environment was required when thermally decomposing the Cu(NO₃)₂ impregnant to CuO to avoid damaging the activated carbon substrate. SEM has been used to investigate dispersal and particle size of the impregnant on the activated carbon. XRD permits the identification of crystalline and amorphous phases as well as the grain size of the impregnant. XRD analysis of samples before and after exposure to SO₂ has allowed the active impregnant in SO₂ adsorption to be identified. The relationship between SRR, impregnant loading and grain size is discussed. Methods to improve impregnant distribution are presented and their impact discussed.     

The polarographic behaviour of some elements in concentrated calcium chloride solution: The determination of chromium in the presence of nickel

Further studies on the polarography of trivalent chromium in concentrated calcium chloride solution are described. Details are given of a chloride-hydroxylamine base electrolyte (7.4M with respect to chloride) in which chromium may be determined directly in the presence of nickel. This method is not applicable if the nickel-chromium ratio is large. Results are presented and certain theoretical aspects are discussed.