Sampling and sample-preparation strategies based on solid-phase microextraction for analysis of indoor air

Applications of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) to the sampling and analysis of volatile organic compounds in indoor air are reviewed, including a summary of quantification methods, coatings, compounds, concentrations, sampling locations and times, and detection limits. Strategies for on-site and off-site sampling and analysis, advantages and challenges associated with SPME for air sampling are discussed.     

Biocompatible polymers for antibody support on gold surfaces

The elimination or minimization of non-specific protein adsorption from serum is critical for the use of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors for in vitro and in vivo analysis of complex biological solutions. The ultimate goals in this application are to minimize non-specific adsorption of protein and to maximize analyte signal. A reduction of the non-specific protein adsorption from serum of up to 73% compared to carboxymethylated-dextran 500 kDa (CM-dextran) was achieved following a survey of eight biocompatible polymers and 10 molecular weights of CM-dextran. These coatings minimize non-specific adsorption on the sensor while also serving as immobilization matrices for antibody fixation to the probes. Polymers including polysaccharides: CM-dextrans, CM-hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid, and alginic acid were investigated. Humic acid, polylactic acid, polyacrylic acid, orthopyridyldisuldfide–polyethyleneglycol–N-hydroxysuccinimide (OPSS–PEG–NHS), and a synthesized polymer; polymethacrylic-acid-co-vinyl-acetate (PMAVA) were also used. The non-specific protein adsorption reduction was measured over a 14 day period at 0 °C for each polymer. Calibration curves using some of these polymers were constructed to show the performance and low detection limit possibilities of these new antibody supports. For many of the polymers, this is the first demonstration of employment as an antibody support for an optical or surface active sensor. CM-dextran is the polymer offering the largest signal for the antigen detection. However, the biocompatible polymers demonstrate a greater stability to non-specific binding in serum. These biocompatible polymers offer different alternatives for CM-dextran.     

Halogens in competition: electronic structure of mixed dihalobenzenes

The electronic structure of all isomeric dihalobenzenes C6H4XY (X, Y = Cl, Br, I) has been investigated by HeI/HeII photoelectron spectroscopy, Green's functions calculations, and comparison with the spectra of related dihalobenzenes C6H4X2 (X = Cl, Br, I). The careful analysis of measured pi orbital and halogen lone pair ionization energies enabled us to describe substituent effects in terms of resonance, inductive, steric, and spin-orbit coupling interactions.     

The effect of fluctuations on emission spectra: practical distinctions between raman and fluorescence spectra

By the use of stochastic theory it is clearly shown that two types of emission should to fluctuations such as would occur during interactions with their environment are resonantly driven by light. In our approach the electromagnetic field is treated in a classical manner and decay is introduced by a Wigner-Weisskopfansatz. The two types of emission should occur for a three-level system and relaxation to other levels is not involved in the mechanism. Also included is a discussion of operational definitions of fluorescence (and other spontaneous emissions) and of the relationship between absorption and scattering in terms of dephasing or T₂ processes, especially as this relates to conventional emission phenomena.     

Amide bond formation using an air-stable source of AlMe3

Synthesis of amides from coupling esters with a range of primary amines can be conveniently achieved in moderate to excellent yields (69-99%) using an air-stable adduct of trimethylaluminium (AlMe₃)₂·DABCO (DABCO is 1,4-diazobicyclo[2.2.2]octane), referred to as DABAL-Me₃. Reactions can be run without requiring the exclusion of atmospheric oxygen or the drying of solvents.     

Local dense structural heterogeneities in liquid water from ambient to 300 MPa pressure: evidence for multiple liquid-liquid transitions.

Difference and double-difference near-infrared DO-D and HO-H stretching overtone (2nuOD and 2nuOH) spectroscopy and a rigorous (physically substantiated) band deconvolution technique were applied to reveal three different kinds of inherent (interstitial) structures of liquid water, which determine its high density (compared to ice lh under ambient conditions), its compressibility (under hydrostatic pressure, up to 300MPa), and its high fragility (manifested under temperature variation). Our data processing allowed the rigorous discrimination of up to six vibrational components. On the basis of an extensive comparative analysis combined with available structural data (X-ray and neutron scattering) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for liquid water, as well as with experimental and computed data for small non-tetrahedrally arranged water clusters, the major four components could be ascribed to: i) The basic lh icelike substructure; ii) the temperature-dependent remote interstitial "defects" due to tetrahedral displacements (primarily responsible for transport properties); iii) the interstitial "defects" most probably arranged in quasiplanar noncyclic tetramers (totally absent in the ice structure); and iv) the interstitial "defects" formed with increasing pressure, probably arranged in cubic water octamers and composed of two pairs of noncyclic and cyclic tetramer fragments. The latter structures include, essentially, bent hydrogen bonds stabilized by resonance effects.     

Combined use of liquid chromatography-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the characterization of an acarbose degradation product

Directly coupled LC-MS and LC-NMR were applied to identify and structurally characterize an acarbose degradation product A in acidic media. A comparative analysis of the stop-flow LC-NMR (1H and TOCSY) and LC-MS data provided evidence that A is structurally related to acarbose, differing from the parent compound in a number of subunits present in the molecule. Spectral analysis revealed that A was the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor amylostatin XG. Complementary information obtained from the two methods led to the structural elucidation of A which was later corroborated by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy of the isolated molecule.     

Thermal investigation of PEG 4000 — oxazepam binary system

A thermal study using DSC and Hot Stage Microscopy (HSM) was carried out to investigate the interaction in solid state of the binary system PEG 4000 — oxazepam, and to establish their phase diagram. The eutectic composition, which melting occurs at lower temperature as compared with the pure components, has been determined. The results obtained by DSC and HSM have indicated that PEG 4000 — oxazepam mixtures displays no obvious incompatibilities, and that the system shows a typical eutectic behaviour. However because of the closeness of the melting of PEG 4000 to the eutectic temperature, it was difficult to determine precisely the eutectic composition and temperature on the basis of DSC measurements alone. The use of heats of fusion corresponding to physical mixtures allowed an estimation of the eutectic composition at 6% w/w oxazepam. Additional information of temperature (57.6C) and composition (5–10% w/w oxazepam) of the eutectic was obtained by HSM using the contact method. This low melting temperature in this range of compositions offers advantages in terms of drug stability and easy manufacture.     

Spectres de vibration et structure d'un cristal d'amidogallate de sodium

Raman spectra (4000-150 cm^?1) of a single crystal of NaGa(NH₂)₄ and infrared spectra (4000-200 cm^?1 ) of a polycrystalline sample have been studied at different temperatures. An assignment of the bands is given. The spectra are discussed assuming S₄ and T_d point group symmetry of the Ga(NH₂)^?₄ ion at low temperature and at room temperature respectively. Metal-ligand and N-H stretching frequencies are compared to those of some other amido metalates.