Ring expansion and hydrogen scrambling in the molecular ion of 3-methylthiophene

The ratio [M ? D]/{[M-D] + [M ? H]} in the 70 eV mass spectra of six deuterated 3-methylthiophenes has been determined. From these values the mole fractions of the molecular ions that lose hydrogen atoms specifically from the various positions of the molecule were calculated, as well as the mole fraction in which the hydrogen atoms are fully scrambled before hydrogen elimination. It appears that hydrogen atoms are mainly lost from a fully scrambled [C₅H₆S]⁺· ion and from the α-position of the original molecular ion. A deuterium isotope effect of 1·60 to 1·72 was calculated for the hydrogen elimination. The reaction was also studied at low electron energies. In order to determine the degree of scrambling in the [C₅H₅S]⁺ ions, some decomposition reactions of this ion were investigated.     

In Situ Study of the Surface Oxidation of FeCr Alloys Using Grazing Incidence X‐ray Absorption Spectroscopy (GIXAS)

The surface oxidation of FeCr alloys with 18, 28, and 43 mass‐% Cr was investigated in situ using grazing‐incidence X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (GIXAS) at the chromium and iron K‐edges. Oxidation in air was monitored in situ in the temperature range from 290 K to 680 K. The standard GIXAS data analysis is extended for the treatment of a single layer model in order to estimate the chromium concentrations of the oxide layer and of the near‐interface substrate as well as the oxide layer thickness. XANES analysis shows transitions from b.c.c. Fe to corundum type Fe₂O₃ and from b.c.c. Cr to corundum type Cr₂O₃. The initial oxide layers are 1.1‐1.4 nm thick and contain 60‐90 mass‐% chromium, while the near‐interface substrate is depleted in Cr. During heating, iron oxide growth dominates up to 560‐600 K. Then the chromium oxide layer loses its passivation effect and Cr oxidation sets in.     

The PLAC1-homology region of the ZP domain is sufficient for protein polymerisation

Background  

Hundreds of extracellular proteins polymerise into filaments and matrices by using zona pellucida (ZP) domains. ZP domain proteins perform highly diverse functions, ranging from structural to receptorial, and mutations in their genes are responsible for a number of severe human diseases. Recently, PLAC1, Oosp1-3, Papillote and CG16798 proteins were identified that share sequence homology with the N-terminal half of the ZP domain (ZP-N), but not with its C-terminal half (ZP-C). The functional significance of this partial conservation is unknown.     

On a Lagrangean for classical field dynamics and renormalization group calculations of dynamical critical properties

From the path probability density for nonlinear stochastic processes a Lagrangean for classical field dynamics is derived. This formulation provides a convenient approach to the mode coupling equations and the renormalization group theory of critical dynamics. An application is given for the time-dependent isotropic Heisenberg ferromagnet. The dynamical exponent is derived aboveT _c for all dimensionsd>2.     

üBER DIE INSERTION VON RPS2 IN DIE PN-BINDUNG VON AMINOPHOSPHINEN

Abstract

Aminophosphine des Typs R_n P(NR′₂)_3-n (n= 2, 1, 0; R = Ph, c-Hex, (-)Men, t-Bu; R′= Me, Et, n-Bu) reagieren mit 2, 4-Bis(aryl)-1, 3, 2, 4-dithiadiphosphetan-2, 4-disulfiden (ArPS₂)₂(Ar: Ph, 4-Methoxyphenyl = An, Naphthyl, Thienyl) unter formaler Insertion monomerer {ArPS₂)-Einheiten in eine oder in zwei der λ³-P—N-Bindung zu chiralen Organophosphorverbindungen Ar(R′₂N)P(S)—S—PR_n (NR′₂)_2-n(n = 2, 1, 0) und [Ar(R′₂N)P(S)—]₂PR₂(NR′₂)_1-n (n = 1.0). In diesen werden bei Raumtemperatur bevorzugt die λ³—P—N—und λ³—P—S-Bindungen durch H₂O oder Methanol unter Bildung von Produktgemischen solvolysiert. Mit Chlorwasserstoff bildet sich aus An(Et₂N)P(S)—S—PPh(NEt₂) das An(Et₂ N)P(S)—S—PPh(C1). Addition von Schwefel führt zu Ar(R′₂N)P(S)—S—P(S)R_n (NR′)_2-n (n=2, 1). Die Stereoisomerenbildung der neuen Verbindungen wird besprochen und ihre Struktur sowie die Zusammensetzung der Reaktionsmischungen aus den ³¹P-Spektren hergeleitet.

Aminophosphines R_n P(NR′₂)_3-n (n = 2, 1, 0; R = Ph. c-Hex, (-)Men, t-Bu; R′= Me, Et, n-Bu) react with 2, 4-Bis(aryl)-1, 3, 2, 4-dithiadiphosphetane-2, 4-disulfides (ArPS₂)₂ (Ar: Ph, 4-Methoxyphenyl = An, Naphthyl, Thienyl) under formal insertion of monomeric {ArPS₂)-units in one or in two of the λ³-P—N-bonds to yield chiral organophosphorus compounds Ar(R′₂N)P(S)—S—]₂PR_n (NR′₂)₂ (n = 2, 1, 0) and [Ar(R′₂N)P(S)—S—]₂ PR₂ (NR′₂)_2-n (n = 1, 0). At room temperature chiefly the A—P—N and A³—P—S-bonds in these products are solvolyzed by H, O or methanol with formation of mixtures of compounds. With hydrogen chloride An(Et₂N)P(S)—S—PPh(NEt₂) is converted into An(Et₂N)P(S)—S—PPh(Cl). Addition of sulfur yields Ar(R′₂N)P(S)—S P(S)R_n (NR′₂)_2-n (n = 2, 1). Stereoisomerism of the new compounds is discussed and their structures as well as the composition of reaction mixtures are deduced from “P-NMR-spectra”.     

U6 is unsuitable for normalization of serum miRNA levels in patients with sepsis or liver fibrosis

MicroRNA (miRNA) levels in serum have recently emerged as potential novel biomarkers for various diseases. miRNAs are routinely measured by standard quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR); however, the high sensitivity of qPCR demands appropriate normalization to correct for nonbiological variation. Presently, RNU6B (U6) is used for data normalization of circulating miRNAs in many studies. However, it was suggested that serum levels of U6 themselves might differ between individuals. Therefore, no consensus has been reached on the best normalization strategy in ‘circulating miRNA''. We analyzed U6 levels as well as levels of spiked-in SV40-RNA in sera of 44 healthy volunteers, 203 intensive care unit patients and 64 patients with liver fibrosis. Levels of U6 demonstrated a high variability in sera of healthy donors, patients with critical illness and liver fibrosis. This high variability could also be confirmed in sera of mice after the cecal ligation and puncture procedure. Most importantly, levels of circulating U6 were significantly upregulated in sera of patients with critical illness and sepsis compared with controls and correlated with established markers of inflammation. In patients with liver fibrosis, U6 levels were significantly downregulated. In contrast, levels of spiked-in SV40 displayed a significantly higher stability both in human cohorts (healthy, critical illness, liver fibrosis) and in mice. Thus, we conclude that U6 levels in the serum are dysregulated in a disease-specific manner. Therefore, U6 should not be used for data normalization of circulating miRNAs in inflammatory diseases and previous studies using this approach should be interpreted with caution. Further studies are warranted to identify specific regulatory processes of U6 levels in sepsis and liver fibrosis.     

A Novel Mechanism for the Extraction of Metals from Water to Ionic Liquids

We present a novel mechanism for the extraction of metals from aqueous phases to room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) by use of a high-temperature salt as an extraction agent. The mechanism capitalizes on the fact that charged metal complexes are soluble in ILs; this allows for extraction of charged complexes rather than the neutral species, which are formed by conventional approaches. The use of a well-chosen extraction agent also suppresses the competing ion-exchange mechanism, thus preventing degradation of the ionic liquid. The approach permits the use of excess extractant to drive the recovery of metals in high yield. This work presents both a thermodynamic framework for understanding the approach and experimental verification of the process in a range of different ILs. The method has great potential value in the recovery of metals, water purification and nuclear materials processing.