Relaxivity and water exchange studies of a cationic macrocyclic gadolinium(III) complex

We conducted relaxometric and water exchange studies of the cationic [Gd((S,S,S,S)-THP)(H2O)]3+ complex (THP 1,4,7,10-tetrakis(2-hydroxy-propyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane). While the NMRD profiles obtained are typical for DOTA-like complexes (DOTA = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetate), variable-temperature 7O NMR investigations revealed a relatively high water exchange rate (k(298)(ex) = 1.89 x 10(7) s(-1)). These results differ from those reported for other cationic tetraamide macrocyclic Gd(III) complexes, which exhibit characteristically low exchange rates. Since the low exchange rates are attributed partially to the geometry of the M isomer (square antiprismatic) in the tetraamide derivatives, the atypical water exchange rate observed in [Gd((S,S,S,S)-THP-(H2O)]3+ may result from a twisted square antiprismatic structure in this complex and from the relatively high steric strain at the water coordination site as a result of the presence of methyl groups at the alpha-position with respect to the Gd(III)-bound O atoms of THP.     

An animal model for extracorporeal photochemotherapy based on contact hypersensitivity.

Recently, photopheresis was introduced as a specific immune suppressor in several T cell mediated disorders. In order to study photopheresis, animal models are indispensable. This report describes an easy to handle model for this purpose. It concerns the Wistar-derived rat with contact hypersensitivity (CHS), also a T cell mediated disorder that has already been studied extensively in several other fields of research. After subsequent exposure to 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and ultraviolet A radiation (UVA), white blood cells from CHS rats were intravenously injected into other syngeneic rats suffering from the same disorder. This treatment appears to be very efficacious in suppressing the immunological response against the applied contact allergen, 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). Cells subsequently exposed to UVA and 8-MOP did not have any effect.     

Azepines.I : The formation and reactivity of the anion of 2-diethylamino-5-phenyl-3H-azepine

Deprotonation of 2-diethylamino-5-phenyl-3$\text{H}$-azepine with strong bases affords a highly coloured anion, which reacts with deuterium oxide or with an appropriate electrophile to give an azepine bearing the new substituent at C-3.     

The clas program for classification and evaluation

Multivariate classification methods are needed to assist in extracting information from analytical data. The most appropriate method for each problem must be chosen. The applicability of a method mainly depends on the distributional characteristics of the data population (normality, correlations between variables, separation of classes, nature of variables) and on the characteristics of the data sample available (numbers of objects, variables and classes, missing values, measurement errors). The CLAS program is designed to combine classification methods with evaluation of their performance, for batch data processing. It incorporates two-group linear discriminant analysis (SLDA), independent class modelling with principal components (SIMCA), kernel density estimation (ALLOC), and principal component class modelling with kernel density estimation (CLASSY). Most of these methods are implemented so as to give probabilistic classifications. Multiple linear regression is provided for, and other methods are scheduled. CLAS evaluates the classification method using the training set data (resubstitution), independent test data, and pseudo test data (leave-one-out method). This last method is optimized for faster computation. Criteria for classification performance and reliability of the given probabilities, etc. are determined. The package contains flexible possibilities for data manipulation, variable transformation and missing data handling.     

Factor Xa: Simulation studies with an eye to inhibitor design

Factor Xa is a serine protease which activates thrombin and plays a key regulatory role in the blood-coagulation cascade. Factor Xa is at the crossroads of the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of coagulation and, hence, has become an important target for the design of anti-thrombotics (inhibitors). It is not known to be involved in other processes than hemostasis and its binding site is different to that of other serine proteases, thus facilitating selective inhibition. The design of high-affinity selective inhibitors of factor Xa requires knowledge of the structural and dynamical characteristics of its active site. The three-dimensional structure of factor Xa was resolved by X-ray crystallography and refined at 2.2 Å resolution by Padmanabhan and collaborators. In this article we present results from molecular dynamics simulations of the catalytic domain of factor Xa in aqueous solution. The simulations were performed to characterise the mobility and flexibility of the residues delimiting the unoccupied binding site of the enzyme, and to determine hydrogen bonding propensities (with protein and with solvent atoms) of those residues in the active site that could interact with a substrate or a potential inhibitor. The simulation data is aimed at facilitating the design of high-affinity selective inhibitors of factor Xa.     

Stroboskopisehe Untersuchungen über den zeitlichen Aufbau,die optische Absorption und das Nachleuchten gesteuerter Funkenentladungen

Zusammenfassung In elektrischen Funkenentladungen lassen sich Zündphase, Bogenphase und Abklingphase unterscheiden, die besondere charakteristische Eigenschaften aufweisen. Ihre Untersuchung wird durch ein neu entwickeltes Stroboskop ermöglicht, dessen Phasenlage beliebig gegenüber der periodischen Funkenfolge verstellt werden kann. Durch optische Absorption kann im abklingenden Funken nicht nur der atomare Metalldampf durch seine Grundlinien nachgewiesen werden, sondern auch seine molekularen Reaktionsprodukte mit der umgebenden Atmosphäre lassen sich durch Bandenabsorption feststellen. Das Nachleuchten abklingender Funkenentladungen wird im wesentlichen durch das Nachleuchten des aktiven Stickstoffs getragen, wenn der Metalldampfgehalt der Funkenstrecke gering gehalten wird. Gegen Ende der Nachleuchtphase lassen sich Sprüherscheinungen an den Elektroden feststellen, bei denen kleine Partikelchen mit unterschiedlichen, zum Teil spiralig verlaufenden Bahnkurven ausgeschleudert werden. Die Flugbahnen der Teilchen weisen auf starke Gasströmungen in der Funkenstrecke hin.

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Summary In electrical spark discharges it is possible to distinguish ignition phase, arc phase, and decay phase. These display special characteristic properties. It is possible to study them by means of a newly developed stroboscope, whose phase position can be adjusted at will against the periodic succession of sparks. Through optical absorption, not only the atomic metal vapor can be detected, through its ground lines, in the decaying sparks but also its molecular reaction products with the surrounding atmosphere can be established through the band spectrum. The phosphorescence of decaying spark discharges is essentially due to the afterglow of the active nitrogen, if the metal vapor of the spark gap is kept low. Toward the end of the phosphorescence phase, spray phenomena may be observed at the electrodes, in which tiny particles with distinctive, in part spiral, orbital curves are ejected. The flight paths of these particles indicate strong gas currents in the spark gap.

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Résumé On peut distinguer dans la décharge par étincelles, la phase d'ignition, la phase d'arc et la phase de décroissance. On explique ainsi certaines propriétés caractéristiques. On peut étudier ces diverses phases à l'aide d'un dispositif stroboscopique nouveau réglable à volonté pour observer la même phase d'étincelles qui se succèdent périodiquement. Grâce a l'absorption optique on peut détecter soit une vapeur atomique métallique par ses raies caractéristiques pendant la période de décroissance des étincelles, soit les réactions moléculaires qui se produisent dans les gaz environnants grâce aux spectres de bandes. La phosphorescence pendant la décroissance de l'étincelle est due essentiellement à la postluminescence de l'azote actif, si la tension de vapeur du métal entre les électrodes est suffisamment basse. Pendant la fin de la période de phosphorescence on observe sur les électrodes des phénomènes de pulvérisation avec formation de très petites particules qui sont éjectées en décrivant des trajectoires en spirales. Les trajectoires aériennes de ces particules révèlent l'existence de forts courants gazeux entre les électrodes.

     

Infrared spectra of gas-phase V(+)-(benzene) and V(+)-(benzene)(2) complexes

The organometallic ions V+-(benzene) and V+-(benzene)2 are produced by laser vaporization in a pulsed nozzle source. They are trapped and mass selected in an ion-trap/time-of-flight mass spectrometer, and their infrared spectra are measured with resonance-enhanced multiphoton photodissociation (IR-REMPD) spectroscopy with a tunable free-electron laser. Vibrational bands in the 600-1800 cm-1 region are characteristic of the benzene molecular moiety perturbed by the metal cation bonding. Experimental data are compared to the IR spectra derived from density functional calculations. Vibrational patterns in V+-(C6H6) indicate that the metal is bound in an eta6 pi-bonding configuration, while V+-(C6H6)2 is a sandwich. Trapped-ion IR-REMPD is a general method to access the vibrational spectroscopy of organometallic ions and their clusters.     

Estimation of individual ultraviolet spectra in incomplete two-component separations by high-performance liquid chromatography

A method is described for the estimation of spectral features in a two-component chromatographic peak by means of a u.v. diode-array detector. The calculation relies on the assumption that the front of a fused chromatographic peak contains a single pure component. The spectrum of this component is used in calculating the concentration profile of the other component, thus allowing the determination of a solution band for the spectrum of the second component. The boundaries of the solution band are based on non-negativity restrictions of chromatographic and spectral features. The method does not require the use of principal components analysis.