Structure and magnetic properties of Ca2Fe1−xMnxAlO5+δ

Ca₂Fe_1−xMn_xAlO₅ (0?x?1) compounds were prepared by a self-combustion method under air (x=0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) and nitrogen (x=0.5, 0.7 and 1.0). The samples prepared under nitrogen were successfully oxidized after short annealing under air. Both X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) Rietveld analysis and electron diffraction revealed that all compounds adopt the brownmillerite-type structure. All samples present an overall antiferromagnetic behaviour and data from magnetic measurements and Mössbauer spectroscopy allowed to conclude that the transition temperature decreases as Mn content increases for x?0.3 and increases in the case of the x?0.5 compounds. Except for x=1, chemical disorder due to the occupancy of both octahedral and tetrahedral sites by different metals as well as the competition between different moments’ orientation induce a complex magnetic behaviour characterized by magnetic frustration and canted antiferromagnetism. Mössbauer spectroscopy and chemical titrations also allowed to conclude about the preferential oxidation of Mn³⁺ over Fe³⁺, obtained by thermal treatment under air of the x=0.5 and 0.7 compositions.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new layered organic-inorganic hybrid nickel(II) 1,4:5,8-naphthalenediimide bis-phosphonate, exhibiting canted antiferromagnetism, with Tc∼21 K

A new Ni(II) layered hybrid organic-inorganic compound of formula Ni₂[(NDI-BP)(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O has been prepared in very mild conditions from N,N′-bis(2-phosphonoethyl)napthalene-1,4:5,8-tetracarboximide (NDI-BP ligand) and NiCl₂. The X-ray powder structure characterization of the title compound suggests a pillared layered organic-inorganic hybrid structure. The distance between the organic and inorganic layers has been found to be 17.8 Å. The inorganic layers consist of corner sharing [NiO₅(H₂O)] octahedra and they are pillared by the diphosphonate groups. DC and AC magnetic measurements as a function of temperature and field indicate the presence of 2D antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the nearest-neighbor Ni(II) ions below 100 K. A long-range magnetic ordering at T_c∼21 K has been established and is attributed to the presence of spin canting. AC magnetic measurements as a function of temperature at different frequencies confirm the occurrence of the magnetic ordering temperature at T=21 K and the presence of a slight structural disorder in the title compound.     

Recent applications of capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS): CE performing functions beyond separation

Capillary electrophoresis is one of the separation tools commonly used in conjugation with mass spectrometry. Its primary purpose is to resolve the components in a sample mixture prior to mass spectral identification. Moreover, an increasing number of applications reported in the literature involve the use of CE for additional purposes, such as sample preparation and derivatization, and the study of biochemical properties. This review provides an overview on the various roles of CE beyond that of a simple separation tool. While the scope focuses on the area of interest rather than a predefined time period, the majority of the references highlighted were initially published within the past five years.     

In vivo evaluation and in vitro metabolism of leuprolide in mice--mass spectrometry-based biomarker measurement for efficacy and toxicity

The study of pharmacologically active peptides is central for the understanding of cancer and the development of novel therapeutic approaches. In this context, both qualitative and quantitative determination of bioactive peptides in biological fluids/tissues and their effect on endogenous factors (e.g. hormones) are of great importance. A mass spectrometry-based approach was developed and applied towards the measurement of leuprolide, a peptide drug for the treatment of prostate cancer, in mouse plasma. High-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to a hybrid quadrupole linear ion trap (QqLIT) mass spectrometer, a platform that combines the benefits of triple QqLIT instruments, was employed for the study. Using the described methodology, we established that picomolar concentrations of leuprolide could be measured in mouse plasma (limit of quantification of 0.1 ng/ml). In order to optimize pharmacokinetic properties of analogs of leuprolide, a facile in vivo mouse model was developed and leuprolide concentrations were determined in mouse plasma following intraperitoneal administration. In the same animal model, we demonstrated the versatility of the described MS-based approach by the determination of plasma concentrations of testosterone, an established biomarker for the treatment of prostate cancer. Following dosing with leuprolide, circulating testosterone was increased significantly in comparison to vehicle-treated mice. Finally, in vitro metabolism of leuprolide was evaluated by incubation of leuprolide with mouse kidney membranes, followed by identification of major metabolites by MS. Such studies provide the framework for future evaluation of novel leuprolide analogs with potential therapeutic advantages.     

Effect of Synthesis Parameters on Sol–Gel Silica Modified by Zirconia

An experimental strategy was developed to obtain mesoporous SiO₂-ZrO₂ mixed oxides via a sol–gel process, which involved the use of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and an inorganic Zr-containing salt. The effects of key process parameters on the properties of the materials were investigated, including the choice of Zr(IV) source (zirconium oxychloride or nitrate), the ZrO₂ content and the synthesis pressure (i.e. ambient pressure or hydrothermal conditions). The resulting solids were dried, calcined at 500 °C, and characterized by nitrogen physisorption, pyridine chemisorption, ²⁹Si Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and X-ray diffraction. The data revealed that mesoporous materials with very narrow pore diameter distribution were obtained when using the autoclave procedure from both zirconium nitrate and oxychloride salts. The surface areas and pore size distributions were a function of ZrO₂ content. Differences in acidity, as determined by pyridine adsorption, were observed depending on the synthesis parameters.     

Dipole Moments of 4′-Aminoflavonol Fluorescent Probes in Different Solvents

Electrooptical absorption measurements (EOAM) were used to measure the dipole moments of the normal form of 4-(dimethylamino)-3-hydroxyflavone (FME), and 4 N-(15-azacrown-5)-3-hydroxyflavone (FCR) in 1,4-dioxane, toluene, and cyclohexane. With these probes excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) takes place. For comparison, the dipole moments of 4-(dimethylamino)-3-metoxyflavone (FME3ME), for which ESIPT is lacking, were measured, too. For all three probes the ground (_g) and excited Franck-Condon state (_e^FC) electrical dipole moments are parallel to each other and also parallel to the transition dipole moment. The electrical dipole moments of FCR, FME, and FME3ME in their ground state have values within the range (12.0–17.7) × 10^–30 C m. Upon optical excitation, the dipole moments increase by (41.9–52.9) ×10^–30 C m. The value of the change of the dipole moment vector ^a with excitation to the Franck-Condon state and the value of the vector _e^FC for FCR and FME are practically independent on the solvent polarity. From this point of view and due to large values of the dipole moments FCR and FME are very promising probes for the investigation of the distribution of the local polarity in biological systems using site-selective excitation of the different sites. Our steady-state fluorescence studies on FME and FCR have demonstrated a high spectral sensitivity of the normal form to such solvent characteristics as polarity.     

Foams in contact with solid boundaries: Equilibrium conditions and conformal invariance

A liquid foam in contact with a solid surface forms a two-dimensional foam on the surface. We derive the equilibrium equations for this 2D foam when the solid surface is curved and smooth, generalising the standard case of flat Hele-Shaw cells. The equilibrium conditions at the vertices in 2D, at the edges in 3D, are invariant by conformal transformations. Regarding the films, conformal invariance only holds with restrictions, which we explicit for 3D and flat 2D foams. Considering foams confined in thin interstices between two non-parallel plates, normal incidence and Laplace’s law lead to an approximate equation relating the plate profile to the conformal map. Solutions are given for the logarithm and power laws in the case of constant pressure. The paper concludes on a comparison with available experimental data.     

ESR and NMR studies of poly (amidoamine) dendrimers with ionic surfactants in different media

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study has been carried out for the micellar solutions of various ionic surfactant solutions as well as various generations of aqueous dendrimer both in their respective presence as well as their absence at 25°C and in different media. From these measurements, the rotation correlation time (τ_B) have been calculated for all the ionic surfactant + PAMAM + water system. A variation in the τ_Bvalue remains mostly constant for the dodecyltrimethyammonium bromide (DTAB) and tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) + PAMAM + water ternary mixtures. The τ_Bvalue shows an increase with the increase in the amount of PAMAM for SDS in basic medium and for 12-2-12 in acidic medium. It has been concluded from these results that SDS undergo complexation with all generations of PAMAM in basic medium and 12-2-12 in acidic medium and produce stronger hydrophobic environment. The nuclear magnetic resonance study (NMR) allowed us to evaluate the spin–spin relaxation (T₁) times of SDS in the presence of all generations of PAMAM. The T₁ values for all the tail protons of SDS showed a slight decrease with the increase in the constant amount of PAMAM suggesting the adsorption of PAMAM molecules on the micelle surface.     

Two-dimensional gel permeation chromatography (2D GPC) correlation studies of the aggregate-aggregate interactions in acid-catalyzed triethoxysilyl-terminated polystyrene systems. The effect of specific catalysts on growth process

A set of time resolved gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) profiles, for the reaction mixture of a well-defined polymeric silane coupling agent, triethoxysilyl-terminated polystyrene with molecular weight equal to 8000 (TESi-PS (8000)), catalyzed by HCl (0.1 mol/kg) in tetrahydrofuran (THF), was measured over a long time scale (1–768 h). The GPC profiles were then converted to two-dimensional (2D) correlation spectra. The 2D GPC correlation spectra were compared with those for the CH₃SO₃H (0.1 mol/kg)-catalyzed TESi-PS (8000)-THF system. It has been demonstrated that predominant production of less-reactive oligomers in the HCl-catalyzed system hinders further growth of the oligomer, while formation of reactive oligomers leads to further growth of polymeric precursors in the CH₃SO₃H-catalyzed system.     

Reaction progress kinetic analysis: a powerful methodology for mechanistic studies of complex catalytic reactions

Reaction progress kinetic analysis to obtain a comprehensive picture of complex catalytic reaction behavior is described. This methodology employs in situ measurements and simple manipulations to construct a series of graphical rate equations that enable analysis of the reaction to be accomplished from a minimal number of experiments. Such an analysis helps to describe the driving forces of a reaction and may be used to help distinguish between different proposed mechanistic models. This Review describes the procedure for undertaking such analysis for any new reaction under study.