The effects of sample preparation methods on the variability of the electrospray ionization response for model drug compounds

A post-column infusion system was developed in order to analyze suppression of electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry response in the presence of endogenous plasma interferences. By enabling direct detection of these interfering components, this experimental system was used to analyze the ability of several common extraction procedures to remove endogenous plasma components that cause changes in the ESI response of model drug substances. Methyl-t-butyl ether (MTBE) liquid-liquid, Oasis and Empore solid-phase, and acetonitrile (ACN) protein precipitation sample preparation methods were tested using the post-column infusion system. In all cases, ACN protein precipitation samples showed the greatest amount of ESI response suppression while liquid-liquid extracts demonstrated the least. In addition, the three test compounds, phenacetin, caffeine, and a representative Merck compound, demonstrated that ESI response suppression is compound dependent. Suppression was greatest with caffeine, the most polar analyte, and the smallest for the Merck compound, the least polar analyte. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gamma-ray spectroscopy with relativistic exotic heavy-ions

Feasibility of gamma-ray spectroscopy at relativistic energies with exotic heavy-ions and new generation of germanium detectors (segmented Clover) is discussed. An experiment with such detector array and radioactive is discussed.     

Percolative transport in the vicinity of charge-order ferromagnetic transition in a hole-doped manganite

We report measurements of non-linear charge transport in epitaxial (La_1−x Pr _x )_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ thin films fabricated on (100) oriented SrTiO₃ single crystals by pulsed laser deposition. The end members of this series, namely Pr_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ and La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ are canonical charge-ordered (CO) and ferromagnetic manganites, respectively. The onset of the CO state in Pr_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ is manifested by a pronounced insulating behavior below ∼ 200 K. The CO state remains stable even when a large (∼ 2×10⁵ V/cm) electric field is applied across the thin film samples. However, on substitution of Pr with La, a crossover from the highly resistive CO state to a state of metallic character is observed at relatively low electric fields. The current-voltage characteristics of the samples at low temperatures show hysteretic and history dependent effects. The electric field driven charge transport in the system is modelled on the basis of an inhomogeneous medium consisting of ferromagnetic metallic clusters dispersed in a CO background.     

Mirror image supramolecular helical tapes formed by the enantiomeric-depsipeptide derivatives of the amyloidogenic peptide amylin(20-29)

Factors that determine the chirality of supramolecular helical tapes formed by a backbone-modified amylin(20-29) depsipeptide and inverso-depsipeptide, were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, circular dichroism and transmission electron microscopy. Although β-sheet propensity was absent in both peptides, it was found that the l-depsipeptide formed left-handed and the enantiomeric d-depsipeptide right-handed helical tapes. Moreover, the backbone-modified depsipeptides, showed a certain degree of cross-recognition between both enantiomers, which might have implications in designing amyloid formation inhibitors.     

Self-chemical ionization of diethylzinc

The self-chemical ionization of diethylzinc is examined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry and semiempirical molecular orbital calculations. Electron impact of diethylzinc neutral produces the radical cation, C(4)H(15)Zn(+) (m/z x 122), which reacts further with the neutral (C(2)H(5))(2)Zn to give the following product ions: Zn(+) (m/z x 64), C(2)H(5)Zn(+) (m/z x 93), C(4)H(9)Zn(+) (m/z x 121), C(4)H(11)Zn(2)(+) (m/z x 187), and C(6)H(15)Zn(2)(+) (m/z x 215). To determine the structure and pathways for production of these ions, monoisotopic (12)C(4)H(15)(64)Zn(+), (64)Zn(+) and (12)C(2)H(5)(64)Zn(+) were individually isolated and reacted with the neutral background. We also performed semiempirical molecular orbital calculations (ZINDO/1). The molecular orbital calculations and experimental data are consistent in predicting that the ethyl group on the diethylzinc cation carries the positive charge. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparison of inductively coupled argon plasma atomic emission spectrometry and electrothermal atomization atomic absorption spectrometry in the determination of copper and zinc in serum

Summary A comparison of performance characteristics of ICAP-AES and ETA-AAS experienced in analyzing Cu and Zn in blood serum is described. Accuracy and precision were evaluated by a statistical procedure permitting graphical representation of the results. It was concluded that ETA-AAS is very suitable for monitoring and screening purposes in toxicology and clinical chemistry whereas ICAP-AES is to be preferred when more precise determinations are required.

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Vergleich von AES mit induktiv gekuppeltem Argonplasma und AAS mit elektrothermischer Atomisierung für den Fall der Kupfer- und Zinkbestimmung im Serum

Zusammenfassung Die Leistungsfähigkeit der beiden Methoden wurde verglichen, wobei Richtigkeit und Reproduzierbarkeit statistisch mit graphischer Darstellung der Ergebnisse ausgewertet wurden. Als Schlußfolgerung ergab sich, daß sich die ETA-AAS als Überwachungs- und Screeningverfahren in der Toxikologie und klinischen Chemie eignet, während für höhere Präzision die ICAP-AES vorzuziehen ist.

     

On the use of mass scaled cluster coordinates to describe polyatomic molecule reaction dynamics: Application to O + CS2 → SO + CS

We explore the use of mass scaled cluster coordinates to describe polyatomic molecule reaction dynamics. These coordinates provide the natural extension to polyatomic systems of the familiar atom—diatom model of “rolling a marble” on a skewed and scaled potential surface in that they reduce the kinetic energy of an arbitrary system to one equivalent to that of a single mass point moving in 3N - 3 dimensions. For any given number of atoms, usually several distinct types of mass scaled cluster coordinates can be introduced, all of which are interrelated by orthogonal transformations, and many of which are convenient for describing trajectory motion in one or more arrangement channels. We illustrate these points by an application to the collinear O + CS₂ → SO + CS reaction. For this system, the reagent to product coordinate transformation is conveniently described in terms of two Euler angles α and β, for which β is analogous to the atom—diatom skew angle, and α determines how the reagent vibrational normal modes relate to the product degrees of freedom. Examination of trajectory behavior indicates that the rather small value of π - α (21.7°) leads to a rather clean correlation between CS₂ asymmetric stretch motion and product CS vibrational motion, and between CS₂ symmetric stretch and a combination of SO stretch and product translation. This explains why symmetric stretch mode excitation enhances the O + CS₂ reaction rate more efficiently than asymmetric stretch mode excitation. We also find for O + CS₂ (and many other reactions for which the unbroken bond does not significantly change its length during the reaction) that the reagent and product segments of the minimum energy path are coplanar. This means that a natural partitioning of the reaction dynamics exists in which motions parallel to this plane tend to be active in promoting the reaction whereas motions perpendicular tend to be inactive. A study of trajectory motions and product state energy partitioning for O + CS₂ confirms this.     

CHLOROPHYLL METABOLISM IN ETIOLATED GHERKIN SEEDLINGS I. PHOTOINHIBITION OF CHLOROPHYLL ACCUMULATION

Abstract. Cotyledons of etiolated gherkin seedlings do not turn green upon transfer to high intensity red light (about 25 W/m²). A pre-irradiation with high intensity red light has an after-effect as chlorophyll accumulation during a subsequent exposure to white light (20 W/m²) is inhibited.
The capacity of protochlorophyll regeneration during a dark period depends on the length of a previous light period but is hardly affected by the light intensity. At high intensity light the rate of protochlorophyll regeneration, which also depends on the length of the foregoing irradiation, is lower than that at low intensity light only during the first 1.5h of the light period. It is concluded that high intensity red light inhibits chlorophyll accumulation mainly by photo-bleaching of chlorophyll. The after-effect is the result of a photooxidation which may lead to photo-bleaching of newly formed chlorophyll in relatively low intensity light.
Photoinhibition of chlorophyll accumulation is accompanied by a disturbed development of etioplasts into chloroplasts.     

Synthesis and structural investigations of N-alkylated beta-peptidosulfonamide-peptide hybrids of the amyloidogenic amylin(20-29) sequence: Implications of supramolecular folding for the design of peptide-based bionanomaterials

The incorporation of a single beta-aminoethane sulfonyl amide moiety in a highly amyloidogenic peptide sequence resulted in a complete loss of amyloid fibril formation. Instead, supramolecular folding morphologies were observed. Subsequent chemoselective N-alkylation of the sulfonamide resulted in amphiphilic peptide-based hydrogelators. It was found that variation of merely the alkyl chain induced a dramatic variation in aggregation motifs such as helical ribbons and tapes, ribbons progressing to closed tubes, twisted lamellar sheets and entangled/branched fibers.