Influence of Cyclodextrins on the Kinetics of Oxidation of Amino Acids and BSA by Hydrazyl Radicals

The kinetics of oxidation of amino acids (Arg, His, Lys, Phe, Thr and Tyr), a dipeptide (Gly-His), and BSA (bovine serum albumin) by two persistent water soluble free radicals of the hydrazyl type has been studied.The rate decreases in the order Arg>Lys>Tyr>Thr>HisBSAPheGly-His with bothfree radicals. Addition to the reaction mixture of - and -cyclodextrin decreases the oxidation rate, probably due to amino acidencapsulation in the cyclodextrin cavity. -Cyclodextrin protects more efficiently against oxidation than -cyclodextrin.     

Coupled fixed point theorems for contractions in fuzzy metric spaces

In the present work, we prove a coupled fixed point theorem for contractive mappings in complete fuzzy metric spaces.     

The microscopic investigation of structures of moving flux lines by neutron and muon techniques

We have used a variety of microscopic techniques to reveal the structure and motion of flux line arrangements, when the flux lines in low T _c type II superconductors are caused to move by a transport current. Using small-angle neutron scattering by the flux line lattice (FLL), we are able to demonstrate directly the alignment by motion of the nearest-neighbor FLL direction. This tends to be parallel to the direction of flux line motion, as had been suspected from two-dimensional simulations. We also see the destruction of the ordered FLL by plastic flow and the bending of flux lines. Another technique that our collaboration has employed is the direct measurement of flux line motion, using the ultra-high-resolution spectroscopy of the neutron spin-echo technique to observe the energy change of neutrons diffracted by moving flux lines. The muon spin rotation (μSR) technique gives the distribution of values of magnetic field within the FLL. We have recently succeeded in performing μSR measurements while the FLL is moving. Such measurements give complementary information about the local speed and orientation of the FLL motion. We conclude by discussing the possible application of this technique to thin film superconductors.     

Investigation of the quantitative properties of the quadrupole orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer with electrospray ionisation using 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine

This paper describes the investigation of the potential of a quadrupole orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Q-TOF) equipped with an atmospheric pressure ionisation interface for quantitative measurements of small molecules separated by reversed phase liquid chromatography. To this end, the detection limits and linear dynamic range in particular were studied in an LC/MS/MS experiment using 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine standards and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine for internal standardisation. In a second phase, the experiment was repeated with real biological extracts (whole blood, serum, and vitreous humour). A calibration for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine and its metabolite 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine was prepared in each of these matrices again using 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine as internal standard. The resulting quantitative data were compared with those obtained by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection for the same extracts. The Q-TOF results revealed excellent sensitivity and a linear dynamic range of nearly four decades (2-10 000 pg on-column, r(2) = 0.9998, 1/x weighting). Furthermore, all the calibration curves prepared in biological material were superimposable, LC/MS/MS and LC-fluorescence, and the quantitative results for actual samples compared very favourably. It was concluded that the Q-TOF achieves a linear dynamic range for quantitative LC/MS/MS work exceeding that of fluorescence detection and at much better absolute sensitivity. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Generalized fixed point theorems for compatible mappings with some types in fuzzy metric spaces

In this paper, we give some new definitions of compatible mappings of types (I) and (II) in fuzzy metric spaces and prove some common fixed point theorems for four mappings under the condition of compatible mappings of types (I) and (II) in complete fuzzy metric spaces. Our results extend, generalize and improve the corresponding results given by many authors.     

Calculations on the group 15 intraring substituted benzenes (pyridine to bismin series) and their datively bonded oxides and sulfides

The series of heterocyclic compounds pyridine, phosphorin, arsenin, antimonin, bismin, and the related series of pyridine oxide, etc., and pyridine sulfide, etc., were investigated using density functional theory. In addition to molecular geometries and energies, the nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) values were calculated for each ring, and the CHELPG atomic charges were calculated. Calculated heats of formation are: pyridine +133, phosphorin +181, arsenin +231, antimonin +329, bismin +468, pyridine oxide +143, phosphorin oxide +1, arsenin oxide +183, antimonin oxide +344, bismin oxide +570, pyridine sulfide +252, phosphorin sulfide +205, arsenin sulfide +328, antimonin sulfide +435, and bismin sulfide + 642 kJ/mol. The question of aromaticity for these heterocycles was discussed. On the basis of hydrogenation energies, NICS values, and lack of bond alternation, the entire series from pyridine to bismin appears to be aromatic and to a roughly equal degree. The situation for the oxides and sulfides of pyridine, phosphorin, and arsenin is much the same, but bismin oxide and bismin sulfide are nonplanar and according to NICS nonaromatic. Antimonin oxide is aromatic by some of the criteria and nonaromatic by others.     

Rapid determination of rat plasma uridine levels by HPLC-ESI-MS utilizing the Captiva plates for sample preparation

A rapid, accurate and precise HPLC-ESI-MS method for the determination of rat plasma uridine concentrations was developed and is described here. Sample preparation involves methanol precipitation of plasma proteins in a 96-well Captiva protein precipitation filter plate. A clear extract is drawn through the filter plate with vacuum, followed by evaporation of the extract and subsequent reconstitution prior to chromatography on a reversed-phase column with an aqueous mobile phase [0.1% (v/v) glacial acetic acid]. Detection was accomplished by positive-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. A calibration curve ranging in concentration from 0.78 to 25 microM was constructed by best-fit, 1/x weighting linear regression analysis of the calibration standard concentrations vs peak height ratios of analyte with internal standard. The correlation coefficient was >0.995. The overall assay accuracy as shown by the back-calculated concentrations of the calibration curve ranged from 96.6 to 103% with RSD ranging from 4.5 to 20%. While this assay method was developed for the determination of uridine in rat plasma, it could be readily adapted for determination of uridine in plasma from other species, such as human.     

Experimental stress analysis of a nuclear-reactor pressure vessel

The stresses from internal pressure in a nuclear-reactor pressure vessel were investigated using both strain-gaged and photoelastic models. The methods used in obtaining complete stress distributions along the nozzles from strain-gage data are described, and comparisons are made between the distributions obtained from the photoelastic model and those derived from strain-gage data. The effects of nonradial attachment of a nozzle to a spherical shell upon the stresses in the nozzle and in the shell are shown. Finally, comprisons are made between the experimental results and those for simplified analytical models.