Critical evaluation of spiking of low-grade ore samples in activation analysis for gold and uranium

In applying non-destructive neutron-activation analysis for gold and uranium in spiked low-grade ore samples, the following extrapolated unspiked concentrations were measured: 0.27₈ ± 0.01₅ ppm gold (chemical assay: 0.20₂ ± 0.02₀ ppm gold); 25.1 ± 1.1 ppm uranium (chemical assay value: 19.5 ±2.0 ppm uranium). Different approaches to the fitting of results, and the influence of spiking non-uniformity, are discussed.     

Nitration of furan derivatives with acetyl nitrate

The mixture of products formed in the nitration of methyl furan-2-carboxylate in acetic anhydride was separated by means of thin-layer and column chromatography. It was found that products of cis and trans addition of acetyl nitrate to the furan ring — methyl 5-nitro-2-ace-toxy-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-carboxylate and 5-nitro-4-acetoxy-4,5-dihydrofuran-2-carboxylate — and methyl 5-nitrofuran-2-carboxylate are formed in the nitration.     

Synthesis in the fields of 5-nitrofuryl-2-polyalkenals and 5-nitrofuryl-2-polyalkenones. VII. Synthesis and investigation of the antibacterial properties of derivatives of α,β-unsaturated and polyene aldehydes and ketones of the 5-nitrofuran series

Antibacterial properties and toxicities were determined for 66 compounds of the 5-nitrofuran type to ascertain the connection between structure and biological activity.Unsaturated 5-nitrofuran aldehydes and some of their simplest derivatives (acetals, acylals) have high antibacterial activity and a broad spectrum. However, these compounds cannot be used in medicine because of their appreciable toxicities and low stabilities. One of the ,-unsaturated ketones in this series, 5-nitrofurfurylideneacetone, has a broad antibacterial spectrum combined with lower toxicity. Low-toxicity derivatives of 1-aminohydantoin and 3-amino-2-oxazolid-2-one are among the imino derivatives of high antibacterial activity investigated.For Part VI see [1].     

New SERS feature of β‐carotene: consequences for quantitative SERS analysis

While recording SERS spectra of pure β‐carotene at sub‐micromole concentrations for reference purpose, we discovered an unusual spectral response never reported before. In pre‐resonance conditions with the 532‐nm line, SERS of β‐carotene with AgNPs exhibits among the strong υ(CC) mode at 1512 cm⁻¹ unshifted from normal Raman spectrum, additional strong bands at 1649, 1575 and 1387 cm⁻¹ as well as other medium bands not observed in the Raman spectrum of the crystalline powder. Such behavior is explained in terms of selection rules relaxation upon cyclohexene terminal rings of the β‐carotene interaction with the NP surface. AFM images of the SERS system suggested dimers and trimers clustering of the nanoparticles with adsorbed β‐carotene. In light of the new SERS feature the consequences in correct interpretation of the SERS imaging from complex biosystems containing carotenoids are discussed. Relative intensity ratio of the β‐carotene band at 1512 cm⁻¹ and water against concentration allowed a reliable SERS calibration curve for 50 to 500 nmol l⁻¹ concentration range and provided quantitative SERS assessment of the carotenoid content in the sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) gonads extracts. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sequence of Plasmodium falciparum chromosomes 2, 10, 11 and 14

The mosquito-borne malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum kills an estimated 0.7-2.7 million people every year, primarily children in sub-Saharan Africa. Without effective interventions, a variety of factors-including the spread of parasites resistant to antimalarial drugs and the increasing insecticide resistance of mosquitoes-may cause the number of malaria cases to double over the next two decades. To stimulate basic research and facilitate the development of new drugs and vaccines, the genome of Plasmodium falciparum clone 3D7 has been sequenced using a chromosome-by-chromosome shotgun strategy. We report here the nucleotide sequences of chromosomes 10, 11 and 14, and a re-analysis of the chromosome 2 sequence. These chromosomes represent about 35% of the 23-megabase P. falciparum genome.     

Sequence and analysis of chromosome 2 of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana

Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) is unique among plant model organisms in having a small genome (130-140 Mb), excellent physical and genetic maps, and little repetitive DNA. Here we report the sequence of chromosome 2 from the Columbia ecotype in two gap-free assemblies (contigs) of 3.6 and 16 megabases (Mb). The latter represents the longest published stretch of uninterrupted DNA sequence assembled from any organism to date. Chromosome 2 represents 15% of the genome and encodes 4,037 genes, 49% of which have no predicted function. Roughly 250 tandem gene duplications were found in addition to large-scale duplications of about 0.5 and 4.5 Mb between chromosomes 2 and 1 and between chromosomes 2 and 4, respectively. Sequencing of nearly 2 Mb within the genetically defined centromere revealed a low density of recognizable genes, and a high density and diverse range of vestigial and presumably inactive mobile elements. More unexpected is what appears to be a recent insertion of a continuous stretch of 75% of the mitochondrial genome into chromosome 2.