New Insights on Modern Age Coins by Calibration-Free Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Method and Chemometric Approaches

Journal of Applied Spectroscopy - The elemental composition of one- and two-rupee coins issued in different years by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was investigated using laser-induced breakdown...     

Determination of the gamma self-attenuation correction factors using intensity ratios

Summary The possible correlation between the self-attenuation correction in gamma-spectrometric assay of uranyl nitrate samples and spectral line intensity ratios was investigated experimentally and simulated numerically using MCNP code. The characteristic gamma- and X-lines of uranium were measured using a low energy Ge gamma-spectrometer. The simulation results agreed with the experimental data and showed obvious correlation between the self-attenuation correction and the intensity ratios [(185.7 keV)/(143.8 keV), (98.44 keV)/(185.7 keV) and (185.7 keV)/(63.23 keV)]. This correlation greatly simplifies the determination of the self-attenuation correction and reduces the troublesome traditional procedures used to determine this coefficient.     

A modified apparatus for determination of carbon in metals by the low pressure method

The low pressure method of determination of carbon in metals and alloys was modified to include certain new techniques. An isopentane slush bath dispensed with the use of liquid oxygen and the usual McLeod gauge was replaced by a differential oil manometer, which increased the sensitivity. As little as 5 μg of carbon in CaCO₃-quartz standards could be determined with a coefficient of variation of 16.0% which improved to 3.3% at the 100-μg level. The apparatus was used for the determination of carbon in metals such as uranium, zirconium and iron and in steels and cupronickel alloy.     

Comparative Photophysical Study of Disulfonated Aluminum Phthalocyanine in Unilamellar Vesicles and Leukemic K562 Cells

Abstract— The photophysical properties of cis -disulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPcS₂) in unilamellar vesicles (liposomes) of DL-a-dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine have been measured. Both the fluorescence and triplet quantum yields decreased with increasing sensitizer concentration. The time-resolved fluorescence decays, analyzed by both the sum of exponentials and decay time distribution analyses, are compared with those reported for AlPcS₂ in leukemic K562 cells. Information on the pho-todynamic transport and localization mechanism has been obtained by drawing correlations between the two systems, indicating active transport of the phthalocyanine into tumor cells involving lysosomal accumulation.     

Parallel synthesis of PNA-peptide conjugate libraries

An optimized semi-automatic protocol for parallel synthesis of up to 96 peptide nucleic acids (PNA) or PNA-peptide conjugates using Boc-protection strategy has been developed using a robotic system. The approach is illustrated by synthesizing PNA and PNA-peptide libraries varying between 15 and 27 amino acid units. The peptides (NLS (nuclear localization signal) or Tat-peptide) were attached to N-terminus of the PNA. The method was found to be far superior to that based on the SPOT/Fmoc protocol by which PNA oligomers are synthesized on a modified cellulose membrane. On a 0.5 micromole scale the method typically yielded 2 mg product of 90% purity by HPLC/MALDI-TOF analysis. This approach is suitable for screening of a large number of PNA and/or peptide sequences for biochemical and biological studies.     

Aziridination of alkenes using N-iodo-N-potassio-p-toluenesulphonamide as a nitrene precursor

N-Iodo-N-potassio-p-toluenesulphonamide was found to be a convenient nitrene precursor for the aziridination of alkenes in the presence of copper catalysts.     

A simple autonull-type servo-controlled electronic balance for thermogravimetric applications

A simple electronic autonull-type recording balance using a helical quartz spring is described. Deviation from the null position is detected by a pair of photoemissive cells. The error signal generated across the cells as a result of weight change is processed by a servo-system which, in turn, produces an electric current in the balancing coil proportional to the force required to restore the null position. This current, recorded as the potential drop across a standard resistor, is a direct measure of the weight change.The balance has good linear response and can record weight changes up to 150 mg. The performance of the balance was tested in a thermogravimetric set-up, by studying the decomposition in air of the oxalates of copper, nickel and magnesium. The decomposition of nickel oxalate was also studied in flowing hydrogen. The weighing accuracy of the balance, compared against a Mettler model H-15 single-pan balance, was found to be within±1.5%.

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Zusammenfassung Eine einfache elektronische registrierende Quartz-Spiralfeder Kompensationswaage wird beschrieben. Die Abweichung von der Nullposition wird durch zwei Photoemissionszellen angezeigt. Das infolge der Gewichtsänderung durch die Zellen erzeugte Fehlersignal wird durch ein Servosystem empfangen, das seinerseits in der Ausgleichsspirale einen elektrischen Strom erzeugt, der proportional zur für die Wiederherstellung der Null-position benötigten Kraft ist. Dieser Strom, der als Spannungsgefälle in einem Standardwiderstand registriert wird, ist eine direkte Maßzahl der Gewichtsänderung.Die Waage zeigt ein gutes lineares Verhalten und kann Gewichtsänderungen bis zu 150 mg registrieren. Die Leistung der Waage wurde in einer thermogravimetrischen Vorrichtung durch Untersuchungen der Zersetzung der Oxalate von Kupfer, Nickel und Magnesium in Luft geprüft. Die Zersetzung von Nickeloxalat wurde auch in strömendem Stickstoff untersucht. Die Meßgenauigkeit der Waage, vergleichen mit der Einschalenwaage Mettler H-15 wurde im Bereich von±1.5% gefunden.

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Résumé On décrit une balance électronique enregistreuse simple du type auto-zéro, à hélice de quartz. La déviation de la position zéro est décelée par une paire de cellules photoémissives. Le signal de déséquilibre décelé par les photocellules et résultant d'un changement de poids, est reçu par un système asservi qui, à son tour, produit un courant électrique dans la bobine de la balance, proportionnel à la force nécessaire pour rétablir la position zéro. Ce courant, enregistré comme chute de potentiel dans une résistance étalon, est une mesure directe du changement de poids.La balance donne une bonne réponse linéaire et peut enregistrer des changements de poids allant jusqu'à 150 mg. Ses caractéristiques ont été examinées dans un montage thermogravimétrique, en étudiant la décomposition dans l'air des oxalates de cuivre, nickel et magnésium. La décomposition de l'oxalate de nickel a aussi été étudiée sous courant d'hydrogène. L'exactitude de la balance, comparée à celle d'un modèle Mettler monoplateau (type H-15), coïncide à±1.5%.

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The authors wish to express their thanks to Mr. S. P. Sen, Manager. Catalyst Development and Production Department of Fertilizer (Planning and Development) India Limited, for his keen interest and valuable suggestions.     

Energy expressions for atomic configurations in the L–S coupling scheme

The matrix elements of the spin-free Hamiltonian between two atomic configuration state functions (CSF 'S ) in the L–S coupling scheme are expressed in terms of the atomic integrals F^k's and G^k's. Using these general expressions, the matrix elements have been obtained for all the atomic configurations with three valence electrons that have not been solved so far by earlier methods. The scope for applying this new approach to obtain the Auger line energies and the promotion energies of metals that involve more than two partially filled shells is indicated. The energy expressions for some of the relevant configurations are tabulated.     

Convergent synthesis of a 24-membered macrocyclic hexaoxazole derivative related to the novel telomerase inhibitor telomestatin

An efficient construction of a 24-membered macrocyclic hexaoxazole derivative pertinent to the synthesis of analogues of the important natural product telomestatin was developed, which featured a convergent union of two trisoxazole units.     

Oxovanadium(IV) and -(V) complexes of dithiocarbazate-based tridentate Schiff base ligands: syntheses,structure, and photochemical reactivity of compounds involving imidazole derivatives as coligands

The tridentate dithiocarbazate-based Schiff base ligands H(2)L (S-methyl-3-((5-R-2-hydroxyphenyl)methyl)dithiocarbazate, R = NO(2), L = L(2); R = Br, L = L(3)) react with [VO(acac)(2)] in the presence of imidazole derivatives as coligands to form oxovanadium(IV) and cis-dioxovanadium(V) complexes. With benzimidazole and N-methylimidazole, the products are oxovanadium(IV) complexes, viz. [VOL(3)(BzIm)].0.5CH(3)CN (1a) and [VOL(N-MeIm)(2)] (L = L(3), 1b; L = L(2), 1c), respectively. In both 1a,b, the O and S donor atoms of the tridentate ligand are cis to the terminal oxo group (in the "equatorial" plane) and mutually trans, but the N donor atom is respectively cis and trans to the oxo atom, as revealed from X-ray crystallography. When imidazole or 4-methylimidazole is used as the ancillary ligand, the products obtained are water-soluble cis-dioxovanadium(V) complexes [VO(2)L(R'-ImH)] (L = L(3) and L(2), R' = H and Me, 2a-d). These compounds have zigzag chain structures in the solid state as confirmed by X-ray crystallographic investigations of 2a,d, involving an alternating array of LVO(2)(-) species and the imidazolium counterions held together by Coulombic interactions and strong hydrogen bonding. Complexes 2a-d are stable in water or methanol. In aprotic solvents, viz. CH(3)CN, DMF, or DMSO, however, they undergo photochemical transformation when exposed to visible light. The putative product is a mixed-oxidation divanadium(IV/V) species obtained by photoinduced reduction as established by EPR, electronic spectroscopy, and dynamic (1)H NMR experiments.