Spectroscopic investigations of manganese ions in microwave-prepared NaPO3-PbO glasses

The EPR spectra of microwave-prepared 70NaPO(3):30PbO glasses containing different weight percentages of manganese ions have been studied. The EPR spectra exhibit a well-resolved hyperfine pattern at g(eff) approximate to 2.0. Optical absorption, fluorescent emission and excitation spectra of the glasses have been examined. The absorption spectrum exhibits a peak near 500 nm and this has been attributed to the spin-allowed E-5(g) --> T-5(2g) transition of Mn3+ ions. The emission spectrum shows a band at 595 nm which has been assigned to the T-4(1g)(G) --> (6)A(1g)(S) spin-forbidden transition of Mn2+ ions in octahedral coordination. Concentration quenching of fluorescence was found to occur above 0.75 wt% of Mn2+ ions. The excitation spectra exhibit four bands characteristic of Mn2+ ions in octahedral coordination. From the observed band positions of the excitation spectra, the crystal field parameter D-q and the Racah interelectronic repulsion parameters, B and C have been calculated. A structural model is proposed based on the IR, Raman and MASNMR studies according to which Mn2+ ions are likely to occupy sites similar to Na+ ions in these glasses.

Spectroscopic studies of the interactions of the pyrethroid insecticide fenvalerate with gramicidin

Fenvalerate is a pyrethroid insecticide which interacts with ionic channels. Using circular dichroism technique we have studied the interaction of fenvalerate with gramicidin, a model channel peptide which transports ions. In most organic solvents, gramicidin exists as a double helix except in trifluoroethanol where it exists as a channel forming single stranded beta(6.3) helical monomer. In model lipid membranes, under certain experimental conditions, gramicidin exists as a channel forming single stranded beta(6.3) helical dimer. Our results show that fenvalerate interacts more with the single stranded beta(6.3) helical monomer or dimer than with the double helical form of gramicidin. This was further confirmed by an increase in the rate of gramicidin mediated proton transport in liposomes by fenvalerate, using the pH sensitive fluorophore, pyranine.

Synthesis, X-ray structures, and spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of (mu-oxo)bis(mu-carboxylato)diruthenium complexes having six imidazole bases as terminal ligands

Complexes [Ru2O(O2CR)(2)(1-MeIm)(6)](ClO4)(2) (la-c), [Ru2O(O2CR)(2)(ImH)(6)](ClO4)(2) (2a,b), and [Ru2O(O2CR)(2)(4-MeImH)(6)](ClO4)(2) (3a,b) with a (mu-oxo)bis(mu-carboxylato)diruthenium(III) core have been prepared by reacting Ru2Cl(O2CR)(4) with the corresponding imidazole base, viz. 1-methylimidazole (1-MeIm), imidazole (ImH), and 4-methylimidazole (4-MeImH) in methanol, followed by treatment with NaClO4 in water (R: Me, a; C6H4-p-OMe, b; C6H4-p-Me, c). Diruthenium(III,IV) complexes [Ru2O(O2CR)(2)(1-MeIm)(6)](ClO4)(3) (R: Me, 4a; C6H4-p-OMe, 4b; C6H4-p-Me, 4c) have been prepared by one-electron oxidation of 1 in MeCN with K2S2O8 in water. Complexes la, 2a . 3H(2)O, and 4a . 1.5H(2)O have been structurally characterized. Crystal data for the complexes are as follows: la, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 7.659(3) Angstrom, b = 22.366(3) Angstrom, c = 23.688(2) Angstrom, V = 4058(2) Angstrom(3), Z = 4, R = 0.0475, and R-w = 0.0467 for 2669 reflections with F-o > 2 sigma(F-o); 2a . 3H(2)O, triclinic, , a = 13.735(3) Angstrom, b = 14.428(4) Angstrom, c = 20.515(8) Angstrom, alpha = 87.13(3)degrees, beta = 87.61(3)degrees, gamma = 63.92(2)degrees, V = 3646(2) Angstrom(3), Z = 4, R = 0.0485 and R-w = 0.0583 for 10 594 reflections with F-o > 6 sigma(F-o); 4a . 1.5H(2)O triclinic, , a = 11.969(3) Angstrom, b = 12.090(6) Angstrom, c = 17.421(3) Angstrom, alpha = 108.93(2)degrees, beta = 84.42(2)degrees, gamma = 105.97(2)degrees, V = 2292(1) Angstrom(3), Z = 2, R = 0.0567, and R-w = 0.0705 for 6775 reflections with F-o > 6 sigma(F-o). The complexes have a diruthenium unit held by an oxo and two carboxylate ligands, and the imidazole ligands occupy the terminal sites of the core. The Ru-Ru distance and the Ru-O-oxo-Ru angle in la and 2a . 3H(2)O are 3.266(1), 3.272(1) Angstrom and 122.4(4), 120.5(2)degrees, while in 4a . 1.5H(2)O these values are 3.327(1) Angstrom and 133.6(2)degrees. The diruthenium(III) complexes 1-3 are blue in color and they exhibit an intense visible band in the range 560-575 nm. The absorption is charge transfer in nature involving the Ru(III)-d pi and O-oxo-p pi orbitals. The diruthenium(III,IV) complexes are red in color and show an intense band near 500 nm. The diruthenium(III) core readily gets oxidized with K2S2O8 forming quantitatively the diruthenium(III,IV) complex. The visible spectral record of the conversion shows an isosbestic point at 545 nm for 1 and at 535 nm for 2 and 3. Protonation of the oxide bridge by HClO4 in methanol yields the [Ru-2(mu-OH)(mu-O2CR)(2)](3+) core. The hydroxo species shows a visible band al 550 nm. The pK(a) value for la is 2.45. The protonated species are unstable. The 1-MeIm species converts to the diruthenium(III,IV) core, while the imidazole complex converts to [Ru(ImH)(6)](3+) and some uncharacterized products. Complex [Ru(ImH)(6)](ClO4)(3) has been structurally characterized. The diruthenium(III) complexes are essentially diamagnetic and show characteristic H-1 NMR spectra indicating the presence of the dimeric structure in solution. The diruthenium(III,IV) complexes are paramagnetic and display rhombic EPR spectral features. Complexes 1-3 are redox active. Complex 1 shows the one-electron reversible Ru-2(III)/(RuRuIV)-Ru-III, one-electron quasireversible (RuRuIV)-Ru-III/Ru-2(IV), and two-electron quasireversible Ru-2(III)/Ru-2(II) couples near 0.4, 1.5, and -1.0 V vs SCE In MeCN-0.1 M TBAP, respectively, in the cyclic and differential pulse voltammetric studies. Complexes 2 and 3 exhibit only reversible Ru-2(III)/(RuRuIV)-Ru-III and the quasireversible (RuRuIV)-Ru-III/Ru-2(IV) couples near 0.4 and 1.6 V vs SCE, respectively, The observation of a quasireversible one-step two-electron transfer reduction process in 1 is significant considering its relevance to the rapid and reversible Fe-2(III)/Fe-2(II) redox process known for the tribridged diiron core in the oxy and deoxy forms of hemerythrin.

Time-Resolved Resonance Raman Spectroscopic Studies on the Radical Anions of Menaquinone and Naphthoquinone

Quinones and their radical ion intermediates have been much studied by vibrational spectroscopy to understand their structure-function relationships in various biological processes. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis of vibrational spectra in the structure-sensitive region of both the naphthoquinone (NQ) and 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (MQ, menaquinone) radical anions using time-resolved resonance Raman and ab initio studies. Specific vibrational mode assignments have been made to all the vibrational frequencies recorded in the experiment. It is observed that the carbonyl and C-C stretching frequencies show considerable coupling in NQ and MQ radical anions. Further, the asymmetric substitution present in MQ with respect to NQ shows important signatures in the radical anion spectrum. It is concluded that assignments of vibrational frequencies of asymmetrically substituted quinones must take into consideration the influence of asymmetry on structure and reactivity.

Difference spectroscopic studies on binding of Cibacron blue F3GA to ribosome inactivating proteins: effect of beta-mercaptoethanol on the interaction with ricin

The interaction of Cibacron blue F3GA with ribosome inactivating proteins, ricin, ricin A-chain and momordin has been investigated using difference absorption spectroscopy. Ricin was found to bind the dye with a 20- and 2-fold lower affinity than ricin A-chain and momordin, respectively. A time dependent increase in the amplitude of Cibacron blue difference spectrum in the presence of ricin was observed on addition of beta-mercaptoethanol. Analysis of the kinetic profile of this increase showed a biphasic phenomenon and the observed rates were found to be independent of the concentration of beta-mercaptoethanol. Kinetics of reduction of the intersubunit disulphide bond in ricin by beta-mercaptoethanol showed that reduction pet se is a second order reaction. Therefore, the observed changes in the difference spectra of Cibacron blue probably indicate a slow change in the conformation of ricin, triggered by reduction of the intersubunit disulphide bond.

Synthesis, structure and spectroscopic studies on hydroxo-bridged heterotrinuclear complexes of cobalt(m) with ethane-l,2-diamine and ammonia as terminal ligands

Hydroxo-bridged homo- and hetero-trinuclear cobalt(III) complexes of the type [MII(H2O)2{(OH)2CoIII(N4)}2]X2·nH2O [MII= a divalent metal ion such as CoII, NiII or ZnII; N4=(en)2(en = ethane-1,2-diamine) or (NH3)4; X = SO4 or (ClO4)2; n= 3 or 5] have been prepared and spectroscopically characterized. The structure of [Cu{(OH)2Co(en)2}2][SO4]2·2H2O 1 has been determined. The geometry around copper atom is a pseudo-square-based pyramid, with the basal sites occupied by four bridging hydroxide oxygens and the apical site is occupied by a weakly co-ordinated sulfate anion [Cu–O 2.516(4)Å]. The hydroxo groups bridge pairs of cobalt(III) ions which are in near-octahedral environments. The ethylenediamine chelate rings have the twist conformation. In the crystal structure of [Cu{(OH)2Co(en)2}2][ClO4]4·2H2O 2 the perchlorate ion is not co-ordinated and the en ligands have envelope conformations. The sulfate ion in [Cu{(OH)2Co(NH3)4}2][SO4]2·4H2O 3 is not co-ordinated to the central copper ion. Electronic, infrared and variable-temperature EPR spectral data are discussed.

Interaction of Co, Mn, Mg and AI with d(GCGTACGC): a spectroscopic study

Spectroscopic study on the interactions of trace elements Co, Mn, Mg and Al with d(GCGTACGC) indicated the following: Al and Mg did not alter T-m values. Mn enhanced T-m at lower concentration and decreased it at higher concentrations. Interestingly Co at higher concentration elevated the T-m. These studies also showed lower concentrations of Mn displaced EtBr, whereas Al could displace it at higher ionic strength. Mg and Co displaced EtBr fluorescence at moderate concentrations. The binding constant values and CD spectra clearly indicated strong binding of these elements to DNA.

A Survey Of Software Dependability

This paper presents on overview of the issues in precisely defining, specifying and evaluating the dependability of software, particularly in the context of computer controlled process systems. Dependability is intended to be a generic term embodying various quality factors and is useful for both software and hardware. While the developments in quality assurance and reliability theories have proceeded mostly in independent directions for hardware and software systems, we present here the case for developing a unified framework of dependability—a facet of operational effectiveness of modern technological systems, and develop a hierarchical systems model helpful in clarifying this view. In the second half of the paper, we survey the models and methods available for measuring and improving software reliability. The nature of software “bugs”, the failure history of the software system in the various phases of its lifecycle, the reliability growth in the development phase, estimation of the number of errors remaining in the operational phase, and the complexity of the debugging process have all been considered to varying degrees of detail. We also discuss the notion of software fault-tolerance, methods of achieving the same, and the status of other measures of software dependability such as maintainability, availability and safety.

Synthesis and Spectroscopic Investigations of Complexes of Lanthanide Nitrates with N-(4-Hethyl-2-Pyridyl)-Acetamide

New complexes of Lanthanide nitrates with N-(4-methyl-2-pyridyl)-acetamide (4-me-aapH) of the general formulae. [Ln(4-me-aapH)2] [NO3] (where Ln=La=La-Yb and Y)have been synthesized and haracterised by chemical analysis, molar conductivity and physical methods such as infrared, 13C NMR an electronic spectra in the visible region. Molar conductance and infrared data point to the presence to the coordinated nitrates groups. Infrared and 13C NMR data have been interpreted in terms of the coordination of the legand to the metal ion through the oxygen of the secondary amide and nitrogen of the hetrocyclic ring, in a bidentate fashion. Coordination number of ten seems probable for the complexes.

Infrared spectroscopic study of the rotation of the NH 4+ ion in ammonium halides

Infrared correlation functions, have been obtained from the analysis of band shapes of the 1400 cm−1 bending mode of NH4Cl, NH4Br and NH4I in both the Pm3m and Fm3m phases. The NH 4 + ion seems to undergo relatively free rotation in the high temperature Fm3m phases of these halides.

A 1h And 13c Magnetic Resonance And Infrared Spectroscopic Study Of Coordinated 2-Aminocyclopentene-1-Dithiocarboxylic Acid And Its S-Methyl Ester

The ligating properties of 2-aminocyclopentene-1-dithiocarboxylic acid and its S-methyl esters were investigated. Complexes with Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II) halides were synthesized and characterized by infrared and proton and carbon-13 NMR studies. The results are concordant with a bidentate coordination of the -CS2 group to the metal ions

Conformational analysis of small disulfide loops. Spectroscopic and theoretical studies on a synthetic cyclic tetrapeptide containing cystine

The conformational analysis of the synthetic peptide Boc-Cys-Pro-Val-Cys-NHMe has been carried out, as a model for small disulfide loops, in biologically active polypeptides. 'H NMR studies (270 MHz) establish that the Val(3) and Cys(4) NH groups are solvent shielded, while 13C studies establish an all-trans peptide backbone. Circular dichroism and Raman spectroscopy provide evidence for a right-handed twist of the disulfide bond. Analysis of the vicinal (JaB)c oupling constants for the two Cys residues establishes that XI - *60° for Cys(4), while some flexibility is suggested at Cys( 1). Conformational energy calculations, imposing intramolecular hydrogen bonding constraints, favor a P-turn (type I) structure with Pro(2)-Va1(3) as the corner residues. Theoretical and spectroscopic results are consistent with the presence of a transannular 4 - 1 hydrogen bond between Cys( 1) CO and Cys(4) NH groups, with the Val NH being sterically shielded from the solvent environment.

Raman Spectroscopic study of valinomycin-metal complexes

Valinomycin, an ionophore of considerable interest for its ion selectivity, and its K+, Mg2+, Ba2+, and Ca2+ complexes were studied by Raman spectroscopy. Each complex has a characteristic spectrum which differs from that of uncomplexed valinomycin, suggesting several distinct structures for each of the metal-valinomycin complexes. The biologically active potassium complex shows the most significant changes in its spectrum, especially in the intensity of the symmetric C---H stretching vibration of CH3 and the convergence of the two ester carbonyl stretching vibration bands into one complex formation. These results are due to the unique orientation of the ester carbonyl groups toward the caged potassium ion and the resulting more free rotation of isopropyl side chains. The divalent cation-valinomycin complexes examined showed spectra which differed in each case uniquely from both valinomycin and its complex with potassium.

An infrared spectroscopic study of the incommensurate transitions and related phase changes in K2Pb[Cu(NO2)6] and [N(CH3)4]2MX4 (M = Mn, Co, Cu or Zn and X = Cl or Br)

K2Pb[Cu(NO2)6] and [N(CH3)4]2MX4 (M = Mn, Co, Cu or Zn and X = Cl or Br) undergo phase transitions which involve incommensurate phases. The transitions have been investigated by examining the changes in the NO2 and CH3 vibration bands in the i.r. spectra. Splitting and broadening of some of the bands across the incommensurate transitions are discussed in the context of geometrical restrictions in the incommensurate phases. The phase transitions have also been characterized using differential scanning calorimetry.