Quantitative analysis of pethidine using liquid secondary ion and tandem mass spectrometry

A method for the quantatitive determination of pethidine in human urine by liquid secondary ion and tandem mass spectrometry is presented. Quantification was carried out by using ketamine as internal standard. It was found that the collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectrum of the [M + H](+) ion of pethidine exhibited a prominent daughter ion at mit 220 and ketamine also yielded the same daughter ion at nit 220, For ((quadrupole)) quantitative analysis, the first quadrupole mass filter was set to transmit mit 220 and a narrow-range magnet scan yielded a spectrum of parents, including mit 238 and 248, corresponding to ketamine and pethidine, respectively. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Determination of the secondary structure of the king cobra neurotoxin CM-11

The king cobra neuotoxin CM-11 is a small protein with 72 amino acid residues. After its complete assignments of H-1-NMR resonance's were obtained using various 2D-NMR technologies, including of DQF-COSY, clean-TOCSY AND NOESY, the secondary structure was analysed by studying the various NOEs extracted from the NOESY spectra and the distribution of chemical shifts. The secondary structure was finally determined by MCD as follows: a triple-strand antiparallel beta sheet with I20-W36, R37-A43 and V53--S59 as its beta strands, a short alpha helix formed by W30-G35 and four turns formed by P7-K10, C14-G17, K50-V53 and D61-N64.

STUDIES OF SPINEL LICRXMN2-XO4 FOR SECONDARY LITHIUM BATTERY

X-ray and electrochemical studies of spinel-related manganese chromium oxides, LiCrxMn2-xO4 (0 less-than-or-equal-to x less-than-or-equal-to 1) were carried out in a lithium nonaqueous cell. X-ray diffraction spectra indicated that the substitution of manganese in LiMn2O4 by trivalent transition metals (Cr3+) cause the linear decrease of lattice parameter with the x in the LiCrMn2-xO4. Some discharge-capacity loss was obtained due to the lattice contraction of LiCrMn2-xO4, but it has a better rechargeability than LiMn2O4. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance experiments have shown that the excellent rechargeability of LiCrxMn2-xO4 may be attributed to the good reversibility of the change in its crystal structure for the insertion and extraction of lithium ions.

DEVELOPMENT OF CYLINDRICAL SECONDARY LITHIUM POLYANILINE BATTERIES

The cylindrical 'D'-size batteries were fabricated by polyaniline paste cathode and lithium foil anode sandwiched with microporous polypropylene separator. The electrolyte used was LiClO4 dissolved in a mixed solvent of propylene carbonate and dimethoxyethane. The results of charge/discharge curves, charge/discharge cycles, the short-circuit current, the open-circuit voltage storage and the change of discharge capacity with temperature, discharge current are reported.

A WOUND-TYPE LITHIUM POLYANILINE SECONDARY CELL

A wound-type cell with a polyaniline (PAn) positive electrode, a LiClO4-propylene carbonate (PC) electrolyte, and a lithium foil negative electrode has been constructed. The two electrodes are separated by a polypropylene separator. The PAn is deposited on carbon felt from a HClO4 solution containing aniline by galvanostatic or potentiostatic electrolysis. Using cyclic voltammetry charge/discharge cycles and charge/retention tests, the following results have been obtained: (i) reversibility of the charge/discharge reaction of the PAn electrode is very good; (ii) more than 50 charge/discharge cycles at 80% charge/discharge efficiency and 260 W h kg-1 discharge energy density can be achieved at 50 mA between 2 and 4 V; (iii) the open-circuit voltage and the capacity retention of the battery after storage at open-circuit for 60 days are 3.4 V and 33%, respectively.

ASSIGNMENT OF C-13 NMR-SPECTRA OF POLYMER WITH SEMIEMPIRICAL METHOD - SURVEY OF SPECTRUM OF SECONDARY CARBON OF 1,2-PBD

In chain molecules of 1, 2-PBD, there are two kinds of gauche arrangements, which is the cause of making the spectrum of the secondary carbon in main chain of the polymer split. In such a complex system, the gauche arrangements of the secondary carbon and the tertiary carbon occupy an important position. Hence, the contribution of the tertiary carbon to the chemical shifts of the secondary carbon has a decisive effect on the sequence structure distribution. In comparison the contribution of vinyl groups is ...

Comparison of two marine sponge-associated Penicillium strains DQ25 and SC10: differences in secondary metabolites and their bioactivities

Two strains of Penicillium, DQ25 and SC10, isolated from marine sponge Haliclona angulata (Bowerbank) and Hymeniacidon sp. respectively, were subjected to stationary cultivation under GYP medium for 30 days. The fermentation extracts were undergone bioactivities assays against human pathogens, phytopathogenic fungi and brine shrimp (Artemia salina). Bioassays-guided compounds isolation was performed by Silica gel columns and Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. Spectroscopic methods were used to structures elucidation of the compounds. Results showed the activities of secondary metabolites of strain DQ25 were generally stronger than that of strain SC10. Major bioactive molecules isolated from strain DQ25 were a 1,4-naphthoquinone derivative and an unidentified alkaloid. The two components were not isolated from the extract of strain SC10. ITS sequences revealed that these two species have the greatest similarity with Penicillium vinaceum and Penicillium granulatum respectively.

The enhanced immune protection of Zhikong scallop Chlamys farreri on the secondary encounter with Listonella anguillarum

It is well known that invertebrates are devoid of adaptive immune components and rely primarily on innate immunity to defend against pathogens, but recent studies have demonstrated the existence of enhanced secondary immune protection in some invertebrates. in the present study, the cumulative mortality of scallops received two successive Listonella anguillarum stimulations was recorded, and variations of immune parameters including phagocytosis (phagocytic rate and phagocytic index), phenoloxidase-like enzyme, acid phosphatase and superoxide dismutase activities were also examined. The scallops received a previous short-term L anguillarum stimulation were protected against a long-term stimulation of L. anguillarum. Significantly higher level of phagocytic activities and acid phosphatase activity were observed in the scallops received twice stimulations compared with those only received the secondary stimulation. These results indicated that a short-term immersion with L. anguillarum modulated the scallops' immune system and endowed the scallops with enhanced resistance to the secondary bacterial stimulation: phagocytosis and acid phosphatase were suspected to be involved in the protection. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Impacts of anthropogenic activity on the recent evolution of the Huanghe (Yellow) River delta

Hydrological statistical data, remote sensing images, and bathymetric charts were used to study the recent evolution of the Huanghe (Yellow) River delta under human-induced interventions. It was clear that water and sediment discharge from the Huanghe River had dropped rapidly since 1970, particularly after 1986. The water and sediment discharges for the period of 1986-2000 were found to have been reduced to only 29.2% and 31.2% of those in the period of 1950-69. This was caused by human factors in the upper and middle reaches of the Huanghe River, including water diversion, damming and reservoir construction, and water and soil conservation. Based on the results from visual interpretation of processed Landsat (MSS or TMJETM+) images dated from 1976 to 2001 and two digital elevation models generated from bathymetric charts surveyed in 1976 and 1992, we found that human-induced reduction of water and sediment discharge led to coastline retrogradation, with the maximum mean recession rate of -0.51 km yr-1 over the period of 1976-98, and seabed erosion beyond the -20 m isobath between 1976 and 1992. Other impacts of human activities on the recent evolution of the Huanghe River delta, including tidal flats shrinking, artificial coastline increasing, land surface sinking and so on, were also analyzed. We found that: (i) the whole delta, including subaerial and subaqueous, has turned from a highly constructive period to a destructive phase; (ii) channelization and dredging were two of the main causes of delta destruction; (iii) land loss in the Huanghe River delta caused by submersion will be increased in the near future; (iv) the Huanghe River delta was becoming more fragile and susceptible to natural hazards.

Intraseasonal variability of Indian Ocean sea surface temperature during boreal winter: Madden-Julian Oscillation versus submonthly forcing and processes

[ 1] Intraseasonal variability of Indian Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) during boreal winter is investigated by analyzing available data and a suite of solutions to an ocean general circulation model for 1998 - 2004. This period covers the QuikSCAT and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) observations. Impacts of the 30 - 90 day and 10 - 30 day atmospheric intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs) are examined separately, with the former dominated by the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) and the latter dominated by convectively coupled Rossby and Kelvin waves. The maximum variation of intraseasonal SST occurs at 10 degrees S - 2 degrees S in the wintertime Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), where the mixed layer is thin and intraseasonal wind speed reaches its maximum. The observed maximum warming ( cooling) averaged over ( 60 degrees E - 85 degrees E, 10 degrees S - 3 degrees S) is 1.13 degrees C ( - 0.97 degrees C) for the period of interest, with a standard deviation of 0.39 degrees C in winter. This SST change is forced predominantly by the MJO. While the MJO causes a basin-wide cooling ( warming) in the ITCZ region, submonthly ISOs cause a more complex SST structure that propagates southwestward in the western-central basin and southeastward in the eastern ocean. On both the MJO and submonthly timescales, winds are the deterministic factor for the SST variability. Short-wave radiation generally plays a secondary role, and effects of precipitation are negligible. The dominant role of winds results roughly equally from wind speed and stress forcing. Wind speed affects SST by altering turbulent heat fluxes and entrainment cooling. Wind stress affects SST via several local and remote oceanic processes.

IMPACTS OF THE TROPICAL PACIFIC COUPLED PROCESS ON THE INTERANNUAL VARIABILITY IN THE INDIAN OCEAN

The basic features of climatology and interannual variations of tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans were analyzed using a coupled general circulation model (CGCM), which was constituted with an intermediate 2.5-layer ocean model and atmosphere model ECHAM4. The CGCM well captures the spatial and temporal structure of the Pacific El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the variability features in the tropical Indian Ocean. The influence of Pacific air-sea coupled process on the Indian Ocean variability was investigated carefully by conducting numerical experiments. Results show that the occurrence frequency of positive/negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event will decrease/increase with the presence/absence of the coupled process in the Pacific Ocean. Further analysis demonstrated that the air-sea coupled process in the Pacific Ocean affects the IOD variability mainly by influencing the zonal gradient of thermocline via modulating the background sea surface wind.

Impacts of HAB species Heterosigma akashiwo on early development of the scallop Argopecten irradians Lamarck

The effects of Heterosigma akashiwo on the early development of Argopecten irradians Lamarck: eggs, D-shaped larvae, eye-spot larvae and juveniles, were investigated under laboratory conditions. Exposing fertilized eggs to various densities of H. akashiwo algal culture revealed that the development of the embryos to the gastrula was significantly slowed at densities of more than 1 X 10(4) cells/ml algal cells, and mostly was arrested when the embryos reached the trochophore larvae stage. At this stage, several trochophore larvae were adhered together by the algal cells, resulting in the inhibition of their swimming activity. Larvae had still not developed into D-shaped larvae after 30 h, and therefore did not finish the hatching process. The attachment and adherence of the algal cells to the larvae might be an important process in the mechanism of the impact on egg hatching success. The activity of the D-shaped larvae was significantly inhibited after 48 h exposure to H. akashiwo at a density of 15 X 10(4) cells/ml and after 96 h at 10 X 10(4) cells/ml. The survival rate of the eye-spot larvae was decreased significantly after 48 h exposure to the algal culture at densities of more than 1 X 10(4) cells/ml. However, all the juveniles could survive and their climbing and attachment activity were not affected after 1 and 5 h exposure to the algal culture at all the various algal cell densities tested from 5 to 20 X 10(4) cells/ml. The results indicated that susceptibility of embryos or larvae to the alga H. akashiwo differs depending on the developmental stage. The embryos and the eye-spot larvae of A. irradians are more sensitive stages to the toxicity of H. akashiwo. Observed effects of H. akashiwo exposure on early development of A. irradians serve to point out to the potential danger of this alga for scallop populations. The possible toxicological mechanisms of H. akashiwo on the scallop embryos and larvae are discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.