Buchbesprechungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Selektive Chromat-Eliminierung aus dem Lagerplatz-Drainage-Wasser eines Holzimprägnierwerkes

With the Enviro-Chrom-Ex process it is possible to eliminate ecologically and economically hexavalent chromium (chromate) from water selectively. The process which is based on the principle of selective ion exchange works with different chromate concentrations and under the presence of other ions, irrespective of the water hardness. The values of water-offtake reach 0,1 mg CrVI/I at maximum, causing neither pH alteration nor concentration of the salt-content of the water. The plant which has been installed in the Holzimprägnierwerk AG, Waldkirch, Switzerland, for treating chromium-containing drainage-water permits the chromium-containing regenerates to be recycled into the impregnation process. Using this chromate-recycling-process, the harmful substance can be eliminated optimally.     

Influence of high hydrostatic pressure on the crystal structure of barium titanate (Ba Ti O3)

The crystal structure of BaTiO_$\text{3}$ has been investigated up to 4.4 GPa. The lattice becomes cubic at 3.4 GPa and stays cubic at higher pressures. The atoms do not occupy the ideal cubic positions up to highest applied pressure. The shortest Ti-O distance (parallel to the tetragonal c-axis) does not change with pressure, if the errors are taken into account. All other Ti-O distances decrease with increasing pressure.     

Schattenoptische Meßverfahren zur Untersuchung dynamischer Spannungszustände

Zusammenfassung Es wurde ein schattenoptische überlagerungsverfahren (Rasterverfahren) entwickelt, das quantitative Untersuchungen dynamischer Spannungszust?nde in ebenen durchsichtigen oder reflektierenden Modellen erm?glicht. Die Rasterverschiebungen entsprechen der ersten r?umlichen Ableitung der Lichtweg?nderungs-Funktion. Eine automatische Auswertung und eine digitale Integration sind m?glich. Die Rasterverschiebungen lassen sich auch durch ein Moiréverfahren sichtbar machen und durch analoge Integration auswerten. Bei der Erprobung einiger Anwendungsm?glichkeiten dienten Plexiglasscheiben als Modelle. Die bei diesen Verfahren n?tige unscharfe Abbildung des Modells bedingt eine überlagerte Schattenabbildung. Der hierdurch hervorgerufene Fehler wurde experimentell untersucht.     

Compound screening for the presence of the primary N-oxide functionality via ion-molecule reactions in a mass spectrometer

A mass spectrometry method is presented for the identification of compounds that contain the primary N-oxide functional group. This method utilizes a gas-phase ion-molecule reaction with dimethyl disulfide that rapidly and selectively derivatizes the protonated primary N-oxide functional group in a mass spectrometer to yield an ionic reaction product (with 31 Da higher mass than that of the protonated molecule) that is diagnostic for the presence of a primary N-oxide functionality. A variety of protonated analytes containing different functional groups were tested in Fourier transform ion-cyclotron resonance and triple quadrupole mass spectrometers to probe the selectivity of the reaction. Only molecules containing the protonated primary N-oxide functional group yielded the diagnostic reaction product; all other protonated molecules gave protonated dimethyl disulfide or no reaction products. The feasibility of this method for compound screening was tested by examining six analytes with the same molecular formula but different atom connectivity. The one analyte that contained the primary N-oxide functional group was readily differentiated from the other analytes.     

High-throughput data analysis for detecting and identifying differences between samples in GC/MS-based metabolomic analyses

In metabolomics, the objective is to identify differences in metabolite profiles between samples. A widely used tool in metabolomics investigations is gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). More than 400 compounds can be detected in a single analysis, if overlapping GC/MS peaks are deconvoluted. However, the deconvolution process is time-consuming and difficult to automate, and additional processing is needed in order to compare samples. Therefore, there is a need to improve and automate the data processing strategy for data generated in GC/MS-based metabolomics; if not, the processing step will be a major bottleneck for high-throughput analyses. Here we describe a new semiautomated strategy using a hierarchical multivariate curve resolution approach that processes all samples simultaneously. The presented strategy generates (after appropriate treatment, e.g., multivariate analysis) tables of all the detected metabolites that differ in relative concentrations between samples. The processing of 70 samples took similar time to that of the GC/TOFMS analyses of the samples. The strategy has been validated using two different sets of samples: a complex mixture of standard compounds and Arabidopsis samples.     

Three generations of cyclosporine a formulations: an in vitro comparison

When the microemulsion formulation of the critical dose drug cyclosporine A (CsA) (Sandimmun Optoral) was introduced in the mid-1990s, it became clear that this new formulation improves the oral bioavailability of CsA and has a positive influence on its pharmacokinetic variability. Previous studies with the original CsA formulation (Sandimmun) showed that the size of the emulsion droplets and concomitant food intake has an effect on the absorption of CsA from the small intestine when orally administered. It was suggested that these effects might have an influence on the drugs' pharmacokinetic parameters.In this study, we focused on the two above-mentioned aspects and compared the first and second generations of CsA products (Sandimmun, Sandimmun Optoral) to generic CsA formulations by analyzing the contents of cyclosporine A gel capsules with respect to their emulsion droplet and micelle sizes using photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). We tried to discern any differences in droplet size between different generations of CsA formulations, primarily the second and third generation, through simple physical tests. Because a high fat content food may influence the absorption of CsA, we also determined the distribution of CsA between hydrophilic and lipophilic phases using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis.It became clear that when compared under simple physical conditions, established cyclosporine formulations and new generic products show significant differences in droplet size and distribution between an aqueous phase and a high fat content food. Whether these differences are of clinical relevance remains to be investigated.     

Fluorescence quenching of the europium tetracycline hydrogen peroxide complex by copper (II) and other metal ions

The europium-tetracycline complex [Eu(Tc)] is known to show only weak fluorescence with an emission maximum at 615 nm. On addition of hydrogen peroxide (HP), the strongly fluorescent [Eu(Tc)(HP)] complex is formed, which displays a 15-fold stronger luminescence intensity. This study describes the decrease in luminescence intensity of the [Eu(Tc)(HP)] complex in aqueous solution in the presence of Cu2+, Fe3+, Ag+, Al3+, Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, Ca2+, and Mg2+. Static and dynamic quenching can be induced by Cu2+, and these processes were quantified by means of their quenching constants. Stern-Volmer plots were also derived from lifetime imaging measurements accomplished by the rapid lifetime determination (RLD) technique based on microwell plate assays, and also by the time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) technique. According to those data, a time-resolved fluorescent method for copper determination can be proposed that is based on dynamic quenching of the [Eu(Tc)(HP)] complex by Cu2+ ions. The response to copper concentrations is linear up to 1.6 micromol L(-1), providing a detection limit of 0.2 micromol L(-1).     

GASepo-a software solution for quantitative analysis of digital images in Epo doping control

A software has been developed that is aimed at quantitative analysis of images acquired by isoelectric focusing and double blotting procedures used for recombinant erythropoietin doping control. It represents a unified and easy-to-use tool for Epo doping experts in WADA accredited laboratories. It is based on image segmentation philosophy that enables identification of individual bands whose characteristics are needed for evaluation of the Epo doping positivity criteria. Several modules implemented in the GASepo software include an original know how, in particular, the method of robust calculation of the cut-off line, band segmentation and classification algorithms. GASepo is being used in several doping control laboratories worldwide.