Biomedical subjects

Mikael Harju

Publications and source records attributed to Mikael Harju.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Multivariate characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using semi-empirical molecule orbital calculations and physical data.

Multivariate characterization of 60 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was performed using data from literature and semi-empirical molecular orbital calculations. This dataset was analyzed by principal component analysis and projections to latent structures by means of partial least square. The PAHs were found to distribute in the chemical domain in several groups mainly governed by the number of aromatic rings and the number of five-membered rings. The multivariate model and training set was used to predict GC retention times on a non-polar column (DB-5). Using a 2(4) experimental design on the principal components of the chemical characterization model, a test set of PAHs was selected dependent on the distribution in the chemical domain of the PAHs. Such a test set is expected to improve selection of PAHs for future testing and modeling of both biological and chemical responses. Although the model of GC retention times was good, the precision was however not good enough for practical use.

Environmental Pollutants↗

PubMed2002

Effects of temperature and flow regulated carbon dioxide cooling in longitudinally modulated cryogenic systems for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.

Two different modes of temperature regulation in longitudinally modulated cryogenic systems (LMCSs) for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) were compared. Carbon dioxide was used as coolant. In the first mode of operation, the temperature of the trap was regulated to pre-set temperature using a digital temperature controller ("the constant temperature mode"). In the second, the temperature was regulated to a fixed negative offset to the oven temperature by using a constant flow of CO2 ("the constant flow mode"). A number of problems were occasionally observed using the constant temperature mode: (1) severe band broadening of high boiling analytes in the second dimension; (2) non-Gaussian reconstructed first-dimension peak profiles; (3) high background due to modulation of first-dimension column bleed. It was concluded that these problems were associated with inefficient solute remobilization at low LMCS trap temperatures (1 and 2) or large trap temperature fluctuations (3). These problems could be avoided or significantly reduced by using the constant flow mode. Best results were obtained as the trap temperature was kept about 70 degrees C below the oven temperature.

Carbon Dioxide↗

PubMed2002

Multivariate physicochemical characterisation and quantitative structure-property relationship modelling of polybrominated diphenyl ethers.

Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are increasing in the environment and may cause long-term environmental problems. Developing a model describing the chemical variation among the 209 possible congeners would be a useful step in any systematic approach for assessing the fate and risk posed by the PBDEs. Therefore, 40 physicochemical descriptors were derived for all PBDEs using a semi-empirical method (AM1), molecular mechanics, and empirically estimated parameters. Descriptors included heats of formation, frontier molecular orbital energies, atomic charges, dipole moments, logP values, and molecular surface areas. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to evaluate the descriptors. The first four PCs, explaining 76% of the variation in the data, described the size, charge distribution and symmetric elements of the congeners. A quantitative structure-activity relationship model was constructed based on data for dioxin-like activity (using the luciferase bioassay) for 17 PBDEs with the partial least squares method. In addition, quantitative structure-property relationship models for gas chromatographic relative retention times on four capillary columns were developed. These models proved suitable to assist in the identification of untested PBDEs. Based on the results of the PCA, a factorial design was applied for selecting 21 representative congeners. PBDEs 11, 13, 17, 32, 35, 47, 53, 77, 85, 99, 119, 135, 153, 155, 156, 169, 176, 181, 190, 192, and 209. The spacing of these congeners in the physicochemical domain maximises the coverage of key factors such as molecular size and substitution pattern. Consideration of the selected congeners should be useful for guiding the synthesis of new compounds for use in future studies of the fate and biological effects of PBDEs.

Biological Assay↗

PubMed2002

Accumulation and elimination of 16 polycyclic aromatic compounds in the earthworm (Eisenia fetida).

Accumulation and elimination of different polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) were studied in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) exposed to contaminated soil from an old gasworks site. In total, 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), two N- and S-heterocyclic PACs, and two PAC-quinones were included in the study. Peak-shaped accumulation curves were found for many of the compounds. After 19 d of exposure, the ratio between concentrations in worm lipids and soil organic matter was 0.02 on average. The half-lives of the PACs were relatively long, between 2 and 11 d. The elimination rate constants, k2, correlated both with literature-derived octanol-water partition coefficients (Kow) for PAHs (r2 = 0.93) and the computed polarizability (r2 = 0.88) of all the compounds. The elimination rate constants of PAHs are comparable to those of PCBs found in earlier studies, and the linear regression coefficient, r2, of k2 against Kow for PAHs and PCBs together was 0.93.

Animals↗