Effect of functionalization on non-isothermal crystallization behavior of polypropylene

The non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of three functionalized polypropylenes (PPs; polypropylenes-g-acrylic acid [PP-g-AA], polypropylenes-g-glycidyl methacrylate [PP-g-GMA], polypropylenes-g-maleic anhydride [PP-g-MAH]) at different cooling rates were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, using the Jeziorny method, Ozawa method, and Mo method. The result showed that Mo method can adequately describe the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of pure PP and functionalized PPs, and at a given relative crystallinity, the crystallization rate obtained using Mo method followed an order of PP-g-AA > PP-g-GMA > PP > PP-g-MAH. The crystallization activation energy for these samples was calculated using Kissinger's method, which indicated that the introduction of monomers had a confinement effect on the motion of PP chains.     

pKA in proteins solving the Poisson–Boltzmann equation with finite elements

Knowledge on pK_A values is an eminent factor to understand the function of proteins in living systems. We present a novel approach demonstrating that the finite element (FE) method of solving the linearized Poisson–Boltzmann equation (lPBE) can successfully be used to compute pK_A values in proteins with high accuracy as a possible replacement to finite difference (FD) method. For this purpose, we implemented the software molecular Finite Element Solver (mFES) in the framework of the Karlsberg+ program to compute pK_A values. This work focuses on a comparison between pK_A computations obtained with the well‐established FD method and with the new developed FE method mFES, solving the lPBE using protein crystal structures without conformational changes. Accurate and coarse model systems are set up with mFES using a similar number of unknowns compared with the FD method. Our FE method delivers results for computations of pK_A values and interaction energies of titratable groups, which are comparable in accuracy. We introduce different thermodynamic cycles to evaluate pK_A values and we show for the FE method how different parameters influence the accuracy of computed pK_A values. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The theoretical treatment of the Li2-molecule

The Li₂ molecule is treated both with the method of moments and with the method of energy variation for the following distances of the nuclei R = 2a_H, 4a_H, 6a_H, 8a_H and 10a_H. The calculations have been performed with the Hartree–Fock method (HF ) and with the method of pseudo-potentials (PSP ). The results show that the HF method and PSP method lead practically to the same result. This may be important in the treatment of more complicated molecules.     

Determination of Specific Refractive Index Increment （dn/dc）_μ at a Constant Chemical Potential,for Solutions of Polymer in Mixed Solvents by the GPC Method

A new chromatographic method is described for the determination of specific refractive index increment(dn/dc)μ at a constant chemical potential,for polymer/mixed solvent systems.In this method the(dn/dc)is obtained by measuring the areas of solvated-polymer peaks when the mixed solvent is used as an eluent.Values of(dn/dc)μ for the poly(dimethylsiloxane)(PDMS)-benzene-methanol system,determined by the proposed method are in good agreement with those determined by the conventional dialysis method.The new approach has the advantages of simplicity,fast speed,and high reproducibility.The experimental results for stearic acid-chloroform-methanol system show that this method can also be applied to nonpolymer/mixed solvent systems for the determination of(dn/dc)μ.     

A new method of estimating monomer reactivity ratios in copolymerization by linear regression methods

Sequential gas-liquid chromotographic analysis of the reaction mixture throughout a copolymerization reaction in conjuction with the improved curve-fitting I (integrated form) method, which accounts for measurements errors in both variables, allows accurate estimation of the monomer reactivity ratios. In this article an alternative method is presented for estimating r values in copolymerization with linear regression only, which is especially suited to cases in which one or two of the r values is close to 1. In these cases the improved curve-fitting I method tends to converge slowly because of the numerical instability of the integrated copolymerization equation. The use of the new method is illustrated for the estimation of the r values for ethylene and vinyl acatate in benzene at 35 kg/cm² and 62°C. The linear regression method was also tried on other copolymerizations and the results are compared with those obtained from the improved curve-fitting I method. The limits of the applicability of the linear regression method were determined by simulated sequential sampling experiments. It appears that the new method is applicable when the product of the r values is between 0.001 and 2, provided both monomer conversions are large enough compared with the measurements error.     

Identification of five <Emphasis Type="Italic">Listeria</Emphasis> species based on infrared spectra (FTIR) using macrosamples is superior to a microsample approach

Microorganisms can be identified using both macrosamples and microsamples based on infrared spectra (FTIR). This work compares the identification of the five closely related Listeria species L. innocua, L. ivanovii, L. monocytogenes, L. seeligeri, and L. welshimeri using both methods. The overall identification success for 25 strains was 92.8% for the former and 79.2% for the latter methods, respectively. The worst performances of the microsample method were obtained for L. innocua, L. ivanovii, and L. monocytogenes, while L. seeligeri and L. welshimeri did not show significant differences between the techniques. Identification success was mainly influenced by the age of the cells and the spatial heterogeneity of the microcolonies, as analyzed by the microsample method. Spectra of Listeria cells near the stationary phase exhibited more species-specific markers and thus allowed for better discrimination than spectra of growing cells. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of cell composition at different locations in microcolonies of L. innocua, L. ivanovii and L. monocytogenes resulted in limited discrimination success of the microsample method. We conclude that, at least in the case of Listeria, the macrosample method is superior to the microsample method, although the latter is the faster technique.     

Errors involved in the activation energy calculated by integral methods when the frequency factor depends on the temperature ( A = A 0 T m)

The dependence of the frequency factor on the temperature (A=A ₀ T ^m) has been examined and the errors involved in the activation energy calculated from some integral methods without considering such dependence have been estimated. Investigated integral methods are the Coats-Redfern method, the Gorbachev-Lee-Beck method, the Wanjun-Yuwen method and the Junmeng-Fusheng method. The results have shown that the error in the determination of the activation energy calculated ignoring the dependence of the frequency factor on the temperature can be rather large and it is dependent on x=E/RT and the exponent m.     

Development of a liquid chromatography/tandem-mass spectrometry assay for the simultaneous determination of teneligliptin and its active metabolite teneligliptin sulfoxide in human plasma

Teneligliptin is a recently developed dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. To study simultaneous pharmacokinetics of teneligliptin and its major active metabolite, teneligliptin sulfoxide in human plasma, we developed and validated a LC-MS/MS method. The analytes were detected in the positive mode using multiple reaction monitoring (teneligliptin: m/z 427.2→243.1; teneligliptin-d₈: m/z 435.2→251.3; teneligliptin sulfoxide: m/z 443.2→68.2). The method demonstrated accuracy, precision, and linearity over the concentration range of 5 to 1000 ng/mL for teneligliptin and 2.5 to 500 ng/mL for teneligliptin sulfoxide. The developed method is the first fully validated method capable of simultaneous determination of teneligliptin and its active metabolite, teneligliptin sulfoxide in plasma. The suitability of the method was successfully demonstrated in terms of quantification of teneligliptin and teneligliptin sulfoxide pharmacokinetics in plasma samples collected from healthy volunteers. The measurement of plasma metabolite/parent ratio of teneligliptin was feasible by this method.     

Development and validation of a differential scanning calorimetry purity determination method for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Based on a standard test method for purity by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), ASTM E 928, a purity determination method for highly pure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been developed and validated. The robustness of the developed method was investigated by determining, under varying measurement conditions, the purity of two PAH certified reference materials (CRMs), benzo[c]phenanthrene and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene. The repeatability and intermediate precision of the developed method was determined by analysing the purity of benzo[c]phenanthrene and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene and PAH candidate CRMs indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene, 6-methylchrysene and benzo[a]pyrene. The trueness of the method was studied using the same (candidate) CRMs and a series of 42 other PAH CRMs. For each of the five (candidate) CRMs, a full measurement uncertainty budget was developed. Also for PAH materials for which the DSC purity determination method has not been explicitly validated, the relative expanded measurement uncertainty was estimated.     

Chemical fingerprint of Hoodia species,dietary supplements,and related genera by using HPTLC

A HPTLC method was developed for simple and rapid chemical fingerprint analysis of four Hoodia species, dietary supplements that claim to contain Hoodia gordonii, and plants from genera related to Hoodia. HPTLC was performed on precoated silica 60F₂₅₄ plates with dichloromethane/methanol/water 75:17:2.2 by volume, as mobile phase. Evaluation of the HPTLC plates was done by using the CAMAG DigiStore2 digital system with winCATS software. The authentication of H. gordonii was achieved by comparing the band colors and R_f values for TLC fingerprints with those of 11 standard compounds including P57. The developed method was successfully applied for the identification of the 11 pregnane glycosides for four different species of Hoodia, 24 related genera and 13 dietary supplements that claim to contain H. gordonii. Different sample matrices were successfully analyzed, providing a wide range of applicability for this method, including gels, capsules, tablets, sprays, teas, snack bars, powders, and juices. The developed method was validated for specificity, stability, repeatability, and robustness. The results of HPTLC method were verified by LC‐UV‐MS method.     

Improving the Sensitivity of Fluorescent Microsphere Immunoassays for the Simultaneous Detection of Foodborne Pathogens Using Dimethylacetamide

The liquid-chip assay is a new method for detecting bacterial surface antigens. This assay conjugated self-prepared monoclonal antibodies against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi with carboxylated fluorescent microspheres based on the double-antibody sandwich principle. This experiment used dimethylacetamide (DMAC) as the solvent to dissolve 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (S-NHS) during conjugation. The modified liquid-chip assay was used to simultaneously detect the four foodborne pathogens. The sensitivity of the assay using the new conjugation method was also evaluated. The limits of detection for E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, and S. typhi during multiplex detection using the improved method were 0.25, 0.25, 0.5, and 0.25 cfu/mL, respectively, whereas those using the traditional method were 0.5, 0.5, 1, and 0.5 cfu/mL, respectively. Therefore, the improved method is reliable and effectively improves the detection sensitivity of liquid-chip assays.     

2,4-二硝基苯丙氨酸钠盐·2,4-二硝基苯丙氨酸的合成、分子结构和二次谐波效应

合成了一种新的有非线性光学性能的标题化合物晶体NaAP·HAP,晶体属正交晶系,空间群为P2₁2₁2₁,a=25.773(6),b=12.377(3),c=7.2037(6)Å,z=4,D_c=1.54g·cm^-3。晶体结构由HAP分子(2,4-二硝基苯丙氨酸)、AP^-离子和Na⁺离子组成。Na⁺离子由周围的六个氧原子形成扭曲的八面体配位。这些NaO₆八面体通过共点形成无限链状结构。可用晶体结构的空间因素来解释实验测定的MAP和NaAP·HAP的二次谐波相对强度的顺序。     

Determination of phenamacril residues in flour and rice based on Z‐Sep+ using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Phenamacril is a new broad‐spectrum fungicide that is commonly used for the control of fungal diseases in wheat and rice. In this study, ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was used to establish a method for analyzing the residual phenamacril in flour and rice based on the improved QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) method using Z‐Sep+ as the adsorbent in the pre‐treatment process. The average recovery of phenamacril in flour and rice was 82.2–96.0%, the relative standard deviation was 2.1–5.6% and the limit of quantification was 0.5 μg/kg. The accuracy and sensitivity of this method meet the requirements for residue analysis. The method was applied to commercially available flour and rice samples, and the detected concentrations of phenamacril were 0.005–0.033 mg/kg. This method provides technical support for the safety evaluation of phenamacril.     

A Simple and Practical Method for Fluence Determination in Bench-Scale UV-LED Setups

In UV disinfection of water, the fluence of UV required to inactivate a target microorganism is determined based on the procedures developed for conventional mercury-based UV lamps with collimation. In this regard, a simple and practical method with a mathematical model and radiometry is proposed for determining the fluence rate with UV light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs). This method was applied to a bench-scale UV-LED setup and validated by comparing the calculations with the measurements using either a spectroradiometer or a chemical actinometer. The results showed high accordance with spectroradiometer outputs with a linear regression equation y = 0.997x (x: model calculation, y: spectroradiometer output, r² = 0.999, P < 0.001 for n = 20) in an experiment varying the distance between the measurement points and the UV-LEDs. Meanwhile, the proposed method and chemical actinometry exhibited 98% concordance. Furthermore, this method was applied to determine the fluence-response profiles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the results demonstrated that the proposed method was appropriate at two different distances between the UV-LEDs and the solutions. To conclude, the proposed method can determine the fluence in a UV-LED bench-scale setup in a simple and practical way, which would potentially promote the research and development of water treatment using UV-LEDs.     

Ternary phase diagrams of DNTF and TNAZ and their eutectics

The eutectic ternary phase diagrams of some typical volatilizable energetic materials have been investigated by high pressure differential scanning calorimeter (PDSC). The ternary H–X phase diagrams for TNT/TNAZ/DNTF (TTD) and TNAZ/DNTF/RDX (TDR) systems were constructed by the correlation of the apparent fusion heat with the composition (H–X method). And, the ternary T–X phase diagrams (the temperature dependence on composition) for the two ternary systems were constructed by calculating from the data of the five T–X binary phase diagrams. The eutectic compositions (mol%) of TTD and TDR ternary systems were obtained to be 52.3/27.3/20.4 (H–X method), 53.2/25.8/21.0 (T–X method) and 54.9/39.6/5.5 (H–X method), 55.1/42.2/2.7 (T–X method), respectively. The eutectic temperatures of the ternary systems were obtained by PDSC determination and T–X method calculation to be 76.5 and 76.7 °C, 47.5 and 50.2 °C, respectively. It is shown that the results obtained by two methods are in agreement and the error in measuring or calculating eutectic compositions and temperatures for the two ternary systems are within allowable ranges of ±3 mol% and ±3 °C, respectively. Moreover, by means of constructing two ternary H–X phase diagrams with different fixed composition of a component and comparing the apparent fusion heat of eutectics with calculated one, the results obtained from H–X method for TTD system were proved. The results showed that the gasification or volatilization of easy volatile materials could be efficiently restrained by high pressure atmosphere, and the perfectly and ideally H–X ternary phase diagrams can be constructed. In comparison with T–X method, H–X method has as a virtue of being quick and simple, especially on constructing ternary phase diagram.     

ToBaD: A method for the estimation of torsion barriers from crystal structure data; conformational analysis of N,N-dimethylaniline and derivatives

A new method for the estimation of torsion barriers and its application to conformational analysis is presented. This method, the ToBaD method (method of the torsion barrier derivative), makes use of crystal structure data. It is based on the assumption that the conformation of a compound in the crystalline phase must be very close to a (local) minimum energy conformation of this compound in the gas phase. The ToBaD method is demonstrated for the rotation of the phenyl-N bond in N,N-dimethylaniline. Two geometries of this compound are handled separately: one in which the nitrogen substituents are in a pyramidal or sp³ geometry, and the other in which the nitrogen atom and its substituents are coplanar (the sp² geometry). It is predicted, by means of the ToBaD method, that for both geometries the conformation in which the nitrogen lone pair or p orbital is perpendicular to the aromatic ring is the lowest energy conformation. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Electronic structure of long cumulene chains

The analysis of the equations of the unrestricted Hartree–Fock (UHF) method for polyenes C_NH_N+2 with even and odd N » 1 is carried out. The equations of the UHF method are shown to be the same in both cases. The comparison of the UHF method with the extended Hartree–Fock (EHF) method applied to large systems is performed. The ground state and π-electron spectra of long cumulene chains C_NH₄ are treated by the EHF Method. The end effects are taken into consideration. It is shown that the EHF method gives a finite value of the first optical transition frequency and, at the same time, zero value of torsion barrier of end CH₂–groups in long cumulene chains (N → ) in contrast to previous calculations of cumulenes by the Huckel method and the restricted Hartree–Fock method.     

Quantification of chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate in danaparoid sodium by <Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR spectroscopy and PLS regression

Danaparoid sodium (the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Orgaran; Merck Sharp and Dohme) is a biopolymeric non-heparin drug used as anticoagulant and antithrombotic agent approved for the prophylaxis of post-operative deep-vein thrombosis, which may lead to pulmonary embolism in patients undergoing, e.g., elective hip replacement surgery. It consists of a mixture of three glycosaminoglycans (GAGs): heparan sulfate (HS), dermatan sulfate (DS), and chondroitin sulfate (CS). Currently, the CS and DS content are quantified by means of a time-consuming enzymatic method. In this paper the use of ¹H NMR in combination with multivariate regression (partial least-squares, PLS) is proposed as a new method. In order to evaluate the proposed method, a series of danaparoid sodium samples were analyzed and the results were compared with those obtained by the enzymatic method (reference method). The results showed that the proposed ¹H NMR method is a good alternative for analysis of CS and DS in danaparoid sodium. Accuracy of ±0.7% (w/w) and ±1.1% (w/w) for CS and DS was obtained by the ¹H NMR method and accuracy of ±1.0% (w/w) and ±1.3% (w/w) by the enzymatic method. Furthermore, the use of ¹H NMR in combination with PLS results in a fast quantification. The analysis time is reduced to 35 min per sample instead of 60 h for a maximum of 16 samples.     

Application of capability indices and control charts in the analytical method control strategy

In this study, we assessed the usefulness of control charts in combination with the process capability indices, C _pm and C _pk, in the control strategy of an analytical method. The traditional X‐chart and moving range chart were used to monitor the analytical method over a 2‐year period. The results confirmed that the analytical method is in‐control and stable. Different criteria were used to establish the specifications limits (i.e. analyst requirements) for fixed method performance (i.e. method requirements). If the specification limits and control limits are equal in breadth, the method can be considered “capable” (C _pm = 1), but it does not satisfy the minimum method capability requirements proposed by Pearn and Shu (2003). Similar results were obtained using the C _pk index. The method capability was also assessed as a function of method performance for fixed analyst requirements. The results indicate that the method does not meet the requirements of the analytical target approach. A real‐example data of a SEC with light‐scattering detection method was used as a model whereas previously published data were used to illustrate the applicability of the proposed approach.