Development and validation of a fast isocratic liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of norfloxacin,lomefloxacin and ciprofloxacin in human plasma

A simple and fast liquid chromatographic method coupled with fluorescence detection (LC‐FD) is reported, for the first time, for the simultaneous quantification of norfloxacin (NOR), ciprofloxacin (CIP) and lomefloxacin (LOM) in human plasma, using levofloxacin as internal standard (IS). Sample preparation consists of a single‐step precipitation of plasma proteins followed by vortex‐mixing and centrifugation. Chromatographic separation was achieved within 7 min on a reversed‐phase C₁₈ column with a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% aqueous formic acid (pH = 3.0, triethylamine)–methanol (82:18, v/v) pumped isocratically at 1.2 mL/min. The detector was set at excitation/emission wavelengths of 278/450 nm. Calibration curves were linear (r² ≥ 0.994) in the range of 0.02–5.0 µg/mL, and the limit of quantification was established at 0.02 µg/mL for all analytes (NOR, CIP and LOM). The overall precision did not exceed 8.19% and accuracy was within ±10.91%. NOR, CIP and LOM were extracted from human plasma with an overall mean recovery ranged from 90.1 to 111.5%. No interferences were observed at the retention times of the analytes and IS. This novel LC‐FD method enables the reliable determination of NOR, CIP and LOM in a single chromatographic run, which may be suitable to support human pharmacokinetic‐based studies with those antimicrobial agents. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ion synthesis and optical properties of gold nanoparticles in an Al2O3 matrix

Single-crystal Al₂O₃(0001) and Al₂O₃(1120) substrates are implanted by 160-keV Au⁺ ions with doses from 10¹⁵ to 10¹⁷ cm^?2. Some of the implanted samples are air-annealed at 800–1200°C. The properties of the synthesized composite layers are studied by Rutherford backscattering and linear optical reflection measurements, and their nonlinear optical characteristics are examined by RZ-scanning using a picosecond Nd: YAG laser operating at a wavelength of 1064 nm. The Rutherford backscattering spectra indicate that the implanted impurity concentrates near the surface of the Al₂O₃. The formation of gold nanoparticles in the Al₂O₃ can be judged from the characteristic optical plasmon resonance band in the reflectance spectra of the samples irradiated to a dose higher than 6.0 × 10¹⁶ cm^?2. The synthesized particles are shown to be responsible for nonlinear optical refraction in the samples. The nonlinear refractive index, n ₂, and the real part of the third-order susceptibility, Rex⁽³⁾, of the composite layers are determined.     

Recent Emission Channeling Studies in Wide Band Gap Semiconductors

We present results of recent emission channeling experiments on the lattice location of implanted Fe and rare earths in wurtzite GaN and ZnO. In both cases the majority of implanted atoms are found on substitutional cation sites. The root mean square displacements from the ideal substitutional Ga and Zn sites are given and the stability of the Fe and rare earth lattice location against thermal annealing is discussed.     

Influence of defects on the optical and structural properties of Ge dots embedded in an Si/Ge superlattice

In this work we studied the influence of high-energy proton irradiation on the optical and structural properties of an Si/Ge superlattice (SL) with embedded Ge quantum dots (QDs). The presence of QDs in the as-grown samples was established by transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence (PL). The samples were irradiated with 2.0 MeV protons to fluences in the range 2×10¹²-2×10¹⁴ cm^-2. The structural characterization made by X-ray reciprocal space mapping, X-ray reflection and Rutherford backscattering/channelling has shown no changes in the as-grown heterostructure due to the irradiation. In spite of the expected high concentration of nonradiative recombination centres caused by the proton-induced damage, the PL emission from the Ge dots has been observed even for the highest irradiation fluence. The studied QD-in-SL structure has shown an extraordinarily high radiation hardness when compared with previously studied QD heterostructures.     

A review of Bayesian dynamic forecasting models: Applications in marketing

We briefly review the main developments of Bayesian dynamic models. The emphasis is on marketing applications. Typical examples in this area are discussed. The concepts of monitoring and intervention are carefully explained with illustrative examples and open source computational routines. We avoid algebraic developments and instead use graphical examples to illustrate theoretical aspects. Two real-world problems using Bayesian dynamic models are discussed. Finally, we describe recent developments and alternative proposals to formally address the dependence when dealing with the modeling of multiple time series.     

New Acetogenins from the Seeds of Annona coriacea

From the hexane and MeOH extracts of Annona coriacea Mart . (Annonaceae) seeds, two novel acetogenins, coriapentocins A and B ( 1 and 2 , resp.) were isolated. The known acetogenin bullacin ( 3 ) was also isolated from the hexane extract. The structures of compounds 1 – 3 were elucidated by NMR and MS analysis, and relative configurations were established by comparison with literature data.