Amperometric Detection of Histamine with a Pyrroloquinoline‐Quinone Modified Electrode

A modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was developed for the amperometric detection of biogenic amines, particularly histamine. The electrode was modified with the co‐enzyme pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) by entrapment during electropolymerziation of pyrrole to form polypyrrole (PPy). This method formed a thin film on the electrode surface possessing very good stability with a shelf‐life exceeding one month without loss of signal. Optimal conditions for the PQQ/PPy electrode were determined and a linear response was found for histamine in phosphate buffer (pH 6) at +550 mV from 40 to 170 mg L^?1 with a limit of detection (S/N≥3) of 38 mg L^?1. The practical linear range offered by this method suggests ideal use for spoilage detection in fermented foods.     

Fully Protected Glycosylated Zinc (II) Phthalocyanine Shows High Uptake and Photodynamic Cytotoxicity in MCF‐7 Cancer Cells

Phthalocyanine photosensitizers are effective in anticancer photodynamic therapy (PDT) but suffer from limited solubility, limited cellular uptake and limited selectivity for cancer cells. To improve these characteristics, we synthesized isopropylidene‐protected and partially deprotected tetra β‐glycosylated zinc (II) phthalocyanines and compared their uptake and accumulation kinetics, subcellular localization, in vitro photocytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species generation with those of disulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine. In MCF‐7 cancer cells, one of the compounds, zinc phthalocyanine {4}, demonstrated 10‐fold higher uptake, 5‐fold greater PDT‐induced cellular reactive oxygen species concentration and 2‐fold greater phototoxicity than equimolar (9 μm ) disulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine. Thus, isopropylidene‐protected β‐glycosylation of phthalocyanines provides a simple method of improving the efficacy of PDT.     

Lanthanum(III) Nitrate Hexahydrate: A Versatile Reagent for the Synthesis of Bis(indolyl) Methanes under Solvent‐Free Conditions

A mild and efficient synthesis of bis(indolyl) methanes by the reaction of indoles with various aldehydes at room temperature in the presence of a catalytic amount of a La(NO₃)₃ · 6H₂O afforded the corresponding bis(indolyl) methanes in excellent yields under solvent‐free conditions.     

Hierarchical Tubular Structures Grown from the Gel/Liquid Interface

Three dimensional hierarchical materials are widespread in nature but are difficult to synthesize by using self‐assembly/organization. Here, we employ a gel–liquid interface to obtain centimeter‐long ～100 μm diameter tubes with complex mineral wall structures that grow from the interface into solution. The gel, made from gelatin, is loaded with metal chloride salt, whereas the solution is a high pH anion source. Tubes were obtained with a range of cations (Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺) and anions (CO₃^2? and PO₄^3?). The crystalline phases found in the tube walls corresponded to expectations from solution chemistries and phase solubilities. The growth mechanism is found to be akin to that of chemical gardens. The divalent cations modify the strength of the gelatin gel in a manner that involves not only simple electrostatic screening, but also ion‐specific effects. Thus, tubes were not obtained for those ions and/or concentrations that significantly changed the gel’s mechanical structure. At high Cu²⁺ loading, for example, vertical convection bands, not Liesegang bands, were observed in the gels.     

Detoxifying CO2 Capture Reclaimer Waste by Anaerobic Digestion

The decrease in toxicity of carbon capture reclaimer monoethanolamine (MEA) waste (MEAw) during anaerobic degradation of such waste together with easily degradable organics was investigated. Samples were collected from a bioreactor at steady state with 86 % organic chemical oxygen demand removal at room temperature, which had been running on MEAw for 2 years. The toxicity of the digester effluents were 126, 42 and 10 times lower than that of the MEAw to the tested freshwater trophic groups of Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Daphnia magna and embryos of Danio rerio, respectively. The toxicity of the tested taxonomic groups after anaerobic digestion was mainly attributed to the ammonia generated by the degradation of MEAw.     

A 1:1 cocrystal of baicalein with nicotinamide

Cocrystallization of baicalein with nicotinamide yields a 1:1 cocrystal [systematic name: pyridine‐3‐carboxamide–5,6,7‐trihydroxy‐2‐phenyl‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one (1/1)], C₆H₆N₂O·C₁₅H₁₀O₅. The asymmetric unit contains one baicalein and one nicotinamide molecule, both in neutral forms. Molecules in the cocrystal form column motifs stabilized by an array of intermolecular hydrogen bonds.     

A Flawed Argument Against Actual Infinity in Physics

In “Nonconservation of Energy and loss of Determinism II. Colliding with an Open Set” (2010) Atkinson and Johnson argue in favour of the idea that an actual infinity should be excluded from physics, at least in the sense that physical systems involving an actual infinity of component elements should not be admitted. In this paper I show that the argument Atkinson and Johnson use is erroneous and that an analysis of the situation considered by them is possible without requiring any type of rejection of the idea of infinity.