The determination of β-agonist residues in bovine tissues using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

We aimed to develop a rapid, simple and reproducible method based on LC–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to analyze β-agonist residues (clenbuterol, zilpaterol, ractopamine and isoxsuprine) in bovine tissues. The method was validated in accordance with the European Council Decision 2002/657/EC. The samples were homogenized, and then 10 mL of an acetate buffer was added to a 5-g sample. The sample was then centrifuged at 12,000 rpm and filtered. Sodium hydroxide (2 m ) was added to adjust pH of the sample that was centrifuged again. The extract was filtered through a solid-phase extraction column. The residue was re-dissolved in 250 μL acetonitrile and then subjected to LC–MS/MS. The separation was done on a C₁₈ column. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid in deionized water and 0.1% formic acid in methanol. The mean recoveries of β-agonists were in the range of 84.3%–119.1% with relative standard deviations (%RSDs) of 0.683%–4.05%. Decision limits and detection capabilities of the analytes ranged from 0.0960 to 4.9349 μg/kg and from 0.0983 to 5.0715, respectively. This method was used to detect four β-agonists in 100 bovine muscle, 100 liver and 100 kidney tissues from a slaughterhouse. No residue was found above the maximum residue limit level.     

Molecular simulation of the adsorption of MTBE in silicalite, mordenite, and zeolite beta

The use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as a gasoline additive has resulted in serious environmental problems following spills and leaks, primarily due to MTBE's high solubility in water. Remediation technologies have involved air stripping, advanced oxidation, and sorption on granular activated carbons (GAC). Hydrophobic zeolites, such as silicalite, dealuminated Y, mordenite, and beta, have been of interest in recent studies for the removal of MTBE from water. Some of these materials have shown a better performance than GAC particularly in the microg/L range. We made Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations of the adsorption of pure MTBE in silicalite, mordenite, and zeolite beta with different Na+ loadings at room temperature to reveal the factors affecting the adsorption process. The results show that although the three zeolites studied here have similar pore volumes, the pore structure of zeolite beta causes a significant difference on the predicted amount of MTBE adsorbed. It was found that the position of the Na+ cations has an important effect at lower pressures. Within the range of [Na+] studied, the amount of Na+ was not found to be critical on the adsorption capacity of any of the zeolites studied, except at very low pressures in silicalite and zeolite beta.     

Simultaneous Determination and Drug Dissolution Testing of Combined Amlodipine Tablet Formulations Using RP-LC

In the proposed work, the simultaneous analysis of amlodipine–rosuvastatin and amlodipine–atorvastatin in their dosage forms was achieved. Simultaneous dissolution profiles of the amlodipine–rosuvastatin and amlodipine–atorvastatin tablets are realized using Apparatus II with a simple, accurate and precise RP-LC method. The mobile phase consisting of 0.2 % H₃PO₄ and pH 5:methanol:acetonitrile (46:27:27) was used. The samples of 10 µL were injected onto a Zorbax SB C18 (100 mm, 4.6 mm, 3.5 µm particle size) column with 1.2 µL min⁻¹ flow rate. The samples were detected at 236 nm. By plotting peak area ratios vs. concentration, the linearity for amlodipine–rosuvastatin and amlodipine–atorvastatin was determined. With the developed RP-LC method, AML, ROS and ATOR were detected within the range of 0.25–10, 0.5–10 and 0.25–25 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. LOD and LOQ values were also calculated as 0.028, 0.058, 0.021 and 0.095 µg mL⁻¹, 0.195 µg mL⁻¹, 0.070 µg mL⁻¹ for AML, ROS and ATOR, respectively. System suitability tests parameters, such as capacity factor, selectivity to previous peak, selectivity to next peak, resolution to previous peak, resolution to next peak, tailing factor, theoretical number of plates, were performed and found coherent with the ICH guideline parameters. The proposed method has been extensively validated in terms of recovery, and recovery results were between 99 and 101 %. For proving the precision, between-day and within-day repeatability results of the method were proposed. The method can be used for the simultaneous determination of amlodipine–rosuvastatin and amlodipine–atorvastatin.

     

Fully Developed Forced Convection Heat Transfer in a Porous Channel with Asymmetric Heat Flux Boundary Conditions

An analytical study is performed on steady, laminar, and fully developed forced convection heat transfer in a parallel plate channel with asymmetric uniform heat flux boundary conditions. The channel is filled with a saturated porous medium, and the lower and upper walls are subjected to different uniform heat fluxes. The dimensionless form of the Darcy–Brinkman momentum equation is solved to determine the dimensionless velocity profile, while the dimensionless energy equation is solved to obtain temperature profile for a hydrodynamically and thermally fully developed flow in the channel. Nusselt numbers for the lower and upper walls and an overall Nusselt number are defined. Analytical expressions for determination of the Nusselt numbers and critical heat flux ratio, at which singularities are observed for individual Nusselt numbers, are obtained. Based on the values of critical heat flux ratio and Darcy number, a diagram is provided to determine the direction of heat transfer between the lower or upper walls while the fluid is flowing in the channel.     

Surface Propensity of Anions in a Binary Ionic-Liquid Mixture Assessed by Full-Range Angle-Resolved X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Surface-Tension Measurements

Angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact-angle measurements guided by a signal attenuation model are utilized to extract molar composition and anion enrichment in the vacuum interface of a binary ionic liquid mixture, having a common quaternary ammonium cation and two different anions. By using the intensity ratio of the F1s peaks belonging to the two different anions recorded at the full electron take-off angle range, from 0° to 80°, we have determined that only a fractionally covered and anion enriched surface layer can predict the AR-XPS data, which is also consistent with surface tension measurements. Moreover, the more bulky and non-spherical anion enrichment is evident even at the conventional and the so assumed bulk sensitive take-off angle of 0°. This methodology provides a surface enrichment factor of the molecular ions and clearly serves as an experimental evidence for recently debated surface layering and/or island structure in ionic liquid systems.     

Proton conducting polymers containing 1H‐1,2,3‐triazole moieties

Polyacrylates containing a different number of 1H‐1,2,3‐triazole groups per repeat unit have been synthesized via conventional free radical polymerization. These polymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Proton conductivity measurements were made using impedance spectroscopy. Introduction of more than one triazole per repeat unit did not result in an increase in conductivity as there was an accompanying increase in glass transition temperature (T_g). A maximum conductivity of 17.5 μS/cm was obtained at 200 °C under anhydrous condition. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 188–196, 2009     

Complexation of Titanium n-butoxide Ti(OBu n )4 and Zirconium n-butoxide Zr(OBu n )4 with Some Oxime Ligands and Structural Analysis of the Complexes

Titanium tetra-n-butoxide, Ti(OBuⁿ)₄, and zirconium tetra-n-butoxide, Zr(OBuⁿ)₄, were reacted with some well-known dioxime and monoxime ligands such as dimethylglyoxime (DMG), salicylaldoxime (SO) and acetone oxime (AO). The structures of the resulting complexes have been determined by elemental analysis, i.r. and ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy. The complexation ratio of both Ti(OBuⁿ)₄ and Zr(OBuⁿ)₄ was found to be 1:2 with DMG and SO. On the other hand, both 1:1 and 1:2 complexation ratios of the same metal alkoxides were observed with the ligand AO.     

Spinor Bishop Equations of Curves in Euclidean 3-Space

In this paper, we study spinor Bishop equations of curves in ${\mathbb{E}^3}$ . We research the spinor formulations of curves according to Bishop frames in ${\mathbb{E}^3}$ . Also, the relations between spinor formulations of Bishop frames and Frenet frame are expressed.     

Modeling and control of a nonlinear half-vehicle suspension system: a hybrid fuzzy logic approach

Modeling and control of vehicle suspension system are high noteworthy from safety to comfort. In this paper, an analytical nonlinear half-vehicle model which is included quadratic tire stiffness, cubic suspension stiffness, and coulomb friction is derived based on fundamental physics. A hybrid fuzzy logic approach which combines fuzzy logic and PID controllers is designed for reducing the vibration levels of passenger seat and vehicle body. Performances of designed controllers have been evaluated by numerical simulations. Comparisons with classical PID control, Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) and Hybrid Fuzzy-PID control (HFPID) have also been provided. Results of numerical simulations are evaluated in terms of time histories of displacement and acceleration responses and ride index comparison. A good performance for the Hybrid Fuzzy-PID controller with coupled rules (HFPIDCR) is achieved in simulation studies despite the nonlinearities.