Recent trends in capillary and micro-chip electrophoretic instrumentation for field-analysis

Technical advances in the development of field-deployable capillary and microchip electrophoretic instruments and reports of their deployment between 2013 and 2017 were reviewed. Strategies and considerations in the design of the injection, separation and detection hardware, chemistry and associated infrastructure were discussed from an in-field perspective, with portability, robustness and automation/“ease of use” featuring as key requirements. Integration of functionality is important for adequate in-field performance. Progress was made towards the use of multiple channel devices for increased throughput and/or resolving power, mixing devices for on-line/in-line sample derivatization, battery operation and temperature control. The strengths and weaknesses of the various approaches described in the literature are discussed from the perspective of in-field operation. An overview of the applications of the field electrophoretic instruments is provided, including environmental science and planetary investigation.     

NIFTy 3 – Numerical Information Field Theory: A Python Framework for Multicomponent Signal Inference on HPC Clusters

NIFTy , “Numerical Information Field Theory,” is a software framework designed to ease the development and implementation of field inference algorithms. Field equations are formulated independently of the underlying spatial geometry allowing the user to focus on the algorithmic design. Under the hood, NIFTy ensures that the discretization of the implemented equations is consistent. This enables the user to prototype an algorithm rapidly in 1D and then apply it to high‐dimensional real‐world problems. This paper introduces NIFTy  3, a major upgrade to the original NIFTy  framework. NIFTy  3 allows the user to run inference algorithms on massively parallel high performance computing clusters without changing the implementation of the field equations. It supports n‐dimensional Cartesian spaces, spherical spaces, power spaces, and product spaces as well as transforms to their harmonic counterparts. Furthermore, NIFTy  3 is able to handle non‐scalar fields, such as vector or tensor fields. The functionality and performance of the software package is demonstrated with example code, which implements a mock inference inspired by a real‐world algorithm from the realm of information field theory. NIFTy  3 is open‐source software available under the GNU General Public License v3 (GPL‐3) at https://gitlab.mpcdf.mpg.de/ift/NIFTy/tree/NIFTy_3 .     

Two new aromadendrane sesquiterpenes from Verticillium psalliotae

The chemical constituents of the fungus Verticillium psalliotae were studied. Two new aromadendrane sesquiterpenes inonotin M (1) and inonotin N (2) were isolated from the EtOAc extract of the fungal culture broth. The structures of compounds were elucidated mainly by HRESIMS experiments, and 1D, 2D-NMR spectroscopy analysis.     

Development and validation of an ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method to determine the bioavailability of warfarin and its major metabolite 7‐hydroxy warfarin in rats dosed with oral formulations containing different polymorphic forms

A simple, sensitive and rapid ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the quantification of warfarin and 7‐hydroxy warfarin in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Animals were administered a single dose of warfarin sodium formulations (crystalline and amorphous) at 12 mg/kg via oral gavage and blood was drawn over a 96‐h time course. Sample process recoveries, matrix effect and analyte stability were determined. The linearity for warfarin and 7‐hydroxy warfarin was from 5 to 2000 ng/mL in blank SD rat plasma. Correlation coefficients (r²) for standard calibration curves were >.98 and analytes quantified within ±15% of target at all calibrator concentrations. The average percent accuracy and precision for intra‐ and inter‐day were 93.7%–113.8% and ≤12.1%, respectively, for warfarin and 7‐hydroxy warfarin, across the quality control standards (5, 10, 500, 1800 and 2000 ng/mL). Acceptable analytical recovery (>55%) was achieved with process efficiencies >41.5% and matrix effects <139.9% over the analytical range. Both analytes were stable in stock solution, autosampler, benchtop and three cycles of freeze–thaw with percent accuracy ≥90.2% and precision (percent relative standard deviation) ≤14%. The validated method was successfully applied to a pre‐clinical bioavailability study of crystalline and amorphous warfarin sodium formulations in SD rats.     

Polymer complexes. LXXVI. Synthesis,characterization, CT‐DNA binding,molecular docking and thermal studies of sulfoxine polymer complexes

Novel polymer complexes of 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonic acid hydrate ( H ₂ L ) with Cu²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ chloride were prepared and characterized. Microanalysis, magnetic susceptibility, IR spectra, electron spin resonance, mass spectra, X‐ray, molar conductance, thermal, and UV–Vis spectra studies have been used to confirm the structure of the prepared polymer complexes. The molecular and electronic structures of the hydrogen bond conformers for ligand ( H ₂ L ) were optimized theoretically and the quantum chemical parameters were calculated. On the basis of elemental and IR data, the chemical structure of metal chelates commensurate that the tri‐dentate (H₂L) coordinate to metal chlorides through oxygen atom of phenolic OH and oxygen atom of SO₃‐H group by replacing H atoms and nitrogen of the quinoline ring. The magnetic studies suggested the octahedral geometrical structure for all produced polymer complexes with general formula {[ML (OH₂)₃] .xH₂O}_n (M = Cu²⁺, x = 1.; Co²⁺, x = 2 and Ni²⁺, x = 2) in molar ratio (1:1). Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger methods have been used for calculating the activation thermodynamic parameters of the thermal decomposition for H ₂ L and its polymer complexes. The interaction between H ₂ L and its transition metal complexes with the calf thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) was determined by UV–Vis spectra. Binding efficiency between H ₂ L with the receptors of the prostate cancer (PDB code 2Q7L Hormone) and the breast cancer (PDB code 1JNX Gene regulation) was studied by molecular docking. The inhibition behaviour of H ₂ L against the corrosion of carbon steel / HCl (2 M) solution was studied by weight loss, Tafel polarisation, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM) techniques. The adsorption isotherm was found to be Friendlish isotherm. The morphology of inhibited carbon steel? s surface was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS).     

DNA interaction,cytotoxicity and molecular structure of cobalt complex of 4‐amino‐N‐(6‐chloropyridazin‐3‐yl)benzene sulfonamide in the presence of secondary ligand pyridine

Novel cobalt complex of 4‐amino‐N‐(6‐chloropyridazin‐3‐yl)benzene sulfonamide (sulfachloropyridazine) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility (VSM). Cobalt complex of Sulfachloropyridazine (Co‐SCP) crystallized in monoclinic space group P2₁/n with Z = 4. The structure is solved by direct method and refined to R = 0.099 for 4720 reflections with I ?4σ(I). The results of FT‐IR spectra suggest the binding of cobalt atom to the sulfonamide ligand which is in agreement with the crystal structure determination. In crystal structure, molecule is linked via, C‐H … π, C‐Cl … π and π … π intermolecular interactions. The computational studies like the optimization energy and root means square deviation compare with single crystal structure, frontier molecular orbital (Homo‐Lumo energy) and binding energy of the Co‐SCP has been carried out using DFT/B3LYP level of theory in gaseous phase. Hirshfeld surfaces and the 2D‐fingerprint analysis are performed to study the nature of interactions and their measurable contributions towards crystal packing. The interaction of the complex with DNA is investigated using viscosity measurement and absorption titration studies. The result shows the complex bind to DNA with intercalative mode with high DNA‐binding constant (K_b). Also, in vivo and in vitro cytotoxic studies are performed using S. pombe cells and brine shrimp lethality bioassay. DNA‐cleavage study shows better cleaving ability of the complex.     

Validation of quartz crystal rheometry in the megahertz frequency regime

The utility of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) as a high‐frequency rheometer operating at 15 MHz was demonstrated. High‐frequency data obtained from a series of rubbery materials were compared with results obtained from traditional dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) at much lower frequencies. The high‐frequency data enable meaningful shift factors to be obtained at temperatures much further above glass‐transition temperature (T _g) than would otherwise be possible, giving a more complete picture of the temperature dependence of the viscoelastic properties. The QCM can also be used to quantify mass uptake and changes in viscoelastic properties during sample oxidation. The viscoelastic response spanning the full range of behaviors from the rubber to glassy regimes was found to fit well with a six‐element model consisting of three power‐law springpot elements. One of these elements is particularly sensitive to the behavior in the transition regime where the phase angle is maximized. The value of this quantity is obtained from the maximum phase angle, which can be obtained from a temperature sweep at fixed frequency, proving a means for more detailed frequency‐dependent rheometric information to be obtained from a fixed‐frequency measurement at a range of temperatures. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 1246–1254     

A dynamic free-entry oligopoly with sluggish entry and exit adjustments

We study a dynamic free-entry oligopoly with sluggish entry and exit of firms under general demand and cost functions. We show that the number of firms in a steady-state open-loop solution for a dynamic free-entry oligopoly is smaller than that at static equilibrium and that the number of firms in a steady-state memoryless closed-loop solution is larger than that in an open-loop solution.