Risk perceptions and rationality in measures of risk

Individuals may have biased perceptions of health and safety risks. We conjecture perceptions of mortality risk from various risk measures using parametric and non-parametric methods. We investigate how risk perceptions are measured and what rational explanations can be found for these measures with implication for risk and solvency.     

Simultaneous Spectrophotometric Determination of Zinc and Nickel in Water Samples by Mean Centering of Ratio Kinetic Profiles

The mean centering of ratio kinetic profiles method was used for the simultaneous determination of binary mixtures of Ni(II) and Zn(II) in water samples, without prior separation steps. The method is based on the difference in the rate of the reaction of Ni(II) and Zn(II) with xylenol orange at pH 5.3. The method allows rapid and accurate determination of Ni(II) and Zn(II). The analytical characteristics of the methods for the simultaneous determination of binary mixtures of Ni(II) and Zn(II) were calculated. The linear range was 0.025‐2.400 μg mL^?1 and 0.025‐2.20 μg mL^?1 for Zn(II) and Ni(II), respectively. Interference effects of common anions and cations were studied, and the method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of Zn(II) and Ni(II) in water samples.     

Fluorescence based turn-on strategy for determination of microRNA-155 using DNA-templated copper nanoclusters

The authors report on a new approach for the determination of the breast cancer biomarker microRNA-155 (miRNA-155). It is based on the measurement of the fluorescence shift of oligonucleotide-templated copper nanoclusters (DNA-CuNC). A probe DNA was designed that acts as a template for the preparation of CuNC which, under 400 nm excitation, exhibit strong fluorescence enhancement at 490 nm and a 90 nm Stokes shift after binding to target miRNA-155 and formation of a DNA-RNA heteroduplex. Under the optimal conditions, the fluorescence of the DNA-CuNC increases with increasing concentration of miRNA-155 in the range from 50 pM to 10 nM, with a 11 pM detection limit. The assay has excellent selectivity over noncomplementary RNA. The method was applied to the determination of miRNA-155 in the presence of human plasma and saliva.

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Graphical abstract Schematic of the detection strategy that relies on the fluorescence shift of DNA-CuNCs resulting from the specific binding of DNA-CuNCs with target miRNA-155. Fluorescence intensities are linearly proportional to the concentrations of target RNA from 50 pM to 10 nM.

     

Fluorometric determination of microRNA via FRET between silver nanoclusters and CdTe quantum dots

This paper describes a CdTe quantum dot-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) based assay for the detection of the breast cancer biomarker microRNA. The method relies on energy transfer between DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) and CdTe QDs. Interaction between double strand oligonucleotide and QDs can be detected qualitatively through gel analysis and quantitatively by the signal amplification from AgNCs to QDs via FRET, best measured at an excitation wavelength of 350 nm and at emission wavelengths of 550 and 590 nm. Three microRNAs (microRNA-21, microRNA-155 and Let-7a) were quantified to verify the feasibility of the method, and a high sensitivity for microRNAs was achieved. Fluorescence intensity increases linearly with the log of the concentration of microRNA 155 in the 5.0 pM to 50 nM range, with a 1.2 pM detection limit.

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Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of a quantum dot-based (QD-based) fluorescence resonance energy transfer technique for the detection of microRNA (miRNA). The method relies on energy transfer between DNA-templated silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) and QDs.

     

A Novel and Efficient One‐Pot Synthesis of 2‐Aminopyrimidinones and Their Self‐Assembly

A three‐component reaction of benzaldehyde derivatives, methyl cyanoacetate, and guanidinium carbonate affords 2‐amino‐4‐aryl‐1,6‐dihydro‐6‐oxopyrimidine‐5‐carbonitriles and the four‐component reaction of benzaldehyde derivatives, methyl cyanoacetate, and guanidinium hydrochloride in the presence of piperidine leads to piperidinium salts of pyrimidinones. X‐ray crystallography data confirm self‐assembly and H‐bonding in these compounds.     

Pyrophosphate Selective Recognition in Aqueous Solution Based on Fluorescence Enhancement of a New Aluminium Complex

A novel and simple fluorescence enhancement method for selective pyrophosphate(PPi) sensing was proposed based on a 1:1 metal complex formation between bis(8-hydroxy quinoline-5-solphonat) chloride aluminum(III) (Al(QS)₂Cl), (L) and PPi in aqueous solution. The linear response range covers a concentration range of 1.6 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L of PPi and the detection limit of 2.3 × 10⁻⁸ mol/L. The association constant of L-PPi complex was calculated 2.6 × 10⁵ L/mol. L was found to show selectively and sensitively fluorescence enhancement toward PPi over than I₃^-, NO₃^-, CN⁻, CO₃²⁻, Br⁻, Cl⁻, F⁻, H₂PO4⁻ and SO₄²⁻, which was attributed to higher stability of inorganic complex between pyrophosphate and L.     

One-pot synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole linked dihydropyrimidinones via Huisgen 1,3-dipolar/Biginelli cycloaddition

The combination of the Biginelli reaction with click chemistry has been used for the one-pot synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole linked dihydropyrimidinones from azides, aromatic aldehydes containing a propargyl ether group, urea, and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds using Cu(OAc)₂/sodium ascorbate as catalyst in acetic acid under mild reaction conditions.     

Reduction of Ozonides by Means of Polymeric Triphenylphosphine: Simplified Synthesis of Carbonyl Compounds from Alkenes

A classical system for the preparation of carbonyl compounds from alkenes relies upon ozonolysis of the double bond, followed by reductive cleavage of the ozonide so formed. Among the reagents of choice for such a reduction, triphenylphosphine certainly has enjoyed a widespread use.¹ However, in spite of the simplicity of the method, often one can face problems in the purification of the carbonyl compound from unreacted triphenylphosphine, especially if the polarities of both products are very similar. We have encountered such a problem during the preparation of the (20 S)-6β -ethoxy-3 α, 5-cyclo-5α -pregnane-20-carbaldehyde 4 from the suitably protected stigmasterol3². In this case, when triphenylphosphine was used for reduction of ozonide we never could isolate the aldehyde 2 uncontaninated by tripherylphosphine.     

Thermodynamic Study of the Extraction of Inorganic Mercury Compounds in Fish Species of the International Anzali Wetland,Iran

Inorganic mercury concentration was measured in the muscle tissues of four types of fish in the aquatic international Anzali Wetland ecosystem in Guilan. In the same ecosystem, the northern pike is able to concentrate inorganic mercury in its body more than other fish. In each species, a fish with the highest amount of inorganic mercury was selected for determination of thermodynamic parameters of inorganic mercury extraction using calculation of the equilibrium constant and fitting of ln K_c versus inverse temperature at the atmospheric pressure. The origins of thermodynamic parameters were discussed. The extraction processes were done in the range of temperatures from 331.15 to 365.15 K and at atmospheric pressure. Results show that the extraction of mercury compounds from SH groups of sulfhydryl proteins in fish muscle tissue is an endothermic process with a positive value for entropy and Gibbs free energy changes at room temperature.     

Palladium-catalyzed stereoselective synthesis of 3-(aminomethylene)-oxindoles

An efficient palladium-catalyzed protocol for the stereoselective synthesis of 3-(aminoarylmethylene)-oxindoles has been developed. In this approach, Ugi-4-component reaction adducts were used as starting materials for carbopalladative cyclization-Buchwald reaction sequences.