Determination of Required HLB of Capryol 90

The required hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of an oily substance indicates the HLB of the surfactants required to prepare a stable emulsion using the oil. This study utilizes empirical method to calculate required HLB (RHLB) of Capryol 90 using surfactant blends (Span 20, Tween 20, vitamin E TPGS, Pluronic F68, Span 60, and Tween 80). The methods used were assessment of degree of creaming after centrifugation and after shelf storage for 28 days at room temperature, turbidimetric method, accelerated stability study, and droplet size analysis. The droplet size was found to be in the range of 15 to 2 µm and v/v% separation after centrifugation was found to be 0–82%. The RHLB for Capryol 90 was found to be 15. The effect of various surfactant blends was investigated. Results revealed that a blend of tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) and Pluronic F68 gave the most stable emulsion for Capryol 90.     

90后医科学生医德教育现状及对策研究

在医患关系十分紧张的今天,提高医生医德素养显得尤为重要。要提高医生医德素养就必须从医科学生入手,在医科学生刚进行医学教育时就加以医德教育,首先分析了医科学生医德教育现状,其次针对当今医科学生医德教育滞后提出了一些解决的方案,希望能够通过这些方法来加强医科学生医德教育。     

Study of the vibrational spectra of SO2, H2O and D2O using the U(4) algebraic model

Using the U(4) algebraic model, in this work we report a study of the vibrational spectra of SO₂, H₂0¹⁸ and D₂O¹⁶. The inclusion of intermode couplings in algebraic models has been stated to give a deep insight into detailed spectroscopy for these bent XY₂ molecules. Improved set of algebraic parameters has been reported to provide improved RMS deviations for these molecules.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of U(VI) with Rifampicin in Soil Samples

A validated spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of uranyl ion in soil samples. The method is based on the complexation reaction between uranyl ion and rifampicin in methanol‐water medium at room temperature. The method is followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorbance at 375 nm. Under the optimized experimental conditions, Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 1.35–20.25 μg mL^‐1 with apparent molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of 8.0 × 10³ L mol^‐1cm^‐1 and 0.042 μg/cm²/0.001 absorbance unit, respectively. The interference of a large number of anions and cations has been investigated and the optimized conditions developed have been utilized for the determination of uranium(VI) in soil samples. The three sigma detection limit (n = 9) for uranyl ion was found to be 0.20 μg mL^‐1. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of uranyl ion in soil samples.     

Fluorous solvent for cell culture

Incubation of mouse melanoma B16 cells in fluorous solvents with low boiling point such as perfluoromethylcyclohexane, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol, ethylpentafluoropropionate resulted in cell death. However, cells lived up to 2 days in fluorous alcohols such as 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoro-1-pentanol and 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-nonafluoro-1-hexanol with relatively higher fluorine content. Remarkably, cells survived deprived of nutrition up to 4 days when incubated in 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-undecafluoro-1-hexanol or in 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7-dodecafluoroheptanol that have the most number of fluorine atoms (11 and 12, respectively) among the perfluoroalkyl alcohols used, and with boiling points of 128 °C and 169 °C, respectively.     

Thermoelectric Properties of Nano-grained Mooihoekite Cu9Fe9S16

Cu-Fe-S-based compounds gain the interest from thermoelectric community because all the consisting elements, Cu, Fe, and S, are non-toxic and earth-abundant. Comparing with CuFeS₂ and Cu₅FeS₄, the investigation on Cu₉Fe₉S₁₆ is very rare. In this work, a series of Cu_9–xFe_9+xS₁₆ samples were fabricated by means of melting-annealing process. Their phase composition, microstructure, electrical and thermal transport properties were systematically investigated. X-ray measurement confirms that all samples are phase pure. Transmission electron microscopy characterization indicates that the fabricated Cu₉Fe₉S₁₆ has a natural nanostructure. Cu₉Fe₉S₁₆ shows semiconducting-like electrical transport behavior and intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity. Beyond the numerous boundaries between nanosized grains, the existence of low-frequency optical phonons is also responsible for the intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity. Doping Fe at the Cu-sites in Cu₉Fe₉S₁₆ significantly alters the electrical transport properties by introducing extra carriers. A peak dimensionless figure of merit zT value of 0.21 is obtained at 800 K for pure Cu₉Fe₉S₁₆, which is comparable with that for CuFeS₂.     

Simple and Convenient Synthesis of 21‐Thioalkylether Derivatives of Methyl 16‐Prednisolone Carboxylates

The antedrug approach for corticosteroids has been described as a fundamentally sound approach for the development of safer anti‐inflammatory and anti‐asthmatic therapy. However, the derivatization of prednisolone and its congeners have been considered to be major pitfalls, because their syntheses are complicated by the presence of numerous carboxylate esters and hydroxyl functions in the steroid nucleus. A simple and direct synthesis of 21‐thioalkylether derivatives of methyl 16‐prednisolonecarboxylates is described. The 21‐mesylate of the methyl 16‐prednisolonecarboxylate and 9‐fluoro‐17‐dehydro methyl 16‐prednisolonecarboxylate were reacted with Na‐thioalkoxides to furnish the desired thioethers in good yields. A previously published method for the methanolysis of 16‐cyanoprednisolone to methylcarboxylate has been reexamined, and the conditions are explained clearly. The reaction conditions for all these reactions were critical.     

Quadrupole mass filter operation under the influence of magnetic field

This work demonstrates resolution enhancement of a quadrupole mass filter (QMF) under the influence of a static magnetic field. Generally, QMF resolution can be improved by increasing the number of rf cycles an ion experiences when passing through the mass filter. In order to improve the resolution, the dimensions of the QMF or the operating parameters need to be changed. However, geometric modifications to improve performance increase the manufacturing cost and usually the size of the instrument. By applying a magnetic field, a low‐cost, small footprint instrument with reduced power requirements can be realized. Significant improvement in QMF resolution was observed experimentally for certain magnetic field conditions, and these have been explained in terms of our theoretical model developed at the University of Liverpool. This model is capable of accurate simulation of spectra allowing the user to specify different values of mass spectrometer dimensions and applied input signals. The model predicts enhanced instrument resolution R>26 000 for a CO₂ and N₂ mixture with a 200‐mm long mass filter operating in stability zone 3 via application of an axial magnetic field. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric sensor for studying the interactions of β-amyloid peptide with metallic ions

In this paper, a kind of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ1-16) conjugated gold nanoparticles (Aβ1-16@GNPs) are prepared and employed as colorimetric indicator for studying the interaction of β-amyloid peptide with metallic ions (e.g. Zn²⁺ and Ca²⁺). In the presence of Zn²⁺, mono-dispersing Aβ1-16@GNPs enable to form aggregates or attach on the SHG-44 (human glioma cell) cellular surface which results in significant color change of the solution. The experimental results indicate that Zn²⁺ can interact with Aβ1-16 and form Zn²⁺-β-amyloid peptide complexes. In particular, in the presence of Zn²⁺, a time-dependent interaction of cells with Aβ1-16@GNPs has been observed that may suggest different expression levels of β-amyloid peptide related proteins in various cell cycles. In addition, the aggregating/binding process can be easily reversed by adding EDTA, a good chelated ligand of Zn²⁺, which gives further proof of the interaction mechanism.