Optimization of chemical and instrumental parameters in hydride generation laser-induced breakdown spectrometry for the determination of arsenic,antimony, lead and germanium in aqueous samples

A laser induced breakdown spectrometry hyphenated with on-line continuous flow hydride generation sample introduction system, HG-LIBS, has been used for the determination of arsenic, antimony, lead and germanium in aqueous environments. Optimum chemical and instrumental parameters governing chemical hydride generation, laser plasma formation and detection were investigated for each element under argon and nitrogen atmosphere. Arsenic, antimony and germanium have presented strong enhancement in signal strength under argon atmosphere while lead has shown no sensitivity to ambient gas type. Detection limits of 1.1 mg L⁻¹, 1.0 mg L⁻¹, 1.3 mg L⁻¹ and 0.2 mg L⁻¹ were obtained for As, Sb, Pb and Ge, respectively. Up to 77 times enhancement in detection limit of Pb were obtained, compared to the result obtained from the direct analysis of liquids by LIBS. Applicability of the technique to real water samples was tested through spiking experiments and recoveries higher than 80% were obtained. Results demonstrate that, HG-LIBS approach is suitable for quantitative analysis of toxic elements and sufficiently fast for real time continuous monitoring in aqueous environments.     

The Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Pre-Operative Prophylactic Cefepime Application in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women Undergoing Surgical Interventions Using a Fully Validated Liquid Chromatographic Method

Pregnancy alters pharmacokinetic profile of many drugs, because of altering body volume and metabolism rate. Therefore, dosage rates and concentrations of drugs must be controlled during pregnancy. Here, we identified the pharmacokinetic profile of pre-operatively given cefepime in caesarean section and gynecological operations using a simple, rapid, cost-effective and valid liquid chromatographic method. The chromatographic separation was performed using 40 mM, pH 3.2 phosphate buffer containing 6 % methanol as mobile phase at 0.30 mL min^?1 flow rate. Gradient elution with methanol was applied to get shorter analysis time without any interference from plasma endogens. During analyses, temperature of column, autosampler and detector were set as 30, 10 and 40 °C, respectively. The detection wavelength was 260 nm and ceftizoxime was used as internal standard. At the optimum conditions, the cefepime analysis from plasma samples was completed in 7 min. Cefepime was extracted from plasma samples using perchloric acid with a very high recovery rate (99.3 %). The method was fully validated according to the Food and Drug Administration guidelines for bioanalytical method validation, and found to be selective, linear, repeatable, reproducible and robust. After validation studies, the method was applied to five caesarean-sectioned and four non-pregnant sectioned women treated with pre-operative, prophylactic single intravenous dose of cefepime (1 g Maxipime^®) in order to determine pharmacokinetic profile of cefepime. Peak serum concentrations of cefepime in caesarean-sectioned women at the arterial port after infusion was 70.11 ± 10.74 μg mL^?1. The mean elimination half-life, volume of distribution and calculated area under the concentration–time curve (AUC)_0–∞ were 1.10 ± 0.23 h, 14.22 ± 2.29 L and 101.55 ± 10.99 μg h mL^?1 for caesarean-sectioned women; and 1.14 ± 0.21 h, 14.76 ± 2.92 L and 104.71 ± 36.34 μg h mL^?1 for non-pregnant sectioned women, respectively. The area under curve, elimination half-life, maximum plasma concentration and the mean distribution volume of cefepime were not changed in case of pregnancy.     

Synthesis,characterization, and application of silver nanoparticle‐thiophenol nanocomposite film on the glassy carbon surface

In this study, 4‐thiophenol modified glassy carbon electrode was prepared by the reduction of 4‐diazothiophenol tetrafluoroborate salt. Silver nanoparticles were attached to the thiophenol modified surface to prepare a thiophenol‐silver nanoparticle composite film. 4‐Aminothiopenol molecules were deposited by self‐assembling technique to form multi‐layered nanofilms of TP/SNP/PhNH₂ on glassy carbon substrate. These surfaces were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, reflectance‐absorption infrared spectroscopy, and ellipsometry at each multilayer film growth process. Atomic force microscopic images of GC/TP/SNP/PhNH₂ surfaces were also acquired. The characterization methods show that the amine group containing surface permits the subsequent modification by a variety of coupling reactions for the immobilization of more complex systems. An application of the electrode modification for the determination of uric acid with a significantly lower detection limit is described. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis in water-free DMF, characterization, electrical, and gas sensing properties of bis[2-(2-aminoethylamino)ethanol]copper(II) dibromide

2-(2-Aminoethylamino)ethanol (L) reacts with cupric bromide in dimethylformamide to give a mononuclear complex of Cu(II) [L₂Cu]Br₂, with six-coordinate distorted octahedral geometry, in which two molecules of tridentate (N,N,O) ligand are involved. The structure was confirmed by spectroscopic methods, elemental and thermogravimetric analyses, and magnetic measurements. Optimization of possible configurations indicated the formation of the trans structure of the complex. Experimental results indicate that the investigated complex, bis[2-(2-aminoethylamino)ethanol] copper(II) bromide, behaves as a semiconductor in the studied temperature range of 298–388 K. Gas sensing properties of the film for the volatile organic compounds (VOCs): acetone, tetra-chloromethane, chloroform, ethanol, and methanol, were also investigated as a function of vapor concentration and temperature in dark. The film showed maximum sensitivity to tetrachloromethane and ethanol vapors at room temperature. Responses of the film to the tested gases are reversible.     

Investigation of the reaction mechanism and kinetics of production of anhydrous sodium metaborate (NaBO2) by a solid-state reaction

In this study, the solid-state reaction mechanism and kinetics were investigated for production of anhydrous sodium metaborate (NaBO₂), an industrially and technologically important boron compound. To assess the kinetics of solid-state production of NaBO₂, the chemical reaction between borax (Na₂B₄O₇) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was investigated by use of the thermal analysis techniques thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). DTA curves obtained under non-isothermal conditions at different heating rates (5, 10 and 20 °C/min), revealed five endothermic peaks corresponding to five solid-state reactions occurring at 70, 130, 295, 463, and 595 °C. The stages of the solid-state reaction used for production NaBO₂ were also analyzed by XRD, which showed that at 70 and 130 °C, Na₂B₄O₇ and NaOH particles contacted between the grains, and diffusion was initiated at the interface. However, there was not yet any observable formation of NaBO₂. Formation of NaBO₂ was initiated and sustained from 295 to 463 °C, and then completed at 595 °C; the product was anhydrous NaBO₂. Activation energies (E _a) of the solid-state reactions were calculated from the weight loss based on the Arrhenius model; it was found that in the initial stages of the solid-state reaction E _a values were lower than in the last three steps.     

Associating divisors with quadratic differentials on Klein surfaces

We extend the notion and basic properties of quadratic differential divisors to a Klein surface, using the corresponding form’s divisors from the double cover of the Klein surface.     

Synthesis and monoamine oxidase A/B inhibitory evaluation of new benzothiazole-thiazolylhydrazine derivatives

Abstract

In this study, a novel series of benzothiazole-thiazolylhydrazine (3a–3i) was synthesized and their structures were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR spectrometry, and mass spectroscopy. These compounds were evaluated as inhibitors of type A and type B monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzymes. The most active compound 3b (2-((2-(2-(4-(4-Nitrophenyl)thiazol-2-yl)hydrazineylidene)-2-phenylethyl)thio)benzothiazole) showed strong inhibitory activity at hMAO-A (IC₅₀ of 0.095?±?0.004?µM). Furthermore, compound 3i (2-((2-(2-(4-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)thiazol-2-yl)hydrazineylidene)-2-phenylethyl)thio)benzothiazole) showed significant inhibition profile on hMAO-A with the IC₅₀ values 0.141?±?0.006?µM.     

Deformation of porous Cosserat elastic bars

This paper is concerned with the linear theory of porous Cosserat elastic solids. We study the equilibrium of a cylindrical bar which is subjected to resultant forces and resultant moments on the ends, to body loads and to surface tractions on the lateral surface. The Almansi problem, where the body loads and the surface loading on the lateral surface are polynomials in the axial coordinate, is considered. The bar is made of an inhomogeneous and isotropic material whose constitutive coefficients are independent of the axial coordinate. The problem is reduced to the study of two-dimensional problems. The results are used to study two practical applications concerning the deformation of a circular rod. It is shown that a uniform pressure on the lateral surface produces an extension, a uniform change of the porosity, and a plane deformation. The bending by terminal couples produces a non-uniform variation of the porosity and a microrotation of the material particles.     

On some new generalized difference sequence spaces defined by a sequence of moduli

In this paper, we define the new generalized difference sequence spaces [V, λ, F, p, q]₀(Δ _v ^m ), [V, λ, F, p, q]₁(Δ _v ^m ) and [V, λ, F, p, q]_∞(Δ _v ^m ). We also study some inclusion relations between these spaces.