Effect of maltodextrins on the surface activity of small-molecule surfactants

We report on the effect of commercially important polysaccharides (maltodextrins with variable dextrose equivalent (Paselli SA-2, MD-6 and MD-10) on the surface activity at the air–water interface of small-molecule surfactants (sms), possessing different hydrophobic–lipophilic balance ((SSL (Na⁺), the main component is a sodium salt of stearol–lactoyl lactic acid, and PGE (080), polyglycerol ester of C18 fatty acid), and widely used in food products. A marked change of the surface activity of sms was found in the presence of maltodextrins by tensiometry. The combined data of laser multiangle light scattering and mixing calorimetry have suggested that this result is governed by specific complex formation between maltodextrins and sms in aqueous medium. Measurements have been made of the molar mass, the second virial coefficient and the enthalpy of intermolecular interactions in aqueous solutions. The implication of a degree of polymerization of maltodextrins in this phenomenon was shown. The interrelation between the molecular parameters of the formed complexes and their surface activity at the air–water interface has been revealed and discussed.     

Validation of liquid chromatographic method for analysis of lidocaine hydrochloride, dexamethasone acetate, calcium dobesilate, buthylhydroxyanisol and degradation product hydroquinone in suppositories and ointment

In this paper, there was developed a sensitive, precise and accurate reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method and validated for simultaneous determination of lidocaine hydrochloride, dexamethasone acetate (DA) and calcium dobesilate (CD) in suppositories and ointment. Also there was achieved a parallel analysis of buthylhydroxyanisol, as a preservative, and hydroquinone, as a degradation product of calcium dobesilate, present in these dosage forms. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values for all five compounds indicated a good precision and accuracy of the RP-HPLC method. Method is selective, sensitive and reproducible with good recovery values and can be applied in simultaneous determination of all mentioned compounds.     

Transfer of radiation technology to developing countries

Transfer of technology is a complex process with many facets, options and constraints. While the concept is an important step in bringing industrialization process to agricultural based countries, it is clear, however, that a country will only benefit from a new technology if it addresses a real need, and if it can be absorbed and adapted to suit the existing cultural and technological base.

International Atomic Energy Agency, as UN body, has a mandate to promote nuclear applicationsand assist Member States in transfer of technology for peaceful applications. This mandate has been pursued by many different mechanisms developed in the past years: technical assistance, coordinated research programmes, scientific and technical meetings, publications, etc. In all these activities the Agency is the organizer and initiator, but main contributions come from expert services from developed countries and, increasingly, from developing countries themselves. The technical cooperation among developing coutries more and more becomes part of different programmes.

In particular, regional cooperation has been demonstrated as an effective instrument for transfer of technology from developed and among developing countries.

Some examples of actual programmes are given.     

A study of electronic structures of Pt3M (M=Ti,V,Cr,Fe,Co,Ni) polycrystalline alloys with valence-band photoemission spectroscopy

The surface valence-band densities of states (DOS) of Pt(3)M (M=Ti,V,Cr,Fe,Co,Ni) polycrystalline alloys were investigated with ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy. Upon annealing the ion-sputter-cleaned alloys at high temperatures, the observed valence-band DOS spectra clearly show the modified electronic structures on the surfaces suggesting the surface segregation of Pt as predicted in thermodynamic models. The measured d-band centers and widths for the annealed alloy surfaces show qualitatively the same trend as predicted by density-functional-theory calculations based on the model of a Pt "skin" on the topmost surface layer and a subsurface layer enriched in the 3d transition metal.     

Preparation via Diastereoselective Hydrogenation,Absolute Conformation and Configuration of Exogeneous Anabolic Zeranol ((3S, 7R)-3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12-Decahydro-7,14,16-trihydroxy-3-methy-1H-2-benzoxacyclotetradecin-1-one)

Hydrogenation of the ketone group in di-O-benzylderivative ( 8 ) of the known macrocyclic lactone zeralenone ( 7 ) using a novel chiral borane complex 3 . BH₃, prepared in situ, proceeded at lower temperatures with moderate diastereoselectivity (～40%, d. e. at ?60°). Unsaturated diastereomers 9 and 10 were separated, and 9 converted into zeranol ( 11 ), a known anabolic agent. Restricted conformational mobility at lower temperatures is assumed for the intermediate 8 on the basis of the temperature-dependent CD spectra of its acetyl congeners 18 and 19 . X-Ray structure analysis of 7-O-acetylderivative ( 13 ) of 11 revealed the (R)-configuration at C(7). Two crystallographically independent H₂O molecules are involved in the H-bonds, one of them (O(21)) rises the helices of the molecules of 13 along b. Small positive torsional angle [C(16)-]C(161)-C(1) [=O] (+19.3°), transoid(E) conformation of the lactone group, and nearly achiral arrangement of the C(11)-C(12) bond (torsional angle [C(11)-]C(12)-C(121)[C(161)] is ?93°) are the main conformational features that differentiate the macrocylic RAL (resorcinic-acid lactone) derivatives from the 6-membered lactone derivative 20 , studied earlier by CD. Consequently, the rules developed for the CD effects within conjugation band (around 270 nm), and n→π* band (around 255 nm) of the latter compound, cannot be applied the macrocyclic lactones.     

Correlation of the absolute conformation of sec alcohols derived from macrocyclic lactones of resorcylic acid and their stereoselective transacetylation in organic solvents by Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase

Transacetylation of diastereomeric pairs of sec. alcohols, derived from macrocyclic lactones of resorcylic acid; 7,β-trans-zearalenols (1,2, full names., (3S,7R and 3S,7S) trans- 3,4,5,6,9,10-octahydro-7,14,16-trihydroxy-3-methyl-1H-2-benzoxacyclotetradecine-1-ones), 7,β-cis-zearalenols (5,6),and 7,β-zearanols (9,10,full names., (3S,7R and 3S,7S) 3,4,5,6,9,10,11,12-decahydro-714,16-trihydroxy-3-methyl-1H-2-benzoxacyclotetradecine-1-ones) by vinylacetate, catalysed by Pseudomonas sp. and Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase in n-heptane and acetonitrile has been studied. It is highly stereoselective; diastereomeric excess of 7β-O-acetates was usually near 100%. K_M, V_max and specificity constant V_max/K_M do not significantly differ for 7β-stereoisomers 2, 6 and 10. However, they notably change on going from n-heptane to acetonitrile, and the specificity constant drops by factor ca 10-100. The enzyme-bound water is assumed to be partly released in the latter solvent, thus diminishing the interaction with the hydrophilic region of the substrates, and affecting the activity. but not the stereoselectivity of lipases. To correlate the structural and conformational properties of these substrates with unexpectedly high diastereoselectivity of enzymatic transacetylation, the solid state structures of 7β-isomers 2, 4, 6, 10 and 12 have been determined by X-ray analysis. The X-ray structure analysis has revealed that the 7 and 7β isomers possess notably different and in some cases almost mirror-image related absolute conformations around the reactive center. The importance of conformational chirality in the hydrophobic region of these substrates for stereoselection in transacylation by microbial lipases is discussed.     

Comparative study of C(2) epimerization of d-glucose and d-mannose catalyzed by water soluble organometallic complexes with nitrogen ligands

Epimerization of d-glucose and d-mannose, catalyzed by the water soluble complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Cd(II) with bisnitrogen ligands 4–7, and by Mo(VI) complexes prepared in situ from ammonium heptamolybdate (AHM) with ligands 4–9 is compared. All examined complexes exhibit lower catalytic activity than AHM: strong coordination of the ligands by both (N,O) heteroatoms to metal ions, presumably affords catalytically less active species. Some free ligands and their metal (II) complexes catalyze both C(2) epimerization and isomerization of aldoses to d-fructose.     

Green pH- and magnetic-responsive hybrid hydrogels based on poly(methacrylic acid) and Eucalyptus wood nanocellulose for controlled release of ibuprofen

Cellulose - pH- and magnetic-sensitive hybrid hydrogels based on poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), nanocellulose (NC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and magnetite particles (MN) were prepared as...