Simultaneous determination of cinnamaldehyde and its metabolite in rat tissues by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Cinnamaldehyde (CA), an active ingredient isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Cortex Cinnamomi, has a wide range of bioactivities. To clarify the distribution characteristics of CA, a selective and sensitive method utilizing gas chromatography–mass spetrometry was initially developed for simultaneously determining the concentration of CA and its metabolite cinnamyl alcohol in rat tissues. Selected ion masses of m/z 131, 105 and 92 were chosen, and separation of the analytes was performed on a DB‐5 ms (30 m × 0.25 mm, 0.25 µm, thickness) capillary column by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The calibration curves demonstrated good linearity and reproducibility over the range of 20–2000 and 20–4000 ng/mL for various tissue samples. Recoveries ranged from 86.8 to 107.5%, while intra‐ and interday relative standard deviations were all <11.3%. The analysis method was successfully applied in tissue distribution studies for CA and cinnamyl alcohol. As CA and cinnamyl alcohol may inter‐convert to one another, simultaneous determination of both analytes provides a comparative and accurate data for tissue study. The concentrations of CA and cinnamyl alcohol remaining in spleen were the highest among the main organs, including heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney and brain. In addition, there was no long‐term accumulation of CA in rat tissues. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and Characterization of Activated Carbon from Microwave and Conventional Heated Almond Shells Using Phosphoric Acid Activation

Activated carbon production from almond shells using phosphoric acid activation agent was achieved by applying both conventional heating and microwave heating in succession. The morphology and surface properties of activated carbon were studied using thermogravimetric and differential gravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. A surface area of 1128 m²/g was achieved by optimizing the microwave power (500?W), microwave application time (15?minutes), conventional heating time (45?minutes), conventional heating temperature (500?°C), and the phosphoric acid:sample ratio (0.7:1). An adsorption capacity of methylene blue of 148?mg/g and an iodine value of 791?mg/g was obtained for the prepared activated carbon.     

The Determination of Protonation Constants of Some Amino Acids and Their Esters by Potentiometry in Different Media

In this study, stoichiometric protonation constants of L-tyrosine, L-cysteine, L-tryptophane, L-lysine, and L-histidine, and their methyl and ethyl esters in water and ethanol–water mixtures of 30, 50, and 70% ethanol (v/v), were determined potentiometrically using a combined pH electrode system calibrated as the concentration of hydrogen ion. Titrations were performed at 25^∘C and the ionic strength of the medium was maintained at 0.10 mol⋅L⁻¹ using sodium chloride. Protonation constants were calculated by using the BEST computer program. The effect of solvent composition on the protonation constants is discussed. The log₁₀ K₂ values of esters generally decreased with increasing ethanol content. However, the log₁₀ K₁ values of the esters of L-tyrosine, L-cysteine, and L-tryptophane were found to increase with increasing ethanol content in contrast those of L-lysine and L-histidine esters.     

Characterization of isolated homogeneous hypersurface singularities in ℂ4

Let V be a hypersurface with an isolated singularity at the origin in ? ⁿ⁺¹. It is a natural question to ask when V is defined by weighted homogeneous polynomial or homogeneous polynomial up to biholomorphic change of coordinates. In 1971, a beautiful theorem of Saito gives a necessary and sufficient condition for V to be defined by a weighted homogeneous polynomial. For a two-dimensional isolated hypersurface signularity V, Xu and Yau found a coordinate free characterization for V to be defined by a homogeneous polynomial. Recently Lin and Yau gave necessary and sufficient conditions for a 3-dimensional isolated hypersurface singularity with geometric genus bigger than zero to be defined by a homogeneous polynomial. The purpose of this paper is to prove that Lin-Yau’s theorem remains true for singularities with geometric genus equal to zero.     

一类高次系统极限环的存在与唯一性

本文对系统dxdt=-y(1-ax2n)(1-bx2n) δx-lx4n 1dydt=x2n-1(1-cx2n)(1-bx2n)进行定性分析,得出其极限环的存在性,不存在性及唯一性的一系列充分条件.     

An efficient one‐pot synthesis of novel pyrimidoquinoline derivatives under microwave irradiation without catalyst

A series of pyrimidoquinoline derivatives were synthesized through one‐pot condensation of 2,6‐diaminopyrimidin‐4‐one, aldehyde and cyclic a 1,3‐dicarbonyl compound in glycol under microwave irradiation without catalyst. The protocol in the absence of catalyst has the advantage of good yield (87‐95%), short reaction time (4‐7 min) and an environmentally friendly technique.     

Assessment of two‐equation turbulence modelling for high Reynolds number hydrofoil flows

This paper presents an evaluation of the capability of turbulence models available in the commercial CFD code FLUENT 6.0 for their application to hydrofoil turbulent boundary layer separation flow at high Reynolds numbers. Four widely applied two‐equation RANS turbulence models were assessed through comparison with experimental data at Reynolds numbers of 8.284×106 and 1.657×107. They were the standard k–εmodel, the realizable k–εmodel, the standard k–ωmodel and the shear‐stress‐transport (SST) k–ωmodel. It has found that the realizable k–εturbulence model used with enhanced wall functions and near‐wall modelling techniques, consistently provides superior performance in predicting the flow characteristics around the hydrofoil. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Isoelectric Point and the Points of Zero Charge of Fe-Al-Mg Hydrotalcite-like Compounds

The relation of the isoelectric point (IEP) and the point of zero net charge (PZNC) of the hydrotalcite-like compounds was discussed. It was found that the IEP does not equal to the PZNC and the IEP is higher than the PZNC. The structural positive charges existing in the HTlc,which cause the difference between the IEP and the PZNC. The effects of the structural positive charges of the HTlc on its IEP and PZNC are the same as the specific adsorption of metal cations.     

Characterization of a pectic polysaccharide from the fruit of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ziziphus jujuba</Emphasis>

A pectic polysaccharide was isolated from the fruits of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. jinsixiaozao Hort. and its structure was characterized by acid hydrolysis, methylation, and NMR spectroscopies. The purified fraction Ju-B-7 had a molecular mass of over 2000 kDa. Chemical and spectroscopic analyses indicated that Ju-B-7 is composed mainly of α-1,4-linked D-galactopyranosyluronic acid and 1,2-linked L-rhamnose with a molar ratio of 8.1:1. It can significantly stimulate spleen cell proliferation in vitro (P<0.01, 10 μmg/mL). Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 311–312, July–August, 2007.