N-Bromoamides as versatile catalysts for aziridination of olefins using chloramine-T

N-Bromoamides catalyze effectively the aziridination of electron-deficient as well as electron-rich olefins using chloramine-T (N-chloro-N-sodio-p-toluenesulfonamide) as a nitrogen source under ambient conditions to afford the corresponding aziridines in good to excellent yields.     

A proof of Howard’s conjecture in homogeneous parallel shear flows

A rigorous mathematical proof of Howard's conjecture which states that the growth rate of an arbitrary unstable wave must approach zero, as the wave length decreases to zero, in the linear instability of nonviscous homogeneous parallel shear flows, is presented here for the first time under the restriction of the boundedness of the second derivative of the basic velocity field with respect to the vertical coordinate in the concerned flow domain.     

Baseline studies of radon/thoron concentration levels in and around the Lambapur and Peddagattu areas in Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Studies conducted by Atomic Minerals Directorate of Exploration and Research (AMD) of Hyderabad, India had established the presence of higher concentrations of uranium in Lambapur and Peddagattu areas of Nalgonda district, AP, India and it was estimated that it could be a viable source for commercial extraction. The envisaged extraction process involves dispersion of radioactive particulate matter into atmosphere. Environmental radioactive studies in and around proposed mining areas at this point of time will be extremely useful for establishing base line data before a large scale uranium extraction process comes into existence. To this end, Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors were installed to evaluate indoor radon and thoron concentration levels in the dwellings of the area. The geometric means of radon and thoron concentration levels were found to be (7.1±0.2)×10¹ and (6.7±0.3)×10¹ Bq/m³, respectively. Simultaneously, natural background radiation measurements were also made and these levels are found to vary from 770 to 3995 μGy/y in the spatial distribution.     

A simple and sensitive analytical method for the determination of antimony in environmental and biological samples.

The results of a study and application of leucocrystal violet for the determination of antimony in parts per million levels is described here. The proposed method is based on the reaction of antimony(III) with acidified potassium iodate to liberate iodine. The liberated iodine selectively oxidizes leucocrystal violet to crystal violet dye. The formed dye shows maximum absorbance at 590 nm. The color system obeys Beer's law in the concentration range from 0.4 - 3.6 microg antimony per 25 ml of final solution. The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity were found to be 7.32 x 10(5) l mol(-1) cm(-1) and 0.0016 microg cm(-2), respectively. All variables were studied in order to optimize the reaction. The proposed method is satisfactorily applicable for the analysis of antimony in various environmental and biological samples. The method is simple, highly sensitive, accurate and reliable.     

Thermal comparison and multi-objective optimization of single-stage aqua-ammonia absorption cooling system powered by different solar collectors

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - This paper presents the comprehensive thermodynamic modelling to compare the performance and optimization of single-stage NH3–H2O-type absorption...     

Validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous quantitation of bendamustine and copanlisib in mouse plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic study in mice

In this study, we report the development and validation of an LC–tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantitation of bendamustine and copanlisib in mouse plasma as per the US FDA regulatory guidelines. The sample processing involves extraction of bendamustine and copanlisib along with internal standard (IS; warfarin) from 50 μL mouse plasma using a liquid–liquid extraction method. The chromatographic separation of bendamustine, copanlisib and the IS was achieved on an Atlantis dC₁₈ column using an isocratic mobile phase (5 mM ammonium acetate:methanol, 20:80 v/v). Bendamustine, copanlisib and the IS eluted at 0.88, 1.39 and 0.74 min, respectively, with a total run time of 2.5 min. The calibration curve ranged from 3.99–2996 and 4.33–3248 ng/mL for bendamustine and copanlisib, respectively. Inter- and intra-day precision and accuracy, stability in processed samples and upon storage, dilution integrity and incurred sample reanalysis were investigated for both the analytes. The intra- and inter-day precisions were in the ranges of 2.01%–5.05% and 2.74%–6.13% and 1.98%–7.64 and 8.62%–9.04% for bendamustine and copanlisib, respectively. Stability studies showed that both analytes were stable on bench top for 6 h, in auto-sampler for 24 and at −80°C for 30 days. The validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in mice.     

Electrochemical studies of novel olivine-layered (LiFePO4-Li2MnO3) dual composite as an alternative cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In the present work, olivine-layered composites, i.e., LiFePO4-Li2MnO3, are successfully synthesized in the form of a single monolithic electrode and layer...     

Sensitive and selective spectrophotometric methods for the determination of pheniramine maleate in bulk drug and in its formulations using sodium hypochlorite

Two simple, selective and sensitive spectrophotometric methods are described for the determination of pheniramine maleate (PAM) in pure and dosage forms. The method is based on the reaction of PAM with hypochlorite in the presence of Kolthoff buffer (phosphate-borate) of pH 7.0 to form the chloro derivative of PAM, destruction of the excess hypochlorite by nitrite ion (the chloro derivative of drug is unaffected under the optimized conditions) followed by the oxidation of iodide with the chloro derivative of PAM to iodine (I ₃ ^? which is either measured directly at 355 (method A) or reacted with starch to form a blue chromogen measurable at 590 nm (method B). The optimum conditions that affect the reaction were ascertained, and under these conditions linear relationship was obtained in the concentration ranges of 2–50 and 1–25 μg/mL PAM in methods A and B, respectively. The calculated molar absorptivity values are 7.26 × 10³ and 1.28 × 10⁴ L/(mol cm) for method A and method B, respectively. Sandell’s sensitivity values, limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) are calculated as per ICH guidelines. The proposed methods were applied successfully to the determination of PAM in tablets and injection with good accuracy and precision and without interferences from common additives. The results obtained by the proposed methods were compared favourably with those of the reference method. The accuracy and reliability of the proposed methods were further checked by recovery studies via standard addition procedure.     

Iodometric determination of milligram and microgram amounts of levocetirizine in pharmaceuticals

Four simple, selective and sensitive methods are described for the determination of levocetirizine dihydrochloride (LCT) in bulk drug and in tablets. The methods exploit the well-known analytical reaction between iodide and iodate in the presence of acid solution. Iodide present is oxidized by iodate in an amount equivalent to the HCl present in LCT to iodine and the liberated iodine is determined by four different procedures which inturn quantify LCT at varying detection range and sensitiveness. Two direct titrimetric procedures involve titration of iodine by thiosulphate either towards starch end point (method A) or potentiometrically (method B). Both the methods have a reaction stiochiometry of 1: 1 (LCT: liberated iodine) and have quantification ranges of 2–20 mg LCT for method A and method B. The liberated iodine is also measured spectrophotometrically at 350 nm (method C) or the iodine-starch complex measured at 570 nm (method D). In both the methods, the absorbance is found to be linearly dependent on the concentration of iodine which in turn is related to LCT concentration. The calibration curves are linear over 5–40 and 1.25–12.5 mg mL^?1 LCT for method C and method D, respectively. The calculated molar absorptivity and Sandel sensitivity values are 1.0 × 10⁴ L mol^?1 cm^?1 and 0.0435 mg cm^?2, respectively for method C, and their respective values for method D are 2.9 × 10⁴ L mol^?1 cm^?1 and 0.0156 mg cm^?2. The intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision studies were carried according to the ICH guidelines. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of two brands of tablets LCT. The accuracy was also checked by placebo blank and synthetic mixture analyses besides recovery study via standard addition procedure.