On numerical solution of the integral Hartree-Fock equations for molecules by the method of MO LCAO in the momentum space

To develop a numerical solution of mentioned equations the method of factorized projection of integral operator kernel is applied. All matrix elements of the method are calculated analytically, being expressed in terms of two types of standard integrals: the overlap integrals and one-electron Coulomb integrals. To calculate the integrals we used the O(4)-symmetry of hydrogen-like atomic orbitals as well as operational technique of differentiation with respect to scalar and vector parameters.     

Evaluation of single-point equations to determine intrinsic viscosity of sodium alginate and chitosan with high deacetylation degree

A viscometric study of two polyelectrolytes, chitosan (CH, with 94% deacetylation degree, in a solute-mixture of acetic acid (0.1 mol L⁻¹) and sodium chloride (0.2 mol L⁻¹) and sodium alginate (SA, with 62% M-units, in sodium chloride (0.1 mol L⁻¹), was performed at 25 °C. Five different equations were applied to calculate intrinsic viscosity [η]: Huggins, Kraemer and Schulz-Blaschke (SB) by graphical extrapolation; Solomon-Ciuta, Deb-Chanterjee and again SB, by faster single-point determination. Viscometric constants were calculated employing graphical extrapolation equations. Average molar mass (‾M_v) values were determined by applying the Mark-Houwink-Sakurada equation. For the samples analyzed, Huggins equation was the most suitable to calculate [η] and‾M_v by graphical extrapolation for chitosan, while Schulz-Blaschke and Solomon-Ciuta were adequate for single-point determinations of sodium alginate. Viscometric constants indicated that the aqueous mixture of acetic acid and sodium chloride is a poor solvent for chitosan, while sodium alginate is well solvated by aqueous sodium chloride.     

Numerical integration of the Kohn–Sham equations: Integral method for bound states

A numerical method is presented that solves the multicenter Kohn–Sham equations. The method couples the resolution of the integral form of the equation at a given energy with an iterative search for the eigenvalues. The validity of the method is checked by comparing some test calculations for diatomics with results in the literature from other numerical methods. For these calculations the wave functions are expanded in partial waves either on one center or on two centers with the help of the partitioning of space in fuzzy cells. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 74: 49–54, 1999     

Inversion of the Kirkwood–Buff theory of solutions: application to binary systems

Kirkwood–Buff (K–B) integrals play an important role in characterizing the properties and interactions of various liquid mixtures. However, there exists no method to calculate directly the K–B integrals from the easily available experimental data of ultrasonic velocity and density. An attempt has been made to evaluate the same using these initial parameters. A statistical mechanical theory advanced by Arakawa et al. has been used here, in combination with a semi-empirical formula to compute K–B parameters in the whole concentration range for six binary systems at atmospheric pressure and at 298.15 K.     

A partial derivatives approach for estimation of the viscosity Arrhenius temperature in N,N-dimethylformamide + 1,4-dioxane binary fluid mixtures at temperatures from 298.15 K to 318.15 K

Excess properties calculated from the literature values of experimental density and viscosity in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) + 1,4-dioxane (DO) fluid binary mixtures (from 303.15 to 318.15) K can lead us to test the different correlation equations as well as their corresponding relative functions. Inspection of the Arrhenius activation energy Ea and the enthalpy of activation of viscous flow ?H* shows very close values; here we can define partial molar activation energy Ea₁ and Ea₂ for DMF and DO, respectively, along with their individual contribution separately. Correlation between the two Arrhenius parameters of viscosity in all compositions shows the existence of the primary distinct behaviours separated by particular mole fractions in DMF. In addition, we add that the correlation between Arrhenius parameters reveals interesting Arrhenius temperature (T_A), which is closely related to the vaporisation temperature in the liquid–vapour equilibrium; moreover, the limiting corresponding partial molar properties allow us to estimate the boiling points of the pure components.     

Simple computing of the viscosity of water–dioxane mixtures,according to a fluctuating SPC/E‐Ih interstitial model

In this contribution, we propose a new simple and fast computing approach to model liquid water and water‐1,4 dioxane mixture, which is intermediate between molecular dynamics calculation and lattice fluid H‐bonding theory in which water molecules are arranged according to a fluctuating hexagonal I_h network. It generalizes the interstitial mixture models of Samoilov and Pauling by increasing the number of spatial configurations into the space of phases due to the addition of rotations and vibrations of the molecules around their equilibrium positions. The potential energy landscape is determined by the generalization of the Madelung's approach to the molecular water network using simple point charge model (SPC/E partial charges). This approach allows useful predictions as the possibility of incorporation of a molecule of dioxane in the water I_h‐network or how some cooperative dynamic jumps (site ‐ hole) of water molecules, contribute to lower Eyring's activation energies and thus to facilitate the viscous flow. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The system HCl+InCl3+H2O from 5 to 55°C: Application of Harned's rule

Electromotive-force measurements of cells containing hydrochloric acid and indium chloride have been made to determine the variation of the log of the activity coefficient of hydrochloric acid with change in the amount of indium chloride in the solution. The simpler Harned equations have been used to fit the data. The quadratic terms in the Harned equations for the activity coefficients of HCl in the salt mixtures are required for a good fit of the 968 experimental emf data points at all the experimental ionic strengths and temperatures. The more convenient Pitzer ion-interaction treatment of the data will be reported in a separate publication which will include the values of the Pitzer parameters for pure InCl₃(aq), and mixing parameters for H⁺–In⁺³ and H⁺–In⁺³–Cl^–. A comprehensive investigation on the mixed electrolyte solutions at 11 different constant total ionic strengths ranging from 0.05 to 3.5 mol-kg^–1 was made at 11 temperatures from 5 to 55°C using the cell without liquid junction of the type: Pt,H₂(g, 1 atm)|HCl(m _A)+InCl₃(m _B)+H₂O|AgCl,AG (A).     

A UPLC–MS/MS method for analysis of vancomycin in human cerebrospinal fluid and comparison with the chemiluminescence immunoassay

Vancomycin (VCM) is clinically used in treating patients with postoperative intracranial infections. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentration of VCM varies greatly among patients. To guide the dosage regimens, monitoring of VCM in CSF is needed. However a method for analysis of VCM in human CSF is lacking. An ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) was developed and validated for analysis of VCM in human CSF, and the agreement of UPLC–MS/MS and chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) in the analysis of CSF VCM was evaluated. The ion transitions were m/z 725.5 > 144.1 for VCM and m/z 455.2 > 308.2 for methotrexate (internal standard). The agreement between UPLC–MS/MS and CLIA was evaluated by Bland–Altman plot in 179 samples. The calibration range of the UPLC–MS/MS method was 1–400 mg/L. The inaccuracy and imprecision were −0.69–10.80% and <4.95%. The internal standard normalized recovery and matrix factor were 86.14–99.31 and 85.84–92.07%, respectively. The measurements of CLIA and UPLC–MS/MS were strongly correlated (r > 0.98). The 95% limit of agreement of the ratio of CLIA to UPLC‐MS/MS was 61.66–107.40%. Further studies are warranted to confirm the results.     

Hierarchy of equations to calculate the linear spectra of molecular aggregates: Time‐dependent and frequency domain formulation

In a recent publication (Ritschel et al., J. Chem. Phys. 2015, 142, 034115) we have derived a hierarchy of coupled differential equations in time domain to calculate the linear optical properties of molecular aggregates. Here, we provide details about issues concerning the numerical implementation. In addition we present the corresponding hierarchy in frequency domain.     

Simultaneous multiresponse optimization of an HPLC method to separate seven cephalosporins in plasma and amniotic fluid: Application to validation and quantification of cefepime, cefixime and cefoperazone

An HPLC method for the separation of seven cephalosporins [Cefepime (CEP), ceftazidime (CTA), ceftizaxime (CTI), ceftriaxone (CTR), cefotaxime (COT), cefixime (CIX) and cefoperazone (COP)] in human plasma and amniotic fluid has been developed. Optimization of the chromatographic method was performed in three steps: a series of initial experiments followed by two sets of experiments based on different experimental designs. The initial experiments were performed to decide the basic analytical requirements of the method. Then screening experiment fractional factorial design was used in order to decrease the number of parameters by eliminating parameters which having insignificant effect on responses. The parameters having significant effect were further optimized through a full factorial design. Having studied two responses (retention times and resolutions), a desirability function that assess the responses together, was used to find experimental conditions where the system generated desirable results. The desirable results were obtained with XTerra C18 (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm i.d.) column, 40 mM phosphate buffer, pH 3.2, 18% MeOH, 0.85 mL min⁻¹ flow rate and 32 °C column temperature. Gradient elution with MeOH was applied. A simple and efficient solid-phase extraction was applied for the preparation of plasma and amniotic fluid samples. The validation parameters of the method were evaluated in accordance with ICH guideline. The method validated was applied to the analysis of CEP and COP in maternal venous, fetal venous and fetal arterial plasma, and to the analysis of CIX in maternal venous plasma and amniotic fluid.     

Molecular surfaces: An advantageous starting point for the description of composition‐dependent viscosities applied to polymer solutions

The viscosity of polymer/solvent systems is modeled as a function of composition under the premises that the dissipation of energy is taking place at the molecular interfaces and that the friction between solvent and solute varies with composition due to a change in the flow mechanism (drainage of coils). The simple expression obtained in this manner contains three system‐specific parameters: a geometric factor γ, which accounts for the differences of the surface to volume ratios of the components; a hydrodynamic parameter α, which measures the friction between solute and solvent in the case of fully draining polymer coils; and β, which corrects for changes in the friction between unlike molecules resulting from collective motions owing to limited draining. Experimental data published for 12 poly(dimethylsiloxane)/pentamer mixtures can be represented quantitatively by this relation; moreover the knowledge of the three system‐specific parameters permits the calculation of intrinsic viscosities, and the molecular weight dependencies of γ and α yield the entangle molecular weight of the polymer. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2221–2228, 1999     

Highly sensitive HPLC‐DAD method for the assay of gefitinib in patient plasma and cerebrospinal fluid: application to a blood‐brain barrier penetration study

The quantification of intracranial gefitinib (GEF) exposure is limited owing to the sensitivity of analytical equipment. Although mass spectrometry (MS) is the preferred method because of its high sensitivity, the equipment is not available in many laboratories, especially in developing Asian countries. In this paper, we developed a highly sensitive high performance liquid chromatography‐diode array detector (HPLC‐DAD) method for the assay of GEF in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. GEF was extracted from CSF and plasma by solid‐phase extraction and liquid–liquid extraction, respectively. The chromatographic separation was performed on a C₁₈ column with gradient elution of 0.1% triethylamine solution and acetonitrile, then finally detected at 344 nm. This method was validated and proved to be highly sensitive with a lower limit of quantitation value of 0.11 ng/mL in CSF and 11 ng/mL in plasma. The blood–brain barrier penetration ratio of GEF ranged from 1.48 to 2.41%. This method provides a reliable MS‐independent solution for the quantitation of GEF in patients’ CSF and plasma. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Viscosity of sodium carboxymethylcellulose in ethylene glycol–water mixed solvent media: Separation of the influences of polyion conformation and electrostatic interactions on the reduced viscosity

Precise measurements on the viscosities of the solutions of sodium carboxymethylcellulose in water and three ethylene glycol–water mixtures containing 10, 20, and 30 mass % of ethylene glycol have been reported at 35 °C. Isoionic dilutions were performed at total ionic strengths in the range of 0.0002–0.0008 eqv L^?1 using sodium chloride to obtain the intrinsic viscosities along with the Huggins constants. The influence of the medium and the ionic strength on the intrinsic viscosities have been interpreted from the points of view of the counterion condensation and expansion/contraction of the polyion chains in solution. The variations of Huggins constants, on the other hand, provided information on the intermolecular interactions in these solutions. A convenient method has been proposed to decompose the reduced viscosity of a polyelectrolyte solution into its conformational and electrostatic components. The electrostatic reduced viscosities obtained in the present study, purely from experimental considerations, quantitatively corroborates the conclusions derived from the Huggins constants. Using the Hess and Klein theoretical approach, an expression for the reduced viscosity due to the electrostatic interactions as a function of polyelectrolyte concentration could be obtained and the reported experimental electrostatic contributions could be nicely described with the help of this approach. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1196–1202, 2010     

Validated LC–ESI–MS/MS method for the determination of tunicamycin in rat plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic study

A liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for the quantification of tunicamycin in rat plasma as per regulatory guideline. Chromatography of tunicamycin and the IS in the processed plasma samples was achieved on an X‐Terra phenyl column using a binary gradient (mobile phase A, acetonitrile and mobile phase B, 5 mm ammonium formate) elution at a flow rate of 0.6 ml/min. LC–MS/MS was operated under the multiple reaction monitoring mode using the electrospray ionization technique in positive ion mode and the transitions of m/z 817.18 → 596.10, 831.43 → 610.10, 845.29 → 624.10, 859.23 → 638.10 and 309.24 → 163.20 were used to quantitate homologs A–D and the IS, respectively. The total chromatographic run time was 4.5 min. The correlation coefficient (r²) was >0.99 for all homologs with accuracy 90.7–107.4% and precision 0.74–15.1%. The recovery of homologs was 78.6–90.2%. No carryover was observed and the matrix effect was minimal. Tunicamycin four homologs were found to be stable on the bench‐top for 6 h, for up to three freeze–thaw cycles, in the injector for 24 h and for 1 month at ?80 ° C. The applicability of the validated method has been demonstrated in a rat pharmacokinetic study.     

Application of supercritical fluid extraction coupled with counter–current chromatography for extraction and online isolation of unstable chemical components from Rosa damascena

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) coupled with high‐speed counter‐current chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully used for the extraction and online isolation of the unstable compounds from Rosa damascene in a single extraction and separation operation in two stages. The solvent systems of SFE/HSCCC were optimized with the help of multiexponential function model. At the first stage, the upper phase of the solvent system of n‐butanol–tert‐butyl methyl ether–acetonitrile–0.1% aqueous TFA (1.7:1.0:0.8:4.0, v/v/v/v) was used as both the SFE entrainer and the HSCCC stationary phase, and the target compounds were eluted with the corresponding lower phase to separate the hydrophobic compounds. At the second stage, the upper phase of the solvent system of n‐hexane–ethyl acetate–methanol–water (3.2:1.0:2.8:2.6, v/v/v/v) was used as both the SFE entrainer and the HSCCC stationary phase, followed by elution with the corresponding lower phase to separate the moderate hydrophobic compounds. Six compounds including formononetin, delphinidin, cyaniding, 5,6,4′‐trihydroxy‐7,8‐dimethoxy flavone, 5,3′‐dihydroxy‐7,8‐dimethoxy flavone, and 5‐hydroxy‐6,7,8,3′,4′‐pentamethoxy flavone were successfully separated in one extraction–separation operation within 300 min. The targeted compounds were identified by MS and NMR spectroscopy. This research has opened up great prospects for industrial application of SFE/HSCCC to the extraction and separation of unstable compounds.     

Determination of total safranal by in situ acid hydrolysis in supercritical fluid media: Application to the quality control of commercial saffron

A procedure allowing hydrolysis reactions to be conducted in a dynamic supercritical-CO₂ medium was developed for quantifying total safranal (viz. free safranal present in the sample + safranal resulting from picrocrocin hydrolysis), which are the main component of the essential oil and responsible for the characteristic aroma of saffron. The proposed method allows total safranal amounts over the ranges 0.05-1.5 mg mL⁻¹ to be determined. The standard deviation achieved was 2%. This method was applied to the determination of safranal in natural saffron samples. The results obtained were compared with the “safranal value” total index, which is widely used as a quality measure of saffron products. The comparison revealed that the proposed method provides useful information not contained in the safranal value, based on the fact that, some samples with a high “safranal index” contain low concentrations of safranal. The proposed method is very useful for quality control in commercial saffron samples.     

Application of the Avrami, Tobin, Malkin, and Urbanovici–Segal macrokinetic models to isothermal crystallization of syndiotactic polypropylene

Various kinetic equations, namely the Avrami, Tobin, Malkin, and Urbanovici–Segal models, have been applied to describe the kinetics of primary crystallization from the melt state of syndiotactic polypropylene (s-PP) under isothermal conditions. Analysis was carried out using a data-fitting procedure, in which the experimental data were fitted directly to each model using a non-linear multi-variable regression program. The results suggested that the experimental data of s-PP can be best described by the Urbanovici–Segal model, followed by the Avrami, Malkin, and Tobin models, respectively.     

Ethylene–propylene copolymerization behavior of ansa‐dimethylsilylene(fluorenyl)(amido)dimethyltitanium complex: Application to ethylene–propylene–diene or ethylene–propylene–norbornene terpolymers

Copolymerization behavior of ethylene (E) and propylene (P) using ansa‐dimethylsilylene(fluorenyl)(amido)dimethyltitanium complex was investigated. P was more reactive than E regardless of the chain‐end monomer unit, which was very unusual in the coordination polymerization system. The terpolymerizations of E, P and norbornene (NB) or 5‐ethylidene‐2‐norbornene (5E2N) were also performed. The each content in the E/P/NB terpolymer was independently controlled by the initial concentration of NB and E/P feed ratio. Glass transition temperature (T_g) of the terpolymer was raised in proportion to the NB content and close to that of the corresponding NB/E random copolymer with the same NB content. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 685–691