Qualitative metabolism assessment and toxicological detection of xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer and drug of abuse, in rat and human urine using GC–MS, LC–MS n , and LC–HR-MS n

Xylazine is used in veterinary medicine for sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia. It has also been reported to be misused as a horse doping agent, a drug of abuse, a drug for attempted sexual assault, and as source of accidental or intended poisonings. So far, no data concerning human metabolism have been described. Such data are necessary for the development of toxicological detection methods for monitoring drug abuse, as in most cases the metabolites are the analytical targets. Therefore, the metabolism of xylazine was investigated in rat and human urine after several sample workup procedures. The metabolites were identified using gas chromatography (GC)–mass spectrometry (MS) and liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with linear ion trap high-resolution multistage MS (MS ⁿ ). Xylazine was N-dealkylated and S-dealkylated, oxidized, and/or hydroxylated to 12 phase I metabolites. The phenolic metabolites were partly excreted as glucuronides or sulfates. All phase I and phase II metabolites identified in rat urine were also detected in human urine. In rat urine after a low dose as well as in human urine after an overdose, mainly the hydroxy metabolites were detected using the authors’ standard urine screening approaches by GC–MS and LC–MS ⁿ . Thus, it should be possible to monitor application of xylazine assuming similar toxicokinetics in humans.

Density and excess molar volumes of binary mixtures of sulfolane with methanol,n -propanol,n -butanol,and n -pentanol at 298.15–323.15 K and atmospheric pressure

Densities, ρ and excess molar volumes, V?^E of the binary mixtures of sulfolane, +methanol, +n-propanol,?+n-butanol, and +n-pentanol were measured at temperatures 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, 313.15, and 318.15?K, respectively, covering the whole composition range except methanol at 303.15–323.15?K. The V ^E for the systems were found to be negative and large in magnitude. The values of V ^E of the sulfolane, +n-butanol and sulfolane, +n-pentanol mixtures are being positive at lower and higher mole fractions of the alkanols (x ₂). The magnitudes of the V ^E values of the mixtures are in the order sulfolane?+?methanol?>?sulfolane?+?n-propanol?>?sulfolane?+?n-butanol?>?sulfolane?+?n-pentanol. The observed values of V ^E for the mixtures have been explained in terms of (i) effects due to the differences in chain length of the alcohols, (ii) dipole–dipole interactions between the polar molecules, and (iii) geometric effect due to the differences in molar volume of the component molecules. These are more noticeable in the case of lower alcohols. All these properties have been expressed satisfactorily by appropriate polynomials.     

Interactions between Ni n (n = 1–4) clusters and molecules of methane,water, and hydrogen peroxide

Quantum chemical computations and study of IR spectra of systems Ni₄ + CH₄, Ni₄ + H₂O, and Ni₄ +H₂O are performed. The results are discussed conjointly with analogous data for products of reactions with Ni _n (n=1–3). It is shown that formation of complexes with either hydrogen atoms or CH₃ and OH radicals in a bridged position is characteristic of these systems. It is essential that the ground state of the nickel frame formed in Ni₄ systems has the form of a flat rhombus, which is different from the main isomer form of Ni₄ having pyramidal structure.     

Structure and stability of AuXe n Z (n = 1–3, Z = −1, 0, +1) clusters

We have explored the structures and stabilities of AuXe _n ^Z (n = 1–3, Z = ?1, 0, +1) cluster series at CCSD(T) theoretical level. The electron affinities and ionization potentials are correlated to the HOMO–LUMO gaps. The role of the interaction was investigated using the natural bond orbital analysis.     

A computational investigation of the electronic properties of Octahedral Al n N n and Al n P n cages (n = 12, 16, 28, 36, and 48)

Density functionla theory (DFT) calculations are performed to characterize geometric and electronic features of the octahedral Al _n N _n and Al _n P _n cages (n = 12, 16, 28, 32, and 48). Toward this aim, ¹⁵N, ²⁷Al, and ³¹P chemical shielding (CS) tensors as well as natural charge analyses are calculated for the optimized structures. CS parameters detect three distinct electronic environments for atoms within the Al _n N _n and Al _n P _n cages. The chemical shifts of N2 sites belonging to a hexagon and surrounded by three hexagons and a square obtained are different from those of N3 sites belonging to a hexagon that is surrounded only by hexagons—due to different curvatures exerted at the sites with different local structures. In addition, there is an increasing tendency in the Δσ values of the three local structures, Δσ (N1) > Δσ (N2) > Δσ (N3), N1 sites belonging to four-membered rings. The chemical shieldings of those Al and P sites belonging to a hexagon that is surrounded only by hexagons in the cages (360.7–366.7 and 496.5–514.7 ppm) are close to those previously reported for AlP nanotubes. Three distinct electrostatic environments around the N, Al, and P nuclei are also confirmed by the calculated natural charges. It should be noted that the positively charged Al atoms on the cages turn out to be the available sites for adsorption of H2 molecules.     

Structure, Electronic Properties and Interaction of MRn n + (n?=?1–3, M?=?Cu, Ag and Au) Clusters: Ab Initio Calculations

The structures and stabilities of MRn _n ⁺ (n?=?1–3, M?=?Cu, Ag and Au) series at the CCSD(T) theoretical level are performed. The n?=?2 systems are more stable than its neighbours. The role of the interaction is investigated using the natural bond orbital analysis, Laplacian, electron localization function and reduced density gradient analysis. The results show the intermediate character in the M–Rn interaction.     

Theoretical Studies on the Structures and Stabilities of Charged, Titanium-Doped, Small Silicon Clusters, TiSi n ? /TiSi n + (n?=?1–8)

The structures and stabilities of charged, titanium-doped, small silicon clusters TiSi _n ⁺ /TiSi _n ^? (n?=?1–8) have been systematically investigated using the density functional theory method at the B3LYP/6-311+G* level. For comparison, the geometries of neutral TiSi_n clusters were also optimized at the same level, although most of them have been reported previously (Guo et al., J Chem Phys 126: 234704, 2007). Our results indicate that all neutral TiSi_n clusters favor Si-capped TiSi_n?1 structures, with the lowest energy structure of TiSi₂, TiSi₃, TiSi₄, TiSi₅, TiSi₆, TiSi₇ and TiSi₈ being Si-side-on TiSi adduct, Si-face-capped TiSi₂ triangle, Si-face-capped TiSi₃ trigonal pyramid, Si-face-capped TiSi₄ trigonal bipyramid, Si-face-capped TiSi₅ square bipyramid, Si-face-capped TiSi₆ pentagonal bipyramid, and Si-face-capped TiSi₇ capped pentagonal bipyramid, respectively. The ground state structures obtained herein for the neutral TiSi_n clusters agree well with those of Guo et al. except for TiSi₃ and TiSi₈. Adding or removing an electron greatly changes some ground state structures, i.e. for TiSi₃ ^?/TiSi₃ ⁺, TiSi₅ ^?, TiSi₆ ^?/TiSi₆ ⁺ TiSi₇ ^? and TiSi₈ ^?/TiSi₈ ⁺; others are almost unchanged, e.g. TiSi₂ ^?/TiSi₂ ⁺, TiSi₄ ^?/TiSi₄ ⁺, TiSi₅ ⁺ and TiSi₇ ⁺. Based on the optimized geometries, various energetic properties, including binding energies, fragmentation energies, second-order difference energies, HOMO–LUMO energy gaps, ionization potentials and electron affinities, were calculated for all the most stable isomers. The average binding energies reveal that all of TiSi_n/TiSi _n ⁺ /TiSi _n ^? (n?=?1–8) clusters can continue to gain energy as the size increasing. The fragmentation energies and second-order energy differences suggest that neutral TiSi₅, anionic TiSi₅ ^? and cationic TiSi₆ ⁺ are relatively stable.     

Preparation,characterization and activity evaluation of p–n junction photocatalyst p-NiO/n-ZnO

In this paper, p–n junction photocatalyst NiO/ZnO was prepared by the sol–gel method using Ni (NO₃)₂ and zinc acetate as the raw materials. The structural and optical properties of the p–n junction photocatalyst NiO/ZnO were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, UV–Vis diffuse reflection spectrum (DRS) and the fluorescence emission spectra. The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst was evaluated by photocatalytic reduction of Cr₂O₇ ²⁻ and photocatalytic oxidation of methyl orange (MO). The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of the p–n junction photocatalyst NiO/ZnO is much higher than that of ZnO on the photocatalytic reduction of Cr₂O₇ ²⁻. However, the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst is much lower than that of ZnO on the photocatalytic oxidation of methyl orange. Namely, the p–n junction photocatalyst NiO/ZnO has higher photocatalytic reduction activity, but lower photocatalytic oxidation activity. The heat treatment condition also influences the photocatalytic activity strongly, and the best preparation condition is about 400 °C for 2 h. Effect of the heat treatment condition on the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst was also investigated. The mechanisms of influence on the photocatalytic activity were discussed by the p–n junction principle.     

Structures,stabilities, and electronic properties of Al n Au (n = 1–15) clusters: A density functional study

We present density functional calculations of Al _n Au clusters for n = 1–15. The growth pattern for Al _n Au (n = 1–7, 12, 14, 15) clusters is the Au atom occupying a peripheral position of Al _n clusters, and the growth pattern for Al _n Au (n = 8, 10 and 13) clusters is Au-substituted Al _n+1 clusters. It is found that the Au atom replaces the surface atom of an Al _n+1 cluster and occupies a peripheral position. In addition, the ground state structures of Al _n Au clusters are more stable than pure Aln clusters. It is found that the Al₁₃Au cluster exhibits high stability.     

Structure, stability and electronic property of the gold-doped germanium clusters: AuGe n (n = 2–13)

The structure, stability and electronic property of the AuGe _n (n = 2–13) clusters with different spin configurations are systematically investigated with density-functional theory approach at UB3LYP/LanL2DZ level. In examining the lowest energy structures, it is found that the growth behaviors for the small-sized AuGe _n (n = 2–9) clusters and relatively large-sized AuGe _n (n = 10–13) clusters are different. As the number of Ge atom increases, the Au atom would gradually move from convex to surface and to interior sites. For the most stable structures of AuGe _n (n = 10–13) clusters, the Au atom would be completely surrounded by the Ge atoms to form Au-encapsulated Ge _n cages. Natural population analysis shows that the charges always transfer from the Au atom to the Ge _n framework except for the AuGe₂ cluster. This indicates that the Au atom acts as electron donor even the 5d orbitals of the Au atom are not significantly involved in chemical bonding. The analyses of the average atomic binding energies as well as the dissociation energies and the second-order differences of total energy show that the AuGe _n clusters with n = 5, 9 and 12 are more stable than their neighboring ones, in which the bicapped pentagonal prism AuGe₁₂ in D _2d symmetry is most stable. The highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gaps are explored to be in the region of semiconductors and the more stable clusters have slightly smaller gaps. It could be expected that the stable clusters might be considered as the novel building blocks in practical applications, e.g., the cluster-assembled semiconductors or optoelectronic material.     

Prediction and characterization of halogen–hydride interaction in Cu n H n ···ClC2Z and Cu n H···ClC2Z complexes (n = 2–5; Z = H, F, CH3)

Halogen–hydride interactions between the lowest energy structure of Cu _n H _n and Cu _n H clusters (n = 2–5) as halogen acceptor and ClC₂Z (Z = H, F, CH₃) as halogen donor have been investigated at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory. Different approaches based on structural parameters, energetic analysis, shift in vibrational frequencies, and molecular electrostatic potential were used to characterize the resultant halogen–hydride bonds. Upon complexation, the Cl–C bonds tend to elongate, concomitant with red shifts of the Cl–C vibrational frequencies. Interaction energies of this type of halogen bonds vary from ?2.34 to a maximum ?7.38 kJ mol^?1. The calculated interaction energies were found to be increased in magnitude with increasing of the negative electrostatic potential at a point on the outer side of hydrogen atom of halogen acceptor units. Moreover, decomposition of the interaction energies reveals that the electrostatic interaction plays a main role in the formation of the complexes. The quantum theory of atoms in molecules analysis has also been applied to provide more insight into the nature and properties of these interactions. Our results indicate pure closed-shell interactions in these systems with similar characteristics to the conventional halogen bonds.     

Application of CE–ICP–MS and CE–ESI–MS in metalloproteomics: challenges,developments, and limitations

Application of capillary electrophoresis (CE) as a high-resolution separation technique in metalloproteomics research is critically reviewed. The focus is on the requirements and challenges involved in coupling CE to sensitive element and molecule-specific detection techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) or electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI–MS). The complementary application of both detection techniques to the structural and functional characterisation of metal-binding proteins and their structural metal-binding moieties is emphasised. Beneficial aspects and limitations of mass spectrometry hyphenated to CE are discussed, on the basis of the literature published in this field over the last decade. Recent metalloproteomics applications of CE are reviewed to demonstrate its potential and limitations in modern biochemical speciation analysis and to indicate future directions of this technique.     

Density functional study on structures, stabilities, and electronic properties of size-selected Pd n Si q (n = 1–7 and q = 0, +1, −1) clusters

The density functional theory (DFT) calculations within the framework of generalized gradient approximation have been employed to systematically investigate the geometrical structures, stabilities, and electronic properties of Pd _n Si ^q (n = 1–7 and q = 0, +1, ?1) clusters and compared them with the pure ${\text{Pd}}_{n + 1}^{q}$ (n = 1–7 and q = 0, +1, ?1) clusters for illustrating the effect of doping Si atom into palladium nanoclusters. The most stable configurations adopt a three-dimensional structure for both pure and Si-doped palladium clusters at n = 3–7. As a result of doping, the Pd _n Si clusters adopt different geometries as compared to that of Pd _n+1. A careful analysis of the binding energies per atom, fragmentation energies, second-order difference of energies, and HOMO–LUMO energy gaps as a function of cluster size shows that the clusters ${\text{Pd}}_{4}^{ + }$ , ${\text{Pd}}_{4}$ , ${\text{Pd}}_{8}^{ - }$ , ${\text{Pd}}_{5} {\text{Si}}^{0, + , - }$ , and ${\text{Pd}}_{7} {\text{Si}}^{0, + , - }$ possess relatively higher stability. There is enhancement in the stabilities of palladium frameworks due to doping with an impurity atom. In addition, the charge transfer has been analyzed to understand the effect of doped atom and compared further.     

Geometries and stabilities of Ag n v (v?=?±1, 0; n?=?21–29) clusters

We performed a systematical study on the lowest-energy structures of the medium-sized silver clusters Ag _n (n?=?21?C29) by using a genetic algorithm coupled with a tight-binding method, and the DFT calculations with Perdew?CWang generalized-gradient approximation. The corresponding cluster ions were also searched based on the neutral cluster structures. It is found that the Ag_21?C23 prefer icosahedron or double-icosahedron as core structures. Ag _n (n?=?24?C27) favor a bulk-like fcc stacking motif. Ag₂₈ and Ag₂₉ tend to high symmetrical structures. The relative stabilities, the ionization potentials and electronic affinities of silver clusters analyzed in the paper are consistent with the experimental data. It is interesting to find that the experimental spectra fit reasonable well the optical absorption spectra obtained with the structures calculated by us.     

Quantum chemical topology investigation on structure, electronic properties and interaction of CuNg n + (n?=?1–3, Ng?=?He, Ne)

The structures and stabilities of title clusters have been investigated at CCSD(T) computational level. For the title systems, the geometry with high symmetry is preferred and the n?=?2 systems are more stable than its neighbors. For the Cu?CNg interaction, topological analysis of the electron density field, electron localization function, and positive local energy density represent the intermediate interaction type $ \left( {\nabla^{2}{}_{(3,\; - 1)} \rho > 0\; {\text{and}}\;E\left( r \right) < 0} \right) $ . The interaction region is located by generating reduced density gradient isosurface in the real molecular space.     

Structures,electronic and magnetic properties of the FemOn@Cx (m = 1–3, n = 1–4, x = 50, 60) clusters

The structures, electronic and magnetic properties of the Fe_mO_n@C_x (m?=?1–3, n?=?1–4, x?=?50, 60) clusters have been investigated by using PBE functional. The C₅₀, C₆₀ can significantly increase the structural stabilities of the Fe_mO_n molecules. Fe₂O₃@C₅₀ and Fe₃O₄@C₅₀ are more chemically stable than the Fe₂O₃@C₆₀ and Fe₃O₄@C₆₀ while FeO@C₆₀ is more chemically stable than the FeO@C₅₀. The spin densities of the Fe_mO_n fragments degenerate to zero. Carbon encapsulation leads to the internal charges of the Fe_mO_n fragments transfer from 4 s to 4p orbital.

     

Bulk properties and hydration numbers of components of water–salt,water–urea,and water–urea–salt systems

With an increase in the concentration of additives, the hydration numbers of compounds decrease. Thus, in a saturated 54.6% solution, urea loses approximately 3/4 of the initial amount of water, forming an aquacomplex of the composition (NH₂)₂CO?H₂O. In a supersaturated 44% solution, the sodium chloride aquacomplex is dehydrated by 2/3, and in a supersaturated 67% solution, sodium sulfate is dehydrated by 5/6. The density of these solutions is 1.354÷1.360 g/cm³ (44% NaCl) and 1.800÷1.849 g/cm³ (67% Na₂SO₄). In a saturated urea solution, NaNO₃, NaCl, and Na₂SO₄ complexes lose 53÷55% of hydration water. It is shown that the interactions in the binary water–urea system somewhat increase the hydration number of the salts (structural hydration). The hydration water density, a structurally important characteristic, increases in the series of solutions of urea, NaNO₃, NaCl, and Na₂SO₄. In the same series of additives, the excess volume of binary water–urea and water–salt systems becomes more negative.     

Adducts and dimers of SFn+ (n = 1–5) with benzene,acetonitrile, and pyridine. Gas-phase generation and ab initio structures and thermochemistry

Pentaquadrupole (QqQqQ) mass spectrometry is used to explore the abilities of gaseous SF_n⁺ (n = 1–5) ions to form adducts and dimers with three π-electron rich molecules—benzene, acetonitrile, and pyridine, whereas ab initio calculations estimate most feasible structures, bond dissociation energies (BDEs), and reaction enthalpies of the observed products. With benzene, SF⁺ reacts by net H-by-SF^+· replacement. As suggested by the calculations, this novel benzene reaction forms ionized benzenesulfenyl fluoride, C₆H₅–SF^+·, via a Wheland-type intermediate that spontaneously loses a H atom. SF₃⁺ forms a rare, loosely bonded π complex with benzene, [Bz ⋯ SF₃]⁺, which is stable toward both H and HF loss. No dimer, Bz₂SF₃⁺, is formed. According to calculations, an unsymmetrically bonded, π-coordinated Bz₂SF₃⁺ dimer exists, i.e. (Bz–SF₃ ⋯ Bz)⁺, but its formation from [Bz ⋯ SF₃]⁺ is endothermic; hence, thermodynamically unfavorable. With acetonitrile, SF₂^+·, SF₃⁺, and SF₅⁺ form both adducts and dimers. CH₃–C^·N–SF₂⁺ (a new distonic ion) and CH₃CN–SF₅⁺ are covalently bonded, but CH₃CN ⋯ SF₃⁺ is loosely bonded. The binding natures of the acetonitrile adducts are reflected in the dimers; [CH₃CN–SF₂ ⋯ NCCH₃]^+· and [CH₃CN–SF₅ ⋯ NCCH₃]⁺ are unsymmetrically bonded, whereas [CH₃CN ⋯ SF₃ ⋯ NCCH₃]⁺ is symmetrically and loosely bonded. Such dimers as [CH₃CN ⋯ SF₃ ⋯ NCCH₃]⁺ are ideal for measurements of ion affinity via the Cooks’ kinetic method. With pyridine, only SF₃⁺ forms adduct and dimer. Py–SF₃⁺ is covalently bonded through nitrogen; [Py ⋯ SF₃ ⋯ Py]⁺ is loosely but unsymmetrically bonded. The unsymmetric 2.28 and 2.44 Å long N–S bonds in [Py ⋯ SF₃ ⋯ Py]⁺, which are expected to rapidly interconvert, result likely from steric hindrance that forces orthogonal alignment of the two pyridine rings. Most observed adducts and dimers display relatively high BDEs, i.e. they are formed in thermodynamically favorable reactions. The extents of dissociation of the adducts and dimers observed in MS³ experiments reflect the structures and BDEs predicted by the calculations.     

Density-Functional Theory Study on Neutral and Charged M n C2 (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu; n = 1–5) Clusters

The ground-state geometrical and electronic properties of neutral and charged M _n C₂ (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu; n = 1–5) clusters are systematically investigated by density-functional calculations. The growth evolution trends of neutral and charged Fe _n C₂, Co _n C₂, Ni _n C₂ and Cu _n C₂ (n = 1–5) clusters are all from lower to higher dimensionality, while it is special for Cu _n C ₂ ^± (n = 1–5) clusters which favor planer growth model. The space directional distributions of Co and Ni indicate stronger magnetic anisotropy than that in Cu atoms. Compare with experimental data (photoelectron spectroscopy), our results are in good agreement. The interaction strengths between metal and carbon atoms in TM–C (TM = Fe, Co, Ni) clusters are comparable and are obviously larger than that in Cu–C clusters, and this interaction strengths also decrease through the sequence: cation > neutral > anion, which may be crucial in exploring the differences in the growth mechanisms of metal–carbon nano-materials.     

Structural,electrical and optical properties of Lin@C20 (n = 1–6) nanoclusters

The current research was undertaken to investigate the structural, electrical, and optical properties of C₂₀ fullerene decorated with different numbers of lithium (Li) atoms on its surface. The stability of the structure increased as the number of lithium atoms increased. Increasing the number of lithium atoms around C₂₀ from one to four slightly increased the E_g (energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital). Increasing the number to five or six narrowed the E_g. The electrical properties such as ionization potential (I), electron affinity (A), chemical potential (μ), global hardness (η), global softness (γ), global electrophilicity (ω), and electronegativity (χ) were also calculated. The polarizability (α) and first hyperpolarizability (β₀), which correspond to the linear optical and nonlinear optical properties, respectively, were also calculated. An intense increase in β₀ was recorded as the effect of five Li atoms adsorbed onto the C₂₀ surface. The results of this study can be used to design and fabricate nanomaterials with adjustable electro-optical properties.