Further applications of thermoanalytical methods to the detection of potassium and sodium salts of penicillins and cephalosporins

The potassium and sodium salts of some penicillins and cephalosporins were analyzed by thermoanalytical techniques (TG, DTG and DSC); in particular, those antibiotics whose thermal decomposition in oxygen occurs too quickly. The analyses were carried out in atmospheres of static air and oxygen, with and without the addition of ammonium sulphate or ammonium persulphate. It is possible to evaluate the purity of these antibiotics from the resultant sodium or potassium sulphate residue. Better results in terms of accuracy and precision were obtained by the addition of ammonium sulphate or persulphate to the analyzed compounds.     

Eptastigmine,nicotinamide and nicotinic acid determination using an inhibition enzyme sensor; application to pharmaceutical analysis

An enzyme inhibition biosensor, developed in our laboratory and previously used for the analysis of compounds with anticholinesterase activity (e.g. physostigmine, neostigmine, pyridostigmine nicotine and organophosphorus compounds) has now been tested for the analysis of another recently synthesized cholinesterase inhibitor, i.e. eptastigmine. In addition nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, although displaying weaker inhibition properties, were also tested in pharmaceutical products using the same inhibition enzyme sensor. The biosensor consisted of a hydrogen peroxide amperometric electrode coupled to a functionalised nylon membrane chemically bonding both the enzymes butyrylcholinesterase and choline oxidase; a butyrylcholine standard solution in glycine buffer acted as substrate. The response of the system to all the inhibitors considered was characterised completely and the analysis of several pharmaceutical formulations containing nicotinamide or nicotinic acid was also performed.     

Mixed hybrid bilayer lipid membrane incorporating valinomycin: improvements in preparation and functioning

The paper deals with the reconstruction of lipid bilayer membranes on a Au-covered polycarbonate membrane. Such a kind of like-biomembranes (namely mixed hybrid bilayer lipid membrane (MHBLM)) are characterised by appreciable long-term stability. Here we describe changes that have been made in the geometry of the experimental device in order to avoid artefacts and render membrane reproduction easier. Incorporation of valinomycin was performed to check the membrane and its stability: conductance and membrane potential following the changes of ion concentration were recorded. This new approach permits increase of successful trials and renders possible, when it breaks, easily formation of a new MHBLM on the same Au-covered polycarbonate membrane support. Finally, the stability shown by the MHBLM renders this system a promising tool for use under flowing conditions.     

Lubricated squeezing flow of a Newtonian liquid between elastic and rigid plates

Theoretical force-time relationships were derived for squeezing flow of a Newtonian liquid between lubricated rigid and elastic plates. It is shown how the elastic number, representing the ratio between the elastic plate's rigidity and the specimen's viscosity, affects the force-time curve and under what circumstances the fluid specimen's thickness becomes a significant factor. Potential implications of the analysis in oral sensory evaluations of viscous foods are also considered.     

Consortium GARR and the European National Research and Education Networks Optical Infrastructure Developments

Abstract

GARR is engineering its next generation of the Italian Research and Education Network (GARR-X), which will exploit a countrywide optical infrastructure based on DWDM equipment and advanced multi-domain services. The trend is common in all National Research and Education Networks [1 TERENA NREN Compendium. http://www.terena.org/activities/compendium ISSN 1569-4496 [Google Scholar]] in Europe and worldwide. NRENs are relying more and more on direct use of optical equipment to fulfill the researchers' requirements. These hybrid networks are built to provide services on a multi-domain environment both at the circuit and at the IP layer for researchers in, for example, radio astronomy (eVLBI [2 European Very Long Baseline Interferometry http://www.evlbi.org [Google Scholar]]), GRID computing (EGEE [3 Enabling Grids for E-sciencE http://public.eu-egee.org [Google Scholar]], LHC [4 The Large Hadron Collider http://lhc.web.cern.ch/lhc [Google Scholar]]), high-performance computing (DEISA [5 The Distributed European Infrastructure for Supercomputing Applications http://www.deisa.org [Google Scholar]]). This article outlines the status and issues of ongoing research activities in GARR [6 http://www.garr.it/garr-b-home-engl.shtmlConsortium GARR, the Italian NREN [Google Scholar]] and NRENs to provide, manage, and evolve dedicated optical-based networks for providing multi-domain end-to-end services. The research is performed mainly in the framework of the European Commission co-funded project GÉANT2 [7 The pan-European R&E network http://www.geant2.net [Google Scholar]].     

Towards Nanoscale Biomedical Devices in Medicine: Biofunctional and Spectroscopic Characterization of Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles

Medical interest in nanotechnology originates from a belief that nanoscale therapeutic devices can be constructed and directed towards its target inside the human body. Such nanodevices can be engineered by coupling superparamagnetic nanoparticle to biomedically active proteins. We hereby report the immobilization of a PhEst, a S-formylglutathione hydrolase from the psychrophilic P. haloplanktis TAC125 onto the gold coated surface of modified superparamagnetic core-shell nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@Au). The synthesis of the nanoparticles is also reported. S-formylglutathione hydrolases constitute a family of ubiquitous enzymes which play a key role in formaldehyde detoxification both in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. PhEst was originally annotated as a putative feruloyl esterase, an enzyme that releases ferulic acid (an antioxidant reactive towards free radicals such as reactive oxygen species) from polysaccharides esters. Dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, magnetic separation technique and enzyme catalytic assay confirmed the chemical composition of the gold covered superparamagnetic nanoparticles, the binding and activity of the enzyme onto the nanoparticles. Activity data in U/ml confirmed that the immobilized enzyme is approximately 2 times more active than the free enzyme in solution. Such particles can be directed with external magnetic fields for bio-separation and focused towards a medical target for therapeutical as well as bio-sensor applications.     

In vivo quantitative 1H MRS of cerebellum and evaluation of quantitation reproducibility by simulation of different levels of noise and spectral resolution

A quantitative analysis of cerebellar metabolites in normal subjects has been performed by proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) with relaxation time correction. Quantitation was carried out in seven healthy human subjects with the well-established LCModel program. The prior knowledge utilized for quantitation was obtained from solutions containing the major brain metabolites and MRS investigated under the same experimental conditions. The tissue water signal was used as an internal standard for the in vivo studies. Both in vitro (for the prior knowledge template) and in vivo data were acquired separately at 1.5 T by PRESS sequence (TR, 1500 ms; TE, 30 ms). The absolute concentration of main cerebellar metabolites was corrected for relaxation time effects. Different noise and line broadening conditions were considered and simulated in the spectral processing in order to evaluate the effect of spectral quality on the concentration estimates.     

Synthesis,binding and fluorescence studies of a new neutral H-bonding receptor for anions based on 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenylurea

The synthesis and anion binding studies of the new neutral receptor 1,1′-(2,2′-(4,10-dimethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,7-diyl)bis(2-oxoethane-2,1-diyl))bis(3-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)urea) (L1) are reported. L1 is a macrocyclic ligand containing the 3,5-trifluoromethylphenylureido-binding fragment attached as a side arm on the tetraazacyclododecane. L1 is soluble in numerous organic solvents; the binding properties of L1 towards several simple anions (G) were investigated by NMR, UV–vis and fluorescence techniques in DMSO and CH₃CN solutions. L1 is able to bind F^? , Cl^?  and AcO^?  in both solvents; in addition, it binds Br^?  in CH₃CN. Fluoride shows the highest constant values in the halide series (F^?  > Cl^?  > Br^? ) and AcO^?  is the most strongly bound among all the anions investigated. L1 is able to signal the presence of the anions in solution by fluorescence change; in the case of acetate, this occurs in the visible range.     

A synthesis of some novel 4,5-dihydroazepines by the reaction of oxazolium 5-oxides with 1,2-dicyanocyclobutene

Heating primary or secondary α-amino acids in acetic anhydride in the presence of 1,2-dicyanocyclobutene leads to 4,5-dihydroazepines via the intermediacy of mesoionic oxazolium 5-oxides.     

Metal complexes of phytohormones. Part II. Copper(II) complexes of 6-benzylaminopurine

Summary Copper(II) complexes with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAPH) of the types Cu(BAPH)₂(ClO₄)₂·2H₂O (1) Cu(BAP)₂·4H₂O (2), and Cu(BAPH₂)Cl₃·MeOH (3), have been synthesized and characterized by conductivity, magnetic measurements, i.r., electronic and e.s.r. spectroscopy.