A Stark Contrast to Modern Earth: Phosphate Mineral Transformation and Nucleoside Phosphorylation in an Iron‐ and Cyanide‐Rich Early Earth Scenario

Organophosphates were likely an important class of prebiotic molecules. However, their presence on the early Earth is strongly debated because the low availability of phosphate, which is generally assumed to have been sequestered in insoluble calcium and iron minerals, is widely viewed as a major barrier to organophosphate generation. Herein, we demonstrate that cyanide (an essential prebiotic precursor) and urea‐based solvents could promote nucleoside phosphorylation by transforming insoluble phosphate minerals in a “warm little pond” scenario into more soluble and reactive species. Our results suggest that cyanide and its derivatives (metal cyanide complexes, urea, ammonium formate, and formamide) were key reagents for the participation of phosphorus in chemical evolution. These results allow us to propose a holistic scenario in which an evaporitic environment could concentrate abiotically formed organics and transform the underlying minerals, allowing significant organic phosphorylation under plausible prebiotic conditions.     

Separation of carbohydrates on electrophoresis microchips with controlled electrolysis

This study reports the separation of fructose, galactose, glucose, lactose and sucrose on glass microchip electrophoresis (ME) devices using a microfluidic platform adapted with external reservoirs for controlling the electrolysis phenomenon. The connections between external reservoirs and microfluidic platform were performed by saline bridges created using silicone tubing filled with BGE. The separation conditions were optimized and the best results were achieved using a BGE containing 75 mmol/L NaOH and 15 mmol/L trisodium phosphate. Electrophoretic separations were monitored using a capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection system. The controlled electrolysis has successfully allowed the application of a higher voltage on the separation channel promoting the baseline separation of five carbohydrates within 180 s with great run‐to‐run repeatability (RSD < 1%). The achieved efficiencies ranged from 45 000 ± 6000 to 70 000 ± 3000 plates/m demonstrating a performance better than ME devices without controlled electrolysis. The proposed system offered good linearity from 1 to 10 mmol/L and LODs between 150 and 740 μmol/L. The use of external tubes for controlling the electrolysis phenomenon on ME devices has solved common problems associated to run‐to‐run repeatability and analytical reliability required for routine and quantitative analysis.     

Magnetic N-doped carbon nanotubes: A versatile and efficient material for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental water samples

This paper describes a new, efficient and versatile method for the sampling and preconcentration of PAH in environmental water matrices using special hybrid magnetic carbon nanotubes. These N-doped amphiphilic CNT can be easily dispersed in any aqueous matrix due to the N containing hydrophilic part and at the same time show high efficiency for the adsorption of different PAH contaminants due to the very hydrophobic surface. After adsorption, the CNT can be easily removed from the medium by a simple magnetic separation. GC/MS analyses showed that the CNT method is more efficient than the use of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with much lower solvent consumption, technical simplicity and time, showing good linearity (range 0.18–80.00 μg L⁻¹) and determination coefficient (R² > 0.9810). The limit of detection ranged from 0.05 to 0.42 μg L⁻¹ with limit of quantification from 0.18 to 1.40 μg L⁻¹. Recovery (n = 9) ranged from 80.50 ± 10 to 105.40 ± 12%. Intraday precision (RSD, n = 9) ranged from 1.91 to 9.01%, whereas inter day precision (RSD, n = 9) ranged from 7.02 to 17.94%. The method was applied to the analyses of PAH in four lake water samples collected in Belo Horizonte City, Brazil.     

Biseugenol Exhibited Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Asthmatic Effects in an Asthma Mouse Model of Mixed-Granulocytic Asthma

In the present work, the anti-inflammatory and antiasthmatic potential of biseugenol, isolated as the main component from n-hexane extract from leaves of Nectandra leucantha and chemically prepared using oxidative coupling from eugenol, was evaluated in an experimental model of mixed-granulocytic asthma. Initially, in silico studies of biseugenol showed good predictions for drug-likeness, with adherence to Lipinski’s rules of five (RO5), good Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion (ADME) properties and no alerts for Pan-Assay Interference Compounds (PAINS), indicating adequate adherence to perform in vivo assays. Biseugenol (20 mg·kg⁻¹) was thus administered intraperitoneally (four days of treatment) and resulted in a significant reduction in both eosinophils and neutrophils of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in ovalbumin-sensitized mice with no statistical difference from dexamethasone (5 mg·kg⁻¹). As for lung function parameters, biseugenol (20 mg·kg⁻¹) significantly reduced airway and tissue damping in comparison to ovalbumin group, with similar efficacy to positive control dexamethasone. Airway hyperresponsiveness to intravenous methacholine was reduced with biseugenol but was inferior to dexamethasone in higher doses. In conclusion, biseugenol displayed antiasthmatic effects, as observed through the reduction of inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness, with similar effects to dexamethasone, on mixed-granulocytic ovalbumin-sensitized mice.     

A new method to calculate the thermodynamical properties of liquids from accurate speed-of-sound measurements

In this work, a new method for the determination of the thermodynamical properties of fluids, based on experimental speed-of-sound measurements, is described. This method consists in the solution of recursive equations (REM, Recursive Equations Method) for the determination of the density ρ(p,T) and specific heat capacity at constant pressure c_p(p,T), using the initial values of density ρ(p₀,T) and isobaric specific heat capacity c_p(p₀,T) known at a reference pressure p₀, as a function of the temperature, if the speed-of-sound function, u(p,T), is known, at least over a certain temperature and pressure range. A complete uncertainty analysis has also been developed. As an example of the good performances of this analysis method, firstly density and isobaric specific heat capacity have been calculated for water and the results have been compared with those predicted by the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam 95 Formulation (IAPWS-95), as delivered by Wagner and Pruss. One more application has been made starting from experimental speed-of-sound values in pure acetone. These results have been compared with those calculated by the most advanced numerical integration methods and with the prevision of the dedicated NIST equation of state (EoS) by Lemmon and Span.     

Experimental determination of space charge density associated with flow electrification phenomenon: Application to power transformers

At the solid/liquid interface, a charge zone called the Electrical Double Layer (EDL) appears. It is constituted of two zones of opposite sign, one in the solid and another one in the liquid. When a liquid flows through a pipe, an axial streaming current is generated. This current is due to the convection of the charges coming from the electrical layer in the liquid. The experimental methods for the determination of space charge density have been clearly identified in the case of fully-developed EDL. On the contrary, there is a need for further exploration in the case of a non-fully developed EDL. The purpose of this paper is to calculate the fully developed space charge density at the wall by streaming electrification experiments which are conducted in the case of non-fully developed EDL. Moreover, it introduces a simplified procedure for the experimental determination of space charge density as a function of liquid flow velocity. This procedure can be conducted for the investigation of flow electrification phenomena in transformers with oil/metal configuration.     

Supported iron based redox systems for hydrogen production and storage from ethanol

Hydrogen production using ethanol and Fe₂O₃/support in a redox cycle was investigated. The composites were prepared by impregnation of Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ with Fe(NO₃)₃, with different proportions of iron, i.e. 10, 30 and 50 wt.%, calcinated at 450°C and characterized by Mössbauer spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, BET and TG. The redox cycle to produce and/or store hydrogen is a two step process (1) initially the ethanol is used to reduce the iron oxide to Fe°; (2) and when H₂ is needed, Fe° reacts with H₂O to produce CO-free hydrogen, and the iron oxide is reduced again to Fe° making this system cyclic. After the reactions it was interesting to observe that ethanol can directly reduce the iron oxide to produce metallic iron, with carbon deposition and iron–carbon as side product. Preliminary results indicate that it is possible to perform multiple redox cycles with the supported iron oxide without deactivation.     

Solvent shifts induced by dimethylsulphoxide in α-proton magnetic resonances of carbonyl compounds

The chemical shifts of α- and β-proton resonances of a number of carbonyl compounds in carbon tetrachloride and dimethylsulphoxide have been determined. The magnitude of the effect of the solvent change on the α-proton resonances seems to vary directly with its lability.     

FIA-potentiometry in the sub-Nernstian response region for rapid and direct chloride assays in milk and in coconut water

A simple and reliable FIA-potentiometric system for rapid assays of chloride in certain food samples is described and evaluated. The system is constituted by an aquarium air pump to propel the carrier solution, a manually operated injector, a homemade dialysis flow cell, a solid-state chloride detector (Ag/AgCl), a reference electrode and a multimeter connected to a microcomputer for data acquisition. The dialysis unit enables direct analysis of liquid food samples without any other previous treatment. The principal novelties are the precision (R.S.D. of 1.2% for whole milk) and rapidity (90 determinations/h) of FIA measurements near and below the lower end of the linear (Nernstian) response region of the chloride ion-selective electrode (ISE), with an estimated detection limit (3 s) of 0.4 mg L⁻¹ Cl⁻ in the sample injected in donor stream. Data of peak potential versus sample chloride concentration (donor stream) was accurately fitted with a quadratic polynomial over the range between 4 and 1000 mg L⁻¹ (r² = 0.9999) and used as a calibration curve. The method was applied to the determination of chloride in milk and in coconut water samples. The validation of the results was done by comparison with a NIST reference material (milk) or by capillary electrophoresis (coconut water). For all analysis, no significant difference at a 95% confidence level was observed.     

Fast production of microfluidic devices by CO2 laser engraving of wax‐coated glass slides

Glass is one of the most convenient materials for the development of microfluidic devices. However, most fabrication protocols require long processing times and expensive facilities. As a convenient alternative, polymeric materials have been extensively used due their lower cost and versatility. Although CO₂ laser ablation has been used for fast prototyping on polymeric materials, it cannot be applied to glass devices because the local heating causes thermal stress and results in extensive cracking. A few papers have shown the ablation of channels or thin holes (used as reservoirs) on glass but the process is still far away from yielding functional glass microfluidic devices. To address these shortcomings, this communication describes a simple method to engrave glass‐based capillary electrophoresis devices using standard (1 mm‐thick) microscope glass slides. The process uses a sacrificial layer of wax as heat sink and enables the development of both channels (with semicircular shape) and pass‐through reservoirs. Although microscope images showed some small cracks around the channels (that became irrelevant after sealing the engraved glass layer to PDMS) the proposed strategy is a leap forward in the application of the technology to glass. In order to demonstrate the capabilities of the approach, the separation of dopamine, catechol and uric acid was accomplished in less than 100 s.