Determination of the insecticide fenoxycarb in apple leaf samples by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the determination of fenoxycarb in apple leaf samples. Single step extraction procedures with phosphate-citrate buffered solution containing different amounts of methanol were tested showing that a solvent percentage of 20% (v/v) was the best condition, with recoveries between 85 and 100% in the working range of 25-500 μg kg⁻¹ and a negligible matrix effect. The low detection limit reached, 1 μg kg⁻¹ against 50 μg kg⁻¹ for the recommended liquid chromatographic method, makes the ELISA more suitable for determinations of the fenoxycarb residues in apple leaf samples. The reliability of the ELISA was evaluated by assaying the insecticide in spiked and contaminated samples by three different approaches: direct determination, standard addition method with a calibration graph, and the dilution test. The corresponding coefficients of variation were, respectively, 11, 22 and 27%. The direct determination on the (1+1) diluted apple leaf extract was used to measure the insecticide residues in samples collected in the north-eastern Italian regions of Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige.     

Analysis of basic compounds at high pH values by reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RPLC) is currently the method of choice for the analysis of basic compounds. However, with traditional silica materials, secondary interactions between the analyte and residual silanols produce peak tailing which can negatively affect resolution, sensitivity, and reproducibility. In order to reduce these secondary interactions, which comprise ion exchange, hydrogen bonding, and London forces interactions, chromatographic analyses can be carried out at low or high pH values where silanol groups and basic compounds are mostly uncharged. The chromatographic behaviour of a particular bidentate stationary phase, Zorbax Extend C18, was studied with a set of basic and neutral compounds. Thanks to a higher chemical stability than traditional silica based supports, analyses were carried out with a high pH mobile phase, which represents a good alternative to the acidic mobile phases generally used to reduce ion exchange interactions. The performance of this bidentate stationary phase was also compared with that of other supports and it was proved that it is advantageous to work with high pH mobile phases when analyzing basic compounds.     

Regioselective cyclization of chloroacylaminobenzenesulfonamide derivatives

Chloroacylaminobenzensulfonamides regioselectively thermally cyclize under solvent free conditions to 1,2,4-benzothiadiazines with five- and six-membered rings fused on face b.     

Microbial Application to Improve Olive Mill Wastewater Phenolic Extracts

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) contains valuable and interesting bioactive compounds, among which is hydroxytyrosol, which is characterized by a remarkable antioxidant activity. Due to the health claims related to olive polyphenols, the aim of this study was to obtain an extract from OMW with an increased level of hydroxytyrosol by means of microbial enzymatic activity. For this purpose, four commercial adsorbent resins were selected and tested. The beta-glucosidase and esterase activity of strains of Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were also investigated and compared to those of a commercial enzyme and an Aspergillus niger strain. The W. anomalus strain showed the best enzymatic performances. The SP207 resin showed the best efficiency in selective recovery of hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, oleuropein, and total phenols. The bioconversion test of the OMW extract was assessed by using both culture broths and pellets of the tested strains. The results demonstrated that the pellets of W. anomalus and L. plantarum were the most effective in hydroxytyrosol increasing in phenolic extract. The interesting results suggest the possibility to study new formulations of OMW phenolic extracts with multifunctional microorganisms.     

Valorization of Apple Peels through the Study of the Effects on the Amyloid Aggregation Process of κ-Casein

Waste valorization represents one of the main social challenges when promoting a circular economy and environmental sustainability. Here, we evaluated the effect of the polyphenols extracted from apple peels, normally disposed of as waste, on the amyloid aggregation process of κ-casein from bovine milk, a well-used amyloidogenic model system. The effect of the apple peel extract on protein aggregation was examined using a thioflavin T fluorescence assay, Congo red binding assay, circular dichroism, light scattering, and atomic force microscopy. We found that the phenolic extract from the peel of apples of the cultivar “Fuji”, cultivated in Sicily (Caltavuturo, Italy), inhibited κ-casein fibril formation in a dose-dependent way. In particular, we found that the extract significantly reduced the protein aggregation rate and inhibited the secondary structure reorganization that accompanies κ-casein amyloid formation. Protein-aggregated species resulting from the incubation of κ-casein in the presence of polyphenols under amyloid aggregation conditions were reduced in number and different in morphology.     

Firing-Induced Microstructural Properties of Quasi-Diamagnetic Carbonate-Based Porous Ceramics: a <Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR Relaxation Correlation Study

This study deals with the application of two-dimensional proton nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry (2D ¹H NMR-R) to the characterization of porous ceramics nearly free of magnetic compounds. Different microstructural properties were obtained by firing a diamagnetic mixture of kaolin, calcium, and magnesium carbonate over a wide range of maximum temperatures (600–1100 °C) and firing times at the maximum temperature (soaking times) (0–10 h). The 2D ¹H NMR-R method relies on the correlated measurement of ¹H longitudinal (T ₁) and transverse (T ₂) relaxation times of pore-filling water by which the properties of the interconnected pore space may be investigated. In the absence of significant magnetic susceptibility effect due to para- and ferro-magnetic compounds, the 2D ¹H NMR-R maps allow studying the conjoint effects on pore size distribution and inter-pore coupling due to the variations in both time and temperature of firing. The NMR experiments were performed with a low-field ¹H NMR sensor, which allows non-destructive and in situ analysis. For ceramic specimens fired at 600 and 700 °C, the fraction of smallest pores increases with firing time at the expenses of those with intermediate size. The pore shrinkage occurring at this stage, and likely associated with the transformation of kaolinite in metakaolinite, is affected in a similar way by soaking time and firing temperature, in line with the concept of equivalent firing temperature. At temperatures from 800 to 1100 °C, the structural modifications involving interconnectivity and average pore size are driven primarily by firing temperature and, secondarily, by soaking time. The 2D ¹H NMR-R results are confirmed by more traditional, but destructive, mineralogical, and structural analyses like X-ray powder diffraction, helium pycnometry, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption method.     

Charge transfer complexes of some N-methylated thiohydantoins with molecular iodine

Using a series of N-methylated thiohydantoins as substrates, the donor properties of the sulfur atom are measured by determining the stability constants (K) of their adducts with molecular iodine. The K's have been determined by recording the UV-visible spectra of several CH₂Cl₂ solutions with different amounts of the reagents. The experimental data fit the 1:1 adduct model for all the compounds. The K values, compared with those previously found for the unsubstituted hydantoins and with those obtained for 5-methyl-2-thiohydantoin, show that the hydrogen-bonding interaction between the NH hydrogen and the S-bonded iodine plays an important role in determining the stability of the adduct. The K values obtained for several pentaatomic rings, all containing the thioureido group  HN C() NH , are discussed on the basis of the influence of the substituents at C-4 and C-5 on the donor properties of the sulfur atom.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic characterization (IR, 1H, 13C and 119Sn NMR,electrospray mass spectrometry) and toxicity of new organotin(IV) complexes with N,N′,O‐ and N,N′,S‐scorpionate ligands

New organotin(IV) derivatives containing the anionic ligands bis(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)dithioacetate [LCS₂]⁻ and bis(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)acetate [LCO₂]⁻ have been synthesized from reaction between (CH₃)₂SnCl₂ and lithium salts of the ligands. Mononuclear complexes of the type {[LCX₂](CH₃)₂SnCl} (X = S or O) have been obtained and fully characterized by elemental analyses and FT‐IR in the solid state and by NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopy, conductivity measurements and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in solution. The acute toxicity of new organotin(IV) derivatives on rat was studied, comparing their effect with those of dimethyltin chloride (CH₃)₂SnCl₂. The comparison of LD₅₀ of organotin(IV) complexes and (CH₃)₂SnCl₂ administered intraperitoneally, as a single dose, evaluated in vivo on rats, showed that toxicity decreases as follows: (CH₃)₂SnCl₂ > LCO₂ > LCS₂. The effect of these organotin(IV) complexes on DNA was evaluated in vitro and in vivo on rats treated with different doses of these compounds (1/20 LD₅₀ and 1/100 LD₅₀). The lymphocyte DNA status was assessed by the comet assay, a rapid and sensitive single‐cell electrophoresis technique, used to detect primary DNA damage in individual cells. After 36 h from the start of treatment the two new organotin(IV) derivatives induced a significant rise in comet assay parameters, indicating an increasing presence of damaged DNA. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A multi-technique nondestructive approach for characterizing the state of conservation of ancient bookbindings

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The aim of this work is to evaluate the potentiality of a multi-technique nondestructive approach for characterizing the state of conservation of...