Evaluation of propolis polyphenols absorption in humans by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Propolis has various biological activities such as antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, immunostimulating and antiinflammatory, which are generally ascribed to the polyphenolic fraction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the absorption of the main polyphenols [caffeic acid (CA), pinobanksin-5methyl ether (P-5ME), pinobanksin (Pb), chrysin (C), pinocembrin (P), galangin (G), pinobanksin-3-acetate, pinobanksin esters and caffeic acid phenylethyl ester (CAPE)] from a dewaxed and standardized extract of propolis (EPID). Fifteen healthy volunteers consumed 5 mL EPID in water, corresponding to 125 mg of flavonoids. Blood samples were collected before, each hour for 8 h and 24 h after EPID intake. After deconjugation by beta-glucuronidase/sulfatase the plasma samples were analyzed by a selective liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method using morin as internal standard (I.S.). A kinetic profile characterized by two t(max), respectively at 1 h and about 5 h post-ingestion, was observed in all the subjects. The two peaks may be due to enterohepatic cycling. Among the various polyphenols ingested, only P-5ME, Pb, C, P and G were detected in plasma and C(max)t(1h) were 65.7 +/- 13.3, 46.5 +/- 12.7, 79.5 +/- 18.6, 168.1 +/- 16.3 and 113.7 +/- 16.8 ng/mL, respectively. These levels decreased significantly after 8 h and were no longer detectable 24 h after EPID intake. The recovery of the extraction for CA, Pb, C, P, G and I.S. from spiked plasma was 95.2 +/- 3.1, 93.1 +/- 3.6, 91 +/- 2.5, 96.4 +/- 4.2, 93.4 +/- 2.4 and 85.5 +/- 2.4%, respectively. The results of this study evidence that flavonoids from EPID are absorbed, metabolized and Pb-5ME and G seem to have apparent absorption, measured as (AUC/dose), higher than C, P and Pb.     

Nucleation of Pd dimers at defect sites of the MgO(100) surface

Point defects on oxide surfaces are presumed to be preferential nucleation sites for supported metal clusters. Under typical growth conditions, dimers constitute the first step in island nucleation. First-principles calculations on the formation of Pd dimers on regular and defect sites of the MgO(100) surface show that nucleation occurs with large dimer binding energies at divacancies and charged oxygen vacancies (F+ centers), while it is less favorable on steps and neutral F centers. The extensive database of defect trapping/attachment properties gives a firm basis to rationalize recent atomic-force microscopy findings and provides guidelines valid, in general, for ionic substrates.     

Paramagnetic defect centers at the MgO surface. An alternative model to oxygen vacancies

On the basis of embedded cluster calculations, we propose a new model for the structure of paramagnetic color centers at the MgO surface usually denoted as F(S)(H)(+) (an electron trapped near an adsorbed proton). These centers are produced by exposing the surface of polycrystalline MgO to H(2) followed by UV irradiation. We demonstrate that properties of H atom absorbed at surface sites such as step edges (MgO(step)) and reverse corner sites (MgO(RC)), formed at the intersection of two step edges, are compatible with a number of features observed for F(S)(H)(+). Our calculations suggest that (i) H(2) dissociates at the reverse corner site heterolytically and that there is no barrier for this exothermic reaction; (ii) the calculated vibrations of the resulting MgO(RC)(H(+))(H(-)) complex are fully consistent with the measured ones; (iii) desorption of a neutral H atom from the diamagnetic precursor requires UV light and leads to the formation of stable neutral paramagnetic centers at the surface, MgO(step)(H(+))(e(-))(trapped) and MgO(RC)(H(+))(e(-))(trapped). The computed isotropic hyperfine coupling constants and optical transitions of these centers are in broad agreement with the existing experimental data. We argue that these centers, which do not belong to the class of "oxygen vacancies", are two of the many possible forms of the F(S)(H)(+) defect center.     

Single electron traps at the surface of polycrystalline MgO: assignment of the main trapping sites

Paramagnetic centers at the surface of ionic oxides in the form of trapped electrons can be generated by exposure of the material to alkali metal or hydrogen atoms or of molecular hydrogen under UV irradiation. For many years, it has been assumed that the resulting paramagnetic centers consist of oxygen vacancies filled by one electron. High-resolution electron spin resonance spectra and ab initio quantum chemical calculations show that the paramagnetic centers consist of (H(+))(e(-)) electron pairs formed at morphological irregularities of the surface. At least three different kinds of (H(+))(e(-)) centers, [A], [B], and [C], have been identified with abundances of 80%, 10%, and 8%, respectively. In this work, we compare a wide set of measured and computed g-factors and hyperfine coupling constants of the unpaired electron with the surrounding (25)Mg, (17)O, and (1)H nuclei and we propose a general assignment of the centers. (H(+))(e(-)) pairs formed at Mg(4c) ions at steps and edges account for species [A], centers formed at Mg(4c) ions at reverse corners correspond to species [B], and species [C] originates from (H(+))(e(-)) pairs formed at Mg(3c) ions at corners and kinks.     

The asymptotic behaviour of weak solutions to the forward problem of electrical impedance tomography on unbounded three‐dimensional domains

The forward problem of electrical impedance tomography on unbounded domains can be studied by introducing appropriate function spaces for this setting. In this paper we derive the point‐wise asymptotic behaviour of weak solutions to this problem in the three‐dimensional case. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shallow donor states induced by in-diffused Cu in ZnO: a combined HREELS and hybrid DFT study

A combined experimental and first principles study of Cu defects in bulk ZnO is presented. Cu particles are epitaxially deposited on the polar O-ZnO(0001) surface at room temperature. Upon heating, a broadening of the quasielastic peak in high resolution electron energy loss spectra is observed, corresponding to an electronic doping effect of Cu atoms in bulk ZnO with an ionization energy of 88 meV. Cu impurities in ZnO, although commonly acting as acceptors, are presently observed to induce shallow donor states. We assign these to interstitial Cu species on the basis of a hybrid density functional study.     

On the existence of thermodynamics for the generalized random energy model

Derrida's generalized random energy model is considered. Almost sure andL ^p convergence of the free energy at any inverse temperature are proven for an arbitrary numbern of hierarchical levels. The explicit form of the free energy is given in the most general case and the limitn is discussed.     

Eilatin complexes of ruthenium and osmium. synthesis, electrochemical behavior, and near-IR luminescence

The synthesis and characterization of new Ru(II) and Os(II) complexes of the ligand eilatin (1) are described. The new complexes [Ru(bpy)(eil)(2)](2+) (2), [Ru(eil)(3)](2+) (3), and [Os(eil)(3)](2+) (4) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; eil = eilatin) were synthesized and characterized by NMR, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. In the series of complexes [Ru(bpy)(x)(eil)(y)()](2+) (x + y = 3), the effect of sequential substitution of eil for bpy on the electrochemical and photophysical properties was examined. The absorption spectra of the complexes exhibit several bpy- and eil-associated pi-pi and metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transitions in the visible region (400-600 nm), whose energy and relative intensity depend on the number of ligands bound to the metal center (x and y). On going from [Ru(bpy)(2)(eil)](2+) (5) to 2 to 3, the d(pi)(Ru) --> pi(eil) MLCT transition undergoes a red shift from 583 to 591 to 599 nm, respectively. Electrochemical measurements performed in dimethyl sulfoxide reveal several ligand-based reduction processes, where each eil ligand can accept up to two electrons at potentials that are significantly anodically shifted (by ca. 1 V) with respect to the bpy ligands. The complexes exhibit near-IR emission (900-1100 nm) of typical (3)MLCT character, both at room temperature and at 77 K. Along the series 5, 2, and 3, upon substitution of eil for bpy, the emission maxima undergo a blue shift and the quantum yields and lifetimes increase. The radiative and nonradiative processes that contribute to deactivation of the excited level are discussed in detail.     

Capping [H<Subscript>8−n</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>42</Subscript>C<Subscript>8</Subscript>(CO)<Subscript>44</Subscript>]<Superscript>n−</Superscript> (n = 6, 7, 8) Octa-carbide Carbonyl Nanoclusters with [Ni(CO)] and [CuCl] Fragments

The reactions of [Ni₁₆(C₂)₂(CO)₂₃]^4? and [Ni₃₈C₆(CO)₄₂]^6? with CuCl afforded mixtures of the previously reported [HNi₄₂C₈(CO)₄₄(CuCl)]^7? bimetallic octa-carbide cluster and the new [HNi₄₃C₈(CO)₄₅]^7? and [HNi₄₄C₈(CO)₄₆]^7? homo-metallic octa-carbides. The three species have very similar properties resulting always in co-crystals such as [NMe₄]₇[HNi_42+2xC₈(CO)_44+2x(CuCl)_1?x]·6.5MeCN (x = 0.14) (86% [HNi₄₂C₈(CO)₄₄(CuCl)]^7?, 14%[HNi₄₃C₈(CO)₄₅]^7?/[HNi₄₄C₈(CO)₄₆]^7?) and [NMe₄]₇[HNi_42+2xC₈(CO)_44+2x(CuCl)_1?x]·5.5MeCN (x = 0.30) (70% [HNi₄₂C₈(CO)₄₄(CuCl)]^7?, 30% [HNi₄₃C₈(CO)₄₅]^7?/[HNi₄₄C₈(CO)₄₆]^7?). The new homo-metallic octa-carbides can be obtained free from the Ni–Cu octa-carbido cluster by reacting [Ni₁₀(C₂)(CO)₁₆]^2? in thf with a stoichiometric amount of CuCl, and crystals of [NMe₄]₆[H₂Ni_43+xC₈(CO)_45+x]·6MeCN (x = 0.72), which contain [H₂Ni₄₄C₈(CO)₄₆]^6? (72%) and [H₂Ni₄₃C₈(CO)₄₅]^6? (28%), have been obtained. Despite the different charges and compositions, these anions display almost identical structures, which are also closely related to those previously reported for the bimetallic Ni–Cd octa-carbido clusters [Ni_42+xC₈(CO)_44+x(CdCl)]^7? and [HNi_42+xC₈(CO)_44+x(CdBr)]^6?. Indeed, all these clusters are based on the same Ni₄₂C₈ cage decorated by miscellaneous [CdX]⁺ (X = Cl, Br), [CuCl] and [Ni(CO)] fragments.