Ultrasound‐assisted dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction based on N‐doped mesoporous carbon and high‐performance liquid chromatographic determination of 1‐hydroxypyrene in urine samples

In this research, a new ultrasound‐assisted dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction method based on N‐doped mesoporous carbon sorbent followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography equipped with diode array detector for trace measurement of 1‐hydroxypyrene as a metabolite of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was optimized. Herein, the hard template method was used for the preparation of N‐doped mesoporous carbon sorbent. The prepared sorbent was characterized using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, transmission electron microscopy, and elemental analysis. Parameters affecting the extraction of the target metabolite were investigated using the Box–Behnken design method. Considering optimum parameters, the plotted calibration curve for 1‐hydroxypyrene was linearly correlated with the concentration span of 0.1–50 μg/L for urine media. The accuracy of the optimized procedure was examined through the relative recovery tests on the fortified urine specimens. The relative recoveries fell between 95 and 101%. The method detection limit of the proposed procedure was also calculated to be 0.03 μg/L.     

Molecularly imprinted nano particles combined with miniaturized homogenous liquid–liquid extraction for the selective extraction of loratadine in plasma and urine samples followed by high performance liquid chromatography-photo diode array detection

In this work a molecularly imprinted polymer was developed as a selective sorbent for extraction of loratadine (as a model) in complex matrices followed by miniaturized homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction (MHLLE) for the first time. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) which is based on loratadine as the template was synthesized successfully by precipitation polymerization and was used as a selective sorbent. This technique was applied for preconcentration, sample preparation, and determination of loratadine using high performance liquid chromatography-photo diode array detection (HPLC-PDA). Optimization of various parameters affecting molecular imprinted solid phase extraction (MISPE), such as pH of adsorption, composition and volume of eluent, adsorption and desorption times were investigated. Besides, in the subsequent stage (MHLLE) the type and volume of extraction solvent, sodium hydroxide amount, surfactant concentration, and extraction time were investigated and optimized. Under the optimal condition, maximum enrichment capacity and Langmuir constant were 91 mg g⁻¹ and 0.014 L mg⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, enrichment factor and extraction recovery of MIP-MHLLE method were 30 and 90%, respectively. The LOD of the proposed method was 0.2 μg L⁻¹ and a linear dynamic range of 1–1000 μg L⁻¹ was obtained with correlation coefficient of greater than 0.998. The present method was applied for extraction and determination of loratadine in plasma and urine samples in μg L⁻¹ levels and satisfactory results were achieved (RSD <8% based on three replicate measurements).     

An approach to improve the efficiency of polymerization and enhance biological activity of poly(lactide‐co‐ethylene oxide fumarate) hydrogels

The synthesis and purification of poly(lactide ethylene oxide fumarate) (PLEOF) involved using organic solvents and triethylamine, an acid scavenger that produces toxic complexes. These issues were addressed by using potassium carbonate as an alternative acid scavenger and CO₂ gas expanded solution as a media for reaction. Conducting the reaction at these conditions resulted in reducing the number of stages for purification, enhancing the yield of polymerization by 31%, and increasing the fumarate fraction by 110% compared with conventionally produced polymers. Therefore, the capacity of polymer for crosslinking was significantly promoted that resulted in elevating the compression modulus of hydrogel by 119%. Eliminating the toxic chemical residues and strengthening the mechanical property of PLEOF led to enhancement in primary osteoblast cell proliferation on this hydrogel. The new strategy for the synthesis of PLEOF had paramount impact on the characteristics of this polymer and enhanced its biocompatibility for tissue engineering applications, particularly bone repair. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1291–1299     

Noncommutative Geometry and Classical Orbits of Particles in a Central Force Potential

We investigate the effect of the noncommutative geometry on the classical orbits of particles in a central force potential The relation is implemented through the modified commutation relations [xi,xj] = iθij. Comparison with observations places severe constraints on the value of the noncommutativity parameter.     

Image-guided optical spectroscopy provides molecular-specific information in vivo: MRI-guided spectroscopy of breast cancer hemoglobin, water, and scatterer size

A multimodality instrument that integrated optical or near-infrared spectroscopy into a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) breast coil was used to perform a pilot study of image-guided spectroscopy on cancerous breast tissue. These results are believed to be the first multiwavelength spectroscopic images of breast cancer using MRI-guided constraints, and they show the cancer tumor to have high hemoglobin and water values, decreased oxygen saturation, and increased subcellular granularity. The use of frequency-domain diffuse tomography methods at many wavelengths provides the spectroscopy required for recovering maps of absorbers and scattering spectra, but the integration with MRI allows these data to be recovered on an image field that preserves high resolution and fuses the two data sets together. Integration of molecular spectroscopy into standard clinical MRI can be achieved with this approach to spectral tomography.     

A New Two-Stage Algorithm for Solving Optimization Problems

Optimization seeks to find inputs for an objective function that result in a maximum or minimum. Optimization methods are divided into exact and approximate (algorithms). Several optimization algorithms imitate natural phenomena, laws of physics, and behavior of living organisms. Optimization based on algorithms is the challenge that underlies machine learning, from logistic regression to training neural networks for artificial intelligence. In this paper, a new algorithm called two-stage optimization (TSO) is proposed. The TSO algorithm updates population members in two steps at each iteration. For this purpose, a group of good population members is selected and then two members of this group are randomly used to update the position of each of them. This update is based on the first selected good member at the first stage, and on the second selected good member at the second stage. We describe the stages of the TSO algorithm and model them mathematically. Performance of the TSO algorithm is evaluated for twenty-three standard objective functions. In order to compare the optimization results of the TSO algorithm, eight other competing algorithms are considered, including genetic, gravitational search, grey wolf, marine predators, particle swarm, teaching-learning-based, tunicate swarm, and whale approaches. The numerical results show that the new algorithm is superior and more competitive in solving optimization problems when compared with other algorithms.     

Modeling adsorption in binary associating solvents using the extended MPTA model

Application of the MPTA model has been extended to associative liquid adsorption. The MPTA model describes fluid–fluid interactions using an equation of state (EoS) term, and fluid–solid interactions using a potential equation. In order to extend the application to associative liquid adsorption, an association term has been considered for fluid–fluid interactions. Sixteen binary mixtures containing associating and non-associating components in equilibrium with various adsorbents have been studied; fluid–fluid interactions have been modeled using the Peng–Robinson, Soave–Redlich–Kwong, volume-translated SRK and CPA equations of state, while the effects of fluid–solid interactions have been taken into account using Dubinin–Radushkevich–Astakhov (DRA) and Steele potential functions. The model parameters have been obtained by fitting the model to experimental data on surface excess. For the studied systems, the accuracy of fitted isotherms has been found to be more dependent on the fluid–solid potential equation rather than the applied EoS. Calculations show that the SRK equation is a suitable choice for non-associating systems, while the CPA equation is found to be more appropriate for associating systems, as would be expected. The results also show that the Steele potential function is in better agreement with experimental data than the DRA potential function.     

Preparation and characterization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), functionalized with phosphonic acid (MWCNTs–C–PO3H2) and its application as a novel,efficient, heterogeneous,highly selective and reusable catalyst for acetylation of alcohols,phenols, aromatic amines,and thiols

A novel, efficient, heterogeneous, and reusable multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), functionalized with phosphonic acid (MWCNTs–C–PO₃H₂) has been synthesized. The synthesized CNTs were characterized using some electron microscopic techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), and also some thermal and spectroscopic methods such as thermogravimetry (TG). The nitrogen adsorption behavior of the MWCNTs–C–PO₃H₂ catalyst was evaluated using the TG instrumentation system at 25 °C. The catalyst was applied successfully for highly efficient and selective acetylation of alcohols, phenols, thiols and aromatic amines with acetic anhydride at room temperature under solvent-free conditions. The reusability of the catalyst was checked and the recovered catalyst was reused for five runs without significant loss in activity.     

Nickel and cobalt ferrites nanoparticles: synthesis,study of magnetic properties and their use as magnetic adsorbent for removing lead(II) ion

Nano-sized nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) and cobalt ferrite particles (CoFe₂O₄) were successfully synthesized using a hydrothermal method. Techniques of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer and transmission electron microscope have been used to characterize and study the as-synthesized NiFe₂O₄ and CoFe₂O₄ products. The results showed that the average size of the nickel and cobalt ferrite nanoparticles is smaller than 10 and 100 nm, respectively. The results of magnetic measurement showed that the synthesized NiFe₂O₄ and CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were superparamagnetic and soft ferromagnetic materials, respectively. Study of adsorption behavior showed that these nanoparticles can act as a good adsorbent for removing Pb²⁺.