Bead injection for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy: automated on-line monitoring of substrate generation and application in quantitative analysis

The technique of bead injection has been adapted for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to substantially improve precision, long term stability and sensitivity of SERS detection in analytical chemistry. For this purpose a fully automated flow system comprising a dedicated flow-cell has been developed and tested. With the developed flow-cell, which contains two inlet and two outlet channels, it is possible to retain, perfuse and discharge minute amounts of polymer beads while monitoring all steps by Raman spectroscopy. First, beads carrying cation exchanger moieties were retained in the flow-cell and subsequently perfused with a silver nitrate and a hydroxylamine solution using one inlet of the flow cell. By this sequence homogeneous SERS active silver layers were formed on the beads. The uniformity of the achieved silver layer was studied by secondary electron microscopy. For measurement, the analyte was then introduced from the second inlet channel such that the interaction between the activated SERS beads and analyte occurred in close proximity and within the focus of the laser excitation beam. Due to the complete computer control of all experimental steps, including bead entrapment, SERS layer generation, sample introduction and final bead removal, highly reproducible conditions for SERS were achieved. The method was developed using 9-aminoacridine as a test molecule. Quantitative studies were carried out for 9-aminoacridine and acridine showing linear calibrations from 1-100 nmol l(-1) and 50-1,000 nmol l(-1), respectively, using a sample volume of 200 microl each. Typical relative standard deviations were 4.7% for 9-aminoacrine and 5.8% for acridine.     

Determination of moxifloxacin in tablets and human urine by square-wave adsorptive voltammetry

This work presents an electroanalytical methodology developed for square-wave voltammetry based in the electrochemical reduction in hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE), which is simple, fast, reliable and sensitive for determination of moxifloxacin (MOXI) in tablets and spiked urine human samples. The support electrolyte that provided a more defined and intense peak current for MOXI determination was the phosphate buffer 0.04 mol l^{− 1} pH 8.0. In the best-optimized conditions the drug presented an only peak of reduction at − 1.38 V vs. Ag/AgCl, using an E_acc. of − 0.30 V. An LOD of 0.44 and 3.20 ng ml^{− 1} and an LOQ of 1.46 and 10.60 ng ml^{− 1} were found for the pure standard of moxifloxacin and in the presence of matrix, respectively. A good recovery was obtained for assay spiked urine samples and a good quantification of MOXI was achieved in a commercial formulation. The methodology proposed was more sensitive than the spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric method with precision and accuracy equivalent.     

Synthesis of N,N'-Diacyl-1,2-di-(4-pyridyl)ethylenedianiines

Reaction of N-(4-pyridylmethyl)benzamide N-oxides with acetic anhydride yielded dimerization compounds. This dimerization occurs at the atom attached to the pyridine ring. These compounds so obtained were evaluated for analgesic and antiinflammatory activity.     

Optimal Double Stopping Problems for Maxima and Minima of Geometric Brownian Motions

Methodology and Computing in Applied Probability - We present closed-form solutions to some double optimal stopping problems with payoffs representing linear functions of the running maxima and...     

Right distributive quasigroups on algebraic varieties

In this paper we develop a structure theory of algebraic right distributive quasigroups which correspond to closed and connected conjugacy classes generating algebraic Fischer groups (in the sense of [6]) such that the mappingx x ^–1 ax, fora , is an automorphism of (as variety). We also give examples of algebraic Fischer groups where this does not happen. It becomes clear that the class of algebraic right distributive quasigroups has nice properties concerning subquasigroups, normal subquasigroups and direct product.We give a complete classification of one- and two-dimensional as well as of minimal algebraic right distributive quasigroups.     

Effect of acetate on ferrihydrite crystallization

Mössbauer spectroscopy was used to follow the aging of ferrihydrite with different amounts of acetate, to achieve more crystalline products. Mössbauer spectra of fresh samples did not show any magnetic components. After two years aging, the solids presented crystalline fractions. Hematite formation was inhibited as acetate content increased in solids. For an acetate/iron molar ratio equal to 0.63 goethite was formed instead of hematite. X-ray diffraction confirmed these results. This work shows that synthetic samples can be used for elucidating the anti-hematitic effect of organic matter already detected in soils.     

A class of completek-caps inPG(3,q) forq an odd prime

The main problem on caps, posed originally by Segre in the fifties, is to determine the values of k for which there exists a complete k-cap. Very few results on this problem are known. The cardinality of the largest cap(s) and the smallest complete cap(s) are crucial. In this paper it is shown that there exist complete k-caps in PG(3, q), q an odd prime 5 or q = 9, such that k = (q² + q + 6)/3 or k = (q² + 2q + 6)/3. These complete caps are smaller than those currently known for q odd.In memoriam Giuseppe Tallini     

Binding evaluation of isoform 1 fromCratylia mollis lectin to human mammary tissues

The phenomenon of altered carbohydrates in transformed cell surfaces has been studied through histochemical techniques using lectins. Specific binding patterns to normal and transformed mammary tissues were evaluated by Isoform 1 fromCratylia mollis lectin (Cra Iso 1). Protocols using a direct method, incubation of Cra Iso I conjugated to peroxidase (Cra Iso 1-Per) with mammary tissues, followed by diaminobenzidine and hydrogen peroxidase interaction, were performed. Neoplastic tissues, marked by Cra Iso 1, showed a higher intensity of staining than normal ones, in comparison withCanavalia ensiformis lectin, Concanavalin A (Con A), conjugated to peroxidase (Con A-Per). The assay with Cra Iso 1 also indicated a possible utilization of this lectin to characterize normal and transformed mammary cells.     

β-lithiations of carboxamides. Synthesis of β-substituted-α,β-unsaturated amides

N-Methyl-2-methyl-3-(benzotriazol-l-yl)propanamide, on treatment with butyllithium forms a dianion which on treatment with alkyl and benzyl halides, aldehydes and ketones affords monosubstituted products; with ethyl p-toluate, a lactam is formed. The alkylated derivatives eliminate benzotriazole in the presence of base to afford trisubstituted α,β-unsaturated amides.