Microsized graphite sensors for potentiometric determination of cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride in pure powder, tablets, and plasma

Two cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride (CZ) microsized graphite selective sensors were investigated with dibutylsebacate as a plasticizer in a polymeric matrix of carboxylated polyvinyl chloride (PVC-COOH) in the case of sensor 1, based on the interaction between the drug and the dissociated COOH groups in the PVC-COOH. Sensor 2 was based on the interaction between the drug and ammonium reineckate, which acted as anionic electroactive material in the presence of polyvinyl chloride matrix. The two sensors were constructed by using 2-hydroxy propyl beta-cyclodextrin as an ionophore, which has a significant influence on increasing the membrane sensitivity and selectivity of both sensors. Fast and stable Nernstian responses of 1 x 10(-5) - 1 x 10(-2) and 1 x 10(-4) - 1 x 10(-2) M for the two sensors, respectively, with slopes of 58.6 and 55.5 mV/decade, respectively, over the pH range 2-4 were obtained. The proposed method displayed useful analytical characteristics for determination of CZ in its pure powder form with average recoveries 99.95 +/- 0.23 and 99.61 +/- 0.34% for sensors 1 and 2, respectively, and in plasma with good recoveries. The sensors were also used to determine the intact drug in the presence of its degradate and, thus, could be used as stability-indicating methods. The obtained results by the proposed methods were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by the U.S. Pharmacopeia method; no significant difference for either accuracy or precision was observed. Results obtained with the two electrodes revealed their performance characteristics, which were evaluated according to International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry recommendations.     

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of multielectron transfer reactions induced by stored electrons in TiO2 nanoparticles: a stopped flow study

The kinetics and the mechanism of various multielectron transfer reactions initiated by stored electrons in TiO(2) nanoparticles have been investigated employing the stopped flow technique. Moreover, the optical properties of the stored electrons in the TiO(2) nanoparticles have been studied in detail following the UV (A) photolysis of deaerated aqueous suspensions of TiO(2) nanoparticles in the presence of methanol. The reduction of common electron acceptors that are often present in photocatalytic systems such as O(2), H(2)O(2), and NO(3)(-) has been investigated. The experimental results clearly show that the stored electrons reduce O(2) and H(2)O(2) to water by multielectron transfer processes. Moreover, NO(3)(-) is reduced via the transfer of eight electrons evincing the formation of ammonia. On the other hand, the reduction of toxic metal ions, such as Cu(II), has been studied mixing their respective anoxic aqueous solutions with those containing the electrons stored in the TiO(2) particles. A two-electron transfer is found to occur, indicating the reduction of the copper metal ion into its non toxic metallic form. Other metal ions, such as Zn(II) and Mn(II), could not be reduced by TiO(2) electrons, which is readily explained on the bases of their respective redox potentials. The underlying reaction mechanisms are discussed in detail.     

Isotype 1D polymers of cobalt(II) or zinc(II) constructed with square-planar tetraaqua-metal(2+) units and the bis-zwitterionic form of the μ2-O,O′-trans-1,4-dihydrogen-cyclohexanediaminotetraacetate(2−) ligand

An uncompleted reaction between equimolar amounts of Co₂CO₃(OH)₂·2H₂O and trans-1,4-H₄cyclohexanediaminotetraacetic acid in water affords the ‘acid’ complex {[Co^II(trans-1,4-H₂CDTA)(H₂O)₄]·6H₂O}_n (1). Its IR spectrum does not show the expected ν(CO) band of carboxylic groups. Reactions in aqueous solution between Na(trans-1,4-H₃CDTA) and Zn(AcO)₂·2H₂O or Na₂(trans-1,4-H₂CDTA) and Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O yield {[Zn(trans-1,4-H₂CDTA)(H₂O)₄]·6H₂O}_n (2) and {[Zn₂(trans-1,4-CDTA)(H₂O)₂]·H₂O}_n (3) respectively. Crystal structures of compounds 1-3 and that of the trans-1,4-H₄CDTA·2H₂O acid are reported. For steric reasons, in the four reported structures the 1,4-CDTA ligand has the two iminodiacetate moieties as equatorial groups in the 1,4-cyclohexanedi-yl chair. Compounds 1 and 2 are isotype 1D polymers constructed by square planar M^II(H₂O)₄²⁺ knots (M^II = Co^II or Zn^II) linked to bis-zwitterionic trans-1,4-H₂CDTA²⁻ ligands that play a typical μ₂-O,O′-dicarboxylate bridging role. These 1D polymeric structures seem to be favoured by the H-bonded intra-stabilization of the bis-zwitterionic trans-1,4-H₂CDTA²⁻ ligand. In the neutral complex (3), the trans-1,4-CDTA acts as a bridging bis-chelating ligand as well as a syn-anti carboxylate building a polymer where the zinc(II) centres exhibit a rough bipyramidal trigonal coordination.     

A Novel Algebraic Structure of (α,β)-Complex Fuzzy Subgroups

A complex fuzzy set is a vigorous framework to characterize novel machine learning algorithms. This set is more suitable and flexible compared to fuzzy sets, intuitionistic fuzzy sets, and bipolar fuzzy sets. On the aspects of complex fuzzy sets, we initiate the abstraction of (α,β)-complex fuzzy sets and then define -complex fuzzy subgroups. Furthermore, we prove that every complex fuzzy subgroup is an (α,β)-complex fuzzy subgroup and define (α,β)-complex fuzzy normal subgroups of given group. We extend this ideology to define (α,β)-complex fuzzy cosets and analyze some of their algebraic characteristics. Furthermore, we prove that (α,β)-complex fuzzy normal subgroup is constant in the conjugate classes of group. We present an alternative conceptualization of (α,β)-complex fuzzy normal subgroup in the sense of the commutator of groups. We establish the (α,β)-complex fuzzy subgroup of the classical quotient group and show that the set of all (α,β)-complex fuzzy cosets of this specific complex fuzzy normal subgroup form a group. Additionally, we expound the index of -complex fuzzy subgroups and investigate the (α,β)-complex fuzzification of Lagrange’s theorem analog to Lagrange’ theorem of classical group theory.     

GC-MS/MS Quantification of EGFR Inhibitors, β-Sitosterol,Betulinic Acid, (+) Eriodictyol, (+) Epipinoresinol,and Secoisolariciresinol,in Crude Extract and Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Thonningia sanguinea

Medicinal plants are widely used in folk medicine to treat various diseases. Thonningia sanguinea Vahl is widespread in African traditional medicine, and exhibits antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer activities. T. sanguinea is a source of phytomedicinal agents that have previously been isolated and structurally elucidated. Herein, gas chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was used to quantify epipinoresinol, β-sitosterol, eriodictyol, betulinic acid, and secoisolariciresinol contents in the methanolic crude extract and its ethyl acetate fraction for the first time. The ethyl acetate fraction was rich in epipinoresinol, eriodictyol, and secoisolariciresinol at concentrations of 2.3, 3.9, and 2.4 mg/g of dry extract, respectively. The binding interactions of these compounds with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were computed using a molecular docking study. The results revealed that the highest binding affinities for the EGFR signaling pathway were attributed to eriodictyol and secoisolariciresinol, with good binding energies of −19.93 and −16.63 Kcal/mol, respectively. These compounds formed good interactions with the key amino acid Met 769 as the co-crystallized ligand. So, the ethyl acetate fraction of T. sanguinea is a promising adjuvant therapy in cancer treatments.     

Efficacy of Phytochemicals Derived from Roots of Rondeletia odorata as Antioxidant,Antiulcer, Diuretic,Skin Brightening and Hemolytic Agents—A Comprehensive Biochemical and In Silico Study

Roots of Rondeletia odorata are a rich source of phytochemicals with high antioxidant potential and thus may possess health benefits. This study used the LC-MS technique to identify phytoconstituents in R. odorata roots extract/fractions. Results revealed that n-butanol fraction and ethanolic extract contained total phenolic and flavonoid contents with values of 155.64 ± 0.66 mgGAE/g DE and 194.94 ± 0.98 mgQE/g DE, respectively. Significant potential of antioxidants was observed by DPPH, CUPRAC and FRAP methods while the ABTS method showed moderate antioxidant potential. Maximum % inhibition for urease, tyrosinase and carbonic anhydrase was shown by ethanolic extract (73.39 ± 1.11%), n-butanol soluble fraction (80.26 ± 1.59%) and ethyl acetate soluble fraction (76.50 ± 0.67%) which were comparable with thiourea (standard) (98.07 ± 0.74%), kojic acid (standard) (98.59 ± 0.92%) and acetazolamide (standard) (95.51 ± 1.29%), respectively, while all other extract/fractions showed moderate inhibition activity against these three enzymes. Hemolytic activity was also observed to range from 18.80 ± 0.42 to 3.48 ± 0.69% using the standard (triton X-100) method. In total, 28 and 20 compounds were identified tentatively by LC-MS analysis of ethanolic extract and n-butanol soluble fraction, respectively. Furthermore, molecular docking was undertaken for major compounds identified by LC-MS for determining binding affinity between enzymes (urease, tyrosinase and carbonic anhydrase) and ligands. It was concluded that active phytochemicals were present in roots of R. odorata with potential for multiple pharmacological applications and as a latent source of pharmaceutically important compounds. This should be further explored to isolate important constituents that could be used in treating different diseases.     

On the synthesis of RuSe oxygen reduction nano-catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Oxygen reduction reaction has a crucial role in energy conversion systems such as fuel cells. State-of-the-art Pt-based cathode catalysts suffer from low...     

A lexicographic minimax algorithm for multiperiod resource allocation

Resource allocation problems are typically formulated as mathematical programs with some special structure that facilitates the development of efficient algorithms. We consider a multiperiod problem in which excess resources in one period can be used in subsequent periods. The objective minimizes lexicographically the nonincreasingly sorted vector of weighted deviations of cumulative activity levels from cumulative demands. To this end, we first develop a new minimax algorithm that minimizes the largest weighted deviation among all cumulative activity levels. The minimax algorithm handles resource constraints, ordering constraints, and lower and upper bounds. At each iteration, it fixes certain variables at their lower bounds, and sets groups of other variables equal to each other as long as no lower bounds are violated. The algorithm takes advantage of the problem's special structure; e.g., each term in the objective is a linear decreasing function of only one variable. This algorithm solves large problems very fast, orders of magnitude faster than well known linear programming packages. (The latter are, of course, not designed to solve such minimax problems efficiently.) The lexicographic procedure repeatedly employs the minimax algorithm described above to solve problems, each of the same format but with smaller dimension.     

A Model for Advanced Reservations for Intercity Visual Conferencing Services

In this paper we describe a model for systems in which the customers usually reserve the required facilities in advance. The model has been developed for a communication network which provides visual conferencing services. We concentrate upon a network with a single pair of cities. Each customer calls the reservation office and specifies the desired day, starting time and holding time for his conference. A scheduler either satisfies the customer's request or offers him up to two alternatives which he may or may not accept. Various performance indices of the system, such as the proportion of lost customers, the proportion of rescheduled customers and the facilities' occupancy rate, are derived. Numerical examples and applications are discussed.