The Performance of an Electrorheological Fluid in Dynamic Squeeze Flow: The Influence of Solid Phase Size

This paper is concerned with an experimental investigation of a comparison of the rheological performance of an ER fluid, consisting of a carrier with a range of solid phase sizes, in oscillatory squeeze-flow under DC conditions. The fluid is sandwiched between two parallel plane electrodes, the upper one stationary and the lower one oscillating normal to its plane. It is seen that the dynamic performance of the fluid, in terms of the capacity for the transmission of imposed forces across the fluid, is highly dependent on the size of the dispersed solid phase and has an optimum value which is dependent on the mean value of the interelectrode gap. In addition the paper includes some measurements of the current through the fluid which may help to shed some further light on the mechanism of the ER effect. Finally the implications of the results to vibration control are discussed. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

A Reliable Electrochemical Sensor Based on Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles for Over-the-counter Allergy Medication Abuse Sensing in Biological Fluids

Diphenhydramine (DIPH) has become one of the world‘s most widely abused over-the-counter medications. In addition to relieving allergy symptoms, it is also recognized for causing elevated energy and mild euphoric effects. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently warned about serious problems at high doses including heart problems, seizures, coma or even death among addicted teenagers. Herein, a simple, cost-effective, and reliable nanocomposite based electrochemical sensor was designed for DIPH quantification in biological fluids. Introducing the functionalized Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) into the inner-filling solution and the PVC-based ion sensing membrane has been employed and compared to the classical potentiometric approach. The nanoparticles were incorporated to endorse in situ cooperative ion-pairing interaction between the ionophore and DIPH, and to improve the selectivity and detection limit (9.5×10⁻⁸ M). Nernstian potentiometric response was achieved for DIPH over the concentration range of 1.0×10⁻⁷ to 1.0×10⁻² M with a slope of 59.0±0.2 mV/decade. Inherent merits of the proposed sensor include fast response time (6 s), superior stability (60 days) with higher sensitivity and selectivity towards DIPH without interference from co-formulated drugs and several ions commonly found in biological matrices. The proposed sensor was successfully applied to the potentiometric determination of DIPH in different biological fluids (plasma and human milk) with an average recovery of 99.06±1.95 % and 100.34±1.92 %, respectively. As a consequence, the developed ISE might be the ideal choice for in-line DIPH measurements in plasma samples to identify overdose ingestion and its related symptoms, as well as for quality-control laboratories without prior treatments.     

Infrared transmission of chalcohalide glasses in the Ge–Se–Te–I system

Infrared (IR) transmission spectra in the range from 4000 to 400 cm^?1 have been measured at ambient temperature for the prepared, (Ge₂₂Se₁₄Te₆₄)_100?xI_x, glasses where x = 0, 4, 6, 8 and 10 at.%. The effects of both iodine content and the annealing of glasses at different temperatures on the transmittance and observed absorption peaks have been evaluated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs were performed to insure the effect of annealing on the obtained IR transmission spectra.     

Preparation of Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone-Based Hydrogels by Radiation-Induced Crosslinking with Potential Application as Wound Dressing

Polyvinyl pyrrolidone/polyethylene glycol hydrogels (PVP/PEG) and PVP/PEG/Starch were prepared by irradiating the mixtures of aqueous solutions of PVP, PEG and starch with electron beam at different doses. Their properties were evaluated to identify their usability in wound dressing applications. The physical properties of the prepared hydrogels, such as gel content, swelling, water content and degree of water evaporation with varying composition and irradiation dose were examined to evaluate the usefulness of the hydrogels for wound dressing. The gel content increases with increasing PVP concentration due to increased crosslink density, and decreases with increasing the PEG concentration. PEG seems to act not only as plasticizer but also to modify the gel properties as gelation% and maximum swelling. Mechanical experiments were conducted for both PVP/PEG and PVP/PEG/Starch. The adding of PEG and starch to PVP significantly improves elongation and tensile strength of prepared hydrogels, respectively. The crystallinity of both prepared hydrogels was investigated with varying their components, XRD studies indicated that the crystallinity in the gel was mainly due to PVP and mainly decreased with enhanced starch content. The prepared hydrogels had sufficient strength to be used as wound dressing and could be considered as a good barrier against microbes.     

Simultaneous Determination of Carbinoxamine,Pholcodine, and Ephedrine in Antitussive Preparation by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Thin-Layer Chromatography-Densitometry

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - Simple, accurate, precise, sensitive, and validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin-layer chromatography...     

New cytotoxic halogenated sesquiterpenes from the Egyptian sea hare, Aplysia oculifera

Two new sesquiterpenes, oculiferane (1) and epi-obtusane (2) have been isolated and identified from an acetone extract of the digestive gland of the sea hare, Aplysia oculifera. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including HREIMS, ¹H, ¹³C, DEPT, ¹H–¹H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC NMR; the relative configuration was confirmed by X-ray analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited cytotoxic activity in vitro against several human cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the low μg/ml range.     

Quantitative analysis of the cholesterol-lowering drugs ezetimibe and simvastatin in pure powder, binary mixtures, and a combined dosage form by spectrophotometry, chemometry, and high-performance column liquid chromatography

Simple, accurate, sensitive, and precise UV spectrophotometric, chemometric, and HPLC methods were developed for simultaneous determination of a two-component drug mixture of ezetimibe (EZ) and simvastatin (SM) in laboratory-prepared mixtures and a combined tablet dosage form. Four spectrophotometric methods were developed, namely, ratio spectra derivative, ratio subtraction, isosbestic point, and mean centering of ratio spectra. The developed chemometric-assisted spectrophotometric method was the concentration residual augmented classical least-squares method; its prediction ability was assessed and compared to the conventional partial least-squares method. The developed HPLC method used an RP ZORBAX C18 column (5 microm particle size, 250 x 4.6 mm id) with isocratic elution. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-pH 3.5 phosphate buffer (40 + 60, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, with UV detection at 230 nm. The accuracy, precision, and linearity ranges of the developed methods were determined. The developed methods were successfully applied for determination of EZ and SM in bulk powder, laboratory-prepared mixtures, and a combined dosage form. The results obtained were compared statistically with each other and to those of a reported HPLC method; there was no significant difference between the proposed methods and the reported method regarding both accuracy and precision.     

Adsorption and inhibition performance of the novel cationic Gemini surfactant as a safe corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in hydrochloric acid

The new synthesized cationic Gemini surfactant (CGS) was tested as a corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel (CS) in 1.0?M hydrochloric acid using weight loss, electrochemical spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization. The inhibition efficiency is increased by increasing the CGS concentration and is almost constant within the temperature range studied. The inhibition was explained by adsorption of the CGS molecule on the CS surface. A mixed-type inhibitor is suggested for the inhibitory effects of CGS as revealed by the potentiodynamic polarization technique. The changes in impedance parameters suggested that the adsorption of the inhibitor on the CGS surface led to the formation of protective films. The adsorption of the CGS on the surface of CS obeys Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were calculated and discussed.     

Preirradiation grafting of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and poly(tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene) films

Preirradiation grafting of N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and poly(tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP) films was investigated. The influence of grafting parameters such as preirradiation dose, monomer concentration, and grafting temperature on the rate and grafting yield was studied. Different solvents were used for diluting the monomer and it was found that the aqueous monomer solution at a concentration of 80 wt% was suitable for this grafting system. However, the graft polymerization of NVP in benzene terminated within a short time without significant grafting yield. The dependence of the grafting rate on preirradiation dose and monomer concentration was 1.2 and 1.07 order, respectively, for grafting onto PTFE films and 1.1 and 1.2 order, respectively, for grafting onto FEP films. Arrhenius plots for grafting onto PTFE films showed a breaking point at ca. 35°C and the overall activation energies were calculated as 23.6 and 9.0 Kcal/mol below and above 35°C, respectively. For grafting onto FEP films, however, no break was observed in the Arrhenius plots; the overall activation energy was 11.9 Kcal/mol. The swelling behavior and electric resistance of the grafted materials were investigated.     

Detection of Heavy Metal Ions Using Synthesized Amino Thiol Surfactants Assembled on Gold Nanoparticles

In this work, we synthesized amino thiol surfactants, namely, 10-(4-aminophenoxy)-decane-1-thiol and 12-(4-aminophenoxy)-dodecane-1-thiol. The self-assembling of the synthesized surfactants on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was investigated using different techniques such as ultraviolet analysis, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The synthesized surfactants show the ability to assemble on gold nanoparticles and form stable nanostructure with it. We used the synthesized surfactants and their nanostructures with gold nanoparticles for the detection of Zn and Ni ions in aqueous solution using the ultraviolet spectrophotometer technique. The synthesized amino thiol surfactants showed the ability to detect Zn and Ni ions at low concentration. The results showed that gold nanoparticles can enhance the detection of Zn and Ni ions using the nanostructures of the synthesized surfactants.