Determination of lead concentration and lead isotope ratios in calcium supplements by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after high pressure, high temperature digestion

The presence of lead as a contaminant in calcium supplements has aroused considerable public health interest in recent years. In this investigation lead and lead isotope ratios were determined by ICP-MS in ten brands of calcium supplements after high pressure/temperature digestion. Calcium supplements (200 to 250 mg) were digested in 2 mL of nitric acid at 230?°C and at a pressure of 1770 psi (1.2 × 10⁴ kPa). Lead concentrations were determined by matrix-matched lead standards prepared in a high-purity calcium carbonate matrix. Good recoveries of lead and calcium were obtained for certified animal bone reference material. High levels of Pb (8 to 28 μg Pb per g of calcium) were found in calcium supplements that contain dolomite or bone meal. Chelated and refined calcium supplements had lower Pb levels (0.8 to 0.9 μg Pb/g Ca). Application of lead isotope ratios to distinguish the origin of calcium sources was also explored.     

Determination of arsenic, selenium, and antimony in cloud water by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The capability of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in determining trace levels of As, Se, and Sb in cloud water was evaluated. Preliminary studies focused on identifying and eliminating potential interferences in the cloud water matrix, the choice of appropriate internal standards, and system optimization. The detection limits for As, Se, and Sb were 20, 100, 20 pg/mL using pneumatic nebulization, and 5, 25, 5 pg/mL, respectively, using ultrasonic nebulization with a precision of better than 5% RSD. The accuracy was demonstrated by the analysis of a NIST commercial reference material, SRM 1643d. In all cases, the results from ICP-MS analysis agreed within 4% of the certified values. Comparative analysis of cloud water samples obtained from a site downwind from large pollution sources (Whiteface Mountain, New York) and Changlagali Pakistan, a rural mountain peak, was carried out by hydride generation atomic absorption (HGAA) spectrometry. There was excellent agreement between the ICP-MS and HGAA results. Received: 31 July 1997 / Revised: 28 October 1997 / Accepted: 31 October 1997     

Kinetics of the solvolysis of [Co(Rpy)4Cl4]+ with R = 4-t-Bu, 3-Me or 3-Et in mixtures of urea with water

Summary The kinetics of the solvolysis of complex ions trans-[Co(Rpy)₄Cl₂]⁺, with R = 4-t-Bu, 3-Me and 3-Et, have been investigated in mixtures formed by adding urea to water, which enhances the dielectric constant and decreases solvent structure. Differential effects of the changes in solvent structure on the initial and transition states are found to be important factors controlling changes in the rate constant with solvent composition. The variation of the enthalpy and the entropy of activation with solvent composition are contrasted with their variations found for the solvolysis of [Co(Rpy)₄Cl₂]⁺ in mixtures where solvent structure is enhanced by additions of a co-solvent to water. The application of a free energy cycle to the process of the initial state going to the transition state suggests that the Co³⁺ cation in the transition state is more stable than the Co³⁺ cation in the initial state in the water + urea mixtures.     

Fused quinoline heterocycles VI: Synthesis of 5H‐1‐thia‐3,5,6‐triazaaceanthrylenes and 5H‐1‐thia‐3,4,5,6‐tetraazaaceanthrylenes

Ethyl 3‐amino‐4‐chlorothieno[3,2‐c]quinoline‐2‐carboxylate ( 4 ) is a versatile synthon, prepared by reacting an equimolar amount of 2,4‐dichloroquinoline‐3‐carbonitrile ( 1 ) with ethyl mercaptoacetate ( 2 ). Ethyl 5‐alkyl‐5H‐1‐thia‐3,5,6‐triazaaceanfhrylene‐2‐carboxylates 9a‐c , novel perianellated tetracyclic heteroaro‐matics, were prepared by refluxing 4 with excess of primary amines 7a‐c to yield the corresponding amino‐thieno[3,2‐c]quinolines 8a‐c . Subsequent reaction with an excess of triethyl orthoformate (TEO) furnished 9a‐c . Reaction of 4 with TEO in Ac₂O at reflux, gave the simple acetylated compounds, thieno[3,2‐c]‐quinolines 12 and 13 . Refluxing 4 with benzylamine ( 7d ) gave 10 , and subsequent treatment with TEO gave the tetracyclic compound 11 . Refluxing 13 with an excess of alkylamines 7a‐d gave the fhieno[3,2‐c]quino‐lines 15 . Refluxing the aminothienoquinolines 8b with an excess of triethyl orthoacetate gave thieno[3,2‐c]quinoline 17 , while heating with Ac₂O gave 18 and 19 , with small amounts of 16 . Reaction of 8a,b with ethyl chloroformate and phenylisothiocyanate generated the new 1‐thia‐3,5,6‐triazaaceanthrylenes 20a,b and 21a,b , respectively. Diazotization of 8a‐c afforded the novel tetracyclic ethyl 5‐alkyl‐5H‐1‐fhia‐3,4,5,6‐tetraazaaceanthrylene‐2‐carboxylates 22a‐c in good yields.     

Vibrational dephasing and hydrodynamic effects on vibrational relaxation rates in acetophenone: Raman bandshape analysis

The isotropic component of Raman band for C=O stretching mode of acetophenone in solution was analyzed by estimating the correlation coefficient with reference to Lorentzian lineshape. In the intermediate region of solute/solvent concentration there is a sharp decrease in the correlation coefficient and there appears to be a transition from non-Lorentzian to Lorentzian lineshape. The vibrational relaxation rates have been estimated from the isotropic component of Raman band in different solvents. The rate is shown to be dependent on several macroscopic as well as microscopic properties of the solute-solvent system and intermolecular interactions. The hydrodynamic and dispersion forces appear to play a major role in determining the vibrational relaxation rate and the broadening of the bands.     

Comparison of fingerprint-based methods for virtual screening using multiple bioactive reference structures

Fingerprint-based similarity searching is widely used for virtual screening when only a single bioactive reference structure is available. This paper reviews three distinct ways of carrying out such searches when multiple bioactive reference structures are available: merging the individual fingerprints into a single combined fingerprint; applying data fusion to the similarity rankings resulting from individual similarity searches; and approximations to substructural analysis. Extended searches on the MDL Drug Data Report database suggest that fusing similarity scores is the most effective general approach, with the best individual results coming from the binary kernel discrimination technique.     

Model for γγ→VV reactions near threshold

We propose a Veneziano-like model for VV reactions near threshold involving exchanges of 0^– trajectories int- andu-channels. The model is applied to , , , and processes. The model in its simplest form cannot account for the disparities in the cross sections for andK ^*+ K ^*– and for ⁰⁰ and ^+–. Further refinements of the model are suggested.     

Nigella sativa L. and COVID-19: A Glance at The Anti-COVID-19 Chemical Constituents,Clinical Trials,Inventions, and Patent Literature

COVID-19 has had an impact on human quality of life and economics. Scientists have been identifying remedies for its prevention and treatment from all possible sources, including plants. Nigella sativa L. (NS) is an important medicinal plant of Islamic value. This review highlights the anti-COVID-19 potential, clinical trials, inventions, and patent literature related to NS and its major chemical constituents, like thymoquinone. The literature was collected from different databases, including Pubmed, Espacenet, and Patentscope. The literature supports the efficacy of NS, NS oil (NSO), and its chemical constituents against COVID-19. The clinical data imply that NS and NSO can prevent and treat COVID-19 patients with a faster recovery rate. Several inventions comprising NS and NSO have been claimed in patent applications to prevent/treat COVID-19. The patent literature cites NS as an immunomodulator, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, a source of anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds, and a plant having protective effects on the lungs. The available facts indicate that NS, NSO, and its various compositions have all the attributes to be used as a promising remedy to prevent, manage, and treat COVID-19 among high-risk people as well as for the therapy of COVID-19 patients of all age groups as a monotherapy or a combination therapy. Many compositions of NS in combination with countless medicinal herbs and medicines are still unexplored. Accordingly, the authors foresee a bright scope in developing NS-based anti-COVID-19 composition for clinical use in the future.