A rapid LC-MS/MS method for determination of urinary EtG and application to a cut-off limit study

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a metabolite and a specific marker of alcohol consumption that can be detected days after the complete elimination of alcohol after drinking. A rapid, simple, and sensitive LC-ESI-MS/MS method for the determination of urinary ethyl glucuronide was developed and fully validated in accordance with analytical standards, using the C₁₈ column. The whole process including sample preparation and LC-MS/MS lasted 10 min. A comprehensive validation including HorRat, measurement uncertainty, system suitability and intermediate precision calculations among analysts, and a cut-off limit study was performed. The method was applied to real samples and a cutoff limit determination study. The LOD and LOQ (using the IUPAC and Eurachem methods) were determined as 104.21 ng mL^?1 and 165.00 ng mL^?1. A cut-off limit of ≈ 818 ng mg^?1 (normalised to creatinine) was found for urinary EtG. The results showed that the cut-off limits currently in use should be re-considered in further studies and standardised on a global scale. Normalisation to creatinine is important because of the risk of the dilution of urine intentionally or with a change of diet. The concentrations of real samples from subjects who had consumed alcohol were successfully predicted using this method, after zero HS-GC/MS results of urine alcohol concentration.     

Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), and Fe(II) metal complexes containing N,N′-(3,4-diaminobenzophenon)-3,5-But2-salicylaldimine ligand: Synthesis,structural characterization,thermal properties,electrochemistry, and spectroelectrochemistry

The synthesis, structure, spectroscopic and electro-spectrochemical properties of steric hindered Schiff-base ligand [N,N′-(3,4-benzophenon)-3,5-Bu^t₂-salicylaldimine (LH₂)] and its mononuclear Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Fe(II) complexes are described in this work. The new dissymmetric steric hindered Schiff-base ligand containing a donor set of NONO was prepared through reaction of 3,4-diaminobenzophenon with 3,5-Bu^t₂-salicylaldehyde. Certain metal complexes of this ligand were synthesized by treating an ethanolic solution of the ligand with an equimolar amount of metal salts. The ligand and its complexes were characterized by FT-IR, UV–vis, ¹H NMR, elemental analysis, molar conductivity and thermal analysis methods in addition to magnetic susceptibility, electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry techniques. The tetradentate and mononuclear metal complexes were obtained by reacting N,N′-(3,4-benzophenon)-3,5-Bu^t₂-salicylaldimine (LH₂) with some metal acetate in a 1:1 mole ratio. The molar conductance data suggest metal complexes to be non-electrolytes.     

Distributed computing strategies for processing of FT-ICR MS imaging datasets for continuous mode data visualization

High-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry imaging enables the spatial mapping and identification of biomolecules from complex surfaces. The need for long time-domain transients, and thus large raw file sizes, results in a large amount of raw data (“big data”) that must be processed efficiently and rapidly. This can be compounded by large-area imaging and/or high spatial resolution imaging. For FT-ICR, data processing and data reduction must not compromise the high mass resolution afforded by the mass spectrometer. The continuous mode “Mosaic Datacube” approach allows high mass resolution visualization (0.001 Da) of mass spectrometry imaging data, but requires additional processing as compared to feature-based processing. We describe the use of distributed computing for processing of FT-ICR MS imaging datasets with generation of continuous mode Mosaic Datacubes for high mass resolution visualization. An eight-fold improvement in processing time is demonstrated using a Dutch nationally available cloud service.

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Ovalbumin mediated synthesis of Mn3O4

By using Mn²⁺ and Mn³⁺ salts, and freshly extracted ovalbumin, Mn₃O₄ nanocrystals have been synthesized successfully. The X-ray diffraction results indicated that the synthesized nanoparticles have only the spinel structure without the presence of any other phase impurities. As the ovalbumin–water mixture was highly basic, the process did not require any use of base to increase the pH where hydrolysis took place. A gel formed where water soluble ovalbumin proteins served as a perfect matrix for entrapment of metal ions (Mn²⁺ and Mn³⁺). Upon heat treatment, the dried gel precursor decomposed into nanocrystalline Mn₃O₄. The discrepancy between the crystallite size from XRD and particle size SEM analysis reveals polycrystalline nature of the synthesized particles with this route. EPR analysis of Mn₃O₄ shows a narrow and symmetric line indicating the absence of hyperfine splitting.     

Direct synthesis of tetrazine functionalities on polymer backbones

Tetrazine mediated inverse Electron Demand Diels–Alder Reaction (IEDDA) is an important modification technique due to its high selectivity and super‐fast kinetics. Incorporation of tetrazine moieties on polymer chains requires multistep synthetic pathways and a post‐polymerization step leading to functional polymeric materials. Such approaches involve separate syntheses of polymer and the molecule which will be employed in modification. Herein, we introduce a straightforward synthetic approach for direct synthesis of tetrazine groups on polymers as side chains. As model systems, tetrazine functional poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐and poly(ethylene glycol)‐based polymers from corresponding precursor polymers with nitrile moieties as pendant groups are prepared and IEDDA Click Reaction is achieved with trans‐cyclooctene derivatives. The click reaction is monitored by both NMR and UV–vis spectroscopies. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 673–680     

Electroanalytical Determination of Paracetamol Using Pd Nanoparticles Deposited on Carboxylated Graphene Oxide Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

The study presents a novel paracetamol (PA) sensor based on Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) deposited on carboxylated graphene oxide (GO?COOH) and nafion (Nf) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The morphologies of the as prepared composites were characterized using high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The experimental results demonstrated that Nf/GO?COOPd displayed excellent electrocatalytic response to the oxidation PA. The linear range was 0.04–800 μM for PA with limit of detection of 0.012 μM and excellent sensitivity of 232.89 μA mM^?1 cm^?2. By considering the excellent performance of Nf/GO?COOPd composite such as wider linear range, lower detection, better selectivity, repeatability, reproducibility, and storage stability, the prepared composite, especially GO?COOH support, with satisfactory electrocatalytic properties was a promising material for the modification of electrode material in electrochemical sensor and biosensor field.     

A silver nanoparticles-catalyzed efficient three-component synthesis of polysubstituted 4H-chromenylphosphonates and their antioxidant activity

Abstract

A simple and efficient protocol for one-pot three-component synthesis of structurally diverse dialkyl 2-amino-3-cyano-4H-chromen-4-ylphosphonates from the condensation of salicylaldehydes, malononitrile, and trialkyl phosphite using silver nanoparticles as catalyst in ethanol at reflux has been developed. Selected new compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activity by free radical screening using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Among the compounds employed, 5a, 5?b, and 5?h showed promising DPPH radical scavenging activities compared to the experimental standards at low concentration (100?µg/mL) after 24?h incubation.     

Experimental and Theoretical Vibrational Spectra of Sideridiol Isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sideritis</Emphasis> Species

Sideridiol (ent-7α,18β-dihydroxykaur-15-ene) one of the ent-kaurene diterpenoid, is isolated from the genus Sideritis L. belongs to the family of Lamiaceae. The vibrational frequencies of sideridiol in the ground state have been calculated using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) method with the 6-31G(d) and 6 31+G(d,p) basis sets. The calculated vibrational frequencies have been compared with that of obtained experimental IR spectrum.     

Improved Sensing Performance of Amperometric Urea Biosensor by Using Platinum Nanoparticles

A novel Platinum nanoparticle (PtNPs) modified Poly(pyrrole-co-1-(2-Aminophenyl)pyrrole)/Urease film coated Au electrode was designed for amperometric detection of urea. PtNPs quantity, film density and pH were optimized and interference effect of some substances readily found in municipal wastewater and blood was investigated. The biosensor responded to urea with a measurement concentration range of 0.1 to 30 mM, a sensitivity of 31.8 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻², a LOD of 7.58 μM, an accuracy of 104 % and a RSD% of only 0.82. It sensed the concentration of urea in the municipal sewage water with recovery of 97.6 % (n=3) and remained 78 % of its initial response at 28^th day. Results confirmed that PtNPs with strong conductivity improved the electron transfer ability of the working electrode.     

Fixed point theorems with respect to a contractive condition of integral type

We derive some fixed point theorems for mappings satisfying a contractive condition of integral type.