Risk assessment,development and validation of a GC-ECD-based method for the quantification of cypermethrin from green pea

The present work describes the persistence, dissipation behaviour, half-life, risk assessment and novel gas chromatography method for the residue estimation of cypermethrin in green pea by spraying cypermethrin 10EC at 50 g a.i. ha⁻¹ at fruiting stage followed by another application at a 10 day interval. The sample extraction and cleanup was followed bya modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method, and the residues of cypermethrin were determined using a validated gas chromatography method. The initial deposits were found to be 1.21 mg kg⁻¹ following the application of insecticide at 50 g a.i. ha⁻¹. Cypermethrin residues declined to below the detection limit of 0.05 mg kg⁻¹ after 15 days at the recommended dosage. The half-life of cypermethrin was 2.66 days at 50 g a.i. ha⁻¹. For risk assessment studies, the waiting period of 15 days is recommended as safe for consumption for the insecticide. The GC-ECD method was validated according to the SANTE guidelines by various analytical parameters including linearity, accuracy, detection and quantification limits. The developed method is simple, selective and repeatable, and can be used for the standardization of pesticides on fruits and vegetables.     

Eucleanal A and B:Two new napthalene derivatives from Euclea divinorum

Two new naphthalene derivatives named eucleanal A and B（1 and 2） were isolated from Euclea divinorum.The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis such as ¹H,¹³C NMR,COSY,HMQC,HMBC and HREIMS mass spectrometry.     

Phlomisamide and Phlomisteriod: A New Ceramide and a New Stigmasterol Derivative from Phlomis cashmeriana

Phlomisamide ( 1 ), a new ceramide, and a new stigmasterol derivative, phlomisteriod ( 2 ), have been isolated from Phlomis cashmeriana. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of their 1D‐ (¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR) and 2D‐NMR (COSY, HMQC, HMBC), and HR‐EI‐MS data.     

Numerical solution of special 12th-order boundary value problems using differential transform method

In this paper, a differential transform method (DTM) is used to find the numerical solution of a special 12th-order boundary value problems with two point boundary conditions. The analysis is accompanied by testing differential transform method both on linear and nonlinear problems from the literature [Wazwaz AM. Approximate solutions to boundary value problems of higher-order by the modified decomposition method. Comput Math Appl 2000:40;679–91; Siddiqi SS, Ghazala Akram. Solutions of 12th order boundary value problems using non-polynomial spline technique. Appl Math Comput 2007. doi:10.1016/j.amc.2007.10.015; Siddiqi SS, Twizell EH. Spline solutions of linear 12th-order boundary value problems. J Comput Appl Math 1997;78:371–90]. Numerical experiments and comparison with existing methods are performed to demonstrate reliability and efficiency of the proposed method.     

First natural urease inhibitor from Euphorbia decipiens

Three new diterpene esters with a myrsinol-type skeleton have been isolated from Euphorbia decipiens BOISS. & BUHSE. The structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was based primarily on two-dimensional (2D)-NMR techniques including correlation spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC), heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC) and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) experiments. Compounds 1 and 3 are active against prolyl endopeptidase and compound 2 showed inhibitory activity against urease enzyme.     

Response Surface Methodology (RSM)-Based Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Sennoside A,Sennoside B,Aloe-Emodin,Emodin, and Chrysophanol from Senna alexandrina (Aerial Parts): HPLC-UV and Antioxidant Analysis

In this study, ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions were optimized to maximize the yields of sennoside A, sennoside B, aloe-emodin, emodin, and chrysophanol from S. alexandrina (aerial parts). The three UAE factors, extraction temperature (S₁), extraction time (S₂), and liquid to solid ratio (S₃), were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). A Box–Behnken design was used for experimental design and phytoconstituent analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography-UV. The optimal extraction conditions were found to be a 64.2 °C extraction temperature, 52.1 min extraction time, and 25.2 mL/g liquid to solid ratio. The experimental values of sennoside A, sennoside B, aloe-emodin, emodin, and chrysophanol (2.237, 12.792, 2.457, 0.261, and 1.529%, respectively) agreed with those predicted (2.152, 12.031, 2.331, 0.214, and 1.411%, respectively) by RSM models, thus demonstrating the appropriateness of the model used and the accomplishment of RSM in optimizing the extraction conditions. Excellent antioxidant properties were exhibited by S. alexandrina methanol extract obtained using the optimized extraction conditions with a DPPH assay (IC50 = 59.7 ± 1.93, µg/mL) and ABTS method (47.2 ± 1.40, µg/mL) compared to standard ascorbic acid.     

Integrated inventory and inspection policies for stochastic demand

In this paper, we develop integrated inventory inspection models with and without replacement of nonconforming items. Inspection policies include no inspection, sampling inspection, and 100% inspection. We consider a buyer who places an order from a supplier when his inventory level drops to a certain point, due to demand which is stochastic in nature. When a lot is received, the buyer uses some type of inspection policy. The fraction nonconforming is assumed to be a random variable following a beta distribution. The order quantity, reorder point and the inspection policy are decision variables. In the inspection policy involving determining sampling plan parameters, constraints on the buyer and manufacturer risks is set in order to obtain a fair plan for both parties. A solution procedure for determining the operating policies for inventory and inspection consisting of order quantity, sample size, and acceptance number is proposed. Numerical examples are presented to conduct a sensitivity analysis for important model parameters and to illustrate important issues about the developed models.     

A decomposition of time scales for iterative computation of time-optimal controls

An iterative procedure, exploiting the multiple time scale properties of systems with slow and fast modes, is presented. This procedure solves the time-optimal problem for higher-order systems iteratively via the solutions of simple second-order problems. Computational complexity is so reduced that fourth-order problems can be solved using a microprocessor or programmable calculator.This work was supported in part by the Joint Services Electronics Program (US Army, US Navy, and US Air Force) under Contract No. DAAB-07-72-C-0259, in part by the US Air Force under Grant No. AFOSR-73-2570, and in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. ENG 74-20091.