Structure–property correlations in lead silicate glasses and crystalline phases

Lead silicate glasses containing 40–65?mol% of PbO were prepared at two melt-quenching rates and characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy, density, microhardness, thermo-mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and Raman scattering studies. On increasing the PbO concentration, density increases, glass transition temperature decreases and the optical absorption edge shifts towards longer wavelength. An intense optical absorption band was observed just below the absorption edge in glasses with 55?mol% and higher concentration of PbO. Dilatometric measurements show an unusual property that glasses do not show any abrupt increase in volume near the glass transition temperature but transform directly into the liquid state. Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the concentration of SiO₄ tetrahedra containing one or more NBOs increase with PbO mol%. Devitrification studies on lead silicate glasses found that samples with 40–45?mol% of PbO do not crystallize, whereas samples with higher PbO concentration produce multiple crystalline phases like PbSiO₃, Pb₃₃Si₂₄O₈₁, Pb₂SiO₄ and Pb₃Si₂O₇ on heat treatment.     

Profiling Differential Expression of Cellulases and Metabolite Footprints in Aspergillus terreus

This study reports differential expression of endoglucanase (EG) and β-glucosidase (βG) isoforms of Aspergillus terreus. Expression of multiple isoforms was observed, in presence of different carbon sources and culture conditions, by activity staining of poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis gels. Maximal expression of four EG isoforms was observed in presence of rice straw (28 U/g DW substrate) and corn cobs (1.147 U/ml) under solid substrate and shake flask culture, respectively. Furthermore, the sequential induction of EG isoforms was found to be associated with the presence of distinct metabolites (monosaccharides/oligosaccharides) i.e., xylose (X), G₁, G₃ and G₄ as well as putative positional isomers (G₁/G₂, G₂/G₃) in the culture extracts sampled at different time intervals, indicating specific role of these metabolites in the sequential expression of multiple EGs. Addition of fructose and cellobiose to corn cobs containing medium during shake flask culture resulted in up-regulation of EG activity, whereas addition of mannitol, ethanol and glycerol selectively repressed the expression of three EG isoforms (Ia, Ic and Id). The observed regulation profile of βG isoforms was distinct when compared to EG isoforms, and addition of glucose, fructose, sucrose, cellobiose, mannitol and glycerol resulted in down-regulation of one or more of the four βG isoforms.     

Solid acid clay mediated copolymerization of methyl acrylate and 1‐octene: 2D NMR substantiation of predominant alternating comonomer sequence

Montmorillionite K10 powder presence during radically initiated copolymerization of methyl acrylate (M) and 1‐octene (O) gave copolymers with higher incorporation of alkene unit. Highly viscous and transparent copolymers showed alternation irrespective of the copolymer composition. Increasing the amount of K10 powder increased the total percentage conversion, as well as 1‐octene incorporation. The monomodal curves obtained in gel permeation chromatography (GPC) substantiated that true copolymers were formed. The alternation in the copolymers was authenticated through Heteronuclear Multiple Quantum Correlation (HMQC) experiments in conjugation with Total Correlated Spectroscopy (TOCSY). © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2156–2162, 2009     

Solid-phase extraction of antimony using chemically modified SiO2-PAN nanoparticles

A new analytical method using 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN)-modified SiO2 nanoparticles as solid-phase extractant has been developed for the preconcentration of trace amounts of Sb(III) in different water samples. Conditions of the analysis such as preconcentration factor, effect of pH, sample volume, shaking time, elution conditions, and effects of interfering ions for the recovery of the analyte were investigated. The adsorption capacity of nanometer SiO2-PAN was found to be 186.25 micromol/g at optimum pH and the LOD (3sigma) was 0.60 microg/L. The extractant showed rapid kinetic sorption. The adsorption equilibrium of Sb(III) on nanometer SiO2-PAN was achieved in 10 min. Adsorbed Sb(III) was easily eluted with 4 mL 2 M hydrochloric acid. The maximum preconcentration factor was 62.20. The method was applied for the determination of trace amounts of Sb(III) in various water samples (tap, mineral water, and industrial effluents).     

Synthesis of Polylactide under Inert Atmosphere and Vacuum

The ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of L- lactide was carried out in bulk using various initiators along with triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) as co-initiator. Equimolar addition of triphenylphosphine increased the molecular masses of polylactide (PLA). The polymerization was carried out at 403.15 K up to 155 hr. Different experiments were carried out over a wide range of monomer to initiator (M_o/I_o) ratios. It was found that maximum molecular weight of polylactide was observed when M_o/I_o ratio was 2500–2700. Polymerization reactions were carried out under two different environments in the reaction vessel, an inert cover and a partial vacuum. The average molecular weight of polylactide was determined by using size exclusion chromatography. The increase of polymerization time increased the weight average molecular weight but after prolonged reaction time, the molecular weight decreased gradually.     

Factors affecting relative stabilities and proton affinities of oxazolidinone and its N,C5-formyl derivatives

The proton affinities of all the potential sites of oxazolidinone (OXA) and formyl substituted OXA have been evaluated using ab initio and DFT methods. N4- and C5-formyl oxazolidinone isomers and their protonated structures have been analyzed for relative stabilities. The proton affinity (PA) of carbonyl oxygen of oxazolidinone is observed to be highest in un-substituted and formyl substituted OXA molecules. The PA values decrease for the potential sites in the range 0.5–15.51 kcal/mol as a result of the presence of the formyl substituent. Atomic charges and electron delocalization of neutral and protonated species have been analyzed with the application of NBO. The various factors such as variation in geometrical parameters, atomic charge redistribution, alterations in conjugative interactions, effect of formyl substituent, the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding and electronic effects have been explored to rationalize the relative stabilities and proton affinities of OXA and its N,C5 formyl derivatives.     

Optimization of a direct spectrophotometric method to investigate the kinetics and inhibition of sialidases

Backgrounds

Streptococcus pneumoniae expresses three distinct sialidases, NanA, NanB, and NanC, that are believed to be key virulence factors and thus, potential important drug targets. We previously reported that the three enzymes release different products from sialosides, but could share a common catalytic mechanism before the final step of product formation. However, the kinetic investigations of the three sialidases have not been systematically done thus far, due to the lack of an easy and steady measurement of sialidase reaction rate.

Results

In this work, we present further kinetic characterization of pneumococcal sialidases by using a direct spectrophotometric method with the chromogenic substrate p-nitrophenyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid (p-NP-Neu5Ac). Using our assay, the measured kinetic parameters of the three purified pneumococcal sialidase, NanA, NanB and NanC, were obtained and were in perfect agreement with the previously published data. The major advantage of this alternative method resides in the direct measurement of the released product, allowing to readily determine of initial reaction rates and record complete hydrolysis time courses.

Conclusion

We developed an accurate, fast and sensitive spectrophotometric method to investigate the kinetics of sialidase-catalyzed reactions. This fast, sensitive, inexpensive and accurate method could benefit the study of the kinetics and inhibition of sialidases in general.     

Chemodosimeter for CN(-)--interplay between experiment and theory

The reaction-based cost effective detection of CN(-) over the most competitive ions, F(-) and Ac(-), by a commercially available dye has been developed. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theory. An application in the form of 'dip-sticks' which provides an instant information, has been demonstrated.     

Development of a Stability-Indicating RP-LC Method for Determination of Betamethasone Dipropionate and Estimation of Its Related Compounds in a Dermatological Pharmaceutical Product

A new stability-indicating reversed-phase LC method has been developed and validated for the assay and identification of betamethasone dipropionate and its related compounds in a dermatological pharmaceutical drug product, namely Diprolene Ointment. Separation of all the peaks of interest was achieved on a Symmetry Shield RP18 (100 mm × 4.6 mm, 3.5 µm) column using a gradient elution at a flow rate of 1.5 mL min^?1 with mobile phase A (10 mM monobasic sodium phosphate at pH 2.5) and mobile phase B (acetonitrile) and UV detection at 250 nm. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) of this method was 0.00004  and 0.0001 mg mL^?1, respectively. The method was successfully validated in accordance with ICH guidelines and was accurate, linear, precise, reproducible, specific, and robust. A simple, reproducible and accurate single step sample extraction procedure using tetrahydrofuran, water, and methanol (40:30:30, v/v/v) was developed to extract betamethasone dipropionate and its related compounds from the ointment. The sample extraction procedure and the LC conditions presented in this report can be used for routine analysis of Diprolene Ointment in quality control laboratories. This method may also be applied to other dermatological pharmaceutical drug products “as-is” or with minor modification.