An algorithm for mean residual life computation of (n − k + 1)-out-of-n systems: An application of exponentiated Weibull distribution

In this paper, we establish an algorithm for the computation of the mean residual life of a (n − k + 1)-out-of-n system in the case of independent but not necessarily identically distributed lifetimes of the components. An application for the exponentiated Weibull distribution is given to study the effect of various parameters on the mean residual life of the system. Also the relationship between the mean residual life for the system and that of its components is investigated.     

Studying structural,morphological and optical properties of nanocrystalline ZnO:Ag films prepared by sol–gel method for antimicrobial activity

Pure and Ag-doped zinc oxide sol–gel thin films were prepared by spin-coating process. Pure and Ag–ZnO films, containing 2–8% Ag, were annealed at 500?°C for 2?h. All thin films were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and UV–visible spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction studies show the polycrystalline nature with hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO and Ag:ZnO thin films. The crystallite size of the prepared samples reduced with increasing Ag doping concentrations. AFM and SEM results indicated that the average crystallite size decreased as Ag doping concentration increased. The transmittance spectra were then recorded at wavelengths ranging from 300 to 1000?nm. The films produced yielded high transmission at visible regions. The optical band gap energy of spin-coated films also decreased as Ag doping concentration increased. In particular, their optical band gap energies were 3.75, 3.55, 3.4, 3.3, and 3.23?eV at 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%, respectively. Antibacterial activity of pure and Ag-doped zinc oxide against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated by international recognized test (JIS Z 2801). The results showed that pure and Ag-doped ZnO thin film has an antibacterial inhibition zone against E. coli and S. aureus. Gram-positive bacteria seemed to be more resistant to pure and Ag-doped ZnO thin film than gram-negative bacteria. The test shows incrementally increasing in antibacterial activity of the thin films when dopant ratio increased under UV light.

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Simultaneous quantification of cyclophosphamide, 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide, N,N',N"-triethylenethiophosphoramide (thiotepa) and N,N',N"-triethylenephosphoramide (tepa) in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

The alkylating agents cyclophosphamide (CP) and N, N', N"-triethylenethiophosphoramide (thiotepa) are often co-administered in high-dose chemotherapy regimens. Since these regimens can be complicated by the occurrence of severe and sometimes life-threatening toxicities, pharmacokinetically guided administration of these compounds, to reduce variability in exposure, may lead to improved tolerability. For rapid dose adaptations during a chemotherapy course, we have developed and validated an assay, using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS), for the routine quantification of CP, thiotepa and their respective active metabolites 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide (4OHCP) and N, N', N"-triethylenephosphoramide (tepa) in plasma. Because of the instability of 4OHCP in plasma, the compound is derivatized with semicarbazide (SCZ) immediately after sample collection and quantified as 4OHCP-SCZ. Sample pretreatment consisted of protein precipitation with a mixture of methanol and acetronitrile using 100 microl of plasma. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Zorbax Extend C18 column (150 x 2.1 mm i.d., particle size 5 microm), with a quick gradient using 1 mM ammonia solution and acetonitrile, at a flow-rate of 0.4 ml min(-1). The analytical run time was 10 min. The triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was operating in the positive ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring was used for drug quantification. The method was validated over the concentration ranges 200-40,000 ng ml(-1) for CP, 50-5000 ng ml(-1) for 4OHCP-SCZ and 5-2500 ng ml(-1) for thiotepa and tepa, using 100 microl of human plasma. These dynamic concentration ranges proved to be relevant in daily practice. Hexamethylphosphoramide was used as an internal standard. The coefficients of variation were <12% for both intra-day and inter-day precisions for each compound. Mean accuracies were also between the designated limits (+/- 15%). This robust and rapid LC/MS/MS assay is now successfully applied for routine therapeutic drug monitoring of CP, thiotepa and their metabolites in our hospital.     

Synthesis and characterization of N2S3X-Fe models of iron-containing nitrile hydratase

A series of iron complexes based on the pentadentate ligand 4,7-bis(2'-methyl-2'-mercaptopropyl)-1-thia-4,7-diazacyclononane), (bmmp-TASN)(2)(-), have been synthesized and characterized as models of iron-containing nitrile hydratase (NHase). The chloro derivative [(bmmp-TASN)Fe(III)Cl].0.5EtOH (1) contains a labile chloride which facilitates synthesis of related complexes via substitution reactions. Complex 1 is high-spin, g = 4.28. Addition of NEt(4)CN with 1 in CH(2)Cl(2) results in the cyanide ligated complex [(bmmp-TASN)Fe(III)CN] x 0.5EtOH (2), which shows a single intense nu(CN) band at 2083 cm(-)(1) in the IR region. Complex 2 is low-spin, g(1) = 2.31, g(2) = 2.16, and g(3) = 1.96. Under basic conditions complex 1 affords a mu-oxo bridged dimeric Fe(III) complex [(bmmp-TASN)Fe(III)](2)O (3), which shows an intense band at 799 cm(-)(1). Complex 3 was recrystallized from CH(2)Cl(2)/hexane solution in the triclinic space group P1, with a = 10.5486(15) A, b = 13.0612(19) A, c = 8.1852(12) A, alpha = 96.923(2) degrees, beta = 112.729(2) degrees, gamma = 81.048(2) degrees, and Z = 1. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the previously communicated iron-nitrosyl complex [(bmmp-TASN)Fe(III)(NO)][BPh(4)] (4) (Inorg. Chem. 2002, 41, 1039-1041) reveal that the HOMO region is dominated by Fe-S bonding. Complexes 1-4 display irreversible or quasi-reversible reductions in the cyclic voltammograms. All of the iron complexes and the zinc derivative, (bmmp-TASN)Zn (5), display an irreversible oxidation. Complex 5 was crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with a = 9.5759(6) A, b = 20.9790(13) A, c = 10.7113(7) A, beta = 91.283(1) degrees, and Z = 4.     

Quantum Chemical Approach for Determining Degradation Pathways of Phenol by Electrical Discharge Plasmas

This study uses density functional theory (DFT) simulations to predict the main pathways by which hydroxyl (OH) radicals oxidize phenol into monohydroxylated products during an electrical discharge directly in or contacting water. The calculated activation energies and reaction rate constants indicate that phenol ring H abstraction is less likely to occur than OH addition, which will be the fastest in the ortho and para positions. The chain propagation with molecular oxygen of such formed ortho and para radicals will result in the production of hydroquinone and catechol, which are, concurrently, the most likely products of phenol degradation by OH radicals. Electron transfer reactions between dihydroxycyclohexadienyl radicals and plasma oxidative species are another important reaction mechanism which may be contributing significantly to the formation of products. Good agreement between computed kinetic and experimental data demonstrates the feasibility of applying DFT to investigate chemical reaction mechanisms.     

Lipase-catalyzed diacylglycerol production under sonochemical irradiation

The present paper describes a protocol for production of diacylglycerol by the partial hydrolysis of soybean oil catalyzed by lipase under ultrasound irradiation. Better yields and shorter reaction times were obtained under sonication as compared to the thermal process.     

Luminescence quenching of [Ru(bpy)3] by ruthenium(II) tetraphosphite complexes with different phosphite ligands

The luminescence quenching of excited Tris(2,2-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) ions by trans-[RuCl₂{P(OR)₃}₄] complexes with different alkyl chain ligands (R=C₂H₅, C₂H₅Cl, ⁿC₄H₉, ⁱC₃H₇ o-tolyl and ^tC₄H₉) was investigated. None of the acceptor Ru(II) phosphite complexes were luminescent, and the rate constants of the bimolecular system were determined within the range of 1.15 and 0.28×10⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for R=C₂H₅ and ^tC₄H₉, respectively. The results indicate a direct effect of the alkyl chains in the rate constants, showing a decrease of k_q as a function of increased of the alkyl chains (R) in the ruthenium(II) tetraphosphite complexes. The greater the R group content in the phosphite ligand, the more difficult the electron transfer is.     

Dichloromethane alkylates a trithiolato-ruthenium complex to yield a methylene-bridged thioether core. Synthesis and structural comparison to the thiolato-ruthenium precursor

The previously reported triphosphino/trithiolato-ruthenium anion, [tris-(2-diphenylphosphinothia-phenolato)ruthenium(II)](-), [Ru(DPPBT)(3)](-), has been isolated as the PPN salt (PPN = bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene) ammonium), 1, from chlorobenzene/ether as light-orange crystalline plates, and the X-ray crystal structure has been determined. In dichloromethane, the cis positioned thiolates are alkylated by solvent yielding the methylene-bridged triphosphino/dithioether/thiolato complex [(bis-(2-diphenylphosphinothiaphenolato)methane)(2-diphenyl-phosphinothiaphenolato)ruthenium(II)]chloride, [Ru((DPPBT)(2)CH(2))(DPPBT)]Cl (2). Dichloromethane solutions of 1 layered with hexanes yield 2 as orange cubes. The ruthenium-sulfur bond distances in the alkylated, thioether product are slightly shorter than in the thiolate precursor. Within 2, the iron-thioether bond distances are comparable to the iron-thiolate distances.