New spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of palladium

Summary A simple, rapid, selective, and sensitive method for the spectrophotometric determination of palladium is developed based on the reaction of Pd(II) with 1-amino-4-hydroxyanthraquinone (AMHA). The reaction is carried out atpH 3.8 in 50% (v/v) ethanol-water medium. The molar absorptivity of the complexed ligand is 1.1 · 10⁴ l mol^–1 cm^–1 at 620 nm. Calibration plots are linear up to 17 µg Pd cm^–3. The optimum concentration range (Ringbom plot) is between 3–14.5 µg cm^–3. The spectral study of the reaction in solutions containing equimolar concentrations or an excess of one component, in thepH range 0.3–6.5, indicate the possible complex transitions that occur in solution. Complete graphical and logarithmic analysis of the absorbance-pH graphs was performed to demonstrate and characterize the complexation equilibria in solution. Under the optimum conditions, palladium can be determined as the noncharged complex Pd(AMHA)₂ in the presence of a large number of foreign ions. Interferences caused by zirconium(IV) could be masked with fluoride ions.

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Eine neue spektrophotometrische Methode für die Bestimmung von Palladium in Spuren

Zusammenfassung Eine einfache, schnelle und empfindliche Methode für die spektrophotometrische Bestimmung von Palladium wurde auf der Basis der Reaktion von Pd(II) mit 1-Amino-4-hydroxyanthrachinon (AMHA) entwickelt. Die Reaktion wird in 50% (v/v) Ethanol/Wasser beipH 3.8 ausgeführt. Die molare Absorption des komplexierten Liganden beträgt 1.1 · 10⁴ l mol^–1 cm^–1 bei 620 nm. Kalibrierungskurven verlaufen bis zu 17 µg Pd cm^–3 linear. Der optimale Konzentrationsbereich (Ringbom-Plot) liegt zwischen 3 und 14.5 µg cm^–3. Spektroskopische Untersuchungen der Reaktion in Lösungen, entweder mit equimolaren Konzentrationen oder mit einem Überschuß an einer Komponente impH-Bereich 0.3–6.5, lassen Rückschlüsse auf mögliche Komplex-Übergänge in Lösung zu. Es wurde eine vollständige graphische, logarithmische Analyse der Absorptions-pH-Graphen durchgeführt, um die Komplexgleichgewichte in Lösung aufzuklären und zu charakterisieren. Unter den Optimalbedingungen kann Palladium als nichtgeladener Komplex Pd(AMHA)₂ in Gegenwart einer großen Anzahl an Fremd-Ionen bestimmt werden. Schwierigkeiten mit Zirkonium(IV) konnte durch Maskierung mit Fluorid-Ionen umgangen werden.

     

Informational analysis of seismic sequences by applying the Fisher Information Measure and the Shannon entropy: An application to the 2004–2010 seismicity of Aswan area (Egypt)

The interevent-time (IET) and interevent-distance (IED) series of seismic events occurred at Aswan area (Egypt) from 2004 to 2010 were investigated by means of the Fisher Information Measure and the Shannon entropy. The analysis was performed varying the depth and the magnitude thresholds. The results point out to an increase of level of organization and order with the decrease of magnitude threshold and the increase of depth threshold for the IET series, while the IED series are characterized by a level of uncertainty approximately constant with the threshold magnitude. The complexity measure, calculated as the product of the Fisher Information Measure and the Shannon entropy power, presents very similar pattern for both the types of seismic series, indicating an increasing complexity with the decrease of the threshold magnitude and the increase of the threshold depth.     

Regulating Oxygen Configuration in Hierarchically Porous Carbon Nanosheets for High-Rate and Durable Na+ Storage

Surface oxygen functionalities (particularly C−O configuration) in carbon materials have negative influence on their electrical conductivity and Na⁺ storage performance. Herein, we propose a concept from surface chemistry to regulate the oxygen configuration in hierarchically porous carbon nanosheets (HPCNS). It is demonstrated that the C−O/C=O ratio in HPCNS reduces from 1.49 to 0.43 and its graphitization degree increases by increasing the carbonization temperature under a reduction atmosphere. Remarkably, such high graphitization degree and low C−O content of the HPCNS-800 are favorable for promoting its electron/ion transfer kinetics, thus endowing it with high-rate (323.6 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.05 A g⁻¹ and 138.5 mAh g⁻¹ at 20.0 A g⁻¹) and durable (96 % capacity retention over 5700 cycles at 10.0 A g⁻¹) Na⁺ storage performance. This work permits the optimization of heteroatom configurations in carbon for superior Na⁺ storage.     

Electrochemical behavior of aluminum and some of its alloys in chloroaluminate ionic liquids: electrolytic extraction and electrorefining

The electrochemical behaviors of pure Al, Al–6%Si, Al–3%Cu, and Al–3.7%Cu–0.9%Mg–0.8%Pb–0.6%Fe alloys were investigated in the chloroaluminate ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIm]Cl/AlCl₃ (40/60 mol%) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [EMIm]Cl/AlCl₃ (40/60 mol%). Electrolytic extraction of copper from Al–Cu alloys in the employed ionic liquids was explored. The alloys were anodically dissolved in the ionic liquids and then pure copper was recovered under potentiostatic conditions. Due to the large difference between the deposition potentials of Cu and Al, pure Cu can be obtained without Al contamination. Electrorefining of Al–3%Cu and Al–6%Si alloys was also investigated in [BMIm]Cl/AlCl₃ (40/60 mol%) at room temperature. High purity aluminum deposits were obtained with significantly low energy consumption of about 2 kWh/kg of Al.     

Studies on 2-Aminothiophenes: Synthesis,Transformations, and Biological Evaluation of Functionally-Substituted Thiophenes and Their Fused Derivatives

Abstract

Heterocyclic enamines1 reacted with ethyl acetoacetate to afford the corresponding amide derivatives2. Treatment of2 with carbon disulphide yielded the dipotassium salts3which reacted in-situ with a variety of α -haloketones to give the respective substituted thiophenes5,8, and13. The reactivity of the latter products towards various chemical reagents was studied to yield their fused thiophene derivatives7,10,12, and14, respectively. Some representative compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity.     

In Vitro Inhibitory Analysis of Rationally Designed siRNAs against MERS-CoV Replication in Huh7 Cells

MERS-CoV was identified for the first time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2012 in a hospitalized patient. This virus subsequently spread to 27 countries with a total of 939 deaths and 2586 confirmed cases and now has become a serious concern globally. Camels are well known for the transmission of the virus to the human population. In this report, we have discussed the prediction, designing, and evaluation of potential siRNA targeting the ORF1ab gene for the inhibition of MERS-CoV replication. The online software, siDirect 2.0 was used to predict and design the siRNAs, their secondary structure and their target accessibility. ORF1ab gene folding was performed by RNAxs and RNAfold software. A total of twenty-one siRNAs were selected from 462 siRNAs according to their scoring and specificity. siRNAs were evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxicity and antiviral efficacy in Huh7 cell line. No significant cytotoxicity was observed for all siRNAs in Huh7 cells. The in vitro study showed the inhibition of viral replication by three siRNAs. The data generated in this study provide preliminary and encouraging information to evaluate the siRNAs separately as well as in combination against MERS-CoV replication in other cell lines. The prediction of siRNAs using online software resulted in the filtration and selection of potential siRNAs with high accuracy and strength. This computational approach resulted in three effective siRNAs that can be taken further to in vivo animal studies and can be used to develop safe and effective antiviral therapies for other prevalent disease-causing viruses.     

Phytochemical and Biological Evaluation of a Newly Designed Nutraceutical Self-Nanoemulsifying Self-Nanosuspension for Protection and Treatment of Cisplatin Induced Testicular Toxicity in Male Rats

The incorporation of cisplatin (CP) as a cytotoxic antineoplastic agent in most chemotherapeutic protocols is a challenge due to its toxic effect on testicular tissues. Natural compounds present a promising trend in research, so a new nutraceutical formulation (NCF) was designed to diminish CP spermatotoxicity. A combination of three nutraceutical materials, 250 mg Spirulina platensis powder (SP), 25 mg Tribulus terrestris L. extract (TT), and 100 mg fish oil (FO) were formulated in self-nanoemulsifying self-nanosuspension (SNESNS). SP was loaded into the optimized self-nanoemulsifying system (30% FO, 50% span 80/cremophor EL and 20% isopropanol) and mixed with TT aqueous solution to form SNESNS. For the SP, phytochemical profiling revealed the presence of valuable amounts of fatty acids (FAs), amino acids, flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and particle size analysis confirmed the formation of nanoemulsion-based nanosuspension upon dilution. Method validation of the phytochemical constituents in NCF has been developed. Furthermore, NCF was biologically evaluated on male Wistar rats and revealed the improvement of spermatozoa, histopathological features, and biochemical markers over the CP and each ingredient group. Our findings suggest the potential of NCF with SNESNS as a delivery system against CP-induced testicular toxicity in male rats.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and docking studies of tetracyclic 10‐iodo‐1,2‐dihydroisoquinolino[2,1‐b][1,2,4]benzothiadiazine 12,12‐dioxide and its precursors

The title compound, 10‐iodo‐1,2‐dihydroisoquinolino[2,1‐b][1,2,4]benzothiadiazine 12,12‐dioxide, C₁₅H₁₁IN₂O₂S ( 8 ), was synthesized via the metal‐free intramolecular N‐iodosuccinimide (NIS)‐mediated radical oxidative sp³‐C—H aminative cyclization of 2‐(2′‐aminobenzenesulfonyl)‐1,3,4‐trihydroisoquinoline, C₁₅H₁₆N₂O₂S ( 7 ). The amino adduct 7 was prepared via a two‐step reaction, starting from the condensation of 2‐nitrobenzenesulfonyl chloride ( 4 ) with 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisoquinoline ( 5 ), to afford 2‐(2′‐nitrobenzenesulfonyl)‐1,3,4‐trihydroisoquinoline, C₁₅H₁₄N₂O₄S ( 6 ), in 82% yield. The catalytic hydrogenation of 6 with hydrogen gas, in the presence of 10% palladium‐on‐charcoal catalyst, furnished 7 . Products 6 – 8 were characterized by their melting points, IR and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The three compounds crystallized in the monoclinic space group, with 7 exhibiting classical intramolecular hydrogen bonds of 2.16 and 2.26 Å. All three crystal structures exhibit centrosymmetric pairs of intermolecular C—H…π(ring) and/or π–π stacking interactions. The docking studies of molecules 6 , 7 and 8 with deoxyribonucleic acid (PDB id: 1ZEW ) revealed minor‐groove binding behaviours without intercalation, with 7 presenting the most favourable global energy of the three molecules. Nonetheless, molecule 8 interacted strongly with the DNA macromolecule, with an attractive van der Waals energy of ?15.53 kcal mol^?1.     

Interaction of relativistic alpha particles in emulsion at 2.1 GeV/c/nucleon

An analysis for 2,000 events produced by 2.1 GeV/c/n alpha particles in nuclear emulsion has been carried out. Multiplicity and angular distributions of charged secondaries have been measured and correlation among them are discussed. The presented data are compared with relevant values from proton and¹⁴N interactions with nuclei. The multiplicity distribution of showers has been tested by a modified independent nucleon-nucleus multiple scattering model (INAM) of reference [8], and by the model of reference [12].     

Surface activity and thermodynamic of micellization and adsorption for isooctylphenol ethoxylates, phosphate esters and their mixtures with N-diethoxylated perfluorooctanamide

Three nonionic surfactants; p-isooctylphenol ethoxylates p-[i-OPE10], p-[i-OPE15], and p-[i-OPE20], were phosphorylated to produce three anionic phosphate ester surfactants. In addition, N-diethoxylated perfluorooctanamide (N-DEFOA) was also prepared. The surface and thermodynamic properties of the three types of surfactants and mixtures of the fluorocarbon surfactant (FC) with the hydrocarbon surfactants (HC) have been investigated. Surface tension as a function of concentration of the surfactant in aqueous solution was measured at 30, 40, 50 and 60°C, using the spinning drop technique. From these measurements the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the surface tension at the CMC (γ_CMC), the maximum surface excess concentration (Γ_max), the minimum area per molecule at the aqueous solution/air interface (A_min), and the effectiveness of surface tension reduction (π_CMC), were calculated. The thermodynamic parameters of micellization (ΔG_mic, ΔH_mic, ΔS_mic) and of adsorption (ΔG_ad, ΔH_ad, ΔS_ad) for these surfactants and their mixtures were also calculated. Structural effects on micellization, adsorption and effectiveness of surface tension reduction are discussed in terms of these parameters. The results show that the FC surfactant and its mixtures with HC surfactants enhance the efficiency in surface tension reduction and adsorption in the mixed monolayer at the aqueous solution/air interface, and also, reduce γ_CMC and the tendency towards micellization.