Temperature controlled ionic liquid-dispersive liquid phase microextraction for determination of trace lead level in blood samples prior to analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with multivariate optimization

This paper described a new approach for the preconcentration of lead (Pb²⁺) by temperature controlled ionic liquid-dispersive liquid phase microextraction (TIL-DLME) prior to analyzing by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). An ionic liquid (IL) 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C₄MIM][PF₆] was used as an extractant solvent. The Pb²⁺ was complexed with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) and then entered into the infinite IL drops at high temperature (> 70 °C). Important variables affecting the microextraction efficiency such as pH, ligand concentration, amount of IL, temperature and incubation time were investigated. The results showed that the coexistent ions had no obvious negative effect on the determination of Pb²⁺. In the optimum experimental conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) and the enhancement factor (EF) were 0.13 μg L^? 1 and 93, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of 10 μg L^? 1 Pb²⁺ was 4.3%. The developed method was validated by determining Pb²⁺ in certified reference material (CRM) and the results showed that the determined values of Pb²⁺ were in good agreement with the certified value. The proposed method was applied satisfactorily for the preconcentration of Pb²⁺ in acid digested blood samples of children with different respiratory disorders.     

Analysis of Heavy Metals in Scalp Hair Samples of Hypertensive Patients by Conventional and Microwave Digestion Methods

The abnormal metabolism of metal ions plays an important role in health and disease conditions, and studies about them have been attracting significant interest. The aim of our study was to assess the heavy metals (cadmium, copper, iron, nickel, chromium, lead, and zinc) in scalp hair samples of 200 hypertensive (HT) patients of an urban population together with 215 non‐hypertensive male subjects in the age group of 30–60 years. Hair samples were digested with conventional wet ashing and microwave digestion. Analyses of both digests were done by flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The validity of methodology was checked by use of the certified reference material (CRM 397) hair, provided the Community Bureau of Reference, Commission of the European Communities. According to a statistical evaluation of the results, the microwave digestion method was a valid alternative to the conventional acid digestion method, p value >0.05, but it gave a faster digestion. The overall metal recoveries were 96–98% of those obtained with microwave digestion. Among the toxic elements determined, levels of nickel, cadmium, copper, chromium, and lead in scalp hair samples of hypertensive patients were significantly higher compared normal male subjects, whereas the essential elements such as iron and zinc were found to be low compared age‐matched non‐hypertensive subjects.     

Square-root dynamics of a giving up smoking model

The paper presents a new giving up smoking model for which interaction term is square root of potential and occasional smokers of model presented in Zaman (2011) [15]. First, we will show formulation of the model. Then we will discuss local and global stability of the model and its general solutions. The non-standard finite difference method (NSFD) is used to solve the new giving up smoking model. Both non-negativity and conservative law for differential equations system are discussed. Numerical results are presented graphically and compared well with those obtained by Runge–Kutta fourth-order method (RK4) and ODE45.     

Majorana zero modes in graphene with trigonal warping

We study the low energy properties of warped monolayer graphene, where the symmetry of the original honeycomb lattice reveals itself. The zero energy solutions are Majorana fermions, whose wave function, originating from the corresponding modified Dirac equation is spatially localized. Experimental consequences are discussed. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Energy absorption buildup factors of some potential bioactive compounds in the energy region 0.015–15 MeV

Kinetic energy released per unit mass relative to air and energy absorption buildup factors has been calculated for some potential bioactive compounds in the energy region of 0.015–15?MeV. The bioactive compounds of 1-aryl-3-dibenzylamino-propane-1-on hydrochloride type Mannich bases were used in this work. Aryl part was changed as C₆H₅ (1), 4-CH₃C₆H₄ (2), C₄H₃S-2-yl (3), 4-FC₆H₄ (4), 4-BrC₆H₄ (5), 4-ClC₆H₄ (6), and 4-NO₂C₆H₄ (7). The energy absorption buildup factors have been calculated for penetration depth of 40 mean free paths. It is observed that kinetic energy released per unit mass relative to air depends on the photon energy and chemical content of compounds. The compounds with least mean atomic number possess the maximum value of energy absorption buildup factors. Also, the energy absorption buildup factors are found the highest in intermediate energy, whereas the lowest in low as well as high energies.     

The behavior of silicalite-1 under high pressure conditions studied by computational simulation

Completely siliceous zeolite ZSM-5 (silicalite-1) under high external pressures, up to 7 GPa, was investigated by energy minimization techniques. Classical empirical potentials have been used to study the phase transformation of the silicalite crystal to a new one with a lower symmetry. The analysis of the unit cell geometry and vibrational spectra at selected pressures suggest the loss of crystallinity of the silicalite structure. We found that a low-density amorphous phase is reached at pressures around 2.5–3.5 GPa. These results are compatible with recent Raman and X-Ray diffraction studies. We report the structural and vibrational properties of the new phase. In addition, we report the simulated elastic constants and the Young’s modulus of silicalite at selected pressures. The simulated results are in semi-quantitative agreement with the experiment.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed (5+1) Annulations Between 2‐Alkenylphenols and Allenes: A Practical Entry to 2,2‐Disubstituted 2H‐Chromenes

Readily available alkenylphenols react with allenes under rhodium catalysis to provide valuable 2,2‐disubstituted 2H‐chromenes. The whole process, which involves the cleavage of one C? H bond of the alkenyl moiety and the participation of the allene as a one‐carbon cycloaddition partner, can be considered a simple, versatile, and atom‐economical (5+1) heteroannulation. The reaction tolerates a broad range of substituents both in the alkenylphenol and in the allene, and most probably proceeds through a mechanism involving a rhodium‐catalyzed C? C coupling followed by two sequential pericyclic processes.     

Concise,Enantioselective, and Versatile Synthesis of (−)‐Englerin A Based on a Platinum‐Catalyzed [4C+3C] Cycloaddition of Allenedienes

A practical synthesis of (?)‐englerin A was accomplished in 17 steps and 11 % global yield from commercially available achiral precursors. The key step consists of a platinum‐catalyzed [4C+3C] allenediene cycloaddition that directly delivers the trans‐fused guaiane skeleton with complete diastereoselectivity. The high enantioselectivity (99 % ee) stems from an asymmetric ruthenium‐catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of a readily assembled diene–ynone. The synthesis also features a highly stereoselective oxygenation, and a late‐stage cuprate alkylation that enables the preparation of previously inaccessible structural analogues.     

Kinetic treatment of acoustic waves in a four‐component dusty plasma

A kinetic formulation is developed to investigate low‐frequency dust ion acoustic waves (DIAWs) and dust acoustic waves (DAWs) as well as numerically for a four‐component, collisionless, unmagnetized dusty plasma, using the linearized Vlasov–Poisson model for species obeying the Maxwellian distribution. In particular, the dynamics of low‐frequency DIAWs is investigated by considering two cases. In the first case, ions and positive dust particles are assumed to be dynamically adiabatic while the negative dust particles are static in the background. In second case, the ions are taken adiabatic, while both positive and negative dust particles are static in the background. For DAWs, the ions are assumed to be isothermal, while both positive and negative dust species are considered adiabatic. Electrons are assumed to be isothermal in all cases. The linear characteristics and Landau damping rates for DIAWs and DAWs are investigated with effects of the dust particle concentrations and different temperature ratios. It is noted that for higher values of positive dust concentration, DIAWs (DAWs) are less (more) damped. It is also observed that the damping rate increases (decreases) as T_i approaches T_e for DIAWs (DAWs). It is worth adding here that the theoretical results presented here are supported by numerical analyses and illustrations. The relevance of the study to laboratory and cosmic plasmas is also pointed out.