Extraction of Alkylphenols and Nonylphenol Mono- and Diethoxylates from Water Using Magnetically Modified Adsorbents

An LC-DAD-ESI-MS⁽²⁾ method was developed for simultaneous analysis of major chemical constituents in Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SBP), an important multiherbal formula in traditional Chinese medicine widely used for treating cardiovascular diseases. The chromatographic separation was performed on a Symmetry C₁₈ column (5 μm, 250 × 4.6 mm), whilst water with 0.5% formic acid and acetonitrile were used as mobile phase. On the basis of the characteristic UV absorption profile, the information of molecular weight and structure provided by ESI-MS⁽²⁾, 57 constituents from moschus, radix rhizoma ginseng, calculus bovis, cortex cinnamomi, styrax and venenum bufonis, were detected and 47 of them were identified in this study. The method can be the basis for the quality control of SBP.     

Novel Lipophilic Fluorophores with Highly Acidity-Dependent Two-Photon Response

Lipophilic fluorophores are widely implemented in nonlinear microscopy; however, few existing membrane-specific probes combine the high brightness of two-photon excited fluorescence (2PEF) with pH sensitivity. Herein we describe four novel two-photon excited fluorophores, based on a coumarin 151 core structure, where lipophilicity is induced by a covalently attached phosphazene moiety. Changing the environmental acidity using trifluoromethanesulfonic (triflic) acid leads to profound changes in the linear fluorescence and 2PEF characteristics, due to chromophores’ switching between neutral- and protonated forms. We characterize this dependence by measuring the two-photon absorption (2PA) spectra over the region λ_2PA=550–1000 nm, observing 2PA cross sections of σ_2PA=10–20 GM, with an associated 2PEF brightness of 10–13 GM, in neutral solutions of both acetonitrile and n-octanol. Although quantum chemical modelling and NMR measurements show that, at high chromophore concentrations, protonation may be accompanied by a dimerization process, these dimers likely do not form at the lower concentrations used in optical spectroscopy.     

Chirality-Controlled Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Dibenzo[6]helicenes into Langmuir–Blodgett Thin Films

Racemic and highly enantioenriched 3-methoxycarbonyl, 3-carboxy, and 3-hydroxymethyl derivatives of dibenzo[6]helicene were prepared. The Langmuir layers of these helicenes were formed at the air–water interface and transferred onto solid substrates to afford Langmuir–Blodgett films, which were then studied by ambient atomic force microscopy and (chir)optical spectroscopy. Significant differences were found in the behaviour of the Langmuir layers as well as in the morphology, UV/Vis, electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and fluorescence spectra of the Langmuir–Blodgett thin films depending on the molecular chirality and nature of the polar group. The experimental results were supported by molecular dynamics simulations.     

On first-come,first-served queues with two classes of impatient customers

Queueing Systems - We study systems with two classes of impatient customers who differ across the classes in their distribution of service times and patience times. The customers are served on a...     

Simulation of Drug Uptake in a Two Compartmental Fractional Model for a Biological System

This paper presents a very effective numerical method for the solution of the two-compartmental pharmacokinetic model for oral drug administration. This model consists of a set of two fractional order differential equations which connect the two compartments. The first compartment represents the gut while the second compartment corresponds to the drug concentration in the target tissue. For ease of computation, the numerical solution is also created as a Matlab function.     

Determination and identification of synthetic cannabinoids and their metabolites in different matrices by modern analytical techniques – a review

Synthetic cannabinoids have gained popularity due to their easy accessibility and psychoactive effects. Furthermore, they cannot be detected in urine by routine drug monitoring. The wide range of active ingredients in analyzed matrices hinders the development of a standard analytical method for their determination. Moreover, their possible side effects are not well known which increases the danger.     

Organic electronic solid state device: electrochemistry of material preparation

The application of electrochemical methods for the preparation of organic semiconductors for transistors, thermoelectric elements, and photovoltaic devices is briefly reviewed and discussed. Emphasis is given to the properties and material characteristics required for these applications, indicating niches where the use of electrochemical techniques is or could be advantageous.