Poly(HEMA-co-AA) microparticles for removal of aluminum: The reason for Alzheimer's

Aluminum is one of the most toxic metals causing a variety of neurologic diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease. It is impossible to avoid contact with aluminum because of its existence in food to medications. Therefore, removal of aluminum from the blood or wastewater is urgently important. The cost-effective and easy-to-prepare adsorbents are needed to get efficient aluminum removal. For that purpose, the poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate-co-acrylic acid), poly(HEMA-co-AA), microparticles was synthesized to remove aluminum in a very short interaction time. The achievement of the desired polymeric structure was confirmed via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), etc. Additionally, particle features such as swelling ratio, size, and surface area were determined. The microparticles synthesized in this study have been determined with very good adsorption capacity even in small aluminum concentrations.     

Determination of the surface area of loose metal deposits by impedance spectroscopy

The surface area and fractal dimensions of the surface of loose copper and zinc deposits obtained within 30 and 300 s at direct current sixfold exceeding limiting diffusion current on a smooth electrode were in situ determined by impedance spectroscopy. Impedance measurements were performed in 0.5 M Na₂SO₄ solution. A constant phase element taking into account the distribution of double-layer capacitance over the fractal surface of the electrode was used in the equivalent impedance scheme. Specific surface calculated with regard to the weight of the released metal slightly varied within 300 s (from 6.16 to 6.55 and from 7.12 to 5.89 m²/g for copper and zinc deposits, respectively). Fractal dimensions estimated by chronopotentiometry were given for comparison. Fractal dimensions found by two methods for loose copper and zinc deposits agree with each other; their values (2.19–2.75) testify that the surface of the deposits densely fills the space.     

An electrochemical aptasensor for cytochrome C,based on pillar[5]arene modified with Neutral Red

An electrochemical aptasensor is developed for the highly sensitive determination of cytochrome C, using a change in the redox current of Neutral Red covalently bound to terminal carboxyl groups of decasubstituted pillar[5]arene as a signal. The inclusion of the analyte into the complex with an aptamer reduces peaks of redox current of the dye through the dissociation of electron transfer chain in the surface layer. The aptasensor enables the determination of 1 nM to 1.0 mM of cytochrome C in the presence of 1000-fold excesses of albumin, polyethylene glycol, and lysozyme as models of interfering components in biological fluids.     

A New Method of Mathematical Correction of the Results of Analysis,Obtained by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry,Ensuring the Elimination of the Interference of Doubly Charged Ions

A new method of mathematical correction of the results of analysis, obtained by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, for the elimination of the interference of doubly charged ion was proposed. This method bases on the use recording isotope signals in two operation modes of the spectrometer:standard and with using a collision cell (Kinetic energy discrimination/KED mode). The mathematical correction of the results of arsenic determination in model solutions was performed using two processes, standard and proposed in this paper. The accuracy and repeatability of the results were compared.     

Exploration of antioxidant activity of newly synthesized azo flavones and its correlation with electrochemical parameters along with the study of their redox behaviour

A series of 7-hydroxy-2-aryl-3-(2-aryldiazenyl)-4H-chromen-4-one derivatives was synthesized in quantitative yields. Herein, we demonstrate the antioxidant potential of the synthesized substituted azo flavones using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl assay method along with the evaluation of their redox behaviour by cyclic voltammetry. The synthesized compounds manifested good antioxidant potential as compared to standard antioxidant ascorbic acid, which especially pertains to the compounds having methoxy and hydroxyl groups. A good correlation between minimum inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) and deduced electrochemical parameter, i.e., half peak oxidation potential (E _p/2) values, was established.     

A comparative study of the reactions of fluorinated oxi- and thiiranes with acyl chlorides

The CoCl₂-catalyzed reactions of fluorinated 1,2-oxi- and thiiranes with acyl chlorides were studied. It was found that a regioselective heterocycle opening reaction resulted in two isomers having normal and abnormal structure in a ratio predetermined by the substituents in both the starting heterocycles and acyl chlorides.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Allyl-substituted aminomethylene-1,1-bisphosphonates in 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with aromatic nitrile <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-oxides

A reaction of N-allyl-substituted aminomethylene-1,1-bisphosphonates with aromatic nitrile N-oxides was used to obtain new aminomethylenebisphosphonates with one or two 3-arylisoxazoline rings at the nitrogen atom. NMR spectroscopy studies showed that the bisphosphonates with two isoxazoline fragments in the molecule exist in solution as a mixture of two diastereomers.     

The importance of glyceraldehyde radiolysis in chemical evolution

Studies in chemical evolution are intended to demonstrate how compounds of biological importance are generated from substances that could have been found in abiotic conditions on the primitive Earth or in extraterrestrial environments. In this context, the aim of the present work was to examine the behavior of dl-glyceraldehyde in both aqueous solution and solid samples under gamma irradiation. We irradiated dl-glyceraldehyde at different doses and temperatures with a gamma source; even at low doses and temperature (77 K), free radicals were detected. Among the products formed were ethylene glycol and glycolaldehyde. Some sugar-like compounds were also detected.

     

On the effectiveness of exponential type orbitals with hyperbolic cosine functions in atomic calculations

Unconventional basis functions, constructed from exponential type orbitals (ETOs) with hyperbolic cosine functions, are applied to Roothaan-Hartree-Fock calculations of atoms within the minimal basis sets framework. The most popular ETOs, Slater type orbitals, B functions and \(\psi ^{(\alpha ^*)}\) functions with \(\alpha ^*=2\), and two types of hyperbolic cosine functions, \(\cosh (\beta r)\) and \(\cosh (\beta r+\gamma )\), are used in this work. The performance of the present basis functions is investigated and compared to the conventional double-zeta Slater-type basis set and numerical Hartree-Fock results. The improvement in the atomic energies clearly demonstrates how the accuracy increases when we move from ETO to ETO with hyperbolic cosine basis functions. The resulting improved minimal basis sets can also be useful in molecular calculations.     

Investigation of Cold Atmospheric Plasma-Activated Water for the Dental Unit Waterline System Contamination and Safety Evaluation in Vitro

The disinfection of the inner surface of a medical device has long been a challenge for the central sterile supply departments. Dental unit waterline system (DUWLs) foster the attachment of microorganisms and development of biofilm, which lead to continuous contamination of the outlet water from dental units; this contamination may be responsible for a potential risk of infection due to the exposure of patients and medical staff. The present study investigated the disinfection effects of cold atmospheric plasma-activated water (CAPAW) on DUWLs using a model of 5-day-old Enterococcus faecalis biofilm. The results showed that the colony-forming unit was reduced from 10⁷ to 0 after 5 min of treatment. The physicochemical properties of CAPAW were evaluated, including the pH value, oxidation reduction potential, and NO radical. The results showed that the inactivation mechanisms were mainly triggered by the reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. Additionally, CAPAW had a metal corrosion rate same as that of deionized water. We conclude that CAPAW can be applied as an appropriate alternative disinfectant against biofilm contamination of DUWLs.