Validated HPLC method for the standardization of Phyllanthus niruri (herb and commercial extracts) using corilagin as a phytochemical marker

Phyllanthus niruri L., commonly known in Brazil as ‘quebra‐pedra’, has long been used in the treatment of diverse diseases and especially urolithiasis. The therapeutic effects of P. niruri are attributed to various compounds present in the plant, including the hydrolysable tannin corilagin. In the present study, high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC‐/PAD) profiles of leaves and commercial extracts of P. niruri were examined and three compounds, found to be present in all of the samples studied, were isolated by open column chromatography over C₁₈ silica gel followed by preparative HPLC. These compounds were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance as corilagin, rutin and ethyl 3,4,5‐trihydroxybenzoate. Corilagin, which has been proposed as a phytochemical marker for P. niruri, was employed as an external standard in the development and validation of a rapid and efficient qualitative and quantitative HPLC assay for the analyte. The method may be applied in the standardization of herbs and phytomedicines commercialized in Brazil as quebra‐pedra. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of Ni on the corrosion behavior of Fe–Al intermetallics in simulated human body fluid

The corrosion behavior of FeAl-type intermetallic alloy in the Hank’s solution has been investigated after additions of 1, 3, and 5 at.% Ni with or without thermal annealing at 400 °C for 144 h. Techniques included potentiodynamic polarization curves, linear polarization resistance, and change of the free corrosion potential with time and electrochemical noise in current. Regardless of the heat treatment, additions of Ni increased both the free corrosion potential and the pitting potential values. Additionally, both the corrosion current and the passive current densities were reduced with this element. The alloys which did not suffer from pitting type of corrosion were the heat-treated FeAL base alloy and the one containing 5Ni. Both additions of Ni and thermal annealing improved the adhesion of external protective layer either by avoiding the formation of voids or by lowering the number of precipitates and making them more homogenously distributed.     

Iron nanoparticles produced by high-energy ball milling

In this investigation, the chemical and structural characteristics of Fe nanoparticles synthesized by high-energy ball milling have been explored. After the milling process the nanoparticles were collected using a magnetic field. The structure, morphology and composition of the powders were obtained using high-resolution electron microscopy. HREM images confirmed the nanoparticles’ presence with approximately 2–4 nm in size. It was found that using this method allowed the formation of nanoparticles in a smaller size range than other synthesis methods. Also, it was confirmed by HREM images that the obtained nanoparticles were mainly of the fcc nature and some of them of the MTP type.     

On the -module structure of the noncommutative harmonics

Using a noncommutative analog of Chevalley's decomposition of polynomials into symmetric polynomials times coinvariants due to Bergeron, Reutenauer, Rosas, and Zabrocki we compute the graded Frobenius characteristic for their two sets of noncommutative harmonics with respect to the left action of the symmetric group (acting on variables). We use these results to derive the Frobenius series for the enveloping algebra of the derived free Lie algebra in n variables.     

In‐Situ Nanostructuring and Stabilization of Polycrystalline Copper by an Organic Salt Additive Promotes Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction to Ethylene

Bridging homogeneous molecular systems with heterogeneous catalysts is a promising approach for the development of new electrodes, combining the advantages of both approaches. In the context of CO₂ electroreduction, molecular enhancement of planar copper electrodes has enabled promising advancement towards high Faradaic efficiencies for multicarbon products. Besides, nanostructured copper electrodes have also demonstrated enhanced performance at comparatively low overpotentials. Herein, we report a novel and convenient method for nanostructuring copper electrodes using N,N′‐ethylene‐phenanthrolinium dibromide as molecular additive. Selectivities up to 70 % for C_≥2 products are observed for more than 40 h without significant change in the surface morphology. Mechanistic studies reveal several roles for the organic additive, including: the formation of cube‐like nanostructures by corrosion of the copper surface, the stabilization of these nanostructures during electrocatalysis by formation of a protective organic layer, and the promotion of C_≥2 products.     

Cheiloclines A-I. First examples of octacyclic sesquiterpene-triterpene hetero-Diels-Alder adducts

Cheiloclines A-I (1-9) have been isolated from the root bark of Cheiloclinium hippocratioides (Celastraceae). They represent the first examples of hetero-Diels-Alder adducts between a nor-triterpenequinone and a sesquiterpene. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis, including homonuclear and heteronuclear correlation NMR experiments (COSY, ROESY, HSQC and HMBC). These compounds were tested for antitumoral, antibacterial and aldose reductase inhibitory activities.     

n -Heptane oxidation over co3o4-ceo2 catalyst

The present study reports the catalytic behavior of Co₃O₄-CeO₂ in the oxidation of n-heptane. The results obtained showed that the catalyst give good activity in n-heptane oxidation with high selectivity to carbon dioxide. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Atmospheric Pressure RF (13.56 MHz) Glow Discharge: Characterization and Application to “In Line” Waste Water Treatment

In this work the results obtained from the experimental study of an Atmospheric Pressure Glow Discharge (APGD) appear, generated in Helium (He) and dry air mixture by using a radio frequency (RF 13.56 MHz) power source. The external conditions of the discharge, its macroscopic parameters (i.e., electronic number density n_e and temperature T_e) and the results of its application to in line industrial and domestic waste water treatment are presented.     

The Kronecker Product of Schur Functions Indexed by Two-Row Shapes or Hook Shapes

The Kronecker product of two Schur functions s and s , denoted by s * s , is the Frobenius characteristic of the tensor product of the irreducible representations of the symmetric group corresponding to the partitions and . The coefficient of s in this product is denoted by , and corresponds to the multiplicity of the irreducible character in .We use Sergeev's Formula for a Schur function of a difference of two alphabets and the comultiplication expansion for s [XY] to find closed formulas for the Kronecker coefficients when is an arbitrary shape and and are hook shapes or two-row shapes.Remmel (J.B. Remmel, J. Algebra 120 (1989), 100–118; Discrete Math. 99 (1992), 265–287) and Remmel and Whitehead (J.B. Remmel and T. Whitehead, Bull. Belg. Math. Soc. Simon Stiven 1 (1994), 649–683) derived some closed formulas for the Kronecker product of Schur functions indexed by two-row shapes or hook shapes using a different approach. We believe that the approach of this paper is more natural. The formulas obtained are simpler and reflect the symmetry of the Kronecker product.     

The evolutionary ecology of technological innovations

Technological evolution has been compared to biological evolution by many authors over the last two centuries. As a parallel experiment of innovation involving economic, historical, and social components, artifacts define a universe of evolving properties that displays episodes of diversification and extinction. Here, we critically review previous work comparing the two types of evolution. Like biological evolution, technological evolution is driven by descent with variation and selection, and includes tinkering, convergence, and contingency. At the same time, there are essential differences that make the two types of evolution quite distinct. Major distinctions are illustrated by current specific examples, including the evolution of cornets and the historical dynamics of information technologies. Due to their fast and rich development, the later provide a unique opportunity to study technological evolution at all scales with unprecedented resolution. Despite the presence of patterns suggesting convergent trends between man‐made systems end biological ones, they provide examples of planned design that have no equivalent with natural evolution.