Functionalization of cellulose nanocrystal powder by non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasmas

Cellulose - Despite promising characteristics such as the biodegradability and the environmentally benign nature of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) based composites, their poor dispersion and...     

Coumarin-based D–π–A dyes for efficient DSSCs: DFT and TD-DFT study of the π-spacers influence on photovoltaic properties

Research on Chemical Intermediates - A series of D–π–A architectures dyes with Coumarin-based derivatives as difluorenylaminocoumarin (DF) and diphenylaminocoumarin (DP) have been...     

Structure and cooperativity of the hydrogen bonds in sodium dihydrogen triacetate

Geometry and energetics of low energy conformers of sodium dihydrogen triacetate (SDHTA) and its anion are studied using density functional theory (DFT) at the Becke, Lee‐Yang‐Parr hybrid functional (BLYP) and Becke, three‐parameter, Lee‐Yang‐Parr hybrid functional (B3LYP) levels. For both cases, two structures of comparable energy are found, which have different symmetry with respect to the two hydrogen bonds (HBs). DFT‐based Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics simulations are performed for SDHTA, which show that both structures are visited at room temperature conditions. The trajectory analysis further reveals that the two HBs behave anticooperative, that is, on average elongation of one HB is accompanied by a compression of the other one. This is in accord with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experimental studies for a similar counter ion–dihydrogen triacetate complex. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Antimicrobial and anticancer activities of Schiff base ligand and its transition metal mixed ligand complexes with heterocyclic base

A new Schiff base ligand (HL) was prepared via a condensation reaction of quinoline‐2‐carboxaldhyde with 2‐aminophenol in a molar ratio of 1:1. Its transition metal mixed ligand complexes with 1,10‐phenanthroline (1,10‐phen) as co‐ligand were also synthesized in a 1:1:1 ratio. HL and its mixed ligand complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, infrared, ¹H NMR, mass and UV–visible spectroscopies, molar conductance, magnetic measurements, solid reflectance, thermal analysis, electron spin resonance and X‐ray diffraction. Molar conductance measurements showed that all complexes have an electrolytic nature, except Cd(II) complex. From elemental and spectral data, the formulae [M(L)(1,10‐phen)(H₂O)]Cl_x?nH₂O (where M = Cr(III) (x = n = 2), Mn(II) and Ni(II) (x = 1, n = 2), Fe(III) (x = n = 2), Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) (x = 1, n = 2)) and [Cd(L)(1,10‐phen)Cl]?3H₂O for the metal complexes have been proposed. The geometric structures of complexes were found to be octahedral. Powder X‐ray diffraction reflected the crystalline nature of the complexes; however, the Schiff base is amorphous. HL and its mixed ligand complexes were screened against Gram‐positive bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram‐negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli). Antifungal activity was determined against Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans, the data showing that most complexes had activity less than that of the Schiff base while Mn(II), Fe(III) and Ni(II) complexes showed no significant antifungal activity. The anticancer activity of HL and its metal complexes was also studied against breast and colon cell lines. The metal complexes showed IC₅₀ higher than that of HL, especially the Cu(II) complex which showed the highest IC₅₀ against breast cell line.     

Screening and determination of drugs in human saliva utilizing microextraction by packed sorbent and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

This study presents a new method for collecting and handling saliva samples using an automated analytical microsyringe and microextraction by packed syringe (MEPS). The screening and determination of lidocaine in human saliva samples utilizing MEPS and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) were carried out. An exact volume of saliva could be collected. The MEPS C₈‐cartridge could be used for 50 extractions before it was discarded. The extraction recovery was about 60%. The pharmacokinetic curve of lidocaine in saliva using MEPS‐LC‐MS/MS is reported. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comments on “The effect of fractional parameter on a perfect conducting elastic half-space in generalized magneto-thermoelasticity” by N. Sarkar and A. Lahiri [Meccanica (2013) 48:231–245]

In this note, we show that the results in the above paper are incorrect.