Single- and multi-shot laser-induced damages of Ta_2O_5/SiO_2 dielectric mirrors at 1064 nm

Ta2O5/SiO2 dielectric mirrors deposited by ion beam sputtering (IBS) are studied. The multi-shot laserinduced damage threshold (LIDT) and its dependence on the number of shots are investigated, after which we find that the multi-shot LIDT is lower than that of single-shot. The accumulation effects of defects play an important role in the multi-shot laser damage. A simple model, which includes the conduction band electron production vsa multiphoton and impact ionizations, is presented to explain the experimental phenomena.     

Preparation,Characterization and Electromagnetic Shielding Effectiveness of Conductive Polythiophene/Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Composite Fibers

Conductive polythiophene (PTh)/poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) composite fibers were prepared by polymerization of thiophene in the presence of PET fibers in acetonitrile medium using FeCl₃. The effects of polymerization conditions such as oxidant/monomer mol ratio and polymerization temperature and time on PTh content and surface electrical resistivity of PTh/PET composite fiber were investigated in detail. It was observed that the usage of preswelled PET fibers in dichloromethane increased the PTh content and decreased surface resistivity of composite fiber. Composite fiber having the highest PTh content (5.7%) and the lowest surface resistivity (80 kΩ) was obtained at 20°C with 1.25 M FeCl₃ and 0.42 M thiophene concentrations. The washing effects of laundering detergent and dry cleaning liquid on surface resistivity of composite fibers were investigated. The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMSE) and relative shielding efficiency by absorption and reflection of composite fibers were measured in the radio and microwave frequency range. The results show that the EMSE values decreased with increasing frequency from radio waves to microwaves with an attenuation of 21 dB to 4 dB.     

New approach to development of phenolic thermopolymerization inhibitors for processing of pyrolysis products (by example of pyrocatechol)

New approach to processing of phenols to enable their use as thermopolymerization inhibitors of unsaturated components of pyrocondensates is suggested. The method consists in a mild thermal treatment of a mixture of phenol, solvent, and kraft terpentine. A treatment of this kind results in that any (un)substituted phenol acquires inhibiting properties that compare well with those of the best phenolic inhibitors.     

Voltammetric methods of reboxetine analysis and the mechanism of its electrode reactions

Reboxetine (RBX) electrochemical redox behavior at hanging mercury drop (HMDE) and glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) was studied in various pH Britton-Robinson universal buffers using cyclic voltammetry and square-wave voltammetry. RBX was reduced at the HMDE and oxidized at the GCE with reversible adsorption controlled and irreversible diffusion controlled processes respectively. The anodic peak is due to the amine and the cathodic peak may correspond to oxygen protonation. An oxidation reaction mechanism is proposed. The linear relation between peak currents and RBX concentration allowed simple, sensitive, precise and inexpensive voltammetric procedures to be developed. The limit of detection was 0.04 µM RBX. The procedures were successfully applied to human urine and RBX tablet assay. Therapeutic RBX concentrations in human serum were not detected due to strong drug-protein binding. Using bovine serum albumin, the methods were used to investigate the effect of serum protein binding on RBX determination.      

Simultaneous Determination of α- and γ-Mangostins in Mouse Plasma by HPLC–MS/MS Method: Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study of Mangosteen Extract in Mouse

Recently, extracts from the pericarp of mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana L., exhibited various pharmacological properties such as anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and chemopreventive activities. Albeit it has diverse application, there is little information about its pharmacokinetic aspects. Thus, the present study was undertaken to develop the simultaneous determination of α- and γ-mangostins (α- and γ-MG), major and active compounds, from extracts for the application of pharmacokinetic studies in mice using combined liquid chromatography–tandem mass-spectrometry and microsampling systems. The intra- and inter-validation, precision, accuracy, stability, recovery and matrix effects of α- and γ-MG were conducted in mouse plasma. Based on the developed analytical methods, pharmacokinetic parameters of α- and γ-MG after intravenous and oral administration of mangosteen extract were calculated. In sample preparation steps, the biological samples were deproteinized by acetonitrile and chromatographic separation was accomplished on a C₁₈ column. The detection was accomplished by multiple-reaction monitoring scanning after electrospray ionization source in the positive ionization mode. The optimized mass transition ion pairs (m/z) for quantitation were 411.062 → 354.900, 397.384 → 340.900, and 808.379 → 527.200 for α- and γ-MG and docetaxel (internal standard), respectively. The total run time was 5 min. The results provided a meaningful basis for the preclinical and clinical application of mangosteen extract.     

The Pharmacokinetic Profiles of Pre-Operative Prophylactic Cefepime Application in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women Undergoing Surgical Interventions Using a Fully Validated Liquid Chromatographic Method

Pregnancy alters pharmacokinetic profile of many drugs, because of altering body volume and metabolism rate. Therefore, dosage rates and concentrations of drugs must be controlled during pregnancy. Here, we identified the pharmacokinetic profile of pre-operatively given cefepime in caesarean section and gynecological operations using a simple, rapid, cost-effective and valid liquid chromatographic method. The chromatographic separation was performed using 40 mM, pH 3.2 phosphate buffer containing 6 % methanol as mobile phase at 0.30 mL min^?1 flow rate. Gradient elution with methanol was applied to get shorter analysis time without any interference from plasma endogens. During analyses, temperature of column, autosampler and detector were set as 30, 10 and 40 °C, respectively. The detection wavelength was 260 nm and ceftizoxime was used as internal standard. At the optimum conditions, the cefepime analysis from plasma samples was completed in 7 min. Cefepime was extracted from plasma samples using perchloric acid with a very high recovery rate (99.3 %). The method was fully validated according to the Food and Drug Administration guidelines for bioanalytical method validation, and found to be selective, linear, repeatable, reproducible and robust. After validation studies, the method was applied to five caesarean-sectioned and four non-pregnant sectioned women treated with pre-operative, prophylactic single intravenous dose of cefepime (1 g Maxipime^®) in order to determine pharmacokinetic profile of cefepime. Peak serum concentrations of cefepime in caesarean-sectioned women at the arterial port after infusion was 70.11 ± 10.74 μg mL^?1. The mean elimination half-life, volume of distribution and calculated area under the concentration–time curve (AUC)_0–∞ were 1.10 ± 0.23 h, 14.22 ± 2.29 L and 101.55 ± 10.99 μg h mL^?1 for caesarean-sectioned women; and 1.14 ± 0.21 h, 14.76 ± 2.92 L and 104.71 ± 36.34 μg h mL^?1 for non-pregnant sectioned women, respectively. The area under curve, elimination half-life, maximum plasma concentration and the mean distribution volume of cefepime were not changed in case of pregnancy.     

A Photochemical Approach to a Potential Precursor of the Bicyclo [6.4.0] Dodecane Ring System of Taxane Diterpenes

The intermolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition of dimedone 6 and 1-acetoxy-2-methyl-5-dioxolan-1-hexene 7 followed by alkaline treatment, gave the 1,5,5,11-tetramethyl-7-dioxolan bicyclo [4,3,2]-4-decen-2,3-dione 12, and the 1,5,5-trimethyl-3-hydroxy-7-dioxolan bicyclo [5,4,1] dodecan-2,11-dione 13.