Comparative Evaluation of CE and HPLC for Determination of Cotinine in Human Urine

Two rapid and popular methods—capillary electrophoresis (CE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been compared for analysis of cotinine in human urine. Cotinine was analyzed in less than 7 min, with detection limits of 5 and 3.2 ng mL⁻¹ for CE and HPLC, respectively. The performance of the methods was evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity, precision, accuracy, and limits of detection and quantification. Calibration plots were linear in the range 50–4,000 ng mL⁻¹, at least, and mean recoveries were satisfactory for both techniques. The methods were successfully used for quantification of cotinine in urine.     

Structural and Adsorptive Characteristics of Pyrocarbon/Silica Gel Si-60

Pyrocarbon/silica gel adsorbents (carbosils, CS) with mesoporous Si-60 (Merck, granule size 0.2–0.5 mm) modified by pyrolysis of CH₂Cl₂ at 823 K and reaction time from 0.5 to 6 h and then hydrothermally treated at 473 K for 6 h were studied by means of TEM, adsorption and ¹H NMR methods. Changes in the structural and adsorptive characteristics of hybrid adsorbents before and after hydrothermal treatment, which depend on pyrocarbon content (C _C), were analyzed on the basis of TEM micrographs and p-nitrophenol and nitrogen adsorption isotherms treated using a constrained regularization method. Interfacial water layers in aqueous suspension of CS were investigated by means of ¹H NMR with freezing-out of bulk water at T < 273 K showing nonlinear changes in the Gibbs free energy of interfacial water with increasing C _C because of nonlinear dependence of the structural characteristics of pyrocarbon deposits and CS as a whole on C _C.     

Influence of substituents on positron annihilation in styrene copolymers

Results of angular correlation of annihilation radiation (ACAR) and positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) measurements are presented for five styrene copolymers: poly(co-styrene-phenylmaleimide) and its three derivatives with chlorine as well as for one with the OH group substituted at the benzene ring. It occurs that the chlorine substituted at three different positions at the benzene ring poly(co-styrene-o (or-m,-p)-chlorophenylmaleimide) inhibits the formation of the positronium to different extent. The greatest effect is observed in case of the chlorine atom substituted at the benzene ring at the ortho-position towards the nitrogen atom. The two long lifetimes (₃ and ₄) observed in the lifetime spectra are connected with the bimodal distributions of the free volume radius in the samples.     

Silicate Xerogels with Dopant-Induced Chirality

A series of silicate xerogels with entrapped chiral amino acids have been obtained via sol-gel technology. The transparent, glassy samples obtained exhibit chirality in the bulk due to the presence of the entrapped asymmetric molecules. Measurements of the optical activity of the doped xerogel samples revealed that the entrapment did not significantly influence the optical activity observed for liquid solutions of the amino acids. Thus, the sol-gel method enables the preparation of amorphous optical materials exhibiting properties of strictly spatially defined molecular systems. Apart from the obvious optical applications, such porous materials with asymmetric centers might find interesting applications in chiral chemical syntheses and separations.     

Some thermodynamic aspects of nitrides in materials science

The energies of combustion in fluorine of gallium nitride and indium nitride in wurzite crystalline structure have been measured in a two-compartment calorimetric bomb, and new standard molar enthalpies of formation have been calculated: Δ_fH_m⁰(GaN(cr) 298.15 K)= –(163.7±4.2) kJ mol^–1 and Δ_fH_m⁰(InN(cr) 298.15 K)= –(146.5±4.6) kJ mol^–1 . Comparison with the recommended values of the Δ_fH_m⁰ nitrides from the literature is also presented.     

Glass transition temperatures of polyurethane-urea elastomers based on N,N′-ethylenethiourea and N,N′-ethyleneurea as chain extenders

Glass transition temperatures of polyurethane-urea elastomers (PU) based on two urea derivatives, have been investigated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) methods. The DMTA measurements have been proved as more useful to determine an optimal annealing time and to controlling polyurethane-urea synthesis then the DSC analysis.

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Zusammenfassung Mittels DSC und DMTA wurden die Glasumwandlungspunkte von Polyurethan-Harnstoff Elastomeren (PU) auf der Basis zweier Harnstoffderivate untersucht. DMTA-Messungen erwiesen sich als nutzbringender zur Bestimmung einer optimalen Temperungsdauer und zur überwachung der Polyurethan-Harnstoff-Synthese als die DSC-Analyse.

     

Proton transfer reactions from N-H acid [5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-21-H, 23-H-porphyrin] to strong bases in acetonitrile

Deprotonation of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-21-H, 23-H-porphyrin (PhF₅PorH₂) by various bases has been studied by ¹H NMR and kinetic methods. The kinetic parameters in acetonitrile were defined for proton transfer reactions yielding [NH]⁺ protonated bases and [NHN]⁻ anions with intramolecular hydrogen-bonded chains.     

Studies of the reaction mechanism between copper(II) sulphate and excess copper(I) sulphide

The reaction process between CuSO₄ and excess Cu₂S in the temperature range 650–750 K was investigated by methods of thermal analysis and by studying the phase contentss of the products as a function of the fractional conversion. The reaction proceeds in three steps, with Cu₂S and a new phase described by the formula Cu₂SO₂ as intermediates. This new phase is liquid under the conditions of the reaction. The final product of the reaction is a defective crystalline Cu₂O.

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Zusammenfassung Der Verlauf der Reaktion zwischen CuSO₄ und überschüssigem Cu₂S im Temperaturbereich von 650–750 K wurde mittels thermoanalytischer Methoden und durch Ermittlung der Phasenzusammensetzung in AbhÄngigkeit von der Konversion untersucht. Die Reaktion verlÄuft in drei Schritten mit Cu₂S und einer neuen Phase der Zusammensetzung Cu₂SO₂ als Zwischenproduke. Die neue Phase ist unter den Reaktionsbedingungen eine Flüssigkeit. Endprodukt der Reaktion ist nicht völlig kristallines Cu₂O.

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CuSO₄ Cu₂S 650–750 K . Cu₂S , Cu₂SO₂ . Cu₂O .

     

Lead tetraacetate-iodine oxidation of 23-spirostanols

Reactions of 23R- and 23S-23-spirostanols in the 25R and 25S series with lead tetraacetate-iodine were studied. The reactions carried out at low temperature afforded d-seco-iododialdehydes and C₂₂ lactones, while similar reactions performed in refluxing tetrachloromethane yielded 20-chlorolactones and their 21-acetoxy derivatives irrespective of the hydroxyl group configuration at C-23. The reaction mechanisms are discussed.     

Thermal properties of poly-N-vinylcarbazole derivatives

Thermal studies were carried out on some products of chemical modification of poly-N-vinylcarbazole (PNVC). The effect of a substituent introduced into the carbazole ring on the thermal stability of the polymers was investigated. The kinetic parameters of the thermal degradation process were computed.

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Zusammenfassung An chemisch modifizierten Produkten von Poly-N-Vinylkarbazol (PNVC) wurden thermische Untersuchungen durchgeführt, sowie der Effekt eines in den Karbazolring eingeführten Substituenten auf die thermische Stabilität des Polymers untersucht. Weiterhin wurden die kinetischen Parameter des Zersetzungsprozesses errechnet.

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