Screening method for phthalate esters in water using liquid-phase microextraction based on the solidification of a floating organic microdrop combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A simple and efficient liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) technique was developed using directly suspended organic microdrop coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), for the extraction and the determination of phthalate esters (dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)) in water samples. Microextraction efficiency factors, such as nature and volume of the organic solvent, temperature, salt effect, stirring rate and the extraction time were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized extraction conditions (extraction solvent: 1-dodecanol; extraction temperature: 60 °C; microdrop volume: 7 μL; stirring rate: 750 rpm, without salt addition and extraction time: 25 min), figures of merit of the proposed method were evaluated. The values of the detection limit were in the range of 0.02–0.05 μg L⁻¹, while the R.S.D.% value for the analysis of 5.0 μg L⁻¹ of the analytes was below 7.7% (n = 4). A good linearity (r² ≥ 0.9940) and a broad linear range (0.05–100 μg L⁻¹) were obtained. The method exhibited enrichment factor values ranging from 307 to 412. Finally, the designed method was successfully applied for the preconcentration and determination of the studied phthalate esters in different real water samples and satisfactory results were attained.     

Comparison of Pulsed and Continuous Wave Diode Laser at 940 nm on the Viability and Migration of Gingival Fibroblasts

Gingival fibroblasts have critical roles in oral wound healing. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has been shown to promote mucosal healing and is now recommended for managing oncotherapy-associated oral mucositis. This study examined the effects of the emission mode of a 940 nm diode laser on the viability and migration of human gingival fibroblasts. Cells were cultured in a routine growth media and treated with PBM (average power 0.1 W cm⁻², average fluence 3 J cm⁻², every 12 h for six sessions) in one continuous wave and two pulsing settings with 20% and 50% duty cycles. Cell viability was assessed using MTT, and digital imaging quantified cell migration. After 48 and 72 h, all treatment groups had significantly higher viability (n = 6, P < 0.05) compared with the control. The highest viability was seen in the pulsed (20% duty cycle) group at the 72-h time point. PBM improved fibroblast migration in all PBM-treated groups, but differences were not statistically significant (n = 2, P > 0.05). PBM treatments can promote cell viability in both continuous and pulsed modes. Further studies are needed to elucidate the optimal setting for PBM-evoked responses for its rationalized use in promoting specific phases of oral wound healing.     

A green method for the electroorganic synthesis of new 1,3-Indandione derivatives

This is an environmentally friendly method in the field of electroorganic reactions under controlled potential electrolysis, without toxic reagents at a carbon electrode in an undivided cell which involves the (EC) mechanism reaction and comprises two steps alternatively; (i) electrochemical oxidation and (ii) chemical reaction. In particular, the electrochemical oxidation of 4-tert-butylcatechol, 4-methylcatechol and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid in the presence of 2-phenyl-1,3-indandione has been studied in a water-acetonitrile (90 : 10) mixture. The research includes the use of a variety of experimental techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, controlled-potential electrolysis, and spectroscopic identification of products (FT-IR, (1)H-NMR, and MS spectrometry).     

Novel chiral poly(ester-imide)s with different natural amino acids in the main chain as well as in the side chain: synthesis and characterization

Several novel chiral and potentially biodegradable poly(ester-imide)s (PEI)s bearing natural amino acids in the main chain as well as in the side chain were synthesized via direct polyesterification of N,N'-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-(L-tyrosine dimethyl ester) as a biodegradable optically active phenolic diol and synthesized diacids containing different amino acids and phthalimide group in the side chain. With the aim of tosyl chloride/pyridine/N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) system as a condensing agent under conventional heating condition, the new optically active PEIs were obtained in good yield and moderate inherent viscosity up to 0.35 dL/g. The obtained polymers were characterized with FT-IR, ¹H NMR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. They are readily soluble in amide type solvents such as N,N-dimethylacetamide, DMF, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, and protic solvents such as sulfuric acid. TGA showed that the 10% weight loss temperature in argon atmosphere was around 350 °C, which indicates that the resulting PEIs have a good thermal stability. The presence of amino acid in the PEIs architecture, not only cause to be used as optically active materials but also makes them susceptible to be biocompatible and biodegradable compound.     

Semistar-Krull and valuative dimension of integral domains

Given a stable semistar operation of finite type ⋆ on an integral domain D, we show that it is possible to define in a canonical way a stable semistar operation of finite type ⋆[X] on the polynomial ring D[X], such that, if n := ⋆-dim(D), then n+1 ≤ ⋆[X]-dim(D[X]) ≤ 2n+1. We also establish that if D is a ⋆-Noetherian domain or is a Prüfer ⋆-multiplication domain, then ⋆[X]-dim(D[X]) = ⋆- dim(D)+1. Moreover we define the semistar valuative dimension of the domain D, denoted by ⋆-dim _v (D), to be the maximal rank of the ⋆-valuation overrings of D. We show that ⋆-dim _v (D) = n if and only if ⋆[X ₁, . . . , X _n ]-dim(D[X ₁, . . . , X _n ]) = 2n, and that if ⋆-dim _v (D) < ∞ then ⋆[X]-dim _v (D[X]) = ⋆-dim _v (D) + 1. In general ⋆-dim(D) ≤ ⋆-dim _v (D) and equality holds if D is a ⋆-Noetherian domain or is a Prüfer ⋆-multiplication domain. We define the ⋆-Jaffard domains as domains D such that ⋆-dim(D) < ∞ and ⋆-dim(D) = ⋆-dim _v (D). As an application, ⋆-quasi-Prüfer domains are characterized as domains D such that each (⋆, ⋆′)-linked overring T of D, is a ⋆′-Jaffard domain, where ⋆′ is a stable semistar operation of finite type on T. As a consequence of this result we obtain that a Krull domain D, must be a w _D -Jaffard domain.     

Optical precursors in coupled-resonator-induced transparency

We experimentally examined the propagation of temporally square modulated optical pulses through a coupled ring resonator. Sharp transient spikes appeared as the square pulses entered the system. The main signal gradually grew up through coupled-resonator-induced transparency (CRIT), with the time constant determined by a second resonator. Transient spikes were attributed to the higher and lower spectral components of the incident pulse, to which the resonators cannot respond; hence, they were interpreted as optical precursors. The experiments, therefore, demonstrated that precursors and the main signal can be observed separately, with amplitudes comparable to that of the incident step in CRIT.     

Optimization of Wall Material of Freeze-Dried High-Bioactive Microcapsules with Yellow Onion Rejects Using Simplex Centroid Mixture Design Approach Based on Whey Protein Isolate,Pectin, and Sodium Caseinate as Incorporated Variables

For the food sector, onion rejects are an appealing source of value-added byproducts. Bioactive compounds were recovered from yellow onion rejects using a pulse electric field process at 6000 v and 60 pulses. The onion extract was encapsulated with whey protein isolate (WPI), pectin (P), and sodium caseinate (SC) with a mass ratio of 1:5 (extract/wall material, w/w). A Simplex lattice with augmented axial points in the mixture design was applied for the optimization of wall material for the encapsulation of onion reject extract by freeze-drying (FD). The optimal wall materials were 47.6 g/100 g (SC), 10.0 g/100 g (P), and 42.4 g/100 g (WPI), with encapsulation yield (EY) of 85.1%, total phenolic content (TPC) of 48.7 mg gallic acid equivalent/g DW, total flavonoid content (TFC) of 92.0 mg quercetin equivalent/g DW, and DPPH capacity of 76.1%, respectively. The morphological properties of the optimal encapsulate demonstrated spherical particles with a rough surface. At optimal conditions, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract (mean diameter of inhibition zone: 18.8 mm) was shown as antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger.