In-Situ Monitoring of Chromium Uptake in Different Parts of the Wheat Seedling (Triticum aestivum) using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

The present work is a methodological study to investigate the effect of chromium (VI) stress on wheat seedlings. Point detection capability of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was utilized for the monitoring of in-situ chromium uptake in wheat (Triticum aestivum) seedlings. Chromium accumulation and its effects on other elements in wheat seedling were investigated by comparing the intensities of spectral lines of chromium and other minerals present in the LIBS spectra. In-situ LIBS spectra of the different parts of the wheat seedlings were recorded by directly focusing the laser beam on the surface of root, stem, and leaf of the seedlings grown with and without chromium-containing solutions. The spectra obtained from the different parts (root, stem, and leaf) of the wheat plant were analyzed to determine the distribution pattern/accumulation of chromium. Effect of the chromium uptake on the distribution pattern of other elements like calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) was also investigated. It was observed that chromium concentrations in plant organs decreased in the following order: roots > leaves > stems.     

Time-Dependent and Shear-Dependent Transient Viscosity of an Alumina Suspension

The transient viscosity of a well-dispersed Alumina–polyvinyl butyral tape-casting slurry have been investigated at the shear domain of 1–8 s^?1 with the help of a conventional Couette device. The slurry under these shear rates shows a combination of shear dependence and time dependence based upon the applied shear. Attempts have been made to explain the diverse rheological behavior of the slurry. Many studies involving powder loading, milling time, extended shear up ramp, extended shear down ramp, time- and shear-dependent viscosities of the supernatant, and continual shearing have been conducted to explore the probable reasons behind such diverse behavior of the slurry. The findings of these studies strongly suggest that at the shear rates, shear-induced hydrodynamic diffusion plays a major role in dictating the time-dependent viscosity profile of the suspension. Further analysis of the results points out that the observed viscosity profiles are the resultant of the two major competitive processes of shear-induced hydrodynamic disffusion and shear rejuvenation. The results obtained in the present investigation also strongly indicate that the time-dependent behavior of the suspensions under shear opens up an alternative route of characterization of well-dispersed ceramics suspensions.     

Bis(Diethyldithiocarbamato)Antimony(III) Derivatives with Oxygen- and Sulfur-Donor Ligands: Synthesis,Esi-Mass,and Spectral Characterization

Abstract

Replacement reactions of bis(diethyldithiocarbamato)antimony(III) chloride have been carried out with oxygen and sulfur donor ligands such as disodium oxalate, sodium acetate, sodium salicylate, benzoic acid, thioglycolic acid, acetylacetone, thiphenol, ethane-1,2-dithiol, and 2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diol to give mixed bis(diethyldithiocarbamato)antimony(III) derivatives of the corresponding ligands. These derivatives have been characterized by the physicochemical [melting point and molecular weight determination, elemental analysis (C, H, N, S, and Sb)], spectral [FT-IR, far-IR, NMR (¹H and ¹³C)], ESI-mass, powder XRD, and SEM studies.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements for the following free supplemental files: Additional figures and tables]     

Synthesis,characterization, structural elucidation and biological screening of some bis(diisobutyldithiophosphato)antimony(III) complexes

Abstract

Seven complexes of type [(C₄H₉ⁱ-O)₂PS₂]₂SbR have been synthesized by the reaction of chlorobis(diisobutyldithiophosphato)antimony(III) with mixed thio and/or oxo donor ligands in 1:1?M stoichiometry, where R?=?SC₆H₅, OOCC₆H₅, SCH₂COOH, SOCCH₃, OOCCH₃, SC₆H₄COOH and OOC(OH)C₆H₄. These newly synthesized derivatives have been characterized by different physicochemical (elemental analysis (C, H, S, Sb), melting point, molecular weight determination), spectral (UV, IR, NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P)) studies, as well as ESI mass, thermal, powder XRD and biological studies. In the final step of weight loss in thermogravimetric analysis, occurring in the range of 245–505?°C, the degradation of the C₆H₃CO moieties takes place and antimony sulfide (1/2?Sb₂S₃) is obtained as remaining material, which is useful in various aspects. Bonded to antimony the diisobutyldithiophosphato substituent behaves as an anisobidentate ligand, which is confirmed through spectral analysis. Powder XRD studies indicate that these compounds crystallize in a monoclinic crystal system with an unit cell volume of ～7074–7162 ų forming nano ranged (9.69–15.69?nm) crystallites. From the antimicrobial screening tests, bis(diisobutyldithiophosphato)antimony(III) thioglycolate (compound 3) has shown a maximum zone of inhibition (19?mm) against E. coli at 200?μg mL^?1 concentration.     

Determination of t,t-muconic acid in urine samples using a molecular imprinted polymer combined with simultaneous ethyl chloroformate derivatization and pre-concentration by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction

The present communication describes the preparation and evaluation of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) as a solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent and simultaneous ethyl chloroformate (ECF) derivatization and pre-concentration by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) for the analysis of t,t-muconic acid (t,t-MA) in urine samples using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The imprinting polymer was prepared using methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker, 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator and t,t-MA as a template molecule. The imprinted polymer was evaluated for its use as a SPE sorbent by comparing both imprinted and non-imprinted polymers in terms of the recovery of t,t-MA from urine samples. Molecular modelling studies were performed in order to estimate the binding energy and efficiency of the MIP complex formed between the monomer and the t,t-MA. Various factors that can affect the extraction efficiency of MIP, such as the loading, washing and eluting conditions, were optimized; other factors that can affect the derivatization and DLLME pre-concentration were also optimized. MIP in combination with ECF derivatization and DLLME pre-concentration for t,t-MA exhibits good linearity, ranging from 0.125 to 2 μg?mL^?1 (R ²?=?0.9971), with limit of detection of 0.037 μg?mL^?1 and limit of quantification of 0.109 μg?mL^?1. Intra- and inter-day precision was found to be <6 %. The proposed method has been proven to be effective and sensitive for the selective pre-concentration and determination of t,t-MA in urine samples of cigarette smokers.

Synthesis,Pharmacological, and Biological Screening of Novel Derivatives of Benzodiazepines

A series of novel 4‐(substituted phenyl)‐2‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐benzo[b][1,4]diazepine have been synthesized from 3‐(substituted phenyl)‐1‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one. 3‐(Substituted phenyl)‐1‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one was prepared by condensing 2‐acetyl thiophene with various aromatic aldehydes in the presence of 20% NaOH as base. Different 3‐(substituted phenyl)‐1‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one on cyclization with o‐phenylenediamine in the presence of NaOH as base resulted in 4‐(substituted phenyl)‐2‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐benzo[b][1,4]diazepine derivatives. The structures of synthesized compounds are confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, mass spectra, and elemental analysis. All the compounds have been screened for their antimicrobial, analgesic, and anti‐inflammatory activities.     

The impact of product recall on advertising decisions and firm profit while envisioning crisis or being hazard myopic

The occurrence of a product recall can have a disastrous effect on the firm responsible for the recall. Any major recall by a firm can negatively affect the goodwill of the firm. Consequently, the firm incurs a substantial indirect cost due to decline in sales and loss in profit. Moreover, a competitor’s opportunistic reaction can intensify the recalling firm’s damages. Strategic use of advertising recovers lost goodwill and mitigates the damages made by a product recall. In this paper, using a goodwill based model under a differential game framework, we analyze the equilibrium strategies of two competing manufacturers when either one firm or both can issue a product recall at a random time, and investigate (i) the firms’ equilibrium advertising strategies (ii) analyze the impact of the recall on a firm’s profit (iii) introduce and investigate the effect of “hazard myopia” (a firm’s inability to foresee the crisis likelihood) on a firm’s advertising decisions and profit. Our study finds that the equilibrium advertising strategies of competing firms depend on the impact and likelihood of the recall. Notably, we find that when both the firms are focal firms without the prior knowledge of who will recall first in a planning horizon, adjusting optimal advertising at an appropriate time is essential. Surprisingly, a product-recall with a minor impact can increase the focal firm’s long-term expected profit. On the other hand, hazard myopia can be profitable if the long-term effect of the recall is small. Our findings suggest that advertising levels of firms should differ in pre-recall and post-recall regimes depending on the impact and likelihood of the recall.     

Role of equilibrium plasma flow on damping of slow MHD waves

In the solar corona waves and oscillatory activities are observed with modern imaging and spectral instruments. These oscillations are interpreted as slow magneto-acoustic waves excited impulsively in coronal loops. This study explores the effect of steady plasma flow on the dissipation of slow magneto-acoustic waves in the solar coronal loops permeated by uniform magnetic field. We have investigated the damping of slow waves in the coronal plasma taking into account viscosity and thermal conductivity as dissipative processes. On solving the dispersion relation it is found that the presence of plasma flow influences the characteristics of wave propagation and dissipation. We have shown that the time damping of slow waves exhibits varying behavior depending upon the physical parameters of the loop. The wave energy flux associated with slow magnetoacoustic waves turns out to be of the order of 10⁶ erg cm⁻² s⁻¹ which is high enough to replace the energy lost through optically thin coronal emission and the thermal conduction below to the transition region.     

The mechanism of formation of N-formylkynurenine by heme dioxygenases

Heme dioxygenases catalyze the oxidation of L-tryptophan to N-formylkynurenine (NFK), the first and rate-limiting step in tryptophan catabolism. Although recent progress has been made on early stages in the mechanism, there is currently no experimental data on the mechanism of product (NFK) formation. In this work, we have used mass spectrometry to examine product formation in a number of dioxygenases. In addition to NFK formation (m/z = 237), the data identify a species (m/z = 221) that is consistent with insertion of a single atom of oxygen into the substrate during O(2)-driven turnover. The fragmentation pattern for this m/z = 221 species is consistent with a cyclic amino acetal structure; independent chemical synthesis of the 3a-hydroxypyrroloindole-2-carboxylic acid compound is in agreement with this assignment. Labeling experiments with (18)O(2) confirm the origin of the oxygen atom as arising from O(2)-dependent turnover. These data suggest that the dioxygenases use a ring-opening mechanism during NFK formation, rather than Criegee or dioxetane mechanisms as previously proposed.