Effect of using mixed ion-pairs on PVC-membrane electrodes for ephedrine

Mixed ion-pairs based on the use of ephedrinium (EPH)-TPB plus EPH-reineckate (II) and phenylephrine-TPB plus EPH-reineckate (III) were tried for use in plastic membranes. The results were compared to those of an EPH-reineckate (I) single ion-pair electrode. The Nernstian slopes were 50, 49 and 55 mV decade^–1 for membranes I, II and III, respectively. The linear concentration ranges were 10^–5–10^–1, 4.0 × 10^–5–10^–1 and 6.3 ×^–5–10^–1 M ephedrine. The detection limits were 4 ×^–6,10^–5 and 1.2 × 10^–5 M ephedrine for membranes I, II and III, respectively. The pH ranges were 4–9, 3–9 and 2–8 for I, II and III-membranes, respectively. Selectivity coefficient values for membrane II were better than those for membranes I and III. The effects of increasing KC1 concentration and temperature changes were explained for the three electrodes. The isothermal temperature coefficients were 0.00145, 0.0007 and 0.00055 V/ °C for electrodes I, II and III. Electrode III was applied for the determination of ephedrine in its pharmeaceutical preparations with an overall relative standard deviation range of 1.3–2.4% and an overall mean recovery value of 98.1%.     

Preparation and characterization of a codeine responsive electrode

Summary The behaviour of codeine reineckate and codeine tetraphenylborate membrane electrodes has been observed with a respectiveNernstian response of 58 and 56 mV/decade for 9.3×10^–5–1.3×10^–3 M codeine sulfate solutions. The workingpH ranges were 5–8 and 4–8, respectively. The selectivity towards sugars, amines, amino acids, cations, and some pharmaceutical compounds was found to be satisfactory. The isothermal temperature coefficient was 0.0014 V/°C. The electrodes were applied successfully for the determination of codeine in some pharmaceutical dosage forms with a relative standard deviation range of 0.16–0.30% and an average recovery of 98.6±0.6%.

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Herstellung und Charakterisierung einer codeinselektiven Elektrode

Zusammenfassung Das Verhalten von Codeinreineckat- und Codeintetraphenylboratmembranelektroden in 9.3×10^–5–1.3×10^–3 M Codeinsulfatlösungen wurde untersucht (Nernstscher Response: 58 bzw. 56 mV/Dekade). Der verwendetepH-Bereich für die beiden Elektroden war 5–8 bzw. 4–8. Ihre Selektivität gegenüber Zuckern, Aminen, Aminosäuren, Kationen und einigen pharmazeutisch aktiven Verbindungen ist zufriedenstellend. Der isotherme Temperaturkoeffizient beträgt 0.0014V/°C. Die Elektroden wurden erfolgreich zur Bestimmung von Codein in einigen pharmazeutischen Präparaten eingesetzt (relative Standardabweichung: 0.16–0.30%).

     

Pesticide Residues in Vegetables and Fruits from Farmer Markets and Associated Dietary Risks

The use of pesticides leads to an increase in agricultural production but also causes harmful effects on human health when excessively used. For safe consumption, pesticide residues should be below the maximum residual limits (MRLs). In this study, the residual levels of pesticides in vegetables and fruits collected from farmers’ markets in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt were investigated using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS. A total number of 40 pesticides were detected in the tested vegetable and fruit samples. Insecticides were the highest group in detection frequency with 85% and 69% appearance in vegetables and fruits, respectively. Cucumber and apple samples were found to have the highest number of pesticide residues. The mean residue levels ranged from 7 to 951 µg kg⁻¹ (in vegetable samples) and from 8 to 775 µg kg⁻¹ (in fruit samples). It was found that 35 (40.7%) out of 86 pesticide residues detected in vegetables and 35 (38.9%) out of 90 pesticide residues detected in fruits exceeded MRLs. Results for lambda-cyhalothrin, fipronil, dimothoate, and omethoate in spinach, zucchini, kaki, and strawberry, respectively, can cause acute or chronic risks when consumed at 0.1 and 0.2 kg day⁻¹. Therefore, it is necessary for food safety and security to continuously monitor pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables in markets.     

Bis (trimethylsilyl) amide as nitrile precursor

Bis (trimethylsilyl) amides are converted into nitriles with high yields when they are treated wich a catalyst (tetrabutylammonium fluoride, Lewis acids or iron phthalocyanine).     

TEM characterization of a nitrogen implanted austenitic stainless steel

Pure austenitic stainless-steel samples (18% Cr, 10% Ni) were implanted at room temperature with nitrogen ions at an energy of 40 keV with fluences from 10¹⁷ to 6X10¹⁷ ions cm^-2. Microstructures obtained after implantation were studied by transmission electron microscopy and selected-area diffraction. The observations show the formation of ε martensite (hexagonal), of α' martensite (tetragonal) and the appearance of nitrides (Fe, Cr, Ni)₂N_1-x hexagonal or orthorhombic.     

A highly convergent preparation of phosphonyloxyacylamino acids:

A very simple, mild and efficient method for the preparation of phosphonyloxyacylamino acids from readily available starting materials is described.     

Biochemical Properties of Tyrosinase from Aspergillus terreus and Penicillium copticola; Undecanoic Acid from Aspergillus flavus,an Endophyte of Moringa oleifera,Is a Novel Potent Tyrosinase Inhibitor

Tyrosinase is a copper-containing monooxygenase catalyzing the O-hydroxylation of tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine then to dopaquinone that is profoundly involved in melanin synthesis in eukaryotes. Overactivation of tyrosinase is correlated with hyperpigmentation that is metabolically correlated with severe pathological disorders, so, inhibition of this enzyme is the most effective approach in controlling the overproduction of melanin and its hazardous effects. Thus, searching for a powerful, selective inhibitor of human tyrosinase to limit the hyper-synthesis of melanin is a challenge. Unlike the difficulty of overexpression of human tyrosinase, using fungal tyrosinase as a model enzyme to the human one to evaluate the mechanistics of enzyme inhibition in response to various compounds is the most feasible strategy. Thus, the purification of highly catalytic-efficient fungal tyrosinase, exploring a novel inhibitor, and evaluating the mechanistics of enzyme inhibition are the main objectives of this work. Aspergillus terreus and Penicillium copticola were reported as the most potential tyrosinase producers. The biochemical properties suggest that this enzyme displays a higher structural and catalytic proximity to human tyrosinase. Upon nutritional bioprocessing by Plackett–Burman design, the yield of tyrosinase was increased by about 7.5-folds, compared to the control. The purified tyrosinase was strongly inhibited by kojic acid and A. flavus DCM extracts with IC₅₀ values of 15.1 and 12.6 µg/mL, respectively. From the spectroscopic analysis, the main anti-tyrosinase compounds of A. flavus extract was resolved, and verified as undecanoic acid. Further studies are ongoing to unravel the in vivo effect and cytotoxicity of this compound in fungi and human, that could be a novel drug to various diseases associated with hyperpigmentation by melanin.     

Étude théorique des liaisons intermoléculaires par “transfert de charge”. III. la liaison azote … chlore

A theoretical study of the intermolecular bond N … ClCl has been carried out in the following complexes: amine-chlorine, pyridine-chlorine, nitrile-chlorine. and molecular nitrogen-chlorine. Calculations were performed by Roothaan's method using the computer program GAUSSIAN-70 with an STO-3G basis set. The theoretical results are used to show the existence of stable complexes and to define their characteristics. Heats of formation are generally small. Moreover the charge transfer towards halogen is very weak compared with the polarization of the chlorine molecule. The theoretical results are in good agreement with available experimental results.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of double-headed derivatives of (4-amino-5-mercapto-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-ethan-1-ol and study of their biological activity

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The present investigation involves rapid and efficient synthesis of a series of some novel derivatives for...