A comparative study on the single-scan and multiple-scan techniques in differential scanning calorimetry: Application to the crystallization of the semiconducting Ge0.13Sb0.23Se0.64 alloy

A method has been developed for analysing the evolution with time of the volume fraction transformed and for calculating the kinetic parameters at non-isothermal reactions in materials involving formation and growth of nuclei. By considering the assumptions of extended volume and random nucleation, a general expression of the fraction transformed as a function of time has been obtained in isothermal crystallization processes. Considering the mutual interference of regions growing from separate nuclei the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami equation has been deduced as a particular case. The application of the transformation rate equation to the non-isothermal processes has been carried out under the restriction of a nucleation which takes place early in the transformation and the nucleation frequency is zero thereafter. Under these conditions, the kinetic parameters have been deduced by using the techniques of data analysis of single-scan and multiple-scan. The theoretical method developed has been applied to the glass-crystal transformation kinetics of the semiconducting Ge_0.13Sb_0.23Se_0.64 alloy. The kinetic parameters obtained according to both techniques differ by only about 2.5%, which confirms the reliability and accuracy of the single-scan technique when calculating the above-mentioned parameters in non-isothermal transformation processes. The phases at which the above-mentioned semiconducting glass crystallizes after the thermal process have been identified by X-ray diffraction. The diffractogram of the transformed material shows that microcrystallites of Sb₂Se₃ and GeSe are associated with the crystallization process, remaining a residual amorphous matrix.     

Thermal decomposition of cobalt nitrato compounds: Preparation of anhydrous cobalt(II)nitrate and its characterisation by Infrared and Raman spectra

The thermal decomposition of Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O (1) as well as that one of NO[Co(NO₃)₃] (Co(NO₃)₂·N₂O₄) (2) was followed by thermogravimetric (TG) measurements, X-ray recording and Raman and IR spectra. The stepwise decomposition reactions of 1 and 2 leading to anhydrous cobalt(II)nitrate (3) were established. In N₂ atmosphere, cobalt oxides are finally formed whereas in H₂/N₂ (10% H₂) cobalt metal is produced. Rapid heating of cobalt(II)nitrate hexahydrate causes melting (formation of a hydrate melt) and therefore side reactions in the hydrate melt by incoupled reactions and evolution/evaporation of different species as, e.g., HNO₃, NO₂, etc. In case of larger amounts in dense packing in the sample container, the formation of oxo(hydoxo)nitrates is possible at higher temperature. For 2, its thermal decomposition to 3 was followed and its decomposition mechanism is proposed.     

HPLC of amino acids and oligopeptides by pre-column fluorescence derivatization with N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-α-(9-phenanthrene)-acetate

Summary A sensitive LC method for the detection of amino acids and oligopeptides with pre-column fluorescence derivatization has been developed. Glycine, glycylglycine, triglycine, glutathione, glutamic acid, and cysteine were separated on a reversed-phase C₁₈ column with methanol-water-triethylamine eluent, derivatization and chromatographic conditions were optimized. The six derivatives were eluted in 20 min with good reproducibility. The relative standard derviations (n=6) at an analytical concentration of 2×10⁻⁶ M are <5%. Detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio=3) for the six derivatives are 23–68 fmol.     

Novel anti-inflammatory and wound healing controlled released LDH-Curcumin nanocomposite via intramuscular implantation,in-vivo study

One of the most common problems in wounds is delayed healing and complications such as infection. Therefore, the need for novel materials accelerates the healing of wounds especially abdominal wounds after surgery besides high efficiency and safety is mandatory. The rate of wound healing, anti-inflammatory and biocompatibility of Zn-Al LDH (Zn-Al layer double hydroxide) alone and loaded with Curcumin (Zn-Al LDH/Curcumin) was screened via in-vivo assays through intramuscular implantation in rat abdominal wall with intact peritoneum cavity. The implanted drugs were formed through Curcumin loaded into LDH of Zn-Al with drug release of 56.78 ± 1.51% within 24 h. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by (TGA/DTA) thermal analysis, (XRD) X-ray diffraction, (FESEM) Field emission scanning electron microscopy, (HRTEM) high resolution transmission electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and low-temperature N₂ adsorption, pore volume and average pore size distribution. The integrity of blood circulation, inflammatory signs, wound healing rate, capacity of tissue integration, antigenicity and composite biocompatibility, auto fluorescence ability of collagen bundles and the tensile strength of the muscle were assessed histopathologically after 7 and 30 days’ post-implantation. Excellent wound healing ability was achieved with shortest length between the wound gap edges and higher tensile strength of the muscle. Besides emit florescence very well followed by good healing and tensile muscles strength in Curcumin while very low strength with scar formation in Zn-Al LDH/Curcumin in both acute and chronic wound. No signs of inflammation in Curcumin & Zn-Al LDH. No vessels obstruction or bleeding observed in both Zn-Al LDH and Curcumin more than Zn-Al LDH/Curcumin and control which examined through candling. Good healing & infiltrated immune cells in same groups through histopathological examination. This work supports the anti-inflammatory, wound healing and biocompatibility of both LDH and Curcumin with living matter, increasing their biomedical applications in this era with safety and increasing efficacy with prolonged drug release.     

Ate complexes of Ge(II) and Sn(II) with bidentate ligands [LiE(OCH2CH2NMe2)3]2 (E=Ge, Sn): synthesis and structure

The reaction of equimolar quantities of LiOCH₂CH₂NMe₂ and E¹⁴(OCH₂CH₂NMe₂)₂ (E¹⁴=Ge, Sn) in ether yielded new ate complexes [LiE¹⁴(OCH₂CH₂NMe₂)₃]₂ (E¹⁴=Ge (1), Sn (2)) with bidentate ligands. The compounds 1 and 2 are white crystalline substances which are highly soluble in THF and pyridine and very sensitive to the traces of oxygen and moisture. The structures of these compounds are studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. The ate complexes 1 and 2 are powerful nucleophiles and may be employed as ligands (neutral) in the coordination chemistry of the transition metals. The electronegative O-substituents at the divalent E¹⁴ atoms render them less oxidizable than alkyl- or aryl-substituted derivatives, and the bidentate ligands, owing to intramolecular donor-acceptor interactions, make them more thermodynamically stable compared to monodentate ligands.     

Qualitative evaluation of aromatic herbs by direct headspace GC analysis. Applications of the method and comparison with the traditional analysis of essential oils

GC headspace analyses of various aromatizing herbs have been compared with those relating to the essential oils, obtained by steam distillation, of the same plants. In this way it was possible to establish the most significant differences between the composition of a herb flavor and that of its essential oil. In particular, we observed some very volatile compounds in the headspace samples which were absent from the essential oil; these components may make an important contribution to the herb flavor. The identification of these substances is still in progress.     

New lipids from the soft corals of the Andaman Islands

Sphingolipids and glycolipids including previously unknown (2S,3S,4R)-1,3,4-trihydroxy-2-(2-(R)-hydroxyoctadecanoylamino)octadec-8E-ene, (2S,3R)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-octadecanoylamino-4E,8E-hexadecadiene, and (2-hydroxy-3-hexadecyloxypropyl)--L-fucopyranoside were isolated from soft corals collected on the shelf near the Andaman Islands (Indian Ocean). The structures of all compounds were established by spectroscopic methods and chemical analyses. The lipids possessed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus oryzae, and Candida albicans.     

Energetic and topological analyses of the oxidation reaction between Mo(n) (n = 1, 2) and N2O

The interaction between molybdenum, atom, and dimer, with nitrous oxide has been investigated using density functional theory. The analysis of the potential energy surfaces for both reactions has revealed that a single molybdenum atom can activate the N--O bond of N2O requiring a small activation energy. However, the presence of several intersystem crossings between three different spin states, namely, septet, quintet and triplet states, seems to be the major constraint to the Mo + N2O reaction. Contrarily, the low-lying excited states (triplet and quintet) do not participate in the reaction between the molybdenum dimer and N2O. The latter reaction fully evolves on the singlet spin surface. Three different regions have been distinguished along the pathway: formation of an adduct complex, formation of an inserted compound, and the N2 detachment. The connection between the two first regions has been characterized by the formation of a special complex in which the N--O bond is so weakened that it could be considered as a first step in the insertion process. It has been shown that the topological changes along the pathways provide a clear explanation for the geometrical changes that occur along the reaction pathway. In summary, the detachment of the N2 molecule is found to be kinetically an effective process for both reactions, owing to the high exothermicity and consequently to the high internal energy of the insertion intermediates. However, in the case of Mo atom, the reaction should be a slow process due to the presence of spin-forbidden transitions. These results fully agree with previous experimental works.     

Highly selective conversion of N-aroyl-α-dehydronaphthylalaninamides into 3,4-dihydrobenzoquinolinone derivatives via photoinduced intermolecular electron transfer

The irradiation of substituted (Z)-N-aroyl-α-dehydronaphthylalaninamides [(Z)-1] in methanol containing triethylamine (TEA) with Pyrex-filtered light was found to give 3,4-dihydrobenzoquinolinone derivatives (2) in high yields along with minor amounts of 4,5-dihydrooxazole derivatives (3). Analysis of the substituent effects on product composition revealed that both the photoreactivity of 1 and the selectivity of 2 are decreased with increasing electron-withdrawing ability of the substituent introduced at the para-position on the N-benzoyl benzene ring. From the analysis of the dependence of the quantum yield for the formation of 2 on the TEA concentration, it was found that back electron transfer occurs efficiently within an (E)-1 anion radical-TEA cation radical pair intermediate.     

A Sensitive Spectrophotometric Determination of Nitrite in Water and Soil

A highly sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of nitrite in water and soil has been developed. The reaction of nitrite with acidified potassium iodide to liberate iodine which oxidizes leuco‐crystal violet (LCV) to form crystal violet having absorption maxima at 590 nm forms the bases of this method. In aqueous medium the system obeys Beer's law in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 μg per 25 mL (0.004–0.04 ppm), while in an extractive system the range is 0.025–0.25 μg in 100 mL (0.00025–0.0025 ppm). The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity were found to be 1.54 × 10⁶ 1 mol^?1 cm^?1 and 44 pg cm^?2, respectively.