Rapid and cost-effective LC–MS/MS method for determination of hydroxycitric acid in plasma: Application in the determination of pharmacokinetics in commercial Garcinia preparations

Garcinia cambogia is one of the most commonly used anti-obesity dietary supplements, and hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is a major constituent in the commercial preparations of Garcinia. High doses of HCA are often consumed without much awareness of its pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic parameters, and therefore, a complete understanding of its effects is lacking. The first step in understanding these parameters is the availability of a reliable bioanalytical method. Here, we present the first report on a UPLC–MS/MS method for analysis of HCA in rat plasma after a simplified and cost-effective protein precipitation. Chromatographic separation of the analytes in the supernatant was achieved using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography, where mass parameters were optimized and a rapid 5-min quantitative assay was developed. The method was highly sensitive, accurate, precise and linear in the concentration range of 10.5–5000 ng/mL (validated according to the United States Food and Drug Administration guidelines). Further, the method was successfully used to describe the pharmacokinetic profile of HCA in rat plasma after the administration of pure HCA and commercial Garcinia preparations.     

Torsional vibration of functionally graded nano-rod under magnetic field supported by a generalized torsional foundation based on nonlocal elasticity theory

Abstract

This article contains the nonlocal elasticity theory to capture size effects in functionally graded (FG) nano-rod under magnetic field supported by a torsional foundation. Torque effect of an axial magnetic field on an FG nano-rod has been defined using Maxwell’s relation. The material properties were assumed to vary according to the power law in radial direction. The Navier equation and boundary conditions of the size-dependent FG nano-rod were derived by the Hamilton’s principle. These equations were solved by employing the generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM). Presented model has the ability to turn into the classical model if the material length scale parameter is taken to be zero. The effects of some parameters, such as inhomogeneity constant, magnetic field and small-scale parameter, were studied. As an important result of this study can be stated that an FG nano-rod model based on the nonlocal elasticity theory behaves softer and has smaller natural frequency.     

金属Al背电极二维AZO光栅的制备和陷光特性

研究了背电极金属Al膜上二维ZnO:Al光栅的制备及其反射光谱特性.在厚度为300 nm的Al膜上溅射80 nm ZnO:Al薄膜,旋涂AZ5206光刻胶,用波长为325 nm的激光进行光刻制作光栅掩模.采用溶脱-剥离法在Al衬底上制备周期(624~1250 nm)和槽深(100~300 nm)可独立调控的ZnO:Al二维光栅.表面形貌采用原子力显微镜和扫描电镜观察,反射光谱用带积分球的分光光度计测试,双向反射分布函数用散射仪测量.结果表明,300 nm Al膜上织构二维ZnO:Al光栅背电极结构,当光栅槽深为228 nm,周期从624 nm增加到986 nm时,背电极总反射率、漫反射率以及雾度均随光栅周期增大而显著增加,而当周期从986 nm增加到1250 nm时,总反射率、漫反射率以及雾度略有增加.双向反射分布函数测试结果进一步证实了上述实验结果,即随着周期增大,漫反射峰值越大,衍射峰个数也增多.提示背反电极上槽深为228 nm、周期为986 nm的二维ZnO:Al光栅具有较好的散射效果,其中漫反射占总反射的百分比为45%.     

Analysis of volatile organic compounds in indoor environments using thermal desorption with comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography and high‐resolution time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Building‐related health effects are frequently observed. Several factors have been listed as possible causes including temperature, humidity, light conditions, presence of particulate matter, and microorganisms or volatile organic compounds. To be able to link exposure to specific volatile organic compounds to building‐related health effects, powerful and comprehensive analytical methods are required. For this purpose, we developed an active air sampling method that utilizes dual‐bed tubes loaded with TENAX‐TA and Carboxen‐1000 adsorbents to sample two parallel air samples of 4 L each. For the comprehensive volatile organic compounds analysis, an automated thermal desorption comprehensive two‐dimensional gas chromatography high‐resolution time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry method was developed and used. It allowed targeted analysis of approximately 90 known volatile organic compounds with relative standard deviations below 25% for the vast majority of target volatile organic compounds. It also allowed semiquantification (no matching standards) of numerous nontarget air contaminants using the same data set. The nontarget analysis workflow included peak finding, background elimination, feature alignment, detection frequency filtering, and tentative identification. Application of the workflow to air samples from 68 indoor environments at a large hospital complex resulted in a comprehensive volatile organic compound characterization, including 178 single compounds and 13 hydrocarbon groups.     

Focusing of Fe3O4 nanoparticles using a rotating magnetic field in various environments

The paper shows the application of a new method – Magnetic Nanoparticles Focusing 3D, MNF-3D – for focusing of magnetic nanoparticles at any point in a three-dimensional space between the rotating magnet system. The results of focusing process of nanoparticles in water, human blood, human serum and polyurethane sponge are presented. Additionally, blood flow was also considered. The effectiveness of nanoparticle focusing was monitored optically and quantitatively by electron spin resonance method. The method enabled focusing of magnetic nanoparticles within a few minutes in different environments. A good efficiency of focusing process was observed for all the samples.     

基于功能核酸的水中汞离子荧光检测方法

二价汞离子作为一种重要的环境污染物,一直以来受到国内外广泛关注。基于T-T错配的Hg2+检测极大依赖于汞选择性寡聚核苷酸（MSO）的设计,利用SYBR Green I对目前所报道的汞离子探针进行了优化,研究了若干种MSO探针与Hg2+的结合响应,在对探针二级结构进行分析和讨论的基础上,提出最优的富T探针序列,并由此建立了一种基于SYBR Green I的水中汞离子快速、便捷的荧光检测方法。最终测得3种实际水样的加标回收率在82.8％~101.8％之间,相对标准偏差小于15%,表明该方法受环境基质的影响较小,可应用于实际水样中的汞离子检测。     

Versatile chromatographic method for catechin determination in development of topical formulations containing natural extracts

Catechin is found in several natural sources, as Eugenia dysenterica and Syzygium cumini extracts. Its antioxidant and UV‐protective properties suggest a potential use in cosmetic and dermatological formulations. A simple analytical method capable of giving support to experiments performed along the development of topical formulations containing this natural substance (i.e. drug assay, skin permeation and stability studies), however, is still needed. Thus, this work aimed to develop and validate a selective HPLC method for catechin determination during the development of topical formulations. Separation was achieved using an RP‐C₁₈ column (300 × 3.9 mm; 10 μm), with a mobile phase of methanol–phosphoric acid 0.01 m (15: 85, v/v), a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min, temperature set at 40°C and UV detection at 230 nm. The method was linear in a range from 0.5 to 10.0 μg/mL (r = 0.9998), precise with an overall variation coefficient of 5.5% and accurate with catechin recovery from the skin layers >85%. Additionally, the method was sensitive (limit of detection, 0.109 μg/mL; limit of quantification, 0.342 μg/mL) and selective against plant extracts, skin matrices and formulation interferents, as well as catechin degradation products. It was also robust regarding both methodology parameters and analytical stability.     

等离子体二维密度重建的影响因素

利用超强超短激光脉冲产生的高能质子束的库仑能量损失可以重建稠密等离子体的二维密度分布,使用同时迭代重建算法（SIRT算法）研究等离子体二维密度重建的影响因素.研究等离子体密度梯度、密度量级和质子束入射能量对重建误差的影响,分析质子束成像探测等离子体密度之前获得等离子体大概方位的重要性,通过数据拟合确定了能量噪声和重建误差之间的解析关系式.     

自由电子激光振荡器的二维数值模拟

在柱二维坐标系中,用数值计算方法求解了摇摆器内电子模拟方程组、光场方程组和无源区(不含摇摆器区)经非自适应方法变换后的无源旁轴波动方程并设计了相应的程序R_2D。用该程序计算的数值结果表明,在有源条件下二维数值模拟结果与高斯光束近似下的数值模拟结果符合较好;取完全相同的计算条件R-2D程序与洛斯阿拉莫斯实验室(LANL)的FELEX程序的计算结果符合较好;初步认为LANL实验数据的物理图象合理,数值结果基本可信;最后给出北京自由电子激光器(BFEL)的一些物理数据。