A differential scanning calorimetry method to determine the isothermal crystallization kinetics of cocoa butter

This research aimed to reduce the variability on the data obtained from differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis of the isothermal crystallization kinetics of cocoa butter.

To enable transformation of the DSC crystallization peak to a sigmoid crystallization curve, the DSC peak area has to be integrated. Usually, the start and end points of the crystallization peak are determined visually. The result of this visual determination appeared to be very much dependent on the operator, but also differed considerably when the same operator performed the integration several times. By proposing an objective calculation algorithm to determine the start and end points of integration, the variability caused by the operator during the integration procedure could be eliminated. Furthermore, sample preparation and the DSC heating protocol to melt the sample prior to crystallization were studied. Three heating protocols (65 °C for 15 min, 65 °C for 30 min and 80 °C for 15 min) were compared and it was shown that holding at 65 °C for 15 min was sufficient to eliminate any influence of sample history. Two different sample preparation procedures were compared and it appeared that a change in sample preparation procedure had a significant influence on the measured crystallization process. It is thus important to keep this method constant to eliminate the variability caused by it.     

Die Hydrolyse von Phospholinsäureamiden

Hydrolysis of Amides of Phospholinic Acid The acid catalysed hydrolysis of (= OAP, R = organic substituent) has been investigated kinetically. Provided the pH remains constant, the hydrolysis is a first order reaction. From the temperature dependance of the rate constant the activation energy E_a as well as the thermodynamic data ΔH* and ΔS* have been calculated. In comparison to the compound with R = H aromatic substituents and additional the t-butyl group enhance E_a whilst aliphatic substituents included the benzyl group diminish E_a. The first step of the reaction is a protonation at the oxygen or nitrogen resulting in the formation of an equilibrium. After the determination of the basicity constant K_A of some OAPs it was possible to calculate the respective rate constants of the rate determining step of the reactions and the corresponding thermodynamic data E_F, ΔH and ΔS. It is assumed that the mechanism of the hydrolysis takes place according to the same scheme which has been assumed for the hydrolysis of cyclic esters of the phosphinic acid by Ugi [1] and colaborators.     

INVESTIGATION INTO THE SPECTROSCOPY AND PHOTOISOMERIZATION OF A SERIES OF POLY (ETHYLENE GLYCOL) PEPTIDE SCHIFF BASES OF 11-cis RETINAL

Abstract— The 11-cis and all-trans isomers of a series of poly(ethylene glycol)-oligopeptide - Schiff bases as models for rhodopsin were synthesized and studied. Absorption data for certain of the PEG-peptide Schiff bases demonstrated that no intramolecular hydrogen-bonding (or protonation) occurs between the Schiff base and an acidic amino acid residue, as was previously thought. Photoisomerization of the 11-cis protonated and unprotonated Schiff bases were examined using both steady state and laser flash techniques. Also with 355 nm excitation (and additionally 532 nm in one case), an approximate 40% increase in quantum yield of isomerization (φ) occurred for all protonated PEG-peptide Schiff bases compared to the H⁺-n-butylamine counterparts (in methanol). In one case, a > 100% increase in φ was found in dichloromethane. These data show that PEG-oligopeptide Schiff bases are still further improved models for rhodopsin compared to their n-butylamine analogs.     

Detection of myocardial viability by low-dose dobutamine Cine MR imaging

The purpose of this work was to test the diagnostic value of dobutamine stress magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for predicting recovery of regional myocardial contractility after revascularization. Cardiac wall motion abnormalities are due to either non-viable and/or scarred, or viable, but hibernating, myocardial tissue. Dobutamine stress leads to increased systolic wall thickening only in viable myocardium. Twenty-five patients with akinetic or dyskinetic myocardial regions were examined with a Cine FLASH-2D sequence at rest and during dobutamine stress (10 μg/kg/min). Patients were re-examined at rest 3, and in case of persisting wall motion defects, 6 months after revascularization. Criterion of viability was increasing end-systolic wall thickening during stress and/or at follow-up. Akinetic regions related either to the LAD (n = 19) or to the RCA (n = 6) were judged viable if >=50% of the affected segments improved. MR studies were completed in all subjects without arrhythmia or need for early terminations due to symptoms. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value for the prediction of myocardial viability were 61%, 90%, and 87% for the segment-related analysis, and 76%, 100%, and 100% for the patient-related analysis based on coronary artery distribution, respectively. Dobutamine stress MRI allows to predict global functional recovery of akinetic myocardial regions after revascularization with a high positive predictive value and high specificity.     

Stringent tests of shell model calculations in fp shell nuclei (46, 48)Ti and (50,52)Cr from measurements of g factors and B(E2) values

Measurements of magnetic moments and lifetimes of 2(+)(1) and 4(+)(1) states of (46,48)Ti and (50,52)Cr were performed with high accuracy via projectile Coulomb excitation and the technique of transient magnetic fields. The high quality of the data allows for the first time to establish stringent constraints on large scale shell model calculations. Whereas the global behavior of the data is well explained by full fp shell model calculations, distinct deviations in the g factors and B(E2) values of (46,48)Ti from theoretical predictions can be attributed to excitations of the 40Ca core. This suggestion is supported by recent Monte Carlo calculations which provide evidence that 48Ca is a better inert core.     

Stop-and-return DSC method to study fat crystallization

Differential scanning calorimeters have frequently been used to study the isothermal crystallization kinetics of fats and oils. In some circumstances (e.g. start of crystallization during cooling to the crystallization temperature, crystallization in emulsion) this straightforward approach is not applicable. This paper describes an indirect DSC method for determination of the crystallization kinetics under these ‘difficult’ circumstances. The principle is to stop the crystallization at different moments during the isothermal crystallization and raise the sample temperature. The amount of heat released is then used as a measure for the amount of crystallization and plotted as function of time. Combination of the stop-and-return method with the direct method may sometimes be used to save on measurement time. Stop-and-return experiments can furthermore be used to gain more insight in the crystallization mechanism based on the fact that different polymorphic forms and fractions have different melting temperatures.     

HPLC-DAD-SPE-NMR isolation of tetracyclic spiro-alkaloids with antiplasmodial activity from the seeds of Erythrina latissima

Abstract

Seven tetracyclic spiro-alkaloids, i.e. glucoerysodine (1), erysodine (2), epi-erythratidine (3), erysovine (4), erythratidine (5), erysotrine (6) and erythraline (7) were isolated from the seeds of Erythrina latissima by means of conventional separation methods and HPLC-DAD-SPE-NMR. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic means. This is the first report on the isolation of compounds 3, 5 and 6 from this plant. Antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-resistant strain Plasmodium falciparum K1 and cytotoxicity against MRC-5 cells (human fetal lung fibroblast cells) was assessed in vitro. Erysodine (2) and erysovine (4) showed moderate activity (IC₅₀ 6.53?µM and 4.05?µM, respectively), compared with the standard chloroquine (IC₅₀ = 0.14?µM). No cytotoxicity was observed in a concentration up to 64.0?µM.     

Decreased ascorbate sensitivity with nafion-coated carbon fibre electrodes in combination with copper(II) ions for the electrochemical determination of electroactive substances in vivo

A Nafion coating is applied on voltammetric carbon fibre electrodes. This treatment lowered the sensitivity to ascorbate and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and increased that for dopamine. Electrochemical oxidation with a 70-Hz, 3-V, anodic triangular-wave voltage was used for pretreatment before the Nafion coating. The inclusion of copper ions in the Nafion film further decreased the sensitivity to ascorbic acid, but did not significantly affect to dopamine or DOPAC. In-vitro equilibration with a buffer of appropriate copper concentration is recommended for pretreatment of carbon fibre electrodes before their use in in-vivo voltammetry.