Abstract  The successive hydrogenation of CO has been investigated by two methods. The first is hydrogenation of a CO surface. The second is co-injection of CO molecules and H atoms. Both methods have been performed at 3 and 10 K. In the first method, the interaction of H atoms with solid CO at 10 K shows that CO is consumed to form H(2)CO and CH(3)OH. No trace of species such as HCO and CH(3)O is detected. No product was observed when the same experiment was performed at 3 K. In the second method, when H and CO are codeposited at 10 K, HCO and CH(3)O are observed. In fact, the yield of these intermediate species depends on the amount of the H radicals interacting with CO molecules. At 3 K, the presence of H(2) in the solid screens the hydrogenation reaction. This causes a termination for the reaction in the stage of the formation of HCO and H(2)CO. At 10 K, H(2) cannot condense, and the reaction between CO and H is total. In this case, species such as HCO, H(2)CO, CH(3)O, and CH(3)OH are observed.

Abstract  Rosmarinus officinalis L. is receiving increasing attention due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative constituents. Our recent studies showed that R. officinalis extract, containing 31.7% of carnosic acid, was able to counteract the deleterious effects of UV-R, by protecting plasmid DNA from hydroxyl radicals generated by UV-A. In this work, we evaluated the effects of this extract on pBR322 DNA cleavage induced by nitric oxide, and the growth inhibitory activity against two human melanoma cell lines, M14 and A375. The extract showed a protective effect on plasmid DNA damage, and at concentrations of 10-80 microg/mL was able to reduce significantly (p<0.001) the growth (MTT assay) of both melanoma cell lines. In addition, our results indicate that apoptotic cell demise is induced in M14 and A375 cells. No statistically significant increase in LDH release was observed in melanoma cells, correlated to a fragmentation of genomic DNA, determined by COMET assay.

Abstract  ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Traditionally Tagetes erecta Linn flower is claimed to treat skin diseases like sores, burns, wounds, ulcers, eczema and several other skin ailments. The aim of the present experiment was to evaluate the anti-wrinkle potential of standardized flower extract of Tagetes erecta.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Tagetes erecta extract and fractions were screened for hyaluronidase, elastase and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1) inhibitory activity compared with the activity of standard oleanolic acid. Syringic acid and β-amyrin were obtained from the extract and quantified through RP-HPLC. Also the compounds were evaluated for anti-wrinkle activity.

RESULTS: The methanol extract showed significant ((a)P < 0.05) hyaluronidase and elastase inhibition with IC50 of 11.70 ± 1.79 μg mL(-1) and 4.13 ± 0.93 μg mL(-1) respectively and better MMP-1 inhibition compared to standard oleanolic acid. The isolated compounds syringic acid and β-amyrin found to inhibit enzymes comparable to oleanolic acid. The RP-HPLC analysis revealed that good amounts of syringic acid and β-amyrin (2.30%, w/w and 0.06%) are present in Tagetes erecta.

CONCLUSION: Tagetes erecta flower showed effective inhibition of hyaluronidase, elastase and MMP-1. Therefore, this experiment further rationalizes the traditional uses of this plant, which may be useful as an anti-wrinkle agent.

Abstract  A simple self-assembly approach has been developed to functionalize carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with chitosan (CS) and heteropolyacids (HPAs) of phosphomolybdic acid (H(3)PMo(12)O(40), HPMo) and phosphotungstic acid (H(3)PW(12)O(40), HPW). The non-covalent functionalization method, which introduces homogenous surface functional groups with no detrimental effect on graphene structures of CNTs, can be carried out at room temperature without the use of corrosive acids. The PtRu nanoparticles supported on HPAs-CS-CNTs have a uniform distribution and much smaller size as compared to those of the PtRu nanoparticles supported on conventional acid treated CNTs (PtRu/AO-CNTs). The onset and peak potentials for CO(ad) oxidation on PtRu/HPAs-CS-CNTs catalysts are more negative than those on PtRu/AO-CNTs, indicating that HPAs facilitate the electro-oxidation of CO. The PtRu/HPMo-CS-CNTs catalyst has a higher electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation and higher tolerance toward CO poisoning than PtRu/HPW-CS-CNTs. The better electrocatalytic enhancement of HPMo on the PtRu/HPAs-CS-CNTs catalyst is most likely related to the fact that molybdenum-containing HPAs such as HPMo have more labile terminal oxygen to provide additional active oxygen sites while accelerating the CO and methanol oxidation in a similar way to that of Ru in the PtRu binary alloy system.

Abstract  An investigation on the absorption spectra of the praseodymium chloride (PrCl(3)) in methanol, iso-propanol and butanol is carried out between 190 nm and 1100 nm. We have observed and assigned six energy bands of the 4f(2) electronic configuration of the Pr(3+) ion in the visible to near-infra-red and one due to 4f5d configuration in the ultraviolet region. The 4f5d band has been detected properly for low concentration of PrCl(3). We have also constructed a free-ion Hamiltonian and calculated the energy levels of the 4f(2) configuration theoretically. Hence, the best fit free-ion parameters are deduced.

Abstract  A simple CE method for simultaneous determination of glyphosate and its metabolites (i.e. aminomethylphosphonic acid, glyoxylate, sarcosine and formaldehyde) in plants is reported here. A BGE of pH 7.5, 10% ACN, 7.5 mM phthalate, containing 0.75 mM hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide as an electro-osmotic flow modifier, an applied voltage of -20 kV and absorptiometric monitoring at 220 nm were the optimal chemical and instrumental parameters. The method, with development time 20 min, shows linear calibrations within the range 5-500 microg/mL (for all target analytes) with correlation coefficients between 0.999 and 0.998. It has been validated by application to samples of Lolium spp. The electroinjection mode hinders most interferents to enter the capillary, thus providing a clean electropherogram and making unnecessary long sample-preparation steps.

Abstract  Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and SDS-PAGE are the two most useful methods in protein separation. Proteins separated by 2DE or SDS-PAGE are usually transferred to membranes using a variety of methods, such as electrophoretic transfer, heat-mediated transfer, or nonelectrophoretic transfer, for specific protein detection and/or analysis. In a recent study, Pettegrew et al. claim to reuse transfer buffer containing methanol for at least five times for transferring proteins from SDS-PAGE to polyvinylidene difluoride. They add 150-200 ml fresh transfer solution each time for extended use as a result of loss of transfer buffer. Finally, they test efficiency of each protein transfer by chemiluminescence detection. Here, we comment on this report, as we believe this method is not accurate and useful for protein analysis, and it can cause background binding as well as inaccurate protein analysis.

Abstract  The vapor-phase polymerization (VPP) of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) was achieved successfully as an alternative method to conventional solution-based thin film fabrication. Using Fe(III)Cl(3).6H(2)O, a spontaneous reaction of 3-hexylthiophene monomers resulted in the rapid formation of conducting P3HT thin films directly on substrates, such as glass, indium-tin-oxide, and poly(ethylene terephthalate), at thicknesses ranging from 50 to 1000 nm. The VPP of P3HT was achieved using ferric chloride hexahydrate and a 1:1 ratio of a methanol/ethanol mixture as the solvent system. The developed VPP technique can provide good processing consistency with an electrical conductivity, a transmittance, and a surface roughness of approximately 10(-2) S/cm, >90%, and <10 nm, respectively.

Abstract  We report herein a simple procedure for the fabrication of TiO2 nanofibers by the combination of electrospinning and sol-gel techniques by using poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), titanium(IV) butoxide, and acetylacetone in methanol as a spinning solution. TiO2 nanofibers (260-355 nm in diameter), with a bundle of nanofibrils (20-25 nm in diameters) aligned in the fiber direction, or particle-linked structures were obtained from the calcination of as-spun TiO2/PVP composite fibers at temperatures ranging from 300 to 700 degrees C. These nanofibers were utilized as photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution. The nanofiber photocatalyst calcined at 450 degrees C showed the highest activity among the TiO2 nanofibers tested such as ones prepared by the hydrothermal method and anatase nanoparticles (Ishihara ST-01). These results indicate that one-dimensional electrospun nanofibers with highly aligned bundled nanofibrils are beneficial for enhancement of the crystallinity, large surface area, and higher photocatalytic activity.

Abstract  Poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) derivatives have long been studied because of their attractive opto- and electroluminescent properties and have potential applications for devices such as light-emitting diodes and photovoltaics. The ability to induce alignment of these PPV derivatives may lead to the enhancement of charge mobility and their efficiency. In this study, uniform nanofibers of poly[2,5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)]-1,4-phenylenevinylene (BEH-PPV) have been fabricated through the method of electrospinning, and an induced alignment of the polymer fibers was observed through photoluminescence data. This study also focuses on the doping of these fibers with the fullerene derivative, 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)-C(61) (PCBM), to induce more incidence of donor/acceptor junctions. Composite fibers with up to a 1:2 weight ratio of PCBM/BEH-PPV have been fabricated and exhibited an ability to quench the photoluminescence of BEH-PPV, indicative of charge transfer.

Abstract  This study is the first to report on the fabrication and properties of electrospun scaffolds derived from separated light-chain fibroin and heavy-chain fibroin, two major proteins of silk fibroin. Among seven different extraction conditions, which were commonly used to extract fibroin from cocoons of Bombyx mori, only Ajisawa's reagent and 9 M lithium thiocyanate could extract both heavy-chain fibroin and light-chain fibroin, while the other conditions could yield only the light-chain fibroin. Mixed fibroin, light-chain fibroin, and heavy-chain fibroin were fabricated using electrospinning methods. Average diameters of the fibers were 658+/-208, 517+/-162, and 518+/-171 nm, respectively and their sizes after treatment with 50% methanol for 60 min were slightly increased to 747+/-244, 556+/-164 and 521+/-201 nm, respectively. FTIR spectra showed similar predominant beta-sheet conformation of mixed fibroin and heavy-chain fibroin scaffolds after treated with methanol, whereas the predominant structure of light-chain fibroin was random coil conformation. Although, scaffolds derived from mixed fibroin and heavy-chain fibroin showed similar properties, the light-chain fibroin scaffold clearly exhibited different properties, including more hydrophilic character, water uptake ability, degradation rate, and cell adhesion capability.

Abstract  Patients who ingest toxic substances may require extracorporeal removal of the poisons or their toxic metabolites if native renal clearance is not sufficient because of acute kidney injury, acuity of symptoms, or burden of toxin. Here, a case is presented, and the literature on renal replacement therapy in the event of acute intoxication is reviewed. Extracorporeal therapy efficacy is examined in terms of the characteristics of the toxin (molecular size, charge, protein, or lipid binding); the patient (body habitus and volume of distribution); and the process (membrane effects on extraction ratios and sieving, role of blood, and dialysate flow rates). The choice of extracorporeal therapy and hemodialysis prescriptions for specific poisonings are discussed.

Abstract  Gasoline engine exhaust has been considered as a major source of air pollution in China. Due to lower cyto- and geno-toxicity effects of methanol engine exhaust, methanol is regarded as a potential substitute for gasoline. We have previously compared cyto- and geno-toxicities of gasoline engine exhaust with that of methanol engine exhaust in A549 cells (Zhang et al., 2007).To characterize the immunotoxic effects for gasoline and methanol engine exhausts in immune cell, in this study, we further compared effects of gasoline and methanol engine exhausts on immune function in RAW264.7 cell and rabbit alveolar macrophages. Results showed that both gasoline and methanol engine exhaust could evidently inhibit RAW264.7 cell proliferation, promote RAW264.7 cell apoptosis, decrease E-rosette formation rate and inhibit anti-tumor effects of alveolar macrophages, at the same time, these effects of gasoline engine exhaust were far stronger than those of methanol engine exhaust. In addition, gasoline engine exhaust could significantly inhibit activities of ADCC of alveolar macrophages, but methanol engine exhaust could not. These results suggested that both gasoline and methanol engine exhausts might be immunotoxic atmospheric pollutants, but some effects of gasoline engine exhaust on immunotoxicities may be far stronger than that of methanol engine exhaust.

Abstract  ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dorstenia arifolia is a plant that has been used in the folk medicine to produce hypnotic, sedative and ansiolitic effects but the pharmacological properties have not yet been studied. In addition, the smoke of its rhizome is reputed to induce lethargic sensation.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: The present study investigated possible activities of the methanol extract (ME) of Dorstenia arifolia rhizome on the central nervous system (CNS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: ME was tested for sedative, hypnotic and anticonsulsant effects using locomotor activity evaluation, pentobarbital-induced sleeping time and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced convulsion, respectively.

RESULTS: Intraperitoneal administration of ME (10 and 50mg/kg) significantly decreased locomotor activity from 205.2+/-25.6 movements/min (DMSO) to 112.1+/-18.4 (P<0.05) and 114.9+/-16.9 (P<0.05), respectively. Flumazenil (10 mg/kg), an antagonist of GABA(A) receptor, prevented the ME-induced sedation. Treatment with ME (50mg/kg) significantly increased the duration of pentobarbital-induced sleeping time from 41.0+/-2.3 to 57.9+/-2.9 min (P<0.05). The latencies to seizures after intraperitoneal injection of PTZ was recorded and compared between groups. ME promoted a significant protection of PTZ-induced seizures and mortality in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that ME of Dorstenia arifolia rizhome has pronounced central effects, and that the sedative and anticonvulsant activities may be related to a facilitation of the GABAergic transmission.

Abstract  In this work, the melting point and the phase diagram of methanol is determined via computer simulations using the OPLS model. The three different solid structures that are found experimentally were considered. By computing the free energies of both the fluid phase and the three different solid structures (alpha, beta, gamma), the initial solid-solid and fluid-solid coexistence points were determined. By performing Gibbs-Duhem integration, the complete coexistence lines were evaluated. In this way, it was possible to compute, for the first time, the complete phase diagram for a potential model of methanol. It is found that the optimized potential model for liquid simulations (OPLS) provides reasonable predictions for the densities of the three solid polymorphs, although they tend to be somewhat low when compared with the experiment. Overall the model provides a qualitatively correct description of the phase diagram of methanol. The beta solid, which is thermodynamically stable in the experimental phase diagram of methanol, is found to be metastable in the phase diagram of the model. The alpha phase is stable at low pressures and the gamma phase is stable at high pressures, in agreement with experiment. Thus, the model is able to predict the existence of the gamma solid at high pressure. From free energy calculations we found that the melting point of the model at room pressure is 215 K. That was further confirmed by direct coexistence simulations. Thus, the model presents a melting point about 40 K above the experimental value of 175 K. Thus the OPLS model provides a reasonable description of the phase diagram of methanol, but it could probably be modified to improve the phase diagram predictions.

Abstract  Signal amplification dramatically increases the sensitivity of diagnostic methods. Recently, we introduced a new technique for signal amplification that uses a distinctive dendritic chain reaction (DCR) to generate exponential evolution of a diagnostic signal. In this report, we demonstrate how the modular design of our DCR probe can be used to improve the detection sensitivity. We synthesized a new probe based on a methyl carbonate linkage, which has superior stability in aqueous media. Triggered release of methanol, which was oxidized by alcohol oxidase present in the solution, produced hydrogen peroxide that used as a reagent in the DCR amplification technique. The new probe exhibited higher sensitivity in detection of hydrogen peroxide than our previously reported probe.

Abstract  One major problem in the lipase-catalyzed production of biodiesel or fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) is the high acidity of the product, mainly caused by water presence, which produces parallel hydrolysis and esterification reactions instead of transesterification to FAME. Therefore, the use of reaction medium in absence of water (anhydrous medium) was investigated in a lipase-catalyzed process to improve FAME yield and final product quality. FAME production catalyzed by Novozym 435 was carried out using waste frying oil (WFO) as raw material, methanol as acyl acceptor, and 3Å molecular sieves to extract the water. The anhydrous conditions allowed the esterification of free fatty acids (FFA) from feedstock at the initial reaction time. However, after the initial esterification process, water absence avoided the consecutives reactions of hydrolysis and esterification, producing FAME mainly by transesterification. Using this anhydrous medium, a decreasing in both the acid value and the diglycerides content in the product were observed, simultaneously improving FAME yield. Enzyme reuse in the anhydrous medium was also studied. The use of the moderate polar solvent tert-butanol as a co-solvent led to a stable catalysis using Novozym 435 even after 17 successive cycles of FAME production under anhydrous conditions. These results indicate that a lipase-catalyzed process in an anhydrous medium coupled with enzyme reuse would be suitable for biodiesel production, promoting the use of oils of different origin as raw materials.

Abstract  Titania supported on polyester fabric (TiO(2)-PY) with varying titania loadings (2-7 wt%) were prepared via the dip-coating method at room temperature using an aqueous slurry of anatase titania. Structural and morphological characterizations by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the titanium dioxide crystallites deposited on the surface of the polyester fabric were in the micrometer range while their phase remained to be anatase. Photocatalytic activity of TiO(2)-PY fabric catalysts was evaluated for vapor-phase oxidation of methanol in air as a test reaction in the presence of UV as well as solar radiation under ambient conditions. These catalysts were found to be quite active in both UV and solar irradiation with activity being higher in the former case. CO(2) yield from photo-oxidation of methanol depended on titania content and also on its dispersion over polyester fabric support.

Abstract  The self-assembly of core-substituted naphthalene diimides bearing triethylene glycol motifs leads to the formation of stable vesicles in DMSO and CHCl(3)/MeOH (6 : 4, v/v) solvents. The vesicles were evaluated by means of UV/vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and dynamic light scattering.

Abstract  This study highlighted the application of a two-stepped extraction method for extraction and separation of oxymatrine from Sophora flavescens Ait. extract by utilizing silica-confined ionic liquids as sorbent. The optimized silica-confined ionic liquid was firstly mixed with plant extract to adsorb oxymatrine. Simultaneously, some interference, such as matrine, was removed. The obtained suspension was then added to a cartridge for solid phase extraction. Through these two steps, target compound was adequately separated from interferences with 93.4% recovery. In comparison with traditional solid phase extraction, this method accelerates loading and reduces the use of organic solvents during washing. Moreover, the optimization of loading volume was simplified as optimization of solid/liquid ratio.

Abstract  A sensitive and specific method using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was developed for the determination of levetiracetam (LEV) in plasma of neonates. A plasma aliquot of 50 microl was deproteinized by addition of 500 microl methanol which contained 5 microg/ml UCB 17025 as an internal standard. After centrifugation, 50 microl of supernatant was diluted with 1000 microl of 0.1% formic acid-10 mM ammonium formate in water (pH 3.5) (mobile phase solution A) and 2 microl was injected onto the UPLC-system. Compounds were separated on a Acquity UPLC BEH C(18) 2.1 mm x 100 mm column using gradient elution with mobile phase solution A and 0.1% formic acid in methanol (mobile phase solution B) with a flow rate of 0.4 ml/min and a total runtime of 4.0 min. LEV and the internal standard were detected using positive ion electrospray ionization followed by tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). The assay allowed quantification of LEV plasma concentrations in the range from 0.5 microg/ml to 150 microg/ml. Inter-assay inaccuracy was within +/-2.7% and inter-assay precision was less than 4.5%. Matrix effects were minor: the recovery of LEV was between 97.7% and 100%. The developed method required minimal sample preparation and less plasma sample volume compared to earlier published LC-MS/MS methods. The method was successfully applied in a clinical pharmacokinetic study in which neonates received intravenous administrations of LEV for the treatment of neonatal seizures.

Abstract  The chromatographic properties of four cholesterol bonded phases with different structures were studied. The columns used were packed with a stationary phase containing a cholesterol molecule attached to the silica surface using different types of linkage molecules. As a basic characteristic of the bonded phases the hydrophobicity and silanol activity (polarity) were investigated. The presence of the polar amino and carboxyl groups in the structure of the bonded ligand strongly influences the polarity of the bonded phase. Columns were compared according to methylene selectivity using a series of benzene homologues and according to their shape and size selectivity using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The measurements were done using MeOH-water and ACN-water mobile phases. The presented results show that the coverage density of the bonded ligands and length of the linkage strongly influence the retention and selectivity of cholesterol bonded phases.

Abstract  We investigate the chemical sensing behavior of composites prepared with polyvinyl alcohol and carbon materials (undoped multiwalled carbon nanotubes, nitrogen-doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes and carbon nanocoils). We determine the sensitivity of thin films of these composites for ethanol, methanol and toluene vapor, comparing their conductance and capacitance responses. The composite that exhibits highest sensitivity depends on specific vapor, vapor concentration and measured electrical response, showing that the interactivity of the carbon structure with chemical species depend on structural specificities of the carbon structure and doping.

Abstract  A HPLC method for limit detection of aristolochic acid A in the Chinese herbs containing aristolochic acid or suspected-containing aristolochic acid and their preparations was established. The samples were analyzed on an Alltima C18 column eluted with methanol-water-acetic acid (68:32:1.5) as the mobile phase. Flow rate was at 1.0 mL x min(-1) and the detection wavelength was at 390 nm. The calibration curve was linear over the range from 0.016 to 0.51 g (r = 0.9993) and LOD was 4 ng. The average recovery was 101.2% with RSD of 2.01%. The procedures of sample preparation were systematically investigated. The contents of aristolochic acid A in Radix et Rhizoma Asari bought from market or drugstore were fluctuated from 3.1 to 26.6 microg x g(-1) and 3 of 11 samples accorded with the quality requirement of current Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Among 15 batches samples of Chinese medicaments, only one sample was found to contain aristolochic acid A. The present investigation shows that the method is sensitive and repeatable and it could be used for the limit detection of aristolochic acid A in the Chinese herbal medicines containing trace amount of aristolochic acid A or suspected-containing aristolochic acid A and their preparations.