Salting-out in Aqueous Solutions of Ionic Liquids and K3PO4: Aqueous Biphasic Systems and Salt Precipitation

The salting-out effect produced by the addition of potassium phosphate, K₃PO₄ to aqueous solutions of water-miscible ionic liquids, viz. 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate, or 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (alkyl = butyl, octyl or decyl) is investigated. The effects are analyzed using both the corresponding temperature–composition pseudo-binary and composition ternary phase diagrams. Different regions of liquid-liquid and solid-liquid phase demixing are mapped. The phase behavior is interpreted taking into account the complex and competing nature of the interactions between the ionic liquid, the inorganic salt and water. In the case of solutions containing 1-octyl- or 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, the smaller magnitude of the salting-out effects is explained in terms of the possibility of self-aggregation of the ionic liquid.     

Direct nn-Scattering Measurement With the Pulsed Reactor YAGUAR

Although crucial for resolving the issue of charge symmetry in the nuclear force, direct measurement of nn-scattering by colliding free neutrons has never been performed. At present the Russian pulsed reactor YAGUAR is the best neutron source for performing such a measurement. It has a through channel where the neutron moderator is installed. The neutrons are counted by a neutron detector located 12 m from the reactor. In preliminary experiments an instantaneous value of 1.1 × 10¹⁸/cm²s was obtained for the thermal neutron flux density. The experiment will be performed by the DIANNA Collaboration as International Science & Technology Center (ISTC) project No. 2286.     

Inattention as a key predictor of tobacco use in adolescence.

The authors examined the prediction from inattention to tobacco use among 2 cohorts (ages 7 and 13) of a community sample followed to young adulthood. Changes in self-reported tobacco use were tested with marginal transitional regression models, using parent and teacher ratings of inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, and other psychopathology, along with other factors, as predictors. Inattention, but not hyperactivity-impulsivity, significantly predicted adolescent tobacco use and young adult daily tobacco use. Peer substance use, parental substance use, and conduct disorder also predicted increases in tobacco use. African American ethnicity was strongly protective against later tobacco use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Facial expressions of emotion and psychopathology in adolescent boys.

On the basis of the widespread belief that emotions underpin psychological adjustment, the authors tested 3 predicted relations between externalizing problems and anger, internalizing problems and fear and sadness, and the absence of externalizing problems and social–moral emotion (embarrassment). Seventy adolescent boys were classified into 1 of 4 comparison groups on the basis of teacher reports using a behavior problem checklist: internalizers, externalizers, mixed (both internalizers and externalizers), and nondisordered boys. The authors coded the facial expressions of emotion shown by the boys during a structured social interaction. Results supported the 3 hypotheses: (a) Externalizing adolescents showed increased facial expressions of anger, (b) on 1 measure internalizing adolescents showed increased facial expressions of fear, and (c) the absence of externalizing problems (or nondisordered classification) was related to increased displays of embarrassment. Discussion focused on the relations of these findings to hypotheses concerning the role of impulse control in antisocial behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Generation on 3F4-3H6 transition in Tm3+ ion upon direct excitation of 3F4 state by nuclear pumped gas laser

The possibility of lasing in a YAP:Tm³⁺ crystal with ³F₄ level of the Tm³⁺ ion directly pumped by narrowband radiation of a gas laser operating in the middle IR range has been studied. The efficiency of the pumped energy conversion into spontaneous emission on the ³F₄-³H₆ transition in the Tm³⁺ ion was within 65–75%. The efficiency of generation with respect to the absorbed pumping energy was ～4%.     

Delivery of chemotropic proteins and improvement of dopaminergic neuron outgrowth through a thixotropic hybrid nano-gel

Chemotropic proteins guide neuronal projections to their final target during embryo development and are useful to guide axons of neurons used in transplantation therapies. Site-specific delivery of the proteins however is needed for their application in the brain to avoid degradation and pleiotropic affects. In the present study we report the use of Poly (ethylene glycol)-Silica (PEG-Si) nanocomposite gel with thixotropic properties that make it injectable and suitable for delivery of the chemotropic protein semaphorin 3A. PEG-Si gel forms a functional gradient of semaphorin that enhances axon outgrowth of dopaminergic neurons from rat embryos or differentiated from stem cells in culture. It is not cytotoxic and its properties allowed its injection into the striatum without inflammatory response in the short term. Long term implantation however led to an increase in macrophages and glial cells. The inflammatory response could have resulted from non-degraded silica particles, as observed in biodegradation assays.     

Determination of herbicide residues in agricultural crops, foods, soil and water by chronometric method

Summary The method described is based on the biochemical detection of herbicides on a silica gel thin layer following their chromatographic separation. The detection reagent is a mixture of a homogenate of bean leaves (Phaseolus vulgaris) and of the redox indicator 2,6-dichloroindophenol. This chronometric determination of herbicide residues is based on the observation that dark blue inhibition zones appear on a pale yellow-green background during the exposure of the sprayed chromatoplates Silufol to light. The dark blue zones disappear again after a time, their lifetime is proportional to the amount of the herbicide in the zone.Because of the high selectivity and sensitivity of the biochemical detection this method does not require a multiple clean-up procedure, nor does it require sophisticated instrumentation. It equals gas chromatography in sensitivity and precision. The determination limit lies between 0.01 and 0.001 mg · kg^–1, the average recovery rate is 85 to 90%.

---

Bestimmung der Herbicid-Rückstände in landwirtschaftlichen Produkten, in Lebensmitteln, im Boden und Wasser mit der chronometrischen Methode

Zusammenfassung Die Methode stützt sich auf einen biochemischen Nachweis der Herbicide auf einer Silicagel-Dünnschichtplatte nach ihrer chromatographischen Verteilung. Das Nachweisreagens ist eine Mischung aus einem Homogenat von Blättern der Bohnen (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) und des Redoxindikators 2,6-Dichlorphenolindophenol. Die chronometrische Bestimmung der Herbicidrückstände gründet sich auf die Beobachtung, daß während der Lichtexposition der besprühten Dünnschichtplatte Silufol auf einem gelbgrünen Hintergrund dunkelblaue Inhibitionszoneu entstehen, welche nach einer bestimmten Zeit verschwinden. Die Haltbarkeitszeit der Zone ist der Menge des Herbicids in der Zone direkt proportionell.In Betracht der hohen Selektivität und Empfindlichkeit des biochemischen Nachweises benötigt die Methode keine komplizierte Reinigung der Extrakte und keine hochentwickelte Ausstattung des Labors mit Instrumenten. Die Empfindlichkeit und Genauigkeit der chronometrischen Methode ist gleich der der Gaschromatographie. Die Bestimmungsgrenze ist 0,01 bis 0,001 mg·kg^–1, die Wiederfindung ist 85–90%.

     

Chronic Ulcerative Stomatitis (CUS) as an Interdisciplinary Diagnostic Challenge: A Literature Review

Chronic ulcerative stomatitis (CUS) is a rarely reported disease affecting the oral cavity, most often affecting middle-aged Caucasian females. The aim of the present study is to present the diagnosis, differentiation, and interdisciplinary treatment of this rare disease. CUS is characterized by the presence of an oral erosive or ulcerative lesion. The autoimmune pathogenesis of CUS includes affecting the antigen’s activity by DNA-breaking and protein-hydrolyzing enzymes. The stratified epithelium-specific antinuclear antibodies (SES-ANA) are associated with CUS development. Clinically, the lesions presented in oral mucosa might resemble an erosive form of oral lichen planus, whereas gingival lesions seem to be similar to desquamative gingivitis related to dermatological diseases manifested in the oral cavity. Patients often report subjective symptoms related to oral mucosa and general symptoms. Histopathological presentation of CUS is often non-specific and includes sub-epithelial separation from underlying connective tissue, atrophic epithelium, and inflammatory infiltrate with an increased number of plasma cells and lymphocytes. Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) might be used in CUS diagnostics. CUS generally remains nonsusceptible to corticosteroid treatments; however, antimalarial drugs and calcineurin inhibitors are more effective. Further research should be conducted in order to implement a diagnostic protocol and observe the long-term results of CUS management.