Anodic behaviour of fulvestrant and its voltammetric determination in pharmaceuticals and human serum on highly boron-doped diamond electrode using differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry

The electrochemical oxidation of fulvestrant was made on highly boron-doped diamond electrode using differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The highest current intensities were obtained by applying +1.10 V during 150 s for boron-doped diamond electrode. For boron-doped diamond electrode, linear responses were obtained for the concentrations between 1 × 10⁻⁶ and 8 × 10⁻⁵ M in standard samples and between 1 × 10⁻⁶ and 4 × 10⁻⁵ M in serum samples. The repeatability of the method was 0.55 RSD% for differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The analytical values of the method are demonstrated by quantitative determination of fulvestrant in pharmaceutical formulations and human serum, without the need for separation or complex sample preparation, since there was no interference from the excipients and endogenous substances. Selectivity, reproducibility, and accuracy of the developed methods were demonstrated by recovery studies.     

Carbon corrosion characteristics of CN<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> nanostructures in acidic media and implications for ORR performance

Accelerated electrochemical corrosion of nitrogen-containing carbon (CN _x ) oxygen reduction catalysts was performed by a chronoamperometric hold at 1.2 V versus NHE in acidic electrolyte using a rotating disk electrode system. Cyclic voltammograms were used to measure the electrochemically active quinone/hydroquinone redox reaction couple indicating the degree of carbon corrosion. Half-cell testing of CN _x oxygen reduction catalyst materials showed superior carbon corrosion resistance compared to Vulcan carbon, the most ubiquitous cathode catalyst support. When oxygen reduction activity was measured before and after carbon corrosion, carbon corrosion resilience trended with the oxygen reduction activity. CN _x catalysts subjected to carbon corrosion testing did not show a change in the onset of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity potentials with only a slight reduction in current density, but showed improved ORR selectivity to the complete reduction of dioxygen to water.     

Energy and cost analysis for greenhouse and open-field grape production

The objective of this study was to examine the energy use patterns and cost of production in greenhouse and open-field grape production. Data used in the study were obtained from the experiment conducted at the Akdeniz university research field. In the study, energy values were calculated by multiplying the amount of inputs and outputs by the related energy conversion factors. The results indicated that total input energy use in greenhouse and open-field production was found to be 24513.0 and 23640.9 MJ/ha, respectively. However, the output energy of greenhouse grapes (73396.0 MJ/ha) was lower than open-field grapes (120596 MJ/ha). The output–input ratio for greenhouse and open-field grape production was found to be 2.99 and 5.10, respectively. The economic analysis revealed that production costs for greenhouse grapes were higher than open-field grapes but greenhouse grapes were more profitable than open-field due to premium prices for greenhouse grapes.     

Novel Synthesis Techniques for Preparation of Co/CeO2 as Ethanol Steam Reforming Catalysts

Novel synthesis methods such as solvothermal decomposition, colloidal crystal templating, and reverse microemulsion have been used to prepare CeO₂-supported Co catalysts. These catalysts have shown much better catalytic performance than the catalysts prepared using conventional incipient wetness impregnation for Ethanol Steam Reforming. The improvement can be attributed to a better cobalt dispersion and a better Co–CeO₂ interaction for the catalysts prepared using these novel methods.     

Conversion disorder and its subtypes: a need for a reclassification

Four subtypes of conversion disorder were described in DSM-IV. There are few publications concerning studies aimed at separating the subtypes of the conversion disorder. Usually, pseudoseizures are in focus and attempts are made to differentiate these seizures from other disorders. The aim of the present study has been to investigate differences between the four subtypes of the conversion disorder and to discuss the possibilities for a reclassification. Ninety-five patients were seen by two researchers and diagnosed as conversion disorders. The subtypes were determined according to DSM-IV criteria. All completed the Patients Information Form, developed by the researchers, and the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES). Twenty-four (25.2%) of the patients had motor symptoms or deficits (Type 1), 5 (5.2%) sensory symptoms or deficits (Type 2), 23 (24.2%) seizures or convulsions (Type 3) and 43 (47.3%) had mixed presentations (Type 4). There were statistically significant differences between the subtypes as concerns occupation, family history of psychiatric disorders, hospitalizations and place of settlement. Furthermore, the DES scores were statistically different between the groups of patients with different subtypes of conversion disorder.     

A patient with extra-adrenal retroperitoneal paraganglioma and review of the literature

Paragangliomas can arise from virtually any site in the body containing embryonic neural crest tissue. We present a female patient with an extra-adrenal retroperitoneal paraganglioma, and a review of the literature.     

Electrochemical determination of HIV drug Abacavir based on its reduction

Abacavir (I), a drug used in the treatment of HIV, is electrochemically reduced at the dropping mercury electrode in a four-electron process, similar to structurally related adenine (III) and adenosine triphosphate (IV). To undergo the reduction, the species is protonated in the vicinity of the electrode. The protonations take place on the 6-amino group and on one of the pyrimidine ring nitrogens. The role of covalent hydration of the pyrymidine ring has been interpreted. Best suited as supporting electrolytes for analytical purposes are solutions of 0.1-1.0 M sulfuric, perchloric, or hydrochloric acids. Procedures of analyses of tablets containing I were established and validated, based on peak currents obtained by linear sweep, differential pulse, or square-wave voltammetry with a hanging mercury drop electrode as indicator electrode. The procedure proved to be more sensitive and more reliable than that based on oxidation on a glassy carbon electrode, proposed previously.     

Enzyme-linked amperometric electrochemical genosensor assay for the detection of PCR amplicons on a streptavidin-treated screen-printed carbon electrode

A general purpose enzyme-based amperometric electrochemical genosensor assay was developed wherein polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons labeled with both biotin and fluorescein were detected with peroxidase-conjugated antifluorescein antibody on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). As a proof of principle, the response selectivity of the genosensor was evaluated using PCR amplicons derived from lolB gene of Vibrio cholerae. Factors affecting immobilization, hybridization, and nonspecific binding were optimized to maximize sensitivity and reduce assay time. On the basis of the background amperometry signals obtained from nonspecific organisms and positive signals obtained from known V. cholerae, a threshold point of 4.20 microA signal was determined as positive. Under the optimum conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) of the assay was 10 CFU/mL of V. cholerae. The overall precision of this assay was good, with the coefficient of variation (CV) being 3.7% using SPCE and intermittent pulse amperometry (IPA) as an electrochemical technique. The assay is sensitive, safe, and cost-effective when compared to conventional agarose gel electrophoresis, real-time PCR, and other enzyme-linked assays for the detection of PCR amplicons. Furthermore, the use of a hand-held portable reader makes it suitable for use in the field.     

Transient Head Development due to Flood Induced Seepage under Levees

The purpose of this study was to predict the uplift force during floods on confining layers that overlay extensive horizontal confined aquifers that intersect a large river in response to the water level changes that occur with time in a flooding river. Transient flow of water through the confined aquifer was described by a diffusion type of equation with a boundary condition at the river in which the river head varied with time. The transient head distribution developed from the unsteady flow model applied to the aquifer was compared with the hydraulic head distributions obtained from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers steady-state flow model and a finite-element seepage model. This study concluded that the transient flow model has the potential to analyze time lag in head development, and to predict the seepage condition and heaving potential at various times and distances landside of a levee during a flood cycle, but additional case histories are needed to justify widespread use of the model.     

Olivine catalysts for methane- and tar-steam reforming

The removal of tar and lower hydrocarbons is a vital technological barrier hindering the development of biomass gasification. The present work evaluates four olivine catalysts (three untreated of different origin and one calcined) for lowering the amount of these compounds in biomass derived syngas by reforming model compounds (naphthalene, toluene, and methane). Treatments prior to reaction were shown to largely impact the catalytic activity and physiochemical properties of the olivine catalysts depending on its origin. The formation of free Fe phases following decomposition of a Fe-bearing serpentine phase ((Mg,Fe)₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄) near the surface of untreated olivine catalysts proved most important for facilitating higher activity compared to olivine catalysts with little or no serpentine phase initially. The most active catalyst was efficient at naphthalene removal (90% conversion at 800 °C), but more active catalysts are needed for applications where methane removal is required. Additionally, carbon deposition during naphthalene-steam reforming as well as Fe clustering during naphthalene-steam reforming and exposure to reducing conditions suggested stability may be a liability.