Comparative Study on the Acid-Base Indicator Properties of Natural Dye, Turmeric Rhizome (Curcuma longa) and Synthetic Dyes

Acid-Base Indicator, Turmeric Rhizome (Curcuma longa) was extracted from the root of a turmeric plant. The turmeric was peeled, washed and dried in an oven at 60°C. It was ground into powder and soaked in hot and cold ethanol for the extraction. The extract was filtered and part of it was concentrated to yield a reasonable quantity of turmeric indicator. On standardization of acid with a base, 0.05 M base respectively of Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and Disodium borate (B4Na2O7) were used. Hot and cold extracts of turmeric were used as indicators and were compared with methyl orange and phenolphthalein. On the preliminary test carried out, hot and cold turmeric indicator showed yellow colour in acid medium and orange colour in the base. Methyl orange showed red colour in acid but yellow in the base, phenolphthalein was colourless in acid but pink in the base. During titration there were colour changes at the end points in the entire test carried out. The average volumes at ends points were calculated, the molar concentrations and mass concentrations of the acids used were also determined. The results showed that there was no difference between the natural indicators used and the existing synthetic indicators which are toxic to our environment.

Coordination and Photoisomerization of Azobenzene-Amino Acid Schiff Base Copper(II) Complexes to Lysozyme

In this study, we exhibited an amino acid (arginine and threonine) derivative Schiff base copper(II) complexes incorporating an azobenzene moiety as a photoresponsive site and conjugated it to egg white lysozyme, a well-known protein, to change ligand conformation under binding to lysozyme. Among several spectroscopic investigations, ESR clearly showed that the nitrogen atom of the amino acid residue of lysozyme was bound to the paramagnetic copper(II) ion of the complex, and UV light irradiation confirmed photoisomerization of the azobenzene moiety of the ligand to cis-form. The binding mode was considered by means of spectroscopic as well as computational methods, whereas complete crystallographic verification was still a preliminary stage.

Oxidative coupling of alcohols and amines to an imine over Mg-Al acid-base bifunctional oxide catalysts

A series of Mg‐Al mixed oxide catalysts are prepared and introduced as efficient irreducible catalysts for the oxidative coupling of alcohols and amines to imine.The structure and surface properties of Mg‐Al oxides are modulated by changing the Mg/Al ratios,calcination temperature and treatment with probe molecules.Detailed characterization,including X‐ray diffraction,27Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy,N2‐adsorption,NH3‐temperature‐programmed desorption,CO2‐temperature‐programmed desorption and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy are carried out to determine the physicochemical properties of these catalysts.The Mg‐Al oxides with Mg/Al=3exhibit the highest activity in the reaction,which possess a large number of surface weak basic sites and a relatively small number of weak acidic sites.The role of the acidic and basic sites in the reaction process is systematically investigated,and are shown to serve as adsorption and activation sites for amines and alcohols,respectively.Under the synergistic effect of these acid‐base centers,the oxidative coupling process successfully occurs on the surface of Mg‐Al mixed oxides.Compared with the acidic sites,the weak basic sites play a more important role in the catalytic process.The acidic sites are the catalytic centers for the benzyl alcohol activation,which control the reaction rate of the oxidative coupling reaction.

Determination of pKa values of alendronate sodium in aqueous solution by piecewise linear regression based on acid-base potentiometric titration

As a mono-sodium salt form of alendronic acid,alendronate sodium presents multi-level ionization for the dissociation of its four hydroxyl groups.The dissociation constants of alendronate sodium were determined in this work by studying the piecewise linear relationship between volume of titrant and p H value based on acidbase potentiometric titration reaction.The distribution curves of alendronate sodium were drawn according to the determined p Ka values.There were 4 dissociation constants(pKa_1=2.43,pKa_2=7.55,pKa_3=10.80,pKa_4=11.99,respectively) of alendronate sodium,and 12 existing forms,of which 4 could be ignored,existing in different p H environments.

Two Dehydroabietic Acid-based Arylamines: Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Fluorescent Properties

Two dehydroabietic acid-based arylamines have been synthesized and characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS spectra and elemental analysis. Their spatial structures were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectral characteristics of these compounds in methanol were investigated. Their fluorescence emission spectra in different polarity solvents were further evaluated. Fluorescent properties and structural relationship of the compounds showed that fluorescence intensity and quantum yield inversely increase with the non-coplanar degree. In addition, the solvent polarity has different effects on the fluorescence emission spectra of two compounds.

Acid-base characterization of foursulfide minerals

The amphoteric properties of four sulfide minerals were characterized byacidimetric-alkalimetric titration. Chalcocite, galena, and sphalerite were found to bediprotic acids, while pyrite was determined to be a triprotic acid. Intrinsic acidity con-stants for the four minerals are as follows: chalcocite-pK_(a1)=5.25, pK_(a2)=9.68;galena- pK_(a1)=5.26, pK_(a2)=9.62; sphalente- pK_(a1)= 5.08, pK_(a2)= 9.13;and pyrite - pK_(a1) = 3.50,pK_(a2)=5.32, pK_(a3)=9.81.

Studies on synthesis and property of novel acid-base proton exchange membranes

Sulfonated poly（phthalazinone）s （SPPENK, SPPESK and SPPBEK） were prepared by direct polymerization reaction from sulfonated monomers. The novel acid-base membranes were composed of sulfonated polymers as the acidic compounds, and polyetherimide （PEI） as the basic compounds, casting from their N-methylpyrrolidone （NMP） solution directly onto clean glass plates at 60 ℃ aiming at enhancing membrane toughness and other relative properties. The resulted acid-base composite membranes had excellent resistance to swelling, thermo-stability, hydrolysis resistance and oxidative resistance properties with highly ion-exchange capacity （IEC）.

Prospects for nucleic acid-based therapeutics against hepatitis C virus

In this review,we discuss recent advances in nucleic acid-based therapeutic technologies that target hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection.Because the HCV genome is present exclusively in RNA form during replication,various nucleic acid-based therapeutic approaches targeting the HCV genome,such as ribozymes,aptamers,siRNAs,and antisense oligonucleotides,have been suggested as potential tools against HCV.Nucleic acids are potentially immunogenic and typically require a delivery tool to be utilized as therapeutics.These limitations have hampered the clinical development of nucleic acid-based therapeutics.However,despite these limitations,nucleic acid-based therapeutics has clinical value due to their great specificity,easy and large-scale synthesis with chemical methods,and pharmaceutical flexibility.Moreover,nucleic acid therapeutics are expected to broaden the range of targetable molecules essential for the HCV replication cycle,and therefore they may prove to be more effective than existing therapeutics,such as interferon-αand ribavirin combination therapy.This review focuses on the current status and future prospects of ribozymes,aptamers,siRNAs,and antisense oligonucleotides as therapeutic reagents against HCV.

Characterization of Amino Acid Based Molecular Micelles with Molecular Modeling

The enantiomers of chiral drugs often have different potencies, toxicities, and biochemical properties. Therefore, the FDA and other worldwide regulatory agencies require manufactures to test and prove the enantiomeric purity of chiral drugs. Amino acid based molecular micelles (AABMM) have been used in chiral CE separations since the 1990’s because of their low environmental impact and because their properties can easily be tuned by changing the amino acids in the chiral surfactant head groups. Using molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the structures and properties of AABMM is part of an ongoing study focusing on investigating and elucidating the factors responsible for chiral recognition with AABMM. The results will be useful for the proper design and selection of more efficient chiral selectors. The micelles investigated contained approximately twenty covalently linked surfactant monomers. Each monomer was in turn composed of an undecyl hydrocarbon chain bound to a dipeptide headgroup containing of all combinations of L-Alanine, L-Valine, and L-Leucine. These materials are of interest because they are effective chiral selectors in capillary electrophoresis separations. Molecular dynamics simulation analyses were used to investigate how the sizes and positions of the headgroup amino acid R-groups affected the solvent accessible surface areas of each AABMM chiral center. In addition, headgroup dihedral angle analyses were used to investigate how amino acid R-group size and position affected the overall headgroup conformations. Finally, distance measurements were used to study the structural and conformational flexibilities of each AABMM headgroup. All analyses were performed in the context of a broader study focused on developing structure-based predictive tools to identify the factors responsible for a) self-assembly, b) function, c) higher ordered structure and d) molecular recognition of these amino acid based molecular micelles.

Acid-base cooperativity of heterogeneous catalyst containing acidic framework and sterically hindered base for aldol condensation

A bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst containing two mutually incompatible acidic and basic sites, which exhibits cooperative catalytic behavior in the aldol condensation of acetone and various aldehydes, was synthesized by postgrafting of 1,5,7- triazabicyclo[4.4.0] dec-5-ene （TBD, a sterically hindered organic base） onto AI-MCM-41 molecular sieve. 2009 Xiao Bing Lu. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Enhanced Acid/Base Catalysis in High Temperature Liquid Water

Two novel and environmentally benign solvent systems, organic acids-ennchea high temperature liquid water （HTLW） and NH3-enriched HTLW, were developed, which can enhance the reaction rate of acid/base-catalyzed organic reactions in HTLW. We investigated the decomposition of fructose in organic acids-enriched HTLW, hydrolysis of cinnamaldehyde and aldol condensation of phenylaldehyde with acetaldehyde in NH3-enriched HTLW. The experimental results demonstrated that organic acids-enriched or NH3-enriched HTLW can greatly accelerate acid/base-catalyzed organic reactions in HTLW.

The Roles of Key Electrolytes in Balancing Blood Acid-Base and Nutrient in Broiler Chickens Reared under Tropical Conditions

The loss of electrolyte balance in diets of broiler chickens has resulted in a serious distur-bance of blood acid-base balance, coupled with elevated body temperature. The body losses carbon dioxide (CO2) and bicarbonate (HCO3), resulting in respiratory alkalosis or acidosis. Under tropical conditions of high environmental temperatures, the balance of electrolytes in feeds must be set much higher as to maintain equal metabolic and digestive efficiency. However, information on the ideal dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) that could effectively correct acid-base imbalance in broiler chickens under severe heat stress condition is scanty. Therefore, the effects of varying electrolyte balance in diets on haematology, blood glucose and serum inorganic elements were assessed in broiler chickens at starter (0 - 21 d) and finisher (22 - 35 d) phases, under temperature-humidity index of 24.97 - 35.19. One day-old Arbor Acre chicks (n = 300) were procured and randomly allotted to diets supplemented with potassium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, to balance monovalent ions (sodium, potassium and chloride) at 210 (T1), 240 (T2), 270 (T3), 300 (T4), 330 (T5) and 360 (T6) mEq/kg DEB, in a completely randomised design. On days 21 and 35, blood (5 mL) samples were collected from birds in each replicate whose weights were closest to the mean class weight for haematology and serum biochemical indices using standard procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at α = 0.05. Different levels of DEB did not significantly affect (P > 0.05) haematology and blood glucose at starter phase. However, at finisher phase, heterophil: lymphocyte of birds on 270 and 240 mEq/kg DEB were lower (P < 0.05) compared to other dietary treatments. Blood acid-base balance was relatively enhanced in birds on aggregate DEB level of 360 mEq/kg with reduced chloride ion and relatively lower incidence of hemodilution with respect to high haemoglobin levels as this level is advantageous in balancing blood acid to base ratio in broiler chickens reared under severe environmental temperatures higher than 43?C ± 5?C as against some previous opinions that did not take into consideration, the inherent dietary electrolyte balance in feedstuff, other functional mono or divalent ions, and the severity of environmental factors.

Effects of an AMPS-Modified Polyacrylic Acid Superplasticizer on the Performance of Cement-based Materials

A self-made AMPS-modified polyacrylic acid superplasticizer and two others of the same type but with different molecular structures, which are commercially available, are used in this study to investigate the effect of a 2-acrylamide-2-methyl propylene sulfonic （AMPS）-modified polyacrylic acid superplasticizer on the properties of cement-based materials. In the experiments, initial fluidity, 1 and 2 h fluidity over time after admixtion, bleeding rate of the net cement mortar, and adsorption capacity and rate of cement particles are determined by adding different dosages of the three superplasticizers into the cement paste to characterize the dispersivity and the dispersion retention capability of each superplasticizer. Water-reducing rates of three kinds of mortars are simultaneously determined to characterize the water-reducing capacity of each superplasticizer, as well as the 3 and 28 d compressive strengths to characterize the compression resistance. Results show that water-reducing effect and fluidity better maintain the capability of the AMPS-modified polyacrylic acid superplasticizer than the two commercially available polyacrylic acid superplasticizers, and the compressive strengths after 3 and 28 d show significant growth. In conclusion, the effects of water reduction and strengthening of the AMPS-modified polyacrylic acid superplasticizer are evidently better than those of the two commercially available polyacrylic acid superplasticizers.

Non-covalent Bonded 3D Supramolecular Architectures Based on Acid-base Adducts

Two novel acid-base adducts,[H2L1^2＋]（Hpbda）2（1,L1 = 1,4-di（lH-imidazol-4-yl）benzene,H2pbda = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid） and[H2L2^2＋]（NO3）2（2,L2 = l,4-di（l-carboxymethyl-imidazol-4-yl）benzene）,have been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction,IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis.Compound 1 crystallizes in monoclinic,space group P21/n with a = 5.3525（11）,b = 9.1471（19）,c = 19.314（4） ？,β = 92.342（3）°,V= 944.8（3） A°3,Z = 2,C16H16N6O（10）,Mr = 452.35,Dc = 1.590 g/cm^3,μ = 0.135 mm^-1,S = 1.058,F（000） = 468,the final R = 0.0661 and wR = 0.1887 for 2298 observed reflections（I〉 2σ（I））.Compound 2 crystallizes in monoclinic,space group P21/c with a = 9.6923（10）,b = 17.2950（17）,c = 7.1880（7） ？,β =94.801（2）°,V= 1200.7（2）A°3,Z = 2,C（28）H（22）N4O8,Mr = 542.50,Dc = 1.501 g/cm^3,μ = 0.112 mm^-1,S= 1.060,F（000） = 564,the final R = 0.0394 and wR = 0.1017 for 2768 observed reflections（I 〉2σ（I））.In the title compounds,both of L1 and L2 ligands act as weak base to accept protons to exhibit diprotonated H2L1^2＋ and H2L2^2＋ form,which can effectively employ as hydrogen bonding donors to combine anion moieties to form binary adducts respectively.In the crystal packing diagram of two polymers,there exist extensive noncovalent interactions including charge-transfer interactions,C（N）-H…π and N-H…O,C-H…O,O-H…O hydrogen bonding interactions between co-crystal moieties which consolidate the structures of supramolecular polymers,thus generating three-dimensional（3D） frameworks.

Has Stewart approach improved our ability to diagnose acid-base disorders in critically ill patients?

The Stewart approach-the application of basic physicalchemical principles of aqueous solutions to blood-is an appealing method for analyzing acid-base disorders. These principles mainly dictate that p H is determined by three independent variables, which change primarily and independently of one other. In blood plasma in vivo these variables are:(1) the PCO2;(2) the strong ion difference(SID)-the difference between the sums of all the strong(i.e., fully dissociated, chemically nonreacting) cations and all the strong anions; and(3) the nonvolatile weak acids(Atot). Accordingly, the p H and the bicarbonate levels(dependent variables) are only altered when one or more of the independent variables change. Moreover, the source of H+ is the dissociation of water to maintain electroneutrality when the independent variables are modified. The basic principles of the Stewart approach in blood, however, have been challenged in different ways. First, the presumed independent variables are actually interdependent as occurs in situations such as:(1) the Hamburger effect(a chloride shift when CO2 is added to venous blood from the tissues);(2) the loss of Donnan equilibrium(a chloride shift from the interstitium to the intravascular compartment to balance the decrease of Atot secondary to capillary leak; and(3) the compensatory response to a primary disturbance in either independent variable. Second, the concept of water dissociation in response to changes in SID is controversial and lacks experimental evidence. In addition, the Stewart approach is not better than the conventional method for understanding acid-base disorders such as hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis secondary to a chloride-rich-fluid load. Finally, several attempts were performed to demonstrate the clinical superiority of the Stewart approach. These studies, however, have severe methodological drawbacks. In contrast, the largest study on this issue indicated the interchangeability of the Stewart and conventional methods. Although the introduction of the Stewart approach was a new insight into acid-base physiology, the method has not significantly improved our ability to understand, diagnose, and treat acid-base alterations in critically ill patients.

Double Acid-Base Extraction of Silicic Acid from Quartz Sand

Silica is becoming more attractive as plant nutrient for non-graminae crops particularly in relation with drought-stress tolerant. Many efforts have been conducted to obtain an efficient technique to produce silica fertilizer worldwide, but the results are varying considerably due to various factors including raw material and extraction technique. This study was carried out to develop an efficient extraction technique for ortho-silicic acid (OSA-H4SiO4) from a Bangka-Belitung quartz sand by employing acid-base dissolution method. A 325-mesh size quartz sand was boiled in HCl solution at various concentrations. The optimum concentration was then used in the following experiment at several different volumes of solution. The sand obtained from optimum concentration and volume of HCl solution was then reacted with different amounts of NaOH (s), and heated until a wet mixture was obtained. As a reference the best extraction conditions were applied to a natural zeolite sample. All OSA analyses were done in triplicates with spectrophotometric method. Supporting evidences were collected from x-ray diffraction and scanning-electron-microscopy analyses of the treated samples. The yield of quartz sand-originated OSA was 183 g·kg-1 and significantly increased linearly with increasing weight of NaOH (R2 = 0.99**), whereas that from zeolite was only 104.2 g·kg-1 at 80 g NaOH. XRD and SEM data confirmed the evidences that the acid-base extraction disrupted the quartz mineral structure and as a consequence releasing more water soluble OSA.

Development of Nucleic Acid Sequence-Based Amplification Assay for Detection of Macrobrachium rosenbergii Nodavirus

A nucleic acid sequence-based amplification（NASBA）assay was established for the detection of Macrobrachium rosenbergii Nodavirus（MrNV）.The specific primers were designed according to the high conserved region of RNA2 sequence of MrNV.The 224 bp specific amplification product was obtained in positive sample determined with 3%agarose gel electrophoresis,while no product was generated from shrimp infected with other viruses including DNA viruses（IHHNV,WSSV）and RNA viruses（TSV,IMNV,YHV）.The detecting limit of the assay was 8pg nucleic acid,which is more sensitive than that of PCR method.

Wet carbon-based solid acid/NaNO_3 as a mild and efficient reagent for nitration of aromatic compound under solvent free conditions

Nitro aromatic compound can be obtained in high yields via nitration of aromatic compound with wet carbon-based solid acid and NaNO_3 under solvent free oxidation at room temperature.

Some Novel Schiff Bases from Pyruvic Acid with Amines Containing N &S Donor Atoms: Synthesis, Spectral Studies and X-Ray Crystal Structures

Four Schiff bases, from pyruvic acid (1) with amines containing N and S donor atoms, thiocarbohydrazide (2, 61%), 2-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazide (3, 26%), S-benzyldithiocarbazate (4, 51%) and S-n-octyldithiocarbazate (5, 63%) have been successfully synthesized. The conventional method was used and a series of novel linear and cyclic Schiff bases were obtained with or without catalyst. All the Schiff bases were fully characterized by CHN elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H & 13C NMR, EI-MS and two of the Schiff bases were further characterized by X-ray crystallographic structure analysis. Compound 2 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 and unit cell dimensions are: a = 4.1777(8), b = 5.9538(11), c = 13.458(3) &ARING;, α = 92.759(6), β = 90.813(6), γ = 100.040(6)°, R1 = 0.0439. Compound 3 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P n a 2(1) and unit cell dimensions are: a = 5.5992(2), b = 11.3962(5), c = 10.6473(5), α = 92.759(6), β = 90.813(6), γ = 100.040(6)°, R1 = 0.0285. Compounds 2 and 3 were obtained as cyclic Schiff bases which are triazine derivatives.

THERMODYNAMIC STUDY ON ADSORPTION OF AROMATIC SULFONIC ACIDS ONTO MACROPOROUS WEAK BASE ANION EXCHANGER FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

The adsorption equilibrium isotherms of three aromatic sulfonic acid compounds, 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid and p-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid, from aqueous solutions by macroporous weak base anion exchanger within the temperature range of 293 K-313 K were obtained. Several isotherm equations were correlated with the equilibrium data, and the experimental data was found to fit the three-parameter Redlich-Peterson equation best within the entire range of concentrations. The study showed that the hydrophobicity of solute has distinct influence on adsorption capacity of the anion exchanger for the aromatic sulfonic acid. Moreover, estimations of the isosteric enthalpy, free energy, and entropy change of adsorption were also reported. The positive isosteric enthalpy and entropy change for adsorption indicate an endothermic and entropy driven process in the present study.