Synthesis and characterization of bis nitrato[4-hydroxyacetophenonesemicarbazone) nickel(II) complex as ionophore for thiocyanate-selective electrode.

The PVC based-ion selective electrode viz., bis nitrato[4-hydroxyacetophenone semicarbazone] nickel(II) as an ionophore was prepared for the determination of thiocyanate ion. The ionophore was characterized by FT-IR, UV-vis, XRD, magnetic moment and elemental analysis (CHN). On the basis of spectral studies an octahedral geometry has been assigned. The best performance was obtained with a membrane composition of 31% PVC, 63% 2-nitrophenyl octylether, 4.0% ionophore and 2.0% trioctylmethyl ammonium chloride. The electrode exhibited an excellent Nernstian response to SCN(-) ion ranging from 1.0 × 10(-7) to 1.0 × 10(-1)M with a detection limit of 8.6 × 10(-8)M and a slope of -59.4 ± 0.2 mV/decade over a wide pH range (1.8-10.7) with a fast response time (6s) at 25 °C. The proposed electrode showed high selectivity for thiocyanate ion over a number of common inorganic and organic anions. It was successfully applied to direct determination of thiocyanate in biological (urine and saliva) samples in order to distinguish between smokers and non-smokers, environmental samples and as an indicator electrode for titration of thiocyanate ions with AgNO3 solution.

JNK pathway signaling: a novel and smarter therapeutic targets for various biological diseases.

JNK pathway regulates various physiological processes including inflammatory responses, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, cell death, cell survival and expression of proteins. Deregulation of JNK is linked with various diseases including neurodegenerative disease, autoimmune disease, diabetes, cancer, cardiac hypertrophy and asthma. Three distinct genes JNK1, JNK2 and JNK3 have been identified as regulator of JNK pathway. JNK1 and JNK2 have broad tissue distribution and play a potential role in insulin resistance, inflammation and cell signaling. JNK3 is predominantly found in the CNS neurons, making it an attractive target for neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we summarize the evidence supporting JNK as a potent therapeutic target, and small molecules from various chemical classes as JNK inhibitors.

Nickel analysis in real samples by Ni2+ selective PVC membrane electrode based on a new Schiff base.

A newly synthesized Schiff base 3-aminoacetophenonesemicarbazone (AAS) has been used for the preparation of Ni(2+) selective PVC membrane electrode. The proposed electrode exhibits a Nernstian response over the nickel concentration range of 1.0×10(-7) to 1.0×10(-2)mol L(-1) with a slope of 30.0±0.3 mV/decade of concentration. The limit of detection as determined from the intersection linear segment of the calibration plot is 5.1×10(-8) mol L(-1). The electrode shows good selectivity towards nickel with respect to several alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The response time of the electrode is very fast (≥10 s) and can be used for 17 weeks in the pH range of 2.0-9.8. The electrode can also be used in partially non-aqueous media having up to 20% (v/v) methanol, ethanol or acetone content with no significant change in the value of slope or working concentration range. To investigate the analytical applicability of the electrode, it was successfully applied as an indicator electrode in Ni(2+) ion potentiometric titration with EDTA, and in direct determination of nickel(II) in real samples.

Multivariate modeling of chromium-induced oxidative stress and biochemical changes in plants of Pistia stratiotes L.

Biochemical changes in the plants of Pistia stratiotes L., a free floating macrophyte exposed to different concentrations of hexavalent chromium (0, 10, 40, 60, 80 and 160 microM) for 48, 96 and 144 h were studied. Chromium-induced oxidative stress in macrophyte was investigated using the multivariate modeling approaches. Cluster analysis rendered two fairly distinct clusters (roots and shoots) of similar characteristics in terms of their biochemical responses. Discriminant analysis identified ascorbate peroxidase (APX) as discriminating variable between the root and shoot tissues. Principal components analysis results suggested that malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), APX, non-protein thiols (NP-SH), cysteine, ascorbic acid, and Cr-accumulation are dominant in root tissues, whereas, protein and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) in shoots of the plant. Discriminant partial least squares analysis results further confirmed that MDA, SOD, NP-SH, cysteine, GPX, APX, ascorbic acid and Cr-accumulation dominated in the root tissues, while protein in the shoot. Three-way analysis helped in visualizing simultaneous influence of metal concentration and exposure duration on biochemical variables in plant tissues. The multivariate approaches, thus, allowed for the interpretation of the induced biochemical changes in the plant tissues exposed to chromium, which otherwise using the conventional approaches is difficult.

Iron-induced oxidative stress in a macrophyte: a chemometric approach.

Iron-induced oxidative stress in plants of Bacopa monnieri L., a macrophyte with medicinal value, was investigated using the chemometric approach. Cluster analysis (CA) rendered two distinct clusters of roots and shoots. Discriminant analysis (DA) identified discriminating variables (NP-SH and APX) between the root and shoot tissues. Principal component analysis (PCA) results suggested that protein, superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbic acid, proline, and Fe uptake are dominant in root tissues, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), cysteine, and non-protein thiol (NP-SH) in shoot of the stress plant. Discriminant partial-least squares (DPLS) results further confirmed that SOD and ascorbic acid contents dominated in root tissues, while NP-SH, cysteine, POD, ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and MDA in shoot. MDA and NP-SH were identified as most pronounced variables in plant during the highest exposure time. The chemometric approach allowed for the interpretation of the induced biochemical changes in plant tissues exposed to iron.

Receptor modeling for source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban atmosphere.

This study reports source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in particulate depositions on vegetation foliages near highway in the urban environment of Lucknow city (India) using the principal components analysis/absolute principal components scores (PCA/APCS) receptor modeling approach. The multivariate method enables identification of major PAHs sources along with their quantitative contributions with respect to individual PAH. The PCA identified three major sources of PAHs viz. combustion, vehicular emissions, and diesel based activities. The PCA/APCS receptor modeling approach revealed that the combustion sources (natural gas, wood, coal/coke, biomass) contributed 19-97% of various PAHs, vehicular emissions 0-70%, diesel based sources 0-81% and other miscellaneous sources 0-20% of different PAHs. The contributions of major pyrolytic and petrogenic sources to the total PAHs were 56 and 42%, respectively. Further, the combustion related sources contribute major fraction of the carcinogenic PAHs in the study area. High correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.75 for most PAHs) between the measured and predicted concentrations of PAHs suggests for the applicability of the PCA/APCS receptor modeling approach for estimation of source contribution to the PAHs in particulates.

Residues of organochlorine pesticides in fish from the Gomti river, India.

This study reports the levels and distribution patterns of some organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in fish samples of the Gomti river, India, collected from three sites. In the fish muscles Sigma OCPs ranged between 2.58-22.56 ng g(-1) (mean value: 9.66 +/- 5.60 ng g(-1)). Neither spatial nor temporal trends could be observed in distribution of the OCPs. Aldrin was the predominant OCP, whereas, HCB and methoxychlor could not be detected. alpha-HCH and beta-HCH among the isomers of HCH and pp-DDE among the metabolites of DDT were the most frequently detected OCPs. The results revealed that the fish of the Gomti river are contaminated with various OCPs.