Simultaneous analysis by Quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry and UHPLC-MS/MS for the determination of sedative-hypnotics and sleep inducers in adulterated products.

Adulterated products are continuously detected in society and cause problems. In this study, we developed and validated a method for determining synthetic sedative-hypnotics and sleep inducers, including barbital, benzodiazepam, zolpidem, and first-generation antihistamines, in adulterated products using Quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. In Quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry analysis, target compounds were confirmed using a combination of retention time, mass tolerance, mass accuracy, and fragment ions. For quantification, several validation parameters were employed using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation was 0.05-53 and 0.17-177 ng/mL, respectively. The correlation coefficient for linearity was more than 0.995. The intra- and interassay accuracies were 86-110 and 84-111%, respectively. Their precision values were evaluated as within 4.0 (intraday) and 10.7% (interday). Mean recoveries of target compounds in adulterated products ranged from 85 to 116%. The relative standard deviation of stability was less than 10.7% at 4°C for 48 h. The 144 adulterated products obtained over 3 years (2014-2016) from online and in-person vendors were tested using established methods. After rapidly screening with Quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry, the detected samples were quantified using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Two of them were adulterated with phenobarbital.

pH-Responsive assembly of metal nanoparticles and fluorescent dyes by diblock copolymer micelles.

Hybrid assemblies consisting of metal nanoparticles (NPs) and fluorophores are quite interesting because the intrinsic properties of fluorophores can be engineered in the assembled structure. In this regard, we utilized the self-segregation properties of block copolymer micelles to organize metal NPs and fluorophores simultaneously in a specific arrangement. From the viewpoint of assembly methods, we first encapsulated Au NPs in the PS cores of polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid) (PS-PAA) micelles. Then, positively charged fluorescent dyes of rhodamine 123 (R123) were bound to the negatively charged PAA coronas by electrostatic interactions. Since carboxylic acid in the PAA block is a weak acid, the degree of R123 binding to PS-PAA micelles can be adjusted by varying the pH of the solution. Therefore, by changing the pH, we were able to control the assembly and disassembly of R123 molecules to PS-PAA micelles and the corresponding change in the fluorescence signal.

The Role of Magnesium Ion Substituted Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Spherical Micro-Scaffolds in Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

This study was investigated the role of magnesium (Mg2+) ion substituted biphasic calcium phosphate (Mg-BCP) spherical micro-scaffolds in osteogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAT-MSCs). Mg-BCP micro-scaffolds with spherical morphology were successfully prepared using in situ co-precipitation and spray drying atomization process. The in vitro cell proliferation and differentiation of hAT-MSCs were determined up to day 14. After in vitro biological tests, Mg-BCP micro-scaffolds with hAT-MSCs showed more enhanced osteogenicity than pure hAT-MSCs as control group by unique biodegradation of TCP phase and influence of substituted Mg2+ ion in biphasic nanostructure. Therefore, these results suggest that Mg-BCP micro-scaffolds promote osteogenic differentiation of hAT-MSCs.

One-Dimensional Porous Li-Confinable Hosts for High-Rate and Stable Li-Metal Batteries.

Li-confinable core-shell hosts have been extensively studied because they mitigate Li dendrite growth and volume change by reducing the effective current density and storing Li inside the core space during consecutive cycling. However, despite these fascinating features, these hosts suffer from unwanted Li growth on their surface (i.e., top plating) due to the carbon shell hindering Li-ion movement especially at higher current densities and capacities, resulting in poor electrochemical performance. In this study, we propose a one-dimensional porous Li-confinable host with lithiophilic Au (Au@PHCF), which is synthesized by a scalable dual-nozzle electrospinning. Because of the well-interconnected conductive networks forming three-dimensional structure, porous shell design enabling facile Li-ion transport, and hollow core space with lithiophilic Au storing metallic Li, the Au@PHCF can suppress the Li top plating and improve the Li stripping/plating efficiency compared to their counterparts even at 5 mA cm-2, eventually achieving stable cycling performances of the LiFePO4 full cell and Au@PHCF-Li symmetric cell for over 1000 and 2000 cycles, respectively. Finite element analysis reveals that the structural merit and lithiophilicity of Au enable fast reversible Li operation at the designated core space of the Au@PHCF, implying that the structural design of the Li-confinable host is crucial for the stable operation of promising Li-metal batteries at a practical test level.

Synthesis of TiO2 supported on SBA-15 using chelating method and their photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue.

SBA-15 mesoporous materials were successfully prepared by the conventional hydrothermal method and used as the support for TiO2 loaded SBA-15 photocatalysts. The synthesized materials were characterized by XRD, PL, FT-IR, BET and TEM. We also examined the activity of these materials as photocatalysts for the decomposition of methylene blue. The loading of titanium dioxide on the framework of SBA-15 makes the pore diameter and the pore volume decrease and decreases the surface area compared to that of SBA-15. For the TiO2 loaded SBA-15 photocatalysts, the IR absorption at approximately 960 cm(-1) is commonly accepted as the characteristic vibration of the Ti-O-Si bond. The PL peaks appears at about 410 nm at a loading ratio of less than 5% but moves to 430 nm at higher loading ratios. It was also shown that the excitonic PL signal is proportional to the photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of methylene blue. The photocatalytic activity increases with increasing TiO2 loading ratio, shows a maximum value at 7% TiO2/SBA-15, and then decreases at 10% TiO2/SBA-15.

Synthesis of TiO2 supported on SBA-15 using different method and their photocatalytic activity.

SBA-15 mesoporous materials were successfully prepared by the conventional hydrothermal method and TiO2 nanoparticles were supported on them using different loading methods. The synthesized materials were characterized and their activity as photocatalysts for the decomposition of methylene blue was evaluated. The loading of titanium dioxide on the framework of SBA-15 makes the pore diameter and pore volume decrease compared to that of SBA-15. The chelating method causes the support to have a much better dispersion capacity for TiO2 particles as compared to the other two methods. The TiO2 supported by chelating method showed the highest photocatalytic activity among the photocatalysts prepared by different method.

Secondary Gluteal Augmentation: Surgical Technique and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: As interest in posterior body contour has increased, there has been an upward trend in the number of gluteal augmentations performed. However, there has also been a proportional increase in postoperative complications and subsequent revision operations. Nevertheless, there are currently few studies or reports on secondary gluteal augmentation. The purpose of the present study was to identify methods to treat and prevent complications resulting from gluteal augmentation. METHODS: In this study, the authors review 18 cases of secondary gluteal augmentation. New intramuscular pockets were dissected more deeply than were previous pockets. Capsulotomy or capsulectomy was applied to the deep capsules of the previous pockets to sufficiently expand the new pockets and soft tissue to cover the implants. After triple-antibiotic irrigation, implants were inserted using the "no-touch technique." Next, "hybrid gluteal augmentation" was performed by grafting autologous fat into the subcutaneous fat layer. RESULTS: Among 18 cases of secondary gluteal augmentation performed, nine cases were performed by means of hybrid gluteal augmentation and seven cases were implant-only augmentations. Postoperative complications occurred in two cases. One case involved the hybrid technique (remaining rippling), and the other case involved implant-only augmentation (implant palpability). However, there was no need for surgical correction. CONCLUSION: Secondary gluteal augmentation can be successfully performed using the hybrid technique if the gluteus maximus is accurately dissected, the capsules are appropriately managed, and infection is rigidly controlled.

Microwave-accelerated energy-efficient esterification of free fatty acid with a heterogeneous catalyst.

This paper shows energy-efficiency of microwave-accelerated esterification of free fatty acid with a heterogeneous catalyst by net microwave power measurement. In the reaction condition of 5 wt% sulfated zirconia and 1:20 M ratio of oil to methanol at 60°C and atmospheric pressure, more than 90% conversion of the esterification was achieved in 20 min by microwave heating, while it took about 130 min by conventional heating. Electric energy consumption for the microwave heating in this accelerated esterification was only 67% of estimated minimum heat energy demand because of significantly reduced reaction time.

Pneumatization Pattern of the Frontal Recess: Relationship of the Anterior-to-Posterior Length of Frontal Isthmus and/or Frontal Recess with the Volume of Agger Nasi Cell.

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the pneumatization pattern of the frontal recess (FR) in a Korean population. We also determined the correlation between the volume of the agger nasi cell (ANC) and the anterior-to-posterior (A-P) length of the frontal isthmus (FI) and FR. METHODS: Multiplanar paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) images from 105 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery were reviewed. The prevalence of frontal recess cells (FRCs), thickness of the frontal beak (FB), volume of the ANC, A-P length of the FI, and FR were evaluated. RESULTS: The ANC was identified in 96% of the patients and frontal cells (FCs) in 32% (FC type 1, 24.2%; type 2, 4.2%; type 3, 3.1%; and type 4, 0%). The prevalences of frontal bullar, suprabullar, supraorbital ethmoidal, and interfrontal sinus septal cells were 10%, 7.8%, 3.6%, and 6.8%, respectively. The A-P lengths of the FR and FI were 10.1+/-3.1 and 8.4+/-2.9 mm, respectively. The thickness of the FB was 7.8+/-1.8 mm and the volume of the ANC averaged 394.1+/-240.5 mm(3). The thickness of the FB did not correlate with the volume of the ANC. In contrast, the A-P length of the FI and FR were positively correlated with the volume of the ANC. CONCLUSION: ANCs and FCs were found in 96% and 32% of the cases in this series. FC type 4 was not seen. What appeared to be FC4 on conventional CT was identified as FBC from reconstructed parasagittal images. A large ANC increased the A-P length of the FI and FR, regardless of the thickness of the FB.