A Top Solvent-Additive-Ionization Technique Combination for Pesticides Direct Infusion MS Analysis.

The leading type of ionization technique in mass spectrometry analyses is the ionization at atmospheric pressure. The aim of this study was to assess ESI and APCI ionization efficiency of pesticides introduced to the MS source in four organic phases, non-doped and doped with formic acid and ammonium formate. Ionization efficiency in modified ESI and APCI, applying in-source sample heating, was also assessed. The study was primarily designed to support non-chromatography-based mass spectrometry pesticides analysis by the direct infusion technique. Evaluation of analysis performances such as calibration performances, detectability, and sensitivity should indicate a top solvent-additive-source combination, leading to the highest ionization efficiency and lowest analytes detection limits.

Altered Mitochondrial Function in MASLD: Key Features and Promising Therapeutic Approaches.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), encompasses a range of liver conditions from steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Its prevalence, especially among patients with metabolic syndrome, highlights its growing global impact. The pathogenesis of MASLD involves metabolic dysregulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, genetic factors and, notably, mitochondrial dysfunction. Recent studies underscore the critical role of mitochondrial dysfunction in MASLD's progression. Therapeutically, enhancing mitochondrial function has gained interest, along with lifestyle changes and pharmacological interventions targeting mitochondrial processes. The FDA's approval of resmetirom for metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with fibrosis marks a significant step. While resmetirom represents progress, further research is essential to understand MASLD-related mitochondrial dysfunction fully. Innovative strategies like gene editing and small-molecule modulators, alongside lifestyle interventions, can potentially improve MASLD treatment. Drug repurposing and new targets will advance MASLD therapy, addressing its increasing global burden. Therefore, this review aims to provide a better understanding of the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in MASLD and identify more effective preventive and treatment strategies.

Green chemical analysis: main principles and current efforts towards greener analytical methodologies.

Green chemistry, green analytical chemistry and green sample preparation are related areas that have been developing since the 90s, aiming to moderate the adverse impacts of chemical practices on the environment and human health. Presently, a set of green principles has been established, which is a collection of rules that need to be followed to perform chemical practices with a lower negative impact on the environment. Herein, we comprehensively review green chemical analysis by combining historical aspects and ongoing efforts of green analytical methodologies. Through four systematically designed chapters, information is presented on the aspects of green analytical chemistry, including its fundamentals, metrics, modern strategies and future trends.

Flow-injection MS analysis as a simplified approach to pesticide screening in apples.

A fast and simplified method based on mass spectrometry analysis was developed for pesticide qualification in apple peel. The main feature of the method is flow-injection of the loop pre-defined sample volume directly to the MS source, with no chromatographic separation. Method performances were evaluated for five pesticides regularly used in apple orchard treatments. First, primary features of the method such as the loop injection dynamics, total analysis time, chronogramic peaks integrity and sensitivity were evaluated. Then the applicability of the method for qualitative and quantitative screening was assessed on citrate buffered QuEChERS cleaned-up apple peel samples. The developed method offers a possibility for simplified, more economic high throughput screening for pesticides in apples. The method is intended to be a tool for preliminary qualitative assessment of pesticides residues in fruit. Quantitative features of the method are analyte and sample preparation dependent, most certainly due to the lack of chromatography.

Avalanche properties in striplike ferromagnetic systems.

We present numerical findings on the behavior of the athermal nonequilibrium random-field Ising model of spins at the thin striplike L_{1}×L_{2}×L_{3} cubic lattices with L_{1}

Sorbent-excluding sample preparation method for GC-MS pesticide analysis in apple peel.

Apple peel is frequently exposed to pesticides, especially in the last stages of the pesticide treatment practice. For a certain period, peel retains most of the applied pesticides, which precisely indicates the presence of pesticide residues. This study was conducted to establish and evaluate the method for the residue analysis of pyrimethanil, cyprodinil, trifloxystrobin, bifenthrin and boscalid by GC-MS in peel of Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Idared varieties. The method consisted of few steps, without the routine usage of sorbents, and resulted in efficient removal of waxes, targeted as main interferences in GC-MS analysis. The matrix effect, boscalid selectivity issue, trend of lower trueness for bifenthrin in all matrices and for all analytes in Granny Smith matrix were in some way associated with the waxes. Finally, the method was applied to the analysis of three varieties of apple orchard samples, after 9 and 5 months of treatment with commercial formulations that contain pyrimethanil, cyprodinil and boscalid as active ingredients. Since the developed method consisted of few steps and used nontoxic and economic reagents, it could be implemented as a fast, economic and reliable screening method.

Assessment of GC-MS response of selected pesticides in apple matrices related to matrix concentration.

A uniform analyte response is required for GC-MS analysis in order to obtain acceptable quantitative results. The response of pesticides in complex matrices is susceptible to variation due to the interactions of co-extractives, both with pesticides or with GC-MS system. This study was conducted to determine the magnitude of the interactions, called matrix effect, and their behavior with the matrix dilution. The response of pyrimethanil (4,6-dimethyl-N-phenylpyrimidin-2-amine), cyprodinil (4-cyclopropyl-6-methyl-N-phenylpyrimidin-2-amine), trifloxystrobin (methyl-(2Z)-2-methoxyimino-2-[2-[[(E)-1-[3(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethylidene amino]oxymethyl]phenyl]acetate) and bifenthrin(2-methyl-3-phenylphenyl)methyl-3-[(Z)-2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl]-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate), used in apple crops protection, was evaluated in different concentrations of peel and flesh extracts of Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Demi Rouge, selected as representatives of different matrix types. The matrix effect ranged from -0.05 to 146.14%, depending on matrix type and pesticide. The highest response variation was observed in extracts of Granny Smith-an enhancement in flesh and suppression in peel extract. With the dilution, the matrix effect decreased with different magnitudes, but for Granny Smith peel extract an inverted effect was observed. The presence of the matrix effect in GC-MS pesticides analysis was obvious, requiring the application of matrix-matched calibration in quantification procedures for each variety, with calibration standards matched by the matrix concentration.