Simultaneous Screening of 322 Residual Pesticides in Fruits and Vegetables Using GC-MS/MS and Deterministic Health Risk Assessments.

The development of efficient methods for evaluating pesticide residues is essential in order to ensure the safety and quality of agricultural products since the Republic of Korea implemented the Positive List System (PLS). The objective of this research was to establish a method for the simultaneous analysis of 322 pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables (such as coffee, potato, corn, and chili pepper), using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) approach in combination with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). This study introduces a robust, high-throughput GC-MS/MS method for screening the target pesticide residues in agricultural products, achieving the PLS criterion of 0.

High-Detectivity Perovskite Photodetector Using Combustion-Processed NiO as -Type Buffer Layer.

We fabricated a photodetector device consisting of ITO/NiO/Perovskite/PCBM/BCP/Ag. The NiO layer was deposited using the sol-gel and combustion processes. Combustion-processed NiO films have advantages such as low annealing temperature, improved perovskite film quality, and better photodetector performance compared to the sol-gel processed NiO film.

Fabrication and Comparison of Self-Organized Ag and Au Nanodots on Ti/MgO(001) Substrates.

We analyze and compare the differences in the dewetting phenomena and crystal structure between Ag(5.0 nm) and Au(5.0 nm) layers deposited on a Ti(1.

Screening for Corticosteroid Adulterants in Korean Herbal Medicines.

The objective of this study was to determine the presence of corticosteroids in illegal herbal medicines using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We collected 212 herbal medicine samples that were advertised as being effective for treatment of joint pain and bone aches. Samples were from the Korean commercial market during a span of four years (2010-2013), and the method was validated.

Enhanced therapeutic efficacy of budesonide in experimental colitis with enzyme/pH dual-sensitive polymeric nanoparticles.

Current colon-targeted drug-delivery approaches for colitis therapy often utilize single pH-triggered systems, which are less reliable due to the variation of gut pH in individuals and in disease conditions. Herein, we prepared budesonide-loaded dual-sensitive nanoparticles using enzyme-sensitive azo-polyurethane and pH-sensitive methacrylate copolymer for the treatment of colitis. The therapeutic potential of the enzyme/pH dual-sensitive nanoparticles was evaluated using a rat colitis model and compared to single pH-triggered nanoparticles.

Identification and screening of a tadalafil analogue found in adulterated herbal products.

A tadalafil analogue was detected in an herbal product by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) with a similar chromatographic retention time to tadalafil. The compounds were separated using semi-preparative HPLC. The structure of the detected tadalafil analogue was elucidated by LC-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors and their analogues in foods and dietary supplements in Korea.

A number of 188 food and dietary supplement samples were collected from 2009 to the first half of 2013 in Korean online and offline stores. A method to identify phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors and their analogues using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was validated. Limit of detection and limit of quantitation of liquid-type and solid-type negative samples ranged from 0.

8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome with t(1;8)(q25;p11.2): a case report and review of the literature.

8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome (EMS) is a rare disease characterized by myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) associated with eosinophilia and T or B lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia. EMS is defined by molecular disruption of the FGFR1 gene at the 8p11-12 chromosome locus, and various partner genes are associated with FGFR1 gene translocation or insertion. The different partner-FGFR1 fusion genes are associated with slightly different disease phenotypes.

Development and validation of an ultra-performance liquid chromatography method for simultaneous analysis of 20 antihistaminics in dietary supplements.

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an ultra-performance liquid chromatography method for simultaneous analysis of 20 antihistamines (illegal additives) in dietary supplements. The limits of detection and quantitation of the method ranged from 1.5 to 2.

Monitoring of 35 illegally added steroid compounds in foods and dietary supplements.

The adulteration of foods and dietary supplements with steroids has been well attested and has the potential to be dangerous owing to various possible side-effects. Therefore, detecting the presence of steroids in various health food products has become increasingly important. The purpose of this study was to monitor illegally adulterated health food products by applying multiple reaction monitoring techniques to tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Determination of non-opioid analgesics in adulterated food and dietary supplements by LC-MS/MS.

Commercially available non-opioid analgesics such as acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been used to adulterate some foods and dietary supplements. Considering the rapid growth of the dietary supplement market, it is essential to analyse various analgesics used for adulteration over a time period. Acetaminophen and 16 NSAIDs used to adulterate food and dietary supplements were simultaneously determined by LC-MS/MS.

Monitoring of 29 weight loss compounds in foods and dietary supplements by LC-MS/MS.

Because of the rapid growth in dietary supplement availability and public concern for weight control, the investigation of foods and various dietary supplements illegally adulterated with weight loss compounds has become increasingly important. A total of 29 weight loss compounds, including sennoside, sibutramine, ephedrine and their analogues, found to be adulterated in foods and dietary supplements were simultaneously examined by LC-MS/MS. The 188 samples were collected between 2009 and 2012 in South Korea, and method validation was performed to determine the adulterants to the weight loss compounds.

Sol-gel synthesis of aliovalent vanadium-doped LiNi(0.5)Mn(1.5)O(4) cathodes with excellent performance at high temperatures.

Extraordinary performance at elevated temperature is achieved for high-voltage spinel-phase LiNi0.5 Mn1.5 O4 cathodes prepared using an adipic-acid-assisted sol-gel technique and doped with vanadium.

Isolation and identification of novel propoxyphenyl thiosildenafil found in natural health food product.

A novel phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor was found in a natural health food product. The previously unknown sildenafil analogue was isolated using preparative HPLC. The structure of the compound was elucidated using HPLC with diode array detection (DAD), time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF/MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR).

Monitoring by LC-MS/MS of 48 compounds of sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil and their analogues in illicit health food products in the Korean market advertised as enhancing male sexual performance.

More than 46 phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor analogues have been found to be present as illegal adulterants in various forms of health food products (powder, tablet, capsule, etc.), thereby placing the health of consumers at risk through product intake. In this study, 164 samples advertised to be effective at enhancing male sexual performance were collected over a 4-year period (2009-2012) from the Korean on-line or off-line market and screened.

Isolation and structural characterisation of a propoxyphenyl-linked thiohomosildenafil analogue found in a herbal product.

A propoxyphenyl-linked thiohomosildenafil analogue, one of the sildenafil analogues, was found in an herbal product. It was isolated by semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The structure was established based on a comparison of chromatographic and spectroscopic behaviour with other sildenafil analogues using HPLC with diode array detection, quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF/MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Porous LiFePO4/C microspheres as high-power cathode materials for lithium ion batteries.

Porous LiFePO4/C microspheres were synthesized by a novel hydrothermal reaction combined with high-temperature calcinations. The morphology of the prepared material was investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Porous microspheres with diameters around 1-3 microm were obtained, which consisting of primary LiFePO4 nanoparticles.

Isolation and identification of a sibutramine analogue adulterated in slimming dietary supplements.

A suspected sibutramine analogue was detected in a slimming functional food by an ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-TOF/MS) method. The ultraviolet (UV) spectrum of this suspected compound showed close similarity to that of sibutramine. The sample was extracted with 70% MeOH and isolated by semi-preparative column chromatography.

Mesoporous nickel oxide nanowires: hydrothermal synthesis, characterisation and applications for lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors with superior performance.

Mesoporous nickel oxide nanowires were synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction and subsequent annealing at 400 °C. The porous one-dimensional nanostructures were analysed by field-emission SEM, high-resolution TEM and N(2) adsorption/desorption isotherm measurements. When applied as the anode material in lithium-ion batteries, the as-prepared mesoporous nickel oxide nanowires demonstrated outstanding electrochemical performance with high lithium storage capacity, satisfactory cyclability and an excellent rate capacity.

Characterization of a new ScbR-like γ-butyrolactone binding regulator (SlbR) in Streptomyces coelicolor.

γ-Butyrolactones in Streptomyces are well recognized as bacterial hormones, and they affect secondary metabolism of Streptomyces. γ-Butyrolactone receptors are considered important regulatory proteins, and various γ-butyrolactone synthases and receptors have been reported in Streptomyces. Here, we characterized a new regulator, SCO0608, that interacted with SCB1 (γ-butyrolactone of Streptomyces coelicolor) and bound to the scbR/A and adpA promoters.

A novel function of Streptomyces integration host factor (sIHF) in the control of antibiotic production and sporulation in Streptomyces coelicolor.

Bacterial integration host factors (IHFs) play important roles in site-specific recombination, DNA replication, transcription, genome organization and bacterial pathogenesis. In Streptomyces coelicolor, there are three putative IHFs: SCO1480, SCO2950 and SCO5556. SCO1480 or Streptomyces IHF (sIHF) was previously identified as a transcription factor that binds to the promoter region of redD, the pathway-specific regulatory gene for the undecylprodigiosin biosynthetic gene cluster.

Mass spectrometric screening of transcriptional regulators involved in antibiotic biosynthesis in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2).

DNA-affinity capture assay (DACA) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis was applied to identify the transcriptional regulators involved in the biosynthesis of actinorhodin (Act) and undecylprodigiosin (Red) in Streptomyces coelicolor. The aim of this analysis was to determine the specific transcriptional regulators binding to the promoter region of actII-ORF4 or redD. The results of the DACA, as the first screening tool, identified eight proteins, including AdpA, as candidate regulators binding to those promoter regions.

NdgR, an IclR-like regulator involved in amino-acid-dependent growth, quorum sensing, and antibiotic production in Streptomyces coelicolor.

NdgR (regulator for nitrogen source-dependent growth and antibiotic production), an IclR-like regulator, has been initially identified as a binding protein to the promoters of doxorubicin biosynthetic genes in Streptomyces peucetius by DNA affinity capture assay method. NdgR is well conserved throughout the Streptomyces species and many other bacteria such as Mycobacteria and Corynebacteria. In Streptomyces coelicolor, ndgR deletion mutant showed slow cell growth and defects in differentiation and enhances the production of actinorhodin (ACT) in minimal media containing certain amino acids where wild-type strain could not produce ACT.

Stacking effect of polyfluorene on the chemical shift and electron transport.

We investigate the structures, NMR chemical shifts, absorption spectra, frontier molecular orbitals, and transition density matrices of pi-stacked polyfluorenes by ab initio calculations. For F1-F4, we consider two different conformations, syn and anti. The simulated 1H NMR chemical shifts are in good agreement with the previous experiment, and the significantly upfielded chemical shifts explain that the fluorene moieties are stacked on each other.

Preliminary Results of Paclitaxel, Cisplatin and Concurrent High-Dose Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility, toxicity and response rate, of concurrent chemoradiation therapy with paclitaxel/cisplatin in stage III locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: Between May 1999 and December 2000, 80 patients with stage III NSCLC were enrolled in a prospective protocol. Radiotherapy was given to a total dose of 70.