Aims: The utilisation of lignocellulosic biomass for bioethanol production reduces the dependency on fossil fuels as a source of energy and emission of greenhouse gas (GHG). However, studies in this emerging field are hampered by the cost of ethanol quantification methods. Due to the volatile nature of ethanol, the method for the quantification of bioethanol production should be reproducible and rapid to avoid any evaporation loss to the surroundings. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a simple, rapid and precise bioethanol quantification method using a gas chromatographyflame ionisation detector (GC-FID) without having to go through distillation process for ethanol purification. Methodology and results: The bioethanol was produced via consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) using Trichoderma asperellum B1581 and paddy straw. The peak corresponding to ethanol was obtained at 2.347 min with a peak area of 189.66, equating to 0.159% (v/v) or 1.25 g/L ethanol. A comparison between the quantity of ethanol detected by GC-FID and spectrophotometric analysis (340 nm) showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the amount of ethanol detected by GC analysis, thus validating the accuracy of the GC method. Conclusion, significance and impact of study This work presents a simple, precise and reliable method to determine the amount of bioethanol in the sample using a GC-FID. Currently, there are many GC-FID methods available for the determination of ethanol/alcohol in a human blood samples or in beverages but not in bioethanol samples. Thus, this method was developed to facilitate the determination of bioethanol in the samples produced from lignocellulosic materials.
Chromatography, Gas ; Flame Ionization ; Ethanol

For the determination of absorbed dose to water from a linear accelerator photon beams, it needs a exposure calibration factor Nx or air kerma calibration factor Nk of air ionization chamber. We used the exposure calibration factor Nx to find the absorbed dose calibration factors of water in a reference source through the TG-21 and TRS-277 protocol. TG-21 used for determine the absorbed dose in accuracy, but it required complex calculations including the chamber dependent factors. The authors obtained the absorbed dose calibration factor NdwCo-60 for reduce the complex calculations with unknown Ndw only with Nx or Nk calibration factor in a TM31010 (S/N 1055, 1057) ionization chambers. The results showed the uncertainty of calculated Ndw of IC-15 which was known the Nx and Ndw is within -0.6% in TG-21, but 1.0% in TRS-277. and TM31010 was compared the Ndw of SSDL to that of PSDL as shown the 0.4%, -2.8% uncertainty, respectively. The authors experimented with good agreement the calculated Ndw is reliable for cross check the discrepancy of the calibration factor with unknown that of TM31010 and IC-15 chamber.
Air Ionization ; Calibration ; Particle Accelerators ; Uncertainty ; Water

This study is to keep the accuracy and stability of the output dose evaluations for linear accelerator photon beams by using the air ionization chambers (TM31010, 0.125 cc, PTW) through the Task Group 51 protocol. The absorbed dose to water calibration factor NdwCo-60 was delivered from the air kerma calibration factor Nk which was provided from manufacture through SSDL calibration for determination of output factor. The ionization chamber of TM31010 series was reviewed the calibration factor and other parameters for reduce the uncertainty within +/-2% discrepancy and we found the supplied NdwCo-60 which was derived from Nk has shown a -2.8% uncertainty compare to that of PSDL. The authors provided the program to perform the output dosimetry with TG-51 protocol as it is composed same screen of TG-51 worksheets. The evaluated dose by determination of output factor delivered to postal TLD block for comparison the output dose to that of MDACC (RPC) in postal monitoring program. The results have shown the 1.001+/-0.013 for 6 MV and 0.997+/-0.012 discrepancy for 15 MV X rays for 5 years followed. This study shows the evaluated outputs for linear accelerate photon beams are very close to that of international output monitor with small discrepancy of +/-1.3% with high reliability and showing the gradually stability after 2010.
Air Ionization ; Calibration ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Particle Accelerators ; Phenylpropionates ; Uncertainty ; Water

To elucidate further sequence selectivity and nature of the binding of anticancer drugs to DNA, the interaction between anticancer drugs, which are minor groove ligands (distamycin A, DM and netropsin, NP) and intercalator (mitoxantrone, MT), and DNA were studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The 2 : 1 specific complex of DM and AT-rich DNA were observed principally, while only 1 : 1 specific complex of NP and AT-rich DNA were observed. MT specifically binds to GC-rich DNA. In addition, DM binds to DNA containing 5 A/T bases minor groove almost in a 2 : 1 mode and does not bind to DNA containing 3 A/T bases minor groove. NP binds most strongly to DNA containing 4 A/T bases minor groove. The 1 : 1 specific complex of MT and 6-mer DNA was also observed. The result of competitive binding experiment shows that DM binds more strongly to AT-rich DNA than NP does. These results provide bases for investigating the mechanism of interaction between the drugs and DNA and for improving the structure of target drug.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; DNA ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods

The fragmentation pathways of the three ginkgolides (ginkgolides A, ginkgolides B, ginkgolides C) have been studied with high resolution and high mass accuracy using quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in negative ion mode in this paper. The results indicate that the three ginkgolides have similar fragmentation pathways, including four kinds of common cleavage pathways and one common characteristic ion. In high quality regions, the typical fragmentation pathways of the three ginkgolides are lactone ring opening with continuous loss of CO, CO₂,and loss of H₂O. In low quality regions, the common characteristic fragment ion of the three ginkgolides at 72.993 6 is formed by C rings cleavage. Also, the common fragment ions of ginkgolides A and ginkgolides B at 141.018 8, 125.023 8, 113.024 0, 97.029 1 are formed by A rings cleavage. The study of fragmentation pathways could be adopted for the structural identification of the ginkgolides and their metabolites.
Ginkgolides ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

A high performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector combined with electrospray ionization ion trap time-of-flight multistage mass spectrometry(HPLC-DAD-ESI-IT-TOF-MS~n, HPLC-MS~n) method was established for qualitative analysis of the chemical components of ethyl acetate extract from Sinopodophylli Fructus. The analysis was performed on a Kromasil 100-5 C_(18)(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) column, with a mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid(A) and acetonitrile(B) for gradient at a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min~(-1). Electrospray ionization ion trap time-of-flight multistage mass spectrometry was applied for qualitative analysis under positive and negative ion modes. With use of reference substance, characteristic fragmentation and their HR-MS data, 102 components were identified, including 67 flavonoids and 35 lignans. Among them, 45 compounds were reported in Sinopodophylli Fructus for the first time and 19 compounds were identified as new compounds. PharmMapper was used to predict the bioactivity of compounds that were first reported in Sinopodophylli Fructus, and 20 compounds of them were identified to have potential anticancer activity. The results showed that there were many isomers in the ethyl acetate extract of Folium Nelumbinis, and a total of 19 groups of isomers were found. Among them, C_(21)H_(20)O_8 had the highest number of isomers(18 compounds), all of which were α-peltatin or its isomers; C_(21)H_(20)O_7 ranked second, with 10 compounds, all of which were 8-prenylquercetin-3-methyl ether or its isomers. In conclusion, an HPLC-MS~n method was established for qualitative analysis of the ethyl acetate extract(with anti-breast cancer activity) from Sinopodophylli Fructus in this study, which will provide the evidence for clarifying pharmacological active ingredients of the ethyl acetate extract from Sinopodophylli Fructus against breast cancer.
Acetates ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Fruit ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Phospholipids are key components of cellular membrane and signaling. Among cellular phospholipids, phosphoinositides, phosphorylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol are important as a participant in essential metabolic processes in animals. However, due to its low abundance in cells and tissues, it is difficult to identify the composition of phosphoinositides. Recent advances in mass spectrometric techniques, combined with established separation methods, have allowed the rapid and sensitive detection and quantification of a variety of lipid species including phosphoinositides. In this mini review, we briefly introduce progress in profiling of cellular phosphoinositides using mass spectrometry. We also summarize current progress of matrices development for the analysis of cellular phospholipids using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. The phosphoinositides profiling and phospholipids imaging will help us to understand how they function in a biological system and will provide a powerful tool for elucidating the mechanism of diseases such as diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. The investigation of cellular phospholipids including phosphoinositides using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry will suggest new insights on human diseases, and on clinical application through drug development of lipid related diseases.
Animals ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry/*methods ; Phosphatidylinositols/*metabolism ; Phospholipids/*metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

The alkaloids in Zanthoxylum nitidum were identified by HPLC-DAD/ESI-Q-TOF-MS. Separation was performed on a Hanbon C18 column with acetonitrile (with 0.1% formic acid) and water(with 0.1% formic acid) as mobile phase. Based on the high-resolution mass information, MS/MS fragmentation behaviors and chemical components from literatures, 48 components were identified or tentatively characterized including 6 new compounds. This work could be useful for the quality control and further studies of the plant.
Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Zanthoxylum ; chemistry

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) is currently receiving large attention from the mass spectrometric community, although its use is not yet well known in the clinic. As matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI)-IMS can show the biomolecular changes in cells as well as tissues, it can be an ideal tool for biomedical diagnostics as well as the molecular diagnosis of clinical specimens, especially aimed at the prompt detection of premalignant lesions much earlier before overt mass formation, or for obtaining histologic clues from endoscopic biopsy. Besides its use for pathologic diagnosis, MALDI-IMS is also a powerful tool for the detection and localization of drugs, proteins, and lipids in tissue. Measurement of parameters that define and control the implications, challenges, and opportunities associated with the application of IMS to biomedical tissue studies might be feasible through a deep understanding of mass spectrometry. In this focused review series, new insights into the molecular processes relevant to IMS as well as other field applications are introduced.
Biopsy ; Chemoprevention ; Diagnosis ; Mass Spectrometry* ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Biomarkers