May
17
No More Chemistry Tutor – Chemistry With Rich-media Learning
Filed Under Organic Chemistry | Leave a Comment
No More Chemistry Tutor – Chemistry with Rich-Media Learning
– Dr. Wayne Huang
Need chemistry help? Thinking about hiring a chemistry tutor?
There is a better alternative for anytime and anywhere chemistry help – Rich-Media Learning. This is to use the multi-modal rich learning via enhanced visualization, animation and expert narration, along with the focus on core concepts and problem solving.
Chemistry for many is a rather difficult subject to crack, but it is so important that you have to pass it in order to move forward with your college education. A qualified chemistry tutor (with a Master or PhD degree in chemistry) can certainly offer the personal help needed in homework or specific questions, but nevertheless a systematic review is not what a chemistry tutor does.
There is a better and easier way! Your chemistry help is on its way. Learn your chemistry visually in 24 hours! But how?
The rich-media Rapid Learning Series by Rapid Learning Center is a break-through learning system with scientific teaching method coupling with rich-media visualization and expert narration. In chemistry, it breaks down the entire course into 24 chapters, one chapter at a time, one hour per chapter in total of 24 hours.
Instead of using a chemistry tutor, here is an easy 3-step to master chemistry powerfully:
Step 1: Study all the core concepts and learn how to solve problem step by step via rich-media video tutorial.
Step 2: Practice the problem solving with the game-based interactive drill
Step 3: Super Review the summary cheatsheet.
In an hourly study of each chapter, it will take 30 minutes for the rich-media video, 20 minutes for the problem drill and 10 minutes for the super review, together 60 minutes for one chapter.
You can check this out at http://www.RapidLearningCenter.com.It is definitely a powerful and state-of-arts learning system specifically designed for science mastery.
“Dr. Wayne Huang is a rapid learning coach, who is the co-author of over 10 published books and 100 24-hour rapid courses in chemistry, physics, biology, medicine and mathematics. He is also the founding editor of Chemistry Tips, Physics Tips, Biology Tips and Math Tips, the daily student eZines freely available at http://www.RapidLearningCenter.com, the learning portal of Rapid Learning Inc.”
By: Dr. Wayne Haung
– Dr. Wayne Huang
Need chemistry help? Thinking about hiring a chemistry tutor?
There is a better alternative for anytime and anywhere chemistry help – Rich-Media Learning. This is to use the multi-modal rich learning via enhanced visualization, animation and expert narration, along with the focus on core concepts and problem solving.
Chemistry for many is a rather difficult subject to crack, but it is so important that you have to pass it in order to move forward with your college education. A qualified chemistry tutor (with a Master or PhD degree in chemistry) can certainly offer the personal help needed in homework or specific questions, but nevertheless a systematic review is not what a chemistry tutor does.
There is a better and easier way! Your chemistry help is on its way. Learn your chemistry visually in 24 hours! But how?
The rich-media Rapid Learning Series by Rapid Learning Center is a break-through learning system with scientific teaching method coupling with rich-media visualization and expert narration. In chemistry, it breaks down the entire course into 24 chapters, one chapter at a time, one hour per chapter in total of 24 hours.
Instead of using a chemistry tutor, here is an easy 3-step to master chemistry powerfully:
Step 1: Study all the core concepts and learn how to solve problem step by step via rich-media video tutorial.
Step 2: Practice the problem solving with the game-based interactive drill
Step 3: Super Review the summary cheatsheet.
In an hourly study of each chapter, it will take 30 minutes for the rich-media video, 20 minutes for the problem drill and 10 minutes for the super review, together 60 minutes for one chapter.
You can check this out at http://www.RapidLearningCenter.com.It is definitely a powerful and state-of-arts learning system specifically designed for science mastery.
“Dr. Wayne Huang is a rapid learning coach, who is the co-author of over 10 published books and 100 24-hour rapid courses in chemistry, physics, biology, medicine and mathematics. He is also the founding editor of Chemistry Tips, Physics Tips, Biology Tips and Math Tips, the daily student eZines freely available at http://www.RapidLearningCenter.com, the learning portal of Rapid Learning Inc.”
By: Dr. Wayne Haung
May
16
“How to Master General Chemistry in 24 Hours”
- Dr. Wayne Huang
Are you taking general chemistry, but tired of the boring textbook or monotonic lectures? Do you feel a bit uneasy with the upcoming exam?
There is a better and easier way! Your chemistry help is on its way. Learn your general chemistry visually in 24 hours! But how?
The Rapid Learning Series by Rapid Learning Center is a break-through learning system with scientific teaching method coupling with rich-media visualization and expert narration.
In general chemistry, it breaks down the entire course into 24 chapters, one chapter at a time, one hour per chapter in total of 24 hours.
Chemistry is all about understanding its core concepts and relating them to problem solving. There are three key learning components in this general chemistry rapid learning course:
(1) Core Concept Video Tutorial
(2) Game-based Problem Drill
(3) Super Review Cheatsheet.
In an hourly study of each chapter, it will take 30 minutes for the rich-media video, 20 minutes for the problem drill and 10 minutes for the super review, together 60 minutes for one chapter.
Get your winning edge and master general chemistry in 24 hours with Rapid Learning series.
“Dr. Wayne Huang is a rapid learning coach, who is the co-author of over 10 published books and 100 24-hour rapid courses in chemistry, physics, biology, medicine and mathematics. He is also the founding editor of Chemistry Tips, Physics Tips, Biology Tips and Math Tips, the daily student eZines freely available at http://www.RapidLearningCenter.com, the learning portal of Rapid Learning Inc.”
By: Dr. Wayne Haung
- Dr. Wayne Huang
Are you taking general chemistry, but tired of the boring textbook or monotonic lectures? Do you feel a bit uneasy with the upcoming exam?
There is a better and easier way! Your chemistry help is on its way. Learn your general chemistry visually in 24 hours! But how?
The Rapid Learning Series by Rapid Learning Center is a break-through learning system with scientific teaching method coupling with rich-media visualization and expert narration.
In general chemistry, it breaks down the entire course into 24 chapters, one chapter at a time, one hour per chapter in total of 24 hours.
Chemistry is all about understanding its core concepts and relating them to problem solving. There are three key learning components in this general chemistry rapid learning course:
(1) Core Concept Video Tutorial
(2) Game-based Problem Drill
(3) Super Review Cheatsheet.
In an hourly study of each chapter, it will take 30 minutes for the rich-media video, 20 minutes for the problem drill and 10 minutes for the super review, together 60 minutes for one chapter.
Get your winning edge and master general chemistry in 24 hours with Rapid Learning series.
“Dr. Wayne Huang is a rapid learning coach, who is the co-author of over 10 published books and 100 24-hour rapid courses in chemistry, physics, biology, medicine and mathematics. He is also the founding editor of Chemistry Tips, Physics Tips, Biology Tips and Math Tips, the daily student eZines freely available at http://www.RapidLearningCenter.com, the learning portal of Rapid Learning Inc.”
By: Dr. Wayne Haung
May
13
A Clear Pond; Proper Pond Maintenance, Filtration, and Chemistry
Filed Under Organic Chemistry | Leave a Comment
Keeping a clear pond in the warm or hot summer months involves these key ingredients for proper filtration:
[1] ADEQUATE WATER CIRCULATION AND MOVEMENT.
A general principle (not a rule) of about 50-200 gph per 100 gallons can work for this (A lower proportional gph for large ponds, a higher proportional gph for small ponds). This can be achieved with more than one pump and even a large aeration device (air stone). As for the air stone, I find they are excellent for vertical circulation, often better than water pumps of greater gph. A large double air pump such as a ReSun 9603, Million Air 600, Whisper 800, or Maxima with two air stones can circulate at a rate up to 500 gph. A way to check this is to place the air stone down a narrow PVC tube or aquarium lift tube, then place the top of the tube just above the water level and measure the rate the water fills up a gallon container (one gallon in 15 seconds= 240 gph).
A good water pump is the Via Aqua 2600, 3300 or 6500 hydrant pump. Both have sealed electromagnetic motors and ceramic shafts.
[2] GOOD FILTRATION.
I prefer pressurized pond filters such as the "Clear Stream" for their efficiency and ease of hiding in the ground. But there are many excellent filters available.
For small ponds (and even medium-large), large sponge filters are excellent bio filters and reasonable mechanical filters. They are inexpensive, easy to service, and simple to attach with either a power head pump or and air stone. There now is a specific Pond Sponge Filter called the"Hydro-Pond" there are two models; one air driven, one pump driven. They are useful up to 1500 gallons and more can be used for larger ponds or in combination with other filters.
Bio falls are also excellent pond filters. I do not recommend the old style Becket or Pond Master Submersible filters; they clog easily, are hard to service, and are not efficient filters. Multiple types of filtration are also excellent, such as a pressurized filter- bio falls combination, or a pressurized filter- sponge filter combination.
[3] PLANT FILTRATION (Often called Veggie Filters)
This is a very important part of pond keeping and filtration. A well planted and diversified planted pond is VERY important for clarity, pond and fish health, and even fish breeding. Any plant with a good root structure that grows fast and has the majority of their leaves above water is a good candidate to start with. I recommend water iris for their strong root structure, fast growth, great nutrient absorption, and a great place for baby fish (fry) to hide feed and grow. There are many other excellent plants as well such as bull rush. Make sure these types of plants (plants with roots in water and leaves above) are planted in an area of good, but not strong water movement. This ensures that they will do their job as plant filters.
Other plants such as lilies and hyacinth are excellent for nutrient removal too, but not at the rate of iris and similar plants. They are useful for shade, which will slow algae growth
[4] UV STERILIZATION.
Although not always necessary in a well planted, well shaded, well filter aquarium; they are still very useful. UVs help with algae control, disease prevention, and the Redox potential (which is important for fish health and proper filtration). For the UV to properly function in a pond, the flow rate should not exceed 20-45 gph per watt of UVC. In larger ponds with high flow rates I recommend more than one UV sterilizer, with a by-pass from the main line, connected in PARELLEL not in line together. For this reason, I also do not recommend the popular filters with built in UVs, as the flow rate is usually too high to work properly. A separate UV is always best! For more information about proper UV sterilization and how it works please visit this site; "WHY USE A UV STERILIZER"
Many times I have heard of complaints that their UV did not help with algae control, when I checked this client’s pond, I found inadequate filtration and an improperly installed UV sterilizer. Even a properly installed UV Sterilizer cannot over come poor filtration and a poorly planted pond. And many manufacturers make claims of high flow rates that are impossible for proper contact time.
[5] CLEANING (proper chemistry):
In a healthy pond, with a properly functioning nitrogen cycle, water changes can be minimal. I still recommend a water change of 10-20% per month on a healthy, fully functional pond. In a newer pond larger and more frequent changes may be necessary.
If your pond has a KH below 80 ppm and a pH below 7.0, I would first look to possible causes. One common one is the buildup of organic mulm on the bottom of the pond. The decomposition of this will produce nitric acids which will affect the pH and KH. Since most pond keeper have koi or goldfish, this is important to note, as both these fish do much better at a pH above 7.2 and need the calcium provided by the KH for proper osmotic function. See "Proper Calcium, Magnesium and KH in Aquariums" for more information about Calcium KH, and GH.
If a lot of leaves fall to the bottom of the pond vacuuming them or raking them out is important to prevent organic buildup.
Water changes also will help with pH and KH if your tap or well water is slightly alkaline and has a KH above 80 ppm.
A final note about KH, if your KH is below 80 ppm you will NOT have a healthy pond in the long term!
For much more, please read my vastly expanded Pond article with links to even more resources as well as pictures: A Clear Pond; Pond maintenance set-up, chemistry, filtration, predators and much much more.
By: Carl Strohmeyer
[1] ADEQUATE WATER CIRCULATION AND MOVEMENT.
A general principle (not a rule) of about 50-200 gph per 100 gallons can work for this (A lower proportional gph for large ponds, a higher proportional gph for small ponds). This can be achieved with more than one pump and even a large aeration device (air stone). As for the air stone, I find they are excellent for vertical circulation, often better than water pumps of greater gph. A large double air pump such as a ReSun 9603, Million Air 600, Whisper 800, or Maxima with two air stones can circulate at a rate up to 500 gph. A way to check this is to place the air stone down a narrow PVC tube or aquarium lift tube, then place the top of the tube just above the water level and measure the rate the water fills up a gallon container (one gallon in 15 seconds= 240 gph).
A good water pump is the Via Aqua 2600, 3300 or 6500 hydrant pump. Both have sealed electromagnetic motors and ceramic shafts.
[2] GOOD FILTRATION.
I prefer pressurized pond filters such as the "Clear Stream" for their efficiency and ease of hiding in the ground. But there are many excellent filters available.
For small ponds (and even medium-large), large sponge filters are excellent bio filters and reasonable mechanical filters. They are inexpensive, easy to service, and simple to attach with either a power head pump or and air stone. There now is a specific Pond Sponge Filter called the"Hydro-Pond" there are two models; one air driven, one pump driven. They are useful up to 1500 gallons and more can be used for larger ponds or in combination with other filters.
Bio falls are also excellent pond filters. I do not recommend the old style Becket or Pond Master Submersible filters; they clog easily, are hard to service, and are not efficient filters. Multiple types of filtration are also excellent, such as a pressurized filter- bio falls combination, or a pressurized filter- sponge filter combination.
[3] PLANT FILTRATION (Often called Veggie Filters)
This is a very important part of pond keeping and filtration. A well planted and diversified planted pond is VERY important for clarity, pond and fish health, and even fish breeding. Any plant with a good root structure that grows fast and has the majority of their leaves above water is a good candidate to start with. I recommend water iris for their strong root structure, fast growth, great nutrient absorption, and a great place for baby fish (fry) to hide feed and grow. There are many other excellent plants as well such as bull rush. Make sure these types of plants (plants with roots in water and leaves above) are planted in an area of good, but not strong water movement. This ensures that they will do their job as plant filters.
Other plants such as lilies and hyacinth are excellent for nutrient removal too, but not at the rate of iris and similar plants. They are useful for shade, which will slow algae growth
[4] UV STERILIZATION.
Although not always necessary in a well planted, well shaded, well filter aquarium; they are still very useful. UVs help with algae control, disease prevention, and the Redox potential (which is important for fish health and proper filtration). For the UV to properly function in a pond, the flow rate should not exceed 20-45 gph per watt of UVC. In larger ponds with high flow rates I recommend more than one UV sterilizer, with a by-pass from the main line, connected in PARELLEL not in line together. For this reason, I also do not recommend the popular filters with built in UVs, as the flow rate is usually too high to work properly. A separate UV is always best! For more information about proper UV sterilization and how it works please visit this site; "WHY USE A UV STERILIZER"
Many times I have heard of complaints that their UV did not help with algae control, when I checked this client’s pond, I found inadequate filtration and an improperly installed UV sterilizer. Even a properly installed UV Sterilizer cannot over come poor filtration and a poorly planted pond. And many manufacturers make claims of high flow rates that are impossible for proper contact time.
[5] CLEANING (proper chemistry):
In a healthy pond, with a properly functioning nitrogen cycle, water changes can be minimal. I still recommend a water change of 10-20% per month on a healthy, fully functional pond. In a newer pond larger and more frequent changes may be necessary.
If your pond has a KH below 80 ppm and a pH below 7.0, I would first look to possible causes. One common one is the buildup of organic mulm on the bottom of the pond. The decomposition of this will produce nitric acids which will affect the pH and KH. Since most pond keeper have koi or goldfish, this is important to note, as both these fish do much better at a pH above 7.2 and need the calcium provided by the KH for proper osmotic function. See "Proper Calcium, Magnesium and KH in Aquariums" for more information about Calcium KH, and GH.
If a lot of leaves fall to the bottom of the pond vacuuming them or raking them out is important to prevent organic buildup.
Water changes also will help with pH and KH if your tap or well water is slightly alkaline and has a KH above 80 ppm.
A final note about KH, if your KH is below 80 ppm you will NOT have a healthy pond in the long term!
For much more, please read my vastly expanded Pond article with links to even more resources as well as pictures: A Clear Pond; Pond maintenance set-up, chemistry, filtration, predators and much much more.
By: Carl Strohmeyer
May
11
Antioxidant Face Cream - Organic or Not? How You Can Tell
Filed Under Organic Chemistry | Leave a Comment
Organic face cream can have many yummy sounding ingredients. Reading the label will make your mouth water. Honey, oatmeal, apricots and avocado are prominently featured in the names and on the labels of wonderful new products available to nourish your face and body.
The range of products is enormous and growing each day. Thankfully, an organic face cream, if truly organic, will be preservative free and non-allergenic.
Read the Labels
Be sure to read labels carefully as all companies are not as strict about the designation of organic. Choose a product from a line that rejects ingredients with any question marks about their safety.
If you suffer from skin allergies, inflammation or blotchy skin, you may be sensitive to synthetic ingredients that are common in face and body products from major brand name manufacturers. In fact, most brand name cosmetics use the less expensive petroleum based glycerine and fragrances. These are not safe,
Always be inquisitive when choosing a product you apply to your skin. The skin absorbs whatever we put on it and sometimes the body can react badly. Mainly because what we put on our skin can enter our blood stream.
Chamomile, honey and almonds are soothing to irritated skin.
Antioxidant Sources Fight Free Radicals
Natural ingredients such as those derived from fruits, vegetables and nuts can also be a great source of the antioxidants needed by our skin to replenish cells destroyed by free radicals. Organic face cream is a good defense in the fight. Free radicals attempt to gain an electron from natural proteins in our skin to acquire stability. This sets off a chain reaction. The result injures your skin. Don’t worry about the chemistry. Just look for sources of naturally derived antioxidants. Vitamins A, C and E are good examples of these important substances that can neutralize damaging environmental hazards.
However, keep in mind that an antioxidant face cream organic or not, can only do the job if used regularly and gently.
Ingredients to Avoid
The creams you should search out will be made with no refined or bleached oils, mineral oil is frequently found in inferior though many times expensive products. Avoid mineral oil, it can cause chapping and acne. Additionally, organic face cream is not going to have toxic chemical stabilizers or preservatives such as paraben. These compounds have been linked to degenerative diseases, breast cancer and allergies. Stay away from them. You’ll be amazed at how much better you look and feel when your skin is well tended. And the psychological boost of using safe, natural products is not to be minimized either.
Product Popularity Not A Good Guide
As you research and learn about skin care products, pay attention to the science and clinical research. Inhibiting harmful enzymes that break down hyaluronic acid will help your skin to remain moist and supple. Stopping the degradation from environmental causes is very important to your success. Search out companies that understand and explain a process that is a complex biological function not just a marketing opportunity. An oversized advertising budget does not necessarily indicate a large commitment to product development to benefit your skin.
Choose the Natural Organic Way of Life
In our stressful world today many people are choosing a more natural, organic way of life. With the outrageous number of choices we face each time we shop, it is reassuring to have made the decision to choose antioxidant face cream organic ingredients to help narrow the search for quality products.
Choose a Company That Cares More About YOU Than Your Money
Now that you have increased your knowledge of the organic face cream universe, begin today to nourish and protect your largest organ, your skin, with wonderful bountiful ingredients that show your good taste. Always think “is this good enough to eat?” when making the decision about which cream to utilize. The results are worth the time and effort to inform yourself when choosing organic face cream.
By: Margaret Bell
The range of products is enormous and growing each day. Thankfully, an organic face cream, if truly organic, will be preservative free and non-allergenic.
Read the Labels
Be sure to read labels carefully as all companies are not as strict about the designation of organic. Choose a product from a line that rejects ingredients with any question marks about their safety.
If you suffer from skin allergies, inflammation or blotchy skin, you may be sensitive to synthetic ingredients that are common in face and body products from major brand name manufacturers. In fact, most brand name cosmetics use the less expensive petroleum based glycerine and fragrances. These are not safe,
Always be inquisitive when choosing a product you apply to your skin. The skin absorbs whatever we put on it and sometimes the body can react badly. Mainly because what we put on our skin can enter our blood stream.
Chamomile, honey and almonds are soothing to irritated skin.
Antioxidant Sources Fight Free Radicals
Natural ingredients such as those derived from fruits, vegetables and nuts can also be a great source of the antioxidants needed by our skin to replenish cells destroyed by free radicals. Organic face cream is a good defense in the fight. Free radicals attempt to gain an electron from natural proteins in our skin to acquire stability. This sets off a chain reaction. The result injures your skin. Don’t worry about the chemistry. Just look for sources of naturally derived antioxidants. Vitamins A, C and E are good examples of these important substances that can neutralize damaging environmental hazards.
However, keep in mind that an antioxidant face cream organic or not, can only do the job if used regularly and gently.
Ingredients to Avoid
The creams you should search out will be made with no refined or bleached oils, mineral oil is frequently found in inferior though many times expensive products. Avoid mineral oil, it can cause chapping and acne. Additionally, organic face cream is not going to have toxic chemical stabilizers or preservatives such as paraben. These compounds have been linked to degenerative diseases, breast cancer and allergies. Stay away from them. You’ll be amazed at how much better you look and feel when your skin is well tended. And the psychological boost of using safe, natural products is not to be minimized either.
Product Popularity Not A Good Guide
As you research and learn about skin care products, pay attention to the science and clinical research. Inhibiting harmful enzymes that break down hyaluronic acid will help your skin to remain moist and supple. Stopping the degradation from environmental causes is very important to your success. Search out companies that understand and explain a process that is a complex biological function not just a marketing opportunity. An oversized advertising budget does not necessarily indicate a large commitment to product development to benefit your skin.
Choose the Natural Organic Way of Life
In our stressful world today many people are choosing a more natural, organic way of life. With the outrageous number of choices we face each time we shop, it is reassuring to have made the decision to choose antioxidant face cream organic ingredients to help narrow the search for quality products.
Choose a Company That Cares More About YOU Than Your Money
Now that you have increased your knowledge of the organic face cream universe, begin today to nourish and protect your largest organ, your skin, with wonderful bountiful ingredients that show your good taste. Always think “is this good enough to eat?” when making the decision about which cream to utilize. The results are worth the time and effort to inform yourself when choosing organic face cream.
By: Margaret Bell
May
11
Basic Freshwater Aquarium Principles; Filters, Heaters, Bio-cycling, Live Plants, Feeding, Cleaning and Chemistry
Filed Under Organic Chemistry | Leave a Comment
AQUARIUM:
Start with as large an aquarium as you can afford. There is a very BASIC priciple (this only applies to beginners), that is to have 1-2 inches of NARROW bodied fish per FILTERED aquarium gallon. Goldfish are dirty and fatter, so I would triple this with them (3″). This also only applies to a standard rectangular aquarium.
Obviously longer fish need more tank width and length. I would decrease the amount of fish proportional to the gallons in a tall aquarium or hexagon aquarium.
Remember, many fish purchased can grow much larger than your original purchase size (ex: goldfish), so keep this in mind too.
FILTERS:
I always recommend two filters minimum per aquarium for redundancy and for improved biological (denitrifying) filtration. For a small aquarium, a combination of a hang on the back and a sponge filter. Or a sponge filter and an internal power filter. You want to make sure and rinse your sponge or cartridge out in used aquarium water to maintain your beneficial bacteria for bio filtration.
Other filters of note include canister, wet/dry, under gravel, and fluidized bed.
There are four types of filtration:
Biological; the removal of nitrogenous waste (ammonia, ECT), which is the most important type.
Mechanical; the removal of larger debris (organic and inorganic) before it can go through the nitrogen cycle (organic)
Chemical; The removal of chemical contamination via carbon, zeolite or many other products. This becomes less important in a healthy, established aquarium.
Germacidal; The use of UVC or ozone to kill disease pathogens and control the Redox potential.
HEATER:
Most tropical fish do well at a temperature between 76 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. (Discus prefer warmer).
Goldfish do not need a heater.
I recommend 25 watts for every 10 degrees of ambient temperature you need to raise your aquarium temperature. EX: If your home is 68 degrees and you have a 40 gallon aquarium, to reach a temperature of 78 degrees you would need a 100 watt heater.
BIO-CYCLING:
Your aquarium will not be at peak biological filtration for 6 weeks (or more). To start your biological filtration, there are many cycling products available, such “Cycle” by Hagen. My success with these products is mixed at best, it is very difficult for the aerobic bacteria that are needed for cycling your aquarium to live in a sealed container kept at room temperature, as they die very quickly without oxygen.
I prefer to add gravel and/or used filter sponge or cartridge from another aquarium.
This method of adding media is much faster (you still have to take it slow), and provides all the necessary bacteria, the only negative is adding disease pathogens to your aquarium, but I have rarely encountered this problem.
We used this method for our Aquarium Maintenance route for years and never lost a fish to Ammonia or nitrite poisoning.
Another method is fishless cycling where un-scented ammonia is poured into the aquarium (3-5 drops per gallon pure ammonia) so as to bring your ammonia level to 4-5 ppm. Then it takes about 3-8 weeks for the aquarium to cycle. Although this method is growing in popularity, I do not recommend it, not because it does not work (it does), but because human nature is to want to add fish sooner than the 3-8 weeks it takes for this method.
The method of adding media is much faster (you still have to take it slow), and provides all the necessary bacteria, the only negative is adding disease pathogens to your aquarium, but I have rarely encountered this problem.
Cycling is what is referred to as the Nitrogen cycle. Waste (nitrogenous) from the fish is broken down first from ammonia (NH3, the most toxic) to nitrites (NO2, less toxic) to nitrates (NO3, least toxic- but high amounts can stunt fish growth and lower disease resistance).
At a pH of 6.5, NH3 (ammonia) converts to NH4 (ammonia) which is basically non-toxic to most fish (many ammonia removing chemicals to a similar ion change, as they do NOT actually remove ammonia). If you have plants in your aquarium they will directly consume the ammonia (especially hornwort), thus rendering the NO2 (nitrite) part of the nitrogen cycle null. The danger here is if your pH climbs above 6.5 the ammonia can change to much more toxic NH3 and the aerobic bacteria needed for nitrite consumption will be sparse.
For more about th nitrogen cycling, see this article: AQUARIUM NITROGEN CYCLE
LIVE PLANTS:
Live plants are desirable in my opinion, but many artificial plants can look quite realistic when properly arranged or used in conjunction with live plants. For a beginner live plants are more difficult, but not a lot.
The benefits of live plants are they are great at nitrate removal and keep a natural balance to the aquarium, removing CO2 and adding oxygen (only during daylight). Hornwort is an excellent plant for nitrate removal (even ammonia removal), and is relatively easy to grow. Banana plants (when available) are also a very easy plant.
Here is a list of “easy” beginner plants:
Compacta swords, hornwort, Red wendtii, spiral valis, dwarf subulata, Hygro, Java fern regular or lace.
Be careful with many fish that will “mow down” your plants such as: Silver Dollars, most African cichlids, and even goldfish.
For healthy plants I suggest a substrate of #00 sand mixed with laterite about 3-5 cm deep with a layer of #3 gravel on top about 2 cm deep. This combination works well for plant roots, ease of vacuuming the top layer ONLY (where plant roots are), and for better bio filtration. You can substitute laterite with a sandy top soil (although usually not as good a source of iron), by preparing the soil thus; Gather sandy top soil, add water with a 10/1 bleach solution, mix for a couple of minutes, then rinse (with a de-chlorinator for first rinse) until the water runs relatively clear. The sand that is left is what you mix with your plant roots.
FEEDING:
I recommend feeding high quality fish and plant based foods. Quality ingredients include: spirulina, fish meal, FD Brine Shrimp, shrimp meal, Vitamin C & E, lobster shell.
Fish cannot digest proteins from beef well, and fish get most their energy requirements from fats. Some quality foods include: Omega, Spirulina 20, Ocean Nutrition, Hikari, Sanyu.
Feed you fish two to three times per day what they will consume in three minutes.
Feeding foods high in poor quality proteins can increase your nitrate levels, as an essential ingredient in protein is nitrogen, and if unusable by the fish, it is excreted, entering into the nitrogen cycle.
CLEANING:
You should try and have a schedule of changing 20% (or more) of your water every week. I recommend using a gravel vacuum, you need not remove the fish while using a gravel vacuum. Make sure the water you add back in is the same temperature and ph, and has no chlorine or chloramines.
CHEMISTRY:
Keep your ammonia level at 0, your nitrite at 0, your nitrates below 20-30, and your KH above 80 ppm. Ph depends very much on the fish you are keeping. Discus prefer under a ph below 7.0, while Mbuna African cichlids prefer above 8.0
A very general ph of 7.2 -7.5 works for many community fish. Crushed Coral and/or Wonder Shells can help maintain a high pH when you desire an aquarium with a higher pH, KH, & GH, especially where tap or well water is very acidic (Wonder Shells are much faster at dissolving to the desired KH and add electrolytes crushed coral does not!).
For a lower pH in aquariums where the tap water used is very high (usually 7.8 or above), I have used blends of RO (Reverse Osmosis) water and tap water. The ratio varies with the tap water pH, KH, & GH and the water conditions I want to achieve. With Discus it can be as high as 75% RO. Then to maintain these conditions I use peat in my filters. Note that GH does not affect pH, and magnesium (a major ingredient of GH) is important to fish metabolism. Also note that calcium which is the main factor in KH (which does affect pH!) is also important for fish metabolism and fish health and healing. With the above method of using RO (or DI) water in a blend with tap water and peat, I have still been able to maintain a KH above 80 ppm (for proper calcium absorption), sometimes with additives such Wonder Shells or Calcium Polygluconate.
CONCLUSION:
This is only very general information, there is much more in depth articles about each of these subjects and more available. But these are sound principles to follow, based on 27+ years of aquarium maintenance experience. As new and better methods become available, I regularly update my information to reflect this.
For my more in depth full article:
Aquarium Information
By: Carl Strohmeyer
Start with as large an aquarium as you can afford. There is a very BASIC priciple (this only applies to beginners), that is to have 1-2 inches of NARROW bodied fish per FILTERED aquarium gallon. Goldfish are dirty and fatter, so I would triple this with them (3″). This also only applies to a standard rectangular aquarium.
Obviously longer fish need more tank width and length. I would decrease the amount of fish proportional to the gallons in a tall aquarium or hexagon aquarium.
Remember, many fish purchased can grow much larger than your original purchase size (ex: goldfish), so keep this in mind too.
FILTERS:
I always recommend two filters minimum per aquarium for redundancy and for improved biological (denitrifying) filtration. For a small aquarium, a combination of a hang on the back and a sponge filter. Or a sponge filter and an internal power filter. You want to make sure and rinse your sponge or cartridge out in used aquarium water to maintain your beneficial bacteria for bio filtration.
Other filters of note include canister, wet/dry, under gravel, and fluidized bed.
There are four types of filtration:
Biological; the removal of nitrogenous waste (ammonia, ECT), which is the most important type.
Mechanical; the removal of larger debris (organic and inorganic) before it can go through the nitrogen cycle (organic)
Chemical; The removal of chemical contamination via carbon, zeolite or many other products. This becomes less important in a healthy, established aquarium.
Germacidal; The use of UVC or ozone to kill disease pathogens and control the Redox potential.
HEATER:
Most tropical fish do well at a temperature between 76 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. (Discus prefer warmer).
Goldfish do not need a heater.
I recommend 25 watts for every 10 degrees of ambient temperature you need to raise your aquarium temperature. EX: If your home is 68 degrees and you have a 40 gallon aquarium, to reach a temperature of 78 degrees you would need a 100 watt heater.
BIO-CYCLING:
Your aquarium will not be at peak biological filtration for 6 weeks (or more). To start your biological filtration, there are many cycling products available, such “Cycle” by Hagen. My success with these products is mixed at best, it is very difficult for the aerobic bacteria that are needed for cycling your aquarium to live in a sealed container kept at room temperature, as they die very quickly without oxygen.
I prefer to add gravel and/or used filter sponge or cartridge from another aquarium.
This method of adding media is much faster (you still have to take it slow), and provides all the necessary bacteria, the only negative is adding disease pathogens to your aquarium, but I have rarely encountered this problem.
We used this method for our Aquarium Maintenance route for years and never lost a fish to Ammonia or nitrite poisoning.
Another method is fishless cycling where un-scented ammonia is poured into the aquarium (3-5 drops per gallon pure ammonia) so as to bring your ammonia level to 4-5 ppm. Then it takes about 3-8 weeks for the aquarium to cycle. Although this method is growing in popularity, I do not recommend it, not because it does not work (it does), but because human nature is to want to add fish sooner than the 3-8 weeks it takes for this method.
The method of adding media is much faster (you still have to take it slow), and provides all the necessary bacteria, the only negative is adding disease pathogens to your aquarium, but I have rarely encountered this problem.
Cycling is what is referred to as the Nitrogen cycle. Waste (nitrogenous) from the fish is broken down first from ammonia (NH3, the most toxic) to nitrites (NO2, less toxic) to nitrates (NO3, least toxic- but high amounts can stunt fish growth and lower disease resistance).
At a pH of 6.5, NH3 (ammonia) converts to NH4 (ammonia) which is basically non-toxic to most fish (many ammonia removing chemicals to a similar ion change, as they do NOT actually remove ammonia). If you have plants in your aquarium they will directly consume the ammonia (especially hornwort), thus rendering the NO2 (nitrite) part of the nitrogen cycle null. The danger here is if your pH climbs above 6.5 the ammonia can change to much more toxic NH3 and the aerobic bacteria needed for nitrite consumption will be sparse.
For more about th nitrogen cycling, see this article: AQUARIUM NITROGEN CYCLE
LIVE PLANTS:
Live plants are desirable in my opinion, but many artificial plants can look quite realistic when properly arranged or used in conjunction with live plants. For a beginner live plants are more difficult, but not a lot.
The benefits of live plants are they are great at nitrate removal and keep a natural balance to the aquarium, removing CO2 and adding oxygen (only during daylight). Hornwort is an excellent plant for nitrate removal (even ammonia removal), and is relatively easy to grow. Banana plants (when available) are also a very easy plant.
Here is a list of “easy” beginner plants:
Compacta swords, hornwort, Red wendtii, spiral valis, dwarf subulata, Hygro, Java fern regular or lace.
Be careful with many fish that will “mow down” your plants such as: Silver Dollars, most African cichlids, and even goldfish.
For healthy plants I suggest a substrate of #00 sand mixed with laterite about 3-5 cm deep with a layer of #3 gravel on top about 2 cm deep. This combination works well for plant roots, ease of vacuuming the top layer ONLY (where plant roots are), and for better bio filtration. You can substitute laterite with a sandy top soil (although usually not as good a source of iron), by preparing the soil thus; Gather sandy top soil, add water with a 10/1 bleach solution, mix for a couple of minutes, then rinse (with a de-chlorinator for first rinse) until the water runs relatively clear. The sand that is left is what you mix with your plant roots.
FEEDING:
I recommend feeding high quality fish and plant based foods. Quality ingredients include: spirulina, fish meal, FD Brine Shrimp, shrimp meal, Vitamin C & E, lobster shell.
Fish cannot digest proteins from beef well, and fish get most their energy requirements from fats. Some quality foods include: Omega, Spirulina 20, Ocean Nutrition, Hikari, Sanyu.
Feed you fish two to three times per day what they will consume in three minutes.
Feeding foods high in poor quality proteins can increase your nitrate levels, as an essential ingredient in protein is nitrogen, and if unusable by the fish, it is excreted, entering into the nitrogen cycle.
CLEANING:
You should try and have a schedule of changing 20% (or more) of your water every week. I recommend using a gravel vacuum, you need not remove the fish while using a gravel vacuum. Make sure the water you add back in is the same temperature and ph, and has no chlorine or chloramines.
CHEMISTRY:
Keep your ammonia level at 0, your nitrite at 0, your nitrates below 20-30, and your KH above 80 ppm. Ph depends very much on the fish you are keeping. Discus prefer under a ph below 7.0, while Mbuna African cichlids prefer above 8.0
A very general ph of 7.2 -7.5 works for many community fish. Crushed Coral and/or Wonder Shells can help maintain a high pH when you desire an aquarium with a higher pH, KH, & GH, especially where tap or well water is very acidic (Wonder Shells are much faster at dissolving to the desired KH and add electrolytes crushed coral does not!).
For a lower pH in aquariums where the tap water used is very high (usually 7.8 or above), I have used blends of RO (Reverse Osmosis) water and tap water. The ratio varies with the tap water pH, KH, & GH and the water conditions I want to achieve. With Discus it can be as high as 75% RO. Then to maintain these conditions I use peat in my filters. Note that GH does not affect pH, and magnesium (a major ingredient of GH) is important to fish metabolism. Also note that calcium which is the main factor in KH (which does affect pH!) is also important for fish metabolism and fish health and healing. With the above method of using RO (or DI) water in a blend with tap water and peat, I have still been able to maintain a KH above 80 ppm (for proper calcium absorption), sometimes with additives such Wonder Shells or Calcium Polygluconate.
CONCLUSION:
This is only very general information, there is much more in depth articles about each of these subjects and more available. But these are sound principles to follow, based on 27+ years of aquarium maintenance experience. As new and better methods become available, I regularly update my information to reflect this.
For my more in depth full article:
Aquarium Information
By: Carl Strohmeyer
Apr
29
Fluorinated Compounds Applied to Medicinal Chemistry
Filed Under Organic Chemistry | Leave a Comment
with this project our great attention is focused on the fluorinated materials and their application of Medicinal chemistry .The small and highly electronegative fluorine atom can play a remarkable role in medicinal chemistry. Selective installation of fluorine into a therapeutic or diagnostic small molecule candidate can enhance a number of pharmacokinetic and physicochemical properties such as improved metabolic stability and enhanced membrane permeation. Increased binding affinity of fluorinated drug candidates to target protein has also been documented in a number of cases. A further emerging application of the fluorine atom is the use of Fluroine-18 as a radiolabel tracer atom in the exquisitely sensitive technique of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. This short review aims to bring together these various aspects of the use of fluorine in medicinal chemistry applications, citing selected examples from across a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic settings. The increasingly routine incorporation of fluorine atom(s) into drug candidates suggests a bright future for fluorine in drug discovery and development. A major challenge moving forward will be how and where to install fluorine in a rational sense to best optimise molecular properties.
compounds of fluorine, including sodium fluoride (NaF), stannous fluoride (SnF2) and sodium MFP, are used in toothpaste to prevent dental cavities. These compounds are also added to municipal water supplies, a process called water fluoridation, though a number of health concerns has sometimes led to controversy.
Many important agents for general anaesthesia such as sevoflurane, desflurane, and isoflurane are hydro fluorocarbon derivatives.
The fluorinated anti-inflammatory dexamethasone and triamcinolone are among the most potent of the synthetic corticosteroids class of drugs. Fludrocortisone (”Florinef”) is one of the most common mineral corticoids, a class of drugs which mimics the actions of aldosterone.
Fluconazole is a triazole antifungal drug used in the treatment and prevention of superficial and systemic fungal infections. Fluoroquinolones are a family of broad-spectrum antibiotics. SSRI antidepressants, except in a few instances, are fluorinated molecules. These include citalopram, escitalopram oxalate,fluoxetine,fluvoxamine maleate, and paroxetine.
A notable exception is sertraline. Because of the difficulty of biological systems in dealing with metabolism of fluorinated molecules, fluorinated antibiotics and antidepressants are among the major fluorinated organics found in treated city sewage and wastewater. 18F, a radioactive isotope that emits positrons, is often used in positron emission tomography, because its half-life of 110 minutes is long by the standards of positron-emitters.
Many new agricultural and pharmaceutical active ingredients contain F atoms at strategic positions. A reason for this is the fact that the replacement of hydrogen by fluorine (isosteric substitution) or of hydroxyl groups by fluorine (is polar substitution) very often leads to an improvement in the activity. The selective introduction of fluorine into organic molecules has therefore become a very important task in modern chemistry. Although the introduction of diethylaminosulfur trifluoride and other reagents in this class of compounds has achieved a breakthrough in the field of nucleophilic fluorination, there is a further need for safe, mild and efficient electrophilic fluorinating agents.
Most of such electrophilic reagents, such as perchloryl fluoride, trifluoromethyl hypo fluoride, CsSO4 F, etc, are toxic and very aggressive chemicals with which explosions are not infrequently observed. Furthermore, the storage stability of such materials is very limited. “F.sym.” reagents based on N-F-containing compounds have been investigated very intensively, since some of these materials have proven to be readily isolable, storage-stable and efficient fluorinating agents. The first experiments in this direction were carried out using perfluoro-N-fluoropiperidine (A) (J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. I 1988, 2805). However, owing to the complicated synthesis (yield max. 13%) and the side reaction during fluorination, this compound is not of interest for practical purposes. Other known N-F fluorinating agents are N-fluoropyridin-2-(1H)one (B) (J. Org. Chem. 1983, 43, 761), N-fluorosulfonamides (C) (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,479,901, 4,828,764, DE 36 23 184 A); camphor N-fluorosultam (D) (Tetrahedron Lett. 1988, 29, 6087)
N-alkyl radical, an HF elimination can very easily occur as a side reaction. In the case of N-alkyl radicals which possess no hydrogen atoms in the a position., e.g. a t-butyl group, the yield in the preparation of
the NF compound is very small. Although the charged systems (H), (F) are very efficient fluorinating agents, a decisive disadvantage of these systems is their limited solubility in the usual organic solvents. F-Teda
(H) additionally has the disadvantage that a Hofmann elimination often takes place in the case of this quaternary ammonium salt. This is a particular problem in the fluorination of strong carbanions.
There is therefore a great need for an electrophilic fluorinating agent which does not have the disadvantages described, can be easily prepared from readily available starting materials and possesses a high storage
stability.
The strength of weak interactions: aromatic fluorine in drug design.
Selective aromatic fluorine substitution can increase the affinity of a molecule for a macromolecular recognition site through non-covalent interactions. These effects are evaluated most accurately by direct comparison of binding affinities of selectively fluorinated compounds with their corresponding hydrocarbons. In cases where structural data confirm similar binding geometries for the fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon analogues, reliable estimates for the impact of fluorination upon arene-pi…X and C-F…X interaction energies are possible. Existing studies show that fluorination’s impact on any individual molecular interaction is quite modest. Upon binding to a protein receptor, cumulative fluorinated aromatic quadrupolar and C-F…X dipolar interaction energies rarely differ from those the corresponding hydrocarbons by more than 1.3 kcal/mol, and most individual interactions appear to be in the 0.1-0.4 kcal/mol range. Similarly, non-ideal selective fluorination is rarely associated with a dramatic decrease in affinity, because the impact of weak repulsive interactions in the bound state is counterbalanced by increased lipophilicity.
.
Perfluoroethers and perfluoropolyethers as artificial blood
1. Due their grater chain mobility and also due to their greater chemical affinity for
perfluoroethers and perfluoropolyethers O2 are more efficient in delivering
“acceptable” (quantities not disclosed) concentrations of O2 both in laboratory
animals and clinical testing on humans.
2. Furthermore, due to their greater solubility in aqueous solutions, perfluoroethers and
perfluoropolyethers don’t require emulsifiers thus simplifying the “artificial blood”
composition.
3. A specific experimental example developed by the ASP school coordinated by Prof.
Walter Navarrini of this Polytechnical Institute is CF3OCF2CF2OCF3 (b.p. = 20°C).
Other fluorine-containing drugs
It has been shown that fluorinated analogues of naturally occurring biologically active compounds
including amino acids, often exhibit unique physiological activity. Fluorination of natural hormones can lead to molecules with new pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic properties. For example the introduction of fluorine into corticosteroids has a dramatic effect on their metabolism (Bush and Mahesh 1964). Because the metabolism of steroid hormones is very important for their physiological activities, the exchange of a hydrogen atom under fluorine atom can be very meaningful. Also other endogenous compounds markedly exchange their biological properties, if one or more fluorine atoms are installed into their molecule. For example, the potent platelet aggregating agent thromboxane A2 has a half-life in vivo of only 32 seconds.
Incorporation of two fluorine atoms into the oxetane ring of thromboxane A2 reduces the rate of carbonium ion formation and acid hydrolysis, so that 7,7-difluoro-thromboxane A2 has a rate of hydrolysis 108-fold slower than the natural substance (Fried et al. 1984). Likewise prostacyclin, which is an inhibitor of platelet aggregation, has a very short biological half-life. Fluorination improves the stability of the molecule toward acid hydrolysis and the stability in organisms. Thus 10,10-difluoro-13-dehydroprostacyclin exhibits a half-life 150 times, and has equal potency to, the natural compound (Fried et al. 1980). Cerivastatin, a fluorinated drug from the statin class, which had caused deaths and serious adverse health effects was withdrawn from the market in 2001 ( Furberg and Pitt 2001). It had been linked to at least 31 deaths. Cerivastatin also induced muscle destruction (rhabdomyolysis) and displayed compounded toxicity when used with other drugs.
.
By: kalyan kumar dhar
compounds of fluorine, including sodium fluoride (NaF), stannous fluoride (SnF2) and sodium MFP, are used in toothpaste to prevent dental cavities. These compounds are also added to municipal water supplies, a process called water fluoridation, though a number of health concerns has sometimes led to controversy.
Many important agents for general anaesthesia such as sevoflurane, desflurane, and isoflurane are hydro fluorocarbon derivatives.
The fluorinated anti-inflammatory dexamethasone and triamcinolone are among the most potent of the synthetic corticosteroids class of drugs. Fludrocortisone (”Florinef”) is one of the most common mineral corticoids, a class of drugs which mimics the actions of aldosterone.
Fluconazole is a triazole antifungal drug used in the treatment and prevention of superficial and systemic fungal infections. Fluoroquinolones are a family of broad-spectrum antibiotics. SSRI antidepressants, except in a few instances, are fluorinated molecules. These include citalopram, escitalopram oxalate,fluoxetine,fluvoxamine maleate, and paroxetine.
A notable exception is sertraline. Because of the difficulty of biological systems in dealing with metabolism of fluorinated molecules, fluorinated antibiotics and antidepressants are among the major fluorinated organics found in treated city sewage and wastewater. 18F, a radioactive isotope that emits positrons, is often used in positron emission tomography, because its half-life of 110 minutes is long by the standards of positron-emitters.
Many new agricultural and pharmaceutical active ingredients contain F atoms at strategic positions. A reason for this is the fact that the replacement of hydrogen by fluorine (isosteric substitution) or of hydroxyl groups by fluorine (is polar substitution) very often leads to an improvement in the activity. The selective introduction of fluorine into organic molecules has therefore become a very important task in modern chemistry. Although the introduction of diethylaminosulfur trifluoride and other reagents in this class of compounds has achieved a breakthrough in the field of nucleophilic fluorination, there is a further need for safe, mild and efficient electrophilic fluorinating agents.
Most of such electrophilic reagents, such as perchloryl fluoride, trifluoromethyl hypo fluoride, CsSO4 F, etc, are toxic and very aggressive chemicals with which explosions are not infrequently observed. Furthermore, the storage stability of such materials is very limited. “F.sym.” reagents based on N-F-containing compounds have been investigated very intensively, since some of these materials have proven to be readily isolable, storage-stable and efficient fluorinating agents. The first experiments in this direction were carried out using perfluoro-N-fluoropiperidine (A) (J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. I 1988, 2805). However, owing to the complicated synthesis (yield max. 13%) and the side reaction during fluorination, this compound is not of interest for practical purposes. Other known N-F fluorinating agents are N-fluoropyridin-2-(1H)one (B) (J. Org. Chem. 1983, 43, 761), N-fluorosulfonamides (C) (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,479,901, 4,828,764, DE 36 23 184 A); camphor N-fluorosultam (D) (Tetrahedron Lett. 1988, 29, 6087)
N-alkyl radical, an HF elimination can very easily occur as a side reaction. In the case of N-alkyl radicals which possess no hydrogen atoms in the a position., e.g. a t-butyl group, the yield in the preparation of
the NF compound is very small. Although the charged systems (H), (F) are very efficient fluorinating agents, a decisive disadvantage of these systems is their limited solubility in the usual organic solvents. F-Teda
(H) additionally has the disadvantage that a Hofmann elimination often takes place in the case of this quaternary ammonium salt. This is a particular problem in the fluorination of strong carbanions.
There is therefore a great need for an electrophilic fluorinating agent which does not have the disadvantages described, can be easily prepared from readily available starting materials and possesses a high storage
stability.
The strength of weak interactions: aromatic fluorine in drug design.
Selective aromatic fluorine substitution can increase the affinity of a molecule for a macromolecular recognition site through non-covalent interactions. These effects are evaluated most accurately by direct comparison of binding affinities of selectively fluorinated compounds with their corresponding hydrocarbons. In cases where structural data confirm similar binding geometries for the fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon analogues, reliable estimates for the impact of fluorination upon arene-pi…X and C-F…X interaction energies are possible. Existing studies show that fluorination’s impact on any individual molecular interaction is quite modest. Upon binding to a protein receptor, cumulative fluorinated aromatic quadrupolar and C-F…X dipolar interaction energies rarely differ from those the corresponding hydrocarbons by more than 1.3 kcal/mol, and most individual interactions appear to be in the 0.1-0.4 kcal/mol range. Similarly, non-ideal selective fluorination is rarely associated with a dramatic decrease in affinity, because the impact of weak repulsive interactions in the bound state is counterbalanced by increased lipophilicity.
.
Perfluoroethers and perfluoropolyethers as artificial blood
1. Due their grater chain mobility and also due to their greater chemical affinity for
perfluoroethers and perfluoropolyethers O2 are more efficient in delivering
“acceptable” (quantities not disclosed) concentrations of O2 both in laboratory
animals and clinical testing on humans.
2. Furthermore, due to their greater solubility in aqueous solutions, perfluoroethers and
perfluoropolyethers don’t require emulsifiers thus simplifying the “artificial blood”
composition.
3. A specific experimental example developed by the ASP school coordinated by Prof.
Walter Navarrini of this Polytechnical Institute is CF3OCF2CF2OCF3 (b.p. = 20°C).
Other fluorine-containing drugs
It has been shown that fluorinated analogues of naturally occurring biologically active compounds
including amino acids, often exhibit unique physiological activity. Fluorination of natural hormones can lead to molecules with new pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic properties. For example the introduction of fluorine into corticosteroids has a dramatic effect on their metabolism (Bush and Mahesh 1964). Because the metabolism of steroid hormones is very important for their physiological activities, the exchange of a hydrogen atom under fluorine atom can be very meaningful. Also other endogenous compounds markedly exchange their biological properties, if one or more fluorine atoms are installed into their molecule. For example, the potent platelet aggregating agent thromboxane A2 has a half-life in vivo of only 32 seconds.
Incorporation of two fluorine atoms into the oxetane ring of thromboxane A2 reduces the rate of carbonium ion formation and acid hydrolysis, so that 7,7-difluoro-thromboxane A2 has a rate of hydrolysis 108-fold slower than the natural substance (Fried et al. 1984). Likewise prostacyclin, which is an inhibitor of platelet aggregation, has a very short biological half-life. Fluorination improves the stability of the molecule toward acid hydrolysis and the stability in organisms. Thus 10,10-difluoro-13-dehydroprostacyclin exhibits a half-life 150 times, and has equal potency to, the natural compound (Fried et al. 1980). Cerivastatin, a fluorinated drug from the statin class, which had caused deaths and serious adverse health effects was withdrawn from the market in 2001 ( Furberg and Pitt 2001). It had been linked to at least 31 deaths. Cerivastatin also induced muscle destruction (rhabdomyolysis) and displayed compounded toxicity when used with other drugs.
.
By: kalyan kumar dhar
Apr
18
Are you looking for some inside information on soil Chemistry and your garden? Here’s an up-to-date report from soil Chemistry and your garden experts who should know.
The chemistry of the soil is one of the most critical considerations for any gardener, but it can be particularly vital when it comes to gardening with perennials. That is because, whereas annuals provide a fresh start year after year, gardening with perennials means that the plants stay in the ground, and the chemistry of the soil can greatly affect all types of perennials.
It is difficult to overestimate how important proper soil chemistry is, since the soil provides all the nutrients the plants need to grow and thrive.
Most types of perennials are quite hardy, but it is very important to prepare the flower bed properly. A properly prepared bed is the first step to enjoying a healthy garden full of perennials. As with all plants, it is important for all varieties of perennials to have plenty of healthy soil, enough water and the right amount of sunlight.
One of the most common problems with perennials is that of an uneven growth pattern. There are many types of perennials, and they all have different growth rates. It is normal for different types of perennials to grow faster or more slowly, but if identical varieties of perennials show very different growth patterns within different parts of the garden, soil chemistry may be to blame. Many gardeners assume that the same garden plot will have the same chemistry everywhere, but this is not always the case. Soil chemistry can vary even on the same properly, sometimes even within the same garden plot.
Is everything making sense so far? If not, I’m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.
If you suspect that soil chemistry may be to blame for uneven growth patterns, it is important to have a thorough soil analysis done to either confirm your suspicions or rule them out. A good testing lab can quickly point out problems like an uneven pH level, insufficient organic materials in the soil, or insufficient nutrients. The analysis will also give you a good baseline to go from as you improve the soil with various additives.
The pH level of the soil is an important consideration for the perennial garden. Most varieties of perennials will grow quite well in soils with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0, but some perennials have different requirements. If you do not know which plants will grow best in your soil, be sure to check with your nursery or garden center.
If the pH level is excessively alkaline or excessively acidic, it can be brought back into balance by adding humus. You can easily make your own humus by using a compost bin to break down organic material, or humus can be purchased directly from a garden center or nursery. If the humus is unsuccessful, limestone can be added to make the soil more alkaline, while adding sulfur will help make it more acidic.
After the baseline soil chemistry is known, it will be easier to monitor the quality of the soil going forward. A bed of perennials should be checked for soil chemistry quality anytime a significant change in the quality or number of blooms is noticed. Keeping on top of the quality of your soil, and making changes as needed, is the best way to keep your perennials blooming season after season.
You can’t predict when knowing something extra about soil Chemistry and your garden will come in handy. If you learned anything new about soil chemistry pertaining to the perennial garden in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.
By: J. Brian Keith
The chemistry of the soil is one of the most critical considerations for any gardener, but it can be particularly vital when it comes to gardening with perennials. That is because, whereas annuals provide a fresh start year after year, gardening with perennials means that the plants stay in the ground, and the chemistry of the soil can greatly affect all types of perennials.
It is difficult to overestimate how important proper soil chemistry is, since the soil provides all the nutrients the plants need to grow and thrive.
Most types of perennials are quite hardy, but it is very important to prepare the flower bed properly. A properly prepared bed is the first step to enjoying a healthy garden full of perennials. As with all plants, it is important for all varieties of perennials to have plenty of healthy soil, enough water and the right amount of sunlight.
One of the most common problems with perennials is that of an uneven growth pattern. There are many types of perennials, and they all have different growth rates. It is normal for different types of perennials to grow faster or more slowly, but if identical varieties of perennials show very different growth patterns within different parts of the garden, soil chemistry may be to blame. Many gardeners assume that the same garden plot will have the same chemistry everywhere, but this is not always the case. Soil chemistry can vary even on the same properly, sometimes even within the same garden plot.
Is everything making sense so far? If not, I’m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.
If you suspect that soil chemistry may be to blame for uneven growth patterns, it is important to have a thorough soil analysis done to either confirm your suspicions or rule them out. A good testing lab can quickly point out problems like an uneven pH level, insufficient organic materials in the soil, or insufficient nutrients. The analysis will also give you a good baseline to go from as you improve the soil with various additives.
The pH level of the soil is an important consideration for the perennial garden. Most varieties of perennials will grow quite well in soils with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0, but some perennials have different requirements. If you do not know which plants will grow best in your soil, be sure to check with your nursery or garden center.
If the pH level is excessively alkaline or excessively acidic, it can be brought back into balance by adding humus. You can easily make your own humus by using a compost bin to break down organic material, or humus can be purchased directly from a garden center or nursery. If the humus is unsuccessful, limestone can be added to make the soil more alkaline, while adding sulfur will help make it more acidic.
After the baseline soil chemistry is known, it will be easier to monitor the quality of the soil going forward. A bed of perennials should be checked for soil chemistry quality anytime a significant change in the quality or number of blooms is noticed. Keeping on top of the quality of your soil, and making changes as needed, is the best way to keep your perennials blooming season after season.
You can’t predict when knowing something extra about soil Chemistry and your garden will come in handy. If you learned anything new about soil chemistry pertaining to the perennial garden in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.
By: J. Brian Keith
Apr
12
Article Introduction:
A wedding is something special, without a doubt – it indicates the bonding between two people, the union that is created between the two and the happiness that event brings to their lives. When people marry for the right reasons, everything seems similar to a dream, something like the best thing that ever happened to them, and this is why the reception and the ceremony should be perfect. We all have dreams about our weddings ever since we were children – we were imagining something similar to a Cinderella or a Sleeping Beauty of a story, not to mention the elegant reception, with everyone we care for being there, sharing our joy. In order to preserve this elegant reception, it would be recommended for you to think of all the details – including wedding favors.
Article Body:
The first thing I need to mention before we start discussing the use of wedding favors is that you should not feel obliged to use them on your wedding day. I mean, you should not feel obliged to do anything you feel it does not suit your wedding or your needs. Some times, people that have a tight budget for organizing their desired wedding need to drop off some of the details in order to afford the whole ceremony and the reception afterwards – what can I say, with wedding favors it is a relief since they are quite affordable for almost any budget.
Giving wedding favors is a elegant and wonderful mean to show your guests the gratitude they deserve for giving you their support on your wedding day. You see, being the married couple is one thing and it has its own percentage of happiness and joy, however, when you see a number of people (some of the close to your heart) being a part of your special day, showing you how happy they are for you – it is an indescribable feeling.
Wedding favors also act as great reminders of your special day – by handing them out to your guests, they will remember your wedding even as time passes. This is the reason many couples have considered wedding favors rather than typical greetings at the wedding reception – it is easier to make people remember that you tied the knot on July 16th, rather than through a simple greeting. Now, if you are wondering which type of wedding favors would suit your wedding best all you have to do is match your wedding theme to the layout of the favors. This if you do not want to consider unique or personalized wedding favors.
Resource Box:
If you are on the lookout for the perfect wedding favors and you have no time to shop around, all you have to do is follow our website at www.newfavors.com. Sarah Mehra has been in the wedding industry since 2000 and started Newfavors.com with intent to provide wedding favors and services at more affordable costs. We assure a wide choice from many manufactures at very competitive prices, not to mention fast turn around for delivery.
By: Lisa Nixon
A wedding is something special, without a doubt – it indicates the bonding between two people, the union that is created between the two and the happiness that event brings to their lives. When people marry for the right reasons, everything seems similar to a dream, something like the best thing that ever happened to them, and this is why the reception and the ceremony should be perfect. We all have dreams about our weddings ever since we were children – we were imagining something similar to a Cinderella or a Sleeping Beauty of a story, not to mention the elegant reception, with everyone we care for being there, sharing our joy. In order to preserve this elegant reception, it would be recommended for you to think of all the details – including wedding favors.
Article Body:
The first thing I need to mention before we start discussing the use of wedding favors is that you should not feel obliged to use them on your wedding day. I mean, you should not feel obliged to do anything you feel it does not suit your wedding or your needs. Some times, people that have a tight budget for organizing their desired wedding need to drop off some of the details in order to afford the whole ceremony and the reception afterwards – what can I say, with wedding favors it is a relief since they are quite affordable for almost any budget.
Giving wedding favors is a elegant and wonderful mean to show your guests the gratitude they deserve for giving you their support on your wedding day. You see, being the married couple is one thing and it has its own percentage of happiness and joy, however, when you see a number of people (some of the close to your heart) being a part of your special day, showing you how happy they are for you – it is an indescribable feeling.
Wedding favors also act as great reminders of your special day – by handing them out to your guests, they will remember your wedding even as time passes. This is the reason many couples have considered wedding favors rather than typical greetings at the wedding reception – it is easier to make people remember that you tied the knot on July 16th, rather than through a simple greeting. Now, if you are wondering which type of wedding favors would suit your wedding best all you have to do is match your wedding theme to the layout of the favors. This if you do not want to consider unique or personalized wedding favors.
Resource Box:
If you are on the lookout for the perfect wedding favors and you have no time to shop around, all you have to do is follow our website at www.newfavors.com. Sarah Mehra has been in the wedding industry since 2000 and started Newfavors.com with intent to provide wedding favors and services at more affordable costs. We assure a wide choice from many manufactures at very competitive prices, not to mention fast turn around for delivery.
By: Lisa Nixon
Apr
11
The Brain Chemistry of Insomnia - Let’s Put an End to “midnight Madness”
Filed Under Organic Chemistry | Leave a Comment
The Brain Chemistry of Insomnia - Let’s Put an End to “Midnight Madness”
More than 53 million sleeping pill prescriptions are given per year. That’s a lot of people not sleeping. There are many more people taking the so-called “non addictive” sleeping medications which are sold over the counter. These statistics do not include the number of prescriptions for anxiety. What are the real issues behind insomnia and anxiety, and what can we do to stop “The Midnight Madness”?
Our Body Rhythms and Brain Chemistry
The body has natural rhythms that have evolved over thousands of years. These rhythms are governed by light and the absence of light. When the sun rises and your eyes get exposed to natural light, the optic nerve signals the release of many different brain chemicals. These brain chemicals are called neurotransmitters. Some of the neurotransmitters are exciting, produce vital energy and brain function where others are calming and cause relaxation and sleep.
The neurotransmitters that are calming and relaxing are produced by the absence of light. When these nighttime neurotransmitters become more dominant, the body becomes more relaxed, tired, and falls to sleep.
We are a society of “Stress Junkies” who are over worked and sleep deprived
We have a society of people who are working multiple jobs, raising families, and drinking tons of caffeine to push the body into a constant state of sheer exhaustion. The pushing, drive and over use of caffeine is like “trying to whip a little donkey up a hill when he has already carried 50 people up the mountain”. Eventually this over-pushing, will cause the body to be in a constant state of adrenal fatigue. It causes chronic exhaustion, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and depression. Missing out on deep sleep can be damaging to our health because this is when most of the important repair work for organs and tissues happen.
Come out into the light! Don’t be a “Cave Dweller” living in the 21st century
This is the first time in history that masses of people work in offices, exercise indoors, and rarely see natural light. When we ask someone who works and exercises indoors, and drinks lots of caffeine, how well they sleep, 80% of those people will tell us they have some level of chronic insomnia, anxiety or depression. There are also many serious life situations that cause these problems as well. The main point is that the body has thousands of years of genetic adaptation to evolve into this level of sophisticated functioning. Now we are seeing what happens when we push ourselves too hard and live against the body’s natural cycles.
What to do to stop Insomnia
The sleep center at UCSF San Francisco highlights “SLEEP HYGIENE” as one of the most important aspects for curing insomnia. It includes going to bed before 10 pm, which is when certain hormones start elevating causing a “second wind.” They also recommend lying down, reading and relaxing. Reading is the best activity to do at this time (no action movies or scary novels). Reading also helps as it mimics the eye movement produced in REM sleep, which is one of the deepest levels of sleep.
Other tips to stop “The Midnight Madness”
• Yoga and meditation are quieting exercises that can also be used to relax and calm the body in the evening.
• Caffeine has a half-life of 12 hours in the body, so any chocolate, tea, and coffee consumed at noon or after is still affecting you at midnight. This includes decaf coffee (one cup of decaf coffee contains 6% caffeine.)
• Any strenuous exercise after 4 pm may be over stimulating to your adrenal glands, and turn on the stimulating neurotransmitters that may not allow your body relax enough to fall asleep.
• If you have been taking sleeping pills for a long time, go off them gradually and take natural products so you don’t have withdrawal symptoms and rebounding insomnia.
• All alcohol, especially red wine and hard alcohol are heating and inflaming to the body. It then can cause a histamine reaction that may over stimulate the brain and body tissues and cause insomnia.
Insomniacs of the World! There is hope for you
The most effective natural products that are used for sleep, anxiety and depression are Gaba, Taurine, Thenine, Valerian, and Melatonin. There are non-addictive and safe Chinese Herbal formulas that have been used for thousands of years. If these products are accompanied with the important sleep hygiene guidelines, you will notice that your sleep cycles will improve greatly in just a few weeks.
For people who have been taking prescription start increasing natural products, outdoor exercise, and go to bed early. If you have been taking prescription sleep medication for more than a few weeks, it is recommended that you wean off these medications slowly and gradually with the help of your doctor. For those with more chronic problems we recommend checking for thyroid, adrenal, and neurotransmitter imbalances.
By: Dr. Barbara Custer
More than 53 million sleeping pill prescriptions are given per year. That’s a lot of people not sleeping. There are many more people taking the so-called “non addictive” sleeping medications which are sold over the counter. These statistics do not include the number of prescriptions for anxiety. What are the real issues behind insomnia and anxiety, and what can we do to stop “The Midnight Madness”?
Our Body Rhythms and Brain Chemistry
The body has natural rhythms that have evolved over thousands of years. These rhythms are governed by light and the absence of light. When the sun rises and your eyes get exposed to natural light, the optic nerve signals the release of many different brain chemicals. These brain chemicals are called neurotransmitters. Some of the neurotransmitters are exciting, produce vital energy and brain function where others are calming and cause relaxation and sleep.
The neurotransmitters that are calming and relaxing are produced by the absence of light. When these nighttime neurotransmitters become more dominant, the body becomes more relaxed, tired, and falls to sleep.
We are a society of “Stress Junkies” who are over worked and sleep deprived
We have a society of people who are working multiple jobs, raising families, and drinking tons of caffeine to push the body into a constant state of sheer exhaustion. The pushing, drive and over use of caffeine is like “trying to whip a little donkey up a hill when he has already carried 50 people up the mountain”. Eventually this over-pushing, will cause the body to be in a constant state of adrenal fatigue. It causes chronic exhaustion, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and depression. Missing out on deep sleep can be damaging to our health because this is when most of the important repair work for organs and tissues happen.
Come out into the light! Don’t be a “Cave Dweller” living in the 21st century
This is the first time in history that masses of people work in offices, exercise indoors, and rarely see natural light. When we ask someone who works and exercises indoors, and drinks lots of caffeine, how well they sleep, 80% of those people will tell us they have some level of chronic insomnia, anxiety or depression. There are also many serious life situations that cause these problems as well. The main point is that the body has thousands of years of genetic adaptation to evolve into this level of sophisticated functioning. Now we are seeing what happens when we push ourselves too hard and live against the body’s natural cycles.
What to do to stop Insomnia
The sleep center at UCSF San Francisco highlights “SLEEP HYGIENE” as one of the most important aspects for curing insomnia. It includes going to bed before 10 pm, which is when certain hormones start elevating causing a “second wind.” They also recommend lying down, reading and relaxing. Reading is the best activity to do at this time (no action movies or scary novels). Reading also helps as it mimics the eye movement produced in REM sleep, which is one of the deepest levels of sleep.
Other tips to stop “The Midnight Madness”
• Yoga and meditation are quieting exercises that can also be used to relax and calm the body in the evening.
• Caffeine has a half-life of 12 hours in the body, so any chocolate, tea, and coffee consumed at noon or after is still affecting you at midnight. This includes decaf coffee (one cup of decaf coffee contains 6% caffeine.)
• Any strenuous exercise after 4 pm may be over stimulating to your adrenal glands, and turn on the stimulating neurotransmitters that may not allow your body relax enough to fall asleep.
• If you have been taking sleeping pills for a long time, go off them gradually and take natural products so you don’t have withdrawal symptoms and rebounding insomnia.
• All alcohol, especially red wine and hard alcohol are heating and inflaming to the body. It then can cause a histamine reaction that may over stimulate the brain and body tissues and cause insomnia.
Insomniacs of the World! There is hope for you
The most effective natural products that are used for sleep, anxiety and depression are Gaba, Taurine, Thenine, Valerian, and Melatonin. There are non-addictive and safe Chinese Herbal formulas that have been used for thousands of years. If these products are accompanied with the important sleep hygiene guidelines, you will notice that your sleep cycles will improve greatly in just a few weeks.
For people who have been taking prescription start increasing natural products, outdoor exercise, and go to bed early. If you have been taking prescription sleep medication for more than a few weeks, it is recommended that you wean off these medications slowly and gradually with the help of your doctor. For those with more chronic problems we recommend checking for thyroid, adrenal, and neurotransmitter imbalances.
By: Dr. Barbara Custer
Apr
10
Are You Finding Information on Natural and Organic Skin Care Confusing?
Filed Under Organic Chemistry | Leave a Comment
Wherever we look, whatever we read, there is a storey in the media about why we should buy natural and/or organic skin and personal care products because they are natural and therefore better for us.
Information on natural and organic skin care is very confusing to say the least. While we all know that we should avoid synthetic or artificial ingredients in our food and drinks, we are less well informed on the ingredients in our beauty and personal care products.
Frequently we hear that yet another ingredient found in skin care or personal care products is potentially dangerous to our health, but unless you’re well versed in chemistry, generally we have no idea on what to look for.
The key is to look at the ingredients in the products you are considering. Identify the herbs and essential oils that are listed, if any. These should be easy to recognise because they do not tend to be chemical names like: Formaldehyde, Sodium laurel sulphate, etc. They are names we easily recognize as plants, such as Lavender, Rose, Tea Tree, Chamomile, and so on. If the listed ingredients are difficult to read, chances are that they’re either isolated chemicals, possibly from a natural source, or more likely, they are synthetic/man-made chemicals that may potentially be harmful.
Herbs and essential oils are natural, usually safe ingredients and they may even be certified organic. In any case, at least you know that these are plant oils or herbal extracts obtained from plants, rather than isolated synthetically produced ingredients.
Another trick is to find out who makes the products. If it is a large company that mass produces products, there is a strong possibility that cosmetic chemists are at work, and that would suggest that not all the ingredients used in the products are going to be natural – especially not the emulsifiers, preservatives and fragrances.
Instead, look for small companies that are owned and run by medical herbalists, medical Aromatherapists or people with qualifications in Alternative medicine, because their philosophy is to produce safe, natural and effective products that do not harm your health.
The final thing you can do to establish the degree to which the products you are interested in are natural or not, is to ring the company and flat out ask. Are all your ingredients 100% natural? If they hum and ha…well, need I say more?
If you take time to look around you will find quality information on natural and organic skin and personal care products that is well worth reading and remembering, but nothing gives you greater confidence then doing your own research and asking some direct questions.
By: Dr Danny Siegenthaler
Information on natural and organic skin care is very confusing to say the least. While we all know that we should avoid synthetic or artificial ingredients in our food and drinks, we are less well informed on the ingredients in our beauty and personal care products.
Frequently we hear that yet another ingredient found in skin care or personal care products is potentially dangerous to our health, but unless you’re well versed in chemistry, generally we have no idea on what to look for.
The key is to look at the ingredients in the products you are considering. Identify the herbs and essential oils that are listed, if any. These should be easy to recognise because they do not tend to be chemical names like: Formaldehyde, Sodium laurel sulphate, etc. They are names we easily recognize as plants, such as Lavender, Rose, Tea Tree, Chamomile, and so on. If the listed ingredients are difficult to read, chances are that they’re either isolated chemicals, possibly from a natural source, or more likely, they are synthetic/man-made chemicals that may potentially be harmful.
Herbs and essential oils are natural, usually safe ingredients and they may even be certified organic. In any case, at least you know that these are plant oils or herbal extracts obtained from plants, rather than isolated synthetically produced ingredients.
Another trick is to find out who makes the products. If it is a large company that mass produces products, there is a strong possibility that cosmetic chemists are at work, and that would suggest that not all the ingredients used in the products are going to be natural – especially not the emulsifiers, preservatives and fragrances.
Instead, look for small companies that are owned and run by medical herbalists, medical Aromatherapists or people with qualifications in Alternative medicine, because their philosophy is to produce safe, natural and effective products that do not harm your health.
The final thing you can do to establish the degree to which the products you are interested in are natural or not, is to ring the company and flat out ask. Are all your ingredients 100% natural? If they hum and ha…well, need I say more?
If you take time to look around you will find quality information on natural and organic skin and personal care products that is well worth reading and remembering, but nothing gives you greater confidence then doing your own research and asking some direct questions.
By: Dr Danny Siegenthaler