Hydrothermal Synthesis of Cr2Se3 Hexagons for Sensitive and Lowlevel Detection of 4-Nitrophenol in Water

We report a simple hydrothermal method used for the synthesis of Cr2Se3 hexagons (h-Cr2Se3) and its application towards electrochemical sensing of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The formation of h-Cr2Se3 was confrmed by using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray difraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical activity of the h-Cr2Se3 modifed screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) towards 4-NP was studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and amperometric i-t techniques. Typically,the obtained results were compared with those for a bare SPCE. The CV result clearly reveals that h-Cr2Se3 modifed SPCE has higher catalytic activity towards reduction of 4-NP than bare SPCE. Hence, h-Cr2Se3 modifed SPCE was concluded as a viable sensor for sensitive determination of 4-NP. Under optimized conditions, h-Cr2Se3 modifed SPCE demonstrates the excellent capacity to detect the 4-NP in a linear range from 0.05µM to 908.0µM. The LOD and sensitivity in detection of 4-NP were determined at 0.01µM and 1.24µAµM−1 cm−2 respectively. The sensor is highly selective and stable and shows reproducible recovery of 4-NP in domestic supply and river water samples

Misoprostol moistened with acetic acid or saline for second trimester pregnancy termination: a randomized prospective double-blind trial

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of a new regimen of 800 mu g misoprostol administered intravaginally every 6 h up to a maximum of three doses in 24 h for second trimester pregnancy termination. METHODS: A total of 66 women seeking termination of second trimester pregnancy (30 fetal structural anomaly, six chromosomal abnormality and 30 fetal death) were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: (i) intravaginal misoprostol moistened with 3 ml of 5% acetic acid in group A (n = 33); or (ii) intravaginal misoprostol moistened with 3 ml of saline in group B (n = 33). RESULTS: The overall median (range) induction-abortion interval was 10 h (2-46) [10 h (4-35) in 36 live fetuses and 9 h (2-46) in 30 dead fetuses, P = 0.515]. All of the patients in both groups aborted within 48 h (100% success rate). The median (range) induction-abortion interval revealed a significantly faster delivery time (P < 0.001) in group A [8 h (2-24)] than in group B [14 h (3-46)]. CONCLUSIONS: This new regimen of 800 mu g of vaginal misoprostol every 6 h for a maximum of three doses in 24 h was an effective alternative method for second trimester abortion. In addition, misoprostol moistened with acetic acid was significantly more effective than misoprostol moistened with saline