The infrared,Raman and mass spectra of F3C-CC-CC-CF3

The IR spectra of the vapor, liquid and solid phases of hexafluorohexa-2-diyne, F₃C-CC-CC-CF₃, were measured. The liquid phase Raman spectrum with polarizations was measured. These vibrational spectra fit D_3d selection rules, establishing that the molecule has a linear carbon skeleton. The IR spectra indicate that the -CF₃ groups rotate freely in the vapor phase, but that conformers exist in the condensed phases. The electron impact mass spectrum was measured and the molecular ion produced the strongest peak.     

Calorimeters for biotechnology

The isothermal and temperature scanning calorimeters manufactured by Calorimetry Sciences Corporation are briefly described. Applications of calorimetry to determine thermodynamics and kinetics of reactions of interest in biotechnology are described with illustrative examples.     

Excess heat capacities and orientational order in systems containing hexadecane isomers of different molecular structure

Using the Picker flow microcalorimeter, excess heat capacities have been obtained at 25°C throughout the concentration range for 2,2-dimethylbutane,n-hexane, and cyclohexane each mixed with a series of hexadecane isomers of increasing degrees of orientational order, as determined by depolarized Rayleigh scattering. The isomers are 2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane, 6-, 4-, and 2-methylpentadecane, andn-hexadecane. Thec _p ^E values are negative, increasing rapidly in magnitude with increase of orientational order, and are not predicted by the Prigogine—Flory theory which neglects order. Values ofc _p ^E are obtained at 10, 25, and 55°C for cyclohexane +6-, 4-, and 2-methylpentadecane which with other literature data lead to the temperature dependence of the thermodynamic excess functions for cyclohexane solutions of the five C₁₆ isomers. The excess enthalpy and entropy vary with the C₁₆ isomer and with temperature, but the corresponding variation of the excess free energy is small, indicating a high degree of enthalpy-entropy compensation. This is consistent with a rapid decrease with temperature of orientational order in the C₁₆ isomers.     

Synthesis and in Vitro Evaluation of N-[[4-[2-(Carboxyl)-1-Cycloalken-1-yl]Phenyl]Methyl]Imidazoles as Nonpeptide Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists

A series of nonpeptide angiotensin II receptor antagonists was synthesized via palladium-assisted cross coupling of aryl stannane and cycloalkenyl triflates and subsequent alkylation of silyl-protected imidazole. Our compounds, which have a terminal five- to seven-membered cycloalkenyl ring, are compared to DuPont EXP7711, an N-[(2′-carboxybiphenylyl)methyl]imidazole, which has a terminal phenyl moiety. Physicochemical properties of the compounds, such as lipophilicity, steric bulk, conformation, and the relative spatial proximity of the 2-carboxyl and the middle phenyl, are quantitated by computational chemistry. Potency in terms of binding affinity to AT₁ receptors in rat adrenal glomerulosa and rabbit aorta is maximized when the terminal ring is aromatic.     

Effects of molecular weight distribution in drag reduction and shear degradation

A reduction of frictional drag in turbulent flow was obtained in benzene by using three monodisperse polystyrene samples having weight-average molecular weights of 1.8, 4.1 and 7.1 × 10⁶. By testing these polymers individually and in mixtures, data were obtained for samples with known molecular weight distributions. The drag reduction of these samples was studied as a function of polymer concentration and flow rate so that a generalized picture of the effects of polydispersity could be obtained. These results are used to help explain much of the behavior that was observed for polystyrene and other polymers. This includes the fact that the polystyrene samples exhibit a remarkably high resistance to the loss of drag reduction via degradation in turbulent flow. Such experiments indicate that drag reduction and degradation depend strongly on molecular weight distribution. Thus a molecular level interpretation of experimental results cannot be made unless the effects of the distribution are considered.     

Spherically symmetric axial Gaussian lobe 3d and 4f orbitals

The axial Gaussian lobe orbital (AGLO ) representations of 3d and 4f orbitals proposed by LeRouzo and Silvi have been angularly optimized to ensure spherical symmetry of filled 3d and 4f shells. The functions have been tested on the hydrogen atom in the presence of high quality s and p basis sets and found to provide excellent minimal Gaussian representations of polarization functions. Exact orbital degeneracy is not obtained within each shell, however. Tabulated values are given to allow arbitrary scaling of the 3d and 4f lobe mimic orbitals.     

DNA-templated assembly of nanoscale wires and protein-functionalized nanogap contacts

The use of DNA to template the assembly of nanoscale wires and protein-functionalized nanogap contacts is described: Specifically, the use of DNA to template the assembly of gold nanowires between conventionally patterned gold contacts on a silicon wafer substrate. Also described is the use of DNA to template the assembly of protein-functionalized nanogap gold contacts on a silicon wafer substrate. Of particular significance is the finding that suitably modified gold nanoparticles recognize and bind selectively the protein-functionalized nanogap and are localized there.     

Treatment of zinc-contaminated water using a multistage ferrihydrite sorption system

Previous studies demonstrated the environmental and economic benefits of treating lead(II)-contaminated water streams with ferrihydrite in multiple equilibrium sorption stages. In this work, multistage ferrihydrite sorption systems were evaluated for their effectiveness in reducing single-solute zinc(II) (Zn(II)) concentrations in contaminated water streams to very low levels. As for lead(II) (Pb(II)), experimental data and modeling results indicate that a multistage sorption system can significantly reduce Zn(II) effluent concentrations for the same total amount of sorbent or, alternatively, dramatically lower total sorbent consumption for the same effluent Zn(II) concentration. Compared to Pb(II), however, Zn(II) removal requires on the order of 10 times more sorbent to achieve the same target effluent concentration for the same pH and number of stages. Model predictions were made using a steady-state, multistage, equilibrium adsorber model that was previously developed for and integrated into OLI Systems' Environmental Simulation Program (ESP). The modified triple-layer model was used to simulate Zn(II) surface-liquid equilibria within the adsorber model. Engineering screening evaluations again indicate that a 2- to 3-stage sorption process can provide significant economic savings when compared to a 1-stage process operating with the same target effluent Zn(II) concentration. Additional equilibrium stages beyond 2 or 3 provide diminishing economic returns. The major economic driver for multiple contacting stages is reduced capital investment and operating costs for sludge handling, dewatering, and disposal.     

Aerobic oxidation of methyl p-tolyl sulfide catalyzed by a remarkably labile heteroscorpionate RuII-aqua complex,fac-[RuII(H2O)(dpp)(tppm)]2+

fac-[RuII(Cl)(dpp)(L3)]+ (L3 = tris(pyrid-2-yl)methoxymethane (tpmm) = [1A]+ and tris(pyrid-2-yl)pentoxymethane (tppm) = [1B]+ and dpp = di(pyrazol-1-yl)propane) rapidly undergo ligand substitution with water to form fac-[RuII(H2O)(dpp)(L3)]2+ (L3 = tpmm = [2A]2+ and tppm = [2B]2+). In the structure of [2A]2+, the distorted octahedral arrangement of ligands around Ru is evident by a long Ru(1)-O(40) of 2.172(3) A and a large angle O(40)-Ru(1)-N(51) of 96.95(14) degrees . The remarkably short distance between O(40) of H2O and H(45a) of dpp confirms the heteroscorpionate ligand effect of dpp on H2O. [2B]2+ aerobically catalyzes methyl p-tolyl sulfide to methyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in 1,2-dichlorobenzene at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C under 11.4 psi of O2. Experimental facts in support of this aerobic sulfide oxidation are the absence of H2O2 and the oxidative reactivity of the putative Ru(IV)-oxo intermediate toward methyl p-tolyl sulfide, 2-propanol, and allyl alcohol. This study provides the first documented example of aerobic-sulfide oxidation catalyzed by the remarkably labile heteroscorpionate Ru(II)-aqua complex without the formation of a highly reactive peroxide as an intermediate.     

Spectral properties of selected UV-blocking and UV-transmitting covering materials with application for production of high-value crops in high tunnels

The spectral properties of selected UV-blocking and UV-transmitting covering materials were characterized by means of a UV-VIS spectroradiometer or a UV-VIS spectrometer to provide researchers and growers with guidelines for selecting suitable materials for use in studying the effects of ambient solar UV radiation on the production of tomatoes and other high-value crops in high tunnels. A survey was made of a wide range of plastic covering materials to identify commercially available products that had the desired characteristics of transmitting high levels of photosynthetically active radiation and of being stable under ambient solar UV radiation. The study was focused on evaluating films that either blocked or transmitted UV wavelengths below 380 nm to determine comparative growth, yield and market quality and to provide a tool for integrated pest management. Based on this survey, two contrasting covering materials of similar thickness (0.152 mm) and durability (4-year polyethylene), one a UV-blocking film and the other a UV-transmitting film, were selected and used to cover two high tunnels at Beltsville, MD. Spectroradiometric measurements were made to determine comparative spectral irradiance in these two high tunnels covered with these materials and under ambient solar UV radiation. Comparative measurements were also made of selected glass and plastic materials that have been used in UV exclusion studies.