Asymptotic behaviors of competitive Lotka-Volterra system with stage structure

In this paper, a two-species competitive model with stage structure is presented and studied. Results on the global extinction and permanence are given, which generalize the well-known three theorems for the two species competitive system and, moreover, they confirm the negative effect of stage structure on the permanence of populations as well as estimate the degree of such effect. Conclusions in this paper suggest that for a competitive community stage structure is also one of the important reasons that cause permanence and extinction.     

Photocurrent generation in multilayer self-assembly films fabricated from water-soluble poly(phenylene vinylene)

A novel, water-soluble, cationic PPV derivative poly[(2,5-bis(3-bromotrimethylammoniopropoxy)-phenylene-1,4-divinylene)-alt-1,4-(2,5-bis(2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy))phenylene vinylene] (BH-PPV) has been synthesized by a Heck coupling reaction. Multilayered assemblies of the BH-PPV and the sodium salt of hexa(sulfobutyl)fullerenes (C(60)-HS) were fabricated successfully by an alternate deposition technique. The multilayer structures were studied by UV/Vis spectroscopy, small angle X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. The photoinduced charge transfer property of the self-assembled multilayer film was also measured by a three-electrode cell technique. A steady and rapid cathodic 5.5 microA cm(-2) photocurrent response was measured as the irradiation of the multilayer film was switched on and off. Importantly, the response of on/off cycling is prompt and reproducible. A possible mechanism for the electron-transfer process is proposed.     

Recovery of palladium from basic reprocessing waste of spent nuclear fuel

The methods including collection method, extraction-collection method, and special extraction-collection method have been investigated for high speed and efficient recovery of palladium from high pH reprocessing waste of spent nuclear fuel. The equilibrium of the reactions can be obtained is less than 1 minute. The maximum percent recovery of Pd is about 89%, 96% and 97% for collection, extraction-collection, and special extraction-collection methods, respectively. Nearly 100% of back extraction of Pd in the organic phase can be attained by using 7.4M ammonia solution, with a phase ratio of 1:1. The purity of the Pd product is high. The percent recovery of Pd is constant, up to 5·10³ Gy of irradiation dose.     

Synergistic effect of thermoplastic phenolic resin and multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the crystallization of polyoxymethylene

To reduce the crystallization rate of polyoxymethylene (POM) to meet the requirement of thick-walled and large-sized articles production, and maintain high crystallinity as well as obtain refined crystalline grains to ensure the strength and stiffness simultaneously, thermoplastic phenolic resin (PF) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used as crystal growth inhibitor and nucleating agent, respectively, and their effects on the crystallization of POM were studied in details. The results showed that PF is an effective inhibitor and MWCNTs exhibits excellent nucleation effect on POM. Based on the obtained results, their synergistic influences on the crystallization process of POM were investigated. It is found that the objective of decreasing the crystallization rate while maintaining high crystallinity and forming fine crystalline grains can be realized. The 97/3/1 wt% POM/PF/MWCNTs, compared with those of neat POM, The T _c shifts by 3.3°C to a lower temperature, the crystallization enthalpy increases by 16.1 J/g and the full width at half-maximum widens by 48.5%. The modulation effect of PF and MWCNTs on the crystallization is closely related to the PF content and dispersion, the distribution and dispersion of MWCNTs in the PF and POM phases.     

An efficient strategy for the extraction and purification of lignans from Schisandra chinensis by a combination of supercritical fluid extraction and high‐speed counter‐current chromatography

An efficient strategy for extracting and separating five lignans from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill has been developed using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and high‐speed counter‐current chromatography (HSCCC) in the present study. First, the extraction was performed by a preparative SFE system under 15 MPa of pressure at 36°C for 4 h. Then, the SFE extract was successfully separated and purified by HSCCC with a two‐phase solvent system composed of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (6:4:5:5, 6:4:6:4, 6:4:8:2, v/v) in a stepwise elution mode. The fractions were analyzed by HPLC, and the chemical structures of the products were identified by ESI‐MS and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. As a result, a total of 12.5 mg of schisandrin at 98.0% purity, 7.1 mg of gomisin A at 98.1% purity, 1.8 mg of schisantherin B at 93.3% purity, 4.4 mg of deoxyschisandrin at 92.9% purity, and 6.8 mg of γ‐schisandrin at 89.1% purity were obtained from 300 mg crude extract in a one‐step purification.     

Enantioseparation of chiral aromatic acids by multiple dual mode counter‐current chromatography using hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as chiral selector

This work concentrates on extending the utilization of multiple dual mode (MDM) counter‐current chromatography in chiral separations. Two aromatic acids, 2‐(6‐methoxy‐2‐naphthyl)propionic acid (NAP) and 2‐phenylpropionic acid (2‐PPA), were enantioseparated by MDM counter‐current chromatography using hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (HP‐β‐CD) as chiral selector. The two‐phase solvent systems consisting of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer pH 2.67 containing 0.1 mol/L HP‐β‐CD (7.5:2.5:10 for NAP and 7:3:10 for 2‐PPA, v/v/v) were used. Conventional MDM and modified MDM were compared according to peak resolution under current separation mechanism. The influence of elution time after the first‐phase inversion and number of cycles for MDM were investigated. Peak resolution of NAP and 2‐PPA increased from 0.62 to 1.05 and 0.72 to 0.84, respectively, using optimized MDM conditions. Being an alternative elution method for counter‐current chromatography, MDM elution greatly improved peak resolution in chiral separations.     

Recent progress in separation prediction of counter‐current chromatography

As a liquid‐liquid partition chromatography, counter‐current chromatography has advantages in large sample loading capacity without irreversible adsorption, which has been widely applied in separation and purification fields. The main factors, including partition coefficient, two‐phase solvent systems, apparatus, and operating parameters greatly affect the separation process of counter‐current chromatography. To promote the applications of counter‐current chromatography, it is essential to develop theoretical research to master the principles of counter‐current chromatographic separations so as to achieve predictions before laborious trials. In this article, recent progress about separation prediction methods are reviewed from a point of the steady and unsteady state of the mass transfer process of counter‐current chromatography and its mass transfer characteristics, and then it is divided into three aspects: prediction of partition coefficient, modeling the thermodynamic process of counter‐current chromatography, and modeling the dynamic process of counter‐current chromatography.     

Enantioseparation of acetyltropic acid by countercurrent chromatography with sulfobutyl ether‐β‐cyclodextrin as chiral selector

Acetyltropic acid is an important synthetic intermediate for preparation of tropane alkaloid derivatives, which can be used as anticholinergic drugs, deliriants, and stimulants. In the present work, acetyltropic acid was successfully enantioseparated by countercurrent chromatography using sulfobutyl ether‐β‐cyclodextrin as chiral selector. A biphasic solvent system composed of n‐butyl acetate/n‐hexane/0.1 mol/L citrate buffer at pH = 2.2 containing 0.1 mol/L of sulfobutyl ether‐β‐cyclodextrin (7:3:10, v/v) was selected, which produced a suitable distribution ratio D_S = 1.14, D_R = 2.31 and a high enantioseparation factor α = 2.03. Baseline separation was achieved for preparative enantioseparation of 50 mg of racemic acetyltropic acid. A method for chiral analysis of acetyltropic acid by conventional reverse phase liquid chromatography with hydroxylpropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as mobile phase additive was established, and formation constants of inclusion complex were determined. It was found that different substituted β‐cyclodextrin should be selected for enantioseparation of acetyltropic acid by countercurrent chromatography and reverse phase liquid chromatography.     

Extraction-spectrophotometric analysis of palladium in the reprocessing waste of spent nuclear fuels using benzo-15-crown-5 and iodide

Based on the previous studies, a procedure has been established for the analysis of palladium in reprocessing waste solution of spent nuclear fuel. The sample was contacted with the extractant solution which consisted of benzo-15-crown-5, chloroform, and potasium iodide at room temperature for 1 minute. The extract was dehydrated by anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and measured spectrophotometrically versus water at 360 nm. The extractant solution used can be regenerated by KI (or NaI and Lil) for reuse. The percent extraction of palladium and apparent molar abaorptivity are 96–100% and 4·10⁴, respectively. The composition of extracted complex is [KB15C5)₂]₂·(Pd₂I₆).     

Synthesis of functionalized 3-arylpyridazines via Pd-catalyzed decarboxylative cross-coupling of pyridazine-3-carboxylic acids

An efficient and general protocol for the decarboxylative cross-coupling of pyridazine-3-carboxylic acids with aryl-bromides has been described. This method provides a new avenue for the synthesis of 3-arylpyridazines via decarboxylative cross-coupling strategy by employing the dual-catalyst system of Pd(PPh₃)₄/Cu₂O in the presence of Li₂CO₃ at 160 °C in DMA.