Development of high-temperature pulsed slit nozzle and its application to supersonic jet absorption spectrometry

A high-temperature pulsed slit nozzle, consisting of a circular pulsed nozzle and an interface to convert a circular flow into a slit flow has been constructed. The absorption spectrum is measured by scanning the wavelength of the monochromator equipped with a xenon arc lamp and by detecting the transmitted light through a jet with a photomultiplier. A rotationally cooled spectrum is clearly observed for aniline only when a long slit nozzle is employed. The absorptivity increases proportionally to the slit length at least up to 6 cm. The time for recording a spectrum is 3.5 min, which is reduced to several seconds by transmitting a white light through a jet and by measuring the spectrum with an optical multichannel analyzer. The detection limit is estimated to a partial vapor pressure of 0.4 torr for aniline. The present system can be conveniently used in routine analysis, because of a wide spectral coverage of the lamp source.     

Application of the FCP-activation procedure to the synthesis of a biospecific adsorbent for trypsin

The synthesis of a biospecific adsorbent for trypsin was chosen as a model to investigate the applicability of FCP activation in affinity chromatography.p-Aminobenzamidine was chosen as a ligand, directly suitable for immobilization. The nonspecific binding properties of the first series of synthesized agarose derivatives were obviated either by FCP activation of the ligand instead of the matrix, or by modifying the initial FCP-activation procedure. The adsorbents prepared in this way, however, demonstrated no selectivity between trypsin and chymotrypsin. The introduction ofe-aminocaproic acid as a spacer was ineffectual. These problems were solved by the application of glycylglycine as a spacer. The final affinity matrices had a degree of substitution of approximately 4 μ.mol of ligand per gram gel (100 μmol ligand per gram dry adsorbent). The specific activity of a current trypsin preparation was increased by 58% in a single cycle. The biospecificity of these adsorbents was demonstrated.     

Gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analysis of nitrilotriacetic acid in environmental aqueous samples

This study describes a fast and accurate method for the sample preparation, identification, and quantitation of nitrilotriacetic (NTA) acid in environmental aqueous samples at a concentration of ppb level. The method is sensitive, specific, and free from the interferences of fatty and amino acids. The tri-n-propyl- and tri-n-butyl-NTA acid esters were prepared by the reaction of n-propyl-HCl and n-butyl-HCl solutions and NTA acid, respectively. The derivatives were analyzed by a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass spectrometric detector. The method detection limit, 0.006 mg/L of each NTA ester, was determined and validated by an analysis of a fortified water sample. The overall recoveries were 103-115%, n = 8. The method was applied to a real sample and a 0.90 mg/L concentration of NTA acid was found. Mass fragmentation patterns of the derivatives are also reported.     

Oriented Nickel Nanonetworks and Their Submicron Fibres as a Basis for a Transparent Electrically Conductive Coating

The paper demonstrates a technique for applying an oriented nickel network to a glass surface. The method is based on the chemical reduction of nickel salt. The shaping and orientation of the resulting system are carried out using a micellar template of a surfactant and a magnetic field. Submicron nickel fibres are used to impart unity to the plurality of individual-oriented nickel nanonetworks. The result is a single conductive coating on the surface of the glass, which has a transparency in the optical range. Investigations of the structure, chemical composition, morphology and electrical conductivity of the coating were performed.     

ZSM-5／Silicalite-1核壳分子筛含氟水热体系的合成及表征

以圆柱形ZSM-5为核,用柠檬酸对其外表面进行预处理后,在含氟壳层晶化体系中二次生长合成核壳分子筛.通过X射线衍射、扫描电镜、透射电镜、N2吸附及氨程序升温脱附对分子筛进行了表征,并以甲苯歧化和1,3,5-三甲苯裂化为探针反应对分子筛性能进行了考察.结果显示,产物是以ZSM-5为核、silicalite-1纳米晶为壳的两相复合微孔分子筛材料;在含氟体系中ZSM-5外延生长出了致密壳层;全硅壳层的覆盖度约达到97%,核壳分子筛的外表面酸位随之减少,但基本保持孔道内的酸性。     

Stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatographic assay of buspirone HCl

The United States Pharmacopoeia high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay method of buspirone is not able to discriminate buspirone from its degradation products. The purpose of this work is to develop a sensitive, selective, and validated stability-indicating HPLC assay for the analysis of a buspirone hydrochloride in a bulk drug. Buspirone HCI and its potential impurities and degradation products are analyzed on an Ultrasphere C18 column heated to 40 degrees C using a gradient program that contains monobasic potassium phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.9) and acetonitrile-methanol mixture (13:17) of 35% for 5 minutes, then increased to 54% in 5.5 minutes. The samples are monitored using a photo-diode array detector and integrated at 244 and 210 nm. The stress testing of buspirone HCI shows that buspirone acid hydrochloride is the major degradation product. The developed method shows a separation of buspirone degradation product and its potential impurities in one run. The stability of buspirone HCI is studied under accelerated conditions in order to provide a rapid indication of differences that might result from a change in the manufacturing process or source of the sample. The forced degradation conditions include the effect of heat, moisture, light, acid-base hydrolysis, sonication, and oxidation. The compatibility of buspirone HCI with some pharmaceutical excipients is studied under stress conditions. The linear range of buspirone HCI is between 5 and 200 ng/microL with a limit of quantitation of 2.5 ng/microL. The intraassay percentage deviation is not more than 0.38%, and the day-to-day variation was not more than 0.80%. The selectivity, repeatability, linearity, range, accuracy, sample solution stability, ruggedness, and robustness show acceptable values.     

Diastereoselectivity in the Reaction of N-Glycosyl-nitrones: 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition and Addition of Phosphite Anion

The direction of approach of dibenzyl phosphite on the one hand and of dipolarophiles on the other hand to the spironitrone 7 was examined. The nitrone 7 was prepared from the lactone 3 . The nucleophilic addition of dibenzyl phosphite gave 8 as a single adduct (86%). Its structure was established by X-ray analysis. From the cycloaddition of methyl methacrylate, the products 9a, 9b, 11a , and 11b (83:2:7.5:7.5, 81%) were isolated. The structure of the main adduct 9a was established by an X-ray analysis of a derivative of it, and the structures of the other adducts were deduced from their NMR spectra. The cycloaddition of 7 and methyl acrylate gave the adducts 10a , 10b , 12a , 13a , 13b , and 14a (27:10:54:1:2:6, 87%). The structures of these compounds were deduced from their NMR spectra. The results are discussed in relation to prior hypothesis.     

Flow of an Anisotropic Dielectric Liquid in a Diverging Channel in a Strong Transverse Electric Field

A steady plane flow of an anisotropically polarizable liquid in a channel with nonparallel walls was considered. One of the walls was grounded, and the other was under a high electric potential. The polarization anisotropy was described in terms of a unit vector whose direction was determined by a relaxation equation. The dependence of the polarization of the liquid on the strength of the electric field and the anisotropy vector was specified using an equilibrium relation. Such a model can describe, for example, a suspension of anisotropically polarizable particles in a highly insulating liquid. The velocity, pressure, polarization, anisotropy vector, and electric field distributions in the liquid were determined and investigated. It was shown that, at some critical Reynolds number, backflows are initiated near the channel walls. The dependence of the critical Reynolds number on the diverging angle of the channel and on the properties of a liquid in a strong electric field was determined. The applied electric field increases the critical Reynolds number, which provides a means of controlling the regime of the considered flow using electrical methods.     

Force-induced de-adhesion of specifically bound vesicles: strong adhesion in competition with tether extraction

A theoretical study of the thermodynamic equilibrium between force-induced tether formation and the adhesion of vesicles mediated by specific ligand-receptor interactions has been performed. The formation of bonds between mobile ligands in the vesicle and immobile receptors on the substrate is examined within a thermodynamic approximation. The shape of a vesicle pulled with a point force is calculated within a continuous approach. The two approaches are merged self-consistently by the use of the effective adhesion potential produced by the collective action of the bonds. As a result, the shapes of the vesicle and the tether, as well as the number of formed bonds in the contact zone, are determined as a function of the force, and approximate analytic expressions for them are provided. The de-adhesion process is characterized by the construction of a phase diagram that is a function of the density of the ligands in the vesicle, the surface coverage by receptors, the ligand-receptor binding affinity, and the reduced volume of the vesicle. In all cases, the phase diagram contains three regions separated by two nonintersecting lines of critical forces. The first is the line of onset forces associated with a second-order shape transition from a spherical cap to a tethered vesicle. The second line is attributed to the detachment forces at which a first-order unbinding transition from a tethered shape to a free vesicle occurs.     

Immobilization of ultra-thin layer of monoclonal antibody on glass surface

When preparing an affinity column and a biosensor, it is desirable to immobilize a unimolecular layer of pure protein on a matrix. In this work, we tried to immobilize a monoclonal antibody on a surface of a glass test-tube as a model, to confirm the stability of this ultra-thin layer by an enzyme immunoassay, and to estimate the thickness of the layer on a slide glass by Fourier transform infrared reflection spectrometry. A new test-tube was washed and dried. The tube was filled with 5% 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The 3-aminopropylsilylated surface was treated with glutaraldehyde and 5.6.10(-2) mg/ml solution of a normal mouse monoclonal antibody. The Schiff base between glutaraldehyde and the antibody was further reduced with 7.9.10(-3)% NaBH4. The tube was washed with 0.05% Tween 20 to block non-specific binding. The antibody immobilized on the surface was measured by an enzyme immunoassay based on a reaction of anti-mouse immunoglobulin G labelled with alkaline phosphatase, with which p-nitrophenol was produced from p-nitrophenylphosphate as a substrate. Meanwhile, various amounts of the antibody were immobilized on slide glasses in the same manner. The antibody on each surface was measured by Fourier transform infrared reflection spectrometry. The antibody immobilized under the final conditions was detectable by the enzyme immunoassay, and stable at 4 degrees C for ten days. The antibody on the slide glass was a unimolecular layer, as judged from the Fourier transform infrared spectra referred to -CONH- band semiquantitatively. Thus, we found the optimal conditions for immobilizing an ultra-thin layer of the monoclonal antibody on the glass surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Development of an integrated optic oxygen sensor using a novel, generic platform

This paper describes the development of a generic platform for enhanced, integrated optic sensors based on fluorescence detection. The platform employs a novel optical configuration in order to achieve enhanced performance and has inherent multianalyte detection capability. The sensor element comprises a multimode ridge waveguide that has been patterned with an analyte-sensitive fluorescent spot, which is excited directly using a LED. The platform was applied to the detection of gaseous oxygen as a proof of principle. The sol-gel-derived sensor spots were doped with an oxygen-sensitive fluorescent dichlororuthenium dye complex and intensity-based calibration data were generated from the oxygen-dependent waveguide output. The sensor achieved a LOD of 0.62% and a resolution of less than 0.96% gaseous oxygen, which compares favourably with a similar, recently reported system. This device highlights the combination of inexpensive rapid prototyping techniques and a dedicated sensor enhancement strategy that together facilitate the production of an effective prototype sensor platform.     

Mechanism of the transition between lamellar and gyroid phases formed by a diblock copolymer in aqueous solution

The mechanism of the transition from a lamellar phase to a gyroid phase in an aqueous solution of a diblock copolymer has been studied by time-resolved synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering. The transition occurs via a metastable perforated lamellar structure. The perforations initially have liquidlike ordering before developing hexagonal packing. The transient phase of irregularly perforated layers is revealed by the development of diffuse scattering peaks, just below the Bragg peaks of the lamellar structure. The diffuse scattering is modeled by Monte Carlo simulations of perforated layers. Following the formation of perforations, Bragg peaks characteristic of a hexagonal structure signal an ordering into a hexagonal lattice (with the concomitant loss of diffuse scattering). Computer simulations based on a dynamic density functional model reproduce these features. The hexagonal perforated lamellar phase is rapidly replaced by the gyroid phase. The domain spacing of the gyroid phase is larger than that of the perforated lamellar structure. The perforated lamellar and gyroid phases coexist for a defined period. The reverse transition from gyroid to lamellae occurs directly, with no transient or metastable intermediates.     

Zur Reaktion von Dihydroxybiphenylen mit Phosphorpentachlorid ‐ Phosphepine mit Phosphonium‐ und Phosphoranstruktur

The 2, 2'‐dihydroxybiphenyl derivatives 1d‐f react with phosphorus pentachloride to give the dioxaphosphepinium hexachlorophosphates 3a, 3b , and 17 . The trichloro‐dioxaphosphepins 8a, 8b , and 21 were discussed as intermediates, which were obtained by chlorination of the 6‐chloro‐dioxaphosphepins 7a, 7b , and 20 . The hydrolysis of the dioxaphosphepins leads to the stable, cyclic phosphates 4a, 4b, 9a, 9b, 11a, 11b, 19a, and 19b . The crystal struc‐ture of 4a was determined; two different molecules was observed in the asymmetric unit.     

A New Macroporous Luminescent Hydrogel from Poly(allylamine)

The synthesis of a novel highly swelling, macroporous hydrogel from poly(allylamine) using 3‐chloropentan‐2,4‐dione as a crosslinker is reported. The swelling of the hydrogel was sensitive to changes in pH, temperature, and the extent of crosslinking. The dry gel exhibited a regular honeycomb network with smooth macropores. The hydrogel was inherently luminescent, and so was a metal polychelate.     

Catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of alkylidene- or arylideneacetoacetates and Danishefsky's dienes with lanthanide salts aimed at selective synthesis of cis-4,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexenone derivatives.

The first successful example of the catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of 1-methoxy-3-trimethylsiloxy-1,3-diene (Danishefsky's diene, 2a), giving the corresponding carbocyclic adducts, is described. The reaction of (Z)-ethylideneacetoacetate 1a with 2a is catalyzed with lanthanide salts such as Yb(OTf)(3) at 0 degrees C, affording the corresponding 2-cyclohexenone 3a in good yield with complete integrity of the starting geometry of 1a. The thermal version of the same cycloaddition results in a decrease in the cis arrangement of the 5-methyl and the 4-alkoxycarbonyl groups on 2-cyclohexenone. The catalyzed reaction of (E)-1a unexpectedly affords the cis-arranged 3a. The reaction path for the catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction is postulated on the basis of these results.     

Boundary effect on the drag force on a nonhomogeneous floc

The boundary effect on the drag force acting on a spherical floc having a nonhomogeneous structure is examined by considering a spherical floc at the centerline of a cylindrical tube. The floc is simulated by an entity having a two-layer structure, and its porous nature mimicked by varying the relative magnitude of the permeability of its inner and outer layers. The results of numerical simulation reveal that the tube wall has the effect of compressing the streamlines and vorticity contours. Also, as in the case of a rigid entity, the wake in the rear region of a floc, which arises from the convective motion of the fluid, is depressed. For fixed volume-averaged permeability, the influence of the tube wall on the behavior of a heterogeneous floc is more significant than that on the behavior of a homogeneous floc, and the influence varies with the structure of the former. The heterogeneous structure of a floc leads to a deviation in the modified drag coefficient-Reynolds number relation from a Stokes-law-like correlation. The smaller the average permeability of a floc the greater the deviation, but the presence of the tube wall has the effect of reducing the deviation.     

Microcomputer-aided optimal selection of control input for the precision water bath of a heat exchange calorimeter

In heat exchange calorimetry, sample and reference vessels are fixed differentially in a water bath. The heat evolved in the sample vessel is exchanged freely with the ambient water. The accuracy and precision of the calorimetry depend on the temperature range of the drift and fluctuation in the bath water. In the present report, a simple temperature-control system with no empirical factors is proposed for the precision water bath. The heat exchange between the inside of the vessels and the ambient water is expressed by a differential equation or a Newtonian cooling equation. Similarly, the thermal behaviour of a water bath placed in a non-air-conditioned laboratory was also considered to be expressed by the same equation. The heat exchanged with the surroundings, the non-stationary heat flow from warm stirrer motors, and other thermal factors were considered to be part of the heat sources. Cooling water about 2°C lower than the set temperature was circulated in the water bath. The difference between the set temperature and the observed temperature was fed into a microcomputer every second. The latest four data points were used to fit a modified Newtonian equation by the common method of least-squares. The control input to the bath was calculated and given to the heater circuit after power amplification. The program written in basic was about 3.3 kbyte. The controlled range of drift and fluctuation was almost the same, or better, as that previously reported.     

A DFT study on the formation of a phosphohistidine intermediate in prostatic acid phosphatase

Histidine phosphatases are a class of enzymes that are characterized by the presence of a conserved RHGXRXP motif. This motif contains a catalytic histidine that is being phosphorylated in the course of a dephosphorylation reaction catalyzed by these enzymes. Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) is one such enzyme. The dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosine by PAP is a two-step process. The first step involves the transfer of a phosphate group from the substrate to the histidine (His12). The present study reports on the details of the first step of this reaction, which was investigated using a series of quantum chemistry calculations. A number of quantum models were constructed containing various residues that were thought to play a role in the mechanism. In all these models, the transition state displayed an associative character. The transition state is stabilized by three active site arginines (Arg11, Arg15, and Arg79), two of which belong to the aforementioned conserved motif. The work also demonstrated that His12 could act as a nucleophile. The enzyme is further characterized by a His257-Asp258 motif. The role of Asp258 has been elusive. In this work, we propose that Asp258 acts as a proton donor which becomes protonated when the substrate enters the binding pocket. Evidence is also obtained that the transfer of a proton from Asp258 to the leaving group is possibly mediated by a water molecule in the active site. The work also underlines the importance of His257 in lowering the energy barrier for the nucleophilic attack.     

Fabrication of a Simple and Cheap Screen-printed Silver/Silver Chloride (Ag/AgCl) Quasi-reference Electrode

In this work, a silver/silver chloride ink is fabricated using two steps. First the silver ink is prepare using silver, nail polish and acetone. Then the silver ink is painted in a paper substrate and a silver chloride layer is deposited using a bleach solution. The result is the silver/silver chloride conductive ink. The silver ink is cheap ($2.49/g), well-dispersive and very easy to fabricate. The materials were characterized by SEM and XRD. The Ag ink showed the formation of a continuous network throughout the silver ink film with fewer agglomeration. The effective chlorination process was also observed in the Ag/AgCl characterization. Since the Ag/AgCl substrate will be used as a quasi-reference electrode, it is important to investigate the electrical properties. The Ag ink showed an average ohmic resistance of 2.27 Ω. The addition of the AgCl layer decreases the conductivity, as expected. In summary, the Ag/Ag/Cl ink developed is simple, well-dispersed, cheap and with good conductivity. Therefore, it can be used as a conductive ink in the fabrication of quasi-reference electrodes.