Separation of nucleoside monophosphates using preferential anion exchange intercalation in layered double hydroxides

We report the first example of selective intercalation of nucleoside monophosphates in a layered host material. The intercalated nucleoside monophosphates can then be quantitatively recovered from the inorganic host and so this opens up the possibility of using simple layered inorganic hosts as rapid, cost effective and recyclable materials for the purification and separation of complex biomolecules.     

On the Photochemical Proton Expulsion Capability of Fringelite D – A Model of the Protist Photosensory Pigments of the Stentorin and Blepharismin Types

Summary.  Using simultaneous two-photon excitation of fringelite D and a fluorescence indicator embedded in a vesicle system it was demonstrated that after excitation a proton was transferred from the pigment to the indicator similarly as recently documented for hypericin. Semiempirical AM1 calculations were used to show that the radical species formed by electron transfer from the excited pigment state constitutes an acid which is therefore well suited for intermolecular proton transfer. Accordingly, this process constitutes a suited candidate for the primary photoprocess in the signal transduction cascade of the photosensory pigments of the stentorin and blepharismin type. Received April 26, 2000. Accepted May 16, 2000     

Drag Reduction in Wall Bounded Flows: The Effect of Polymers on the Dynamics of Turbulence

Experiments in a refractive index matched pipe flow facility were conducted using state-of-the-art laser-Doppler anemometry to study turbulent drag reduction by dilute addition of high polymers. The results were analyzed employing the invariant theory of turbulence. It was thus possible to confirm the major conclusion of preceding theoretical work, namely that the mechanism of drag reduction by long-chain polymers is associated with an increase in anisotropy of turbulence at the wall. Furthermore, theoretical considerations based on the elastic behavior of a polymer and spatial intermittency of turbulence at small scales enabled quantitative estimates to be made for the relaxation time of a polymer and its concentration that ensures maximum drag reduction. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Temperature-Dependent Surface Enrichment Effects in Binary Mixtures of Fluorinated and Non-Fluorinated Ionic Liquids

Using angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ARXPS), we investigate the topmost nanometers of various binary ionic liquid (IL) mixtures at different temperatures in the liquid state. The mixtures consist of ILs with the same [PF₆]⁻ anion but two different cations, namely 3-methyl-1-(3,3,4,4,4-pentafluorobutyl)imidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [PFBMIm][PF₆], and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [C₄C₁Im][PF₆], with 10, 25, 50 and 75 mol % content of [PFBMIm][PF₆]. We observe a preferential enrichment of the fluorinated chain in the topmost layer, relative to the bulk composition, which is most pronounced for the lowest content of [PFBMIm][PF₆]. Upon cooling the mixtures stepwise from 95 °C until surface charging effects in XPS indicate solidification, we observe a pronounced increase in surface enrichment of the fluorinated chain with decreasing temperature in the liquid state. In contrast to the mixtures with lower [PFBMIm][PF₆] contents, cooling the 75 mol % mixture additionally shows an abrupt decrease of the fluorinated chain signal before complete solidification occurs, which is assigned to partial precipitation effects.     

The converse of a theorem of W. Gaschütz on Frattini subgroups

Dedicated to W. Gaschütz on the occasion of his 75th birthday Received 26 January 1995; in final form 2 May 1995     

Direct fluorometric analysis of a newly synthesised fluorescein-labelled marker for glomerular filtration rate

There is an obvious and growing medical need for an accurate determination of kidney function in the diagnosis and management of renal diseases. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the accepted gold standard measurement of kidney function. Several approaches to estimate the GFR are available, but most of them are inconvenient and, therefore, of limited acceptance. A new method of quantification with fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC) sinistrin (FS), a novel GFR marker, has been evaluated. The method is based on the fluorescence label of FS and can be performed with a standard fluorometer. To control the interference of protein with the fluorescence signal, a calibration function was developed. The accuracy of the fluorometric method established is comparable to the so-called gold standard of enzymatic determination of polyfructosan. Moreover, FS is easy to handle and requires low-cost instruments. Our results demonstrate the potential of the direct fluorometric analysis of the new FITC-labelled marker of being a precise, simple, rapid and cost-effective method for diagnosing disturbed kidney function and monitoring its treatment efficacy. The dramatic decrease in analytical effort will result in a significantly higher acceptability of GFR determination.     

Mesoporous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> thin films prepared from hydrothermally treated precursor powder sols

Two series of TiO₂ thin films were prepared based on soluble precursor powders: The first run originated directly from an alcohol-based coating solution whereas for the second batch the aqueous precursor powder sol had previously undergone a hydrothermal treatment. The respective microstructures were characterized by electron microscopy, the phase evolution was monitored by X-ray diffraction. Ellipsometric porosimetry (EP) was employed to reveal changes of porosity and pore size induced by thermal treatment of the films.

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Soluble TiO₂ precursor powders were hydrothermally treated to yield coating solutions. Films from these sols were compared with those directly obtained by dissolving the precursor powders. Results indicate that crystallization to anatase is induced under hydrothermal conditions and the resulting films mostly maintain their porosity throughout thermal treatment. In contrast to that coatings processed from as-dissolved precursor powders undergo more extensive densification

     

Fast Sodium‐Ion Conductivity in Supertetrahedral Phosphidosilicates

Fast sodium‐ion conductors are key components of Na‐based all‐solid‐state batteries which hold promise for large‐scale storage of electrical power. We report the synthesis, crystal‐structure determination, and Na⁺‐ion conductivities of six new Na‐ion conductors, the phosphidosilicates Na₁₉Si₁₃P₂₅, Na₂₃Si₁₉P₃₃, Na₂₃Si₂₈P₄₅, Na₂₃Si₃₇P₅₇, LT‐NaSi₂P₃ and HT‐NaSi₂P₃, based entirely on earth‐abundant elements. They have SiP₄ tetrahedra assembled interpenetrating networks of T3 to T5 supertetrahedral clusters and can be hierarchically assigned to sphalerite‐ or diamond‐type structures. ²³Na solid‐state NMR spectra and geometrical pathway analysis show Na⁺‐ion mobility between the supertetrahedral cluster networks. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows Na⁺‐ion conductivities up to σ (Na⁺)=4×10^?4 S cm^?1. The conductivities increase with the size of the supertetrahedral clusters through dilution of Na⁺‐ions as the charge density of the anionic networks decreases.