Optimizing Membranes for Osmotic Power Generation

The design of ion-selective membranes is the key towards efficient reverse electrodialysis-based osmotic power conversion. The tradeoff between ion selectivity (output voltage) and ion permeability (output current) in existing porous membranes, however, limits the upgradation of power generation efficiency for practical applications. Thus, we provide the simple guidelines based on fundamentals of ion transport in nanofluidics for promoting osmotic power conversion. In addition, we discuss strategies for optimizing membrane performance through analysis of various material parameters in membrane design, such as pore size, surface charge, pore density, membrane thickness, ion pathway, pore order, and ionic diode effect. Lastly, a perspective on the future directions of membrane design to further maximize the efficiency of osmotic power conversion is outlined.     

Topological analysis of some special graphs: III. Regular polyhedra

A regular polyhedron is isomorphic to a cluster on which every face has same number of bonds and every atom has an equal number of coordinating atoms. A general strategy for generating the eigenvectors and the eigenvalues of regular polyhedra is given. Not sign analyses are also performed on the eigenvectors of regular polyhedra. The results provide us a quick way to grasp the topological feature of the electronic structure of clusters having interesting topology.     

3-Substituted Sydnone Derivatives. Structures of 3-Cyclohexylsydnone and of Two Forms of 3-(3-Pyridyl)sydnone

The crystal and molecular structures of three sydnone derivatives are reported. The compound 3-cyclohexylsydnone crystallizes in space group C2/c of the monoclinic system with sixteen molecules in a cell of dimensions a = 19.326 (3), b = 9.471 (2), c = 20.005 (4)Å, β = 106.85(1)°. The structure has been refined to a final value of 0.0581 for the conventional R-factor based on 2222 independent observed intensities. Form I of 3-(3-pyridyl)sydnone crystallizes in space group P2/n of the monoclinic system with eight molecules in a cell of dimensions a = 7.317(2), b = 9.283 (2), c = 20.891 (6) Å, β = 99.61(2)°. The structure has been refined to a final value of 0.0514 for the conventional R-factor based on 1208 independent observed intensities. Form II of 3-(3-pyridyl)sydnone crystallizes in space group P2₁/c of the monoclinic system with eight molecules in a cell of dimensions a=9.073 (2), b = 22.267 (5). c = 7.494(2)Å, β = 112.15 (2)°. The structure has been refined to a final value of 0.0462 for the conventional R-factor based on 1330 independent observed intensities. Each of the three structures contains two crystallographically independent molecules in the cell. In the case of 3-cyclohexylsydnone, one of the independent molecules exhibits disorder around the exocyclic bond at N(3). A comparison of bond lengths indicates that the (electron donating) cyclohexyl group brings about enhanced electron density in the N(3)-C(4) bond, and possibly in the N(3)-N(2) bond. All three structures studied here exhibit intermolecular hydrogen bonding involving C(4)-H(4)…O(6) interactions. Although there are no stacking interactions in the cyclohexyl derivative, there is evidence for such interactions in the 3-pyridyl derivatives.     

Acyl and α-Ketoacyl Complexes of Pt(II) with Weak Donor Ligands

Treatment of trans-Pt(COCOPh)(Cl)(PPh₃)₂ (1a) with AgBF₄in THF led to the formation of a metastatic complex trans-[Pt(COCOPh)(THF)(PPh₃)₂](BF₄) (2) which readily underwent ligand substitution to give a cationic aqua complex trans-[Pt(COCOPh)(OH₂)(PPh₃)₂](BF₄) (5a). Complex 5a has been characterized spectroscopically and crystallographically. Analogous reaction of trans-Pt(COCOOMe)(Cl)(PPh₃)₂ (1b) with Ag(CF₃SO₃) in dried CH₂C1₂ was found first to yield a methoxyoxalyl triflato complextrans-Pt(COCOOMe)(OTf)(PPh₃)₂ (6). Attempts to crystallize the triflato product in CH₂-cl₂hexane under ambient conditions also afforded an aqua complex of the triflate salt f/wu-[Pt(COCOOMe)(OH₂)(PPhj)₂](CF₃SO₃) (5b). Complex 5a in a noncoordinating solvent such as CH₂C1₂ or CHCl₃ suffered spontaneous decarbonylation to form first cis-[Pt(COPh)(CO)(PPh₃)₂l(BF₄) (3a) then the thermodynamically stable isomer trans-[Pt(COPh)(CO)(PPh₃)₂](BF₄) (3b). Crystallization of complex 3b under ambient conditions resulted in an aqua benzoyl complex trans-[Pt(COPh)(OH₂)(PPh₃)₂](BF₄) (7). The replacement of the H_2O ligand in complex 7 by CO was done simply by bubbling CO into the solution of 7. The single crystal structures of 5b and 7 have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The distances of the Pt-O bonds in 5a, 5b, and 7 support that the aqua ligand is a weak donor in such cationic aquaorganoplatinum(lI) complexes, in agreement with their lability to the substitution reactions.     

Positively charged liposomes consisting of the KTTKS pentapeptide conjugated with rhodamine increase rhodamine toxicity in E. coli and zebrafish embryo

Liposomes composed of cell‐penetrating peptide derivatives increased transport across the cell membrane. Conjugating rhodamine to a cell‐penetrating peptide increased the toxicity of rhodamine in E. coli and zebrafish embryos. A similar total protein inhibition pattern with different intensities, indicating that the interaction pathways of the rho‐KTTKS‐CONH₂ monomer and liposomes were the same. It suggests that the rho‐KTTKS‐CONH₂ liposomes showed higher toxicity because better transport across the cell membrane increased the effective concentration inside cells. The staining of zebrafish embryos using rho‐KTTKS‐CONH₂ liposomes showed a longer retention time, suggesting that it can penetrate deeper tissues or organs in zebrafish.     

A Novel Cyclopropanoid from Cinnamomum osmophloeum

Chemistry of Natural Compounds - A novel cyclopropanoid, 4-(2-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)cyclopropoxy)-2,6-dimethoxyphenol (1) was isolated from the stems of Cinnamomum osmophloeum (Lauraceae). The...     

Model Studies of DNA Photorepair: Enthalpy of Cleavage of a Pyrimidine Dimer Measured by Photothermal Beam Deflection Calorimetry

Abstract— The enzyme DNA photolyase mediates the repair of pyrimidine dimers. This repair step, a net retro [²+2] reaction, proceeds through either the cation or anion radical of the pyrimidine dimer. In order to understand how electron transfer makes the repair process possible, its energetics have been examined by photothermal beam deflection calorimetry, fluorescence quenching and quantum yield studies. The enthalpy for the cleavage reaction of cis-syn 1,3-dimethylthymine dimer itself was found to be -19 kcal/mol. In addition, from the redox potentials, the enthalpies for the cleavage reactions of the dimer cation radical and the anion radical were determined to be -19 kcal/mol and -28 kcal/mol, respectively.     

Cheritamine,A New N-Fatty Acyl Tryptamine and Other Constituents from the Stems of Annona cherimola

A new N-fatty acyl tryptamine, cheritamine ( 30 ), along with thirty-two compounds including nineteen benzenoids, p-hydroxybenzadehyde ( 1 ), p-hydroxybenzoic acid ( 2 ), methylparabene ( 3 ), 3-chlorobenzoic acid ( 4 ), vanillin ( 5 ), isovanillin ( 6 ), vanillic acid ( 7 ), isovanillic acid ( 8 ), methyl vanillate ( 9 ), methyl isovanillate ( 10 ), syringaldehyde ( 11 ), syringic acid ( 12 ), 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid ( 13 ), trans-methyl p-coumarate ( 14 ), ferulic acid ( 15 ), p-dihydrocoumaric acid ( 16 ), 3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1,2-propanediol ( 17 ), 3,4,5 -trimethoxyphenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside ( 18 ) and thalictoside ( 19 ); one p-quinone, 2,6-dimethoxy-p-quinone ( 20 ); one purine, uridine ( 21 ); eight alkaloids, nicotinic acid ( 22 ), thalifoline ( 23 ), doryphornine ( 24 ), (–)-norstephalagine ( 25 ), (-)-romucosine ( 26 ), (+)-pronuciferine ( 27 ), (+)-norisocorydine ( 28 ) and oxoasimilobine (29) and three steroids, β-sitosterol-D-glucoside ( 31 ), stigmasterol-D-glucoside ( 32 ) and 6′-(β-sitosteryl-3-O-β-glucopyranosidyl)hexadecanoate ( 33 ), are isolated from the stems of Annona cherimola. These compounds were characterized and identified by physical and spectral evidence.     

Reactivity and electronic property of decaphenylmetallocenes of Mo and W atoms

The perphenylmetallocene complexes (η⁵-C₅Ph₅)₂W (1), [(η⁵-C₅Ph₅)₂W]⁺I₃⁻ (1⁺I₃), (η⁵-C₅Ph₅)₂Mo (2) and [(η⁵-C₅Ph₅)₂Mo]⁺I₃⁻ (2⁺I₃) have been prepared. Hydrogenation of 1 in THF produces (η⁵-C₅Ph₅)₂WH₂ (4), while (η⁵-C₅Ph₅)₂WHCl (3) is afforded in 1,2-dichloroethane solvent. Carbonylation of 1 produces (η⁵-C₅Ph₅)₂W(CO) (5). Treatment of 1 with the strong acid CF₃SO₃H leads to the dicationic species [(η⁵-C₅Ph₅)₂W]⁺²[CF₃SO₃]⁻₂ (1⁺²Tf₂) after crystallization. The structures of 2⁺I₃ and 1⁺²Tf₂ have been determined by an X-ray diffraction study. The magnetic susceptibility study indicates a ³E_2g ground-state for 1 and 2, and a ⁴A_2g ground-state for 1⁺ and 2⁺.     

Determination of unbound cefamandole in rat blood by microdialysis and microbore liquid chromatography

To analyze unbound cefamandole in rat blood, a method combing microdialysis with microbore liquid chromatography has been developed. A microdialysis probe was inserted into the jugular vein/right atrium of male Sprague-Dawley rats to examine the unbound cefamandole level in the rat blood following cefamandole administration (50 mg/kg, i.v.). The dialysates were directly submitted to a liquid chromatographic system. Samples were eluted with a mobile phase containing acetonitrile-methanol-100 mM monosodium phosphate (pH 5.0; 15:20:65, v/v). The UV wavelength was set at 270 nm for monitoring the analyte. Using the retrograde method, at infusion concentrations of 1 microg/mL of cefamandole, the in vivo microdialysis recoveries were 55.44% for the rat blood (n = 6). Intra- and inter-assay accuracy and precision of the analyses were < or = 10% in the range of 0.1-10 microg/mL. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from the recovery-corrected dialysate concentrations of cefamandole vs time data. The elimination half-life (t1/2,beta) was 21.6 +/- 1.6 min. The results suggest that the pharmacokinetics of unbound cefamandole in blood following cefamandole administration (50 mg/kg, i.v., n = 5) fit best to the two-compartmental model.