Solid Phase Extraction of Cesium from Aqueous Solution Using Sol-Gel Encapsulated Cobalt Hexacyanoferrate

The synthesis and evaluation of silica sol-gels doped with cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF) for solid phase extraction of Cs⁺ from aqueous solution is described. The CoHCF is formed by first introducing K₄Fe(CN)₆ (HCF) into the sol-gel and subsequently contacting the porous solid to a solution containing Co²⁺. Generally, sols contain alcohol as a co-solvent, which limits the solubility of HCF. Inclusion of generation-4 polyamidoamine (G4-PAMAM) dendrimer in the sol-gel increases the level of HCF and, in turn, the CoHCF. The uptake capacity of this composite was 0.43±0.01mmolCs⁺g^–1. A second approach to increasing the level of HCF silica is to exclude alcohol from the sol and use ultrasound to obtain a homogeneous suspension; HCF concentrations up to 0.17M in the sol were thereby achieved. After gelation and reaction with Co²⁺, the resulting composite had a capacity of 0.61±0.01mmolCs⁺g^–1. With 0.5mMCs⁺ as the sample, the presence of either 0.5–100mM Na⁺ or 10mMCa²⁺ did not change that value at the 95% confidence level.     

Experimental resolution of early steps in protein folding: testing molecular dynamics simulations

Time-resolved Tyr fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with a laser-induced temperature-jump (T-jump) was employed to follow the folding relaxation dynamics of the B-domain of Staphylococcal protein A. The single Tyr is located in helix 1 (H1) and is a sensitive probe of the structure of this helix and the overall helical bundle structure. The results from this study were compared to those from a complementary infrared T-jump study on this protein [Vu, D. M.; Myers, J. K.; Oas, T. G.; Dyer, R. B. Biochemistry 2004, 43, 3582]. Both methods detect a microsecond process that follows the cooperative relaxation of the helical bundle core. However, a fast process (10-7 s) that follows the relaxation of the individual helices was observed only with the infrared probe. Thus, fast formation of H1 is not observed, but rather H1 forms in the microsecond phase, concomitantly with the docking to (and stabilization by) the other two helices to form the helical bundle structure. This observation validates the results of several previous molecular dynamics simulations that predict H1 formation only in the final assembly of the helix bundle.     

Experimental evidence for the existence of non-exo-anomeric conformations in branched oligosaccharides: the neomycin-B case

For the first time in natural O-glycosides, a large amount of non-exo-anomeric conformation is experimentally detected, in solution.     

Radiolysis of confined water: hydrogen production at a high dose rate.

The production of molecular hydrogen in the radiolysis of dried or hydrated nanoporous controlled-pore glasses (CPG) has been carefully studied using 10 MeV electron irradiation at high dose rate. In all cases, the H2 yield increases when the pore size decreases. Moreover, the yields measured in dried materials are two orders of magnitude smaller than those obtained in hydrated glasses. This proves that the part of the H2 coming from the surface of the material is negligible in the hydrated case. Thus, the measured yields correspond to those of nanoconfined water. Moreover, these yields are not modified by the presence of potassium bromide, which is a hydroxyl radical scavenger. This experimental observation shows that the back reaction between H2 and HO* does not take place in such confined environments. These porous materials have been characterized before and after irradiation by means of Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques, which helps to understand the elementary processes taking place in this type of environment, especially the protective effect of water on the surface in the case of hydrated glasses.     

Highly diastereoselective synthesis and NMR characterization of natural indolizidine alkaloids

A diastereoselective, general and versatile access to disubstituted indolizidines is described. The nmr conformational analysis permits us to establish preferred conformations.     

Convergent synthesis of 2,3-bisarylpyrazolones through cyclization of bisacylated pyrazolidines and hydrazines

Cyclization of various bisacylated hydrazines and pyrazolidines using DBU or sodium hydride leads to the formation of various mono-, bi- and tricyclic pyrazolone scaffolds in 41-98% yield. The convergent nature by which the precyclization intermediates are constructed allows for rapid derivatization about the pyrazolone core.     

Microdisplacement and microvibration sensors based on semiconductor lasers

Conclusion The above analysis of a microvibration sensor based on a semiconductor laser has shown that in the optimal operating regime one can expect a detection ability of 10^–2 nm.It is preferable to record an optical signal (change of radiation power) than an optoelectronic one (change diode voltage).Several sensor variants were constructed: with an ILPN-202 commercial laser diode, with a laser cartridge, and with the LMF-1300 single-mode laser module. Since real sensors contain additional noise sources (pumping- and recording-system noise, fluctuations due to parasitic reflection, etc.), the sensitivity limit could not be reached. The detection ability ranges, depending on the scheme employed, from fraction of a nanometer to several nanometers, but is perfectly acceptable for many practical applications.Translation of Preprint No. 42 of the Lebedev Physics Institute, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow, 1991.