CHANGES IN TOTAL DIFFUSE SPECTRAL REFLECTANCE OF AMINO ACIDS AND PROTEINS AFTER ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATION

Abstract— Total diffuse reflectance spectra of air-dried surfaces of free and neutralized amino acid preparations before and after irradiation in vitro are reported. It was found that some free or neutralized amino acid surfaces underwent modification which resulted in changes in the diffuse reflectance spectra after U.V. exposure. It is suggested that these reflectance changes result from transformations in the side chains of the amino acids and that the transformations may differ from those occurring when amino acids in solution are irradiated. Histidine, cystine, hydroxyproline and some protein surfaces showed changes in reflectance of 330–400 nm light similar to those reported in skin after U.V. irradiation in viuo.     

Complex formation between benzene and [Cr(CO)3(η6-arene)]

1/1 complex formation between benzene-d₆ and [Cr(CO)₃(η⁶-arene)] (arene = C₆H₅R (R = H, Me, OMe, Cl), C₁₀H₈) has been observed by PMR spectroscopy. The equilibrium constant in the case of arene =C₆H₆ confirms earlier chemical evidence that the [Cr(CO)₃] unit exerts an electron-with-drawing effect upon aromatic rings which is approximately equal to that of the nitro group.     

Simulation of three-phase displacement experiments

Three-phase displacement experiments for a water-benzyl alcohol-decane system are simulated. Literature experimental three-phase relative permeabilities for the system are used to describe the relative permeabilities in the three-phase region for different three-phase relative permeability models. Saturation trajectories and elliptical regions are mapped in the three-phase region. Simulations are performed to model displacement experiments including breakthrough and the formation of multiple shocks. The model can be used to predict the results for other displacements. In an experiment where significant gravity segregation is present, the displacement is more accurately modeled by assuming a uniform initial condition than by using the actual vertical saturation and assuming no cross flow. It is shown how different residual saturation values can be measured in the laboratory depending on the initial saturation conditions in the core. The experimental residual saturations can be significantly different than the ‘theoretical’ or model values.     

Employing integrated reference models to represent interdependency in a complex enterprise

Successful implementation of change in a complex enterprise requires a shared understanding of system interdependency. Otherwise, the architecture of those changes risk the emergence of otherwise unforeseen obstacles. A fundamental element is understanding how the system responds to stimuli. Given the complexity of that system, no single model would adequately represent the totality of the enterprise. As such, we have employed a structured approach based on soft systems methodology and reference models to develop common pictures. These heuristic models act as anchor points for achieving a shared understanding and as a basis for the development of more detailed models. The approach has been applied to defence preparedness; a system containing many levels of inter-dependency, contested by a range of differing viewpoints, multilayered with decisions and activity at a number of levels, and often seeking to rapidly transition to solutions. We present some examples of distinct but inter-related reference models for defence preparedness.     

Calculation of activation energies for transport and recombination in mesoporous TiO2/dye/electrolyte films--taking into account surface charge shifts with temperature

Transient photovoltage and photocurrent measurements have been employed to determine the recombination and transport kinetics in operating dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells as a function of potential and temperature. Photocurrent transients have been taken at the open circuit potential, as opposed to the standard measurement at short circuit. Kinetic results have been used to calculate the activation energy as function of the Fermi level position in the TiO(2). In the calculation of activation energies, we have explicitly taken into account the temperature dependence of the offset between the electrolyte redox potential and the conduction band edge. This new method gives activation energies that decrease linearly as the Fermi level position moves toward the conduction band edge, as expected, but not found in previous studies. The results are consistent with the presence of a distribution of traps below the TiO(2) conduction band, the detrapping from which limits both the transport and the recombination of electrons.     

Water oxidation kinetics of nanoporous BiVO4 photoanodes functionalised with nickel/iron oxyhydroxide electrocatalysts

In this work, spectroelectrochemical techniques are employed to analyse the catalytic water oxidation performance of a series of three nickel/iron oxyhydroxide electrocatalysts deposited on FTO and BiVO₄, at neutral pH. Similar electrochemical water oxidation performance is observed for each of the FeOOH, Ni(Fe)OOH and FeOOHNiOOH electrocatalysts studied, which is found to result from a balance between degree of charge accumulation and rate of water oxidation. Once added onto BiVO₄ photoanodes, a large enhancement in the water oxidation photoelectrochemical performance is observed in comparison to the un-modified BiVO₄. To understand the origin of this enhancement, the films were evaluated through time-resolved optical spectroscopic techniques, allowing comparisons between electrochemical and photoelectrochemical water oxidation. For all three catalysts, fast hole transfer from BiVO₄ to the catalyst is observed in the transient absorption data. Using operando photoinduced absorption measurements, we find that water oxidation is driven by oxidised states within the catalyst layer, following hole transfer from BiVO₄. This charge transfer is correlated with a suppression of recombination losses which result in remarkably enhanced water oxidation performance relative to un-modified BiVO₄. Moreover, despite similar electrocatalytic behaviour of all three electrocatalysts, we show that variations in water oxidation performance observed among the BiVO₄/MOOH photoanodes stem from differences in photoelectrochemical and electrochemical charge accumulation in the catalyst layers. Under illumination, the amount of accumulated charge in the catalyst is driven by the injection of photogenerated holes from BiVO₄, which is further affected by the recombination loss at the BiVO₄/MOOH interface, and thus leads to deviations from their behaviour as standalone electrocatalysts.

Elucidating the role of charge accumulation and reaction kinetics in governing the performance of Ni/Fe oxyhydroxides as electrocatalysts and as co-catalysts on BiVO₄ photoanodes water oxidation.     

Solubility and partial molar volume of carbon dioxide and ethane in crosslinked poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer

Experimental solubility and sorptive dilation data are reported for carbon dioxide and ethane in a crosslinked poly(ethylene oxide) (XLPEO) rubbery copolymer. Five different temperatures (253 ≤ T(K) ≤ 308) were considered, with a maximum gas pressure of 2.09 MPa (20.6 atm). The polymer was prepared by photopolymerization of a solution containing 70 wt % poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) and 30 wt % poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). Sorption isotherms were described by the Flory‐Huggins model. For each gas, the Flory‐Huggins interaction parameter was a decreasing function of temperature and did not show a composition dependence. Dilation and sorption data were combined to calculate the partial molar volume (PMV) of the gases in the polymer, which was an increasing function of temperature. Based on a comparison with literature data for a XLPEO homopolymer prepared from pure PEGDA over the same range of operating conditions, an effect of the network composition on both gas solubility and PMV was found. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 456–468, 2010