Separation of 99Mo from a simulated fission product solution by precipitation with a-benzoinoxime

The formation property of Mo precipitate was investigated and improved the existing process was using H₂O₂ that acts as an interfering compound in a subsequent alumina adsorption process. The property of the Mo precipitate was investigated by using SEM, FTIR, TG-DTA, and XRD. The simulated solution consisted of 1M nitric acid containing seven elements (Mo, I, Ru, Zr, Ce, Nd, Sr) and their radioactive tracers. As a result, the precipitate was composed of the Mo precipitate and re-precipitated a-benzoinoxime which was added excessively for increasing the precipitation efficiency. It was confirmed that the Mo precipitate was formed by the reaction of two a-benzoinoxime molecules and one MoO₂ ²⁺. Molybdenum precipitate was dissolved in 0.4M NaOH solution within 5 minutes without H₂O₂. Hydrogen peroxide induced only the rapid dissolution of the a-benzoinoxime re-precipitate. Also, the dissolution method without H₂O₂ was favorable in the purification aspect because Zr and Ru were contained as a small fraction of 1.3% and 7.7%, respectively, in the dissolving solution.     

Improved expression by cytomegalovirus promoter/enhancer and behavior of vascular endothelial growth factor gene after myocardial injection of naked DNA

Direct injection of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene plasmid DNA into the myocardium was shown to induce development of new blood vessels to increase the circulation in the heart of patients with coronary artery diseases. However, such angiogenic gene therapy (via naked DNA) was limited by low level of gene expression. Furthermore, the temporal and spatial characteristics of VEGF gene transfer in the heart are not known. In this study, we demonstrated that a plasmid vector, containing the human cytomegalovirus immediate early (HCMV IE) promoter and enhancer, induces greater expression of gene in the rat heart monitored by gene fused to the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter, than four different viral and cellular promoters. Interestingly, expression of VEGF121 protein showed an earlier peak, a shorter duration, and a wider distribution than that of CAT only. Therefore, a plasmid vector with an HCMV IE promoter/enhancer provides clear advantages over other previously developed plasmids. Furthermore, expression profile of VEGF121 gene may provide useful information in the design of angiogenic gene therapy in the heart.     

Patterned and controlled polyelectrolyte fractal growth and aggregations

Two-dimensional patterned and controlled polyelectrolyte aggregations (e.g., tree-like ramified structures) created by microcontact printing have been demonstrated and discussed. Polyelectrolyte-micropatterned aggregations on surfaces were controlled by the micropattern size and shape of PDMS stamps. The formation of aggregates was dependent on the ink and surface conditions, and the aggregates consisted of two distinct layers; strongly adsorbed, primary uniform layers and weakly adsorbed, secondary aggregation layers positioned on top of the primary layers. The adsorption of the primary layers was strong enough not to be washed away, while the aggregated secondary layers were easily removed by washing. The aggregation of secondary layers showed typical tree-like ramified structures of fractal growth and aggregation. Directional and confined stamping led to directing and confining the growth of the fractal polyelectrolyte clusters, respectively. The micropatterned primary uniform layers were not removed by extensive washing, and they were identified by selective nickel plating and charged particle selective adsorption in which the surface formed positive and negative micropatterns. These functional and patterned surfaces have great potentials for advanced devices and sensors.     

Synthesis and structure of Li4Sr3Ge2N6: a new quaternary nitride containing Ge2N6 anions

A new Li-containing quaternary nitride, Li₄Sr₃Ge₂N₆, was obtained as single crystals from constituent elements in molten Na. It crystallizes in space group C2/m (No. 12) with a=6.1398(7) Å, b=10.021(1) Å, c=6.3130(7) Å, β=91.279(2)°, and Z=2. It contains the first example of isolated nitridogermanate anions of Ge₂N₆¹⁰⁻, which is also the first example of edge-sharing tetrahedral [GeN₄].     

All-solid-state carbonate-selective electrode based on a molecular tweezer-type neutral carrier with solvent-soluble conducting polymer solid contact

Carbonate-selective membranes were prepared by incorporating a molecular tweezer-type carbonate-selective neutral carrier [N,N-dioctyl-3alpha,12alpha-bis(4-trifluoroacetylbenzyloxy)-5beta-cholan-24-amide] into a room temperature vulcanizing-type silicone rubber (3140 RTV-SR) matrix, and deposited on the planar-type electrodes (Pt containing Ag/AgCl electrodes formed on a ceramic plate) with and without an intermediary conducting polymer layer. Two types of solvent-soluble conducting polymers [poly(1-hexyl-3,4-dimethyl-2,5-pyrrolylene) or poly(3-octylthiophene-2,5-diyl)] have been examined as the solid contact material. Potentiometric properties of the resultant all-solid-state electrodes were evaluated in terms of their carbonate selectivity, response slope, potential stability and reproducibility. The sensitivity and carbonate selectivity of the SR membrane-based all-solid-state electrodes with conducting polymer solid contact were comparable to those of conventional electrodes. Experimental results also showed that the intermediary conducting polymer layer used in the all-solid-state electrodes greatly reduces the interference from dissolved oxygen.     

Characterization of the short-chain branches in poly(vinyl chloride)s by γ irradiation of the reduced polymers

The volatile products from the γ irradiation of samples of poly(vinyl chloride) prepared under different conditions and reduced to the corresponding polyethylenes have been measured quantitatively and compared with those for low- and high-density polyethylenes and copolymers of ethylene with small amounts of α-olefins. The presence of methyl branches is clearly demonstrated and there is also evidence for ethyl and butyl branches, although these had not been considered significant in previous [¹³C] NMR studies. The method is shown to be extremely sensitive to small quantities of residual trialkyl tin hydride reductant occluded in, and possibly also reacted with, the polymer, and to residual chlorine (<0.5%). The yields of alkanes are higher than expected from the branch frequencies determined by i.r. and [¹³C] NMR and results for ethylene-α-olefin copolymers. This difference is apparently due to sensitisation of the radiation degradation by residual chlorine and reductant. Quantitative determinations of branch frequencies by the radiolytic method are unlikely to be obtained until these problems are overcome.     

Catalytic degradation of polystyrene using HUSY catalysts

Summary The addition of carbon dioxide to phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE) was investigated in a semi-batch reactor using immobilized quaternary ammonium chloride catalysts. Five different catalysts were prepared with the following supports : (1) soluble poly(ST-<Emphasis Type=Italic>co</Emphasis>-VBC) [C1], (2) insoluble poly(ST-DVB-VBC) [C2], (3) macroporous poly(ST-DVB-VBC) [C3], (4) poly(ST-<Emphasis Type=Italic>co</Emphasis>-VBC)-MMT [C4] (5) modified MCM-41 [C5]. The addition of carbon dioxide to PGE can be considered as a pseudo-first order process with respect to the concentration of PGE. The pseudo-first order rate constant for the catalysts decreased in the series C1&gt;C3&gt;C2&gt;C4&gt;C5. The activation energy for C1 to C5 catalysts was 8.6, 20.9, 19.9, 23.9, and 26.8 kJ/mol, respectively. The immobilized catalysts can be reused in least 4 successive runs without any considerable loss of their initial reactivities.     

Unusually stable molecular capsule formation of a tetraphenyleneurea cavitand

An unusually stable molecular capsule was formed by heating phenyleneurea-spanned resorcinarene cavitand with 4-methyl-N-p-tolylbenzamide. The molecular capsule behaved as a discrete molecular entity showing a cylindrical D(4d) structure and showed no guest exchange in toluene-d(8) even at 100 degrees C. [structure: see text]     

Chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric identification of positional isomers of polyethylene glycol-modified growth hormone-releasing factor (1-29)

A one-step chromatographic method capable of separating all isomers of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) (1-29) conjugates was developed. The unmodified GRF (1-29) and seven different isomers of PEG-GRF (1-29) conjugates were separated by using a simple reversed-phase HPLC method depending on the differences of hydrophobicity due to the number and site of PEG attachment. The PEGylation sites of all isomers of PEG-GRF (1-29) conjugates were identified by determining the molecular masses of the Lys-C digested fragments with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This study is a first report for the separation of all PEG-conjugate isomers and would be useful for further studies to find the promising conjugate by evaluating biological activity and stability of each isomer.     

Preparation of block copolymer vesicles in solution

Block copolymer vesicles can be prepared in solution from a variety of different amphiphilic systems. Polystyrene‐block‐poly(acrylic acid), polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide), and many other block copolymer systems can produce vesicles of a wide range of sizes; those in the range of 100–1000 nm have been explored extensively. Different factors, such as the absolute and relative block lengths, the presence of additives (ions, homopolymers, and surfactants), the water content in the solvent mixture, the nature and composition of the solvent, the temperature, and the polydispersity of the hydrophilic block, provide control over the types of vesicles produced. Their high stability, resistance to many external stimuli, and ability to package both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds make them excellent candidates for use in the medical, pharmaceutical, and environmental fields. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 923–938, 2004