Dispersion of functional tetraphenylporphyrin-ligated metal into ultra-thin flexible acrylate films. 2. Oxygen-uptake properties

Cobalt(II) meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (CoTPP)/acrylate hybrid thin films were prepared by CoTPP sublimation and reactive monomer evaporation onto the glass substrate in vacuum conditions. Deposited CoTPP/acrylate thin films were in situ photopolymerized. The oxygen-uptake behaviors of CoTPP/acrylate films were investigated by means of sorption measurements, monitored by gravimetric means, and analyzed using dual mode sorption model. The loading percent of CoTPP in the film was adjusted up to 60% by controlling the CoTPP sublimation rate. The thickness of the CoTPP/acrylate hybrid film was about 200 nm and oxygen-uptake data obtained from the sorption measurements indicated that CoTPP molecules in the CoTPP/acrylate hybrid films were able to bind oxygen molecules reversibly.     

Synthesis of polystyrene brush on multiwalled carbon nanotubes treated with KMnO4 in the presence of a phase‐transfer catalyst

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were effectively functionalized with KMnO₄ in the presence of a phase‐transfer catalyst at room temperature. The hydroxyl functionalized MWNTs were reacted with a vinyl‐group carrying silane‐coupling agent and the terminal vinyl groups were used to fabricate polystyrene (PS) brushes by solution polymerization. Finally, PS‐encapsulated MWNTs were obtained. The synthesis results were verified from FT‐Raman, thermal gravimetric analysis, energy dispersive X‐ray analysis, and transmission electron microscope. PS‐encapsulated MWNTs had much improved dispersion stability in hydrophobic medium, toluene since grafted hydrophobic PS interacts with media and has improved compatibility. This functionalization technique would provide a facile route to prepare various polymer brushes on the surface of MWNTs to improve the dispersion of MWNTs for potential applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4413–4420, 2007     

New Equation for Predicting Pipe Friction Coefficients Using the Statistical Based Entropy Concepts

In general, this new equation is significant for designing and operating a pipeline to predict flow discharge. In order to predict the flow discharge, accurate determination of the flow loss due to pipe friction is very important. However, existing pipe friction coefficient equations have difficulties in obtaining key variables or those only applicable to pipes with specific conditions. Thus, this study develops a new equation for predicting pipe friction coefficients using statistically based entropy concepts, which are currently being used in various fields. The parameters in the proposed equation can be easily obtained and are easy to estimate. Existing formulas for calculating pipe friction coefficient requires the friction head loss and Reynolds number. Unlike existing formulas, the proposed equation only requires pipe specifications, entropy value and average velocity. The developed equation can predict the friction coefficient by using the well-known entropy, the mean velocity and the pipe specifications. The comparison results with the Nikuradse’s experimental data show that the R2 and RMSE values were 0.998 and 0.000366 in smooth pipe, and 0.979 to 0.994 or 0.000399 to 0.000436 in rough pipe, and the discrepancy ratio analysis results show that the accuracy of both results in smooth and rough pipes is very close to zero. The proposed equation will enable the easier estimation of flow rates.     

Multiquark picture for Σ (1620)

In this work we report on a new QCD sum rule analysis to predict masses of the excited baryon states (e.g. Σ (1620) and Λ (1405)) by using multiquark interpolating fields ((qˉq)(qqq)). For the Σ (1620) we consider the ˉKN, πΣ, and πΛ (I = 1) multiquark interpolating fields. The calculated mass from those multiquark states is about 1.592 GeV. For the Λ (1405) we first show the result using the π⁺Σ⁻+π⁰Σ⁰+π⁻Σ⁺ (I = 0) multiquark interpolating field, and compare the calculated mass to that of our previous result using the π⁰Σ⁰ multiquark state. We then show that the mass 1.405 GeV is well reproduced when using the ˉKN (I = 0) multiquark state. The uncertainties in our sum rules are also discussed. Received: 7 September 1998 / Revised version: 5 January 2000     

Expression, High Cell Density Culture and Purification of Recombinant EC-SOD in Escherichia coli

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) catalyzes the dismutation of the biologically toxic superoxide anion into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide and is deployed by the immune system to kill invading microorganisms. Extracellular SOD (EC-SOD) is a copper- and zinc-containing glycoprotein found predominantly in the soluble extracellular compartment that consists of ～30-kDa subunits. Here, we purified recombinant EC-SOD3 (rEC-SOD) from Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) expressing a pET-SOD3-1 construct. Cells were cultured by high-density fed-batch fermentation to a final OD₆₀₀ of 51.8, yielding a final dry cell weight of 17.6 g/L. rEC-SOD, which was expressed as an inclusion body, comprised 48.7% of total protein. rEC-SOD was refolded by a simple dilution refolding method and purified by cation-exchange and reverse-phase chromatography. The highly purified rEC-SOD thus obtained was a mixture of monomers and dimers, both of which were active. The molecular weights of monomeric and dimeric rEC-SOD were 25,255 and 50,514 Da, respectively. The purified rEC-SOD had 4.3 EU/mg of endotoxin and the solubility of rEC-SOD was more than 80% between pH 7 and 10. In 2 L of fed-batch fermentation, 60 mg of EC-SOD (99.9% purity) could be produced and total activity was 330.24 U. The process established in this report, involving high-cell-density fermentation, simple dilution refolding, and purification with ion-exchange and reverse-phase chromatography, represents a commercially viable process for producing rEC-SOD.     

Implication of phosphorylation of the myosin II regulatory light chain in insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation in 3T3-F442A adipocytes

In adipocytes, insulin stimulates glucose transport primarily by promoting the translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane. Requirements for Ca(2+)/calmodulin during insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation have been demonstrated; however, the mechanism of action of Ca(2+) in this process is unknown. Recently, myosin II, whose function in non-muscle cells is primarily regulated by phosphorylation of its regulatory light chain by the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), was implicated in insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. The present studies in 3T3-F442A adipocytes demonstrate the novel finding that insulin significantly increases phosphorylation of the myosin II RLC in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. In addition, ML-7, a selective inhibitor of MLCK, as well as inhibitors of myosin II, such as blebbistatin and 2,3-butanedione monoxime, block insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation and subsequent glucose transport. Our studies suggest that MLCK may be a regulatory target of Ca(2+)/calmodulin and may play an important role in insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipocytes.     

Chromatographic biopanning for the selection of peptides with high specificity to Pb from phage displayed peptide library

Toxic heavy metal pollution is a global problem occurring in air, soil as well as water. There is a need for a more cost effective, renewable remediation technique, but most importantly, for a recovery method that is selective for one specific metal of concern. Phage display technology has been used as a powerful tool in the discovery of peptides capable of exhibiting specific affinity to various metals or metal ions. However, traditional phage display is mainly conducted in batch mode, resulting in only one equilibrium state hence low-efficiency selection. It is also unable to monitor the selection process in real time mode. In this study, phage display technique was incorporated with chromatography procedure with the use of a monolithic column, facilitating multiple phage-binding equilibrium states and online monitoring of the selection process in search of affinity peptides to Pb²⁺. In total, 17 candidate peptides were found and their specificity toward Pb²⁺ was further investigated with bead-based enzyme immunoassay (EIA). A highly specific Pb²⁺ binding peptide ThrAsnThrLeuSerAsnAsn (TNTLSNN) was obtained. Based on our knowledge, this is the first report on a new chromatographic biopanning method coupled with monolithic column for the selection of metal ion specific binding peptides. It is expected that this monolith-based chromatographic biopanning will provide a promising approach for a high throughput screening of affinity peptides cognitive of a wide range of target species.     

An integrated digital microfluidic chip for multiplexed proteomic sample preparation and analysis by MALDI-MS

To realize multiplexed sample preparation on a digital microfluidic chip for high-throughput Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS), several fluidic functions need to be integrated. These include the generation of multiple droplets from a reservoir and parallel in-line sample purification. In this paper, we develop two critical new functions in handling protein solutions and standard proteomic reagents with electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) actuation, leading to an integrated chip for multiplexed sample preparation for MALDI-MS. The first is a voltage sequence designed to generate a series of droplets from each of the three reservoirs--proteomic sample, rinsing fluid, and MALDI reagents. It is the first time that proteomic reagents have been dispensed using EWOD in an air (as opposed to oil) environment. The second is a box-in-box electrode pattern developed to allow droplet passing over dried sample spots, making the process of in-line sample purification robust for parallel processing. As a result, parallel processing of multiple sample droplets is demonstrated on the integrated EWOD-MALDI-MS chip, an important step towards high-throughput MALDI-MS. The MS results, collected directly from the integrated devices, are of good quality, suggesting that the tedious process of sample preparation can be automated on-chip for MALDI-MS applications as well as other high-throughput proteomics applications.     

"Nanoscale zippers" in Gd5(SixGe(1-x))4: symmetry and chemical influences on the nanoscale zipping action

One critical parameter influencing the structural nature of the phase transitions in magnetocaloric materials Gd5(SixGe(1-x))4 is the Si/Ge ratio (x/1-x), because transition temperatures and structures depend crucially on this value. In this study, single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicates that Si and Ge atoms are neither completely ordered nor randomly mixed among the three crystallographic sites for these elements in these structures. Ge atoms enrich the T sites linking the characteristic slabs in these structures, while Si atoms enrich the T sites within them. Decomposition of the total energy into site and bond energy terms provides a rationale for the observed distribution, which can be explained by symmetry and electronegativity arguments. For any composition in Gd5(SixGe(1-x))4, a structure map is presented that will allow for a rapid assessment of the specific structure type.     

Performance of ionic liquid as catalyst in the copolymerization of phenyl glycidyl ether with carbon dioxide

Summary Selective ammoxidation of ethylene over Co-ZSM-5 prepared by aqueous and solid-state ion exchange has been studied. The catalyst prepared using solid-state exchange showed higher activity and selectivity to acetonitrile. Catalysts tested in the ammoxidation of ethylene were previously characterized by chemical analysis, XRD, N₂-BET measurements and FTIR. TPD of ammonia and FTIR of pyridine used as probe molecule showed that solid-state ion exchange of H-ZSM-5 with cobalt generates new Lewis acid sites which seem to play a role in the ammoxidation reaction.