Anisotropic assembly of Ag nanoprisms

The Ag nanoprisms with controlled arrangements show distinct optical, crystallographic, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering properties depending on their orientation in the assemblies, demonstrating that the controlled assembly of anisotropic nanostructures can be utilized as a powerful tool for studying their physicochemical properties and for the creation of new classes of functional materials.     

Down syndrome critical region 1 enhances the proteolytic cleavage of calcineurin

Down syndrome critical region 1 (DSCR1), an oxidative stress-response gene, interacts with calcineurin and represses its phosphatase activity. Recently it was shown that hydrogen peroxide inactivates calcineurin by proteolytic cleavage. Based on these facts, we investigated whether oxidative stress affects DSCR1-mediated inactivation of calcineurin. We determined that overexpression of DSCR1 leads to increased proteolytic cleavage of calcineurin. Convertsely, knockdown of DSCR1 abolished calcineurin cleavage upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide. The PXIIXT motif in the COOH-terminus of DSCR1 is responsible for both binding and cleavage of calcineurin. The knockdown of overexpressed DSCR1 in DS fibroblast cells also abrogated calcineurin proteolysis by hydrogen peroxide. These results suggest that DSCR1 has the ability to inactivate calcineurin by inducing proteolytic cleavage of calcineurin upon oxidative stress.     

Comparative study of pesticide multi-residue extraction in tobacco for gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

Coacervates made of surfactant aggregates, namely aqueous and reverse micelles and vesicles, were firstly used as solvents in single-drop microextraction (SDME) and proposed for the extraction and concentration of chlorophenols prior to liquid chromatography. The formation of coacervate drops in the needle tip of conventional microsyringes depended on the type of intermolecular forces established between the surfactant headgroups making up the supramolecular aggregates; hydrogen bond interactions were strong enough to permit the formation of spherical drops. Stability of 1-50 microL coacervate drops was achieved by introducing the microsyringe needle tip in a PTFE rod, the end of which had been machined out with a heated flanging-tool to get circular flanges (diameters in the range 3.5-6 mm). The parameters affecting the efficiency of single-drop coacervative microextraction (SDCME) were investigated using vesicular coacervates as a solvent and 2-chlorophenol (CP), 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) as model analytes. Coacervative microextraction dynamics fit to the general rate equation of liquid-liquid extraction. The effect of variables such as extraction time, drop volume, stirring rate, pH and temperature, on the extraction of chlorophenols was similar to that described for organic solvent drops. Electrolyte concentrations above 0.1 M caused drop instability. Under the optimum conditions, detection limits were in the range 0.1-0.3 microg L(-1). The relative standard deviation was between 4.3 and 5.6 at 20 microg L(-1) spiked level. The method was applied to the determination of the four chlorophenols in wastewater, superficial water from a reservoir and groundwater and the recoveries were in the range 79 and 106% at 5-20 microg L(-1) spiked level.     

Hybrid polymer sol–gel material for UV-nanoimprint: microstructure and thermal densification

Hybrid polymer solutions suitable for UV-nanoimprint were synthesized by combination of an alkoxysilane binder mixture with silica nanoparticles. Hydrolysis and condensation reactions were monitored by NMR and viscosity measurements. Thereby long-term stable systems were produced as a prerequisite for industrial application. Dip-coating of glass substrates and subsequent UV-curing yielded thin films. Their thermal densification and microstructural evolution resulted in pure glassy porous coatings, which were in detail characterized by N₂-sorption measurements and ellipsometric porosimetry. Results emphasize the importance of the binder-particle interaction within these materials that are destined for the fabrication of microstructured surfaces by cost efficient and industrially feasible UV-based soft lithography. Structured glassy layers with high inorganic content show thermal stability up to >500 °C and have a high structure accuracy >85 %.     

Spectral,electrochemical and computational investigations on the host–guest interaction of Coumarin-460 with <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-sulfonatocalix[4]arene

The supramolecular host–guest investigation of Coumarin 460 (C460), a salient coumarin family dye molecule is studied with a noteworthy host molecule, p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene (p-SC4). The investigation is carried out by both experimental and theoretical approach. The binding affinity of C460 with p-SC4 is experimentally studied using absorption, emission, excited state lifetime and Cyclic Voltammetry methods. The binding constant is around 10³ M^??1, which shows potent binding. The binding stoichiometry is 1:1. The binding orientations and binding energies are studied using computational simulations. The mode of binding is also established using NMR spectral techniques.     

Uranium recovery with zinc distillation from a liquid zinc cathode for pyroprocessing

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - U recovery test was performed on a Zn-U alloy to confirm the feasibility of Zn as an alternative cathode material. An evaporation test of pure Zn...     

Applicability of in situ detectors for radiological assessment of strontium-90 in rivers and lakes

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - An in situ detector for radiological assessments of strontium-90 (90Sr) in river and lake water is developed, based on a CaF2(Eu) scintillator,...     

Key steps and intermediates in the catalytic mechanism for the reduction of peroxides by the antioxidant ebselen

Hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxides are formed during aerobic metabolism and contribute to oxidative stress, a major factor in many diseases and degenerative conditions. Although the selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) affords antioxidant protection in vivo by catalytically reducing harmful peroxides with glutathione, certain conditions benefit from the administration of small-molecule GPx mimetics for additional protection. To date, ebselen has been the most widely studied such compound, but its catalytic mechanism is complex and highly variable with conditions. Progress in elucidating the mechanistic details of its antioxidant activity is described in this review.     

Interfacial Characteristics and Fracture Toughness of Electrolytically Ni-Plated Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Phenolic Resin Matrix Composites

The electrolytic plating of metallic nickel on a carbon fiber surface has been carried out in order to improve the interfacial adhesion and the mechanical properties in carbon fiber/phenolic matrix composite systems. The surface and the mechanical interfacial properties of composites are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), surface free energy, and the critical stress intensity factor (K(IC)). From the experimental results, it is clearly revealed that the oxygen functional groups and the metallic nickel on fibers largely affect the mechanical interfacial behavior of the composites, resulting in increased surface polarity, whereas the nitrogen functional groups have no effect. Also, a good correlation between surface oxygen functional groups and mechanical interfacial properties and between wettability and K(IC) is established and it is found that a 10 A m(-2) current density is the optimum condition for this system. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.