Analysis of cell gap-dependent driving voltage in a fringe field-driven homogeneously aligned nematic liquid crystal display

We have studied cell gap-dependent driving voltage characteristics in a homogeneously aligned nematic liquid crystal (LC) cell driven by a fringe electric field, termed the fringe field switching (FFS) mode. The results show that for the FFS mode using a LC with positive dielectric anisotropy, the operating voltage decreases as the cell gap decreases, whereas it increases with a decreasing cell gap when using a LC with negative dielectric anisotropy. The difference between LCs is explained by simulation and experiment.     

Self-assembled discotic nematic liquid crystals formed by simple hydrogen bonding between phenol and pyridine moieties

New discotic nematic liquid crystals have been prepared through intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the core of 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene (phloroglucinol, PG) or 1,3,5-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzene (THPB) and the peripheral molecules of stilbazole derivatives. The various nematic phases formed by new hydrogen bonding building blocks were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarising optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The first discotic complexes of PG and trans-4-alkoxy-4′-stilbazoles exhibited nematic columnar (N_C) and hexagonal columnar phases depending on the length of alkyl chains, which were considered as the basic discotic structure. Several structural variations on the building blocks were attempted to examine their effects on the liquid crystalline properties of discotic complexes. The nematic lateral phase (N_L) with enhanced intercolumnar order was observed for the complexes of PG and trans-4-cyanoalkoxy-4′ stilbazoles due probably to the strong dipole interactions between cyano groups at the end of alkoxy chains. By introducing the nonlinear structure in three arms of supramolecular discotic mesogen, a discotic nematic phase (N_D) was observed for the complex of THPB and trans-4-octyloxy-4 -stilbazole. The single hydrogen bonding between phenol and pyridine moieties in this study provides a simple and effective method for preparing the rarely found discotic nematic liquid crystals.     

Self-constructed stable liquid crystal alignment in a monomer-liquid crystal mixture system

Here, we demonstrate excellent liquid crystal (LC) vertical alignment without using an alignment layer printing process by introducing octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) into the LC mixture. Further, we investigated the alignment mechanism by analysing the surfaces of the substrates. The optimum concentration of OTS was found to be about 0.03 wt%, which is 1/100 of that in the previously reported polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)–LC system. Moreover, the OTS–LC system exhibited a more stable LC alignment compared with the POSS–LC system. These differences may arise from the different strengths of surface–dopant interactions; that is, the covalent bond in the OTS–LC system and the van der Waals interactions in the POSS–LC system. We also demonstrated that the method can be used in a capillary tube, which may serve as a new method facilitating the application of LCs with curved surfaces.     

Biological Removal of Phosphate at Low Concentrations Using Recombinant Escherichia coli Expressing Phosphate-Binding Protein in Periplasmic Space

During wastewater treatment, phosphate removal is an important and challenging process; thus, diverse technologies, including those derived from biological means, have been devised for efficient phosphate removal. Although conventional biological methods are effective in decreasing wastewater phosphate levels to ~1 mg/L, long periods of microbial adaptation are required for effective phosphate removal, and the removal efficiency of these methods is relatively poor at lower phosphate concentrations. In the present work, we constructed a recombinant Escherichia coli with periplasmic-expressed phosphate-binding protein (PBP) and investigated its biological removal ability for low phosphate levels. We found that the PBP-expressing recombinant E. coli cells showed efficient (> 94 %) removal of phosphate at low concentrations (0.2–1.0 mg/L) in a treated cell mass-dependent manner. Collectively, we propose that our PBP-expressing recombinant whole-cell system could be successfully used during wastewater treatment for the biological removal of low concentrations of phosphate.     

Studies of degradation behaviors of poly (3‐hexylthiophene) layers by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Degradation behaviors of poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (P3HT) layers on NiO in the presence of H₂O at ambient pressure and dark conditions were studied using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Upon H₂O exposure at 120 °C, partial oxidation of P3HT together with molecular water incorporation, but with the maintained local ring‐structure, were deduced by XPS. Valence band spectra of XPS evidenced that the partial oxidation of P3HT local structure could alter π‐conjugation systems of P3HT layers, forming additional electronic states close to its original highest occupied molecular orbital. For comparison, P3HT surface was also exposed to O₂, and no change in the S 2p and C 1s spectra was found by O₂ exposure at 120 °C, implying that H₂O plays a major role at the initial stage of P3HT oxidation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sieving properties of end group‐halogenated Pluronic polymer matrix in DNA separation under nondenaturing CE analysis

CE‐SSCP analysis is a well‐established DNA separation method that is based on variations in mobility caused by sequence‐induced differences in the conformation of single‐stranded DNA. The resolution of CE‐SSCP analysis was improved by using a Pluronic polymer matrix, and it has been successfully applied in various genetic analyses. Because the Pluronic polymer forms a micellar cubic structure in the capillary, it provides a stable internal structure for high‐resolution CE‐SSCP analysis. We hypothesized that formation of micellar cubic structure is influenced by the end hydroxyl group of the Pluronic polymer, which affords structural stability through hydrogen bonding. To test this hypothesis, the hydroxyl group was halogenated to eliminate the hydrogen bonding without disturbing the polarity of polymer matrix. CE‐SSCP resolution of two DNA fragments with a single base difference was significantly worse in the halogenated polymer matrices due to band broadening. The viscoelastic properties of control (which has hydroxyl group), chlorinated, and brominated F108 solution upon heating were also investigated by rheological experiments, and we found that gelation was significantly associated with resolution. In this series of experiments, the effect of the hydroxyl group in Pluronic polymer matrix on separation resolution of CE‐SSCP analysis was demonstrated.     

A multiplex single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping method using ligase‐based mismatch discrimination and CE‐SSCP

Accuracy, simplicity, and cost‐effectiveness are the most important criteria for a genotyping method for SNPs compatible with clinical use. One method developed for SNP genotyping, ligase‐based discrimination, is considered the simplest for clinical diagnosis. However, multiplex assays using this method are limited by the detection method. Although CE has been introduced as an alternative to error prone microarray‐based detection, the design process and multiplex assay procedure are complicated because of the DNA size‐dependent separation principle. In this study, we developed a simple and accurate multiplex genotyping method using reaction condition‐optimized ligation and high‐resolution CE‐based SSCP. With this high‐resolution CE‐SSCP system, we are able to use similar‐sized probes, thereby eliminating the complex probe design step and simplifying the optimization process. We found that this method could accurately discriminate single‐base mismatches in SNPs of the tp53 gene, used as targets for multiplex detection.     

Preparation of 2,2-difluoro-1-trialkylsilylethenylstannanes and their cross-coupling reactions

Reaction of 2 with bis(tributyltin) in the presence of 3 mol % Pd₂(dba)₃, 6 mol % XPhos, and 30 equiv of LiBr in wet and air bubbled THF at reflux for 8 h afforded the desired products 3 in 73–74% yields. The cross-coupling reaction of 3a with aryl iodides in the presence of 10 mol % Pd(PPh₃)₄ and 10 mol % CuI afforded the coupled products 4a–p in 47–90% yields. The coupling reaction of 3b with various alkynyl bromides having aryl-, alkyl, or trialkylsilyl group also afforded the corresponding 1,3-enynes 5a–g in 61–77% yields.     

Simultaneous determination of nine lignans from Schisandra chinensis extract using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry in rat plasma,urine, and gastrointestinal tract samples: Application to the pharmacokinetic study of Schisandra chinensis

The fruit of Schisandra chinensis is a well‐known herbal medicine and dietary supplement due to a variety of biological activities including antihepatotoxic and antihyperlipidemic activities. However, the simultaneous validation methodology and pharmacokinetic investigation of nine lignans of S. chinensis extract in biological samples have not been proved yet. Thus, the present study was undertaken to develop the proper sample preparation method and simultaneous analytical method of schisandrol A, gomisin J, schisandrol B, tigloylgomisin H, angeloylgomisin H, schisandrin A, schisandrin B, gomisin N, and schisandrin C in the hexane‐soluble extract of S. chinensis to apply for the pharmacokinetic study in rats. All intra‐ and interprecisions of nine lignans were below 13.7% and accuracies were 85.1–115% and it is enough to evaluate the pharmacokinetic parameters after both intravenous and oral administration of hexane‐soluble extract of S. chinensis to rats.