Comparison of catalytic activities for photocatalytic and sonocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in present of anatase TiO2-CNT catalysts

Anatase TiO(2)-CNT catalysts with high specific surface areas were prepared by depositing TiO(2) particles on the surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) using a modified sol-gel technique. These catalysts prepared with different amounts of CNTs were characterized by nitrogen adsorption, Fourier Transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the anatase TiO(2)-CNT catalysts was assessed by examining the degradation of methylene blue (MB) from model aqueous solutions as a probe reaction under visible light and ultrasonic irradiation. The synergistic effect of the greater surface area and catalytic activities of the composite catalysts was examined in terms of the strong adsorption ability and interphase interaction by comparing the different amounts and roles of CNTs in the catalysts.     

Density functional predictions of new silicon allotropes: Electronic properties and potential applications to Li-battery anode materials

In terms of first-principles density functional calculations, we investigate the stabilities and electronic properties of two hypothetical allotropes of silicon, the body-centered tetragonal (Bct) and monoclinic (M4) phases. The calculated electronic structures and phonon dispersions reveal that both phases are stable and have a band gap smaller than that of the diamond form of silicon by a factor of ∼2. We also discuss the possible applications of Bct and M4 phases as lithium-battery anode material.     

Bidirectional passively mode-locked soliton fiber laser with a four-port circulator

We present an all-fiber bidirectional passively mode-locked soliton laser with what we believe is a novel cavity configuration. Using a four-port circulator, we incorporate two different semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs) into the laser cavity, which enables bidirectional mode locking. The laser allows the generation of two independent countercirculating mode-locked pulse trains, each with an individual fundamental repetition rate that can be adjusted by varying the SESAM pigtail length. Two countercirculating pulse trains with repetition rates of 21.3 and 15.2 MHz are obtained simultaneously. By controlling the intracavity loss imposed on these two pulse trains, either one of the two pulse trains can be switched on or off. The bidirectional operation with other repetition rates is also demonstrated.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic study of diphenylamino-substituted phenylene-(poly)ethynylenes: remarkable effect of acetylenic conjugation modes

A series of diphenylamino-substituted phenylene-(poly)ethynylenes were successfully synthesized by a combination of Sonogashira coupling and double elimination protocol of β-substituted sulfones. When UV-light was irradiated, the amino-substituted phenylene-(poly)ethynylene emitted strong luminescence. The emission underwent a large bathochromic shift in polar solvent because of stabilization of their charge-separated excited states. Analyses of fluorescence life times of aminoacetylenes revealed that radiationless process was suppressed in the polar solvent CH₂Cl₂, resulting in high quantum yields.     

A Novel Dextran Dextrinase from Gluconobacter oxydans DSM-2003: Purification and Properties

Dextran has already been widely applied in food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. In this study, a novel intracellular dextran dextrinase (DDase, EC 2.4.1.2) from Gluconobacter oxydans DSM-2003 exhibiting catalytic activity to synthesize dextran from maltodextrin was purified to homogeneity by ultrasonic cell disruption, ion exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. This procedure showed 187.5-fold purification from the cell-free extract with 41.9 % yield. And the apparent molecular weight was estimated to be 62 kDa by SDS-PAGE. It was different from the reported literatures, which found that the molecular weight of intracellular and extracellular DDase of G. oxydans ATCC-11894 was 300 and 152 kDa, respectively. Otherwise, it showed different physicochemical characteristics (optimal temperature and pH, thermal, pH stability, effect of metal ions) from the DDase of G. oxydans ATCC-11894. This indicated that DDase of G. oxydans DSM-2003 was a novel one compared to the reported literatures.     

Initial step of anthracene‐sensitized photoacid generation from diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate in an epoxy matrix studied by steady‐state and laser‐flash photolyses

The anthracene‐sensitized photodecomposition of diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate was studied in an epoxy matrix. From steady‐state photolysis, the generation of protons, which are considered to be the actual initiators of the polymerization of epoxides, was confirmed. In addition, 9‐phenylanthracene was detected as a main product from anthracene. From time‐resolved laser‐flash photolysis, a broad absorption band with a peak at about 500 nm was observed that was thought to be due to the precursor of 9‐phenylanthracene. On the basis of these results, we propose electron transfer from anthracene in the excited singlet state to the diphenyliodonium cation as the initial step of photoacid generation. This process is followed by fast chemical reactions, which generate 9‐phenylanthracene and protons, and back electron transfer from the diphenyliodine radical to the anthracene cation radical. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2937–2946, 2001     

Determination of Allosteric Effects and Interstrand Bidentate Interactions in DNA‐Peptide Molecular Recognition

To study DNA allostery, quantitative DNase I footprinting studies were carried out on a newly designed peptide His‐Hyp‐Lys‐Lys‐(Py)₄‐Lys‐Lys‐NH₂ (HypKK‐10) containing the XHypKK (Hyp = hydroxyproline) and polyamide motifs. The interconnection of DNA footprints of peptides HypKK‐10 and the parent peptide PyPro‐12 supports the proposal that interaction network cooperativity is preferred in DNA‐peptide interactions between multiple recognition sites. A simple method of determining interstrand bidentate interactions between the peptide moieties and DNA bases is introduced. It is envisaged that interstrand bidentate interactions also participate in the relay of conformational changes to recognition sites on the complementary strands. Circular dichroism studies of the titration of peptide HypKK‐10 with an oligonucleotide duplex indicate that this peptide binds in a dimeric fashion to DNA in the minor groove. This work may prompt the design of new DNA binding ligands for the study of DNA‐peptide allosteric interactions and DNA interaction network.     

Iron(III), cobalt(II) and copper(II) complexes bearing 8‐quinolinol encapsulated in zeolite?Y for the aerobic oxidation of styrene

A series of Fe(III), Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes of 8‐quinolinol were encapsulated into the supercages of zeolite? Y and characterized by X‐ray diffraction, SEM, N₂ adsorption/desorption, FT‐IR, UV–vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis, ICP‐AES and TG/DSC measurements. The encapsulation was achieved by a flexible ligand method in which the transition metal cations were first ion‐exchanged into zeolite Y and then complexed with 8‐quinolinol ligand. The metal‐exchanged zeolites, metal complexes encapsulated in zeolite–Y plus non‐encapsulated homogeneous counterparts were all screened as catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of styrene under mild conditions. It was found that the encapsulated complexes always showed better activity than their respective non‐encapsulated counterparts. Moreover, the encapsulated iron complex showed good recoverability without significant loss of activity and selectivity within successive runs. Heterogeneity test for this catalyst confirmed its high stability against leaching of active complex species into solution. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Compatible and tearing properties of poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene glutaric‐co‐terephthalate) copolyester blends

Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance results suggest that the carboxylic acid groups of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) molecules react with the hydroxyl groups of FePol (FP) molecules during the melt‐blending of PLA_xFP_y specimens. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) experiments of PLA and PLA/FP specimens suggest that only small amounts of poor PLA and/or FP crystals are present in their corresponding melt crystallized specimens. In fact, the percentage crystallinity, peak melting temperature, and onset re‐crystallization temperature values of PLA/FP specimens reduce gradually as their FP contents increase. However, the glass transition temperatures of PLA molecules found by DSC and DMA reduce to a minimum value as the FP contents of PLA_xFP_y specimens reach 6 wt %. Further DMA and morphological analysis of PLA/FP specimens reveal that FP molecules are compatible with PLA molecules at FP contents equal to or less than 6 wt %, as no distinguished phase‐separated FP droplets and tan δ transitions were found on fracture surfaces and tan δ curves of PLA/FP specimens, respectively. In contrast to PLA, the FP specimen exhibits highly deformable and tearing properties. After blending proper amounts of FP in PLA, the inherent brittle deformation and poor tearing behavior of PLA were successfully improved. Possible reasons accounting for these interesting crystallization, compatible and tearing properties of PLA/FP specimens are proposed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 913–920, 2010     

Cyclin A-Cdk2 Phosphorylates BH3 only Protein Bad in vitro and in vivo

Increasing evidence suggests that Cyclin A-Cdk2 activity is required in the apoptosis process induced by various stimuli. To determine a specific substrate of Cyclin A-Cdk2 for apoptosis, in this study, we carried out anin vitro kinase assay using immunoprecipitated complex Cyclin A-Cdk2 as an enzyme source, and recombinant protein GST-Bad as a substrate. Our study showed that Bad was clearly phosphorylated by Cyclin A-Cdk2 in vitro. To examine whether protein Bad can also be phosphorylated by Cyclin A-Cdk2 kinase in vivo, we transiently overexpressed protein Bad with Cyclin A or Cdk2-dn, a dominant negative version of Cdk2, in Hela cells and determined the phosphorylation status of protein Bad. The test showed that protein Bad was clearly phosphorylated in Cyclin A overexpressed cells,but not in Cdk2-dn or mock transfectent. Moreover, etoposide also caused the phosphorylation of endogenetic Bad. In conclusion, here we provide first time evidence that protein Bad can be a substrate of Cyclin A-Cdk2 apoptosis for in vitro and in vivo.