Electrocatalysis by foreign metal monolayers: Oxidation of formic acid on platinum

It was demonstrated that some foreign metal monolayers formed by underpotential deposition have pronounced catalytic effects on the oxidation of formic acid on platinum. The explanation of these effects was sought within the framewor of existing data on the formic acid oxidation and the underpotential deposition. It was found that the catalytic effect of foreign metal monolayers originates in the decrease of hydrogen adsorption thus preventing the formation of the main poisoning species COH. At the same time these experiments confirm the previously postulated mechanism of formation of the poisoning species involving adsorbed hydrogen.     

Activation Analysis Methods and Applications

Summary INAA was applied for searching more effective biosorbents for U and Ag among 9 and 47 strains of actinomyces, respectively. Biomasses of strains were tested for the Ag and U sorption capacity from model solution, containing 50 mg/l Ag ions and from technological solution of U-production, containing 7.11 mg/l U ions. The U and Ag samples were irradiated for 5 hours and 20 hours, respectively, at a neutron flux density of 5.3 ^. 10¹³ n ^. cm^-2 ^. s^-1. The Ag content was calculated from the gamma-line of radionuclide ^110mAg (T_1/2 = 250.4d, E_γ= 657.7keV). The U content was calculated from the gamma-lines (228.2 keV, 277.8 keV) of radionuclide ²³⁹Np (T_1/2 = 2.35 d). The error of U and Ag determination (relative standard deviation) was 2-3%.     

Structure of ammonium salts of 2-oxy-1,4-butylene-and 2-oxy-1,5-amylenephosphoric acids

The structures of dioxaphosphepane (I) and dioxaphosphecane (II) salts prepared by hydrolysis of the corresponding bicyclophosphates have been compared. In both cases, hydrolysis occurs with breaking of the P–O bond of the fragment at the secondary carbon atom of bicyclophosphate. In phosphocycles I and II, the endocyclic bond angles O–P–O are 104.2 and 104.9°, and the exocyclic ones are 117.7 and 118.6°, respectively. Conformations of the anions in I and II differ substantially: for I it is a twist conformation^C1T_C4, and for II a distorted armchair. The data obtained are compared with those found earlier for similar molecules.Moscow State Pedagogical University. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 154–160, July–August, 1993.Translated by T. Yudanova     

High-tech breakthrough DNA scanner for reading sequence and detecting gene mutation

The 17″×14″ X-ray film, gels, and blots are widely used in DNA research. However, DNA laser scanners are costly and unaffordable for the majority of surveyed biotech scientists who need it. The high-tech breakthrough analytical personal scanner (PS) presented in this report is an inexpensive 1 lb hand-held scanner priced at 2–4% of the bulky and costly 30–95 lb conventional laser scanners. This PS scanner is affordable from an operation budget and biotechnologists, who originate most science breakthroughs, can acquire it to enhance their speed, accuracy, and productivity. Compared to conventional laser scanners that are currently available only through hard-to-get capital-equipment budgets, the new PS scanner offers improved spatial resolution of 20 μm, higher speed (scan up to 17″×14″ molecular X-ray film in 48 s), 1–32,768 gray levels (16-bits), student routines, versatility, and, most important affordability. Its programs image the film, read DNA sequences automatically, and detect gene mutation. In parallel to the wide laboratory use of PC computers instead of mainframes, this PS scanner might become an integral part of a PC-PS powerful and cost-effective system where the PS performs the digital imaging and the PC acts on the data.