Limiting activity coefficients of triethylamine in 30 solvents by a simple gas-liquid chromatographic method

Limiting values of the Raoult's-law activity coefficients of triethylamine in 30 solvents at 298.15 K have been obtained by a simple procedure based on the use of gas-liquid chromatography to determine the mole fraction of triethylamine in the vapour above dilute solutions. Where comparisons can be made, there is good agreement with literature values and with values derived from liquid-liquid distribution coefficients measured in this work.     

Structure-specific DNA cleavage on surfaces

The structure-specific invasive cleavage reaction is a useful means for sensitive and specific detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, directly from genomic DNA without a need for prior target amplification. A new approach integrating this invasive cleavage assay and surface DNA array technology has been developed for potentially large-scale SNP scoring in a parallel format. Two surface invasive cleavage reaction strategies were designed and implemented for a model SNP system in codon 158 of the human ApoE gene. The upstream oligonucleotide, which is required for the invasive cleavage reaction, is either co-immobilized on the surface along with the probe oligonucleotide or alternatively added in solution. The ability of this approach to unambiguously discriminate a single base difference was demonstrated using PCR-amplified human genomic DNA. A theoretical model relating the surface fluorescence intensity to the progress of the invasive cleavage reaction was developed and agreed well with experimental results.     

Application of the synthetic aminosugars for glycodiversification: synthesis and antimicrobial studies of pyranmycin

A divergent approach was employed for the synthesis of aminosugars, from which a novel library of aminoglycoside antibiotics (pyranmycins) was synthesized. Pyranmycins have comparable antibacterial activity as neomycin, a clinically used aminoglycoside antibiotic, against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Mycobacterium smegmatis. In addition, pyranmycins, like streptomycin, are bacteriocidal while isoniazid (INH) is bacteriostatic. Therefore, pyranmycins may provide new therapeutic options in the treatment against tuberculosis. Several members of pyranmycins also manifest modest anti-Tat and anti-Rev activities, which may aid in the development of new anti-HIV agents. Although the antibacterial activity of pyranmycins against aminoglycoside resistant bacteria is less than expected, the synthetic methodologies of utilizing a library of aminosugars can be a model for future studies of glycodiversification or glycorandomization.     

Hydrodeoxygenation of Furfural over Unsupported,SiO2-supported or Metal-promoted Mo Carbides: Tunning the Selectivity between 2-Methylfuran and C10 Furoins Diesel Precursors

The hydrodeoxygenation of furfural (FF) over Mo carbides in liquid phase at 200 °C, 30 bar of H₂ for 4 h in 2-butanol was investigated. Unsupported and SiO₂-supported Mo carbide with different crystallographic phases (β-Mo₂C/SiO₂ and α-MoC/SiO₂), and in the presence of Cu and Ni as promoters were studied. The reactivation treatment under H₂ atmosphere of the passivated Mo carbides was investigated by XAS. The results show that Mo is present in different states of oxidation in the passivated catalysts, with more severe oxidation in the bimetallic systems, in which the original carbides are not restored after reactivation. Finally, the product distribution in the HDO of furfural is modified as a function of catalyst oxidation degree. Using the less oxidized Mo carbide (β-Mo₂C), a higher yield to 2-methylfuran is obtained, while C₁₀ condensation products are formed for the more oxidized catalysts.     

Shape sensing of 3D frame structures using an inverse Finite Element Method

A robust and efficient computational method for reconstructing the elastodynamic structural response of truss, beam, and frame structures, using measured surface-strain data, is presented. Known as “shape sensing”, this inverse problem has important implications for real-time actuation and control of smart structures, and for monitoring of structural integrity. The present formulation, based on the inverse Finite Element Method (iFEM), uses a least-squares variational principle involving section strains (also known as strain measures) of Timoshenko theory for stretching, torsion, bending, and transverse shear. The present iFEM methodology is based on strain–displacement relations only, without invoking force equilibrium. Consequently, both static and time-varying displacement fields can be reconstructed without the knowledge of material properties, applied loading, or damping characteristics. Two finite elements capable of modeling frame structures are derived using interdependent interpolations, in which interior degrees of freedom are condensed out at the element level. In addition, relationships between the order of kinematic-element interpolations and the number of required strain gauges are established. Several example problems involving cantilevered beams and three-dimensional frame structures undergoing static and dynamic response are discussed. To simulate experimentally measured strains and to establish reference displacements, high-fidelity MSC/NASTRAN finite element analyses are performed. Furthermore, numerically simulated measurement errors, based on Gaussian distribution, are also considered in order to verify the stability and robustness of the methodology. The iFEM solution accuracy is examined with respect to various levels of discretization and the number of strain gauges.     

Electrochemical Sensor Based on Multi‐walled Carbon Nanotube/Gold Nanoparticle Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode for Detection of Estradiol in Environmental Samples

We report a rapid and simple method for sensing estradiol by electro‐oxidation on a multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and gold nanoparticle (AuNP) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Compared with a bare GCE, AuNP/GCE and MWCNT/GCE, the composite modified GCE shows an enhanced response to estradiol in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution. Experimental parameters, including pH and accumulation time for estradiol determination were optimised at AuNP/MWCNT/GCE. A pH of 7.0 was found to be optimum pH with an accumulation time of 5 minutes. Estradiol was determined by linear sweep voltammetry over a dynamic range up to 20 %mol L^?1 and the limit of detection was estimated to be 7.0×10^?8 mol L^?1. The sensor was successfully applied to estradiol determination in tap water and waste water.     

Europium Luminescent Polymeric Microspheres Fabricated by Spray Drying Process

The spray drying method was used to prepare luminescent microspheres. These microspheres were prepared by spraying an aqueous solution of dextrin and an europium(III) complex with subsequent drying in a hot medium. The spray dried powder was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). Particle size distribution was estimated from SEM images. The ultrasonic spray drying technique was successfully applied to yield a microparticulated and red luminescent powder composed by the [Eu(dpa)(3)](3-) (dpa = dipicolinic acid) complex incorporated in dextrin microspheres.     

Synthesis,characterization, and preparation of nickel nanoparticles decorated electrochemically reduced graphene oxide modified electrode for electrochemical sensing of diclofenac

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In this work, nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) and graphene oxide (GO) were synthesized and characterized independently using spectroscopic and microscopic...     

Planning new Trypanosoma cruzi CYP51 inhibitors using QSAR studies

Molecular Diversity - Chagas disease kills over 10,000 people per year, and approximately 8 million people are infected by Trypanosoma cruzi. The reference drug for treatment of the disease,...