Concentration and temperature polarization effects during osmotic membrane distillation

Pineapple juice is one of the popular fruit juice due to its pleasant aroma and flavor. Concentration of clarified pineapple juice was carried out by osmotic membrane distillation in a plate and frame membrane module. Concentration and temperature polarization effects are found to have significant role on flux reduction during osmotic membrane distillation process. The contribution of these polarization effects on reduction of the driving force (in turn the flux) at various process conditions such as osmotic agent concentration (2–10 mol/kg (1 molality = 1 mol/kg)), flow rate (25–100 ml/min) of feed and osmotic agent are studied. Concentration polarization has more significant effect on flux reduction when compared to temperature polarization. The experimental fluxes were in good agreement with theoretical fluxes when calculated by considering both concentration and temperature polarization effects. The pineapple juice was concentrated up to a total soluble solids content of 62°Brix at ambient temperature.     

Calreticulin Transacetylase Mediates the Acetylation of Nitric Oxide Synthase by Polyphenolic Acetate

Our earlier investigations identified acetoxy drug: protein transacetylase (TAase), a unique enzyme in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) catalyzing the transfer of acetyl groups from polyphenolic acetates (PA) to certain functional proteins. Recently we have established the identity of TAase with ER protein calreticulin (CR) and subsequently transacetylase function of CR was termed calreticulin transacetylase (CRTAase). CRTAase was purified and characterized from human placenta. CRTAase catalyzed the acetylation of a receptor protein nNOS, by a model PA 7, 8-diacetoxy-4-methylcoumarin (DAMC), which was visually confirmed by using antiacetyl lysine. The aim of this report was to provide tacit proof by providing mass spectrometry evidence for CRTAase catalyzed acetylation of purified nNOS by DAMC. For this purpose, purified nNOS was incubated with DAMC and CRTAase, the modified nNOS was analyzed by nanoscale LC-MS/MS, which recorded 11 distinct peptides with a significant score as acetylated on lysine residues. The distribution was in order: lysines-24, -33, -38, -131, and -229 of the PDZ domain, Lys-245 of the oxygenase domain, Lys-754 and -856 of FMN binding domain, Lys-989 of connecting domain and Lys-1300, -1321, and -1371 of the NADPH-binding domain were acetylated. The results documented in this paper highlighted for the first time modification of nNOS by way of acetylation. Our earlier work recorded the profound activation of platelet NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase and the acetylation of the reductase protein by DAMC, which also remarkably enhanced intracellular levels of nitric oxide. The results reported here coupled with the aforementioned previous observations strongly implicate the possible role of the acetylation of the reductase domain of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the NOS activation. In addition, the acetylation of nNOS can be expected to potentiate the interaction with CR, eventually leading to the augmented catalytic activity of NOS and expression of the related biological effects.     

Oscillatory phenomena at liquid-liquid interfaces

The mechanism of (i) Yoshikawa and Matsubara liquid-liquid interface oscillators and (ii) density/salt-water oscillators has been investigated. A modified simple mathematical formalism of both has been presented. Qualitative support for the model is provided by the available experimental results.     

Nature of contact resistance in high-T c YBa2Cu3O7−δ Superconductors

The contacts between various metals and the high-T_c superconductor YBa₂Cu₃O_7– are characterized by contact resistance,R _c, andI–V measurements from 300 K to 90 K. The contacts with bulk superconductor were made by vacuum deposition. Four metals, Au, Ag, Al, and Bi were investigated. The current transport across the contact is by carrier tunneling. All contacts were ohmic as theirI–V characteristics were symmetrical with respect to current direction.R _c values range between 10^–2 to 10¹ cm² and increase linearly as the temperature is lowered. The contact resistance originates from two distinct physical processes. One is the modification of the carrier concentration at the interface by the contact metal. The second is the nature of carrier injection at the free surface of the superconductor. TheR _c values depend on the contact metal-oxygen interaction parameter signifying the need for oxygen passivation for obtaining low contact resistances.     

Gas chromatographic analysis of organic solvent mixtures on capillary columns of different polarity

Summary A gas chromatographic method for the analysis of organic solvents in chemical products is described. The analysis is performed by the use of a polar column, Supelcowax 10, and a non-polar column CP-Sil-5CB. Samples containing a non-volatile matrix or water were analysed by headspace analysis. The identification of the solvents in a sample, based on GC retention times on one column, is confirmed by GC of the sample on the second column. The method has been found to be suitable for the routine analysis of solvent mixtures.     

DNA quantification via traceable phosphorus measurement through microwave-assisted UV digestion-ion chromatography

Accurate quantification of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is critical for many analyses in molecular biology and genetic tests. We present a method in which the stoichiometrically existing phosphorus content in purified genomic DNA is quantitatively converted into orthophosphate ions by microwave assisted-UV digestion in the presence of microlitre quantities of dilute reagents (HCl, HNO(3), H(2)O(2)). The tandem use of microwave energy and ultraviolet photons for DNA digestion in pressurized quartz vessels enables a maximum reaction temperature of 240 °C resulting in efficient and fast mineralization of high molecular weight DNA within 30 minutes. Compared to hotplate digestion, the digestion time is reduced by a factor of 32. The MW-UV sample preparation approach coupled with the ion chromatographic measurement of phosphate using a high performance (HP) methodology provides an accurate quantitation of phosphorus mass fractions as low as 0.3 μg g(-1), corresponding to a DNA mass of 25 μg. The relative expanded uncertainties (% U) expressed at 95% confidence for these analyses range from 0.2 to 0.6%. Critically, the matrix of the calibrant solution is also matched with respect to the digested matrix anions (chloride, nitrate), without which significant bias in IC performance is observed. The phosphorus content of the calf thymus DNA was also measured using high-performance inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (HP-ICP-OES), which provided independent data for comparison with the MW-UV digestion-IC based approach. Ion chromatography requires smaller volume of materials to perform the analysis and could be useful for characterizing primary calibration standards and certified reference materials with low uncertainties.     

2-(N-Allylaminomethyl)cinnamaldehydes as substrates for syntheses of aza-polycycles via intramolecular cycloaddition reactions

Syntheses of a variety of aza-polycycles employing 2-(N-allylaminomethyl)cinnamaldehydes derived from Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts of acrylates via intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, or Aza-Diels–Alder or domino Knoevenagel/hetero Diels–Alder cycloaddition reactions are described. Whereas the Aza-Diels–Alder afforded a mixture of cis- and trans-isomers of substituted 1,2,3,4,4a,5,10,10a-octahydrobenzo[b][1,6]naphthyridines, the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and domino Knoevenagel/hetero Diels–Alder were diastereoselective to produce exclusively cis-derivatives of 1,2,3,4,4a,6,7,8,9,9a-decahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]pyrrolizine-8a-carboxylates and 3,4,4a,5,7,8,9,10b-octahydro-1H-chromeno[3,4-c]pyridin-10(2H)-ones, respectively.     

Relationships observed in the structure and spectra of uracil and its 5-substituted derivatives

The effects on the geometry structure, atomic charges and vibrational wavenumbers of the main different substituents in the 5th position of the uracil ring were analysed, and relationships were established. The 5-monosubstituted derivatives studied were 5-XU (X = F, Cl, Br, I, CH₃, NH₂, NO₂). The geometry and vibrational wavenumbers were determined in these molecules. The FT-IR and Raman spectra were studied with the support of B3LYP calculations using several basis sets. Several general conclusions were underlined.     

Dynamic instability at liquid/vapor interface far from equilibrium

Attempt has been made to elucidate the mechanism of electric potential oscillations at oil-aqueous solution interface involving adsorption at oil-vapor interface on a semi-theoretical basis. The mechanism stipulates adsorption of ammonia, amines and pheromones at the liquid-vapor interface followed by transfer of ions through membrane-aqueous solution interface and subsequent interaction of ammonium (amine) ions and carbocations from pheromones with diffusing halide ions from the bulk. Relationship of the above mechanism with sensing mechanism of smell by olfactory nerves has also been pointed out.     

Scaling factors for the prediction of vibrational spectra. II. The aniline molecule and several derivatives

The structure of aniline was studied by semiempirical, ab initio, and density functional methods. Complete geometry optimization of the minimum energy structure and of the transition states for internal rotation and inversion of the amino group was carried out using several levels. The performance of the different methods in calculating and describing the vibrational frequencies of aniline was determined. The normal modes were characterized by the magnitudes and direction of the displacement vectors. Three procedures were used to obtain the scaled frequencies, two of them new, using specific scale factors and scaling equations from the benzene molecule. The errors obtained were compared with those calculated through other standard procedures. A reassignment of several bands was made. A comparison of the cost‐effective method and procedure of scaling was carried out. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005