Catalytic Mo<Subscript>2</Subscript>C coatings for the water gas shift reaction: Electrosynthesis in molten salts

Electrosynthesis methods using molten salts are suggested for obtaining a new catalytic system based on the Mo₂C/Mo composition for the water gas shift reaction. The coatings obtained by the discharge of the carbonate ion on a molybdenum substrate and by the simultaneous reduction of the electroactive species MoO ₄ ^2? and CO ₃ ^2? are catalytically more active than bulk Mo₂C or the commercial catalyst Cu-ZnO-Al₂O₃ by one and three orders of magnitude, respectively.     

Catalysts of new generation and microstructured heat-exchanger reactors for the water-gas shift reaction

The catalytic systems of new generation and microstuctured heat-exchanger reactors for the water-gas shift reaction have been considered.     

PHOTOCHEMICAL DAMAGE TO DNA TREATED WITH CHLORPROMAZINE AND NEAR UV RADIATION UNDER AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS

Double stranded salmon sperm DNA in a chlorpromazine (CPZ) solution is damaged when irradiated with near UV light. The damage of irradiated DNA can be estimated by measuring the increase in extinction at 260 nm following incubation at 60°C of the DNA with formaldehyde. Moreover, DNA irradiated in the presence of CPZ or kept in the dark separate quite differently in an aqueous polymer two-phase system. DNA irradiated in the presence of CPZ seemed to be susceptible to digestion by endonuclease S1, while the endonuclease of Neurospora crassa could not digest this DNA. Irradiation under aerobic conditions seemed to be less disastrous for DNA than under anaerobic conditions.     

Tetrapeptides induce selective recognition for G-quadruplexes when conjugated to a DNA-binding platform

3,6-Bis-peptide acridine and acridone conjugates have been designed and synthesised to selectively interact with G-quadruplex DNA. The ligand properties are peptide sequence dependent, the highest discrimination being obtained with the FRHR tetrapeptide (up to >50-fold specificity). Molecular modeling studies have helped us rationalise the data and suggest that human telomeric quadruplex DNA can readily accommodate tetrapeptides, and furthermore that FRHR contributes to stabilization of the complex by non-bonded interactions within the TTA loop pockets of the quadruplex. These studies indicate that targeting distinct features of a G-quadruplex with hybrid molecules is a promising strategy for discriminating between quadruplex and duplex DNA.     

Applicability of the polyphenylene oxide film dosimeter to high UV exposures in aquatic environments

Previous research has proven that the Poly (2,6-dimethyl-1, 4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) dosimeter is capable of receiving both in-air and underwater UV exposures that are significantly greater than those of the more commonly used polysulphone dosimeter, within a range of accuracy close to what would be expected of dosimetric measurements made in-air provided that the necessary calibrations are completed correctly by factoring in different atmospheric column ozone levels, SZA ranges, varying water turbidity and DOM levels. However, there is yet to be an investigation detailing the performance of the PPO dosimeter and its ability to measure UV in an actual field environment over an extended period of time. This research aims to bridge this gap in the knowledge by presenting a measurement campaign carried out in two real world aquatic environments and a simulated sea water environment using a batch of PPO dosimeters set at different depths and aligned to a range of different angles and geographical directions by means of attachment to a custom built dosimeter submersible float (DSF) unit over the space of a year at a sub-tropical location. Results obtained from this measurement campaign were used to compute a K_d value for the sea water in each particular season. These K_d values where found to be in close agreement to standalone K_d values derived from results taken using a standard calibrated spectrometer in the same sea water.