Thin films of vitronectin transferred by MAPLE

We report on matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) transfer of intact and functional protein molecules from a cryogenic aliquot obtained by freezing a protein-saline buffer solution. Vitronectin (Vn), an extracellular matrix protein with distinctive active domains for cell attachment and signalization, was expelled from frozen targets by KrF* excimer laser irradiation, and then immobilized on substrates. Particulates surrounded by a dense matrix were observed by optical, profilometry and AFM studies. The composition preservation of MAPLE-deposited protein films versus drop-cast films was demonstrated by FTIR and immunostaining studies. The stability and integrity of Vn after transfer was shown by their interaction with human osteoprogenitor cells in which actin filaments stretched across the entire cell area and clear focal points with surface were formed. The absence of detectable degradation of protein structure after MAPLE immobilization could provide benefits to surface functionalization for biomedical applications.     

High-pressure phase equilibrium calculations for carbon dioxide + cyclopentane binary system

The phase behavior of the carbon dioxide + cycloalkane mixtures usually receives low attention, though these systems are important for many industries, e.g. the carbon capture and storage. In this paper calculations results for the carbon dioxide + cyclopentane binary system are presented, based on SRK and PR cubic equations of state with classical van der Waals mixing rules. A single set of binary parameters for each model was proposed to predict the global phase behavior of the system in a wide range of pressure and temperature. Albeit the thermodynamic models used are simple, they are able to represent fairly well the phase behavior of the system analyzed in this paper.

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Design,synthesis and investigation of the interaction behavior between two acridone derivatives, 8-chloro acridone and nitrile cyanide acridone with calf thymus DNA,by different spectroscopic techniques

Journal of the Iranian Chemical Society - Evaluating the binding interaction between biomacromolecules and various chemical compounds is one of the most biologically researched topics. The present...     

Uncertainties in neutron activation analysis resulting from reactor noise

The stochastic processes of activation, disintegration and counting have been studied, taking into account reactor noise. Deviation of the variance of the number of counts from Poisson limit is shown to result. Explicit expressions for the variance in the case of Markovian autocorrelation function of the neutron flux density are presented and their relevance to neutron activation analysis is discussed.Presented at the MTAA-8 Conference, September 16–20, 1991, Vienna, Austria.     

Closed loop coherent control of electronic transitions in gallium arsenide

A genetic algorithm was used to control the photoluminesce-nce (PL) from GaAs(100). A spatial light modulator (SLM) used feedback from the emission to optimize the spectral phase profile of an ultrashort laser pulse. Most of the experiments were performed using a sine phase function to optimize the integrated PL spectrum over a specified wavelength range, with the amplitude and period of the phase function treated as genetic parameters. An order of magnitude increase in signal was achieved after only one generation, and an optimized waveform, consisting of three equally spaced pulses approximately 0.8 ps apart, was obtained after 15 generations. The effects of fluence, polarization, relative phase of the subpulses, and spectral range of the optimized PL were investigated. In addition, preliminary experiments were performed using the phases of individual pixels of the SLM as genetic variables. The PL spectrum is identified with recombination of electron-hole pairs in the L-valley of the Brillouin zone. Control is achieved by coherent manipulation of plasma electrons. It is proposed that hot electrons excite lattice phonons, which in turn scatter carriers into the L-valley.     

Excellent photocatalytic reduction of nitroarenes to aminoarenes by BiVO4 nanoparticles grafted on reduced graphene oxide (rGO/BiVO4)

A novel heterogeneous composite material based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) was prepared and characterized by various techniques such as powder XRD, HRTEM, EADX, UV–Vis‐DRS, FT‐IR, Raman, BET and XPS analyses. The characterization results reveal that the rGO well decorated by BiVO₄. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) shows the increasing of charge transfer of rGO/BiVO₄ in presence of light irradiation. In this research, the pure BiVO₄ and rGO/BiVO₄ composite have been explored for photocatalytic reduction of nitroarenes. Among the prepared nanocomposites, rGO loaded with 10% BiVO₄ catalyst (noted as rGO/BiVO₄–10%) shows the best performance for the photo‐reduction of various nitroaromatic molecules to their corresponding amine compounds under visible‐light irradiation at room temperature. The catalyst exhibited in particular excellent photocatalytic activity for the conversion of 1,4‐dinitrobenzene to 4‐nitroanilline (100% conversion) in 20 min, 4‐chloronitrobenzene to 4‐chloroaniline and 2‐nitrophenol to 2‐aminophenol (100% conversion) in only 30 min. In addition, the conversion of 4‐bromonitrobenzene, 4‐iodonitrobenzene to their corresponding amine compounds (100% conversion) was achieved in 60 min. The catalyst was recovered for several times and reused without decreasing of its efficiency.     

Hydrolysis of diphenylmethyltin(iv) chloride in different aqueous solutions of ethanol

The hydrolysis of [(Ph)₂MeSn(IV)]⁺ has been studied spectrophotometrically at 25ˆC and constant ionic strength of 0.1 mol dm⁻³ sodium perchlorate. Over a wide pH range, 1–11, the investigation has been performed in different aqueous solutions of ethanol. The species formed together with their formation constants have been determined using the computer program Squad. The hydrolysis constants at different media were analyzed in terms of Kamlet and Taft's parameters. A single‐parameter correlation of the formation constants, K_1‐1 and K_1‐2, versus α (hydrogen‐bond donor acidity), β (hydrogen‐bond acceptor basicity), and π^* (dipolarity/polarizability) for both cases are relatively poor in all solutions, but multiparameter correlation represents significant improvement with regard to the single‐parameter models. In this work, we have also used the normalized polarity parameter, E, alone and in combination with the Kamlet–Taft's parameters to find a better correlation of the formation constants in different aqueous solutions of ethanol. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 19:654–660, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20484     

The Effect of Functional Groups on the Phase Behavior of Carbon Dioxide Binaries and Their Role in CCS

In recent years we have focused our efforts on investigating various binary mixtures containing carbon dioxide to find the best candidate for CO₂ capture and, therefore, for applications in the field of CCS and CCUS technologies. Continuing this project, the present study investigates the phase behavior of three binary systems containing carbon dioxide and different oxygenated compounds. Two thermodynamic models are examined for their ability to predict the phase behavior of these systems. The selected models are the well-known Peng–Robinson (PR) equation of state and the General Equation of State (GEOS), which is a generalization for all cubic equations of state with two, three, and four parameters, coupled with classical van der Waals mixing rules (two-parameter conventional mixing rule, 2PCMR). The carbon dioxide + ethyl acetate, carbon dioxide + 1,4-dioxane, and carbon dioxide + 1,2-dimethoxyethane binary systems were analyzed based on GEOS and PR equation of state models. The modeling approach is entirely predictive. Previously, it was proved that this approach was successful for members of the same homologous series. Unique sets of binary interaction parameters for each equation of state, determined for the carbon dioxide + 2-butanol binary model system, based on k₁₂–l₁₂ method, were used to examine the three systems. It was shown that the models predict that CO₂ solubility in the three substances increases globally in the order 1,4-dioxane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and ethyl acetate. CO₂ solubility in 1,2-dimethoxyethane, 1.4-dioxane, and ethyl acetate reduces with increasing temperature for the same pressure, and increases with lowering temperature for the same pressure, indicating a physical dissolving process of CO₂ in all three substances. However, CO₂ solubility for the carbon dioxide + ether systems (1,4-dioxane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane) is better at low temperatures and pressures, and decreases with increasing pressures, leading to higher critical points for the mixtures. By contrast, the solubility of ethyl acetate in carbon dioxide is less dependent on temperatures and pressures, and the mixture has lower pressures critical points. In other words, the ethers offer better solubilization at low pressures; however, the ester has better overall miscibility in terms of lower critical pressures. Among the binary systems investigated, the 1,2-dimethoxyethane is the best solvent for CO₂ absorption.     

Enhanced photoreduction of water catalyzed by a cucurbit[8]uril-secured platinum dimer

A cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8])-secured platinum terpyridyl chloride dimer was used as a photosensitizer and hydrogen-evolving catalyst for the photoreduction of water. Volumes of produced hydrogen were up to 25 and 6 times larger than those obtained with the corresponding free and cucurbit[7]uril-bound platinum monomer, respectively, at equal Pt concentration. The thermodynamics of the proton-coupled electron transfer from the Pt(ii)–Pt(ii) dimer to the corresponding Pt(ii)–Pt(iii)–H hydride key intermediate, as quantified by density functional theory, suggest that CB[8] secures the Pt(ii)–Pt(ii) dimer in a particularly reactive conformation that promotes hydrogen formation.

The cucurbit[8]uril macrocycle can secure a platinum terpyridyl complex into a particularly reactive dimer that catalyzes the photoreduction of water.     

A novel Raman spectroscopic approach to identify polymorphism in leflunomide: a combined experimental and theoretical study

Polymorphism is an important characteristic which affects the activity, solubility and other physical properties of a compound and can be induced by varying temperature, pressure and solvent. The presence and conversion of α to β polymorphic forms of an anti‐rheumatic drug leflunomide have been studied by temperature‐dependent and in situ Raman observations. Both α and β polymorphs were found to co‐exist in the temperature interval 367–372 K. The α form alone exists below 367 K and the β form alone above 373 K. The CO stretching band clearly demonstrates the α → β conversion because of breaking of N–H···O bond and formation of N–H···N bond. On cooling the Raman spectra suggest the irreversibility of this conversion. Thermodynamic stability, crystal parameters and surface morphology of both forms in the leflunomide powder used for the present study have been verified by differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.