Synthesis of β-Sulfoximinopropionic Acids

2-Benzyl-3-(methylsulfoximino)propionic acid has been prepared from 2-benzyl-3-(methylthio)propionamide by cyclization to a isothiazolinone hydrochloride with N-chlorosuccinimide, followed by peracid oxidation and acidic hydrolysis.     

Influences of the interfacial state between Co and a Si substrate on the magnetic properties of Co/Si(1 1 1) films

Morphology and magnetic properties of Co/Si(1 1 1) interfaces have been investigated using scanning tunneling microscope and surface magneto-optic Kerr effect techniques. As deposited at room temperature for Co/Si(1 1 1), defects have been observed with shapes of dark patches and bright islands on the surface with different Co coverage. The defect formation causes a rough interface. For subsequently deposited Co layers, the interfacial state between Co and the Si substrate results in the appearance of both the longitudinal and polar Kerr loops. After annealing treatments, interdiffusion of Co atoms and Si(1 1 1) substrate occurs as revealed by Auger electron spectroscopy. Scanning tunneling microscope images show the formation of Si clusters with average diameter of 10 nm at high temperatures. The disappearance of ferromagnetism of the films occurs due to the structural and compositional changes.     

Effects of wetted walls on laminar natural convection between vertical parallel plates with asymmetric heating

A numerical analysis is carried out to investigate the effect of latent heat transfer, in association with the evaporation or condensation of the water vapor on the wetted channel walls which are under asymmetric heating, on the natural convection heat transfer. Major nondimensional groups identified are Gr _T , Gr _M , Pr and Sc. Results for Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are specifically presented for an air-water system under various heating conditions to illustrate latent heat transfer during the evaporation and condensation processes. The effects of the channel length and wetted wall temperatures on the momentum, heat and mass transfer are examined in great detail.     

Synthesis of Nucleobase‐Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes and Their Hybridization with Single‐Stranded DNA

For the first time ssDNA (25‐aptamer of mixed dA, dT, dG, and dC) was wrapped around functionalized single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), whose external surfaces were attached to multiple triazole‐(ethylene glycol)‐dA ligands. This method of hybridization involved the formation of hydrogen bonds between dT of ssDNA and dA of functionalized SWCNTs. It deviates from the reported π–π stacking between the nucleobases of DNA and the external sidewalls of nanotubes. The structural properties of the functionalized SWCNTs and its ssDNA complex were characterized by spectroscopic (including CD and Raman), thermogravimetric, and microscopic (TEM) methods. The results thus obtained establish a new platform of DNA delivery by use of nanotubes as a new vehicle with great potential in biomedical applications and drug development.     

Mass transfer modeling of asymmetric membrane formation by phase inversion

A derivation is presented of a ternary diffusion model to describe the mass transfer processes associated with the quench bath period of the phase inversion process for membrane formation. The complete governing equations, initial conditions, and boundary conditions in the casting film and coagulation bath are presented. Equations for ternary chemical potentials and diffusion coefficients are consistently based on constant specific volume formulations. The model is applied to the analysis of mass transfer paths and their effects on membrane structure formation. Precipitation times are determined for given sets of conditions by superposing calculated mass transfer paths on the ternary phase diagram and observing when the miscibility gap is crossed. Comparisons are made with an earlier reported study on the membrane-forming system: water-acetone-cellulose acetate (CA). Agreement between predicted and measured precipitation times is found to be excellent. The polymer film composition profile at the moment of precipitation is shown to be a useful indicator of both skin and sublayer structures, allowing distinctions to be made between conditions leading to spongelike and fingerlike morphologies. The influence of model parameters on the mass transfer paths and associated polymer profiles is also discussed.     

Continuous multi-element (Cu, Mn, Ni, Se) monitoring in saline and cell suspension using on-line microdialysis coupled with simultaneous electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

We have developed a microdialysis sampling technique coupled on-line with simultaneous electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (SIMAAS) for the continuous monitoring of copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and selenium (Se) in saline solutions and in cell suspensions. These trace elements are considered to be those associated most significantly with oxidative stress in biological systems. We employed ultrapure saline (0.9% NaCl) as the perfusate and, thus, the dialysate samples contained a high concentration of salt in the matrix. The use of modifiers [Pd coupled with Mg(NO₃)₂] prevented the target elements from undergoing evaporation at a pyrolysis temperature of 1200 °C, a process that effectively eliminated interference from NaCl. The excellent linearity, detection limits, and precision of the SIMAAS technique allowed the Cu, Mn, Ni, and Se concentrations to be determined in saline. For the on-line microdialysis-SIMAAS system, the ultrapure saline was perfused at a flow rate of 1 μL/min. The probe recoveries of Cu, Mn, Ni, and Se in saline were 57.9, 65.0, 65.5, and 67.9%, respectively. A standard saline solution was measured continuously by the on-line system to ensure long-term stability; each measurement fell within a range of two standard deviations. We determined the on-line spiked recoveries of Cu, Mn, Ni, and Se (101.3, 88.8, 91.3, and 98.5%, respectively) by adding a spiking standard into the stirred saline. The spiked recoveries (Cu, 37.5%; Mn, 3.8%; Ni, 71.1%; Se, 33.8%) were also determined through on-line spiking of a standard into the stirred cell suspension; these values demonstrate that Cu, Mn, and Se were depleted in the cell suspension, but Ni was not. The use of this on-line microdialysis-SIMAAS system permitted the in situ, dynamic, and continuous monitoring of Cu, Mn, Ni, and Se in cell suspensions at a temporal resolution of 20 min.