Investigations on adsorption potentiometry-part VIII. Determination of ultratrace copper in food by derivative adsorption chronopotentiometry

An electroanalytical method, based on derivative chronopotentiometry of the copper complex with 4-[(4-diethylamino-2-hydroxyphenyl) azo]-5-hydroxy-naphthalene-2,7-disulphonic acid (Beryllon III) accumulated on the surface of a hanging mercury drop electrode, for determining trace copper in food has been developed. The dependence of the peak height of reduction of the copper complex on the preconcentration time and preconcentration potential are discussed. Optimum experimental conditions include 0.01 M HOAc, 0.01M NaOAc, 1.0 x 10(-6) Beryllon III and a preconcentration potential of 0.10 V (vs. SCE). Under these conditions the detection limit and the linear range are 4 x 10(-11)M and 6 x 10(-11) -4 x 10(-7)M, respectively. The method was applied to samples of digested rice.     

Chemical modification of a viral cage for multivalent presentation

Here we present generalized methods for chemically modifying the surface of a viral protein cage; this exploits the chemistry of native and engineered surface exposed functional groups for multivalent presentation of ligands.     

Dye-sensitized solar cells based on composite solid polymer electrolytes

The ionic conductivity of polymer electrolytes and their interfacial contact with dye-attached TiO2 particles were enhanced markedly by the addition of amorphous oligomer into polymer electrolytes, resulting in very high overall energy conversion efficiency.     

Determination of cadmium by atomic-fluorescence and atomic-absorption spectrophotometry

The adaptation of a conventional atomic-absorption/flameemission spectrophotometer to the measurement of atomic-fluorescence in an air-acetylene flame is described. The determination of cadmium on the same instrument by both atomic-fluorescence and absorption shows that, even with a rather simple and inefficient means of exciting and measuring fluorescence, results can be obtained which indicate that the fluorescence technique is considerably more sensitive than atomic-absorbance and is equally free from inter-element interference.     

Surface-initiated growth of poly d(A-T) by Taq DNA polymerase

In this paper, we report surface-initiated d(A-T) polymerization by Taq DNA polymerase as a method for constructing DNA-tethered surfaces using an enzyme. The enzymatic polymerization was conducted successfully via two steps: tethering of oligo d(A-T)s onto the surface presenting carboxylic acids by amide coupling and surface-initiated polymerization using Taq DNA polymerase. In this enzymatic polymerization process, the design and construction of carboxylic acid-presenting surfaces were found to be an important factor: DNA growth did not occur on the gold surface coated only with the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid (MHDA), but effectively proceeded on the surfaces presenting mixed SAMs of MHDA and 1-pentadecanethiol. The coupling of oligo d(A-T)s and the subsequent DNA polymerization reaction were characterized by polarized infrared external reflectance spectroscopy, ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy.     

K对Mn—Co—O的结构及氧化活性的影响

利用XRD,TPD,TFD-MS及催化氧化反应等实验技术,研究了K对Mn-Co-O的结构及氧化活性的影响。XRD结果表明,Mn-Co-O系已形成反尖晶石型的MnCo_2O_4结构;K-Mn-Co-O系中除MnCo_2O_4型结构外,还有新相KMnO_2存在。根据O_2的TPD-MS及吡啶的TPD结果,Mn-Co-O中添加适量的K能提高供氧活性和增加供氧数目,但酸中心数目减少,强度降低。K对Mn-Co—O催化剂氧化活性的影响随反应物分子结构的不同而异,对乙酸乙脂、苯甲酰氯等极性有机物的完全氧化反应,K能提高氧化活性,但对苯、正己烷等非极性有机物的完全氧化反应,K使其活性降低。     

新型重整催化剂的研究—Pt／BaKL型沸石中钡的作用

本文采用XRD,NH_3-TPD,IR以及TEM等方法考察了Pt/BaKL沸石中Ba~(2+)的作用。NH_3-TPD结果表明,交换Ba~(2+)后的L型沸石的酸性,由于阳离子的作用仅在弱酸范围内有些改变,但与载铂的沸石的催化活性无明显的对应关系。IR及XRD谱线表明,BaKL沸石中Ba~(2+)在最佳交换度(26.3%)时,随预培烧温度的提高,使Ba~(2+)处于沸石孔道中B、C、D位置,接近于最佳分布,此时IR谱线上1421cm~(-1)处有一新峰。当沸石负载铂后,因铂与Ba~(2+)的相互作用,新峰消失,导致铂粒在沸石上分布更加均匀;铂粒在1.5—3.0nm之间占有最大比例,使得Pt/BaKL沸石呈现芳构化活性及选择性高于Pt/KL沸石,分别为～98%和～95%。     

A one-pot multicomponent coupling reaction for the stereocontrolled synthesis of (Z)-trisubstituted allylic alcohols

In this Communication, we outline a new one-pot, multicomponent coupling reaction that allows easy access to (Z)-trisubstituted allylic alcohols. Our strategy is based on E to Z isomerization of the 1-bromo-1-dialkylvinylborane upon reaction with dialkylzinc reagents, and subsequent transmetalation to give (Z)-trisubstituted vinylzinc species. In situ trapping of the reactive vinylzinc intermediates with aldehydes furnished a series of (Z)-trisubstituted allylic alcohols. This method represents a viable alternative to the Still-Gennari modification of the HWE olefination reaction, and it has the advantage that it allows coupling of larger fragments.     

Fibrous crystalline hydrogels formed from polymers possessing a linear poly(ethyleneimine) backbone

Novel thermoreversible physical hydrogels formed from polymers with linear and star architectures possessing a linear poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) backbone have been investigated. The hydrogelation occurred simply upon natural cooling of hot aqueous solutions of PEIs to room temperature. The X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry measurements for the resultant hydrogels unambiguously indicated that the hydrogelation originated from the formation of dihydrate crystalline structures of PEI. These crystalline hydrogels are structurally unique and hierarchical. Microscopic images revealed that the morphologies of the crystalline hydrogels depend on their molecular architectures. The linear PEI resulted in branched fibrous bundles organized by unit crystalline nanofibers with a width of ca. 5-7 nm. The six-armed star with benzene ring core produced fanlike fibrous bundles while the four-armed star with porphyrin core assembled into asterlike aggregates. The critical concentration of gelation (C(G)) was low (about 0.2 approximately 0.3%) and the thermoreversible gel-sol transition temperatures (T(G)) were controllable from approximately 43 to approximately 79 degrees C. The hydrogels formed in the presence of the various aqueous additives including organic solvents, hydrophilic polymers, physical cross-linker, chemical cross-linker, and base enabling modification and functionalization during synthesis. The mechanical properties of the hydrogels could be improved by chemical cross-linking of preformed hydrogels by glutaraldehyde. Physically and physical/chemical cross-linked hydrogels served as excellent template roles in biomimetic silicification, which produced silica-PEI hybrid powder or monolith constructed by nanofibers.     

Kinesin superfamily protein member 4 (KIF4) is localized to midzone and midbody in dividing cells

In association with microtubules, a variety of kinesins play important roles in cellular functions such as intracellular transport of organelles or vesicles, signal transduction, and cell division. In a previous study we revealed that human kinesin superfamily protein member 4 (KIF4) is a chromokinesin that binds to chromosomes. Since localization of several kinds of kinesin at midzone called central spindle, or midbody that connects two daughter cells, or both, suggests their implication in cell division, we investigated KIF4 localization of during mitosis and cytokinesis in Hela cells. In addition to association with segregating chromosomes through entire mitosis, it also localized to the midzone and to midbody at ana/telophase through cytokinesis. Especially in cells at cytokinesis, KIF4 appeared as a doublet facing each other at the apical ends of two daughter cells. Three- dimensional analysis of architectural relationship between microtubule bundles and KIF4 indicated that KIF4 forms a ring structure wrapping around the microtubule bundles. These results suggest that KIF4 is involved in cytokinesis, although direct evidence was not provided in this study.