Electron field emission from magnetic nanomaterial encapsulated multi-walled carbon nanotubes

The present work describes the field emission characteristics of nanoscale magnetic nanomaterial encapsulated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) fabricated over flexible graphitized carbon cloth. Ni/MWNTs, NiFe/MWNTs and NiFeCo/MWNTs have been synthesized by catalytic chemical vapor decomposition of methane over Mischmetal (Mm)-based AB₃ (MmNi₃, MmFe_1.5Ni_1.5 and MmFeCoNi) alloy hydride catalysts. Metal-encapsulated MWNTs exhibited superior field emission performance than pure MWNT-based field emitters over the same substrate. The results indicate that a Ni-filled MWNT field emitter is a promising material for practical field emission application with a lowest turn-on field of 0.6 V/μm and a high emission current density of 0.3 mA/cm² at 0.9 V/μm.     

An Internal Fluorescent Probe Based on Anthracene to Evaluate Cation–Anion Interactions in Imidazolium Salts

A series of fluorescent imidazolium‐based salts containing the cation [AnCH₂MeIm]⁺ (in which An=anthracene and Im=the imidazolium cation) with Cl^?, BF₄^?, PF₆^?, SO₃CF₃^?, [N(CN)₂]^?, [N(SO₂CF₃)₂]^?, or PhBF₃^? anions have been prepared and characterized. X‐ray diffraction analysis of four of the salts reveals a number of C? H???X‐type (X=O, N, F) hydrogen bonds between the hydrogen atoms from the imidazolium ring and in some cases from the anthracene ring with the electronegative atoms of the anions. Additionally, C? H???π interactions can be found in all the salts analyzed by X‐ray diffraction, whereas π–π stacking is observed only in the salt containing the phenyltrifluoroborate anion. Fluorescence emission analysis in acetonitrile shows that the fluorescence of these salts varies significantly according to the nature of the anion, and correlates to the extent of ion pairing present in solution. Photodimerization of these salts was observed, and in one case a dimer has been isolated and characterized by X‐ray crystallography.     

One dimensional molecular dipole chain arrays on graphite via nanoscale phase separation

Molecular dipole chain arrays of chloroaluminium phthalocyanine (ClAlPc) on the graphite surface have been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. The inter-chain spacing can be tuned by the co-adsorption of di-indenoperylene (DIP) via nanoscale phase separation.     

ICAM-1/LFA-1 interaction contributes to the induction of endothelial cell-cell separation: implication for enhanced leukocyte diapedesis

The basic route and mechanism for diapedesis has not yet to be fully defined. Here we present evidence that "cell-cell separation" between endothelial cells (ECs) may provide a route for leukocyte diapedesis. We unexpectedly found that extensive interaction between peripheral blood leukocytes and ECs that were activated by TNF-α induced the opening of EC contacts and, surprisingly, resulted in cell-cell separation. This event was specific to the intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1)/leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 interaction, as demonstrated by the following: (1) ICAM-1 expression correlated with increased EC contraction; and (2) the blocking of ICAM-1 selectively inhibited EC separation. Thus, we suggest that "cell-cell separation" could be a mechanism for diapedesis in situations that may require massive leukocyte infiltration.     

Production of lactic acid from cheese whey by batch and repeated batch cultures of Lactobacillus sp. RKY2

The fermentative production of lactic acid from cheese whey and corn steep liquor (CSL) as cheap raw materials was investigated by using Lactobacillus sp. RKY2 in order to develop a cost-effective fermentation medium. Lactic acid yields based on consumed lactose were obtained at more than 0.98 g/g from the medium containing whey lactose. Lactic acid productivities and yields obtained from whey lactose medium were slightly higher than those obtained from pure lactose medium. The lactic acid productivity gradually decreased with increase in substrate concentration owing to substrate and product inhibitions. The fermentation efficiencies were improved by the addition of more CSL to the medium. Moreover, through the cell-recycle repeated batch fermentation, lactic acid productivity was maximized to 6.34 g/L/h, which was 6.2 times higher than that of the batch fermentation.     

Production of bacterial cellulose by Gluconacetobacter sp. RKY5 isolated from persimmon vinegar

The optimum fermentation medium for the production of bacterial cellulose (BC) by a newly isolated Gluconacetobacter sp. RKY5 was investigated. The optimized medium composition for cellulose production was determined to be 15 g/L glycerol, 8 g/L yeast extract, 3 g/L K2HPO4, and 3 g/L acetic acid. Under these optimized culture medium, Gluconacetobacter sp. RKY5 produced 5.63 g/L of BC after 144 h of shaken culture, although 4.59 g/L of BC was produced after 144 h of static culture. The amount of BC produced by Gluconacetobacter sp. RKY5 was more than 2 times in the optimized medium found in this study than in a standard Hestrin and Shramm medium, which was generally used for the cultivation of BC-producing organisms.     

Competing isomerizations: a combined experimental/theoretical study of phenylpentenone isomerism

The possible competition of Z/E versus hydrogen-shift isomerization in (E)-5-phenyl-3-penten-2-one (E-1) and (E)-5-phenyl-4-penten-2-one (E-2) was studied, both experimentally and theoretically. Iodine-catalyzed isomerization experiments and computational modeling studies show that the equilibrated system consists predominantly of E-1 and E-2, with E-2 in moderate excess, and with no detectable amounts of the Z (cis) diastereoisomers. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations corroborated the free energy difference (Delta(r) and Delta(r) were -0.7 and -1.1 kcal mol(-1), respectively), and computations of Boltzmann-weighted (1)H NMR spectra were found to be useful in confirming the assignment of the isomers. The relevance of this equilibrium to earlier work on double-bond stabilization is discussed.     

Selective recognition of pyrophosphate in water using a backbone modified cyclic peptide receptor

A cyclic peptide based receptor, bearing two dipicolylamino arms complexed to zinc(II) ions, binds pyrophosphate ions with high affinity and selectivity in aqueous solution as determined using an indicator displacement assay.     

Regio- and diastereocontrolled C-H insertion of chiral gamma- and delta-lactam diazoacetates. Application to the asymmetric synthesis of (8S,8aS)-8-hydroxyindolizidine

gamma- and delta-Lactam diazoacetates undergo efficient intramolecular C-H insertion catalyzed by Rh2(MPPIM)4 with excellent regioselectivity and cis-diastereoselectivity to provide synthetically useful bicyclic lactam lactones.