Effect of acidic treatment on metal adsorptions of pitch-based activated carbon fibers

In this work, the pitch-based activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were prepared by nitric acid to investigate the multi-metal adsorption in interfacial and textural points of view. N2/77 K adsorption isotherm characteristics, including the specific surface area and micropore volume, were studied by BET specific surface area and t-plot methods, respectively. As a result, the specific surface area of the almost neutral ACFs in nature significantly decreased with nitric acid treatment, probably due to the widening of micropores. However the total acidity, including the carboxyl groups, on carbon surfaces was extremely induced during the acidic surface treatment. From the adsorptions of Cu2+ and Ni2+, it was revealed that the adsorption capacity of metal ions was mainly influenced by the weakly acidic functional groups such as lactones on the carbon surfaces at pH < pI (isoelectric point), and by the strongly acidic functional groups such as carboxyl groups at pH > pI.     

The reducive amination of phthalaldehyde by tetracarbonylhydridoferrate : Synthesis of 2-arylisoindoles

Phthalaldehyde reacted with primary amines in the presence of tetracarbonylhydridoferrate under mild conditions to give 2-substituted isoindoles and/or isoindolines in good to excellent yields. Aliphatic amines gave selectively the isoindolines but aromatic amines had a great tendency to the isoindoles. 2-(2-Tolyl)-, 2-(4-tolyl)-, 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-, 2-(3-chlorophenyl)-, 2-(4-chlorophenyl)- and 2-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-isoindole were prepared by this method.     

Sox-4 is a positive regulator of Hep3B and HepG2 cells' apoptosis induced by prostaglandin (PG)A(2) and delta(12)-PGJ(2)

We reported earlier that expression of Sox-4 was found to be elevated during prostaglandin (PG) A(2) and delta(12)-PGJ(2) induced apoptosis in human hepatocarcinoma Hep3B cells. In this study, the role of Sox-4 was examined using human Hep3B and HepG2 cell lines. Sox-4 induction by several apoptotic inducer such as A23187 (Ca(2+) ionophore) and etoposide (topoisomerase II inhibitor) and Sox-4 transfection into the cells were able to induce apoptosis as observed by the cellular DNA fragmentation. Antisense oligonucleotide of Sox-4 inhibited the induction of Sox-4 expression and blocked the formation of DNA fragmentation by PGA(2) and delta(12)-PGJ(2) in Hep3B and HepG2 cells. Sox-4-induced apoptosis was accompanied with caspase-1 activation indicating that caspase cascade was involved in this apoptotic pathway. These results indicate that Sox-4 is involved in Hep3B and HepG2 cells apoptosis as an important apoptotic mediator.     

Enhancement of frequency modulation response time for polymer-dispersed liquid crystal

Through the ferroelectric nanoparticles of BaTiO₃ (BTO) doping, the response time for the frequency modulation of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) was improved. The BTO-doped PDLC cells were prepared by polymerisation induced phase separation (PIPS) process using UV light. The capacitance of the PDLC composites was measured with an impedance analyzer in the frequency range of 100 Hz–1 MHz at 1 V. The dynamic signal for the response time of the PDLC devices was monitored through a digital oscilloscope. The electro-optical properties of the PDLC were found to strongly depend on the doped BTO concentration. The BTO doping caused a large increase in the capacitance. The dielectric constants were drastically decreased in the samples with rather low BTO doping ratio at a high frequency. No outstanding difference in the rising time of the LC was observed in the BTO-doped PDLC device, but the falling time was significantly decreased from 0.334 to 0.094 s. The present results imply that the nanoparticle-doping technology could improve the electro-optical performance of the PDLC requiring fast response and frequency modulation, such as optical modulators and PDLC-hybrid electroluminescence device for flexible electronic devices.     

Simple extraction method using syringe filter for detection of ethephon in tomatoes by negative‐ion mode liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

In this study, a simple, rapid, and sensitive method was developed for the extraction of ethephon from homogenized tomatoes that does not require a cleanup procedure. In a syringe filter, three distinct layers – aqueous, acetonitrile, and n‐hexane – are clearly separated after storage at ?80 °C for 5–10 min. A Dionex IonPac column was used to separate the analyte before detection using negative‐ion mode liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The matrix effect of the tested analyte was negligibly small and the matched calibration showed a good linearity over a concentration range of 0.01–1.0 mg/kg with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.9998. The recovery at three fortification levels (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) was between 82.9 and 108.6% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) <5.0%. The limit of quantification (0.03 mg/kg) was lower than the maximum residue limit (3 mg/kg) set by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Republic of Korea. From a field trial, the method developed herein was applied to calculate the decline pattern and predict the pre‐harvest residue limits of ethephon in tomatoes. In conclusion, the proposed sample preparation is feasible for the detection of hydrophilic analytes in tomatoes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantitation of plasma and biliary cefpiramide concentrations in human samples using high-performance liquid chromatography

Cefpiramide is frequently used to treat biliary infections. However, no bioanalytical method has been validated to quantitate cefpiramide in human samples, particularly in bile. Therefore, this study was conducted to develop a simple, selective and validated high-performance liquid chromatographic method to determine cefpiramide in human plasma and bile. A protein precipitation procedure was used to extract cefpiramide and cefoperazone (internal standard, IS) from 200 μl of plasma and bile. Utilizing a Capcell Pak C₁₈ column (4.6 × 250 mm), cefpiramide and IS were separated using the timed-gradient mobile phase consisting of 0.1 m sodium acetate (pH 5.2) and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 1 ml/min with photodiode array detector (wavelength set at 273 nm). The calibration curves showed linearity at concentrations ranging from 1 to 150 μg/ml in both plasma and bile (r² > 0.999). The within- and between-run coefficients of variation (CVs) for plasma samples were 0.570–4.43 and 1.10–2.76%, respectively; for bile samples, the within- and between-day precision (CV) was 0.814–6.34 and 2.05–4.00%, respectively. Our newly developed bioanalytical method was successfully employed to quantify cefpiramide concentrations in both plasma and bile at multiple time points in patients with acute cholangitis.     

Binary group facets with complete support and non-binary coefficients

We identify binary group facets with complete support and non-binary coefficients. These inequalities can be used to obtain new facets for larger problems using Gomory’s homomorphic lifting.     

Hydrothermal Realization of a Hierarchical,Flowerlike MnWO4@MWCNTs Nanocomposite with Enhanced Reversible Li Storage as a New Anode Material

A phase‐pure MnWO₄‐based nanocomposite, MnWO₄@MWCNTs (MWCNTs=multiwalled carbon nanotubes), was successfully synthesized through a simple hydrothermal reaction at 180 °C by adjusting the pH of the precursor medium. The resulting nanocomposite maintains the original flowerlike morphology of MnWO₄ with hierarchical structures composed of numerous single‐crystalline nanorods that drive growth preferentially along the [001] direction. The growth mechanism for the flowerlike formations is also discussed. In addition, the Li electroactivity of pure MnWO₄ and MnWO₄@MWCNTs electrodes was investigated. As an anode for Li‐ion batteries, the MnWO₄@MWCNTs nanocomposite showed enhanced electrochemical performance in reversible Li storage relative to that shown by bare MnWO₄ electrodes, including a high capacity of 425 mAh g^?1 and superior rate performance. This performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of the nanocomposite combined with the MWCNTs, which provide efficient electron transport in their role as a conductor.     

Quantification of Nb and Zr in the irradiated pressure tubes from Wolsong CANDU Unit 1 by neutron activation analysis

When the Wolsong 1st CANDU reactor in Korea is reaching the end of its original lifespan, decommissioning has been one of the largest issues faced by the nuclear industry and the government for the estimation of expense. The radioactive sources in the construction stuffs and components of the reactor such as pressure tubes, steam generators must be evaluated for the estimation of the appropriate expense for the decommissioning. Unfortunately we do not have exact information about the initial composition of the pressure tubes. In this study the elemental contents of Nb and Zr in the activated zircaloy pressure tubes was investigated. Nb is one of the important elements that characterize the physical and mechanical properties of the pressure tube and a major source of high radioactivity. The prepared samples were strongly irradiated again in the vertical irradiation channel at the HANARO research reactor in the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and then measured by an HPGe detector.