Cyano-containing ionic liquids for the extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons from an aromatic/aliphatic mixture

Ionic liquids can replace conventional solvents in aromatic/aliphatic extractions, if they have higher aromatic distribution coef- ficients and higher or similar aromatic/aliphatic selectivities. Also physical properties, such as density and viscosity, must be taken into account if a solvent is applied in an industrial extraction process. Cyano-containing ionic liquids have a lower den- sity than the benchmark solvent sulfolane and a higher viscosity. Sulfolane is from a hydrodynamic point of view a better sol- vent than ionic liquids for the aromatic/aliphatic extraction. The most suitable ionic liquids for the extraction of aromatic hy- drocarbons from a mixture of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons are [bmim]C(CN)3, [3-mebupy]N(CN)2, [3-mebupy]C(CN)3, [3-mebupy]B(CN)4 and [mebupyrr]B(CN)4. They have factors of 1.2-2.3 higher mass-based distribution coefficients than sul- folane and a similar or higher, up to a factor of 1.9 higher, aromatic/aliphatic selectivity than sulfolane. The IL [3-mebupy]N(CN)2 is a better extractant for the separation of toluene from a mixture of toluene/n-heptane in a pilot plant Ro- tating Disc Contactor (RDC) than sulfolane.     

Imaging cytoplasmic cAMP in mouse brainstem neurons

Background  

cAMP is an ubiquitous second messenger mediating various neuronal functions, often as a consequence of increased intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. While imaging of calcium is commonly used in neuroscience applications, probing for cAMP levels has not yet been performed in living vertebrate neuronal tissue before.     

Effective electrically tunable infrared reflectors based on polymer stabilised cholesteric liquid crystals

Electrically tunable infrared (IR) reflectors based on polymer stabilised cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLC) have been fabricated. The influence of polymerisation time on bandwidth broadening and response time of the IR reflector was investigated. Such IR reflector can reflect broad band of infrared light from 725 to 1435 nm upon application of a DC electric field, while remaining predominantly transparent in the visible region, with the transmittance in the region of 400–700 nm being above 90%. Bandwidth broadening was induced using low operational power with acceptable switching speeds. Model tests reveal that this IR reflector can effectively control the indoor temperature. The distinct properties of such IR reflector make it a good candidate for smart windows of automobiles and buildings to control interior temperature and save energy.     

Recollision excitation, electron correlation, and the production of high-momentum electrons in double ionization

The production of high-momentum electrons in double ionization of helium by near-infrared lasers is investigated using three-dimensional classical ensembles. The nucleus' role is examined by systematically adjusting the nuclear potential. The primary source of the high-energy electrons is found to be backscattering off the nucleus at recollision. Recollision excitation with backscattering of the unbound electron is found to be especially important. It is shown that recollision excitation with ionization before the next field maximum can lead to a correlated electron pair.     

Behavioral avoidance threshold level of a harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) for a continuous 50 kHz pure tone

The use of ultrasonic sounds in alarms for gillnets may be advantageous, but the deterring effects of ultrasound on porpoises are not well understood. Therefore a harbor porpoise in a large floating pen was subjected to a continuous 50 kHz pure tone with a source level of 122+/-3 dB (re 1 microPa, rms). When the test signal was switched on during test periods, the animal moved away from the sound source. Its respiration rate was similar to that during baseline periods, when the sound was switched off. The behavior of the porpoise was related to the sound pressure level distribution in the pen. The sound level at the animal's average swimming location during the test periods was approximately 107+/-3 dB (re 1 microPa, rms). The avoidance threshold sound pressure level for a continuous 50 kHz pure tone for this porpoise, in the context of this study, is estimated to be 108+/-3 dB (re 1 microPa, rms). This study demonstrates that porpoises may be deterred from an area by high frequency sounds that are not typically audible to fish and pinnipeds and would be less likely masked by ambient noise.     

A form of regular variation and its application to the domain of attraction of the double exponential distribution

Probability Theory and Related Fields -     

Anomalous scattering of a relativistic electron beam in a beam created plasma

Measurements of the velocity angular distribution of a relativistic electron beam (0.8 MV, 6 kA, 150 ns) after propagation through hydrogen gas are presented. At a pressure of 25 Pa scattering of the beam electrons into a preferential angular interval is observed. At 190 Pa anomalously large scattering is observed, up to an angular width of 90°, during about 30 ns.     

Rectification in mesoscopic systems with broken symmetry: quasiclassical ballistic versus classical transport

In suitably designed mesoscopic semiconductor structures, the phenomenon of ballistic rectification can be observed. A currently discussed microscopic model relates the observations to the interplay between fully quantized and quasiclassical current paths. We present measurements that contribute substantially to the clarification of the fascinating topic. In particular, we observe the opposite sign of the output voltage as compared to the prediction. Demonstrating the basic principle upon which the rectification is based--the asymmetry of the voltage drop in a quasiclassical wire--and extending the model to the classical transport regime, we can well explain our experiments as being caused by the interplay of quasiclassical ballistic and classical transport. Tunable ballistic rectifiers generating very large output signals and operating at room temperature raise the hope for future applications.     

Elucidating the mechanisms of the molecular sieving phenomenon created by comb-shaped polymers grafted to a protein – a simulation study

Advances in polymer chemistry now allow the creation of protein–polymer conjugates of great complexity. These advances equally enable the fine-tuning of their structure (and hence properties) to address specific challenges they face as therapeutics. Some of these challenges faced by non-human proteins include their rapid degradation, elimination or immunogenicity in vivo, and one of the most recognized solutions for this is to mask their surface with chains of linear poly(ethylene glycol). This, however, generally reduces bioactivity. Several experimental studies have shown that switching from linear to architecturally complex polymers (comb-shaped, branched, dendronized) partially resolves this issue for a subset of proteins whose bioactivity involves small molecules, by creating a “molecular sieving” effect. The mechanisms underlying molecular sieving, however, have never been entirely elucidated. This study presents a coarse-grained model of α-chymotrypsin modified with multiple chains of the comb-shaped polymer poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) to study molecular sieving. Results demonstrate the steric nature of the phenomenon (i.e., creation of gaps in the polymer coating), though steric considerations alone could not reconcile all of the experimental trends. The simulations rather suggest that these gaps enable the selective accumulation of small (substrate) molecules near the surface of the protein (in a favourable microenvironment created by the polymer), which exacerbates the “molecular sieving” phenomenon (i.e., difference in the ability of small vs. large substrates to reach the protein).     

Stable isotopic studies of earthworm feeding ecology in tropical ecosystems of Puerto Rico

Feeding strategies of earthworms and their influence on soil processes are often inferred from morphological, behavioral and physiological traits. We used (13)C and (15)N natural abundance in earthworms, soils and plants to explore patterns of resource utilization by different species of earthworms in three tropical ecosystems in Puerto Rico. In a high altitude dwarf forest, native earthworms Trigaster longissimus and Estherella sp. showed less (15)N enrichment ((15)N = 3-6 per thousand) than exotic Pontoscolex corethrurus ((15)N =7-9 per thousand) indicating different food sources or stronger isotopic discrimination by the latter. Conversely, in a lower altitude tabonuco forest, Estherella sp. and P. corethrurus overlapped completely in (15)N enrichment ((15)N = 6-9 per thousand), suggesting the potential for interspecific competition for N resources. A tabonuco forest converted to pasture contained only P. corethrurus which were less enriched in (15)N than those in the forest sites, but more highly enriched in (13)C suggesting assimilation of C from the predominant C(4) grass. These results support the utility of stable isotopes to delineate resource partitioning and potential competitive interactions among earthworm species. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.