Improved dimensional stability of Nafion membrane modified using a layer by layer self-assembly of biophilic polymers

The modification of perfluorinated proton exchange membranes (e.g. Nafion) utilizing a layer by layer (LbL) electrostatic assembly of oppositely charged biophilic polymers such as poly-l-lysine as positive layer and dsDNA as a negative layer is developed to protect the interface between the catalyst layer and the membrane in a low temperature fuel cell. Various physicochemical measurements including water uptake, proton conductivity and surface tension were investigated for both the as-received Nafion and the biopolymeric LbL modified Nafion. The smaller water contact angle and the less swelling characteristics of the biopolymer modified Nafion membrane was founded compared to that of as-received Nafion. This clearly indicates that the more hydrophilic surface of biopolymeric layers on Nafion plays an important role in the enhanced dimensional stability. In addition, a potential hypothesis explaining the higher proton conductivity from the LbL biopolymeric film coated Nafion is suggested.     

A Criterion for Projective Modules

In case G is a finite group, there is a well-known criterion for projective modules: A ? G-module M is projective if and only if it is ? -free and has finite projective dimension. We first investigate whether only finite groups satisfy the above criterion. In the class of groups L H 𝔉, we conclude that this is true. Secondly, we consider the problem when a stably flat Γ-module is projective, where Γ is an arbitrary group. We show that if Γ is an L H 𝔉-group, then every stably flat cofibrant ? Γ-module is projective.     

Down syndrome critical region 1 enhances the proteolytic cleavage of calcineurin

Down syndrome critical region 1 (DSCR1), an oxidative stress-response gene, interacts with calcineurin and represses its phosphatase activity. Recently it was shown that hydrogen peroxide inactivates calcineurin by proteolytic cleavage. Based on these facts, we investigated whether oxidative stress affects DSCR1-mediated inactivation of calcineurin. We determined that overexpression of DSCR1 leads to increased proteolytic cleavage of calcineurin. Convertsely, knockdown of DSCR1 abolished calcineurin cleavage upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide. The PXIIXT motif in the COOH-terminus of DSCR1 is responsible for both binding and cleavage of calcineurin. The knockdown of overexpressed DSCR1 in DS fibroblast cells also abrogated calcineurin proteolysis by hydrogen peroxide. These results suggest that DSCR1 has the ability to inactivate calcineurin by inducing proteolytic cleavage of calcineurin upon oxidative stress.     

Comparative study of pesticide multi-residue extraction in tobacco for gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

Coacervates made of surfactant aggregates, namely aqueous and reverse micelles and vesicles, were firstly used as solvents in single-drop microextraction (SDME) and proposed for the extraction and concentration of chlorophenols prior to liquid chromatography. The formation of coacervate drops in the needle tip of conventional microsyringes depended on the type of intermolecular forces established between the surfactant headgroups making up the supramolecular aggregates; hydrogen bond interactions were strong enough to permit the formation of spherical drops. Stability of 1-50 microL coacervate drops was achieved by introducing the microsyringe needle tip in a PTFE rod, the end of which had been machined out with a heated flanging-tool to get circular flanges (diameters in the range 3.5-6 mm). The parameters affecting the efficiency of single-drop coacervative microextraction (SDCME) were investigated using vesicular coacervates as a solvent and 2-chlorophenol (CP), 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) as model analytes. Coacervative microextraction dynamics fit to the general rate equation of liquid-liquid extraction. The effect of variables such as extraction time, drop volume, stirring rate, pH and temperature, on the extraction of chlorophenols was similar to that described for organic solvent drops. Electrolyte concentrations above 0.1 M caused drop instability. Under the optimum conditions, detection limits were in the range 0.1-0.3 microg L(-1). The relative standard deviation was between 4.3 and 5.6 at 20 microg L(-1) spiked level. The method was applied to the determination of the four chlorophenols in wastewater, superficial water from a reservoir and groundwater and the recoveries were in the range 79 and 106% at 5-20 microg L(-1) spiked level.     

Spectral,electrochemical and computational investigations on the host–guest interaction of Coumarin-460 with <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-sulfonatocalix[4]arene

The supramolecular host–guest investigation of Coumarin 460 (C460), a salient coumarin family dye molecule is studied with a noteworthy host molecule, p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene (p-SC4). The investigation is carried out by both experimental and theoretical approach. The binding affinity of C460 with p-SC4 is experimentally studied using absorption, emission, excited state lifetime and Cyclic Voltammetry methods. The binding constant is around 10³ M^??1, which shows potent binding. The binding stoichiometry is 1:1. The binding orientations and binding energies are studied using computational simulations. The mode of binding is also established using NMR spectral techniques.     

Uranium recovery with zinc distillation from a liquid zinc cathode for pyroprocessing

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - U recovery test was performed on a Zn-U alloy to confirm the feasibility of Zn as an alternative cathode material. An evaporation test of pure Zn...     

Applicability of in situ detectors for radiological assessment of strontium-90 in rivers and lakes

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - An in situ detector for radiological assessments of strontium-90 (90Sr) in river and lake water is developed, based on a CaF2(Eu) scintillator,...     

Interfacial Characteristics and Fracture Toughness of Electrolytically Ni-Plated Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Phenolic Resin Matrix Composites

The electrolytic plating of metallic nickel on a carbon fiber surface has been carried out in order to improve the interfacial adhesion and the mechanical properties in carbon fiber/phenolic matrix composite systems. The surface and the mechanical interfacial properties of composites are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), surface free energy, and the critical stress intensity factor (K(IC)). From the experimental results, it is clearly revealed that the oxygen functional groups and the metallic nickel on fibers largely affect the mechanical interfacial behavior of the composites, resulting in increased surface polarity, whereas the nitrogen functional groups have no effect. Also, a good correlation between surface oxygen functional groups and mechanical interfacial properties and between wettability and K(IC) is established and it is found that a 10 A m(-2) current density is the optimum condition for this system. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Comparative studies of various run buffers for chiral capillary electrophoresis using chiral crown ether as a chiral selector

In the capillary electrophoretic separation of primary amine enantiomers using (+)-(18-crown-6)-tetracarboxylic acid (18C6H4) as a chiral selector, the presence of run buffer constituents such as tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris) or Na+ competing with analytes for 18C6H4, diminishes the effectiveness of 18C6H4. In order to determine appropriate buffer systems for 18C6H4, various run buffer cationic components including Tris, 1,3-bis[tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamino]propane, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)iminotris(hydroxymethyl)methane, triethanolamine, tetramethylammonium, and Na+ were compared. Quantitative studies of the effects of the competitive constituents were carried out by measuring the electrophoretic mobilities of histidine as a function of the 18C6H4 concentration. We also derived a simple equation to estimate the optimal chiral selector concentration for a maximum mobility difference in the presence of a competitive inhibitor.