Selective hydroisomerization of n-dodecane over platinum supported on zeolites

In this study, in order to develop catalysts for the selective isomerization of higher paraffin, the hydroisomerization reaction of n-dodecane was performed as a model reaction. Pt/ZSM-48, Pt/HZSM-5, Pt/HY, and Pt/SAPO-11 were examined for the selective hydroisomerization of n-dodecane. The catalysts were characterized via X-ray powder diffraction, N₂ adsorption, and the temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia. Among the catalysts studied, the Pt/HZSM-48 catalyst exhibited the best isomerization selectivity in the hydroisomerization reaction of n-dodecane, which is attributed to the moderate acid sites and medium-sized pores present in the HZSM-48. The highest iso-dodecane yield was obtained at a reaction temperature of 280 °C in the Pt/HZSM-48 catalyst. The optimal selectivity of the n-dodecane hydroisomerization over the Pt/SAPO-11 catalyst was obtained at approximately 300 °C, which was slightly higher than that of the Pt/HZSM-48 catalyst.     

Differential promoter methylation may be a key molecular mechanism in regulating BubR1 expression in cancer cells

The BubR1 mitotic-checkpoint protein monitors proper attachment of microtubules to kinetochores, and links regulation of chromosome-spindle attachment to mitotic-checkpoint signaling. Thus, disruption of BubR1 activity results in a loss of checkpoint control, chromosomal instability caused by a premature anaphase, and/or the early onset of tumorigenesis. The mechanisms by which deregulation and/or abnormalities of BubR1 expression operate, however, remain to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that levels of BubR1 expression are significantly increased by demethylation. Bisulfite sequencing analysis revealed that the methylation status of two CpG sites in the essential BubR1 promoter appear to be associated with BubR1 expression levels. Associations of MBD2 and HDAC1 with the BubR1 promoter were significantly relieved by addition of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, an irreversible DNA methyltransferase inhibitor. However, genomic DNA isolated from 31 patients with colorectal carcinomas exhibited a +84A/G polymorphic change in approximately 60% of patients, but this polymorphism had no effect on promoter activity. Our findings indicate that differential regulation of BubR1 expression is associated with changes in BubR1 promoter hypermethylation patterns, but not with promoter polymorphisms, thus providing a novel insight into the molecular regulation of BubR1 expression in human cancer cells.     

Photocatalytic Effects of Rutile Phase TiO2 Ultrafine Powder with High Specific Surface Area Obtained by a Homogeneous Precipitation Process at Low Temperatures

The photocatalytic characteristics of nanostructured TiO₂ ultrafine powder with rutile phase produced using the homogeneous precipitation process at low temperatures (HPPLT) were compared with those of commercial P-25 TiO₂ powder by flame hydrolysis. The TiO₂ powder by the HPPLT showed much higher photoactivity in the removal rate, showing lower pH values in the solution than the P-25 powder when eliminating metal ions such as Pb and Cu from the aqueous metal-EDTA solutions. This can be inferred as the more rapid photo-oxidation or -reduction of metal ions from the aqueous solution, together with relatively higher efficiencies in the use of an electron-hole pair formed on the surface of the TiO₂ particles under UV light irradiation. Also, in the view of the TiO₂ particle morphology, compared to the well-dispersed spherical P-25 particles, the agglomerated TiO₂ secondary particles by the HPPLT consist of acicular typed primary particles with a thickness in the range of 3–7 nm and the primary particles radialize in all directions, which would be more effective to photocatalytic reactions without the large electron-hole recombination on the surface of the TiO₂ particle under UV light irradiation. It can be, therefore, thought that the higher photoactivity of the rutile TiO₂ powder by the HPPLT in the aqueous solutions results mainly from having a larger surface area by the acicular shaped primary particles with very thin thickness and radialization in all directions.     

Aspirin attenuates the anti-inflammatory effects of theophylline via inhibition of cAMP production in mice with non-eosinophilic asthma

Theophylline is commonly used to treat severe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by non-eosinophilic inflammation. Acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) is one of the most widely used medications worldwide, but up to 20% of patients with asthma experience aggravated respiratory symptoms after taking ASA. Here we evaluated the adverse effect of ASA on the therapeutic effect of theophylline in mice with non-eosinophilic asthma. A non-eosinophilic asthma mouse model was induced by airway sensitization with lipopolysaccharide-containing allergen and then challenged with allergen alone. Therapeutic intervention was performed during allergen challenge. Theophylline inhibited lung inflammation partly induced by T_h1 immune response. ASA attenuated the beneficial effects of theophylline. However, co-administration of the ASA metabolite salicylic acid (SA) showed no attenuating effect on theophylline treatment. The therapeutic effect of theophylline was associated with increase in cAMP levels, which was blocked by co-treatment of theophylline and ASA. ASA co-treatment also attenuated the anti-inflammatory effects of a specific phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor. These results demonstrate that ASA reverses anti-inflammatory effects of theophylline, and that ASA exerts its adverse effects through the inhibition of cAMP production. Our data suggest that ASA reverses lung inflammation in patients taking theophylline, although clinical evidence will be needed.     

Open‐Pore Two‐Dimensional MFI Zeolite Nanosheets for the Fabrication of Hydrocarbon‐Isomer‐Selective Membranes on Porous Polymer Supports

Two‐dimensional zeolite nanosheets that do not contain any organic structure‐directing agents were prepared from a multilamellar MFI (ML‐MFI) zeolite. ML‐MFI was first exfoliated by melt compounding and then detemplated by treatment with a mixture of H₂SO₄ and H₂O₂ (piranha solution). The obtained OSDA‐free MFI nanosheets disperse well in water and can be used for coating applications. Deposits made on porous polybenzimidazole (PBI) supports by simple filtration of these suspensions exhibit an n‐butane/isobutane selectivity of 5.4, with an n‐butane permeance of 3.5×10^?7 mol m^?2 s^?1 Pa^?1 (ca. 1000 GPU).     

Bond character of thiophene on Ge(100): Effects of coverage and temperature

We have studied the adsorption and decomposition of thiophene (C4H4S) on Ge(100) using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), high-resolution core-level photoemission spectroscopy (HRPES), and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Analysis of S 2p core-level spectra reveals three adsorption geometries, which we assign to a Ge-S dative bonding state, a [4 + 2] cycloaddition bonding state, and a decomposed bonding state (desulfurization reaction product). Furthermore, we found that the number ratio of the three adsorption geometries depended on the molecular coverage and the annealing temperature. At low coverages, the kinetically favorable dative bonding state is initially formed at room temperature. As the molecular coverage increases, thermodynamically stable [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction products are additionally produced. In addition, we found that as the surface temperature increased, the [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction product either possibly desorbed as molecular thiophene or decomposed to form a metallocycle-like species (C4H4Ge2) and a sulfide (Ge2S). We systematically elucidate the changes in the bonding states of adsorbed thiophene on Ge(100) according to the thiophene coverage and annealing temperature.     

Pretilt angle generation by UV exposure during imidization of polyimide

We investigated pretilt angle generation and liquid crystal (LC) alignment by ultraviolet exposure during the imidization of polyimide (PI). The generated pretilt angle of a nematic (N) LC using an in situ photo-alignment method is smaller than that using a conventional photo-alignment method on a surface of PI having side chains. The NLC pretilt angles using an in situ photo-alignment method injected at isotropic phase increased with annealing were observed.     

A micro/nanocasting method for replicating soft micro/nanosurface structures using a dynamic electrical field

We propose a new electric field-induced micro/nanocasting method to replicate soft patterns using micro/nanocasting techniques without pressure. The process uses an alternating current (AC) electrical field and rotation of one electrode, generating a dynamic electrical field that induces electrokinetic flow motion in a dielectric solution (polydimethylsilane, PDMS). We used a lotus leaf as a replication template and characterised the PDMS flow motion to observe the effects of various process parameters (e.g., electrical field strength, rotation speed of an electrode, and electrode shape). The unstable flow motion was significantly dependent on the processing parameters, especially the rotation speed of the electrode. Using the optimised processing conditions, the replication efficiency was about 88%. We believe that this method has potential for fabricating soft micro/nanosized structures.     

Synthesis of Cationic Dumbbell-shaped Fullerene Nanostructures as Potential Photodynamic Sensitizers

A design of novel hydrophilic tetracationic dumbbell-shaped [60]fullerene nanostructures was made by balancing the hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity characteristics of the fullerene adduct for their potential application as photodynamic sensitizers in the PDT treatment. A sequential protection-deprotection reaction pathway was applied for the functional differentiation between primary and secondary amine moieties of pentaethylene hexamine. Synthesis of the target molecule involves two key steps of unsymmetrical esterification and amidation of malonic acid and subsequent fullerenation. The synthetic strategy was accomplished using mild reaction conditions in the intermediate molecule preparation and led a moderate overall product yield.     

Anion Recognition by Urea Derivatives of Anthraquinone: Dihydrogen Phosphate Ion Selective Neutral Receptors

Three urea derivatives of anthraquinone were synthesized and they showed a high selectivity for dihydrogen phosphate ions.