Ionic-like behavior of oppositely charged nanoparticles

Mixtures of oppositely charged nanoparticles of various sizes and charge ratios precipitate only at the point of electroneutrality. This phenomenon-specific to the nanoscale and reminiscent of threshold precipitation of ions-is a consequence of the formation of core-and-shell nanoparticle aggregates, in which the shells are composed of like-charged particles and are stabilized by efficient electrostatic screening.     

Synthesis, structures, and olefin polymerization capability of vanadium(4+) imido compounds with fac-N3 donor ligands

One-pot reactions of V(NMe2)4 with a range of primary alkyl- and arylamines RNH2 and Me3SiCl afforded the corresponding five-coordinate vanadium(4+) imido compounds V(NR)Cl2(NHMe2)2 [R = 2,6-C6H3(i)Pr2 (1a, previously reported), 2-C6H4(t)Bu (1b), 2-C6H4CF3 (1c), (t)Bu (1d), Ad (Ad = adamantyl, 1e)]. The crystal structures of 1b (two diamorphic forms) and 1c featured N-H...Cl hydrogen-bonded chains. Reaction of 1a-e with the neutral face-capping, N3 donor ligands TACN (TACN = 1,4,7-trimethyltriazacyclononane) or TPM [TPM = tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane] gave the corresponding six-coordinate complexes V(NR)(TACN)Cl2 (2a-e) and V(NR)(TPM)Cl2 (3a-e). The X-ray structures of 2b, 2c, 2d, 3b, 3c, and 3e were determined. When activated with methylaluminoxane, certain of the complexes V(NR)(TPM)Cl2 (3) formed moderately active ethylene polymerization catalysts, whereas none of the compounds V(NR)(TACN)Cl2 (2) were active.     

Constant angle surfaces in product spaces

We classify all the surfaces in M²(_c1)×M²(_c2)$M^2\left(c_1\right)\times M^2\left(c_2\right)$ for which the tangent space _TpM²$T_p{M}^2$ makes constant angles with _Tp(M²(_c1)×{_p2})$T_p(M^2\left(c_1\right)\times \left\{p_2\right\})$ (or equivalently with _Tp({_p1}×M²(_c2))$T_p(\left\{p_1\right\}\times M^2\left(c_2\right))$ for every point p=(_p1,_p2)$p=(p_1,p_2)$ of M²$M^2$. Here M²(_c1)$M^2\left(c_1\right)$ and M²(_c2)$M^2\left(c_2\right)$ are 2$2$-dimensional space forms, not both flat. As a corollary we give a classification of all the totally geodesic surfaces in M²(_c1)×M²(_c2)$M^2\left(c_1\right)\times M^2\left(c_2\right)$.     

Flow Structure in a Technical Scale Reactor with an Internal Reboiler

In this contribution, results of experimental flow investigations in a technical scale cylindrical reactor with centrally located internal reboiler are presented. The fluid motion in the kettle is induced by natural circulation. Two different geometrical configurations are considered. First, the liquid level is set below the evaporator's outlet. Thus, only the liquid phase penetrates the liquid surface. The second configuration characterizes the a direct injection of the two phase mixture into bulk liquid. In both cases the liquid leaves the evaporator radially and horizontally towards the cylindrical wall. Gathered results reveal the presence of the big, toroidal vortex in the kettle annulus. Independently on the boundary conditions, self similarity of velocity profiles in the near wall region is observed. In contrast, investigations of the momentum transfer between the jet and the bulk liquid reveal strong dependency on the geometrical configuration of the setup. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Fe-N-C catalysts for oxygen electroreduction under external magnetic fields:Reduction of magnetic O2 to nonmagnetic H2O

An extensive analysis of iron-nitrogen-carbon(Fe-N-C)electrocatalysts synthesis and activity is presented concerning synthesis conditions such as initial Fe content,pyrolysis temperature and atmosphere(inert N₂,reducing NH₃,oxidizing Cl₂ and their sequential combinations)and the influence of an external magnetic field on their performance in oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).Thermosetting porous polymers doped with FeCl₃ were utilized as the Fe-N-C catalysts precursors.The pyrolysis temperature was varied within a 700-900℃range.The temperature and atmosphere of pyrolysis strongly affect the porosity and compositi on of the resultant Fe-N-C catalysts,while the in itial amount of Fe precursor shows much weaker impact.Pyrolysis under NH₃ yields materials similar to those pyrolyzed under an inert atmosphere(N₂).In contrast,pyrolysis under Cl₂ yields carbon of peculiar character with highly disordered structure and extensive microporosity.The application of a static external magnetic field strongly enhances the ORR process(herein studied in an alkaline environment)and the enhancement correlates with the Fe content in the Fe-N-C catalysts.The Fe-N-C materials containing ferromagnetic iron phase embedded in N-doped microporous carbon constitute attractive catalysts for magnetic field-aided anion exchange membrane fuel cell technology.     

Influence of velocity distribution in the multiphase flow on the building of aerobic granules in a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR)

In present contribution a study is presented, where fluid dynamic measurements are used to observe multiphase flow pattern in a bioreactor. It can be shown that hydrodynamic effects have a major influence on the formation, shape and size of Granular Activated Sludge (GAS) in a Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) under aerobic condition. In order to analyse multiphase flow pattern (water, air, granules) in the bioreactor in-situ techniques with optical measurements are applied. LASER IIIB and video lamp are used as a light source. Due to a transient spatial velocity distribution in the bioreactor our experiments are carried out in different levels of SBR. Tracer particles are employed to visualise the fluid flow pattern. Velocity field of the liquid phase in the bioreactor is determined by use of PIV method (Particle Image Velocimetry). PTV (Particle Tracking Velocimetry) is implemented to observe velocity field of individual granules (solid phase). (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis and Systematic Study on the Effect of Different PEG Units on Stability of PEGylated,Integrin-αvβ6-Specific A20FMDV2 Analogues in Rat Serum and Human Plasma

A20FMDV2 is a 20-mer peptide that exhibits high selectivity and affinity for the tumour-related αvβ6 integrin that can compete with extracellular ligands for the crucial RGD binding site, playing a role as a promising αvβ6-specific inhibitor for anti-cancer therapies. Unfortunately, the clinical value of A20FMDV2 is limited by its poor half-life in blood caused by rapid renal excretion and its reported high susceptibility to serum proteases. The incorporation of poly (ethylene glycol) chains, coined PEGylation, is a well-established approach to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of drug molecules. Here, we report a systematic study on the incorporation of a varying number of ethylene glycol units (1–20) into the A20FMDV2 peptide to establish the effects of PEGylation size on the peptide stability in both rat serum and human plasma. In addition, the effect of acetyl and propionyl PEGylation handles on peptide stability is also described. Selected peptide analogues were assessed for integrin-αvβ6-targeted binding, showing good specificity and activity in vitro. Stability studies in rat serum established that all of the PEGylated peptides displayed good stability, and an A20FMDV2 peptide containing twenty ethylene glycol units (PEG₂₀) was the most stable. Surprisingly, the stability testing in human plasma identified shorter PEGs (PEG₂ and PEG₅) as more resistant to degradation than longer PEGs, a trend which was also observed with affinity binding to integrin αvβ6.     

Observation and partial characterization of the 21 Σ u + state in K2

Laser excitation spectroscopy is performed on K₂ molecules produced in a supersonic molecular beam. 83 vibrational levels of the 2¹ Σ _u ⁺ state are observed under conditions permitting rotational resolution. The 2¹ Σ _u ⁺ state is partially analysed and its preliminary potential curve is compared with theoretical calculations.     

Enantioselective organocatalytic approach to δ-lactones bearing a fused cyclohexanone scaffold

A new method based on the cascade reaction between β,γ-unsaturated-α-ketophosphonates and cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyls is reported for the synthesis of highly enantiomerically enriched δ-lactones bearing a fused cyclohexenone scaffold. The target products bearing a δ-lactone moiety and one stereogenic center were obtained in good to excellent yields (83–96%) and enantioselectivities (63:32–95:5 er). The best results were obtained in the presence of a chiral Brønsted base catalyst derived from the cinchona alkaloid quinine and modified by a squaramide moiety.