A robust metal-organic framework constructed from alkoxo-bridged binuclear nodes and hexamethylenetetramine spacers: crystal structure and sorption studies

A neutral 3D metal-organic framework, (3)(∞)[Cu(2)(mand)(2)(hmt)]·H(2)O (1), was constructed from binuclear Cu(2)O(2) alkoxo-bridged nodes, generated by the doubly deprotonated mandelic acid. The nodes are connected by hexamethylenetetramine (hmt) spacers, which act as biconnective bridging ligands, and by carboxylato groups. Channels are observed along the crystallographic c axis. The water molecules from the channels can be easily removed, preserving the architecture of the crystal, which is stable up to 280 °C. The Langmuir surface area was found to be 610 m(2) g(-1). The sorption ability of 1 was investigated using H(2) and CO(2).     

The iodide/iodate actinometer in UV disinfection: determination of the fluence rate distribution in UV reactors

Thirty-seven Suprasil quartz spheres, each approximately 1 cm in diameter and containing an iodide-iodate actinometric solution, were attached to a metal rack and inserted into a bench-scale UV reactor filled with water. The spheres were located at various distances and heights around a 12.4 W low-pressure Hg lamp housed inside a 3.2 cm-radius quartz sleeve in the middle of an annular batch reactor. UV light exposure at 254 nm was performed with the percent transmittance of the water present in the reactor at either 73% or 100% defined over a 1 cm path length. The spheres were simultaneously exposed to the UV light for a given period of time, after which the solutions were removed from the spheres and the yield of triiodide determined from the increase in absorbance at 352 nm. The resulting fluence rate at each site was then calculated on basis of the yield of triiodide. These results were compared with the predictions of a mathematical model based on the multiple point source summation approximation, including reflection and refraction at the air-quartz-water interface. Initially, the agreement was not satisfactory, especially in regions at an oblique angle to the lamp. The model was modified from a multiple point source model to a multiple cylindrical segment model by incorporating a cosine factor. The agreement between the new model and the experimental data was excellent and these experiments provide a strong validation of the model, even under conditions in which the fluence rate varied by >1000-fold between extreme sites in the reactor.     

Electronic spectroscopy of the A1A" <--> X1A' system of CDBr

We report fluorescence excitation and single vibronic level emission spectra of jet-cooled CDBr in the 450-750 nm region. A total of 32 cold bands involving the pure bending levels 2(0)n with n=3-10 and combination bands 2(0)n3(0)1 (n=2-10), 2(0)n3(0)2 (n=2-9), 1(0)(1)2(0)n (n=7-10), and 1(0)(1)2(0)n3(0)(1) (n=6,8-9) in the A1A" <-- X1A' system of this carbene were observed; most of these are reported and/or rotationally analyzed here for the first time. Rotational analysis yielded band origins and effective (B) rotational constants for both bromine isotopomers (CD79Br and CD81Br). The derived A1A" vibrational intervals are combined with results of Yu et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 115, 5433 (2001)] to derive barriers to linearity for the 2n, 2n3(1), and 2n3(2) progressions. The A1A" state C-D stretching frequency (2350 cm(-1)) is determined for the first time, in excellent agreement with theory, as are the 79Br-81Br isotope splittings in the excited state. Our emission spectra probe the vibrational structure of the X1A' and a3A" states up to approximately 9000 cm(-1) above the vibrationless level of the X1A' state; the total number of levels observed is around twice that previously reported. Unlike CHBr, where even the lowest bending levels are perturbed by spin-orbit interaction with the triplet origin, the term energy of every level save one below 3000 cm(-1) in CDBr is reproduced by a Dunham expansion to within a standard deviation of 1 cm(-1), and a spin-orbit coupling matrix element of approximately 330 cm(-1) is derived from a deperturbation analysis of the triplet origin. The multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) calculations of Yu et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 115, 5433 (2001)] well reproduce triplet perturbations in the pure bending manifold, and globally, the vibrational frequencies of X1A', a3A", and A1A" are in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions.     

Adsorption of novel thermosensitive graft-copolymers: Core-shell particles prepared by polyelectrolyte multilayer self-assembly

The adsorption properties of thermosensitive graft-copolymers are investigated with the aim of developing self-assembled multilayers from these copolymers. The copolymers consist of a thermoreversible main chain of poly(N-isopropylacrylamid) and a weak polyelectrolyte, poly(2-vinylpyridine), as grafted side chains. Zeta-potential, single particle light scattering and adsorption isotherms monitor the adsorption of the thermoreversible copolymers to precoated colloidal particles. The results show a smaller surface coverage for a larger density of grafted chains. The surface coverage is discussed in terms of surface charge density in the adsorbed monolayer. Taking into account the monolayer adsorption properties, conditions are developed for the multilayer formation from these copolymers. A low pH provides a sufficient charge density of the grafted chains to achieve a surface charge reversal of the colloids upon adsorption. The charge reversal after each adsorbed layer is monitored by zeta-potential and the increase of the thickness is determined by light scattering. Stable and reproducible multilayers are obtained. The results imply that the conformation of the thermosensitive component in multilayers depends strongly on the grafting density, where the polymer with a higher grafting density adsorbs in a flat conformation while that with a lower grafting density adsorbs with more loops.     

A novel low-cost and easy to develop functionalization platform. Case study: Aptamer-based detection of thrombin by surface plasmon resonance

A novel low-cost platform to assess biomolecular interactions was investigated using surface plasmon resonance and an aptamer-based assay for thrombin detection. Gold SPR surface functionalized with a carboxylated cross-linked BSA film (cBSA) and commercially available carboxymethylated dextran chip (CM5) were used as immobilization platforms for the thrombin binding aptamer. The high end commercial instrument Biacore 3000 and a custom made FIA set-up involving TI Spreeta sensor (TSPR2K23) were used to assess different concentrations of thrombin within the range 0.1-150 nM both in buffer and in a complex matrix (plasma) using the obtained aptasensors. Based on data derived from both CM5 and cBSA platforms, the cBSA aptasensor exhibited good selectivity, stability and regeneration ability, both in buffer and in complex matrices (plasma), comparable with CM5.     

Uniqueness of solutions to inverse Sturm–Liouville problems with potential using three spectra

The uniqueness of solutions to two inverse Sturm–Liouville problems using three spectra is proven, based on the uniqueness of the solution-pair to an overdetermined Goursat–Cauchy boundary value problem. We discuss the uniqueness of the potential for a Dirichlet boundary condition at an arbitrary interior node, and for a Robin boundary condition at an arbitrary interior node, whereas at the exterior nodes we have Dirichlet boundary conditions in both situations. Here we are particularly concerned with potential functions that are L²(0,a).     

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 3 Activity as a Promising Biomarker of Bone Fragility in Postmenopausal Women

The dipeptidyl peptidase 3 (Dpp3) is a ubiquitous zinc-dependent aminopeptidase, participating in the activation or degradation of signaling peptides and in the Keap1–Nrf2 antioxidant pathway. The absence of Dpp3 in the Dpp3 knockout mouse model causes increased osteoclast activity, altered osteogenic function, sustained oxidative stress in the bone tissue, and bone loss. We aimed to assess the association of Dpp3 activity with bone fragility in postmenopausal osteoporosis and the impact of denosumab on enzymatic activity. We conducted a two-phase study including 69 postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis and 36 postmenopausal women without osteometabolic conditions, as controls (cross-sectional phase). Subjects with severe osteoporosis were assessed at baseline and 14 days after the first denosumab administration (prospective phase). The results showed significant reduction in serum Dpp3 activity (expressed as nmoles of formed product/mg proteins/min) in patients vs. controls (0.791 ± 0.232 vs. 1.195 ± 0.338; p < 0.001), and significant association with bone mass at the femoral neck (r = 0.28, p = 0.02) in patients prior to treatment. We found a negative correlation between C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) or N-terminal pro-peptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP) levels and Dpp3 activity (respectively, r = −0.29, p = 0.012; and r = −0.2572, p = 0.033). Dpp3 activity did not change after denosumab injection. Our findings support a critical role played by Dpp3 in bone homeostasis as a potential bone protective factor. Additional clinical studies in larger cohorts might explore the implementation of Dpp3 assessment as a biomarker of bone health status.     

Exploring the Research Progress about the Applications of Cyclodextrins and Nanomaterials in Electroanalysis

Cyclodextrins and nanomaterials are widely used in the achievement of powerful platforms in supramolecular chemistry and nanotechnology. The relatively hydrophobic internal cavity of the CDs selectively retains molecules having the proper geometry, while the hydrophilic exterior allows CDs to improve the dispersibility and molecular recognition. The nanomaterials provide higher surface area, good conductivity, and electrocatalytic effect. The use of nanomaterials and CDs in electrochemical sensors’ design allows the development of a large variety of devices, explaining the increasing number of papers in the last years that are discussed in this review.     

Mapping the Distribution of Melanin Concentration in Different Fitzpatrick Skin Types Using Hyperspectral Imaging Technique

Measuring skin melanin concentration in order to assess skin phototype according to Fitzpatrick's classification is a constant research goal. In this study, a new approach for assessing skin melanin concentration based on hyperspectral imaging combined with an appropriate analytical model that exploits specific spectral bands to generate maps of melanin content distribution on different Fitzpatrick skin phototypes is presented. Hyperspectral images from the proximal inner side of the forearms of 51 young volunteers covering the first four classes of Fitzpatrick's phototypes were acquired using a hyperspectral imaging system. The images were analyzed using a modified Beer–Lambert law that segregates the contribution of melanin from the other constituents to the skin absorption spectrum. The performance of the model was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (r-squared). The results revealed that the approach proposed in this study generated accurate melanin concentration distribution maps that allowed a correct classification of skin phototype. In conclusion, the proposed approach for assessing skin melanin concentration proved to be very reliable for classifying skin phototypes, and, as it provides maps that are easily read, it has the advantage of a possible extension of its applications to other research concerning skin pigmentation.     

Copper-mediated ATRP of methyl methacrylate in polar solvents using a bifunctional pyridinal diimine ligand

The bifunctional pyridinal diimine ligand, bis(2-pyridinal)ethylenediimine, was employed in copper-mediated ATRP of methylmethacrylate using solvents such as acetonitrile, N,N-dimethyl formamide and dimethylsulfoxide. Solvent polarity was found to play a crucial role in determining the extent of control in the ATRP process. Acetonitrile showed the best control when used at a level of 33 vol.-%.