Recognition of amino acids by functionalized calixarenes

The calixarenic receptors exhibit remarkable host-guest properties towards biologically relevant guests. Aspects of complex formation reactions between both native and derivatized amino acids, di-and tripeptides with calixarenic (chiral or not) receptors are summarized in this critical review. Thus, the discussions emphasize the parameters that affect the molecular binding selectivity and efficiency of functionalized calix[n]arenes towards these substrates. A brief survey on their application in separation of amino acids is also considered (123 references).     

Operation of industrial-scale electron beam wastewater treatment plant

Textile dyeing processes consume large amount of water, steam and discharge filthy and colored wastewater. A pilot scale e-beam plant with an electron accelerator of 1 MeV, 40 kW had constructed at Daegu Dyeing Industrial Complex (DDIC) in 1997 for treating 1,000 m³ per day. Continuous operation of this plant showed the preliminary e-beam treatment reduced bio-treatment time and resulted in more significant decreasing TOC, COD_Cr, and BOD₅. Convinced of the economics and efficiency of the process, a commercial plant with 1 MeV, 400 kW electron accelerator has constructed in 2005. This plant improves the removal efficiency of wastewater with decreasing the retention time in bio-treatment at around 1 kGy. This plant is located on the area of existing wastewater treatment facility in DDIC and the treatment capacity is 10,000 m³ of wastewater per day. The total construction cost for this plant was USD 4 M and the operation cost has been obtained was not more than USD 1 M per year and about USD 0.3 per each m³ of wastewater.     

Enhanced formation of quercetin by combined use of gamma ray and H2O2 from cyanidin-3-O-xylosylrutinoside

Cyanidin-3-O-xylosylrutinoside (cya-3-O-xylrut), a major pigment in Schizandra chinensis Baillon, was effectively removed by gamma irradiation of greater than 2 kGy, whereas quercetin, the most abundant of the flavonoids and has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, could be generated by degradation of cya-3-O-xylrut. In the present study, we investigated the effect of combination treatment of gamma irradiation and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) on the formation of quercetin through the degradation of cya-3-O-xylrut. Cya-3-O-xylrut was significantly degraded (～93%) by gamma irradiation at 2 kGy and it was completely removed by a combination treatment (0.2% H₂O₂ and 2 kGy gamma ray). The formation of quercetin was significantly appeared at 2 kGy of gamma ray, together with disappearance of cya-3-O-xylrut. The quercetin formation by gamma ray is 3.2 μg/ml and combination treatment is 7.7 μg/ml. Therefore, the combination treatment of H₂O₂ and gamma ray is more effective to convert cya-3-O-xylrut into quercetin than gamma irradiation only. In conclusion, gamma ray combined with H₂O₂ would be a promising tool for bio-conversion of organic compounds.     

Dual Temperature and Thiol‐Responsive POEOMA‐Multisegmented Polydisulfides: Synthesis and Thermoresponsive Properties

New thermoresponsive polydisulfides of POEOMA multiblocks linked with disulfide bonds having redox‐responsive properties are reported. These POEOMA‐multisegmented polydisulfides were synthesized by a new method employing a combined RAFT/aminolysis and reversible thiol‐disulfide redox reaction that centers on the synthesis of new disulfide‐labeled difunctional RAFT agent. RAFT polymerization proceeded in living fashion, yielding well‐defined POEOMA copolymers with middle disulfides and terminal RAFT species. They were then used as precursors for thiol‐disulfide polyexchange induced by aminolysis and reductive reaction followed by oxidation: these polydisulfides with different molecular weights and end groups ex hibited tunable thermoresponsive properties and thiol‐responsive degradation.     

Synthesis and gas permeation properties of poly(vinyl chloride)‐graft‐poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) membranes

A series of amphiphilic graft copolymers consisting of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) main chains and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) side chains, i.e. PVC‐g‐PVP, was synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), as confirmed by ¹H NMR, FT‐IR spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) analysis revealed the microphase‐separated structure of PVC‐g‐PVP and the domain spacing increased from 21.4 to 23.9 nm with increasing grafting degree. All the membranes exhibited completely amorphous structure and high Young's modulus and tensile strength, as revealed by wide angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) and universal testing machine (UTM). Permeation experimental results using a CO₂/N₂ (50/50) mixture indicated that as an amount of PVP in a copolymer increased, CO₂ permeability increased without the sacrifice of selectivity. For example, the CO₂ permeability of PVC‐g‐PVP with 36 wt% of PVP at 35°C was about four times higher than that of the pristine PVC membrane. This improvement resulted from the increase of diffusivity due to the disruption of chain packing in PVC by the grafting of PVP, as confirmed by WAXS analysis. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rapid quantitative analysis of fayalite and silica formed during decarburization of electrical steel

Subscales on surfaces are affected by the temperature and oxidation potential during decarburization annealing of electrical steel containing 3 wt% silicon. Knowledge of the structural and chemical properties of the surface oxide layer subscales permits the control of high‐temperature oxidation processes in the electrical steel. In the present work, the oxide layers were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, and glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GD‐OES). The main oxide compounds formed within the subscales during decarburization annealing of the electrical steel were fayalite (Fe₂SiO₄) and silica (SiO₂). The fayalite and silica contents were quantitatively determined by wet analysis via the galvanostatic electrolysis method, and these oxide content measurements were compared with the fayalite content determined by FTIR spectrometry and the silica determined by GD‐OES. The results determined by rapid methods and wet analysis showed good agreement. The present findings show that FTIR spectrometry and GD‐OES measurements may be used for the rapid quantitative analysis of fayalite and silica in surface oxide layers during the manufacture of electrical steel. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Superior dispersion of highly reduced graphene oxide in N,N-dimethylformamide

Here, we report the effect of temperature on the extent of hydrazine reduction of graphene oxide in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF)/water (80/20 v/v) and the dispersibility of the resultant graphene in DMF. The highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) had a high C/O ratio and good dispersibility in DMF. The good dispersibility of HRGs is due to the solvation effect of DMF on graphene sheets during the hydrazine reduction, which diminishes the formation of irreversible graphene sheet aggregates. The dispersibility of the HRGs was varied from 1.66 to 0.38 mg/mL when the reduction temperature increased from 25 °C to 80 °C. The dispersibility of the HRGs was inversely proportional to the electrical conductivity of the HRGs, which varied from 17,400 to 25,500 S/m. The relationships between the C/O ratio, electrical conductivity, and dispersibility of the HRGs were determined and these properties were found to be easily controlled by manipulating the reduction temperature.     

Highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction-free quantum dot-based quantification of forensic genomic DNA

Forensic DNA samples can degrade easily due to exposure to light and moisture at the crime scene. In addition, the amount of DNA acquired at a criminal site is inherently limited. This limited amount of human DNA has to be quantified accurately after the process of DNA extraction. The accurately quantified extracted genomic DNA is then used as a DNA template in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification for short tandem repeat (STR) human identification. Accordingly, highly sensitive and human-specific quantification of forensic DNA samples is an essential issue in forensic study. In this work, a quantum dot (Qdot)-labeled Alu sequence was developed as a probe to simultaneously satisfy both the high sensitivity and human genome selectivity for quantification of forensic DNA samples. This probe provided PCR-free determination of human genomic DNA and had a 2.5-femtogram detection limit due to the strong emission and photostability of the Qdot. The Qdot-labeled Alu sequence has been used successfully to assess 18 different forensic DNA samples for STR human identification.     

A Seoul-Fluor-based bioprobe for lipid droplets and its application in image-based high throughput screening

We developed a novel fluorescent bioprobe (SF44) that can specifically visualize the cellular lipid droplets in in vitro and in vivo systems and illustrated the mechanistic rationale of its fluorogenic property. Its application to image-based high throughput screening led us to the identification of a new small-molecule modulator of lipid droplet formation.