Decreasing the shell ratio of core-shell type nanoparticles with a ceria core and polymer shell by acid treatment

Core-shell type nanoparticles with a ceria core and polymer shell have good dispersibility. Some applications, such as fillers for increasing the refractive index and/or protecting resin films from ultraviolet (UV) light, i.e., UV cutting, require a smaller shell. Previous studies have decreased the shell weight by heat treatment in gas; however, the dispersibility of the treated nanoparticles was poor in water or alcohol. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of acid treatment for decreasing the shell weight and also evaluated the dispersibility of acid-treated nanoparticles. The thus-formed nanoparticles treated by acetic acid and formic acid show not only good dispersibility but also a well decreased shell thickness. The structure of the shell after acetic acid treatment was found to be the same as that of the untreated core-shell nanoparticles; moreover, acetic acid was present in the shell. Furthermore, by using the acetic-acid-treated nanoparticles, a transparent resin film without nanoparticle aggregation could be obtained.     

C−H Functionalisation for Hydrogen Isotope Exchange

The various applications of hydrogen isotopes (deuterium, D, and tritium, T) in the physical and life sciences demand a range of methods for their installation in an array of molecular architectures. In this Review, we describe recent advances in synthetic C?H functionalisation for hydrogen isotope exchange.     

Influence of the formulation of catalysts deposited on cordierite monoliths for acetic acid oxidation

Monolithic catalysts are prepared by washcoating cordierite monoliths with different sols (Pt/Al₂O₃, Pt/CeO₂, Pt/ZrO₂, Pt/Al₂O₃CeO₂, Pt/Al₂O₃ZrO₂, and Pt/CeO₂ZrO₂). These sols are prepared by a sol–gel process and characterized by specific surface area (S_BET), inductively coupled plasma, hydrogen chemisorption, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, oxygen storage capacity, X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction, CO₂ chemisorption, and the model reaction of 3,3-dimethylbutene isomerization. The catalytic performances of the monolithic catalysts are then evaluated for the acetic acid oxidation. The nature of catalyst coating has been found to influence the adherence with the cordierite monolith and the presence of cerium in the catalyst appears to increase the adherence of the latter. Pt/CeO₂, Pt/Al₂O₃CeO₂, and Pt/CeO₂ZrO₂ are found to be the most reducible catalysts (oxygen storage capacity and temperature-programmed reduction) and to have the lowest acidities (3,3-dimethylbutene isomerization). CO₂ chemisorption shows that these catalysts possess a good basicity. From the relation established between the catalytic activity and the redox and acid–base properties it has been concluded that the reducibility is the key factor for a good catalytic activity although the basicity has a significant influence on the catalytic performance.     

面向DNA甲基化修饰分析的质谱技术

DNA甲基化作为表观遗传修饰中一种重要的调控方式,通过调控基因的表达,从而影响机体内一系列的生物学过程。色谱-质谱法是研究DNA甲基化修饰的重要研究手段。随着对哺乳动物DNA甲基化的生物学功能的深入研究,应用于研究表观遗传修饰的手段与仪器设备越来越先进。为了对DNA修饰进行定性与定量的分析检测,除了高效液相色谱整合不同种类质量分析器的质谱联用（HPLC-MS）技术外,目前还开发应用了基质辅助激光解析质谱技术（MALDI-ToF-MS）和气相色谱-质谱联用技术（GC-MS）,从而极大拓展了DNA甲基化修饰研究的手段。本文对分析表观遗传DNA甲基化修饰的质谱技术发展进行综述,希望为DNA甲基化修饰分析提供有价值的研究策略。     

The second variation of nonorientable minimal submanifolds

Suppose is a complete nonorientable minimal submanifold of a Riemannian manifold . We derive a second variation formula for the area of with respect to certain perturbations, giving a sufficient condition for the instability of . Some simple applications are given: we show that the totally geodesic is the only stable surface in , and we show the non-existence of stable nonorientable cones in . We reproduce and marginally extend some known results in the truly non-compact setting.

     

Calorimetric determination of the heats of formation of lanthanide monosulfate complexes in D2O1

Heats of formation of rate-earth monosulfate complexes have been measured calorimetrically for the ions La³⁺, Sm³⁺, Tb³⁺, and Er³⁺, in D₂O and H₂O solvents. Within the limits of experimental error there is no evidence for a solvent isotope effect on the heat and entropy changes of these complexation reactions.This paper was abstracted from W.D.W.'s Ph.D. dissertation, May 1973.     

Voltammetric determination of coenzyme Q10 in pharmaceutical dosage forms

A simple and rapid voltammetric method has been developed for the quantitative determination of coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) in pharmaceutical preparations. Studies with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were carried out using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in a mixed solvent containing 80 vol.% acetic acid and 20 vol.% acetonitrile. A well-defined reduction peak of CoQ(10) was obtained at -20 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. The voltammetric technique applied provides a precise determination of CoQ(10) using the multiple standard addition method. The statistical parameters and the recovery study data clearly indicate good reproducibility and accuracy of the method. The accuracy of the results assessed by recovery trials was observed to be within the range of 101.1% to 102.5%. The detection and quantification limits were found to be 0.014 mM (12 mg L(-1)) and 0.046 mM (40 mg L(-1)), respectively. An analysis of real samples containing CoQ(10) showed no interferences with common additives and excipients, such as unsaturated fatty acids and soya lecithin. The method proposed does not require any pretreatment of the pharmaceutical dosage forms. A spectrophotometric determination of CoQ(10) in real samples diluted in mixtures containing ethanol and n-hexane was also performed for comparison.     

Monitoring of substrate and product concentrations in acetic fermentation processes for onion vinegar production by NIR spectroscopy: value addition to worthless onions

Wastes and by-products of the onion-processing industry pose an increasing disposal and environmental problem and represent a loss of valuable sources of nutrients. The present study focused on the production of vinegar from worthless onions as a potential valorisation route which could provide a viable solution to multiple disposal and environmental problems, simultaneously offering the possibility of converting waste materials into a useful food-grade product and of exploiting the unique properties and health benefits of onions. This study deals specifically with the second and definitive step of the onion vinegar production process: the efficient production of vinegar from onion waste by transforming onion ethanol, previously produced by alcoholic fermentation, into acetic acid via acetic fermentation. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), coupled with multivariate calibration methods, has been used to monitor the concentrations of both substrates and products in acetic fermentation. Separate partial least squares (PLS) regression models, correlating NIR spectral data of fermentation samples with each kinetic parameter studied, were developed. Wavelength selection was also performed applying the iterative predictor weighting–PLS (IPW-PLS) method in order to only consider significant spectral features in each model development to improve the quality of the final models constructed. Biomass, substrate (ethanol) and product (acetic acid) concentration were predicted in the acetic fermentation of onion alcohol with high accuracy using IPW-PLS models with a root-mean-square error of the residuals in external prediction (RMSEP) lower than 2.5% for both ethanol and acetic acid, and an RMSEP of 6.1% for total biomass concentration (a very satisfactory result considering the relatively low precision and accuracy associated with the reference method used for determining the latter). Thus, the simple and reliable calibration models proposed in this study suggest that they could be implemented in routine applications to monitor and predict the key species involved in the acetic fermentation of onion alcohol, allowing the onion vinegar production process to be controlled in real time.     

In vitro translation with [<Superscript>34</Superscript>S]-labeled methionine,selenomethionine, and telluromethionine

Heteroisotope and heteroatom tagging with [³⁴S]-enriched methionine (Met), selenomethionine (SeMet), and telluromethionine (TeMet) was applied to in vitro translation. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and JNK stimulatory phosphatase-1 (JSP-1) genes were translated with wheat germ extract (WGE) in the presence of Met derivatives. GFPs containing Met derivatives were subjected to HPLC coupled with treble detection, i.e., a photodiode array detector, a fluorescence detector, and an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The activities of JSP-1-containing Met derivatives were also measured. GFP and JSP-1 containing [³⁴S]-Met and SeMet showed comparable fluorescence intensities and enzyme activities to those containing naturally occurring Met. TeMet was unstable and decomposed in WGE, whereas SeMet was stable throughout the experimental period. Thus, although Te was the most sensitive to ICP-MS detection among S, Se, and Te, TeMet was less incorporated into the proteins than Met and SeMet. Finally, the potential of heteroisotope and heteroatom tagging of desired proteins in in vitro translation followed by ICP-MS detection was discussed. Figure TeMet was less incorporated into GFP than Met and SeMet due to its instability in WGE