Capillary flow behavior of worm‐like micelles studied by small‐angle X‐ray scattering and small angle light scattering

A novel capillary flow device has been developed and applied to study the orientation of worm‐like micelles, among other systems. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) data from micelles formed by a Pluronic block copolymer in aqueous salt solution provides evidence for the formation of worm‐like micelles, which align under flow. A transition from a rod‐like form factor to a less persistent conformation is observed under flow. Flow alignment of worm‐like micelles formed by the low molar mass amphiphile system cetyl pyridinium chloride+sodium salicylate is studied for comparative purposes. Here, inhomogenous flow at the micron scale is revealed by streaks in the small‐angle light scattering pattern perpendicular to the flow direction. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of a competitive liposome-based lateral flow assay for the rapid detection of the allergenic peanut protein Ara h1

A competitive lateral flow assay for detecting the major peanut allergen, Ara h1, has been developed. The detector reagents are Ara h1-tagged liposomes, and the capture reagents are anti-Ara h1 polyclonal antibodies. Two types of rabbit polyclonal antibodies were raised either against the entire Ara h1 molecules (anti-Ara h1 Ab) or against an immunodominant epitope on Ara h1 (anti-peptide Ab). All of them reacted specifically with Ara h1 in Western Blot against crude peanut proteins. Moreover, the anti-Ara h1 Ab was chosen for this assay development because of its highest immunoactivity to Ara h1-tagged liposomes in the lateral flow assay. The calculated limit of detection (LOD) of this assay is 0.45 g mL^–1 of Ara h1 with a dynamic range between 0.1 and 10 g mL^–1 of Ara h1 in buffer. Additionally, the visually determined detection range is from 1 to 10 g mL^–1 of Ara h1 in buffer. Results using this assay can be obtained within 30 min without the need of sophisticated equipment or techniques; therefore, this lateral flow assay has the potential to be a cost-effective, fast, simple, and sensitive method for on-site screening of peanut allergens.     

Synthesis and structural revision of naturally occurring ayapin derivatives

The synthesis of three highly oxygenated naturally occurring coumarins, 8-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin, 5-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin and 5,8-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin is described for the first time, together with a new method for the preparation of ayapin (6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin). Comparison of the spectroscopic data of the synthetic tetraoxygenated coumarin 5,8-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin with literature reports resulted in the structural revision of several natural coumarins. Two coumarins, both identified as 5,8-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin must have other structures, while the structure of another coumarin, described as the isomeric 7,8-dimethoxy-5,6-methylenedioxycoumarin has to be revised to 5,8-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin.     

A Self‐Sampling‐and‐Flow Biosensor for Continuous Monitoring

A self‐sampling‐and‐flow biosensor was fabricated by sandwiching a nitrocellulose strip on the working electrode side of the double‐sided microporous gold electrodes and a wicking pad on the counter electrode side. The double‐sided microporous electrodes were formed by plasma sputtering of gold on a porous nylon substrate. Sample was taken up to the enzyme‐immobilized working electrode by the capillary action of the front nitrocellulose strip dipped into the sample solution, analyzed electrochemically at the enzyme‐immobilized electrode, and diffuses out to the backside wicking pad through the micropores of the electrodes, constituting a complete flow cell device with no mechanical liquid‐transporting device. Biosensor was formed by co‐immobilizing the glucose oxidase and electron transfer mediator (ferrocene acetic acid) on the thioctic acid self‐assembled monolayer‐modified working electrode. A typical response time of the biosensor was about 5 min with the sensitivity of 2.98 nA/mM glucose, providing linear response up to 22.5 mM. To demonstrate the use of self‐sampling‐and‐flow biosensor, the consumption rate of glucose in the presence of yeast was monitored for five days.     

Highly sensitive catalytic determination of molybdenum

A novel, highly sensitive, selective, and simple kinetic method was developed for the determination of Mo(VI) based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of 1-amino-2-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid (ANSA) with H₂O₂. The reaction was followed spectrophotometrically by tracing the oxidized product at 465 nm after 30 min of mixing the reagents. The optimum reaction conditions were: 10 mmol l⁻¹ ANSA, 50 mmol l⁻¹ H₂O₂, 100 mmol l⁻¹ acetate buffer of pH 5.0 ± 0.05 and at 40 °C. Addition of 200 μg ml⁻¹ diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) conferred high selectivity for the proposed method. Following the recommended procedure, Mo(VI) could be determined with a linear calibration graph up to 2.5 ng ml⁻¹ and a detection limit, based on the 3S_b-criterion, of 0.027 ng ml⁻¹. The unique sensitivity and selectivity of the implemented method allowed its direct application to the determination of Mo(VI) in natural and industrial waste water. The method was validated by comparison with the standard ETAAS method. Moreover, published catalytic-spectrophotometric methods for the determination of molybdenum were reviewed.     

Hall effects and entropy generation applications for peristaltic flow of modified hybrid nanofluid with electroosmosis phenomenon

The electroosmotic peristaltic flow of modified hybrid nanofluid in presence of entropy generation has been presented in this thermal model. The Hall impact and thermal radiation with help of nonlinear relations has also been used to modify the analysis. The assumed flow is considered due to a non-uniform trapped channel. The properties of modified hybrid nanofluid model are focused with interaction of three distinct types of nanoparticles namely copper ($Cu)$, silver ($Ag$) and aluminum oxide ($A{l}_2{O}_3).$ The mathematical modeling and significances of entropy generation and Bejan number are identified. With certain flow assumptions, the governing equations are attained for optimized peristaltic electroosmotic problem. Widely used assumptions of long wave length and low Reynolds number reduced the governing equations in ordinary differential equations. The ND solver is flowed for the solution process. The physical significant of results is observed by assigning the numerical values to parameters.     

Thermodynamic quantities for the interaction of SO 4 2− with H+ and Na+ in aqueous solution from 150 to 320°C

The aqueous reactions,

Improved method for the determination of sulfur components in natural gas

Determination of trace concentrations of sulfur components in natural gas is a true analytical challenge. Only analytical procedures based on gas chromatography can meet the sensitivity and accuracy requirements dictated by environmental regulation institutions and modern chemical industry. In the present contribution the sample pretreatment and chromatographic separation steps have been evaluated and optimized based on the use of a flamebased sulfur chemiluminescence detector (SCD) for target compound detection. The proposed instrument consists of a programmed temperature vaporizing (PTV) injector employing a liner packed with Chromosorb 104, a 4 μm thick film apolar column and a flame-based SCD. Using a 13 mL sample loop the detection limit achievable with the new method is 3 μg S/m³. The precision of replicate measure. ments is generally in the range of 5–15% relative standard deviation. Lower detection limits can be achieved by preconcentrating larger sample volumes, e.g. 100 mL.     

Rewiring cellular metabolism for heterologous biosynthesis of Taxol

Abstract

Taxol is one of the anticancer drugs synthesized naturally in the evergreen Taxus brevifolia forest tree belonging to the yew family (Taxaceae) growing on the Pacific. There are reportedly evidence for treating ovarian, breast and lung cancers through this drug given its unique structural and functional features. Extraction of this drug from yew trees bark is one of the most common ways of producing this drug, but 3000 trees are needed to obtain a kilogram of Taxol. Hence, further attention has recently been attracted to the metabolic engineering strategies, including, engineering cellular metabolism of microorganisms and their optimization. Accordingly, the present paper article was aimed to review recent advances in elevating the production and commercialization of Taxol through metabolic engineering techniques.     

Modulated differential scanning calorimetry in the glass transition region

Temperature-modulated calorimetry (TMC) allows the experimental evaluation of the kinetic parameters of the glass transition from quasi-isothermal experiments. In this paper, model calculations based on experimental data are presented for the total and reversing apparent heat capacities on heating and cooling through the glass transition region as a function of heating rate and modulation frequency for the modulated differential scanning calorimeter (MDSC). Amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) is used as the example polymer and a simple first-order kinetics is fitted to the data. The total heat flow carries the hysteresis information (enthalpy relaxation, thermal history) and indications of changes in modulation frequency due to the glass transition. The reversing heat flow permits the assessment of the first and higher harmonics of the apparent heat capacities. The computations are carried out by numerical integrations with up to 5000 steps. Comparisons of the calculations with experiments are possible. As one moves further from equilibrium, i.e. the liquid state, cooperative kinetics must be used to match model and experiment.On leave from Toray Industries, Inc., Otsu, Shiga 520, Japan.This work was supported by the Division of Materials Research, National Science Foundation, Polymers Program, Grant # DMR 90-00520 and the Division of Materials Sciences, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U. S. Department of Energy at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corp. for the U. S. Department of Energy, under contract number DE-AC05-96OR22464. Support for instrumentation came from TA Instruments, Inc. Research support was also given by ICI Paints, and Toray Industries, Inc.