Interactions of dicarboxylic porphyrins with membranes in relation to their ionization state

The interactions of dicarboxylic porphyrins with membrane systems are discussed with particular emphasis on the effect of the charge of the porphyrin and the nature of the side-chains. The incorporation of hematoporphyrin or related dicarboxylic porphyrins within small unilamellar vesicles as membrane models is favored by a decrease of the pH in the range of physiological pH values. This effect might play an important role in the retention of porphyrins by tumors, which are more acidic than normal tissues. Kinetics studies also show that the partition of the porphyrin between the lipidic bilayer and the aqueous phase is governed by its release rate rather than by its incorporation rate.     

DIFFUSION OF LONG CHAINS THROUGH A POROUS THIN GEL NETWORK

Using a core(142 nm)made of linear polystyrene(PS)chains as a seed,we further polymerized a thin layer of cross-linked PS shell(7 nm)on it in water to form a core-shell particle.Such a particle swells in toluene,which enables linear PS chains inside the core to gradually diffuse out through the porous shell.Using a combination of static and dynamic laser light scattering,we examined the chain diffusion process by following the change of the scattering intensity(i.e.the average molar mass of the particles).For the first time,we have revealed that the diffusion exhibits three stages.In the first stage,the chain diffusion through the shell is even faster than their translational diffusion in a dilute solution.The three stages respectively correspond to the change of the solution in the core from concentrated to semidilute and then from semidilute to dilute.     

High speed liquid chromatography with small bore columns

Using a specially designed column system, we have systematically investigated the effect of mobile phase velocity on column efficiency. The performance of small bore columns operated at different linear velocities of mobile phase was examined for three different types of injection system. Using the value of H^∞/u or n^∞/t${}_{\text{r}}^{\text{º}}$ as a criterion of a high speed separation, we calculated values of n/t${}_{\text{r}}^{\text{º}}$ for different solutes according to the equation \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {{\rm n}\mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\rm n} {{\rm t}_{\rm r}^ \circ }}}\right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\rm t}_{\rm r}^ \circ }} = {{{\rm n}^\infty } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{{\rm n}^\infty } {{\rm t}_{\rm r}^ \circ }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\rm t}_{\rm r}^ \circ }}\left({\frac{{1 + {\rm k'}}}{{{\rm k' + }\beta }}} \right)^2 $\end{document}; the results obtained are in agreement with the experimentally determined values. These systematic investigations culminated in the separation of seven compounds in less than 10 s; the respective chromatogram is shown.     

A novel design of membrane mirror with small deformation and imaging performance analysis in infrared system

A method of diminishing the shape error of membrane mirror is proposed in this paper. The inner inflating pressure is considerably decreased by adopting the pre-shaped membrane. Small deformation of the membrane mirror with greatly reduced shape error is sequentially achieved. Primarily a finite element model of the above pre-shaped membrane is built on the basis of its mechanical properties. Then accurate shape data under different pressures can be acquired by iteratively calculating the node displacements of the model. Shape data are applicable to build up deformed reflecting surfaces for the simulative analysis in ZEMAX. Finally, ground-based imaging experiments of 4-bar targets and nature scene are conducted. Experiment results indicate that the MTF of the infrared system can reach to 0.3 at a high spatial resolution of 10l p/mm, and texture details of the nature scene are well-presented. The method can provide theoretical basis and technical support for the applications in lightweight optical components with ultra-large apertures.     

Modelling and simulation of gas dynamics in an exhaust pipe

The gas dynamics in an exhaust pipe is studied. In particular we focus on the warm up of the catalytic converter in very short times after the engine start. This is done by combustion a small unburnt part of the exhaust gas. This process is classically modelled by gas dynamic equations. Compared to the existing literature we improve the (one-dimensional) modelling approach using a small Mach number technique and a network ansatz for the full exhaust pipe. The final simplified model on one hand still describes the main features and on the other hand it is computationally a few orders of magnitude faster than the original model. Performing numerical simulations we compare the new model to the (classical) full model and to experimental results in the literature.     

Investigation on slot-die coating of hybrid material structure for OLED lightings

With an attempt to fabricate large-area OLED lighting panels, we investigate slot-die coating of a small molecule (SM) hole transport layer (HTL). It is observed that SM HTL films formed by spin coating exhibit pinhole-like surface, whereas the films by slot-die coating show micro-sized hillocks due to agglomeration. As the plate temperature of the slot coater is increased, smaller hillocks appear more densely. To tackle it, a small amount of a polymer HTL is added into the SM HTL (Hybrid HTL). By the aid of entangled polymer chains, small molecules are prohibited from migrating and thus agglomerations disappear. The peak-to-peak roughness of the slot-coated hybrid HTL films is measured to be about 11.5 nm, which is slightly higher than that (~7 nm) of the polymer HTL film, but much lower than that (~1071 nm) of the SM HTL film. Similar results are also observed in spin-coated films. It is also addressed that OLED with the hybrid HTL shows higher luminous efficacy, compared to OLED with the SM HTL or the polymer HTL. We have further demonstrated that the dissolution problem occurring between two stacked layers with different solvents during slot-die coating can be suppressed to a great extent using such a combination of materials in hybrid structure.     

On actions of Drinfel'd doubles on finite dimensional algebras

Let q be an nth root of unity for $n>2$ and let $T_n(q)$ be the Taft (Hopf) algebra of dimension $n^2$. In 2001, Susan Montgomery and Hans-Jürgen Schneider classified all non-trivial $T_n(q)$-module algebra structures on an n-dimensional associative algebra A. They further showed that each such module structure extends uniquely to make A a module algebra over the Drinfel'd double of $T_n(q)$. We explore what it is about the Taft algebras that leads to this uniqueness, by examining actions of (the Drinfel'd double of) Hopf algebras H “close” to the Taft algebras on finite-dimensional algebras analogous to A above. Such Hopf algebras H include the Sweedler (Hopf) algebra of dimension 4, bosonizations of quantum linear spaces, and the Frobenius–Lusztig kernel $u_q({\mathfrak{sl}}_2)$.     

Quasipatterns versus superlattices resulting from the superposition of two hexagonal patterns

We present a short review of the experimental observations and mechanisms related to the generation of quasipatterns and superlattices by the Faraday instability with two-frequency forcing. We show how two-frequency forcing makes possible triad interactions that generate hexagonal patterns, twelvefold quasipatterns or superlattices that consist of two hexagonal patterns rotated by an angle α relative to each other. We then consider which patterns could be observed when α does not belong to the set of prescribed values that give rise to periodic superlattices. Using the Swift–Hohenberg equation as a model, we find that quasipattern solutions exist for nearly all values of α. However, these quasipatterns have not been observed in experiments with the Faraday instability for $\alpha \ne \mathrm{\pi }/6$. We discuss possible reasons and mention a simpler framework that could give some hint about this problem.     

Tailoring the morphology and properties of waterborne polyurethanes by the procedure of cellulose nanocrystal incorporation

Polyurethane waterborne synthesis was performed using a two-step method, commonly referred to as a prepolymer method. Nanocomposites based on waterborne polyurethane and cellulose nanocrystals were prepared by the prepolymer method by altering the mode and step in which the nanofillers were incorporated during the polyurethane formation. The morphology, structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of the resulting nanocomposite films were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and tensile tests. FTIR results indicated that the degree of interaction between the nanofillers and the WPU through hydrogen bonds could be controlled by the method of cellulose nanocrystal incorporation. Data obtained from SAXS experiments showed that the cellulose nanocrystals as well as the step of the reaction in which they are added influenced the morphology of the polyurethane. The reinforcing effect of CNCs on the nanocomposites depends on their morphology.     

Chiral bidiaziridines by a two-step domino aziridination of meso-α-diimines

Chiral racemic α-diimines, tested in aziridination reactions with NsONHCO₂Et, for the first time led to the synthesis of (±)-bidiaziridines, stereoselectively derived from the corresponding meso (E-s-trans-E)-α-diimines. Moreover, a minor bidiaziridine isomer, probably a meso form that was lost under classical work-up conditions, can be obtained by adding water to the crude mixtures at the end of amination reactions. The results definitively prove that the imine aziridination by carbamates is a two-step domino process. The structures of the compounds were determined using 2D NMR on purified bidiaziridines.