Spherical Particles of Zirconia-Titania of Hexagonal Structure from a Neutral Amine Route

Through the sol–gel process, using the so-called neutral amine route, spherical particles of 1:1 zirconia–titania were synthesized from zirconium(IV) and titanium(IV) butoxides as well as 1,12-diaminododecane as precursor species. The obtained product exhibited a hexagonal structure, as determinated by X-ray diffraction data. The obtained material was also characterized by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and surface area measurements. Despite the release of template molecules on heating, the spherical morphology was retained up to about 1200°C, at which the disruption of the spheres took place.     

Effects of Adsorbed Polyaniline on Redox Process on MoO3 Surface

The effects exhibited by adsorbed conducting polyaniline on the redox process on a molybdenum oxide surface were studied. Thermogravimetric results indicate a 4% polyaniline deposition. Cyclic voltammograms of the adsorbed polymer on MoO3 show that polyaniline exerts remarkable effects on the molybdenum blue oxidation-reduction process, with oxidation and reduction potentials of 0.33 and 0.18 V, respectively. This effect strongly enhances the electrode response, and can be used as an important tool in qualitative and/or quantitative determinations of molybdenum in solution as well as in any substrate. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

Direct atomic force microscopy observation of DNA tile crystal growth at the single-molecule level

While the theoretical implications of models of DNA tile self-assembly have been extensively researched and such models have been used to design DNA tile systems for use in experiments, there has been little research testing the fundamental assumptions of those models. In this paper, we use direct observation of individual tile attachments and detachments of two DNA tile systems on a mica surface imaged with an atomic force microscope (AFM) to compile statistics of tile attachments and detachments. We show that these statistics fit the widely used kinetic Tile Assembly Model and demonstrate AFM movies as a viable technique for directly investigating DNA tile systems during growth rather than after assembly.     

Thermodynamics and kinetics of DNA nanotube polymerization from single-filament measurements

DNA nanotubes provide a programmable architecture for molecular self-assembly and can serve as model systems for one-dimensional biomolecular assemblies. While a variety of DNA nanotubes have been synthesized and employed as models for natural biopolymers, an extensive investigation of DNA nanotube kinetics and thermodynamics has been lacking. Using total internal reflection microscopy, DNA nanotube polymerization was monitored in real time at the single filament level over a wide range of free monomer concentrations and temperatures. The measured polymerization rates were subjected to a global nonlinear fit based on polymerization theory in order to simultaneously extract kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. For the DNA nanotubes used in this study, the association rate constant is (5.99 ± 0.15) × 10⁵ M^–1 s^–1, the enthalpy is 87.9 ± 2.0 kcal mol^–1, and the entropy is 0.252 ± 0.006 kcal mol^–1 K^–1. The qualitative and quantitative similarities between the kinetics of DNA nanotubes, actin filaments, and microtubules polymerization highlight the prospect of building complex dynamic systems from DNA molecules inspired by biological architecture.     

HL-2M 装置电子回旋共振加热及电流驱动系统设计与研制进展

根据 HL-2M 装置物理实验加热的需求,完成了总功率为 8MW 的电子回旋共振加热及电流驱动 (ECRH/ECCD)系统设计,开展了波源、传输及天线等关键部件研制。8MW ECRH/ECCD 系统,由 8 套 105GHz/  1MW/3s 波源系统、8 条内径为 63.5mm 的真空传输线及三套极向实时可控的发射天线构成。目前,已完成 ECRH/ECCD 系统关键部件研制及其相关的桌面与高功率性能测试。测试结果表明,微波源回旋管输出微波功率 达到1MW/3s,在真空度为 10^‒2Pa 的过模波纹圆波导传输线中能低耗稳定传输,发射天线极向全量程角度转动响 应时间在 50ms 以内。      

Effects of Adsorbed Polyaniline on Redox Processes on As(2)O(3) Surfaces

Polyaniline deposited on As(2)O(3) surface resulted in a new material, which was characterized by infrared spectoscopy, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetry. The mass percentage of polymer deposited on oxide surface is approximately 13%. The scanning electron microscopy images as well as the X-ray diffraction patterns provided conclusive evidence that the oxide surface is coated by the polymer. The cyclic voltammograms of the polyaniline adsorbed on As(2)O(3) surface showed that the adsorbate exerts remarkable effects on redox processes on this oxide. The pure oxide exhibited two oxidation/reduction peaks at 0.25/-0.06 and 0.47/-0.25 V attributed tentatively to the processes As(2)O(3)(s)+6H(+)+6e(-)=2As(s)+3H(2)O and As(s)+3H(+)+3e(-)=AsH(3)(g), respectively. The polyaniline-coated sample exhibited a better-defined voltammogram in which the first oxidation peak of the oxide had its intensity increased about four times. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

C-H-pi interactions in 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetraphenylborate molten salt: solid and solution structures

The crystal structure of 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetraphenylborate molten salt (1) shows C-H-pi interactions between the hydrogens of the imidazolium cation and the phenyl rings of the tetraphenylborate anion. The imidazolium ring is surrounded by three tetraphenylborate anions that are connected with the same cation by C-H-pi (phenyl rings) interactions. The nearest inter-ion interaction is found between the N-CH-N proton of the cation and the B-phenyl centroid (2.349 A) with a nearly T-shaped geometry. The inter-ionic solution structure of 1 has been investigated by the detection of inter-ionic contacts in 1H NOESY NMR spectra between the protons of the cation and the anion. The 1H-NMR spectra of molten salt 1 is almost independent of its concentration in [D6]DMSO solution, the imidazolium proton chemical shifts are in the expected region and there are no observable NOE effects between the protons of the cation with those of the anion, indicating that 1 behaves in [D6]DMSO as a solvent-separated ion pair. In CDCl3 the 1H-NMR spectra of 1 are concentration dependent and all the imidazolium protons are shielded as compared with those observed in [D6]DMSO. Moreover, the 1H NOESY NMR spectra show all the peaks affected by the interaction between the protons of the imidazolium cation and those of the anion, indicating that in CDCl3 1 possesses a contact ion pair structure. The NCHN proton of the cation exhibits the greatest shielding (up to -4.5 ppm). an indication of the existence of C-H-pi interactions, even in solution. The calculated distance of this proton to the phenyl centroid is 2.3 A for a C-H -pi angle of 180 degrees. The apparent volumes for the cation and anion, calculated from the measured 13C-NMR relaxation times, increase from 38 and 140 A3 in [D6]DMSO to 360 and 600 A3 in CDCl3, respectively; this indicates the formation of floating aggregates of the type (1)(n) in CDCl3 via weak hydrogen bonds, with increasing concentration.     

Pulp Enhancement of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFBs) via Biobleaching by Using Xylano-Pectinolytic Enzymes of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ADI2

The present work reports the biobleaching effect on OPEFB pulp upon utilisation of extracellular xylano-pectinolytic enzymes simultaneously yielded from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ADI2. The impacts of different doses, retention times, pH, and temperatures required for the pulp biobleaching process were delineated accordingly. Here, the OPEFB pulp was subjected to pre-treatment with xylano-pectinolytic enzymes generated from the same alkalo-thermotolerant isolate that yielded those of higher quality. Remarkable enhanced outcomes were observed across varying pulp attributes: for example, enzyme-treated pulp treated to chemical bleaching sequence generated improved brightness of 11.25%. This resulted in 11.25% of less chlorine or chemical consumption required for obtaining pulp with optical attributes identical to those generated via typical chemical bleaching processes. Ultimately, the reduced consumption of chlorine would minimise the organochlorine compounds found in an effluent, resulting in a lowered environmental effect of paper-making processes overall as a consequence. This will undoubtedly facilitate such environmentally-friendly technology incorporation in the paper pulp industry of today.