Electropolymerization of azure B on a screen-printed carbon electrode and its application to the determination of NADH in a flow injection analysis system

The electrooxidation polymerization of azure B on screen-printed carbon electrodes in neutral phosphate buffer was studied. The poly(azure B) modified electrodes exhibited excellent electrocatalysis and stability for dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidation in phosphate buffer (pH 6.9), with an overpotential of more than 400 mV lower than that at the bare electrodes. Different techniques, including cyclic voltammetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have been employed to characterize the poly (azure B) film. Furthermore, the modified screen-printed carbon electrodes were found to be promising as an amperometric detector for the flow injection analysis (FIA) of NADH, typically with a dynamic range of 0.5 muM to 100 muM.

Facile synthesis and photoluminescent properties of redispersible CeF3, CeF3 : Tb3+, and CeF3 : Tb3+/LaF3 (core/shell) nanoparticles

CeF3, CeF3:Tb3+, and CeF3:Tb3+/LaF3 (core/shell) nanoparticles were prepared by the polyol method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), UV-vis absorption spectra, photoluminescence (PL) spectra, and lifetimes. The results of XRD indicate that the obtained CeF3, CeF3:Tb3+, and CeF3:Tb3+/LaF3 (core/shell) nanoparticles crystallized well at 200 degrees C in diethylene glycol (DEG) with a hexagonal structure. The TEM images illustrate that the CeF3 and CeF3:Tb3+ nanoparticles are spherical with a mean diameter of 7 nm. The growth of the LaF3 shell around the CeF3:Tb3+ core nanoparticles resulted in an increase of the average size (11 nm) of the nanopaticles as well as in a broadening of their size distribution. These nanocrystals can be well-dispersed in ethanol to form clear colloidal solutions. The colloidal solutions of CeF3 and CeF3:Tb3+ show the characteristic emission of Ce3+ 5d-4f (320 nm) and Tb3+ D-5(4)-F-7(J) (J = 6-3, with D-5(4)-F-7(5) green emission at 542 nm as the strongest one) transitions, respectively. The emission intensity and lifetime of the CeF3:Tb3+/LaF3 (core/shell) nanoparticles increased with respect to those of CeF3:Tb3+ core particles.

Study of facilitated potassium ion transfer across a water vertical bar 1,2-dichloroethane interface using different phase volume ratio systems

A study of potassium ion transfer across a water \ 1,2-dichloroethane (W \ DCE) interface facilitated by dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) with various phase volume ratio systems is presented. The key point was that a droplet of aqueous solution containing a redox couple, Fe(CN)(6)(3-)/Fe(CN)(6)(4-), with equal molar ratio, was first attached to a platinum electrode surface, and the resulting droplet electrode was then immersed into the organic solution containing a hydrophobic electrolyte to construct a platinum electrode/aqueous phase/organic phase system. The interfacial potential of the W \ DCE within the series could be externally controlled because the specific compositions in the aqueous droplet make the Pt electrode function like a reference electrode as long as the concentration ratio of Fe(CN)(6)(3-)/Fe(CN)(6)(4-) remains constant. In this way, a conventional three-electrode potentiostat can be used to study the ion transfer process at a liquid \ liquid (L \ L) interface facilitated by an ionophore with variable phase volume ratio (r = V-o/V-w). The effect of r on ion transfer and facilitated ion transfer was studied in detail experimentally. We also demonstrated that as low as 5 x 10(-8) M DB18C6 could be determined using this method due to the effect of the high phase volume ratio.

Bienzymatic amperometric biosensor for glucose based on polypyrrole/ceramic carbon as electrode material

A novel amperometric biosensor utilizing two enzymes, glucose oxidase (GOD) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), was developed for the cathodic detection of glucose. The glucose biosensor was constructed by electrochemical formation of a polypyrrole (PPy) membrane in the presence of GOD on the surface of a HRP-modified sol-gel derived-mediated ceramic carbon electrode. Ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FCA) was used as mediator to transfer electron between enzyme and electrode. In the hetero-bilayer configuration of electrode, all enzymes were well immobilized in electrode matrices and showed favorable enzymatic activities. The amperometric detection of glucose was carried out at +0.16 V (versus saturated calomel reference electrode (SCE)) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.9) with a linear response range between 8.0 x 10(-5) and 1.3 x 10(-3) M glucose. The biosensor showed a good suppression of interference in the amperometric detection.

Lasing behavior in DCM-doped PVK microcavity

A surface emitting microcavity was formed by sandwiching a polymer film containing PVK, Alq(3) and DCM between a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) with a reflectivity of 99% and a silver film (300 nm). The lasing phenomenon was observed in DCM-doped PVK microcavity. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) was 0.6 nm with the peak wavelength at 603 nm. The threshold energy for lasing was estimated to be about 2.5 mu J per pulse. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

Structure of coordination polymer, [Zn(bipy)(H2O)(3)SO4] center dot 2H(2)O (bipy=4,4 '-bipyridine)

The crystal of the title compound (C10H18N2O9SZn M-r=407.69) belongs to the hexagonal system, space group P 6(5) with cell parameters: a=11.411 (2), c=20.908(4) Angstrom, V=2357.7(7) Angstrom(3), Z=6, D-c=1.723g/cm(3), F(000)=1260, mu(MoKa)=1.743mm(-1). The final R and omega R factors are 0.072 and 0.178 respectively for 1335 observed reflections. in the structure, zinc ions are bridged by 4,4'-bipyridine to form infinite chains. The sheets containing parallel chains stack along a 65 screw axis to give a helical staircase motif. The helical structure is mainly controlled by the hydrogen bonds.

Ceramic carbon/polypyrrole materials for the construction of bienzymatic amperometric biosensor for glucose

A novel amperometric glucose biosensor was constructed by electrochemical formation of a polypyrrole (PPy) membrane in the presence of glucose oxidase (GOD) on the surface of a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) modified ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FCA) mediated sol-gel derived ceramic carbon electrode. The amperometric detection of glucose was carried out at +0.16 V (vs. SCE) in 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.9) with a linear response range between 8.0x10(-5) and 1.3x10(-3) mol/L of glucose. The biosensor showed a good suppression of interference and a negligible deviation in the amperometric detection.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid by ferrocene in lipid film cast on a glassy carbon electrode

A ferrocene-dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) film electrode was prepared by casting the solution of ferrocene and DMPC in chloroform onto a glassy carbon electrode surface. Ferrocene retained in the biological membrane gave a couple of irreversible peaks of cyclic voltammogram. The electrode exhibited good electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of ascorbic acid (H(2)A) in phosphate buffer (pH 6.64) with an anodic peak potential of +340 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). The anodic current was directly proportional to the square root of the scan rate below 150 mV s(-1). The influence of the pH value was investigated and it was observed that pH 6.64 was the suitable value to the anodic peak potential and current. The thickness of the film and the interference of uric acid were also studied. The electrode can be used to determine H(2)A in the presence of equimolar uric acid. The catalytic peak current increased linearly with the concentration of H(2)A in the range of 1 X 10(-4)-5 X 10(-3) mol L-1.

Fractal roughness characterization of super-ground Mn-Zn ferrite single crystals

The surface of superground Mn-Zn ferrite single crystal may be identified as a self-affine fractal in the stochastic sense. The rms roughness increased as a power of the scale from 10(2) nm to 10(6) nm with the roughness exponent alpha = 0.17 +/- 0.04, and 0.11 +/- 0.06, for grinding feed rate of 15 and 10 mu m/rev, respectively. The scaling behavior coincided with the theory prediction well used for growing self-affine surfaces in the interested region for magnetic heads performance. The rms roughnesses increased with increase in the feed rate, implying that the feed rate is a crucial grinding parameter affecting the supersmooth surface roughness in the machining process.

STUDIES ON ORGANOLANTHANIDE COMPLEXES .40. SYNTHESIS AND X-RAY STRUCTURE OF BIS (2-METHOXYETHYLCYCLOPENTADIENYL) YTTRIUM AND YTTERBIUM TETRAHYDROBORATES

New bis (2-methoxyethylcyclopentadienyl) yttrium and ytterbium tetrahydroborates (Ln = Y, 1; Yb, 2) have been synthesized in good yield by the reaction of bis (2-methoxyethylcyclopentadienyl) lanthanide chlorides (Ln = Y, Yb) with sodium borohydride in THF at room temperature. The title complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, MS, H-1 NMR and IR spectra. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by X-ray diffraction. 1 crystallizes from THF-n-Hexane in space group Pna2(1) with unit cell parametert: a = 1.2390(3), b = 1.1339(2), c = 1.1919 (2) nm and V = 1.6745(6) nm3 with z = 4 for D(c) = 1.39 g.cm-3.The structure was solved by direct method and refined to final R = 0.061 (for 1730 observed reflections). The Space group of 2 is Pna2(1) with unit cell parameters: a = 1.2399(6), b = 1.1371(5), c = 1.1897(2) nm and V = 1.6773(1) nm3 with z = 4 for D(c) = 1.72 g.cm-3, R = 0.038 (for 2157 observed reflections). The X ray structures and IR reveal the bidentate yttrium and ytterbium tetrahydroborate complexes with the intramolecular coordination bonds between lanthanide metal and ligand oxygen atoms.

Comparison of photobioreactors for cultivation of Undaria pinnatifida gametophytes

Undaria pinnatifida gametophytes were grown in 2.5 l bubble column and airlift reactor at 25 degreesC and light intensity of 40 mumol m(-2) s(-1) for 6 days. With aeration at 1 l min(-1), the airlift reactor yielded higher growth rate (0.12 mg DW ml(-1) d(-1)) than a bubble column (0.08 mg DW ml(-1) d(-1)). The advantages were related to the more homogeneous fluid dynamic characteristics of the airlift reactor.

Paleoenvironment evolution of the East Philippine Sea recorded in the new-type ferromanganese crust since the terminal Late Miocene

From systemic research of microstructure, geochemistry, uranium-series and Be-10 isotope dating on a new-type deepwater ferromanganese crust from the East Philippine Sea, the paleoenvironment evolution of the target area since the terminal Late Miocene was recovered. The vertical section changes of microstructure and chemical composition are consistent in the studied crust, which indicate three major accretion periods and corresponding paleoenvironment evolution of the crust. The bottom crust zone was formed in the terminal Late Miocene (5.6 Ma) with loose microstructure, high detritus content and high growth rate. Reductions of mineral element content, accretion rate and positive Ce-anomaly degree at 4.6 Ma indicate temporal warming, which went against the crust accretion and finally formed an accretion gap in the terminal Middle Pliocene (2.8-2.7 Ma). The more active Antarctic bottom seawaters in the Late Pliocene (2.7 Ma) facilitated the fast transfer to the top pure crust zone. Hereafter, with the further apart of volcanic source and the keeping increase of eolian material (1.0 Ma), although surrounding conditions were still favorable, mineral element content still shows an obvious reducing trend. It thereby offers new carrier and data for the unclear paleoceanographic research of the target area since the terminal Late Miocene.

Bromophenols from the red alga Rhodomela confervoides

Six new bromophenols, 3-bromo-4,5-bis(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)pyrocatechol (1), 2,2',3-tribromo-3',4,4',5-tetrahydroxy-6'-hydroxymethyldiphenylmethane (2), 2,2',3-tribromo-3',4,4',5-tetrahydroxy-6'-ethyloxymethyldiphenylmethane (3),(+/-)-2-methyl-3-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)propylaldehyde (4), (+/-)-2-methyl-3-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)propylaldehyde dimethyl acetal (5), and 3-bromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester (6), together with eight known bromophenols, 3-bromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (7), 2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol (lanosol, 8), 2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl methyl ether (9), 2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl ethyl ether (10), 2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzylaldehyde (11), bis(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl) ether (12), 3-bromo-4-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-5-methoxymethylpyrocatechol (13), and 2,2',3,3'-tetrabromo-4,4',5,5'-tetrahydroxydiphenyl methane (14), were isolated from the red alga Rhodomela confervoides. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods including IR, HRFABMS, and 1D and 2D NMR techniques.

Genetic mapping of size-related quantitative trait loci (QTL) in the bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) using AFLP and microsatellite markers

We constructed genetic linkage maps for the bay scallop Argopecten irradians using AFLP and microsatellite markers and conducted composite interval mapping (CIM) of body-size-related traits. Three hundred seventeen AFLP and 10 microsatellite markers were used for map construction. The female parent map contained 120 markers in 15 linkage groups, spanning 479.6 cM with an average interval of 7.0 cM. The male parent map had 190 markers in 17 linkage groups, covering 883.8 cM at 7.2 cM per marker. The observed coverage was 70.4% for the female and 81.1% for the male map. Markers that were distorted toward the same direction were closely linked to each other on the genetic maps, suggesting the presence of genes important for survival. Six size-related traits, shell length, shell height, shell width, total weight, soft tissue weight, and shell weight, were measured for QTL mapping. The size data were significantly correlated with each other. We subjected the data, log transformed firstly, to a principle component analysis and use the first principle component for QTL mapping. CIM analysis revealed one significant QTL (LOD=2.69, 1000 permutation, P<0.05) in linkage group 3 on the female parent map. The mapping of size-related QTL in this study raises the possibility of improving the growth of bay scallops through marker-assisted selection. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

A preliminary genetic linkage map of the pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino

Preliminary genetic linkage maps were constructed for the Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai Ino) using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and microsatellite markers segregating in a F, family. Nine microsatellite loci, 41 RAPD, and 2688 AFLP markers were genotyped in the parents and 86 progeny of the mapping family. Among the 2738 markers, 384 (including 365 AFLP markers, 10 RAPD markers, and 9 microsatellite loci) were polymorphic and segregated in one or both parents: 241 in the female and 146 in the male. The majority of these markers, 232 in the female and 134 in the male, segregated according to the expected 1:1 Mendelian ratio (alpha = 0.05). Two genetic linkage maps were constructed using markers segregating in the female or the male parent. The female framework map consisted of 119 markers in 22 linkage groups, covering 1773.6 cM with an average intermarker space of 18.3 cM. The male framework map contained 94 markers in 19 linkage groups, spanning 1365.9 cM with an average intermarker space of 18.2 cM. The sex determination locus was mapped to the male map but not to the female map, suggesting a XY-male determination mechanism. Distorted markers showing excess of homozygotes were mapped in clusters, probably because of their linkage to a gene that is incompatible between two parental populations.