Medium and substitution pattern effects on the action of hydroxyflavones as photoprotectors against singlet molecular oxygen-mediated photooxidation of fats

The ability of mono-, di-, tri-and tetra-hydroxyflavones (7-and 3-hy-droxyflavones, 7, 8-dihydroxyflavone, baicalein and fisetin) to act as photoprotectors against singlet molecular oxygen [O²(Δ_g)]-initiated photooxidation of fats has been established by a kinetic study. The overall quenching rate constants for a series of five hydroxyflavones perfectly parallel their respective behaviour as inhibitors of the sensitized photooxidation of linoleic acid. The best antioxidative effect was exerted by 7-hydroxyflavone which does not chemically react with O²(¹Δ_g). Nevertheless for the remaining flavonoids of the series, the physical deactivation of O²(¹Δ_g) largely prevails over the chemical process. As for the cases of phenols and related hydroxy-aromatic derivatives, the ionization of the -OH group in the flavones, dramatically accelerates the rate of photooxidation. Under these conditions, the 7-hydroxyflavone also reacts effectively with O²(¹Δ_g). Given that flavonoids are natural oil components, this medium effect should be taken into account during the oil-refining process, in order to avoid the flavonoid photodestruction.     

Ascitic fluid analysis in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Ascites in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a poorly characterized subgroup of malignancy-related ascites. Not only the underlying liver disease, but also the tumor growth and spread contributes to the ascites formation. The authors differentiated ascites in HCC from other types of ascites. METHODS: The authors analyzed the ascitic fluid of 185 consecutive patients (89 liver cirrhosis, 33 HCC, 31 peritoneal carcinomatosis, 22 liver metastases, 10 spontaneous bacterial peritonitis). RESULTS: Each subgroup showed a typical pattern. Compared with the cirrhotic patients, those with HCC showed a higher frequency of positive cytologic findings (4 of 33 versus 0/89, P < 0.004), elevated fibronectin concentration (10/33 versus 8/89, P < 0.004), and elevated polymorphonuclear cell count (10/33 versus 5/89 P < 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: A significant number of patients with ascites and HCC patients showed signs of peritoneal infiltration with positive cytologic findings and increased concentration of fibronectin. Moreover, neutrocytic ascites without signs of superinfection is relatively common (30%).     

Bulk modification of styrene–butadiene–styrene triblock copolymer with maleic anhydride

The bulk modification of SBS rubber with maleic anhydride in a mixing chamber of a Haake rheomixer was studied. The effect of temperature, maleic anhydride, and benzoyl peroxide concentrations on the grafting efficiency was evaluated. High grafting efficiency was achieved when the ratio of peroxide and maleic anhydride concentration was high. On the other hand, on this condition high insoluble fraction was generated. The addition of a diamine, 4,4′‐diaminediphenylmethane to the reaction mixture minimizes the amount of insoluble polymer. However, the grafted MAH content also decreases. The graft copolymer was characterized by infrared spectroscopy and the grafting extension was determined by titration. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 2953–2960, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10355     

薄膜磁头磁轭制备工艺研究

本文重点讨论了用不同的工艺方法来制备薄膜磁头中的关键元件-磁轭。采用多次光刻的方法克服湿法工艺中磁性膜NiFe层的侧向钻蚀问题，从而实现对磁轭几何尺寸的精确控制，并对几种工艺方法的优缺点作了比较详细的分析。     

Asymmetric alumina membranes electrochemically formed in oxalic acid solution

Alumina membranes were fabricated by anodizing aluminium metal in 0.15 M oxalic acid. The growth kinetics of the porous layer were investigated in the temperature range –1 to 16 °C using linear potential scans up to 70 V. The faradaic efficiencies of metal oxidation and of porous layer formation, determined by applying Faraday's law, were found to be independent of both temperature and electrical charge. SEM analysis of the metal-side and solution-side surfaces revealed different morphologies. After dissolution of the barrier layer in phosphoric acid, the metal-side surface showed circular pores whose size of about 90 nm was found to be uniform and independent of temperature. The pore population was also practically independent of temperature and a value of about 4 × 10¹³ pores m^–2 was determined. On the solution-side surface the presence of a deposit partially occluding the mouths of pores was observed. This coating could be removed by chemical etching in NaOH or thermal treatment at 870 °C, where decomposition of oxalate occurs. This supports the hypothesis that the deposit consists of an aluminium salt containing oxalate anions precipitated from the solution. The results show that it is possible to control the morphological characteristics of the anodic alumina membranes by careful choice of experimental conditions.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Acicular Lead Titanate Fine Powders

A pure, acicular lead titanate (PbTiO₃) fine powder with a white color has been prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. It is a new phase of PbTiO₃ with I 4 symmetry, cell parameters of a = 12.358 Å and b = 14.541 Å, and a density of 6.80 g.cm⁻³. The influences of pH (12.5 to 14.4), Pb/Ti ratio (1.0 to 1.6) in the feedstock, reaction temperature (130° to 230°C), time (0.25 to 4 h), starting materials, and additives on the formation of acicular PbTiO₃ under hydrothermal conditions have been investigated. The acicular PbTiO₃ with I 4 symmetry, referred to as the PX phase, can be converted to the perovskite-type (PE phase) of PbTiO₃ at about 605°C while its acicular morphology is essentially unchanged. The preferable conditions for preparing pure acicular PX-phase PbTiO₃ are that the pH is 13.0 to 14.0, Pb/Ti ratio is >1.3, reaction temperature is 170° to 200°C, time is 0.5 to 1.0 h, titanium butoxide (Ti[O(CH₂)₃CH₃]₄) is the starting material, and poly(vinyl alcohol) is an additive. The acicular grain of the PX phase is usually less than 100 nm in diameter and more than 1000 nm in length.     

Multiresidue method for pesticides in drinking water using a graphitized carbon black cartridge extraction and liquid chromatographic analysis

A general liquid-solid extraction procedure for the isolation of pesticides from groundwater and drinking water for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is presented. This simple and rapid procedure involved passing a 2-L sample through a 250-mg graphitized carbon black (Carbopack B) cartridge at a flow rate of 150-160 mL/min. By taking advantage of the presence of positively charged active centers on the Carbopack B surface, a stepwise elution system allowed the complete separation of base-neutral pesticides from acidic ones. After partial solvent removal, the components in the two fractions were separated and quantified by gradient elution, reversed-phase HPLC with ultraviolet (UV) detection. The performance of the Carbopack cartridge was compared with that of a 500-mg C-18 bonded silica cartridge. With the Carbopack cartridge, the grand mean measurement accuracy of the 35 pesticides considered was 95%. With the C-18 cartridge, the grand mean measurement accuracy of the analytes was 76%. Compared to the C-18 cartridge, additional advantages of using a Carbopack cartridge are that the extraction procedure is about 7 times shorter, no pH adjustment of the environmental sample is necessary for trapping acidic compounds, and one cartridge instead of two suffices to extract base-neutral and acidic pesticides, making the Carbopack cartridge more adaptable than the C-18 one for field use. The detection limits by this method of all the pesticides considered were between 0.003 and 0.07 micrograms/L.     

Ionomer composites based on sepiolite/hydrogenated poly(styrene butadiene) block copolymer systems

Ionomeric composites based on sepiolite and hydrogenated poly(styrene butadiene) block copolymer were obtained and characterized from a microstructural and electrical point of view. Before blending, because of the high silanol group concentration in the sepiolite, the latter could be organophilized with suitable coupling agents. The resulting materials were easily processed into thin films or membranes 0.2–0.4 mm thick, their conductivity in some cases approaching 10^?1 S/cm. Their suitability for film formation and good electrical properties indicate potential applications as electrolytes in polymer fuel cells. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3512–3519, 2002