Application of physical vapor deposition process to modify activated carbon fibers for ozone reduction

This study utilized the activated carbon fiber (ACF) modified with metal catalyst via physical vapor deposition (PVD) process (ACF/PVD) to diminish ozone. Furthermore, the ozone removal efficiency of ACF/PVD was compared with that of original ACF and ACF modified with metal catalyst via impregnation process (ACF/impregnation). In addition to the kinds of coated metal and the inlet ozone concentrations, the effects of the coating thickness and the reaction temperature on ACF/PVD for ozone removal were also examined. The results indicate that the ozone removal efficiency of ACF/PVD is better than that of original ACF and ACF/impregnation. The ozone removal efficiency of different metal-coated ACF/PVD in the superior order is gold (Au), and manganese (Mn). The increase of Au-coated thickness (3 nm to 80 nm) on ACF/PVD will enhance the ozone removal. However, when the Mn-coated thickness on ACF/PVD is larger than 15 nm, the ozone removal efficiency displays a declining trend. Furthermore, a higher reaction temperature will result in a better ozone removal of ACF/PVD and the original ACF.     

The concentration of tocols from rice bran oil deodorizer distillate using solvent

Tocols (tocopherols + tocotrienols) have been concentrated efficiently from rice bran oil (RBO) deodorizer distillate using solvent at low temperature. The levels of total tocols, total tocopherols, and total tocotrienols in RBO deodorizer distillate (starting material) were 31.5, 14.9, and 16.6 mg/g, respectively. Nine different solvents were tested, and acetonitrile was selected as the optimal solvent for concentrating tocols from the RBO deodorizer distillate. There was a significant (p <0.05) increase in the tocol level of the liquid fractions with decreasing temperature, for incubation temperatures up to –20 °C. In addition, significant differences (p <0.05) were observed in the relative percentages of α‐tocopherol, γ‐tocopherol, α‐tocotrienol, and γ‐tocotrienol between the raw sample and liquid fractions obtained at different temperatures using acetonitrile as the solvent. The concentration of the tocols from the RBO deodorizer distillate was temperature dependent, and a maximum of 89.9 mg/g was attained in the liquid fraction at – 40 °C. The relative percentage of tocotrienol homologs in the liquid fraction obtained at – 40 °C was approximately 80%. With acetonitrile as the solvent, the optimal temperature for concentrating the tocols from RBO deodorizer distillate was –20 °C when yield was considered.     

Surface-immobilized peptide aptamers as probe molecules for protein detection

We demonstrate the use of surface-immobilized, oriented peptide aptamers for the detection of specific target proteins from complex biological solutions. These peptide aptamers are target-specific peptides expressed within a protein scaffold engineered from the human protease inhibitor stefin A. The scaffold provides stability to the inserted peptides and increases their binding affinity owing to the resulting three-dimensional constraints. A unique cysteine residue was introduced into the protein scaffold to allow orientation-specific surface immobilization of the peptide aptamer and to ensure exposure of the binding site to the target solution. Using dual-polarization interferometry, we demonstrate a strong relationship between binding affinity and aptamer orientation and determine the affinity constant KD for the interaction between an oriented peptide aptamer ST(cys+)_(pep9) and the target protein CDK2. Further, we demonstrate the high selectivity of the peptide aptamer STM_(pep9) by exposing surface-immobilized ST(cys+)_(pep9) to a complex biological solution containing small concentrations of the target protein CDK2.     

Bacterial DNA sample preparation from whole blood using surface-modified Si pillar arrays

A novel bacterial DNA sample preparation device for molecular diagnostics has been developed. On the basis of optimized conditions for bacterial adhesion, surface-modified silicon pillar arrays for bacterial cell capture were fabricated, and their ability to capture bacterial cells was demonstrated. The capture efficiency for bacterial cells such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus mutans in buffer solution was over 75% with a flow rate of 400 microL/min. Moreover, the proposed method captured E. coli cells present in 50% whole blood effectively. The captured cells from whole blood were then in- situ lyzed on the surface of the microchip, and the eluted DNA was successfully amplified by qPCR. These results demonstrate that the full process of pathogen capture to DNA isolation from whole blood could be automated in a single microchip.     

Energy transfer-based multiplexed assay of proteases by using gold nanoparticle and quantum dot conjugates on a surface

Rapid and sensitive assay of proteases and their inhibition in a high-throughput manner is of great significance in the diagnostic and pharmaceutical fields. We developed a multiplexed assay system of proteases and their inhibition by measuring the energy transfer between quantum dots (QDs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on a glass slide. In this system, while the photoluminescence (PL) of donor QDs immobilized on a surface was quenched due to the presence of AuNPs (energy acceptor) in close proximity, the protease activity caused modulation in the efficiency of the energy transfer between the acceptor and donor, thus enabling the protease assay. In comparison to the QD-dye system, the conjugate of the QD-AuNP gave rise to higher energy transfer efficiency, resulting in quantitative assay of proteases with more sensitivity. When matrix metalloproteinase, caspase, and thrombin were tested, a multiplexed assay was successfully achieved since the AuNP could be used as a common energy acceptor in conjunction with QDs having different colors. Our system is anticipated to find applications in the diagnosis of protease-related diseases and screening of potential drugs with high sensitivity in a high-throughput way.     

High‐frequency response analysis via algebraic substructuring

High‐frequency response analysis (Hi‐FRA) of large‐scale dynamical systems is critical to predict the resonant behavior of modern micro‐devices and systems operated over MHz or GHz frequency range. Algebraic substructuring (AS) is a powerful technique to extract a large number of natural frequencies. In this work, we extend the AS technique for FRA between two specified cutoff frequencies ω_min and ω_max. The technique is referred to as ASFRA. ASFRA can be efficiently applied to Hi‐FRA, as demonstrated by two examples of microelectromechanical sensors operated at 1–2 and 200–250 MHz ranges. To some extent ASFRA generalizes the underlying numerical algorithm and functionality of commercially viable automated multi‐level substructuring (AMLS) technique. AMLS is designed for FRA up to a specific frequency ω_max, starting from the lowest, and is inefficient for Hi‐FRA. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New nanocrystalline powder substrates for nitrides layer epitaxy

GaN and related III-V nitride materials have been applied for fabrication of electronic and optical devices. The most important factor limiting the mass production of devices based on III-V nitride materials is the high cost of substrates and the elaborate growth techniques. The lack of large, bulk GaN substrates causes that the epitaxial layer of nitrides must be grown on heteroepitaxial substrates. The most widely applied are monocrystalline sapphire, SiC and silicon substrates; but the question of cheap and available substrates for nitrides growth is still open.In this paper, authors present some results of the growth of nitrides layer by the metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE) technique on new nanocrystalline powder substrates (compressed Al₂O₃+SiC). The influence of substrate composition (the amount of SiC powder) on the properties of the GaN layer are presented. Also the impact of the conditions of epitaxial process on properties of the nitride layers are discussed.     

Anti-influenza Drug Discovery: Identification of an Orally Bioavailable Quinoline Derivative through Activity- and Property-Guided Lead Optimization

From a high-throughput screening (HTS) hit with inhibitory activity against virus-induced cytophathic in the low micromolar range, we have developed a potent anti-influenza lead through careful optimization without compromising the drug-like properties of the compound. An orally bioavailable compound was identified as a lead agent with nanomolar activity against influenza, representing a 140-fold improvement over the initial hit.     

Direct 3D mask modeling for nonplanar workpieces in microabrasive jet machining

Recently, a new microengraving technology, microabrasive jet machining, has been studied as a machining technology for highly brittle materials. The technology implements the machining by using an abrasive jet and it uses mask structures to achieve microscale geometrical accuracy. The mask structure selectively blocks the abrasive jet at the portions of the surface that are not to be machined. Modeling and fabrication of the mask structure are thus key processes in microabrasive jet machining. Microstereolithography is believed to be a better means of mask fabrication for general planar and nonplanar workpieces. However, it is not easy to model a precise 3D mask structure from a given pattern image. Because of inconsistencies between the computer-aided design (CAD) model and the actual workpiece, mask structures modeled from workpiece CAD models often fall off. We therefore propose an automated modeling algorithm for the corresponding 3D nonplanar mask structure by using measured geometry directly. The algorithm takes the workpiece geometry as section images acquired from computer tomography and generates the CAD mask model directly from the section and mask images. Application software was developed to verify the algorithm and was tested by verification and actual cases.