Analysis of enoyl-coenzyme A hydratase activity and its stereospecificity using high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with chiral separation column

Enoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) hydratase catalyzes the hydration of trans-2-enoyl-CoA to yield 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA during fatty acid degradation (β-oxidation). Although much research has focused on the stereospecificities of 2-enoyl-CoA hydratases, a direct quantification of the production of 3(R)- and 3(S)-hydroxyacyl-CoA has not yet been established. Therefore, we developed a method of concurrently quantifying 3(R)- and 3(S)-hydroxyacyl-CoA using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a chiral separation column. The optimized conditions for the separation of 3(R)-, 3(S)-hydroxyhexadecanoyl-CoA and trans-2-hexadecenoyl-CoA, were determined to be as follows: mobile phase of 35/65 (v/v) of 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 5.0)/methanol; flow rate of 0.5 mL/min; detection at 260 nm; and column temperature of 25°C. This method was applied to subcellular fractions of rat liver; the results directly confirmed that 3(S)-hydroxyhexadecanoyl-CoA is the dominant product obtained from the heat-stable enoyl-CoA hydratase-catalyzed reaction of trans-2-hexadecenoyl-CoA. Finally, the stereospecificities of L-bifunctional protein (L-BP) and D-bifunctional protein (D-BP) were reinvestigated using this method, and it was confirmed that L- and D-BP yielded 3(S)- and 3(R)-hydroxyhexadecanoyl-CoA were yielded from trans-2-hexadecenoyl-CoA, respectively. 3(R)-Hydroxyacyl-CoA is a peroxisomal β-oxidation-specific intermediate. Therefore, this method is potentially useful not only studies regarding the stereochemistry of enoyl-CoA hydratase but also for the diagnosis of diseases caused by defects of peroxisomal enoyl-CoA hydratase.     

Kinetics of solid acid catalyzed 1-octene reactions with TiO2 in sub- and supercritical water

Acid catalyzed reactions of 1-octene on TiO₂ in sub- and supercritical water were investigated (T = 250-450 °C, P = 11-33 MPa). The main products were 2-octene and 2-octanol. Additionally, other liner C₈ alkenes and liner secondary C₈ alcohols were produced as by-products. Through kinetic analysis, acid catalyzed reactions can divide into the reaction catalyzed by Lewis acidic sites on TiO₂ and the reaction catalyzed by protons produced by the dissociation of water molecules. Each type of the reaction is affected by water density or ionic product of water, respectively, therefore, reaction mechanism changes with temperature and pressure. From the contribution of each reaction type, the temperature dependence of cis/trans ratio of produced 2-octene could also be explained.     

Effect of temperature and heating rate on the sintering of leucite-based dental porcelains

The aim of this work was to determine the effect of temperature and heating rate on the densification of four leucite-based dental porcelains: two low-fusion (Dentsply-Ceramco and Ivoclar) and two high-fusion commercial porcelains (Dentsply-Ceramco). Porcelain powders were characterized by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size distribution, helium picnometry, and by scanning electron microscopy. Test specimens were sintered from 600 to 1050 °C, with heating rates of 55 °C/min and 10 °C/min. The bulk density of the specimens was measured by the Archimedes method in water, and microstructures of fracture surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that densification of specimens increased with the increase in temperature. The increase in the heating rate had no effect on the densification of the porcelains studied. Both high-fusion materials and one of the low-fusing porcelains reached the maximum densification at a temperature that was 50 °C lower than that recommended by the manufactures.     

Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane with CO2 Over Cr/H[B]MFI Catalysts

Abstract  

Cr/silicalite-1 and Cr/H[B]MFI catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method, and Cr/H[B]MFI were further treated by steaming. The catalysts were employed for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene with CO₂ as the oxidant. Cr/H[B]MFI showed significantly higher catalytic activity than Cr/silicalite-1, and steamed Cr/H[B]MFI was superior in the reaction stability to Cr/H[B]MFI. The nature of the supported chromium species have been characterized by a number of physicochemical techniques, such as Raman, UV–vis and NMR. It is concluded that the steaming led to the auto-reduction of some Cr⁶⁺ to Cr³⁺, and resultant Cr³⁺ species might be located near the boron center in the borosilicate framework to counterbalance the negative charge of the framework. The transformation of Cr⁶⁺ species to Cr³⁺ species, facilitated by the steaming process and the presence of boron in the catalyst, is responsible for the enhanced stability of oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene with carbon dioxide as the oxidant.     

Alignment of a nematic liquid crystal on nano‐grooved material

We demonstrate the alignment characteristics of a nematic liquid crystal on the surface of a nanoimprinted material that is a functionally graduated composite suitable for the alignment of a liquid crystal on a groove surface processed by nanoimprinting lithography. With the electro‐optic characteristics shown in twisted nematic and in‐plane switching modes, the potential liquid crystal applications are examined. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Very slow formation of copper sulfide and cobalt sulfide nanoparticles in montmorillonite

Intercalation of semiconductor nanoparticles, copper sulfide or cobalt sulfide, into montmorillonite was carried out by solid–solid reactions of Cu(II)- or Co(II)-montmorillonite with sodium sulfide at room temperature. The intercalation compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, transmission electron microscopy, Raman, UV–visible and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The photoluminescent copper sulfide and cobalt sulfide nanoparticles in the interlayer spaces formed after the sample storage at room temperature for several months.     

Fabrication of fluorine-terminated diamond-like carbon thin film using a hyperthermal atomic fluorine beam

Surface modification of diamond-like carbon (DLC) film was performed using a hyperthermal atomic fluorine beam on the purpose of production of hydrophobic surface by maintaining the high hardness of DLC film. By the irradiation of atomic fluorine beam of a 1.0 × 10²⁰ atoms/cm², the contact angle of a water drop against the DLC surface increased from 73° to 111°. The formation of CF₃, CF₂ and CF bonding on the modified DLC surface was confirmed from the measurements of X-ray photoelectron spectra and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra. Irradiation of hyperthermal atomic fluorine beam was concluded to produce insulator fluorine-terminated DLC film, which has high F content on the surface, by the taking of the use of neutral atomic beam as a fluorine source.     

Silicon quantum dot superlattice solar cell structure including silicon nanocrystals in a photogeneration layer

The solar cell structure of n-type poly-silicon/5-nm-diameter silicon nanocrystals embedded in an amorphous silicon oxycarbide matrix (30 layers)/p-type hydrogenated amorphous silicon/Al electrode was fabricated on a quartz substrate. An open-circuit voltage and a fill factor of 518 mV and 0.51 in the solar cell were obtained, respectively. The absorption edge of the solar cell was 1.49 eV, which corresponds to the optical bandgap of the silicon nanocrystal materials, suggesting that it is possible to fabricate the solar cells with silicon nanocrystal materials, whose bandgaps are wider than that of crystalline silicon.

PACS

85.35.Be; 84.60.Jt; 78.67.Bf     

Investigation of hydrogen plasma treatment for reducing defects in silicon quantum dot superlattice structure with amorphous silicon carbide matrix

We investigate the effects of hydrogen plasma treatment (HPT) on the properties of silicon quantum dot superlattice films. Hydrogen introduced in the films efficiently passivates silicon and carbon dangling bonds at a treatment temperature of approximately 400°C. The total dangling bond density decreases from 1.1 × 10¹⁹ cm^-3 to 3.7 × 10¹⁷ cm^-3, which is comparable to the defect density of typical hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide films. A damaged layer is found to form on the surface by HPT; this layer can be easily removed by reactive ion etching.