Low Ionic Charge Research Articles

Cross-Linked, Monovalent Selective Anion Exchange Membrane: Effect of Prealkylation and Co-ions on Selectivity

Tuning of hydrophobicity, water uptake, and size of the ion channel is very crucial for the monovalent anion-selective membrane (MASM) preparation. In this work, we report the preparation of MASM from the cross-linked polyacrylonitrile-co-polyvinylimidazole (PAN-co-PVI) copolymer. The copolymer was in situ quaternized and cross-linked using the polyacrylonitrile-co-polychloromethylstyrene (PAN-co-PCMSt) copolymer as cross-linker. The benzyl chloride moiety (Ar-CH2Cl) of PAN-co-PCMSt reacts with imidazolium nitrogen of PAN-co-PVI and provides a positive charge on the membrane matrix, whereas the PAN moiety provides greater compatibility with the PAN-co-PVI copolymer matrix. The faster cross-linking without external prealkylation forms a strong network structure with a low ionic charge on the membrane surface. Judicious extent of prealkylation followed by cross-linking forms a controlled network structure and small-sized ionic channel with moderate water uptake and good mechanical stability. The representative AEM0Q and AEM17Q membranes with 0 and 17% prealkylation exhibited a permselectivity (PSO42–Cl–) value of 4.39 and 15.40, respectively, during the separation of 0.01 M NaCl + 0.01 M Na2SO4 by electrodialysis. Upon further increase of prealkylation to 27 and 32%, the water uptake of the membrane increased, which in turn allowed the passage of SO42– along with Cl– and decreased the PSO42–Cl–value to 4.12 and 2.45, respectively. Similar trends were observed during the separation of NaCl + MgSO4, MgCl2 + Na2SO4, and MgCl2 + MgSO4 mixtures of each 0.01 M concentration.

Biointerfacial Analysis of HEK293 Cells in Contact with Hydrogels based on Poly‐N‐Isopropylacrylamide and Copolymers

AbstractSeveral researches have demonstrated that synthetic hydrogels can mimic the mechanical and physicochemical properties of native extracellular matrices and act as cell‐scaffold. The biointerface can influence over tissue activities such as adhesion, signaling, cell–cell communications, and proliferation. In this work, the behavior of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) in contact with hydrogel surfaces based on poly‐N‐isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) and copolymers is studied. Ionic and neutral hydrogel surfaces are synthesized by free radical polymerization and characterized by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, swelling capacity, and wettability at culture conditions. Viability, proliferation, and bioadhesive capacity are analyzed by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide and Neutral Red assays, [3H]‐thymidine technique, Acridine Orange and Hoechst dye. Noncytotoxic and proliferative effects are observed in all cases. HEK293 cells are mainly adapted and adhered on neutral and low ionic charge surfaces showing typical cell morphology, and normal mitotic rates. While, lower adhesion, abnormal nuclear and cytoplasmic morphologies with mitotic/fragmentation processes are observed after contact with high ionic surfaces. The cellular cycle after cultive on PNIPAM, assessed by flow cytometry, is not affected regarding control surfaces (polystyrene). Therefore, hydrogel surfaces with neutral and low ionic charges can be apt to in vitro tissue development and possible applications of biomedical treatments.

A CONTRIBUTION TO THE HYDROCHEMISTRY AND WATER TYPOLOGY OF THE AMAZON RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES

The geological diversity of the Amazon Basin, as well as the pluvial regime, influences the characteristics of the waters. To know the water types of the rivers of the Amazon basin, 288 superficial water samples were collected, 94 of them along the Amazon River and 194 in their tributaries, from March 2009 to September 2012. The physical, chemical, and physicochemical properties were analyzed. Rivers with pH between 6.5 and 7.6 and electrical conductivity (40.00 - 80.00 μS cm-1) are water bodies that are influenced by the Andean region (e.g., the Amazon River and some of its right bank tributaries). On the other hand, the rivers with pH in the range of 3.5 to 5.5 and conductivity <30.00 μS cm-1, which are Amazon River’s left bank tributaries, reflect the characteristics of the Guiana Shield. The rivers with pH (6.0 to 7.0), low ionic charge, and conductivity <40.0 μS cm-1, such as the lower Amazon River’s right bank tributaries (Tapajos and Xingu) which are influenced by the Central Brazilian Shield, and also the middle/upper Amazon River’s right bank tributaries (Tefé, Coari and Jutaí).

경상분지 백악기~제3기 화산암류의 암석화학적 특징과 암석 성인 고찰

Major elements abundances of Cretaceous to Tertiary volcanic rocks in Kyongsang basin are similar with Southern Volcanic Zone (SVZ) in Andes. Sr, K, Rb, Ba±Th abundances, which have low ionic charge, are selectively fertile, on the other hand Ta, Nb, Ce, P, Zr, Hf, Sm, Ti, Y, Yb, Sc, Cr abundances are low. K, Sr, Th show charactristic spikes and Nb show remarkable trough on trace elements spider diagram. Trace elements abundances are higher than that of Andes which is supposed to mantle sources of Kyongsang basin volcanic rocks are produced lower degree of partial melting than SVZ in Andes.

DIRECT OBSERVATIONAL EVIDENCE OF FILAMENT MATERIAL WITHIN INTERPLANETARY CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are explosive events that escape the Sun's corona carrying solar material and energy into the heliosphere. The classic picture of a CME observed in the corona presents a three-part structure, including a bright front at the leading edge indicating dense plasma, a low-density cavity, the possible signature of an embedded magnetic flux rope, and the so-called core, a high-density region observed to be associated with an erupting filament. Although there are experimental analogs to the first two parts of the CME when observed in situ, there are only a handful of in situ observations of cold, filament-type plasma. This has been a source of major uncertainty and qualitative disagreement between remote and in situ observations of these ejecta. We present the first comprehensive and long-term survey of such low charge states observed by the Advanced Composition Explorer Solar Wind Ion Composition Spectrometer, using a novel data analysis process developed to identify ions with low ionic charge states. Using a very stringent set of observational signatures, we find that more than 4% of detected interplanetary CMEs have significant contributions of ions with low charge states. These time periods of low-charge ions often occur concurrent with some of the hottest ions, previously interpreted to be affected by flare heating during the CME initiation.

Reconstitution of mitochondrial F0.F1-ATPase with phosphatidylcholine using the nonionic detergent, octylglucoside.

A reconstitution procedure has been developed for the incorporation of the mitochondrial F0.F1-ATPase into the bilayer of egg phosphatidylcholine vesicles. The nonionic detergent, octylglucoside, egg phosphatidylcholine, and the lipid-deficient, oligomycin-sensitive F0.F1-ATPase (Serrano, R., Kanner, B., and Racker, E. (1976) J. Biol. Chem. 251, 2453-2461) were combined in a 4770:320:1 detergent/phospholipid/protein molar ratio and then centrifuged on a discontinuous sucrose gradient to isolate the F0.F1-phosphatidylcholine complex. The specific activity of the reconstituted F0.F1-ATPase was as high as 14.5 mumol/min/mg protein, whereas with no added lipid the activity ranged between 1.4 and 2.2 mumol/min/mg protein. This reconstituted preparation exhibited greater than 90% oligomycin sensitivity which demonstrated the intactness of the multisubunit enzyme complex. The phosphatidylcholine/protein molar ratio of the reconstituted F0.F1 was 250:1 with less than 0.4% of the added octylglucoside remaining. Titrations with both phosphatidylcholine and octylglucoside demonstrated that the specific activity and oligomycin sensitivity were highly dependent on the concentrations of both phospholipid and detergent in the original reconstitution mixture. Analysis of the reconstituted ATPase by electron microscopy demonstrated that the catalytic portion of the enzyme complex projected from the phospholipid bilayer with an orientation similar to that observed with submitochondrial particles. The F0.F1-phosphatidylcholine complex was able to trap inulin, which suggests a vesicular structure impermeable to macromolecules. The electrophoretic mobility of the complex was identical to that for liposomes of egg phosphatidylcholine alone. The reconstitution conditions utilized give rise to an enzyme-phospholipid complex with very low ionic charge that demonstrates high oligomycin-sensitive ATPase activity.