Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Macrocyclic Antibiotics As Separation Agents, Daniel W. Armstrong

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Macrocyclic antibiotics having ring structures with at least 10 members act as separation agents in crystallization, precipitation, filtration, electrophoresis, and chromatography. The macrocyclic antibiotics include ansamacrolides, macrolides, macrocyclic peptides, polyenes and derivatives thereof. The process has been found to be especially advantageous for separation of optical isomers by electrophoresis and chromatography.

Self-Aligned Mechanical Attachment Of Carbon Nanotubes To Silicon Dioxide Structures By Selective Silicon Dioxide Chemical-Vapor Deposition, Jed D. Whittaker, Ghaleb A. Husseini, Matthew A. Linford, Robert C. Davis, Markus Brink

Faculty Publications

A self-aligned thin-film deposition technique was developed to mechanically attach carbon nanotubes to surfaces for the fabrication of structurally robust nanotube-based nanomechanical devices. Single-walled carbon nanotubes were grown by thermal chemical-vapor deposition (CVD) across 150-nm-wide SiO2 trenches. The nanotubes were mechanically attached to the trench tops by selective silicon tetraacetate-based SiO2 CVD. No film was deposited on the nanotubes where they were suspended across the trenches.

Seasonal Variation And Ecosystem Dependence Of Emission Factors For Selected Trace Gases And Pm2.5 For Southern African Savanna Fires, S. Korontzi, Darold E. Ward, Ronald A. Susott, Robert J. Yokelson, C. O. Justice, Peter V. Hobbs, E.A. H. Smithwick, Wei Min Hao

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

[1] In this paper we present the first early dry season (early June-early August) emission factor measurements for carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH₄), nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHC), and particulates with a diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) for southern African grassland and woodland fires. Seasonal emission factors for grassland fires correlate linearly with the proportion of green grass, used as a surrogate for the fuel moisture content, and are higher for products of incomplete combustion in the early part of the dry season compared with later in the dry season. Models of …

Dual Stage Microvalue And Method Of Use, Marc J. Madou, Sylvia Daunert

Chemistry Faculty Patents

A micro-machined drug delivery device and method of use for the delivery of labile drugs is disclosed. A micro-machined sensing device and method of use is also disclosed. A micro-machined drug delivery and sensing device and method of use is additionally disclosed. All three devices are intended to be inserted into a patient's body. The drug delivery devices allow for the mixing of drug components prior to the release of the mixture into the patient's body where the mixture is labile. The micro-machined sensing device is suitable for monitoring the concentration of a specific chemical in a patient's body fluids …

Investigation Of Nanodispersion In Polystyrene-Montmorillonite Nanocomposites By Solid State Nmr, Serge Bourbigot, David L. Vanderhart, Jeffery W. Gilman Sr., Walid Awad, Rick D. Davis, Alexander B. Morgan, Charles A. Wilkie

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

Nanocomposites result from combinations of materials with vastly different properties in the nanometer scale. These materials exhibit many unique properties such as improved thermal stability, reduced flammability, and improved mechanical properties. Many of the properties associated with polymer–clay nanocomposites are a function of the extent of exfoliation of the individual clay sheets or the quality of the nanodispersion. This work demonstrates that solid-state NMR can be used to characterize, quantitatively, the nanodispersion of variously modified montmorillonite (MMT) clays in polystyrene (PS) matrices. The direct influence of the paramagnetic Fe3, embedded in the aluminosilicate layers of MMT, on polymer protons within …

Comprehensive Laboratory Measurements Of Biomass-Burning Emissions: 1. Emissions From Indonesian, African, And Other Fuels, Ted J. Christian, B. Kleiss, Robert J. Yokelson, R. Holzinger, P. J. Crutzen, Wei Min Hao, B. H. Saharjo, Darold E. Ward

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

[1] Trace gas and particle emissions were measured from 47 laboratory fires burning 16 regionally to globally significant fuel types. Instrumentation included the following: open-path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry; filter sampling with subsequent analysis of particles with diameter <2.5 μm for organic and elemental carbon and other elements; and canister sampling with subsequent analysis by gas chromatography (GC)/flame ionization detector, GC/electron capture detector, and GC/mass spectrometry. The emissions of 26 compounds are reported by fuel type. The results include the first detailed measurements of the emissions from Indonesian fuels. Carbon dioxide, CO, CH₄, NH₃, HCN, methanol, and acetic acid were the seven most abundant emissions (in order) from burning Indonesian peat. Acetol (hydroxyacetone) was a major, previously unobserved emission from burning rice straw (21–34 g/kg). The emission factors for our simulated African fires are consistent with field data for African fires for compounds measured in both …

Targeting Methanopterin Biosynthesis To Inhibit Methanogenesis, Razvan Dumitru, Hector Palencia, Scott D. Schroeder, Bree A. Demontigny, James M. Takacs, Madeline E. Rasche, Jess L. Miner, Stephen W. Ragsdale

James Takacs Publications

This paper describes the design, synthesis, and successful employment of inhibitors of 4-( β -D-ribofuranosyl) aminobenzene-5’-phosphate (RFA-P) synthase, which catalyzes the first committed step in the biosynthesis of methanopterin, to specifically halt the growth of methane-producing microbes. RFA-P synthase catalyzes the first step in the synthesis of tetrahydromethanopterin, a key cofactor required for methane formation and for one-carbon transformations in methanogens. A number of inhibitors, which are N-substituted derivatives of p-aminobenzoic acid (pABA), have been synthesized and their inhibition constants with RFA-P synthase have been determined. Based on comparisons of the inhibition constants among various inhibitors, we propose that the …

Immobilization Of Fission Iodine By Reaction With A Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound And Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix: Quaterly Report September-December 2003, Spencer M. Steinberg

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The recovery of iodine released during the processing of used nuclear fuel poses a significant challenge to the transmutation of radioactive iodine. This proposal will develop and examine the use of Fullerene Containing Carbon (FCC) compounds as potential sorbents for iodine release from the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. This work will also include the development of bench-scale testing capabilities at UNLV to allow the testing of the FCC material in a simulated process off-gas environment. This experimental capability will also be used to test other potential sorption materials and processes, such as natural organic matter (NOM) and other promising alternatives. …

Afci Quarterly Input – Unlv October Through December, 2003, Harry Reid Center For Environmental Studies. Nuclear Science And Technology Division

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

Quarterly report highlighting research projects and objectives of the Transmutation Research Program at the Nuclear Science & Technology Division, Harry Reid Research Center.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas supports the AFCI through research and development of technologies for economic and environmentally sound refinement of spent nuclear fuel. The UNLV program has four components: infrastructure, international collaboration, student-based research, and management and program support.

Inside Unlv, Gian Galassi, Katrina Hudak, Carol C. Harter, Eric Sandgren, Tom Hagge

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Synthesis Of Adenosine Derivatives As Transcription Initiators And Preparation Of 5 ' Fluorescein- And Biotin-Labeled Rna Through One-Step In Vitro Transcription, Faqing Huang, Guocan Wang, Tricia Coleman, Na Li

Faculty Publications

Expanding our previous finding of an adenosine-initiated transcription system, we now demonstrate that either the 5' site or the N6 site of adenosine nucleotides can be modified extensively without abolishing their ability to initiate transcription under the T7 phi2.5 promoter. Two series of amino derivatives of adenosine nucleotides were synthesized. Fluorescein and biotin groups were coupled to AMP derivatives through linkers of different sizes and hydrophobicities. Both fluorescein- and biotin-conjugated (at either the 5' or N6 site) adenosine nucleotides can act as efficient transcription initiators, producing fluorescein- and biotin-labeled RNA at the specific 5' end by a one-step transcription procedure, …

Quaternary Trialkyl(Polyfluoroalkyl)Ammonium Salts Including Liquid Iodides, Om D. Gupta, Douglas Armstrong, Jean'ne M. Shreeve

Faculty Scholarship – Chemistry

New quaternary ammonium salts that contain polyfluorinated alkyl substituents were prepared by the polyfluoroalkylation of tertiary amines with polyfluorinated alkyl iodides. Metathesis reactions of the iodide salts with fluorine-containing anions resulted in new low melting salts. The iodide salts of the tri(isooctyl)polyfluoroalkyl amines are also liquids at 25°C.

Modeling Corrosion In Oxygen Controlled Lbe Systems With Coupling Of Chemical Kinetics And Hydrodynamics-Task V: Fourth Quarterly Report 09/01/2003-11/30/2003, Samir Moujaes, Yitung Chen

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The Lead-Bismuth eutectic (LBE) has been determined from previous experimental studies by the Russians and the European scientific community to be a potential material that can be used as a spallation target and coolant for the TRP proposed application. Properly controlling the oxygen content in LBE can drastically reduce the LBE corrosion to structural steels. However, existing knowledge of material corrosion performance was obtained from point-wise testing with only very sparse experimental data. Scientists have noticed that the concentration of oxygen dissolved in the liquid alloy could control the corrosion rate of steels exposed to Pb or Pb-Bi. At high …

Support For The Nye County Early Warning Drilling Program, Irene Farnham, Klaus J. Stetzenbach, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

This final report details the activities completed for Task 8 of the University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN) Cooperative Agreement with the US Department of Energy (DOE). Task 8, titled "Support for the Nye County Early Warning Drilling Program" provided for a variety of hydrochemical analyses. The requirements of the University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN) Quality Assurance (QA) Program were followed for all work performed on this task. The primary activity performed by the Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies (HRC) for Task 8 was to provide hydrochemical analyses of the groundwater samples collected from …

Dendrimer-Encapsulated Nanoparticle Precursors To Supported Platinum Catalysts, Huifang Lang, R Alan May, Brianna L. Iversen, Bert D. Chandler

Chemistry Faculty Research

In this contribution, we report the successful preparation of supported metal catalysts using dendrimer-encapsulated Pt nanoparticles as metal precursors. Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers were first used to template and stabilize Pt nanoparticles prepared in solution. These dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles were then deposited onto a commercial high surface area silica support and thermally activated to remove the organic dendrimer. The resulting materials are active oxidation and hydrogenation catalysts. The effects of catalyst preparation and activation on activity for toluene hydrogenation and CO oxidation catalysis are discussed.

The Electronic Structure Of Metal/Alkane Thiol Self-Assembled Monolayers/Metal Junctions For Magnetoelectronics Applications, Y.A. Ovchenkov, H. Geisler, J.M. Burst, S.N. Thornburg, C.A. Ventrice Jr., Chunjuan Zhang, Jody G. Redepenning, Yaroslav B. Losovyj, Luis G. Rosa, Peter A. Dowben, Bernard Doudin

Jody Redepenning Publications

Long-chain alkane thiols use in metal to organic self-assembled monolayer to metal junctions may be limited by orientational disorder, and photoemission studies suggest that several molecular layers may be needed for the dielectric layer to be effective. Several alkane thiols were investigated in a range of junctions areas 10–10² μm². Top layer contact deposition, activated with Pd clusters resulted in a high yield of junctions that were not electrically shorted and are stable over a wide temperature range. Zerobias anomalies, observed at low temperatures, are attributed to a Coulomb blockade associated with the Pd clusters.

Method Of Solubilizing Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes In Organic Solutions, Robert C. Haddon, Jian Chen

Chemistry Faculty Patents

Naked single-walled nanotube carbon metals and semiconductors are dissolved in various organic solutions.

Aerobic Denitrification Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Monitored By Online Nad(P)H Fluorescence, Fan Chen, Qing Xia, Lu-Kwang Ju

Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering Faculty Research

Continuous cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027) maintained at different dissolved oxygen concentrations (DO) were studied for the effects of DO on various culture properties, especially aerobic respiration and denitrification. The DO was varied from 0 mg/liter (completely anoxic conditions) to 1.3 mg/liter and measured with optical sensors that could accurately determine very low DO based on oxygen-quenched luminescence. The strain was found to perform aerobic denitrification; while the specific rate decreased with increasing DO, denitrification persisted at approximately 1/8 of the maximum rate (1.7 mmol/g of cells/h) even at relatively high DO (1 to 1.3 mg/liter). In the presence …

Acid-Base Properties Of Aluminum In A Hardwood Forest Soil (Or: Acid Rain Is Dead…), Chris E. Johnson

Civil and Environmental Engineering

No abstract provided.

Habitat Use Of Sympatrically Nesting Fish Crows And American Crows, Brook Lauro, John Tanacredi Ph.D.

Faculty Works: CERCOM

We examined habitat use of sympatric Fish Crows (Corvus ossifragus) and American Crows (C. brachyrhynchos) nesting in the vicinity of waterbird breeding locations at the Rockaway Peninsula, New York City. Fish Crows nested significantly more often at natural habitats, including coastal dunes and salt marsh islands; American Crows nested significantly more often at residential and recreational areas. In regard to potential foraging areas, Fish Crows nested closer to waterbird colonies and to the water's edge while American Crows nested closer to a garbage source and to lawns. Fish Crows nested significantly more often in deciduous trees …

Effect Of External Electric Field On The Bulk And Interfacial Properties Of Weakly Dipolar Fluid In Slab-Shaped And Sphere-Shaped Systems, V.B. Warshavsky, Xiao Cheng Zeng

Xiao Cheng Zeng Publications

The effect of a uniform electric field on the bulk and interfacial properties of a model dipolar fluid is investigated by using a modified mean-field density functional theory. Particular attention is given to the dependence of the vapor-liquid phase coexistence in a slab-shaped system on the direction of the electric field with respect to the slab surfaces, as well as in the sphere-shaped system on the surrounding dielectric permittivity. For planar vapor-liquid interfaces, the interfacial profiles of the orientation order parameters and components of the dielectric-permittivity tensor are calculated. Analytical expressions for these interfacial profiles and their dependence on the …

Silica Based Solid Phase Extraction Sorbent With A Removable Alkyltrimethylammonium Surfactant Phase, Tony Oakes

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Presented is a solid phase extraction (SPE) sorbent having a removable "stationary phase." This removable phase that consists of alkyltrimethylammonium surfactant is initially immobilized onto hydrophilic strong cation exchange resin. The surfactant chain through hydrophobic interactions extracts hydrophobic analytes in the same manner as conventional bonded alkyl moieties on silica based non-polar sorbents. For the extraction of very hydrophobic species with conventional sorbents, solvents used for analyte elution are generally toxic and not directly instrument compatible. The chosen solvent must be strong enough to efficiently break hydrophobic interactions between the analyte and sorbent. Using a removable "stationary phase," hydrophobic interactions …

Melanoma And Seborrheic Keratosis Differentiation Using Texture Features, Srinivas V. Deshabhoina, Scott E. Umbaugh, William V. Stoecker, Randy Hays Moss, Subhashini K. Srinivasan

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Purpose: To explore texture features in two-dimensional images to differentiate seborrheic keratosis from melanoma.

Methods: A systematic approach to consistent classification of skin tumors is described. Texture features, based on the second-order histogram, were used to identify the features or a combination of features that could consistently differentiate a malignant skin tumor (melanoma) from a benign one (seborrheic keratosis). Two hundred and seventy-one skin tumor images were separated into training and test sets for accuracy and consistency. Automatic induction was applied to generate classification rules. Data analysis and modeling tools were used to gain further insight into the feature space. …

Study Of The Electronic Properties Of Some Ytterbium Filled Skutterudites By Magnetic Susceptibility And X-Ray Absorption And Tin-119 Mössbauer Spectroscopy, Fernande Grandjean, Gary J. Long, Bernard M. Mahieu, Ji Hui Yang, Gregory P. Meisner, Donald T. Morelli

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Magnetic susceptibility, ytterbium L_III-edge x-ray absorption and tin-119 Mössbauer spectral measurements have been carried out to probe the electronic structure of ytterbium and tin in the filled or partially filled skutterudite compounds, Yb_yCo₄Sb_12-xSn_x, over a range of x and y values. The ytterbium valence obtained from the magnetic susceptibility and ytterbium L_III-edge x-ray absorption measurements is in excellent agreement and clearly reveals an evolution from intermediate valence ytterbium for x=0 to nearly divalent ytterbium for x=0.8. This evolution parallels an increase in the unit cell volume and hence …

Distance-Dependent Electron Hopping Conductivity And Nanoscale Lithography Of Chemically-Linked Gold Monolayer Protected Cluster Films, Francis P. Zamborini, Laura E. Smart, Michael C. Leopold, Royce W. Murray

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Films of monolayer protected Au clusters (MPCs) with mixed alkanethiolate and ω-carboxylate alkanethiolate monolayers, linked together by carboxylate–Cu2+–carboxylate bridges, exhibit average edge-to-edge cluster spacings that vary with the numbers of methylene segments in the alkanethiolate ligand as determined by a combined atomic force microscopy (AFM)/UV-Vis spectroscopy method. The electronic conductivity (σEL) of dry films is exponentially dependent on the cluster spacing, consistent with electron tunneling through the alkanethiolate chains and non-bonded contacts between those chains on individual, adjacent MPCs. The calculated electronic coupling factor (β) for tunneling between MPCs is 1.2 Å−1, which is similar to …

Environment-Induced Degradation And Crack-Growth Studies Of Candidate Target Materials: Quarterly Progress Report (June 1 – August 31, 2003), Ajit K. Roy, Brendan O'Toole

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

As indicated in the original proposal, the primary objective of this task is to evaluate the effect of hydrogen on environment-assisted cracking of candidate target materials for applications in spallationneutron- target (SNT) systems such as accelerator production of tritium (APT) and accelerator transmutation of waste (ATW). The materials selected for evaluation and characterization are martensitic stainless steels including Alloy HT-9, Alloy EP 823 and Type 422 stainless steel. The susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and hydrogen embrittlement (HE) of these materials are being evaluated in aqueous environments of interest using tensile specimens under constant load and slow-strain-rate (SSR) conditions. …

Evaluation Of Adsorption Effects On Measurements Of Ammonia, Acetic Acid, And Methanol, Robert J. Yokelson, Ted J. Christian, Isaac T. Bertschi, Wei M. Hao

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

[1] We examined how adsorption and desorption of gases from inlets and a cell could affect the accuracy of closed-cell FTIR measurements of carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH₄), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), methanol (CH₃OH), acetic acid (CH₃COOH), and ammonia (NH₃). When standards were delivered to the cell through a stainless steel inlet, temporarily reduced transmission was observed for CH₃OH and NH₃. However, a halocarbon wax coated inlet (normally used on the system) had excellent transmission (comparable to room temperature …

Immobilization Of Fission Iodine By Reaction With A Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound And Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix, Spencer M. Steinberg, David W. Emerson, Gary Cerefice

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The recovery of iodine released during the processing of used nuclear fuel poses a significant challenge to the transmutation of radioactive iodine. During the first year of this program we have examined the potential of Fullerene Containing Carbon compounds (FCC) developed by KRI, and natural organic matter (NOM) as sorbents for iodine released during the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. This work involved the development of bench-scale testing of the FCC and NOM material in a simulated process off-gas environment.

During the first two quarters of this program we explored various analytical methods available for measurement of iodine, iodide, and iodate. …

Pyridoxamine Traps Intermediates In Lipid Peroxidation Reactions In Vivo: Evidence On The Role Of Lipids In Chemical Modification Of Protein And Development Of Diabetic Complications, Thomas O. Metz, Nathan L. Alderson, Mark E. Chachich, Suzanne R. Thorpe, John W. Baynes

Faculty Publications

Maillard or browning reactions between reducing sugars and protein lead to formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. AGE inhibitors such as aminoguanidine and pyridoxamine (PM) inhibit both the formation of AGEs and development of complications in animal models of diabetes. PM also inhibits the chemical modification of protein by advanced lipoxidation end products (ALEs) during lipid peroxidation reactions in vitro. We show here that several PM adducts, formed in incubations of PM with linoleate and arachidonate in vitro, are also excreted in the urine of PM-treated animals. The …

Redox Scale For Assigning An Oxidizing/Reducing Potential To Groundwater: Method Development And Initial Results, Julie Bertoia, Vernon Hodge, Klaus J. Stetzenbach, Amy J. Smiecinski

Publications (YM)

This report outlines the progress on Task 33 of the Department of Energy's Yucca Mountain Cooperative Agreement with the University and Community College System of Nevada (UCCSN). The task is titled "The Experimental Determination of a "Redox Scale" for Assigning an Oxidizing/Reducing Potential to Groundwater from Wells in the Nye County Early Warning Drilling Program: A Scale for Predicting the Solubility and Mobility of Elements Commonly Found in Nuclear Wastes". The purpose of the research was to determine the concentrations of the various electrochemical oxidation states or redox species of eleven elements in groundwater samples collected from the Nye County …