Microrheology probes length scale dependent rheology

We exploit the power of microrheology to measure the viscoelasticity of entangled F-actin solutions at different length scales from 1 to 100 microm over a wide frequency range. We compare the behavior of single probe-particle motion to that of the correlated motion of two particles. By varying the average length of the filaments, we identify fluctuations that dissipate diffusively over the filament length. These provide an important relaxation mechanism of the elasticity between 0.1 and 30 rad/sec.     

Dipole Chains in Zeolite Pores: The Effects of Symmetry Breaking

Abstract

Dipole molecules become arranged in a highly ordered manner within zeolite pores. They are oriented nearly parallel to the straight channels and aligned collectively into one specific direction. They form arrangements different from the crystallization in the free bulk as well as different from arrangements in amorphous hosts. This polar arrangement results in (i) a lowering of the symmetry of the guest-host system compared to the host, (ii) nonlinear optical effects of second order such as second harmonic generation, (iii) a macroscopic polarization giving rise to pyroelectric effects and (iv) special phase transition phenomena in these one-dimensional systems.     

Asymptotic Behavior of Solutions to the Cahn-Hilliard Equation in Spherically Symmetric Domains

The Cahn-Hilliard equation is a fourth-order parabolic partial differential equation that is one of the leading models for the study of phase separation in isothermal, isotropic, binary mixtures, such as molten alloys. The asymptotic behavior of solutions to the Cahn-Hilliard equation with Dirichlet boundary conditions and the associated stationary problem have been studied. In particular, it is proved that the only possible stable equilibrium solutions in spherically symmetric domains are spherically symmetric and monotone in the radial direction.     

Combinatorics,graph theory,and computing

Journal of Algebraic Combinatorics -     

Spectroscopy, binding to liposomes and production of singlet oxygen by porphyrazines with modularly variable water solubility

Three novel classes of porphyrazine-like structures were synthesized to form modular structures in which lipophilicity and water solubility can be tuned. Subtle modification of solubility is an important criterion in selecting a compound for biological photosensitization. The general structure takes the form H2[pz(AnB4-n)], where the core is a porphyrazine (pz) group, A is a pyrrole ring with two sulfide linkages (SR moieties) and B is a pyrrole fused with a 4,7-bis(isopropyloxy)benzo group, with n=4, 3 and 2. These molecules possess their longest wavelength absorption band between 700 and 810 nm, hence laser beams of higher tissue penetration depth could be used to illuminate them in photodynamic therapy (PDT). Armed with absorption bands in the far-red and near-infrared (near-IR), and a capability to tune the solubility, these molecules could make for better sensitizers because of optimized uptake by lipidic membranes and better optical properties. We tested several derivatives of the A4, A3B and A2B2 structures for their singlet oxygen quantum yields in methanol and in liposomes, using 9,10-dimethyl anthracene (DMA) as a singlet oxygen target. Singlet oxygen quantum yields in liposomes ranged from 0.01 to 0.44, with the A2B2 group showing the most promise. In the binding assay to find the equilibrium binding constant, Kb, we detected fluorescence changes due to a change in environment. Peripheral long-chain moieties (the R group in the SR moieties) dominate lipid binding. These moieties range in the hydrophobicity that they induce from C8H17 and benzene, which rendered the molecule totally insoluble in water, to polyethylene glycol (PEG) and carboxylate groups, which imparted water solubility. Each molecule had between 4 and 8 such identical chains. Chains bearing an ether or ester link resulted in measurable equilibrium constants, with a higher Kb for ether substituents. Results for Kb ranged from 0.23 to 26.52 (mg mL(-1))(-1). A delicate balance exists between water solubility and good partitioning to membranes. In general, a higher oxygen-to-carbon ratio in the chains improves binding. Fewer chains and a centrally coordinated zinc ion further improve binding and singlet oxygen production.     

Atom-at-a-time studies of the transactinide elements

Some of the techniques used in atom-at-a-time investigations of both nuclear and chemical properties of transactinide elements will be discussed. Constraints on the systems that are valid for exploring chemical properties when only a few atoms at a time are available and recent developments in instrumentation are considered. The current status of investigations of the chemical properties of the transactinides is summarized and prospects for additional studies are evaluated.     

Phoenix mars mission—The thermal evolved gas analyzer

The Phoenix spacecraft that was launched to Mars in August 2007 landed safely on the Martian northern arctic region on May 25, 2008. It carried six experiments to study the history of water on the planet and search for organic molecules in the icy subsurface Martian soil. The spacecraft is a lander with an arm and scoop designed to dig a trench though the top soil to reach an expected ice layer near the surface. One of the instruments on board is the thermal evolved gas analyzer (TEGA), which consists of two components, a set of eight very small ovens that will heat samples of the ice soil mixtures from the trench to release imbedded gases and mineral decomposition products, and a mass spectrometer that serves as the analysis tool for the evolved gases, and also for measurements of the composition and isotopic ratios of the gases that comprise the atmosphere of Mars. The mass spectrometer is a miniature magnetic sector instrument controlled by microprocessor-driven power supplies. One feature is the gas enrichment cell that will increase the partial pressures of the noble gases in an atmosphere sample by removing all the active gases, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen, to improve the accuracy of their isotopic ratio measurements.