DIY XES—development of an inexpensive,versatile, and easy to fabricate XES analyzer and sample delivery system

The application of X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) has grown substantially with the development of X-ray free-electron lasers, third and fourth generation synchrotron sources, and high-power benchtop sources. By providing the high X-ray flux required for XES, these sources broaden the availability and application of this method of probing electronic structure. As the number of sources increase, so does the demand for X-ray emission detection and sample delivery systems that are cost effective and customizable. Here, we present a detailed fabrication protocol for von Hamos X-ray optics and give details for a 3D-printed spectrometer design. Additionally, we outline an automated, externally triggered liquid sample delivery system that can be used to repeatedly deliver nanoliter droplets onto a plastic substrate for measurement. These systems are both low cost, efficient, and easy to recreate or modify depending on the application. A low cost multiple X-ray analyzer system enables measurement of dilute samples, whereas the sample delivery limits sample loss and reproducibly replaces spent sample with fresh sample in the same position. While both systems can be used in a wide range of applications, the design addresses several challenges associated specifically with time-resolved XES (TRXES). As an example application, we show results from TRXES measurements of photosystem II, a dilute, photoactive protein.     

Implicit–explicit schemes for nonlinear nonlocal equations with a gradient flow structure in one space dimension

Nonlinear convection–diffusion equations with nonlocal flux and possibly degenerate diffusion arise in various contexts including interacting gases, porous media flows, and collective behavior in biology. Their numerical solution by an explicit finite difference method is costly due to the necessity of discretizing a local spatial convolution for each evaluation of the convective numerical flux, and due to the disadvantageous Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy (CFL) condition incurred by the diffusion term. Based on explicit schemes for such models devised in the study of Carrillo et al. a second‐order implicit–explicit Runge–Kutta (IMEX‐RK) method can be formulated. This method avoids the restrictive time step limitation of explicit schemes since the diffusion term is handled implicitly, but entails the necessity to solve nonlinear algebraic systems in every time step. It is proven that this method is well defined. Numerical experiments illustrate that for fine discretizations it is more efficient in terms of reduction of error versus central processing unit time than the original explicit method. One of the test cases is given by a strongly degenerate parabolic, nonlocal equation modeling aggregation in study of Betancourt et al. This model can be transformed to a local partial differential equation that can be solved numerically easily to generate a reference solution for the IMEX‐RK method, but is limited to one space dimension.     

Biomolecular docking,antimicrobial and cytotoxic studies on new bidentate schiff base ligand derived metal (II) complexes

Three new metal complexes [Cu(L)₂] (1), [Co(L)₂] (2) and [Zn(L)₂] (3) have been prepared by the reaction of hydrated salts of metal (II) acetate with new Schiff base ligand HL, [2‐((4‐(dimethylamino)phenylimino)methyl)‐4,6‐di‐t‐butylphenol] and characterized by different physico‐chemical analyses such as elemental analysis, single XRD, ¹H NMR, FTIR and UV–Vis spectroscopic techniques. Their biomolecular docking, antimicrobial and cytotoxicity studies have also been demonstrated. The proposed structure of Schiff base ligand HL and complex 2 are confirmed by Single crystal X‐ray crystallography study. This analysis revealed that metal (II) complexes remain in distorted tetrahedral coordination environments. The electronic properties such as HOMO and LUMO energies are carried out by gaseous phase DFT/B3LYP calculations using Gaussian 09 program. Complex 1 showed a good binding propensity to the DNA and HSA, during the assessment of docking studies. Schiff base ligand HL and its metal (II) complexes, 1–3 screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activities using the disc diffusion method against selected microbes. Complex 1 shows higher antimicrobial activity than complexes 2, 3 and Schiff base ligand HL. According to the results obtained from the cytotoxic studies, Schiff base ligand HL and its metal (II) complexes 1–3 have better cytotoxicity against MCF‐7 cell lines with potency higher than the currently used chemotherapeutic agent cyclophosphamide.     

Law of the iterated logarithm for random graphs

A milestone in probability theory is the law of the iterated logarithm (LIL), proved by Khinchin and independently by Kolmogorov in the 1920s, which asserts that for iid random variables with mean 0 and variance 1 In this paper we prove that LIL holds for various functionals of random graphs and hypergraphs models. We first prove LIL for the number of copies of a fixed subgraph H. Two harder results concern the number of global objects: perfect matchings and Hamiltonian cycles. The main new ingredient in these results is a large deviation bound, which may be of independent interest. For random k‐uniform hypergraphs, we obtain the Central Limit Theorem and LIL for the number of Hamilton cycles.     

Charge-Transfer versus Charge-Separated Triplet Excited States of [ReI(dmp)(CO)3(His124)(Trp122)]+ in Water and in Modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa Azurin Protein

A computational investigation of the triplet excited states of a rhenium complex electronically coupled with a tryptophan side chain and bound to an azurin protein is presented. In particular, by using high-level molecular modeling, evidence is provided for how the electronic properties of the excited-state manifolds strongly depend on coupling with the environment. Indeed, only upon explicitly taking into account the protein environment can two stable triplet states of metal-to-ligand charge transfer or charge-separated nature be recovered. In addition, it is also demonstrated how the rhenium complex plus tryptophan system in an aqueous environment experiences too much flexibility, which prevents the two chromophores from being electronically coupled. This occurrence disables the formation of a charge-separated state. The successful strategy requires a multiscale approach of combining molecular dynamics and quantum chemistry. In this context, the strategy used to parameterize the force fields for the electronic triplet states of the metal complex is also presented.     

Ultrafast Single-Scan 2D NMR Spectroscopic Detection of a PHIP-Hyperpolarized Protease Inhibitor

Two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy is one of the most important spectroscopic tools for the investigation of biological macromolecules. However, due to the low sensitivity of NMR spectroscopy, it takes usually from several minutes to many hours to record such spectra. Here, the possibility of detecting a bioactive derivative of the sunflower trypsin inhibitor-1 (SFTI-1), a tetradecapeptide, by combining parahydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP) and ultrafast 2D NMR spectroscopy is shown. The PHIP activity of the inhibitor was achieved by labeling with O-propargyl-l -tyrosine. In 1D PHIP experiments a signal enhancement of a factor of approximately 1200 compared to standard NMR was found. This enhancement permits measurement of 2D NMR correlation spectra of low-concentrated SFTI-1 in less than 10 seconds, employing ultrafast single-scan 2D NMR detection. As experimental examples PHIP-assisted ultrafast single-scan TOCSY spectra of SFTI-1 are shown.     

Engineering Multifunctional Gold Decorated Dendritic Mesoporous Silica/Tantalum Oxide Nanoparticles for Intraperitoneal Tumor‐Specific Delivery

Nonspecific high‐energy radiation for treatment of metastatic ovarian cancer is limited by damage to healthy organs, which can be mitigated by the use of radiosensitizers and image‐guided radiotherapy. Gold (Au) and tantalum oxide (TaO_x) nanoparticles (NPs), by virtue of their high atomic numbers, find utility in the design of bimetallic NP systems capable of high‐contrast computed tomography (CT) imaging as well as a potential radiosensitizing effect. These two radio‐dense metals are integrated into dendritic mesoporous silica NPs (dMSNs) with radial porous channels for high surface‐area loading of therapeutic agents. This approach results in stable, monodispersed dMSNs with a uniform distribution of Au on the surface and TaO_x in the core that exhibits CT attenuation up to seven times greater than iodine or monometallic dMSNs without either TaO_x or Au. Tumor targeting is assessed in a metastatic ovarian cancer mouse model. Ex vivo micro‐CT imaging of collected tumors shows that these NPs not only accumulate at tumor sites but also penetrate inside tumor tissues. This study demonstrates that after intraperitoneal administration, rationally designed bimetallic NPs can simultaneously serve as targeted contrast agents for imaging tumors and to enhance radiation therapy in metastatic ovarian cancer.     

Lewis acid-base adducts of zwitterionic alkali metal methanides and silanides with BH3

The synthesis, structures and spectroscopic properties of M(MeOCH₂CH₂OMe₂Si)₃CBH₃ (M-1-BH₃) and M(MeOCH₂CH₂OMe₂Si)₃SiBH₃ (M-2-BH₃) (M?=?Li, Na, K) derived from reactions of BH₃ with the alkali metal zwitterions [M(MeOCH₂CH₂OMe₂Si)₃C] (M-1) and [M(MeOCH₂CH₂OMe₂Si)₃Si] (M-2) (M?=?Li, Na, K), resp., are reported. X-ray analysis and DFT calculations reveal discrete zwitterionic structures with the octahedral alkali metal cations rigidly locked and charge separated from the BH₃ units via pendant donors groups. Solution experiments with the hydride acceptors B(C₆F₅)₃ and [Ph₃C]₂[B₁₂C₁₂] indicate that Na-1-BH₃ can donate hydrides to form cations of formula [Na(MeOCH₂CH₂OMe₂Si)₃CBH₂]⁺.