Conversions between ordered and disordered cellulose. Effects of mechanical treatment followed by cyclic wetting and drying

An investigation into the effects of mechanical treatment and hydration on the order of cellulose substrates (microcrystalline cellulose and Cladophora cellulose) was performed by the use of ball milling followed by cyclic wetting and drying. The results, monitored by¹³C-CP/MAS NMR-spectroscopy, were evaluated by calculation of the crystallinity indices and principal component analysis of the NMR data acquired. The results showed that a large part of the disorder induced by the mechanical treatment of cellulose by ball milling is reversible and reordering upon hydration leads to the cellulose I form initially present. The C4 signals corresponding to the reversibly disordered cellulose chains are observed in the amorphous region between 79 and 86 ppm in the¹³C-CP/MAS NMR-spectra together with signals from cellulose chains on the surface of ordered regions. The peak cluster which contains the C2, C3 and C5 ring carbons can be divided into two specific spectral regions; one between 74 and 77 ppm largely originates from ring carbons within disordered cellulose structures, and one between 70 and 74 ppm contains larger contributions from ordered cellulose. The behaviour of the celluloses upon milling is in accordance with a concept of ordered cellulose fibrils containing amorphous cellulose mainly as surface layers and induced reversible lattice distortions.     

Automatic analysis of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification products (exemplified by a commercial kit for prenatal aneuploidy detection)

For use in routine prenatal diagnostics, we developed software and methods for automatic aneuploidy detection based on a commercial multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) kit. Software and methods ensure a reliable, objective, and fast workflow, and may be applied to other types of MLPA kits. Following CE of MLPA amplification products, the software automatically identified the peak area for each probe, normalized it in relation to the neighboring peak areas of the test sample, computed the ratio relative to a reference created from normal samples, and compensated the ratio for a side effect of the normalization procedure that scaled all chromosomally normal DNA peak areas slightly up or down depending on the kind of aneuploidy present. For the chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y, probe reliability weighted mean ratio values and corresponding SDs were calculated, and the significance for being outside a reference interval around ratio 1.0 was tested. p < or = 1% suggested aneuploidy and 1 < p < or = 5% suggested potential aneuploidy. Individual peaks, where the normalized area was situated more than 4 SD from the corresponding reference, suggested possible partial deletion or gain. Sample quality was automatically assessed. Control probes were not required. Having used the software and methods for two years, we conclude that a reliable, objective, and fast workflow is obtained.     

Characterization of the supermolecular structure of cellulose in wood pulp fibres

The hierarchic organization of cellulose fibrils (microfibrils) was investigated in holocellulose, sulphite pulp and kraft pulp using TEM, XRD, ED and FTIR. There were remarkable differences in both the fibril structure and fibril aggregation between the samples. TEM observations revealed more intimately associated fibrils in the kraft pulp compared to the sulphite pulp and the holocellulose, results in agreement with previous CP/MAS ¹³C-NMR data [Hult E.-L. et al. (2002) Holzforschung 56: 231–234]. Furthermore, the cellulose crystallinity was higher in the kraft pulp sample. With respect to the cellulose I and I allomorphs, these samples were controversial when different analytical techniques were applied. Due to the small fibril size and the low degree of order of cellulose in these samples, the concept of crystalline triclinic and monoclinic components as determined by diffraction analysis may not be adequate. Instead the fibril can be regarded to have different degrees of lateral order (including paracrystalline ordering) that can be reoriented to I type conformation and packing upon pulping.     

A theoretical study of configurational inversion of 1,1′-binaphthyl by molecular mechanics

The molecular mechanics method has been applied to the study of various pathways and transition states for the configurational inversion of 1,1′-binaphthyl. The preferred pathway is found to be one on the anti (“trans”) side involving one point of H?H nonbonded contact in each of two identical transition states, separated by a very shallow minimum. Very satisfactory agreement with available experimental values for the enthalpy of activation is achieved.     

Adsorption of cationic cellulose derivative/anionic surfactant complexes onto solid surfaces. II. Hydrophobized silica surfaces

The effect of the anionic surfactant SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) on the adsorption behavior of cationic hydroxyethyl cellulose (Polymer JR-400) and hydrophobically modified cationic cellulose (Quatrisoft LM-200) at hydrophobized silica has been investigated by null ellipsometry and compared with the previous data for adsorption onto hydrophilic silica surfaces. The adsorbed amount of LM-200 is found to be considerably larger than the adsorbed amount of JR-400 at both surfaces. Both polymers had higher affinity toward hydrophobized silica than to silica. The effect of SDS on polymer adsorption was studied under two different conditions: adsorption of polymer/SDS complexes from premixed solutions and addition of SDS to preadsorbed polymer layers. Association of the surfactant to the polymer seems to control the interfacial behavior, which depends on the surfactant concentration. For the JR-400/SDS complex, the adsorbed amount on hydrophobized silica started to increase progressively from much lower SDS concentrations, while the adsorbed amount on silica increased sharply only slightly below the phase separation region. For the LM-200/SDS complex, the adsorbed amounts increased progressively from very low SDS concentrations at both surfaces, and no large difference in the adsorption behavior was observed between two surfaces below the phase separation region. The complex desorbed from the surface at high SDS concentrations above the critical micelle concentration. The reversibility of the adsorption of polymer/SDS complexes upon rinsing was also investigated. When the premixed polymer/SDS solutions at high SDS concentrations (>5 mM) were diluted by adding water, the adsorbed amount increased due to the precipitation of the complex. The effect of the rinsing process on the adsorbed layer was determined by the hydrophobicity of the polymer and the surface.     

Investigation of the metal binding site in methionine aminopeptidase by density functional theory

All methionine aminopeptidases exhibit the same conserved metal binding site. The structure of this site with either Co²⁺ions or Zn²⁺ions was investigated using density functional theory. The calculations showed that the structure of the site was not influenced by the identity of the metal ions. This was the case for both of the systems studied; one based on the X-ray structure of the human methionine aminopeptidase type 2 (hMetAP-2) and the other based on the X-ray structure of the E. colimethionine aminopeptidase type 1 (eMetAP-1). Another important structural issue is the identity of the bridging oxygen, which is part of either a water molecule or a hydroxide ion. Within the site of hMetAP-2 the results strongly indicate that a hydroxide ion bridges the metal ions. By contrast, the nature of the oxygen bridging the metal ions within the metal binding site of eMetAP-1 cannot be determined based on the results here, due to the similar structural results obtained with a bridging water molecule and a bridging hydroxide ion.     

Particle zips: vertical emulsion films with particle monolayers at their surfaces

Vertical emulsion films with particle monolayers at their surfaces have been studied by direct microscope observations. The effects of particle wettability and surface coverage on the structure and stability of water films in octane and octane films in water have been investigated. Monodisperse silica particles (3 microm in diameter) hydrophobized to different extents have been used. It is found that the structure and stability of emulsion films strongly depend on the film type (water-in-oil or oil-in-water), the particle contact angle, the interactions between particles from the same and the opposite monolayer, and the monolayer density. Stable films are observed only when the particle wettability fulfills the condition for stable particle bridges--in agreement with the concept that hydrophilic particles can give stable oil-in-water emulsions, whereas hydrophobic ones give water-in-oil emulsions. In the case of water films with dilute disordered monolayers at their surfaces, the hydrophilic particles are expelled from the film center toward its periphery, giving a dimple surrounded by a ring of particles bridging the film surfaces. In contrast, the thinning of octane films with dilute ordered monolayers at their surfaces finally leads to the spontaneous formation of a dense crystalline monolayer of hydrophobic particles bridging both surfaces at the center of the film. The behaviors of water and octane films with dense close-packed particle monolayers at their surfaces are very similar. In both cases, a transition from bilayer to bridging monolayer is observed at rather low capillary pressures. The implications of the above finding for particle stabilized emulsions are discussed.     

A stereochemical anomaly: the cyclised (R)-AMPA analogue (R)-3-hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridine-5-carboxylic acid [(R)-5-HPCA] resembles (S)-AMPA at glutamate receptors

(RS)-3-Hydroxy-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridine-5-carboxylic acid (5-HPCA)(), which is a conformationally constrained cyclised analogue of AMPA has previously been described as causing glutamate receptor mediated excitations of spontaneously firing cat spinal interneurons in a similar fashion to AMPA. We have now prepared the enantiomers of through chiral chromatographic resolution of (RS)-3-(carboxymethoxy)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridine-5-carboxylic acid () followed by a stereoconservative hydrolysis resulting in the enantiomers of with high enantiomeric excess (% ee [greater-than-or-equal] 99). The absolute configurations indicated by an X-ray analysis of (-)- monohydrate were confirmed by comparing observed and ab initio calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra and by stereoconservative synthesis of (S)- from (S)-AMPA, the pharmacologically active form of AMPA. The pharmacological effects at native and cloned (GluR1-4) AMPA receptors were shown to reside exclusively with (R)-(+)-, in striking contrast to the usual stereoselectivity trend among AMPA receptor agonists. The reasons for this anomalous behaviour became clear upon docking both enantiomers of to the agonist binding site of GluR2.     

Polynomials: a theme which should not be forgotten

There is a definite movement to remove many of the topics concerning polynomials from the school curriculum. The purpose of this paper is to point out why this movement is misguided and should be reversed.     

Mercerized cellulose biocomposites: a study of influence of mercerization on cellulose supramolecular structure, water retention value and tensile properties

In this study the effect of the mercerization degree on the water retention value (WRV) and tensile properties of compression molded sulphite dissolving pulp was evaluated. The pulp was treated with 9, 10, or 11 % aqueous NaOH solution for 1 h before compression molding. To study the time dependence of mercerization the pulp was treated with 12 wt% aqueous NaOH for 1, 6 or 48 h. The cellulose I and II contents of the biocomposites were determined by solid state cross polarization/magic angle spinning carbon 13 nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS ¹³C NMR) spectroscopy. By spectral fitting of the C6 and C1 region the cellulose I and II content, respectively, could be determined. Mercerization decreased the total crystallinity (sum of cellulose I and cellulose II content) and it was not possible to convert all cellulose I to cellulose II in the NaOH range investigated. Neither increased the conversion significantly with 12 wt% NaOH at longer treatment times. The slowdown of the cellulose I conversion was suggested as being the result from the formation of cellulose II as a consequence of coalescence of anti-parallel surfaces of neighboring fibrils (Blackwell et al. in Tappi 61:71–72, 1978; Revol and Goring in J Appl Polym Sci 26:1275–1282, 1981; Okano and Sarko in J Appl Polym Sci 30:325–332, 1985). Compression molding of the partially mercerized dissolving pulps yielded biocomposites with tensile properties that could be correlated to the decrease in cellulose I content in the pulps. Mercerization introduces cellulose II and disordered cellulose and lowered the total crystallinity reflected as higher water sensitivity (higher WRV values) and poorer stiffness of the mercerized biocomposites.