Isometries of the Dirichlet space among the composition operators

We show that every composition operator which is an isometry of the Dirichlet space is induced by a univalent full map of the disk into itself that fixes the origin. This is an analogue of the Hardy space result for inner functions due to Nordgren. The proof relies on the Stone-Weierstrass theorem and the Riesz representation theorem.

     

Polyelectrolyte complexes. VI. Polycation structure,polyanion molar mass,and polyion concentration effects on complex nanoparticles based on poly(sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonate)

The formation and characterization of some interpolyelectrolyte complex (IPEC) nanoparticles based on poly(sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonate) (NaPAMPS), as a function of the polycation structure, polyanion molar mass, and polyion concentration, were followed in this work. Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and two polycations (PCs) containing (N,N‐dimethyl‐2‐hydroxypropyleneammonium chloride) units in the backbone (PCA₅ and PCA₅D₁) were used as starting polyions. The complex stoichiometry, (n^?/n⁺)_iso, was pointed out by optical density at 500 nm (OD₅₀₀), polyelectrolyte titration, and dynamic light scattering. IPEC nanoparticle sizes were influenced by the polycation structure and polyanion molar mass only before the complex stoichiometry, which was higher for the more hydrophilic polycations (PCA₅ and PCA₅D₁) and for a higher NaPAMPS molar mass, and were almost independent of these factors after that, at a flow rate of the added polyion of about 0.28 mL × (mL PC)^?1 × h^?1. The IPEC nanoparticle sizes remained almost constant for more than 2 weeks, both before and after the complex stoichiometry, at low concentrations of polyions. NIPECs as stable colloidal dispersions with positive charges in excess were prepared at a ratio between charges (n^?/n⁺) of 0.7, and their storage colloidal stability, as a function of the polycation structure and polyion concentration (from 0.8 to ca. 7.8 mmol/L), was demonstrated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2495–2505, 2004     

Electroacoustic oscillations of aluminum oxide particles in the thermal plasma

The frequencies of natural electroacoustic oscillations of aluminum oxide particles in a laminar disperse aluminum flame are determined experimentally using the capacitive method. A computational model is proposed for estimating the natural frequency of oscillations of charged particles in the smoky plasma taking into account the Doppler effect. It is shown that, for a natural frequency of oscillations of 51 kHz, two measured maxima at frequencies of 30 and 60 kHz in the oscillation spectrum correspond to the Doppler frequencies.     

On norms of composition operators acting on Bergman spaces

For arbitrary composition operators acting on a general Bergman space we improve the known lower bound for the norm and also generalize a related recent theorem of D.G. Pokorny and J.E. Shapiro. Next, we obtain a geometric formula for the norms of composition operators with linear fractional symbols, thus extending a result of C. Cowen and P. Hurst and revealing the meaning of their computation. Finally, we obtain a lower bound for essential norm of an arbitrary composition operator related to the well-known criterion of B. MacCluer and J.H. Shapiro. As a corollary, norms and essential norms are obtained for certain univalently induced noncompact composition operators in terms of the minimum of the angular derivative of the symbol.     

On the Seneta Sequences

In this paper, we prove some properties of the Seneta sequences and functions, and in particular we prove a representation theorem in the Karamata sense for the sequences from the Seneta class SOc.     

A census of semisymmetric cubic graphs on up to 768 vertices

A list is given of all semisymmetric (edge- but not vertex-transitive) connected finite cubic graphs of order up to 768. This list was determined by the authors using Goldschmidt's classification of finite primitive amalgams of index (3,3), and a computer algorithm for finding all normal subgroups of up to a given index in a finitely-presented group. The list includes several previously undiscovered graphs. For each graph in the list, a significant amount of information is provided, including its girth and diameter, the order of its automorphism group, the order and structure of a minimal edge-transitive group of automorphisms, its Goldschmidt type, stabiliser partitions, and other details about its quotients and covers. A summary of all known infinite families of semisymmetric cubic graphs is also given, together with explicit rules for their construction, and members of the list are identified with these. The special case of those graphs having K_1,3 as a normal quotient is investigated in detail. Supported in part by N.Z. Marsden Fund (grant no. UOA 124) and N.Z. Centres of Research Excellence Fund (grant no. UOA 201) Supported in part by “Ministrstvo za šolstvo, znanost in šport Slovenije”, research program no. 101-506. Supported in part by research projects no. Z1-4186-0101 and no. Z1-3124-0101. The fourth author would like to thank the University of Auckland for hospitality during his visit there in 2003.     

Thermochemically induced binding of methyl orange to polycations containing primary amine groups

The thermochemical transformation of electrostatically formed complexes of methyl orange (MO) with polycations containing primary amine groups such as ammonium salts afforded new polymers with a high concentration of covalently bound 4‐N,N‐dimethylaminoazobenzene groups in the side chain. Poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(β‐aminoethylene acrylamide hydrochloride) were employed as support polycations for MO. The transformation of sulfonate–ammonium ion pairs into sulfonamide bonds, via heating at an elevated temperature, was supported by the polymer properties before and after the thermal treatment. The polymer structure changes were monitored with elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, and ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The spacer length between the backbone and azobenzene structures used as side chains strongly influenced the polymer properties before and after the heat‐induced reaction. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5898–5908, 2006     

A fluorimetric assay for cortisol

A simple, rapid and sensitive fluorimetric assay for the quantitative determination of cortisol is reported. The assay is based on the formation of a fluorescent dye when cortisol is incubated with a mixture of sulfuric acid and acetic acid. The fluorescence spectrum recorded for the resulting dye shows a maximum extinction at 475 nm and a maximum emission at 525 nm. The solvent 2-methyl-4-pentanone was used for extraction and was found to act as a fluorescence amplifier. A limit of detection of 2.7 μM was achieved, making it possible to forego solvent evaporation. The assay suffers minor interference from 11-deoxycortisol which exhibits low fluorescence at λ _ex: 460 nm; λ _em: 505 nm. Typical standard deviations were below 4%. We validated the assay using a biotransformation with recombinant Schizosaccharomyces pombe which regioselectively hydroxylates 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol. The method described herein is suitable for preliminary screening of microorganisms capable of steroid hydroxylation.     

The Peierls transition of Perylene radical cation salts with 2:1 stoichiometry containing tetrahydrofuran

Crystal structure, microwave conductivity and static magnetic susceptibility were analyzed for the conducting perylene (PE) radical cation salts of nominal composition (PE)₂(PF₆)_1–x (AsF₆) _x ·2/3 THF for 0x1. Crystallographic phase transitions in the high-temperature metal phase were also characterized by differential scanning calorimetry and electron spin resonance. The Peierls transition occuring at 100–120 K (depending onx) and the opening of the energy gap in the semiconductor phase were determined from the magnetic data. The dependence of these properties on the size of the complex anions and the packing of the PE molecules is discussed.     

Energetics of radical transfer in DNA photolyase

Charge separation and radical transfer in DNA photolyase from Escherichia coli is investigated by computing electrostatic free energies from a solution of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. For the initial charge separation 450 meV are available. According to recent experiments [Aubert et al. Nature 2000, 405, 586-590] the flavin receives an electron from the proximal tryptophan W382, which consequently forms a cationic radical WH(*)(+)382. The radical state is subsequently transferred along the triad W382-W359-W306 of conserved tryptophans. The radical transfer to the intermediate tryptophan W359 is nearly isoenergetic (58 meV uphill); the radical transfer from the intermediate W359 to the distal W306 is 200 meV downhill in energy, funneling and stabilizing the radical state at W306. The resulting cationic radical WH(*)(+)306 is further stabilized by deprotonation, yielding the neutral radical W(*)306, which is 214 meV below WH(*)(+)306. The time scale of the charge recombination process yielding back the resting enzyme with FADH(*) is governed by reprotonation of W306, with a calculated lifetime of 1.2 ms that correlates well with the measured lifetime of 17 ms. In photolyase from Anacystis nidulans the radical state is partially transferred to a tyrosine [Aubert et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1999, 96, 5423-5427]. In photolyase from Escherichia coli, there is a tyrosine (Y464) close to the distal tryptophan W306 that could play this role. We show that this tyrosine cannot be involved in radical transfer, because the electron transfer from tyrosine to W306 is much too endergonic (750 meV) and a direct hydrogen transfer is likely too slow. Coupling of specific charge states of the tryptophan triad with protonation patterns of titratable residues of photolyase is small.