Call for Papers: GRC, CADD, and statistics, and all that

Molecular modeling and the art of computer-aided drug discovery seldom make much use of statistics, despite being fields that can not calculate important properties with great reliability. The 2013 CADD Gordon conference intends to examine what prevents a more effective use of statistics in routine modeling and to raise consciousness as to what is possible. Practical methods will be discussed, deeper issues in applying standard approaches addressed and research on successes and failures in other disciplines presented by invited experts.     

Landau theory for isotropic,nematic, smectic-A,and smectic-C phases

ABSTRACT

We use the Landau theory of phase transitions to describe the phase diagram of a liquid crystal displaying the isotropic (i), nematic (N), smectic-A and smectic-C phases. The order parameter of the smectic-C phase is defined as the projection of the director on the plane of the smectic layers, vanishing in the smectic-A phase. We present a detailed phase diagram that shows transition between any two of these phases, containing a triple point INA, a Lifshitz point NAC, a tricritical at the NA line, and a critical end point IAC. As one approaches the NC line from the smectic-C phase, the tilt angle approaches a nonzero value, but if the AC line is approached, the tilt angle vanishes according to the distance to the AC line to the power 1/2.     

MAMT,a new chromogenic reagent for Ru,Rh, Pd,Pt and Au in TLC,and for their evaluation by ring colorimetry

Summary Micro-analytical separations of some platinum metals [Ru(III), Rh(III), Pd(II), Pt(IV), and Au(III)] in mixed solutions of their salts have been carried out by ascending thin layer chromatography on Silica Gel G. 3-Mercapto-4-amino-5-methyl-1,2,4-triazole (MAMT) has been successfully used for the visualisation of the above ions on TLC plates and also for colorimetric evaluation of the chromatographed species by ring colorimetry.MAMT=3-Mercapto-4-amino-5-methyl-1,2,4-triazole     

Lattice-dynamical calculations for fluorene,carbazole, dibenzofuran and dibenzothiophen

For crystalline fluorene, carbazole, dibenzofuran and dibenzothiophen several properties have been calculated using semi-empirical atom-atom potentials Calculated geometrical parameters, Raman-active lattice frequencies, enthalpies of sublimation and crystallographic temperature factors agree with observed values. However, except for dibenzothiophen, infrared-active lattice frequencies are not consistent with any potential so far tried     

Force-field calculations for S,Se, and Te hexafluorides

Catalysis Institute, Siberian Branch, USSR Academy of Sciences. Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 50–54, January–February, 1989.     

Programmable DNA Nanoflowers for Biosensing,Bioimaging, and Therapeutics

DNA nanostructures have shown excellent prospects in biomedical applications owing to their unique sequence programmability, function designability, and biocompatibility. As a type of unique DNA–inorganic hybrid nanostructures, DNA nanoflowers (DNFs) have attracted considerable attention in the past few years. Precise design of the DNA sequence enables the functions of DNFs to be customized. Specifically, DNFs exhibit high physiological stability and more diverse properties by virtue of the incorporation of inorganic materials, which in turn have been applied in an assortment of biomedical fields. In this review, the design, synthesis, and biomedical applications of programmable DNFs are discussed. First, the background of DNA-based materials and the fundamentals of DNFs are briefly introduced. In the second part, two synthetic methods of DNFs are categorized as the rolling circle amplification and salt aging method, focusing on the formation mechanism of DNFs and differences between the synthetic methods. In the third part, the biomedical applications of DNFs functional materials are summarized, including biosensing, bioimaging, and therapeutics. Finally, the challenges and future opportunities of DNFs are discussed toward more widespread applications.     

Enzyme and microbial sensors for phosphate, phenols, pesticides and peroxides

Biosensors employing a biocatalyst on a different level of integration have been developed for monitoring environmental pollution. These probes range from laboratory specimen to commercial detectors applied to analyzers. Recent developments on amperometric enzyme and microbial biosensors are presented here. A monoenzymatic bulk-type carbon electrode is described for biosensing organic hydroperoxides in aqueous solutions; peroxidase is immobilized within the electrode body and the direct electron transfer between electrode and enzyme is measured. Both, reversible and irreversible inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase have been quantified by using a kinetically controlled acetylcholine enzyme sequence electrode. The inhibitory effect of pesticides such as butoxycarboxime, dimethoate, and trichlorfon could be quantified within 6 min in molar concentrations. Different multi-enzyme electrodes have been developed for the determination of inorganic phosphate. These sensors represent examples of sequentially acting enzymes in combination with enzymatic analyte recycling. Using this type of amplification nanomolar concentrations can be measured.     

Micro- and nanomechanical sensors for environmental, chemical, and biological detection

Micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems, including cantilevers and other small scale structures, have been studied for sensor applications. Accurate sensing of gaseous or aqueous environments, chemical vapors, and biomolecules have been demonstrated using a variety of these devices that undergo static deflections or shifts in resonant frequency upon analyte binding. In particular, biological detection of viruses, antigens, DNA, and other proteins is of great interest. While the majority of currently used detection schemes are reliant on biomarkers, such as fluorescent labels, time, effort, and chemical activity could be saved by developing an ultrasensitive method of label-free mass detection. Micro- and nanoscale sensors have been effectively applied as label-free detectors. In the following, we review the technologies and recent developments in the field of micro- and nanoelectromechanical sensors with particular emphasis on their application as biological sensors and recent work towards integrating these sensors in microfluidic systems.     

Rhodizonate as reagent for barium,strontium, and calcium

Summary The specificity and sensitivity of the spot tests for barium and strontium is improved by treating the brownish red rhodizonate fleck with a solution of dimethylamine hydrochloride. Calcium may be identified by the separation of characteristic crystals after adding a solution of rhodizonic and benzoic acids. A simple scheme of separation has been developed, which makes use of these confirmatory tests.

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Zusammenfassung Die Spezifität und Empfindlichkeit der Tüpfelproben für Barium und Strontium wird durch Behandlung des mit Natriumrhodizonat erhaltenen Tüpfelfleckes mit Dimethylaminhydrochlorid verbessert. Calcium kann durch die Abscheidung von charakteristischen Kristallen nachgewiesen werden, die nach Zugabe einer Lösung von Rhodizonsäure und Benzoesäure erhalten werden. Ein einfacher Trennungsgang wurde ausgearbeitet, der die nutzbringende Verwendung dieser Nachweisproben möglich macht.

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Résumé La spécificité et la sensibilité de la recherche du baryum et du strontium par essais à la touche sont améliorées en traitant la tache rouge brunâtre de rhodizonate par une solution de chlorhydrate de diméthylamine. Le calcium peut être identifié par la séparation de cristaux caractéristiques après addition d'une solution d'acides rhodizonique et benzoïque. On a mis au point un schéma simple de séparation dans lequel on fait usage de ces tests de confirmation.

     

Bond energies for molecules, clusters, and deposit systems

A new approach is suggested to the assignment of bond energies in molecules and clusters. It uses a shareholder principle for the redistribution of the shifts in atomic energies, which arise in a molecule, on the bonds. The scheme is directly suitable for semiempirical methods, where only one- and two-center terms occur. MSINDO calculations are performed to demonstrate the suitability of the approach for molecules and clusters. As an application the bonding in a deposit system is analyzed for the case of copper on magnesium oxide. It is found that copper atoms do not only bind to the preferred oxygen sites but also substantially to the magnesium sites. The copper-copper bonds are the strongest and will determine the structure of copper clusters on magnesium oxide surfaces.