Concentration-Dependent Influence of Silver Nanoparticles on Amyloid Fibrillation Kinetics of Hen Egg-White Lysozyme

Understanding the influence of nanoparticles on the formation of protein amyloid fibrillation is crucial to extend their application in related biological diagnosis and nanomedicines. In this work, Raman spectroscopy was used to probe the amyloid fibrillation of hen egg-white lysozyme in the presence of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at different concentrations, combined with atomic force microscopy and thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence assays. Four representative Raman indicators were utilized to monitor transformation of the protein tertiary and secondary structures at the molecular level: the Trp doublet bands at 1340 and 1360 cm^-1, the disulfide stretching vibrational peak at 507 cm^-1, the N-C$\alpha$-C stretching vibration at 933 cm^-1, and the amide Ⅰ band. All experimental results confirmed the concentration-dependent influence of AgNPs on the hen egg-white lysozyme amyloid fibrillation kinetics. In the presence of AgNPs at low concentration (17 μg/mL), electrostatic interaction of the nanoparticles stabilizes disulfide bonds, and protects the Trp residues from exposure to hydrophilic environment, thus leading to formation of amorphous aggregates rather than fibrils. However, with the action of AgNPs at high concentration (1700 μg/mL), the native disulfide bonds of hen egg-white lysozyme are broken to form Ag-S bonds owing to the competition of electrostatic interaction from a great deal of nanoparticles. As for providing functional surfaces for protein to interact with, AgNPs play a bridge role in direct transformation from $\alpha$-helices to organized $\beta$-sheets. The present investigation sheds light on the controversial effects of AgNPs on the kinetics of hen egg-white lysozyme amyloid fibrillation.     

Potential energy curves for ground and excited states of NaLi from ab initio calculations with effective core polarization potentials

Sixteen low-lying electronic states of NaLi are investigated by SCF/valence Cl calculations including core polarization effects by means of an effective potential. Spectroscopic constants are obtained with estimated uncertainties of ΔR_e ? 0.01 Å, Δω_e ? 0.6 cm^?1 and ΔD_e ? 80 cm^?1. From a comparison of experimental and theoretical G(υ) values, we suggest a ground-state dissociation energy of 7093 ± 5 cm^?1. Using our rovibrational energies and recently measured excitation lines, we are able to improve the T_e values and dissociation energies of five excited states to an accuracv of ±8 cm^?1.     

Effects of Pressure and pH on the Physical Stability of an I-Motif DNA Structure

The thermodynamic stability of a cytosine(C)-rich i-motif tract of DNA, which features pH-sensitive [C..H..C]⁺ moieties, has been studied as function of both pressure (0.1–200 MPa) and pH (3.7–6.2). Careful attention was paid to correcting citrate buffer pH for known variations that stem from changes in pressure. Once pH-corrected, (i) at pH >4.6 the i-motif becomes less stable as pressure is increased (K_D decreases), giving a small negative volume change for dissociation (Δ_DV°) of the i-motif – a conclusion opposite to that which would be drawn if the buffer pH was not corrected for the effects of pressure; (ii) the i-motif's melting temperature increases by more than 30 K between pH 6.5 and 4.5, the consequence of an enthalpy for dissociation (Δ_DH°) of 77(3) and 90(3) kJ (mol H⁺)⁻¹ at 0.1 and 200 MPa, respectively; (iii) below pH 4.6 at 0.1 MPa (pH 4.3 at 200 MPa) the melting temperature decreases as a result of double protonation of cytosine pairs, and Δ_DH° and Δ_DV° change signs; and (iv) the combination of Δ_DH° and Δ_DV° lead to the melting temperature at pH 4.3 being 3 K higher at 200 MPa than at 0.1 MPa.     

The NO- and NO2-catalyzed decomposition of I2 in shock waves

Measurements of the NO-catalyzed dissociation of I₂ in Ar in incident shock waves were carried out in the temperature range of 700°-1520°K and at total concentrations of 5 × 10^?6-6 × 10^?5 mol/cm³, using ultraviolet-visible absorption techniques to monitor the disappearance of I₂. It was shown that the main reaction responsible for the disappearance under these conditions is I₂ + NO → INO + I, for which a rate coefficient of (2.9 ± 0.5) × 10¹³ exp[-(18.0 ± 0.6 kcal/mol)/RT] cm²/mol·sec was determined. The INO formed dissociates rapidly in a subsequent reaction. The reaction, therefore, constitutes a “chemical model” for a “thermal collisional release mechanism.” Preliminary measurements of the rate coefficient for I₂ + NO₂ → INO₂ + I are also presented. Combined with information on the reverse reactions obtained in earlier room temperature experiments, these results lead to accurate values of ΔH°_f for INO and INO₂ equal to 29.7 ± 0.5 and 15.9 ± 1 kcal/mol, respectively.     

Estimation of Dimerisation Constants from Complexatin-Induced Displacements of 1H-NMR Chemical Shifts: Dimerisation of Caffeine

The determination of the dimerisation constant (K^D) for the weak self-association of a compound C in dilute solution according to the equilibrium, 2C?C₂ is described. The method uses chemical shifts measured on a series of solutions of C at different concentrations: the optimum K^D is defined by a linear regression best-fit procedure, which simultaneously determines optimum values for δ_o and also for δ_∞, the intrinsic chemical shifts for nuclei in the monomer and dimer species. The dimerisation of caffeine in D₂O is used as a model to demonstrate the working of the method and the quality of results obtained. The most probable value of K_D for caffeine at 30.5° is found in the range 5.5–6.0 kg solution · mol^?1, and the enthalpy and entropy of dimerisation are found to be ΔH^? = ?15.1 kJ · mol^?1 and ΔS^? = ?35.3 J · °C^?1 · mol^?1, respectively. The influence of small errors in δ_o on the confidence limits of K^D is discussed.     

A study of helix formation in polydimethysiloxane by Raman scattering

Depolarization ratios ρ of the Raman bands due to CH₃ stretching at 2907 cm^?1 and the Si? O skeletal mode at 491 cm^?1 have been measured in polydimethylsiloxane gum as a function of temperature from 100°C to ?45°C. Below 0°C the changes in p have been interpreted in terms of the formation of helical regions in the gum. The enthalpy of helix formation ΔH has been determined as 3200 ± 600 cal/mole. An upper limit on the entropy change, ΔS, of 16 ± 3 e.u./mole and minimum values of helix content at different temperatures have been found. The Raman spectrum of crystalline polydimethylsiloxane is presented.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,Spectral and Thermodynamic Properties of One Benzoindole Pentamethine Cyanine Dye

One benzoindole pentamethine cyanine dye was synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, IR, MS and UV‐Vis spectra. The UV‐Vis absorption and fluorescence spectra of the dye in chloroform, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetone, ethanol and methanol were investigated, and the λ_max of the dye was in the region 682.0–689.0 nm with large molar extinction coefficients (? > 10⁵ M^?1cm^?1) in different solvents. The structure of the dye was also characterized and analyzed by X‐ray diffraction. Crystallographic data revealed that the dye belonged to orthorhombic, with space group P2₁2₁2₁, a = 10.059(2) Å, b = 15.098(4) Å, c = 24.989(6) Å, V = 3794.8(15) ų, Z = 4. The C‐H···F intermolecular hydrogen bonds were displayed in the molecular system, which were effective in the molecular packing. The aggregation behavior and thermodynamic properties of the dye in aqueous methanol solution were also studied by means of UV‐Vis spectroscopy methods. The results indicated that the dye existed monomer‐dimer equilibrium in aqueous methanol solutions. The fundamental properties of the dye, such as the dimeric association constant K_D, the dimeric free energy ΔG_D, the dimeric entropy ΔS_D, and the dimeric enthalpy ΔH_D were determined. The ΔH_D of the dye was –46.0 kJ mol^?1.     

Kinetic isotope effect for hydrogen/deuterium abstraction by chlorine atoms from (CH3)2NNO2 and (CD3)2NNO2

The kinetic isotope effect for the abstraction of hydrogen/deuterium from dimethylnitramine and dimethylnitramine-d₆ by chlorine atoms has been studied in the temperature range 273–353 K. The rate constant ratio k_H0/k_D is given by the Arrhenius expression, k_H/k_D=(0.92 ± 0.07)exp(286 ± 250/RT), where R is expressed in cal mol^?1 K^?1. The absolute rate constant for the deuterium abstraction reaction is extrapolated as k_D=(1.50 ± 0.90) × 10^?10 exp(?1,486 ± 370/RT) cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The temperature dependence of the kinetic isotope effect was calculated using the conventional transition-state theory, and the obtained values for k_H/k_D and ΔE_{H, D} are in good agreement with the experimental value for a bent transition state geometry, with two new vibrational frequencies of 340 cm^?1 (272 cm^?1) corresponding to the in-plane and out-of-plane motions of hydrogen (deuterium) atoms in the Cl…H…C arrangement. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

UV absorption study of the dissociation of SO2 and SO in shock waves

The thermal decomposition of SO₂ and of the primary dissociation product SO have been studied in shock waves by the uv absorption technique. The controversy about SO₂ dissociation data from uv absorption signals was resolved and attributed to the extensive overlap of SO₂ and SO uv absorption spectra. The derived rate coefficients are k₁/[Ar] = 10^15.6 exp(-420 kJmol^?1/RT) cm³mol^?1 s^?1 (temperature range 3000–5000 K) for SO₂ dissociation, and k₃/[Ar] = 10^14.6 exp(-448 kJmol^?1/RT) cm³ mol^?1 s^?1 (temperature range 4000–6000 K) for SO dissociation. Anomalously high values of the apparent collision efficiencies β_c in SO₂ dissociation are attributed to marked contributions from excited electronic states.     

The 1B1u ← 1A1g 0—0 transition in crystal benzene

The transition linewidth ΔE in crystal C₆H₆, C₆D₆ and sym-C₆H₃D₃ has been measured as a function of temperature T from 4.2 to 135°K, and it extrapolates to a common value of ΔE_o = 50 cm^? at O°K. In C₆H₆ ΔE = (50 + 7T^{$\text{1}\text{2}$}) cm^?1, indicative of strong exciton—phonon coupling, and there is a line shift of +40 cm^?1 per substituent deuteron. Fluorescence excitation spectral data are used to separate the ¹B_1u(= S₂) decay rate k_H = 9.4 × 10¹² sec^?1, derived from ΔE₀, into S₂S₁ internal conversion (rate ≈ 6.6 × 10¹² sec^?1) and S₂S_x (channel 3) internal conversion (rate ≈ 2.8 × 10¹² sec^?1. A similar value of k_H = 9.9 × 10¹² sec^?1 is obtained from the S₂S_o fluorescence quantum yield of liquid benzene.     

EPR Studies on Branched High‐Spin Arylnitrenes

The UV (λ>305 nm) photolysis of triazide 3 in 2‐methyl‐tetrahydrofuran glass at 7 K selectively produces triplet mononitrene 4 (g=2.003, D_T=0.92 cm^?1, E_T=0 cm^?1), quintet dinitrene 6 (g=2.003, D_Q=0.204 cm^?1, E_Q=0.035 cm^?1), and septet trinitrene 8 (g=2.003, D_S=?0.0904 cm^?1, E_S=?0.0102 cm^?1). After 45 min of irradiation, the major products are dinitrene 6 and trinitrene 8 in a ratio of ～1:2, respectively. These nitrenes are formed as mixtures of rotational isomers each of which has slightly different magnetic parameters D and E. The best agreement between the line‐shape spectral simulations and the experimental electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum is obtained with the line‐broadening parameters Γ(E_Q)=180 MHz for dinitrene 6 and Γ(E_S)=330 MHz for trinitrene 8 . According to these line‐broadening parameters, the variations of the angles Θ in rotational isomers of 6 and 8 are expected to be about ±1 and ±3°, respectively. Theoretical estimations of the magnetic parameters obtained from PBE/DZ(COSMO)//UB3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p) calculations overestimate the E and D values by 1 and 8 %, respectively. Despite the large distances between the nitrene units and the extended π systems, the zero field splitting (zfs) parameters D are found to be close to those in quintet dinitrenes and septet trinitrenes, where the nitrene centers are attached to the same aryl ring. The large D values of branched septet nitrenes are due to strong negative one‐center spin–spin interactions in combination with weak positive two‐center spin–spin interactions, as predicted by theoretical considerations.     

Thermodynamic Studies of Bi-Univalent Electrolytes. VI. Thermodynamics of Cadmium Acetate from E. M. F. and Calorimetric Measurements

E. M. F. of the Cell, Cd-Hg (2-phase)/CdAc₂(m), Hg₂Ac₂(s)/Hg was measured at 20°, 25°, 30° and 40°C. The standard e. m. f. of the cell, Cd/CdAc₃(m), Hg₂Ac₂(c)/Hg was evaluated as E°=1.1500?11.09×10^?4T+1.06×10^?8T² The thermodynamic data of the reaction, Cd(c) + Hg₂Ac₂(c)=2Hg(l)+Cd⁺⁺(aq)+2Ac^?(aq) at 25°C were estimated as ΔF°=?42,139, ΔH°=?48,698 cal mole^?1 and ΔS°=?22.0 cal deg^?1 mole^?1 at 25°C. The thermodynamic data for the formation of Hg₂Ac₂(s) were evaluated as ΔF_f°=?202.3, ΔH_f°=?154.5 Kcal mole^?1 and S°=72.9 cal deg^?1 mole^?1. From measurements of the heats of solution of CdAc₂·2H₂O in aqueous solution, the relative partial molal enthalpies of cadmium acetate in aqueous solution were estimated.     

Optical anisotropy of polyisobutylene: Strain birefringence

Strain birefringence measurements on crosslinked polyisobutylene (butyl rubber) confirm earlier work of Stein and Tobolsky on the linear polymer indicating the optical anisotropy to be much greater than should have been expected from the structural symmetry of the polyisobutylene (PIB) chain. The configuration–optical anisotropy parameter Δa for PIB at 25°C is 4.1(±0.1) × 10^?24 cm³, or about half the value for crosslinked polymethylene, both polymers being undiluted and amorphous. Swelling with cyclohexane, CCl₄, and CBrCl₃ lowers Δa to values of 3.8, 3.4, and 2.8 × 10^?24 cm³, respectively. Contributions from intermolecular correlations in the bulk polymer and from form anisotropy in the diluted systems are small, if not negligible. Temperature coefficients measured isometrically yield d In Δa/dT ≈ 0.2 × 10^?3 deg^?1. Both Δa and its temperature coefficient are much greater than calculated from rotational isomeric state theory assuming additivity of bond polarizabilities. The disparity (more than tenfold for Δa) cannot be relieved by any rational adjustment of the structural parameters. It is suggested that the severe crowding of groups in the PIB chain may affect the anisotropies of group polarizabilities.     

Kinetics of Oxygen Exchange in the System BrO - H2O (D2O)

The kinetics of oxygen exchange between water (H₂O, D₂O) and ¹⁸O-labelled bromate ion has been investigated over the range of 1.7 ≤ pH ≤ 14.3 and 20 ≤ °C ≤ 95. At 60° and ionic strength I ? 1.0M (NaNO₃), the experimental results were consistent with the rate laws (R in moll^?1 s^?1): From the temperature dependence of the rate constants the activation parameters ΔH^≠, ΔS^≠ and ΔC^≠ were derived. In the acid-catalysed region the form of the rate law and the direction of the solvent isotope effect were the same as previously found, but the numerical values of ΔH^≠ and k_2H/k_2D differ considerably. For the spontaneous and the OH^?-catalysed exchange reactions bimolecular displacement mechanisms are proposed.     

Electronic structure and thermochemistry for monocarbides MC,MC+ and MC− (M=Zn,Cd, Hg): CCSD(T) and DFT works

In this work, the ab-initio coupled cluster CCSD(T) method and the B3LYP, BP91W and CAM-B3LYP functional of DFT method in conjunction with the aug-cc-pVTZ-PP basis have been applied to study the group 12 monocarbides MC, MC⁺ and MC^?. The potential energy curves (PECs) for the three electronic states ³Σ^?, ⁵Σ^? and ¹Δ of the MC and the two states ²∑^- and ⁴∑^- for the MC⁺ cations and MC^? anions have been investigated. In addition, Bond distance Re, transition energy Te, vibrational frequency ω_e, ionization energy IE, electron affinity EA, dipole moment μ, dissociation energy D₀ and heat formation ΔH°f₀/ΔH°f₂₉₈, were determined for each species. The analysis of the dissociation energy for ZnC, CdC and HgC shows the decrease in the stability of the monocarbides from Zn to Hg. For ΔH°f₀/ΔH°f₂₉₈ values of MC, which are not known experimentally or theoretically, we recommend the following CCSD(T) predictions of ZnC, CdC and HgC: 181.3/178.54, 180.65/178.4 and 175.35/174.71 kcal/mol respectively. Comparing the three functionals with the CCSD(T) results, the CAM-B3LYP functional shows excellent predictive agreement for the various properties of the group 12 monocarbides.     

The Reaction Volume for the Equilibrium between the Lanthanide (III) ennea- and octaaqua lons as a diagnostic aid for their water-exchange mechanisms. Preliminary Communication

The equilibrium between [Ce(H₂O)₉]³⁺ and [Ce(H₂O)₈]³⁺ has been followed in aqueous solution at 298 K by variable-pressure UV spectroscopy at 295 nm. The dervied volume of reaction for the dissociation of this enneaaqua ion is ΔV⁰ = +10.9 cm³. mol^?1. This value, together with the previously determined activation volume, ΔV^≠ = ?6 cm³. mol^?1, for H₂O exchange on [Ln(H₂O)₈]³⁺ (Ln = Tb to Tm), allows the assignment of an associative interchange I_a mechanism on these octaaqua ions.     

Influence of the interphase on block copolymer thermodynamics: Extension of the leary model

The Leary–Williams model for the microphase thermodynamics of triblock ABA copolymers has been modified to accommodate deviations from homogeneous random-coil configurations in the B-chain dimensions as well as in those of the A chains, and has also been extended to cover the case of diblock AB copolymers. Only planar morphology is considered, but qualitative conclusions reported herein are expected to hold for other morphologies as well. The focus is on interphase thickness ΔT, with predictions made also for separation temperature T_s and planar repeat distance D. Results are presented as systematic functions of copolymer composition (0 ≤ ?_A ≤ 1), total molar volume (25,000 ≤ ? ≤ 4 × 10⁶ cm³/g mol), block architecture (AB vs. ABA), temperature (298, 373 K), and for five different interphase composition profiles. In most cases, A represents a polystyrene block and B a butadiene block in these calculations. Predictions for ΔT increase with temperature and depend on architecture, profile, and ?; comparisons with data are close, in the range 15–30Å. It is shown that T_s depends strongly on profile choice and ?_A, reaching a maximum in the ?_A midrange but always with ?_A > 0.5. The major parameter influencing D (at constant ?) is architecture, with D(SB) ≈ 2D(SBS), and D(?) varies from D ∝ ?^0.75 at low ? to D ∝ ?^0.5 at high ?.     

斯蒂芬酸氢铷的制备，晶体结构和热分解机理

A new compound,[RbHTNR]_∞[HTNR:C_6H(NO_2)_3(OH)O],was synthesized by the reaction of rubidium ni-trate and styphnic acid.The molecular structure was characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis,elementalanalysis and FTIR spectroscopy.The crystalline is monoclinic with space group P2_1/n and the empirical formulaC_6H_2N_3O_8Rb.The unit cell parameters are:a=0.4525 nm,b=1.0777 nm,c=1.9834 nm,β=90.47(2)°,V=0.96725 nm~3,Z=4,D_c=2.263 g/cm~3,Mr=329.58,F(000)=640,μ(Mo Kα)=5.165 mm~(-1).The thermal decompo-sition mechanism of the complex was studied by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),thermogravimetry-derivative thermogravimetry(TG-DTG)and FTIR techniques.At the linear rate of 10 ℃/min,the thermaldecomposition of the complex showed three mass reducing processes between 60 and 500 ℃,and finally evolvedRbCN and some gaseous products.     

New insights on the Cd UPD on Au(111)

The Cd underpotential deposition (UPD) process on Au(111) was analyzed by means of combined electrochemical measurements and in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). In the underpotential range 300?ΔE (mV) ?400, 2D Cd islands are formed on the fcc regions of the Au(111)‐(√3 × 22) reconstructed surface without lifting the reconstruction. At lower underpotentials, the 2D Cd islands grow and, simultaneously, new 2D islands nucleate and coalesce with the previous ones forming a complete condensed Cd monolayer (ML). STM images and long time polarization experiments performed at ΔE = 70 mV demonstrate the formation of an Au? Cd surface alloy. At ΔE = 10 mV, the formation of the complete Cd ML is accompanied by a significant Au? Cd surface alloying and the kinetic results reveal two different solid‐state diffusion processes. The first one, with a diffusion coefficient D₁ = 4 × 10^?17 cm² s^?1, could be ascribed to the mutual diffusion of Au and Cd atoms through a highly distorted (vacancy‐rich) Au? Cd alloy layer. The second and faster diffusion process (D₂ = 7 × 10^?16 cm² s^?1) is associated with the appearance of an additional peak in the anodic stripping curves and could be attributed to the formation of another Cd_zAu_x alloy phase. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bis(4‐nitraminofurazanyl‐3‐azoxy)azofurazan and Derivatives: 1,2,5‐Oxadiazole Structures and High‐Performance Energetic Materials

Bis(4‐nitraminofurazanyl‐3‐azoxy)azofurazan ( 1 ) and ten of its energetic salts were prepared and fully characterized. Computational analysis based on isochemical shielding surface and trigger bond dissociation enthalpy provide a better understanding of the thermal stabilities for nitramine‐furazans. These energetic compounds exhibit good densities, high heats of formation, and excellent detonation velocity and pressure. Some representative compounds, for example, 1 (v_D: 9541 m s^?1; P: 40.5 GPa), and 4 (v_D: 9256 m s^?1; P: 38.0 GPa) exhibit excellent detonation performances, which are comparable with current high explosives such as RDX (v_D: 8724 m s^?1; P: 35.2 GPa) and HMX (v_D: 9059 m s^?1; P: 39.2 GPa).