Low temperature survival of slender naiad (Najas flexilis) seeds

The response to drying and storage at -20 degrees C or in liquid nitrogen was studied in seeds of the freshwater aquatic plant Najas flexilis. The seeds of this species show some desiccation sensitivity, although post-harvest storage in water at 16 degrees C resulted in improvements in desiccation tolerance. There was 63% germination of seeds dried to 9.5% moisture content (30% RH) following this maturation period. Optimum moisture contents for seeds stored at -20 degrees C for 3 months and in liquid nitrogen for 1 week were ~11% and ~15%, respectively.     

Mass spectrometry guided in situ proteolysis to obtain crystals for X-ray structure determination

A strategy for increasing the efficiency of protein crystallization/structure determination with mass spectrometry has been developed. This approach combines insights from limited proteolysis/mass spectrometry and crystallization via in situ proteolysis. The procedure seeks to identify protease-resistant polypeptide chain segments from purified proteins on the time-scale of crystal formation, and subsequently crystallizing the target protein in the presence of the optimal protease at the right relative concentration. We report our experience with 10 proteins of unknown structure, two of which yielded high-resolution X-ray structures. The advantage of this approach comes from its ability to select only those structure determination candidates that are likely to benefit from application of in situ proteolysis, using conditions most likely to result in formation of a stable proteolytic digestion product suitable for crystallization.     

Investigation into the rotational bands of ~(185)Pt with the particle-rotor model

Theoretical calculations have been performed for the ν9/2+[624](i13/2) and ν7/2-[503](f7/2) bands of 185Pt in the framework of particle-rotor model. The band properties of signature splitting and configuration mixing have been analyzed. The level energy and signature splitting before the band crossing can be well interpreted by introducing triaxiality. The positive-parity yrast band is pro posed to be dominated by the ν9/2+[624](i13/2) component, while the negative-parity band shows strong mixing of ν7/2-[5...     

Book review

Ernest R. Alexander Published by Gordon and Breach Publishers, Amsterdam, Holland 1995. 355 pages. ISBN 2-88449-173-2     

Recording and evaluation methods of PIV investigations on a helicopter rotor model

Three-component particle image velocimetry measurements at moderate speeds and observation distances can now be accomplished on a routine basis. This article discusses the experiment performed on a 4 m-diameter model rotor in the 6-m×8-m open test section of the Large Low Speed Facility of the German–Dutch Wind Tunnels. More than half a terabyte of raw data were recorded at various positions on the advancing and retreating sides of the rotor in order to obtain detailed measurements of the trailing vortex in the frame of an international project. This paper addresses measuring techniques and possible sources of errors and presents a limited number of cases for the purpose of illustrating the solutions to numerous technical challenges relating to the acquisition and analysis of vortical flows.List of symbols C _T thrust coefficient (T/² R ⁴) - M magnification - r _c radius of vortex core (mm) - R rotor radius (m) - T thrust (N) - u,v,w velocity components in x, y and z coordinates (m/s) - (u,v,w)_wt velocity components in wind tunnel coordinates (m/s) - U _max maximum in-plane velocity component (m/s) - W _max maximum out-of-plane velocity component (m/s) - x,y,z particle image velocimetry (PIV) frame coordinates (m) - (x,y,z)_wt wind tunnel coordinates (m) - t time delay (s) - Z light sheet thickness (mm) - Z light sheet thickness (mm) - rotor rotation frequency (rad/s) - rotor azimuth angle during recording (deg) vortex age - rotor shaft angle (deg) - _x displacement measurement error - advance ratio (V/R) - air density (kg/m³) - circulation (m²/s) - _z vorticity (s^–1) Abbreviations AFDD Aeroflightdynamics Directorate - BVI blade–vortex interaction - DLR Deutches zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt - DNW German–Dutch Wind tunnel - HART HHC aeroacoustic rotor test - LLF large low speed facility - NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration - ONERA Office National dEtudes e de Recherches Aerospatiales - RANS Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes - SPR stereo pattern recognition - 3C-PIV three-component particle image velocimetry     

DNA-templated photonic arrays and assemblies: design principles and future opportunities

Molecular photonics is a rapidly developing and multi-disciplinary field of research involving the construction of molecular assemblies comprising photoactive building blocks that are responsive to a light stimulus. A salient challenge in this field is the controlled assembly of these building blocks with nanoscale precision. DNA exhibits considerable promise as an architecture for the templated assembly of photoactive materials. In this Concept Article we describe the progress that has been made in the area of DNA photonics, in which DNA acts as a platform for the construction of optoelectronic assemblies, thin films and devices.     

Exploring the relationship between cocrystal stability and symmetry: is Wallach's rule applicable to multi-component solids?

Comparison of structure and hydration stability of pairs of chiral and racemic binary cocrystals indicates that the racemic solid is more stable than the chiral one; we illustrate that this difference might arise from intermolecular (crystal packing) factors in one case, while intramolecular (molecular conformation) factors are more significant in the other.