Simultaneous investigation of the influence of topography and charge on protein adsorption using artificial nanopatterns

The combined influence of surface topography and charge of a polymer surface on the adsorption of the protein avidin has been investigated. Atomic force microscopy contact mode imaging and charge writing were used to create defined topographical roughness and electrostatic charge patterns on the surface of polystyrene. Increased avidin adsorption was found on nanometer-size topographical patterns, but the adsorption remained unaffected by electrostatic patterns.     

Patterning amyloid peptide fibrils by AFM charge writing

Surface charge patterns generated by atomic force microscopy-based charge writing were used to pattern amyloid-like peptide fibrils on a solid substrate. Fibrils of the short peptide TTR105-115 were encapsulated inside water droplets of a water-in-perfluorocarbon oil emulsion and retained their rod morphology. They were observed to deposit selectively with a lateral resolution of approximately 1 microm onto negatively charged patterns on a polymethyl-methacrylate substrate.     

The Effect of Recurrent Mutations on Genetic Diversity in a Large Population of Varying Size

Recurrent mutations are a common phenomenon in population genetics. They may be at the origin of the fixation of a new genotype, if they give a phenotypic advantage to the carriers of the new mutation. In this paper, we are interested in the genetic signature left by a selective sweep induced by recurrent mutations at a given locus from an allele \(A\) to an allele \(a\), depending on the mutation frequency. We distinguish three possible scales for the mutation probability per reproductive event, which entail distinct genetic signatures. Besides, we study the hydrodynamic limit of the \(A\)- and \(a\)-population size dynamics when mutations are frequent, and find non trivial equilibria leading to several possible patterns of polymorphism.     

Temperature modulated DSC at intermediate-low temperatures

In this paper we present a new cooling system for temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) working down to about 60 K. In order to demonstrate the features of this new system in combination with commercial TMDSC apparatus, we present measurements of the specific heat capacity (c_p) around the phase transitions of betaine borate and betaine phosphate. For SilGel 604 we report c_p and sound velocity data around the melt, as well as around the glass transition.     

A simple halide-to-anion exchange method for heteroaromatic salts and ionic liquids

A broad and simple method permitted halide ions in quaternary heteroaromatic and ammonium salts to be exchanged for a variety of anions using an anion exchange resin (A(-) form) in non-aqueous media. The anion loading of the AER (OH(-) form) was examined using two different anion sources, acids or ammonium salts, and changing the polarity of the solvents. The AER (A(-) form) method in organic solvents was then applied to several quaternary heteroaromatic salts and ILs, and the anion exchange proceeded in excellent to quantitative yields, concomitantly removing halide impurities. Relying on the hydrophobicity of the targeted ion pair for the counteranion swap, organic solvents with variable polarity were used, such as CH(3)OH, CH(3)CN and the dipolar nonhydroxylic solvent mixture CH(3)CN:CH(2)Cl(2) (3:7) and the anion exchange was equally successful with both lipophilic cations and anions.     

Imidazolium molecular motifs located on dicationic frameworks. Electrospray mass spectrometric observation of carbenes: imidazolylidenes

Electrospray ionization mass spectral analysis of simple dicationic imidazolium prototypes (M.2X) is reported and direct observation was obtained for proton-mediated ion-molecule reactions in the gas phase. The comparative ESI-MS study with heterophanes 1a.2Cl and 3.2Br, the open chain system 5.2Br, and their regiospecific deuterated counterparts 2a.2Cl, 4.2Br and 6.2Br showed that the nature of the frameworks containing two imidazolium subunits modulates their electrospray ionization, changing the stability of the common characteristic peaks: the carbene specie [M - H](+) or [M - D](+) as well as [M](2+) and [M. X](+).Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Perfect Density Models Cannot Guarantee Anomaly Detection

Thanks to the tractability of their likelihood, several deep generative models show promise for seemingly straightforward but important applications like anomaly detection, uncertainty estimation, and active learning. However, the likelihood values empirically attributed to anomalies conflict with the expectations these proposed applications suggest. In this paper, we take a closer look at the behavior of distribution densities through the lens of reparametrization and show that these quantities carry less meaningful information than previously thought, beyond estimation issues or the curse of dimensionality. We conclude that the use of these likelihoods for anomaly detection relies on strong and implicit hypotheses, and highlight the necessity of explicitly formulating these assumptions for reliable anomaly detection.     

Marinobufagenin extraction from Rhinella marina toad glands: Alternative approaches for a systematized strategy

Marinobufagenin is a bufadienolide compound detected mainly in skin and parotoid gland secretions of Rhinella marina (L.) toad. Bufadienolides regulate the Na⁺/K⁺‐ATPase pump by inhibiting the cardiotonic steroid dependent‐site and act as cardiac inotropes with vasoconstrictive properties. Marinobufagenin and other bufadienolides, such as telocinobufagin and bufalin, are thought to be found endogenously in mammals in salt‐sensitive hypertensive states such as essential hypertension, congestive heart‐failure, and preeclampsia. The role of marinobufagenin as antimicrobial agent and its cytotoxic potential have also been recognized. The particular interest around marinobufagenin prompts us to consider the Rhinella marina toad venom as a possible source for molecules with pharmacological and/or diagnostic potential. In this article, two different approaches of extraction and purification of marinobufagenin from Rhinella marina (L.) venom are studied: (i) Preparative thin‐layer chromatography combined to mass spectrometry and/or ultraviolet detection and (ii) solid‐phase extraction coupled with fractionation on high‐performance liquid chromatography. Different chromatographic conditions are tested for each approach. The solid‐phase extraction combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography fractionation approach was preferred as it offered a greater yield, was less time‐consuming and allowed us to selectively isolate marinobufagenin. Both protocols aim to provide efficient and convenient methods for toad venom extraction, based on an easily automatable and systematized strategy.     

CF3 radicals from triflic anhydride and collidine: Their trapping by a trimethylsilylenolether

The interaction of triflic anhydride with s-collidine in the presence of the (trimethylsilyl)enolether of acetophenone led to duplication products the structure of which could only be explained by the formation of CF₃ radicals.     

Novel charged [1(4)]ăzolophanes: associative behaviour revealed by electrospray ionization

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry has been used to investigate simple multicharged [1(4)]heterophanes containing heterocyclic betaine subunits as building blocks. The formation of stable noncovalent polymolecular self-assembled structures in the gas phase is reported.