Relaxation of stretched DNA in slitlike confinement

We experimentally observe two separate time scales governing the entropic recoil in the linear force-extension regime of single double-stranded DNA in slit confinement. We demonstrate the existence of two distinct relaxation regimes at different extensions during relaxation. Contrary to bulk measurements, the true longest relaxation time may only be probed very close to equilibrium. A simple model of the relaxation mechanism leads to a scaling analysis that correctly predicts the extension at the crossover between the two regimes.     

Magnetizing oxides by substituting nitrogen for oxygen

We describe a possible pathway to new magnetic materials with no conventional magnetic elements present. The substitution of nitrogen for oxygen in simple nonmagnetic oxides leads to holes in N 2p states which form local magnetic moments. Because of the very large Hund's rule coupling of Nitrogen and O 2p electrons and the rather extended spatial extent of the wave functions these materials are predicted to be ferromagnetic metals or small band gap insulators. Experimental studies support the theoretical calculations with regard to the basic electronic structure and the formation of local magnetic moments. It remains to be seen if these materials are magnetically ordered and, if so, below what temperature.     

Semimetal-to-semimetal charge density wave transition in 1T-TiSe(2)

We report an infrared study on 1T-TiSe(2), the parent compound of the newly discovered superconductor Cu(x)TiSe(2). Previous studies of this compound have not conclusively resolved whether it is a semimetal or a semiconductor-information that is important in determining the origin of its unconventional charge density wave (CDW) transition. Here we present optical spectroscopy results that clearly reveal that the compound is metallic in both the high-temperature normal phase and the low-temperature CDW phase. The carrier scattering rate is dramatically different in the normal and CDW phases and the carrier density is found to change with temperature. We conclude that the observed properties can be explained within the scenario of an Overhauser-type CDW mechanism.     

Self-assembled-monolayer-modified silicon substrate to enhance the sensitivity of peptide detection for AP-MALDI mass spectrometry

A self-assembled-monolayer-modified silicon substrate was successfully used to enhance the sensitivity of peptide detection for atmospheric pressure-matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (AP-MALDI/MS). The effect of surface modification of silicon wafer samples with NH(2) and OH functional groups was investigated. In addition, solvent effects for the preparation of modified NH(2)-functionalized surfaces were examined. The sensitivities for the two peptides were significantly improved, increasing between 12 and 160 times, for bradykinin and gramicidin, respectively, on an NH(2)-modified silicon surface prepared in toluene, over that on a conventional gold substrate. The limits of detection (LODs) for bradykinin and gramicidin using the conventional gold substrate in AP-MALDI/MS experiments were > 0.011 microM and 110 microM, respectively. Using our SAM approach, the LODs for bradykinin and gramicidin in AP-MALDI/MS can be improved to 0.93 nM and 0.33 microM, respectively. This SAM approach for AP-MALDI/MS is simple and sensitive, and can be used for high-throughput analysis.     

Sesquiterpenoids‐Related Metabolites from the Soft Coral Sinularia sp.

Two new sesquiterpenoids, sinularioperoxide E ( 1 ), ethyl 5‐[(2′S,5′E)‐2′, 6′‐dimethylocta‐5′,7′‐dienyl]furan‐3‐carboxylate ( 3 ), and a new C₁₁ terpenoid‐related carboxylic acid, (3S,6E)‐3,7‐dimethyl‐nona‐6,8‐dienoic acid ( 2 ) were isolated from a Formosan soft coral Sinularia sp. The structures of 1‐3 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and by comparison of the spectral data with those of the related metabolites.     

Identification of individual DNA molecule of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by nested PCR-RFLP and capillary electrophoresis

The improvement of sensitivity and differentiation in rapidly identifying a small amount of mycobacteria in sputum has significant implications for reducing tuberculosis transmission. We previously applied the conventional PCR and capillary electrophoresis (CE) to establish the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) pattern of mycobacterial 65-kDa heat shock protein (hsp65) gene from colony specimens. However, the previous analysis did not provide enough sensitivity for sputum specimens in which the limitation of analysis might be hindered by PCR inhibitors and primer-dimers formation during amplification. In the current study, nested PCR (nPCR) had been redesigned for PCR-RFLP analysis (PRA) of mycobacterial hsp65 gene using CE. The results show both Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and mycobacteria other than tuberculosis could be identified in the presence of PCR inhibitors. The interference due to primer-dimers was also minimized. Based on the Poisson distribution, the repeatability of single DNA molecule detection was greatly affected by sampling probability and might be improved significantly by increasing the sample loading. The PRA using nPCR and CE is not only able to detect the individual mycobacterial DNA molecule but also potentially differentiate the species.     

Artificial Haldane gap material on a semiconductor chip

We show how nanostructuring of a metallic gate of a field-effect transistor (FET) converts the electron channel of an FET to an artificial Haldane chain with a gap in the energy spectrum. A specially designed gate structure creates a chain of triple quantum dot molecules. The electrons localized in the molecules realize a spin-half Heisenberg chain with spin–spin interactions alternating between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic. The quantum state of an FET is a semiconductor implementation of an integer spin-one antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chain with a unique correlated ground state and a finite energy gap, originally conjectured by Haldane.     

Borromean rings and linkings

For links of 3 components, such as Borromean rings, which escape the detection of Gauss linking, we define and compute combinatorically and explicitly the higher linking. And as in perturbative quantum field theory, this higher linking is presented as a sum of Chern–Simons–Witten configuration space integrals.     

A Rhizavidin Monomer with Nearly Multimeric Avidin‐Like Binding Stability Against Biotin Conjugates

Developing a monomeric form of an avidin‐like protein with highly stable biotin binding properties has been a major challenge in biotin‐avidin linking technology. Here we report a monomeric avidin‐like protein—enhanced monoavidin—with off‐rates almost comparable to those of multimeric avidin proteins against various biotin conjugates. Enhanced monoavidin (eMA) was developed from naturally dimeric rhizavidin by optimally maintaining protein rigidity during monomerization and additionally shielding the bound biotin by diverse engineering of the surface residues. eMA allowed the monovalent and nonperturbing labeling of head‐group‐biotinylated lipids in bilayer membranes. In addition, we fabricated an unprecedented 24‐meric avidin probe by fusing eMA to a multimeric cage protein. The 24‐meric avidin and eMA were utilized to demonstrate how artificial clustering of cell‐surface proteins greatly enhances the internalization rates of assembled proteins on live cells.     

Electronic and photophysical properties of the bend D–T–A–T–D derivatives for small-molecule organic photovoltaic (SM-OPV) solar cells: a DFT and TD-DFT investigation

A series of D–T–A–T–D derivatives (D, electron-donating moiety; T, π-conjugated linker; A, electron-acceptor moiety) with seven electron donor moieties and various electron abilities are designed to investigate the influence of the donor on photophysical properties for small-molecule organic photovoltaic solar cells. The 4,8-dimethoxybenzodithiophene (D₁), triphenyldsramine (D₂), 4-methoxy-N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-phenylaniline (D₃), 9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluorene (D₄), 9-methyl-9H-carbazole (D₅), 4-methyl-4H-dithieno-pyrrole (D₆), and 4,4-dimethyl-4H-cyclopenta-dithiophene (D₇) are adopted as the electron donor moiety. The BDTC (buta-1,3-diene-1,1,4,4-tetracarbonitrile) is used for the A moiety, and the thiophene (T) is used for the π-conjugated linker. The optimized structure of D–T–A–T–D derivatives exhibits the bend molecular conformation due to the steric effect within the A moiety. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies of these derivatives are dependent on the electron donating ability of D, which influences the open-circuit voltage and driving force. Reorganization energy suggests that these derivatives are good hole-transporting type materials. Projected density of state analysis demonstrates that in the HOMO, the electron density distribution is delocalized on the terminal D and T moieties, while in the LUMO, the electron density distribution is localized mainly on the A moiety. The maximum absorption peak, which has relatively high light harvesting efficiency, is due to the π to π* transition and can be tuned by the electron-donating ability and the resonance energy of the D moiety. The bend D₆–T–A–T–D₆/D₇–T–A–T–D₇ derivatives with D moiety of 4-methyl-4H-dithieno-pyrrole (D₆) and 4,4-dimethyl-4H-cyclopenta-dithiophene (D₇) are good candidates as electron donor materials for SM-OPV.