Surface-templated formation of protein microfibril arrays.

Ordered arrays of collagen microfibrils form rapidly and spontaneously from a solution of monomers deposited onto a mica substrate. These arrays are well-ordered and apparently continuous over the entire substrate. Correlated atomic force microscope images and Laué diffraction patterns indicate that the protein alignment and microfibril formation is controlled by the crystal orientation of the mica substrate rather than fluid flow or drying effects. This surface-induced mechanism allows for immediate, robust, and reproducible pattern formation.     

Zur Analyse von Haut- und Haarwaschmitteln auf Basis synthetischer Tenside

Zusammenfassung Dusch- und Schaumbadepr?parate sowie Haarwaschmittel enthalten als Hauptbestandteile im allgemeinen anionische und nichtionische, gelegentlich auch noch amphotere Tenside. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein Analysengang beschrieben, der nicht nur die Auftrennung der Tensidgemische und die Identifizierung und Bestimmung der eingesetzten Tenside behandelt, sondern auch Methoden für den Nachweis und die Bestimmung von Hilfs- und Zusatzstoffen angibt. Daneben wird versucht, die Analysenm?glichkeiten von Verbindungen aufzuzeigen, die den Pr?paraten besondere zus?tzliche Eigenschaften neben der prim?r gewünschten Reinigungswirkung verleihen. Zur Isolierung dieser Substanzen (wie z.B. der Sterine und Konditioniermittel) sind von uns Methoden erarbeitet worden, die in dieser Arbeit erstmalig mitgeteilt werden.

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On the analysis of body and hair shampoos based on synthetic tensides

Summary In general, body and hair shampoos contain as main components anionic and non-ionic, sometimes also amphoteric, detergents. A scheme of analysis is given here which not only deals with the separation of the detergent mixtures and the identification and determination of the surfactants employed but also with methods for the detection and determination of additive and auxiliary compounds. Moreover, the attempt is made to point out analytical methods for the determination of those compounds which impart special qualities to the bath preparations and shampoos besides the primary wanted cleaning effect. Methods for the isolation of these substances (as e.g. sterols and conditioning agents) have been elaborated and are described in this paper for the first time.

     

Design, self-assembly, and photophysical properties of pentameric metallomacrocycles: [M5(N-hexyl[1,2-bis(2,2':6',2''-terpyridin-4-yl)]carbazole)5][M = Fe(II), Ru(II), and Zn(II)

A novel family of metallopentacycles was constructed by the facile self-assembly of a bis(terpyridine)-carbazole monomer utilizing terpyridine-metal(II)-terpyridine connectivity; its photophysical properties were investigated.     

Electrophilic aromatic substituted luciferins as bioluminescent probes for glutathione S-transferase assays

New highly sensitive latent bioluminescent luciferin substrates were designed and synthesized for monitoring mammalian glutathione S-transferase (GST) and Schistosoma japonicum enzyme activities.     

The development and interaction of terrorist and fanatic groups

Through the mathematical study of two models we quantify some of the theories of co-development and co-existence of focused groups in the social sciences. This work attempts to develop the mathematical framework behind the social sciences of community formation. By using well developed theories and concepts from ecology and epidemiology we hope to extend the theoretical framework of organizing and self-organizing social groups and communities, including terrorist groups. The main goal of our work is to gain insight into the role of recruitment and retention in the formation and survival of social organizations. Understanding the underlining mechanisms of the spread of ideologies under competition is a fundamental component of this work. Here contacts between core and non-core individuals extend beyond its physical meaning to include indirect interaction and spread of ideas through phone conversations, emails, media sources and other similar mean. This work focuses on the dynamics of formation of interest groups, either ideological, economical or ecological and thus we explore the questions such as, how do interest groups initiate and co-develop by interacting within a common environment and how do they sustain themselves? Our results show that building and maintaining the core group is essential for the existence and survival of an extreme ideology. Our research also indicates that in the absence of competitive ability (i.e., ability to take from the other core group or share prospective members) the social organization or group that is more committed to its group ideology and manages to strike the right balance between investment in recruitment and retention will prevail. Thus under no cross interaction between two social groups a single trade-off (of these efforts) can support only a single organization. The more efforts that an organization implements to recruit and retain its members the more effective it will be in transmitting the ideology to other vulnerable individuals and thus converting them to believers.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of α-aminophosphine oxides by the Kabachnik–Fields reaction applying amides as the starting materials

A series of acylated α-aminophosphine oxides were synthesized by the microwave-assisted Kabachnik–Fields reaction of a series of carboxylic acid amides, formaldehyde and secondary phosphine oxides. To compensate the lower reactivity of the –NH₂ reagents, they had to be used in an excess. The solvolytic condensations furnished the α-aminophosphine oxides in yields of 58–93% after purification by chromatography.     

A GAP-GTPase-GDP-Pi Intermediate Crystal Structure Analyzed by DFT Shows GTP Hydrolysis Involves Serial Proton Transfers

Cell signaling by small G proteins uses an ON to OFF signal based on conformational changes following the hydrolysis of GTP to GDP and release of dihydrogen phosphate (P_i). The catalytic mechanism of GTP hydrolysis by RhoA is strongly accelerated by a GAP protein and is now well defined, but timing of inorganic phosphate release and signal change remains unresolved. We have generated a quaternary complex for RhoA-GAP-GDP-P_i. Its 1.75 Å crystal structure shows geometry for ionic and hydrogen bond coordination of GDP and P_i in an intermediate state. It enables the selection of a QM core for DFT exploration of a 20 H-bonded network. This identifies serial locations of the two mobile protons from the original nucleophilic water molecule, showing how they move in three rational steps to form a stable quaternary complex. It also suggests how two additional proton transfer steps can facilitate P_i release.