n-Decyl-glucopyranoside and n-decyl-maltopyranoside gibbs monolayers. Phase changes in the dilute liquid-expanded range

Surface tension isotherms were recorded for n-decyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside (Glu) and n-decyl-beta-D-maltopyranoside (Mal) solutions at temperatures of 8, 22, and 29 degrees C. Comparison was made with isotherms of n-decyl-beta-D-thiomaltopyranoside (S-Mal) at 22 degrees C. In addition to the transition from the gaseous to the liquid-expanded (LE) state, a second transition was observed in the early stages of the LE regime for Glu, Mal, and S-Mal at room temperature. The adsorption isotherm of Mal and Glu obtained at 22 degrees C shows the presence of an adsorption step at an average area/molecule of about 79 A2 between, approximately, 0.02 and 0.1 mM (the critical micelle concentration (cmc) is 2 mM) and 0.015 and 0.03 mM (the cmc is 2 mM), respectively. Similarly, for S-Mal an adsorption plateau is observed at 70 A2 between 0.01 and 0.03 mM (the cmc is 0.7 mM). From the temperature dependence of the surface tension, we have seen that there are considerable differences in the adsorption of Glu and Mal. For Mal, the adsorption plateau is also observed at 29 degrees C at around 79 A2, whereas Glu exhibits no adsorption plateau at this temperature. At 8 degrees C, both Mal and Glu exhibit saturation behavior in the dilute part of the liquid-expanded range, but at this temperature the average molecular areas are lower than at 22 degrees C: around 66 A2 for Glu and 75 A2 for Mal. Thus, the temperature sensitivity of Glu is considerably greater than for Mal in this range. The saturation regime coincides with a pronounced surface entropy minimum for Mal. The transition in the dilute liquid-expanded range supposedly occurs from a state with deformed surface micelles arranged in a hexagonal pattern, referred to as the granular range, to a true LE monolayer with a fluid hydrocarbon tail layer covering the entire surface.     

Feasibility of nonvolatile buffers in capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry of proteins

The combination of capillary electrophoresis (CE) and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) via a triaxial interface was studied as a potential means for the characterization of intact proteins. To evaluate the possibility to use a nonvolatile electrolyte for CE, the effect of sodium phosphate and ammonium borate on the MS signal of the proteins insulin, myoglobin, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by employing infusion experiments, and compared to the effect of ammonium formate and formic acid. The study shows that with formic acid (50 mM, pH 2.4) the most intense protein signals were obtained, while the use of sodium phosphate buffer (5 and 10 mM, pH 7.5) almost completely diminished the MS response. Ammonium formate and ammonium borate (up to 100 mM, pH 8.5) also caused protein ion suppression, but especially with the borate buffer significant MS intensity remained. MS analysis of myoglobin revealed the loss of the heme group when an acidic CE electrolyte was used. Using a background electrolyte containing 25 mM ammonium borate (pH 8.5), it is demonstrated that a CE separation of a protein test mixture can be monitored with ESI-MS without degrading the MS performance allowing molecular weight determinations of the separated compounds. In the presence of borate, detection limits were estimated to be 5-10 microM (ca. 100 fmol injected). The usefulness of the CE-MS system employing a borate buffer is indicated by the analysis of a stored sample of BSA revealing several degradation products. A sample of placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), a potential therapeutic agent, was also analyzed by CE-MS indicating the presence of a protein impurity. Probably due to insufficient ionization of the PLAP (a complex glycoprotein), no MS signals of the intact protein were observed.     

Actinide metals and intermetallic compounds: Electronic structure and magnetic properties

Cohesive properties are calculated for the AnIr₂ and AnRh₃ series of intermetallic systems. The positive and negative deviations from Vegard's law found in both series are emphasized. The development of magnetism and 5f localization as a function of increasing actinide atomic number is studied in detail for the two classes of compounds. A relativistic formulation of the Stoner criterion for ferromagnetism is presented and applied to a number of actinide systems. Finally the ferromagnetism of UFe₂, NpFe₂ and PuFe₂ is treated theoretically. For these intermetallic compounds it is found necessary to implement all three Hund's rules into the calculations, before agreement with experiment is obtained.