Doping nanoparticles into polymers and ceramics using ultrasound radiation

In materials science, sonochemistry is mostly used for the fabrication of nanomaterials, but it has also been used for the polymerization of monomers. The current review is aimed at introducing a new application of sonochemistry to materials science, i.e., the doping of nanoparticles into polymers and ceramic bodies. The introduction will present a short overview of sonochemistry, and will outline the advantages of sonochemistry as a tool for fabricating nanomaterials.     

Complexes of molecular and ionic character in the same matrix layer: infrared studies of the sulfuric acid/ammonia system

The atmospherically important interaction products of sulfuric acid and ammonia molecules have been firstly observed by matrix isolation Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (MIS-FTIR). Infrared spectra of solid argon matrix layers, in which both H(2)SO(4) and NH(3) molecules were entrapped as impurities, were analyzed for bands not seen in matrix layers containing either of the parent molecules alone. Results were interpreted on the basis of spectral changes, experimental conditions, and semiempirically scaled frequencies from the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ and B3LYP/aug-cc-pVQZ calculations. Bands were assigned to complexes of the H(2)SO(4)·NH(3) and H(2)SO(4)·[NH(3)](2) general formulas. They differ significantly: the 1:1 H(2)SO(4)·NH(3) complex is a strongly hydrogen bonded complex, an analogue of the H(2)SO(4)·H(2)O complex, studied previously. For the 1:2 H(2)SO(4)·[NH(3)](2) complex, spectral results indicate an almost complete proton transfer forming a complex of essentially the two ionic moieties HSO(4)(-) and [H(3)N···H···NH(3)](+), an analogue of the [H(2)O···H···OH(2)](+) "Zundel ion".     

Detection and quantification through a lipid membrane using the molecularly controlled semiconductor resistor

The detection of covalent and noncovalent binding events between molecules and biomembranes is a fundamental goal of contemporary biochemistry and analytical chemistry. Currently, such studies are performed routinely using fluorescence methods, surface-plasmon resonance spectroscopy, and electrochemical methods. However, there is still a need for novel sensitive miniaturizable detection methods where the sample does not have to be transferred to the sensor, but the sensor can be brought into contact with the sample studied. We present a novel approach for detection and quantification of processes occurring on the surface of a lipid bilayer membrane, by monitoring the current change through the n-type GaAs-based molecularly controlled semiconductor resistor (MOCSER), on which the membrane is adsorbed. Since GaAs is susceptible to etching in an aqueous environment, a protective thin film of methoxysilane was deposited on the device. The system was found to be sensitive enough to allow monitoring changes in pH and in the concentration of amino acids in aqueous solution on top of the membrane. When biotinylated lipids were incorporated into the membrane, it was possible to monitor the binding of streptavidin or avidin. The device modified with biotin-streptavidin complex was capable of detecting the binding of streptavidin antibodies to immobilized streptavidin with high sensitivity and selectivity. The response depends on the charge on the analyte. These results open the way to facile electrical detection of protein-membrane interactions.     

Surface-modified protein nanospheres as potential antiviral agents

A novel application of surface-modified protein nanospheres as potential antiviral agents is illustrated. By using a single-step sonochemical process, bovine serum albumin nanospheres were generated, whose surface was covalently conjugated with mercaptoethane sulfonate to chemically and electrostatically mimic cellular heparan sulfate. The nanospheres effectively inhibited HSV-1 infection.     

Pulsed Electron Spin Resonance Ex Situ Probe for Tooth Biodosimetry

An electron spin resonance (ESR) probe that includes a static field source and a microwave resonator for the measurement of paramagnetic defects in tooth enamel is presented. Such defects are known to be a good marker for quantifying the amount of ionizing radiation dose absorbed in the tooth. The probe can measure the tooth when it is positioned just above its outer surface, i.e., in ex situ geometry. It is operated in pulsed mode at a frequency of ~6.2 GHz that corresponds to the magnitude of the static magnetic field of its permanent magnet. A detailed design of the probe is provided, together with its specifications in terms of measurement volume and signal-to-noise-ratio for a typical sample. Experimental results that verify its sensitivity and capability to measure gamma-irradiated teeth are provided. The current minimal detected signal by the probe corresponds to a radiation dose of ~4 Gy.     

Sums and products along sparse graphs

In their seminal paper from 1983, Erdős and Szemerédi showed that any n distinct integers induce either n ^1+ɛ distinct sums of pairs or that many distinct products, and conjectured a lower bound of n ^2−o(1). They further proposed a generalization of this problem, in which the sums and products are taken along the edges of a given graph G on n labeled vertices. They conjectured a version of the sum-product theorem for general graphs that have at least n ^1+ɛ edges.