PKa of cytosine on the third strand of triplex DNA: Preliminary Poisson–Boltzmann calculations

The energetics of formation of a triple-helical structure in homopurine–homopyrimidine mixtures has been modeled using Poisson–Boltzmann calculations. Oligomers with the sequence d(TC)_n and d(AG)_n form hydrogen-bonded triple-helical structures of the form d(TC)_n⋅d(AG)_n⋅d(TC⁺)_n. The third base, a pyrimidine in this case, forms Hoogsteen-type hydrogen bonds with the purine, requiring that the cytosine residues of the third strand protonate at N3. The pK_a of cytosine, 4.3 in the isolated solvated molecule, is raised by the strong electrostatic field in the triple helix. We have done calculations of the effective pK_a of this cytosine and compared the results with experimental studies of triple-helix formation as a function of pH. This provides a test of various models of the dielectric constant for triplex DNA and its local environment. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 70: 1177–1184, 1998     

The zeta potential of PMMA in contact with electrolytes of various conditions: Theoretical and experimental investigation

Many unit operations required in microfluidics can be realised by electrokinetic phenomena. Electrokinetic phenomena are related to the presence of electrical surface charges of microfluidic substrates in contact with a liquid. As surface charges cannot be directly measured, the zeta potential is considered as the relevant parameter instead. PMMA is an attractive microfluidic substrate since micron‐sized features can be manufactured at low costs. However, the existence of PMMA surface charges is not well understood and the zeta potential data found in the literature show significant disagreement. In this article, we present a thorough investigation on the zeta potential of PMMA. We use computations of the potential distribution in the electrical double layer to predict the influence of various electrolyte parameters. The generated knowledge is compared to extensive experiments where we investigate the influence of ionic strength, pH, temperature and the nature of the electrolyte. Our findings imply that two different mechanisms influence the zeta potential depending on the pH value. We propose pure shielding in the acidic and neutral milieus while adsorption of co‐ions occurs along with shielding in the alkaline milieu.     

Fluorescence quantum yields and their relation to lifetimes of rhodamine 6G and fluorescein in nine solvents: improved absolute standards for quantum yields

Absolute fluorescence quantum yields are reported for the rhodamine 6G cation and the fluorescein dianion dyes in nine solvents. This information is combined with previously reported fluorescence lifetimes to deduce radiative and nonradiative decay rates. Along the alcohol series from methanol to octanol, rhodamine 6G displays an increasing radiative rate, in parallel with the square of the refractive index increase, and a slightly decreasing nonradiative rate. Fluorescein is different: the apparent radiative rate actually decreases, suggesting that the emissive species is perturbed in some fashion. For both dyes, fluorescence yields are enhanced in D2O, rising to 0.98, in parallel with a corresponding increase in lifetimes. Protonated solvents invariably give shorter lifetimes and lower quantum yields, contrary to some previous speculation. From this work and an analysis of existing literature values, more precise values have been obtained for two previously proposed absolute quantum yield standards. The yield of fluorescein in 0.1 N NaOH(aq) is 0.925+/-0.015, and for rhodamine 6G in ethanol, it is 0.950+/-0.015. In both cases, the solutions are assumed to be in the limit of low concentration, excited close to their long-wave absorption band and at room temperature but may be either air-saturated or free of oxygen.     

A scanning tunnelling study of immobilised cytochrome P450cam

A site-specifically engineered surface cysteine residue, located in a region where the haem moiety is closest to the surface, is used to anchor cytochrome P450cam enzyme molecules covalently to a gold electrode. More reproducibly ordered adsorption, at high coverage, occurs with this K344C mutant than with the wild-type enzyme. The subsequently formed close-packed monolayer arrays have been probed by scanning tunnelling microscopy under ambient conditions and under aqueous (buffered) solution at high resolution. Initial indications suggest that the immobilised enzyme is both electrochemically addressable and catalytically active.     

Synthesis of well‐defined cyclodextrin‐core star polymers

The synthesis of 21‐arm methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene star polymers is reported. The copper (I)‐mediated living radical polymerization of MMA was carried out with a cyclodextrin‐core‐based initiator with 21 independent discrete initiation sites: heptakis[2,3,6‐tri‐O‐(2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropionyl]‐β‐cyclodextrin. Living polymerization occurred, providing well‐defined 21‐arm star polymers with predicted molecular weights calculated from the initiator concentration and the consumed monomer as well as low polydispersities [e.g., poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), number‐average molecular weight (M_n) = 55,700, polydispersity index (PDI) = 1.07; M_n = 118,000, PDI = 1.06; polystyrene, M_n = 37,100, PDI = 1.15]. Functional methacrylate monomers containing poly(ethylene glycol), a glucose residue, and a tert‐amine group in the side chain were also polymerized in a similar fashion, leading to hydrophilic star polymers, again with good control over the molecular weight and polydispersity (M_n = 15,000, PDI = 1.03; M_n = 36,500, PDI = 1.14; and M_n = 139,000, PDI = 1.09, respectively). When styrene was used as the monomer, it was difficult to obtain well‐defined polystyrene stars at high molecular weights. This was due to the increased occurrence of side reactions such as star–star coupling and thermal (spontaneous) polymerization; however, low‐polydispersity polymers were achieved at relatively low conversions. Furthermore, a star block copolymer consisting of PMMA and poly(butyl methacrylate) was successfully synthesized with a star PMMA as a macroinitiator (M_n = 104,000, PDI = 1.05). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2206–2214, 2001     

Molecular Dyads Comprising Metalloporphyrin and Alkynylplatinum(II) Polypyridine Terminal Groups for Use as a Sensitizer in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A new class of molecular dyads comprising metalloporphyrin‐linked alkynylplatinum(II) polypyridine complexes with carboxylic acids as anchoring groups has been designed and synthesized. These complexes can sensitize nanocrystalline TiO₂ in dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) studies. The photophysical, electrochemical, and luminescence properties of the complexes were studied and their excited‐state properties were investigated by nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, with the charge‐separated [Por^.??{(C?C)Pt(tBu₃tpy)}^.+] state observed upon excitation. Excited‐state redox potentials were determined; the electrochemical data supports the capability of the complexes to inject an electron into the conduction band of TiO₂. The complexes sensitize nanocrystalline TiO₂ and exhibited photovoltaic properties, as characterized by current–voltage measurements under illumination of air mass 1.5 G sunlight (100 mWcm^?2). A DSSC based on one of the complexes showed a short‐circuit photocurrent of 10.1 mAcm^?2, an open‐circuit voltage of 0.64 V, and a fill factor of 0.52, giving an overall power conversion efficiency of 3.4 %.     

Dynamic Ni gettered by PSG from S-MIC poly-Si and its TFTs

A dynamic phosphor-silicate glass （PSG） gettering method is proposed in which the processes of the gettering of Ni by PSC and the crystallizing of α-Si into poly-Si by Ni take place simultaneously. The effects of PSC gettering process on the performances of solution-based metal induced crystallized （S-MIC） poly-Si materials and their thin film transistors （TFTs） are discussed. The crystallization rate is much reduced due to the fact that the Ni as a medium source of crystallization is extracted by the PSC during crystallization at the same time. The boundary between two neighbouring grains in S-MIC poly-Si with PSG looks blurrier than without PSG. Compared with the TFTs made from S-MIC poly-Si without PSC gettering, the TFTs made with PSC gettering has a reduced gate induced leakage current.     

A pilot study (APMP.QM-P19) for the measurement of melamine in milk powder

A pilot study (APMP.QM-P19) of the Asia Pacific Metrology Program for the determination of melamine at two different levels in milk powder was organized in 2010. It was the first interlaboratory comparison programme in measuring melamine in food matrices for metrology institutes in the region. Melamine was chosen as the target analyte because of the recent crises that happened in 2007 and 2008 had caused substantial concern from consumers, food manufacturers, policy makers on food safety and the food testing communities. The objectives of APMP.QM-P19 were to evaluate the testing capability of participants on the quantification of trace level melamine in milk and milk products and to investigate the degree of equivalence with respect to the assigned values. In total, 19 laboratories (11 metrology institutes and eight food testing institutes) enrolled in the study. Analytical techniques reported by participants included liquid chromatography with ultra-violet and tandem mass spectrometry, gas chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Dispersion of analytical data in the two test materials was significant, and normal Gaussian distribution of data was not observed. The median was agreed to be used as the assigned values in the programme. Metrology institutes who employed isotope dilution mass spectrometry technique were found to give more consistent results and higher degree of equivalence than others. The performance of most of the food testing institutes was not satisfactory, and they were encouraged to have a thorough review of their validation procedure and estimation of uncertainty.     

Determination of scandium in sea-water by atomic-absorption spectroscopy

A method for the determination of scandium in sea-water at the sub-microgram level has been developed. Scandium is coprecipitated with iron(III) hydroxide at pH 8-9, and then separated from the iron by ion-exchange. The final concentration is achieved by extracting the scandium into a solution of oxine in butanol. A nitrous oxide-acetylene flame is used for the determination by atomic-absorption spectroscopy. Recoveries of 99-100% are obtained. The storage of the solutions before analysis has been investigated by radiometric techniques with (46)Sc. The scandium concentration in surface waters of the South China Sea was found to be 0.01 +/- 0.005 microg/l .