Intermolecular interaction-induced hierarchical transformation in 1D nanohybrids: analysis of conformational changes by 2D correlation spectroscopy

We have examined both self-assembly and confinement effect in room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL)-aluminum hydroxide hybrids (RAHs) to attain a fundamental understanding of special phenomena in nanoscale spaces as well as to design functional nanomaterials for practical applications. Phase-controlled one-dimensional (1D) RAHs were synthesized through a simple ionothermal process. The RAHs were hierarchically transformed in terms of the molecular structures, morphologies, and phases of the materials during the ionothermal process with respect to the concentration of RTIL. In addition to the hierarchical transformation, the RTIL/aluminum hydroxide nanohybrids revealed unexpected physical behaviors, including thermal transition variation of the RTIL in confined environments and a phase transition from nanosolid to nanoliquid affected by changes of the melting points. More importantly, intermolecular interaction induced-self-assembly and confinement effect of RTILs inside an integrated hybrid system, which have not been clearly explained to date, were analyzed by 2D infrared correlation spectroscopy (2D IR COS); dynamic behaviors of RTILs, i.e., sequentially spatial reorientation and kinetically conformational changes, were attributed to the interactions between RTILs and aluminum hydroxides. 2D IR COS offers a new way to interpret highly complex, veiled systems such as the formation mechanism of nanoparticles, biomineralization, self/supramolecular assembly, and nanoconfinement.     

Chemical constituents from the leaves of Manglietia phuthoensis and their effects on osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells

Two new phenyl glycosides, mangliesides A and B (1, 2), a new ionol glycoside, manglieside C (3), two new lignan glycosides, mangliesides D and E (4, 5), were isolated from the leaves of Manglietia phuthoensis, along with two known lignans, 3-methoxymagnolol (6) and obovatol (7). Their structures were established by means of 1D and 2D NMR, electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS and HR-ESI-MS experiments. Among them, compounds 2 and 5 significantly (p<0.05) increased the growth and differentiation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro.     

A Short Review of Experimental and Computational Diagnostics for Radiofrequency Plasma Micro-thrusters

Experimental and computational diagnostics for radiofrequency plasma micro-thrusters are presented, based on the low power (10–100 W) electrothermal thruster prototype, Mini Pocket Rocket, developed for use on the Cubesat nanosatellite platform. Computer simulations include computer fluid dynamics simulations and particle in cell simulations while experimental results are obtained using a variety of electrostatic, optical and momentum probes. The output and limitations of each diagnostic are discussed within the context of device development for space use.     

De Novo Synthesis of Furanose Sugars: Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Apiose and Apiose‐Containing Oligosaccharides

A de novo synthetic method towards apiose, a structurally unusual furanose, is reported. The key feature is sequential metal catalysis consisting of the palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric intermolecular hydroalkoxylation of an alkoxyallene and subsequent ring‐closing metathesis (RCM). This strategy enabled the efficient synthesis of various apiose‐containing disaccharides and a unique convergent synthesis of trisaccharides.     

Coevolution of information processing and topology in hierarchical adaptive random Boolean networks

Random Boolean Networks (RBNs) are frequently used for modeling complex systems driven by information processing, e.g. for gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Here we propose a hierarchical adaptive random Boolean Network (HARBN) as a system consisting of distinct adaptive RBNs (ARBNs) – subnetworks – connected by a set of permanent interlinks. We investigate mean node information, mean edge information as well as mean node degree. Information measures and internal subnetworks topology of HARBN coevolve and reach steady-states that are specific for a given network structure. The main natural feature of ARBNs, i.e. their adaptability, is preserved in HARBNs and they evolve towards critical configurations which is documented by power law distributions of network attractor lengths. The mean information processed by a single node or a single link increases with the number of interlinks added to the system. The mean length of network attractors and the mean steady-state connectivity possess minima for certain specific values of the quotient between the density of interlinks and the density of all links in networks. It means that the modular network displays extremal values of its observables when subnetworks are connected with a density a few times lower than a mean density of all links.     

Identifying bacterial species using CE-MS and SEQUEST with an empirical scoring function

CE-MS/MS analysis of proteolytic digests of bacterial cell extracts was combined with SEQUEST searching and a new scoring system to identify bacteria species in bacterial mixtures. Searches of MS/MS spectra against protein databases enabled the identification of bacterial species by the matching of the proteins associated with the corresponding species. An empirical scoring function was obtained by evaluating the SEQUEST search results of 38 samples that contained single bacterial species. The scoring by the empirical function helped move up the positive identification results from their original positions in the ranking based on Xcorr values alone. Therefore, the identification of bacteria in the samples that contained bacterial mixtures was improved. Bacterial species in 20 bacterial mixtures, including one real sample, were correctly identified by database searches and the new scoring function.