DNA adsorption via Co(II) immobilized cryogels

The separation and purification of important biomolecule deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules are extremely important. The adsorption technique among these methods is highly preferred as the adsorbent cryogels are pretty much used due to large pores and the associated flow channels. In this study, the adsorption of DNA via Co(II) immobilized poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate) [poly(HEMA-GMA)] cryogels was performed under varying conditions of pH, interaction time, initial DNA concentration, temperature, and ionic strength. For the characterization of cryogels; swelling test, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface area (BET), elemental and ICP-OES analysis were performed. L-lysine amino acid was chosen as Co(II)-chelating agent and the adsorption capacity of cryogels was determined as 33.81 mg DNA/g cryogel. Adsorption of pea DNA was studied under the optimum adsorption conditions and DNA adsorption capacity of cryogels was found as 10.14 mg DNA/g cryogel. The adsorption process was examined via Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models and the Langmuir adsorption model was determined to be more appropriate for the DNA adsorption onto cryogels.     

A new self-doped copolymer consisting of 3-methyl thiophene and aniline units

The copolymer films of sulfonated aniline and sulfonated 3-methyl thiophene were synthesized by electrochemical polymerization. The sulfonated copolymer films have better solubility in DMSO and KOH than the corresponding homopolymers. The conductivity of the copolymer films increase with the increase in the number of thiophene rings in the polymeric backbone. Copolymer films synthesized were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, UV-visible and FT-IR spectroscopy, dry conductivity and intrinsic viscosity measurements and elemental analysis. The elemental analysis and UV-visible spectroscopic results show that copolymer films have properties intermediate between the two homopolymers.     

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of proton metabolite level changes in sensorimotor cortex after upper limb replantation-revascularization

We aimed to investigate the changes in proton metabolite levels at the motor and somatosensory cortex by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) after upper extremity replantation or revascularization. Nine patients who referred to our clinic suffering from major total (two) and subtotal (seven) amputation of the upper extremity were enrolled in this study. Mean time value between the injury and operation was 5.1 h. Mean follow-up period or mean time between the injury and MRS analysis was 26.2 months (ranging from 7 to 41 months). Voxels (TR: 2000; TE: 136 ms) were placed onto locations in the bilateral precentral and postcentral cortex area of the cerebral hemispheres that represent the upper extremity. Contralateral sides of the brain hemisphere that represent the injured extremity were accounted as control groups. Metabolite ratios [NAA (N-acetyl aspartate)/Cr (creatine) and Cho (choline)/Cr] of the motor and somatosensory cortex were calculated. The NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr metabolite ratios between the two groups were found to be insignificant, and these results may indicate that there is no remarkable somatosensorial cortex disruption or demyelination in these patients. Fifty-six percent of patients were found as functional according to Chen's scale.     

Annealed Silver-Island Films for Applications in Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence: Interpretation in Terms of Radiating Plasmons

The effects of thermally annealed silver island films have been studied with regard to their potential applicability in applications of metal-enhanced fluorescence, an emerging tool in nano-biotechnology. Silver island films were thermally annealed between 75 and 250^∘C for several hours. As a function of both time and annealing temperature, the surface plasmon band at ≈420 nm both diminished and was blue shifted. These changes in plasmon resonance have been characterized using both absorption measurements, as well as topographically using Atomic Force Microscopy. Subsequently, the net changes in plasmon absorption are interpreted as the silver island films becoming spherical and growing in height, as well as an increased spacing between the particles. Interestingly, when the annealed surfaces are coated with a fluorescein-labeled protein, significant enhancements in fluorescence are osbserved, scaling with annealing temperature and time. These observations strongly support our recent hypothesis that the extent of metal-enhanced fluorescence is due to the ability of surface plasmons to radiate coupled fluorophore fluorescence. Given that the extinction spectrum of the silvered films is comprised of both an absorption and scattering component, and that these components are proportional to the diameter cubed and to the sixth power, respectively, then larger structures are expected to have a greater scattering contribution to their extinction spectrum and, therefore, more efficiently radiate coupled fluorophore emission. Subsequently, we have been able to correlate our increases in fluorescence emission with an increased particle size, providing strong experiment evidence for our recently reported metal-enhanced fluorescence, facilitated by radiating plasmons hypothesis.     

NNLO QCD predictions of electron charge asymmetry for inclusive pp→W+X production in forward region at 13 and 14 TeV

This paper presents perturbative QCD predictions of the electron charge asymmetry for inclusive W~±X→e~±v+X production in proton-proton(pp) collisions.Perturbative QCD calculations are performed at nextto-next-to-leading order(NNLO) accuracy using different parton distribution function(PDF) models at 8,13,and 14 TeV center-of-mass energies of CERN LHC pp collisions.NNLO calculations are performed for electrons with transverse momenta above 20 GeV in the forward electron pseudorapidity region 2.0 ≤η_e≤4.25.NNLO predictions are first compared at 8 TeV with the measurements of the LHCb experiment at the LHC for the W~+/W~-cross section ratio and charge asymmetry distributions.The 8 TeV predictions using NNPDF3.1,CT14,and MMHT2014 PDF sets are reported to be in good agreement with the LHCb data for the entire η_e region,justifying the extension of the calculations to 13 and 14 TeV energies.The charge asymmetry predictions at NNLO accuracy are reported in the forward η_e bins at 13 and 14 TeV and compared among NNPDF3.1,CT14,and MMHT2014 PDF sets.Overall,the predicted W~± differential cross-section and charge asymmetry distributions based on different PDF sets are found to be consistent with each other for the entire η_e region.The charge asymmetry distributions are shown to be more sensitive to discriminate among different PDF models in terms of the 14 TeV predictions.     

Multicolor directional surface plasmon-coupled chemiluminescence

In reports over the past several years, we have demonstrated the efficient collection of optically excited fluorophore emission by its coupling to surface plasmons on thin metallic films, where the coupled luminescence was highly directional and polarized. This phenomenon is referred to as surface plasmon-coupled emission (SPCE). In this current study, we have extended this technique to include chemiluminescing species and subsequentially now report the observation of surface plasmon-coupled chemiluminescence (SPCC), where the luminescence from chemically induced electronic excited states couples to surface plasmons in thin continuous metal films. The SPCC is highly directional and predominantly p-polarized, strongly suggesting that the emission is from surface plasmons instead of the luminophores themselves. This indicates that surface plasmons can be directly excited from chemically induced electronic excited states and excludes the possibility that the plasmons are created by incident excitation light. This phenomenon has been observed for a variety of chemiluminescent species in the visible spectrum, ranging from blue to red, and also on a variety of metals, namely, aluminum, silver, and gold. Our findings suggest new chemiluminescence sensing strategies on the basis of localized, directional, and polarized chemiluminescence detection, especially given the wealth of assays that currently employ chemiluminescence-based detection.     

Preparation and characterization of poly(acrylic acid)‐iron rich smectite superabsorbent composites

A novel poly(acrylic acid)‐iron rich smectite (IRS) superabsorbent composite was synthesized by graft copolymerization reaction of acrylic acid (AA) in the presence of N,N‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinker. IRS was used to strengthen the hydrogel products in the polymerization process. Water absorbencies for these superabsorbent composites in water and saline solutions were investigated. IRS caused a reduced equilibrium swelling as low as 8–26%. However, grafted IRS particles resulted in improved gel strength as high as 66% compared to the IRS‐free sample. IRS modified superabsorbent hydrogel composites exhibited higher thermal stability compared to the IRS‐free sample. The pH dependent reversible swelling behavior of hydrogels was also investigated. It is found that the swelling process is pH dependent and reversible for synthesized superabsorbent. Superabsorbent hydrogel composites were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FTIR spectroscopy was confirmed grafting of acrylic chains onto the surface of IRS particles. From the standpoint of these results, these strengthened and thermostabilized hydrogels may be considered as good candidates for a controlled release study and agricultural applications. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Diazoaldehyde Chemistry. Part 4vilsmeier-haack formylation of diazo compounds: A re-investigation

Diazomethyl ketones (2-diazoethanones) were reacted with the Vilsmeier reagent ((chloromethylidene)dimethylammonium chloride) to yield α-diazo-β-oxoaldehydes and chloromethyl ketones. 2′,4′-Dimethoxy-α-diazoacetophenone gave 2-chloro-1-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-(dimethylamino)prop-2-en-1-one ( 5 ) in addition to the expected products. Phenyldiazomethanes gave the corresponding benzyl chlorides but not the (phenyl)diazoacetaldehydes even at temperatures as low as ?60°. The diazo-transfer reactions of phenylacetaldehydes and 2-azido-1-ethylpyridin-1-ium tetrafluoroborate also did not yield the expected(phenyl)diazoacetaldehydes.     

Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence from Gold Surfaces: Angular Dependent Emission

The first observation of Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) from large gold colloids is presented. Gold colloids, 40 and 200 nm diameter, were deposited onto glass substrates in a homogeneous fashion. The angular-dependent fluorescence emission of FITC-HSA, adsorbed onto gold colloids, was measured on a rotating stage which was used to evaluate MEF at all spatial angles. The emission intensity of FITC-HSA was found to be up to 2.5-fold brighter than the emission on bare glass substrates at an angle of 270 degrees. This is explained by the Radiating Plasmon Model, whereby the combined system, composed of the fluorophore and the metal colloids, emits with the photophysical characteristics of the fluorophore, after the excitation and the partial radiationless energy transfer between the excited states of the fluorophore and the surface plasmons of the gold colloids. The fluorescence enhancement was found to be higher with 200 nm gold colloids as compared to 40 nm colloids due to the increased contribution of the scattering portion of the 200 nm gold colloid extinction spectrum. These observations suggest that gold colloids could be used in MEF applications, offering more stable surfaces than the commonly used silvered surfaces, for applications requiring longer term storage and use.