Permutation Tests for Reflected Symmetry

The paper presents a permutation procedure for testing reflected (or diagonal) symmetry of the distribution of a multivariate variable. The test statistics are based in empirical characteristic functions. The resulting permutation tests are strictly distribution free under the null hypothesis that the underlying variables are symmetrically distributed about a center. Furthermore, the permutation tests are strictly valid if the symmetric center is known and are asymptotic valid if the center is an unknown point. The equivalence, in the large sample sense, between the tests and their permutation counterparts are established. The power behavior of the tests and their permutation counterparts under local alternative are investigated. Some simulations with small sample sizes (?20) are conducted to demonstrate how the permutation tests works.     

Fluid phase separation inside a static periodic field: an effectively two-dimensional critical phenomenon

When a fluid with a bulk liquid-vapor critical point is placed inside a static external field with spatial periodic oscillations in one direction, a new phase arises. This new phase-the so-called "zebra" phase-is characterized by an average density roughly between that of the liquid and vapor phases. The presence of the zebra phase gives rise to two new phase transitions: one from the vapor to the zebra phase, and one from the zebra to the liquid phase. At appropriate values of the temperature and chemical potential, the latter two transitions become critical. This phenomenon is called laser-induced condensation [I. O. Go?tze, J. M. Brader, M. Schmidt, and H. Lo?wen, Mol. Phys. 101, 1651 (2003)]. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the nature of the critical points, using density functional theory and computer simulation of a colloid-polymer mixture. The main finding is that critical correlations develop in two-dimensional sheets perpendicular to the field direction, but not in the direction along the field: the critical correlations are thus effectively two-dimensional. Hence, static periodic fields provide a means to confine a fluid to effectively two dimensions. Away from criticality, the vapor-zebra and liquid-zebra transitions become first-order, but the associated surface tensions are extremely small. The consequences of the extremely small surface tensions on the nature of the two-phase coexistence regions are analyzed in detail.     

Two-dimensional colloidal mixtures in magnetic and gravitational fields

This mini-review is concerned with two-dimensional colloidal mixtures exposed to various kinds of external fields. By a magnetic field perpendicular to the plane, dipole moments are induced in paramagnetic particles which give rise to repulsive interactions leading to complex crystalline alloys in the composition-asymmetry diagram. A quench in the magnetic field induces complex crystal nucleation scenarios. If exposed to a gravitational field, these mixtures exhibit a brazil–nut effect and show a boundary layering which is explained in terms of a depletion bubble picture. The latter persists for time-dependent gravity (“colloidal shaking”). Finally, we summarize crystallization effects when the second species is frozen in a disordered matrix which provides obstacles for the crystallizing component.     

Automated microaxial tomography of cell nuclei after specific labelling by fluorescence in situ hybridisation

Microaxial tomography provides a good means for microscopic image acquisition of cells or sub-cellular components like cell nuclei with an improved resolution, because shortcomings of spatial resolution anisotropy in optical microscopy can be overcome. Thus, spatial information of the object can be obtained without the necessity of confocal imaging. Since the very early developments of microaxial tomography, a considerable drawback of this method was a complicated image acquisition and processing procedure that requires much operator time. In order to solve this problem the Heidelberg 2π-tilting device has been mounted on the Brno high-resolution cytometer as an attempt to bring together advanced microscopy and fast automated computer image acquisition and analysis. A special software module that drives all hardware components required for automated microaxial tomography and performs image acquisition and processing has been developed. First, a general image acquisition strategy is presented. Then the procedure for automation of axial tomography and the developed software module are described. The rotation precision has been experimentally proved followed by experiments with a specific biological example. For this application, also a method for the preparation of cell nuclei attached to glass fibres has been developed that allows for the first time imaging of three-dimensionally conserved, fluorescence in situ hybridisation-stained cell nuclei fixed to a glass fibre.     

Synthesis of Diacetylene‐Containing Peptide Building Blocks and Amphiphiles,Their Self‐Assembly and Topochemical Polymerization in Organic Solvents

A series of functional iodoacetylenes was prepared and converted into the corresponding diacetylene‐substituted amino acids and peptides via Pd/Cu‐promoted sp–sp carbon cross‐coupling reactions. The unsymmetrically substituted diacetylenes can be incorporated into oligopeptides without a change in the oligopeptide strand's directionality. Thus, a series of oligopeptide‐based, amphiphilic diacetylene model compounds was synthesized, and their self‐organization as well as their UV‐induced topochemical polymerizability was investigated in comparison to related polymer‐substituted macromonomers. Solution‐phase IR spectroscopy, gelation experiments, and UV spectroscopy helped to confirm that a minimum of five N‐H???O?C hydrogen‐bonding sites was required in order to obtain reliable aggregation into stable β‐sheet‐type secondary structures in organic solvents. Furthermore, the non‐equidistant spacing of these hydrogen‐bonding sites was proven to invariably lead to β‐sheets with a parallel β‐strand orientation, and the characteristic IR‐spectroscopic signatures of the latter in organic solution was identified. Scanning force micrographs of the organogels revealed that compounds with six hydrogen‐bonding sites gave rise to high aspect ratio nanoscopic fibrils with helical superstructures but, in contrast to the related macromonomers, did not lead to uniform supramolecular polymers. The UV‐induced topochemical polymerization within the β‐sheet aggregates was successful, proving parallel β‐strand orientation and highlighting the effect of the number and pattern of N‐H???O?C hydrogen‐bonding sites as well as the hydrophobic residue in the molecular structure on the formation of higher structures and reactivity.     

Rigid star-shaped multipodes: molecules designed for molecular reinforcement

Star-like rigid multipodes consisting of an adamantane core and rigid oligophenylenes arms with various lengths were synthesized with the aim to induce molecular reinforcement effects in mixtures of such multipodes with polymer matrices. The expectations based on theoretical considerations were that multipodes display an enhanced solubility both in low molar mass solvents and in polymer matrices. We investigated the shape of such multipodes, their structure formation and dynamics in the condensed state as well as their miscibility. The finding is that the peculiar shape of such multipodes does not prevent a dense packing and crystallization in the condensed state. The solubility in low molar mass solvents can be enhanced by up to three orders of magnitude just by increasing the arm length by one phenyl group. Finally, we consider the properties of mixtures of such multipodes with polymer matrices.     

Bei der Bestimmung der Sorbins?ure in biologischen L?sungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Alkaloide

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