Dialdehyde starch‐crosslinked chitosan films and their antimicrobial effects

For improved mechanical and water‐swelling properties of chitosan films, a series of transparent films were prepared with dialdehyde starch as a crosslinking agent. Fourier transform infrared and X‐ray analysis results demonstrated that the formation of Schiff's base disturbed the crystallization of chitosan. The mechanical properties and water‐swelling properties of the films were significantly improved. The best values of the tensile strength and breaking elongation were 113.1 MPa and 27.0%, respectively, when the dialdehyde starch content was 5%. All the crosslinked films still retained obvious antimicrobial effects toward S. aureus and E. coli, and they showed potential for biomedical applications. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 993–997, 2003     

Melt rheology of polylactide/montmorillonite nanocomposites

In this article, the linear and nonlinear shear rheological behaviors of polylactide (PLA)/clay (organophilic‐montmorillonite) nanocomposites (PLACNs) were investigated by an Advanced Rheology Expanded System rheometer. The nanocomposites were prepared by master batch method using a twin‐screw extruder with poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) as a compatibilizer. The presence of org‐MMT leads to obvious pseudo‐solid‐like behaviors of nanocomposite melts. The behaviors caused by the formation of a “percolating network” derived from the reciprocity among the strong related sheet particles. Therefore, the storage moduli, loss moduli, and dynamic viscosities of PLACNs show a monotonic increase with MMT content. Nonterminal behaviors exists in PLACNs nanocomposites. Besides the PLACNs melts show a greater shear thinning tendency than pure PLA melt because of the preferential orientation of the MMT layers. Therefore, PLACNs have higher moduli but better processibility compared with pure PLA. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 3189–3196, 2007     

Medicinal Organometallic Chemistry: Designing Metal Arene Complexes as Anticancer Agents

The field of medicinal inorganic chemistry is rapidly advancing. In particular organometallic complexes have much potential as therapeutic and diagnostic agents. The carbon‐bound and other ligands allow the thermodynamic and kinetic reactivity of the metal ion to be controlled and also provide a scaffold for functionalization. The establishment of structure–activity relationships and elucidation of the speciation of complexes under conditions relevant to drug testing and formulation are crucial for the further development of promising medicinal applications of organometallic complexes. Specific examples involving the design of ruthenium and osmium arene complexes as anticancer agents are discussed.     

Apparatus for High-Resolution Solid Hydrogen Matrix Isolation Spectroscopy and Its Application

Apparatus integrating a Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer and a mid-infrared difference frequency generation (DFG) laser spectrometer was built for the study of the matrix isolation spectrum in solid molecular hydrogen. A 3-cm-long molecular hydrogen crystal was grown in a liquid-helium Dewar, and its infrared absorption spectrum in the 1-5 μm region was recorded to test the system. The W₀(0) (ν=0←0, J=6←0) line around 2410 cm⁻¹ of solid hydrogen was investigated with the DFG laser spectroscopy. High-resolution matrix isolation spectrum of CO² co-deposited with hydrogen on a BaF₂ cold plate at liquid-helium temperature was studied.     

Genetically Encoded Bioluminescent Indicator for ERK2 Dimer in Living Cells

In this study, a genetically encoded bioluminescent indicator for ERK2 dimer was developed with the split Renilla luciferase complementation method, in which the formation of ERK2 dimer induces a spontaneous emission of bioluminescence in living cells. In response to extracellular stimuli, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) or 17β‐estradiol (E2), extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) is phosphorylated by its upstream kinase MEK, and also phosphorylates its substrates in various regions of the cell, including the nucleus. Phosphorylated ERK2 is led to form its dimer, thereby transporting itself into the nucleus. We demonstrated with the indicator that stimulation with EGF or E2 induces the formation of ERK2 dimer in living MCF‐7 cells. The dynamics of this dimer formation was examined and discussed.     

Prädikatives und funktionales Denken in der Wahrscheinlichkeitsrechnung

In order to emphasize functional thinking in mathematical education, arguments are brought forward for an early and frequent use of tree diagrams in teaching stochastics. Since set and tree diagrams can be regarded as two sides of the same matter, Bayes’ theorem, which is strongly associated with predicative set diagrams, need not be dealt with explicitly any longer. Set diagrams are replaced by tree diagrams that are labelled in detail and by tree inversion as a functional instrument of dealing with conditioned probabilities. This technique is demonstrated by three typical problems in the context of conditioned probability. Finally, two letters by Pascal to Fermat are analysed in order to illustrate that predicative and functional approaches were already pursued in the early stages of probability calculus in the 17^th century.     

Synthesis of some chiral liquid crystals and study of the effect of intramolecular hydrogen bonding on the phase behaviour

The synthesis of three new series of chiral Schiff's bases containing benzilideneaniline and 2-hydroxybenzilideneaniline moieties as mesogenic cores is presented. Differential scanning calorimetry, optical polarizing microscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements were used to study the phase transition temperatures and behaviour. The results reveal that most of these materials show chiral smectic mesomorphism.