ELIHKSIR Web Server: Evolutionary Links Inferred for Histidine Kinase Sensors Interacting with Response Regulators

Two-component systems (TCS) are signaling machinery that consist of a histidine kinases (HK) and response regulator (RR). When an environmental change is detected, the HK phosphorylates its cognate response regulator (RR). While cognate interactions were considered orthogonal, experimental evidence shows the prevalence of crosstalk interactions between non-cognate HK–RR pairs. Currently, crosstalk interactions have been demonstrated for TCS proteins in a limited number of organisms. By providing specificity predictions across entire TCS networks for a large variety of organisms, the ELIHKSIR web server assists users in identifying interactions for TCS proteins and their mutants. To generate specificity scores, a global probabilistic model was used to identify interfacial couplings and local fields from sequence information. These couplings and local fields were then used to construct Hamiltonian scores for positions with encoded specificity, resulting in the specificity score. These methods were applied to 6676 organisms available on the ELIHKSIR web server. Due to the ability to mutate proteins and display the resulting network changes, there are nearly endless combinations of TCS networks to analyze using ELIHKSIR. The functionality of ELIHKSIR allows users to perform a variety of TCS network analyses and visualizations to support TCS research efforts.     

P213 BN: a novel large-cell boron nitride polymorph

A new boron nitride polymorph, P2₁3 BN (space group: P2₁3), is investigated by first-principles calculations, including its structural properties, stability, elastic properties, anisotropy and electronic properties. It is found that the new boron nitride polymorph P2₁3 BN is mechanically, dynamically and thermodynamically stable. The bulk modulus (B), shear modulus (G) and Young's modulus of P2₁3 BN are 91 GPa, 41 GPa and 107 GPa, respectively, all of which are larger than that of Y carbon and TY carbon. By comparing with c-BN, the Young's modulus, shear modulus and Poisson's ratio of P2₁3 BN show tiny anisotropy in the (001), (010), (100) and (111) planes. At the same time, in contrast with most boron nitride polymorphs, P2₁3 BN is a semiconductor material with a smaller band gap of 1.826 eV. The Debye temperature and the anisotropic sound velocities of P2₁3 BN are also investigated in this work.     

Complementary relation between quantum entanglement and entropic uncertainty

Quantum entanglement is regarded as one of the core concepts,which is used to describe the nonclassical correlation between subsystems,and entropic uncertainty relation plays a vital role in quantum precision measurement.It is well known that entanglement of formation can be expressed by von Neumann entropy of subsystems for arbitrary pure states.An interesting question is naturally raised:is there any intrinsic correlation between the entropic uncertainty relation and quantum entanglement?Or if the relation can be applied to estimate the entanglement.In this work,we focus on exploring the complementary relation between quantum entanglement and the entropic uncertainty relation.The results show that there exists an inequality relation between both of them for an arbitrary two-qubit system,and specifically the larger uncertainty will induce the weaker entanglement of the probed system,and vice versa.Besides,we use randomly generated states as illustrations to verify our results.Therefore,we claim that our observations might offer and support the validity of using the entropy uncertainty relation to estimate quantum entanglement.     

Simple and Sensitive Multi-components Detection Using Synthetic Nitrogen-doped Carbon Dots Based on Soluble Starch

Journal of Fluorescence - Although carbon dots (CDs) as fluorescent sensors have been widely exploited, multi-component detection using CDs without tedious surface modification is always a...     

垂直各向异性Ho3Fe5O12薄膜的外延生长与其异质结构的自旋输运

垂直磁各向异性稀土-铁-石榴石纳米薄膜在自旋电子学中具有重要应用前景.本文使用溅射方法在(111)取向掺杂钇钪的钆镓石榴石(Gd_0.63Y_2.37Sc₂Ga₃O₁₂,GYSGG)单晶衬底上外延生长了2—100 nm厚的钬铁石榴石(Ho₃Fe₅O₁₂,HoIG)薄膜,并进一步在HoIG上沉积了3 nm Pt薄膜.测量了室温下HoIG的磁各向异性和HoIG/Pt异质结构的自旋相关输运性质.结果显示,厚度薄至2 nm的HoIG薄膜(小于2个单胞层)在室温仍具有铁磁性,且由于外延应变,2—60 nm厚HoIG薄膜都具有很强的垂直磁各向异性,有效垂直各向异性场最大达350 mT;异质结构样品表现出非常可观的反常霍尔效应和“自旋霍尔/各向异性”磁电阻效应,前者在HoIG厚度小于4 nm时开始缓慢下降,而后者当HoIG厚度小于7 nm时急剧减小,说明相较于反常霍尔效应,磁电阻效应对HoIG的体磁性相对更加敏感;此外,自旋相关热电压随HoIG厚度减薄在整个厚度范围以指数方式下降,说明遵从热激化磁振子运动规律的自旋塞贝克效应是其主要贡献者.本文结果表明HoIG纳米薄膜具有可调控的垂直磁各向异性,厚度大于4 nm的HoIG/Pt异质结构具有高效的自旋界面交换作用,是自旋电子学应用发展的一个重要候选材料.     

ChemInform Abstract: A New n = 4 Layered Ruddlesden—Popper Phase K2.5Bi2.5Ti4O13 Showing Stoichiometric Hydration.

Polycrystalline K_2.5Bi_2.5Ti₄O₁₃ (I) is prepared by solid state reaction of KNO₃, Bi₂O₃, and TiO₂ (Al₂O₃ crucible, 750 °C, 16 h).     

Self-assembly and crystal structures of coordination polymers constructed by 4′-hydroxyisoflavone-3′-sulfonates with Cs(I) and Rb(I)

Four coordination polymers, [CsL1(H₂O)₂]·H₂O (1), [CsL2(H₂O)₂]·H₂O (2), [Rb₂(L2)₂(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O (3) and [RbL3(H₂O)] (4), were synthesized by Cs(I), Rb(I) and 4′-hydroxyisoflavone-3′-sulfonates L1–L3 [L1 = 7-methoxy-4′-hydroxyisoflavone-3′-sulfonate, L2 = 7-ethoxy-4′-hydroxyisoflavone-3′-sulfonate, L3 = 7-ethoxy-4′,5-dihydroxyisoflavone-3′-sulfonate]. The crystal structures of 1–4 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The influences of 4′-hydroxyisoflavone-3′-sulfonate ligands and Cs⁺, Rb⁺ on their structural features and self-assembly were investigated. The sulfonates of L1–L3 not only coordinate with Cs⁺ or Rb⁺ directly, but also bridge the organic region and the inorganic region in 1–4. Non-covalent interactions such as coordination interaction, π–π stacking interaction and hydrogen bonding assembled 1–4 into 3-D networks together with the electrostatic interactions between Cs⁺, Rb⁺ and the sulfonate anions.     

Palladium-Catalyzed Regioselective Synthesis of 3-Arylindoles from N-Ts-Anilines and Styrenes

A Pd-catalyzed intermolecular oxidative annulation between N-Ts-anilines and styrenes was developed. This method offers a straightforward and robust approach to a wide range of 3-arylindoles using readily available starting materials with good functional-group tolerance and high regioselectivity and efficiency. Further elaboration of the products obtained from this process provided access to highly functionalized and structurally diverse indoles, for example, 3-(indol-3-yl)carbazoles, 1,9-dihydropyrrolo-[2,3-b]carbazoles, and 3′-aryl-3,5′-biindoles.     

Elemental Analysis of Stone Fruits by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Direct Mercury Analysis

This study reports the concentrations of eight trace essential (Zn, Mn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, V, and Se) and four toxic elements (Pb, As, Cd, and Hg) in commonly consumed stone fruits from South Korea. The samples were digested by microwave-induced combustion and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The concentrations of mercury were analyzed by direct mercury analysis (DMA). The analytical techniques were validated by linearity, limits of detection and quantification, precision, recovery, and for accuracy by analyzing a spinach leave-certified reference material; satisfactory results were obtained in all cases. The concentrations of essential trace elements varied considerably among the stone fruits. Generally stone fruits contained comparatively high concentrations of Zn (0.946 to 7.86?µg/g) and Mn (below the limit of detection to 1.66?µg/g), while lower contents of Cu (0.214 to 1.24?µg/g), Cr (0.032 to 0.114?µg/g), Ni (0.006 to 0.091?µg/g), Co (0.004 to 0.016?µg/g), V (below the limit of detection to 0.023?µg/g), and Se (0.0002 to 0.005?µg/g) were obtained. The concentrations (µg/g) of toxic metals were 0.007 (peach) to 0.016 (cherry) for Pb, 0.001 (plum) to 0.007 (cherry) for As, 0.002 (apricot and cherry) to 0.003 (peach) for Cd, and 0.0003 (peach) to 0.0016 (jujube) for Hg. The values for the estimated dietary intakes, target hazard quotients, and hazard indices were lower than the recommended safety limits by World Health Organization. Therefore, the analyzed stone fruits were deemed to be safe for human consumption.     

Equilibrium phase behavior of aqueous two-phase systems containing 17R4/L64 and citrates

The cloud points (CPs) of the copolymers 17R4 and L64 were first measured, and then the effects of salts ((NH₄)₃C₆H₅O₇, K₃C₆H₅O₇) on 17R4 and L64 were researched. After finishing the work described above, the temperature (278.15, 283.15, and 288.15) K of aqueous two-phase systems was determined, which consist of 17R4-(NH₄)₃C₆H₅O₇, 17R4-K₃C₆H₅O₇, L64-(NH₄)₃C₆H₅O₇, and L64-K₃C₆H₅O₇. Finally, the liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) data of binodal curve and the tie line for 17R4-(NH₄)₃C₆H₅O₇ aqueous two- phase systems (ATPSs) 17R4-K₃C₆H₅O₇ ATPSs, L64-(NH₄)₃C₆H₅O₇ ATPSs, and L64-K₃C₆H₅O₇ ATPSs were obtained. Nonlinear fitting of the empirical equation was used for making the diagram. The results showed that the change in the size of the two-phase areas increases with the increase of temperature. The capacity of the salts to induce phase segregation follows the Hofmeister series, that is, K₃C₆H₅O₇?>?(NH₄)₃C₆H₅O₇. In addition, the findings also showed that the phase separation ability of 17R4 is better than that of L64.