Sets of tiles with a prescribed number of tilings

Summary For every k2 and r1 there exists a set of k prototiles that admits exactly r distinct tilings. All the tilings obtained are periodic.     

Effect of time on the interfacial and foaming properties of beta-lactoglobulin/acacia gum electrostatic complexes and coacervates at pH 4.2

The electrostatic complexation between beta-lactoglobulin and acacia gum was investigated at pH 4.2 and 25 degrees C. The binding isotherm revealed a spontaneous exothermic reaction, leading to a DeltaHobs = -2108 kJ mol(-1) and a saturation protein to polysaccharide weight mixing ratio of 2:1. Soluble electrostatic complexes formed in these conditions were characterized by a hydrodynamic diameter of 119 +/- 0.6 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.097. The effect of time on the interfacial and foaming properties of these soluble complexes was investigated at a concentration of 0.1 wt % at two different times after mixing (4 min, referred as t approximately 0 h and t = 24 h). At t approximately 0 h, the mixture is mainly made of aggregating soluble electrostatic complexes, whereas after 24 h these complexes have already insolubilize to form liquid coacervates. The surface elasticity, viscosity and phase angle obtained at low frequency (0.01 Hz) using oscillating bubble tensiometry revealed higher fluidity and less rigidity in the film formed at t approximately 0 h. This observation was confirmed by diminishing bubble experiments coupled with microscopy of the thin film. It was thicker, more homogeneous and contained more water at t approximately 0 h as compared to t = 24 h (thinner film, less water). This led to very different gas permeability's of Kt approximately 0 h = 0.021 cm s(-1) and Kt=24 h) = 0.449 cm s(-1), respectively. Aqueous foams produced with the beta-lactoglobulin/acacia gum electrostatic complexes or coacervates exhibited very different stability. The former (t approximately 0 h) had a stable volume, combining low drainage rate and mainly air bubble disproportionation as the destabilization mechanism. By contrast, using coacervates aged for 24 h, the foam was significantly less stable, combining fast liquid drainage and air bubble destabilization though fast gas diffusion followed by film rupture and bubble coalescence. The strong effect of time on the air/water interfacial properties of the beta-lactoglobulin/acacia gum electrostatic complexes can be understood by their reorganization at the interface to form a coacervate phase that is more fluid/viscous at t approximately 0 h vs rigid/elastic at t = 24 h.     

VISIBLE CHEMILUMINESCENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REACTION BETWEEN METHEMOGLOBIN OR OXYHEMOGLOBIN WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Abstract Visible chemiluminescence is emitted in the irreversible deactivation of hemoglobin or methemoglobin with excess H₂O₂. The emission takes place in two phases. The most intense one lasts a few seconds and is followed by a second phase of lower intensity that remains for longer periods. This second phase presents chaotic or sustained oscillations. Free radicals are implicated in the luminescent process since the emission can be reduced by free radical scavengers such as 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8,-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox) or ascorbic acid. These additives lead to a delay in reaching the maximum intensity, which can be related to their consumption, implying substantial recycling of the hemoprotein. Chemiluminescence is also observed in the oxidation of hemin by H₂O₂, suggesting a role for the heme group in the processes leading to the excited state production. The lower intensity observed in the presence of hemin can be related to the contribution of the globin chains.     

cis-UROCANIC ACID FAILED TO AFFECT in vitro HUMAN LANGERHANS CELL ALLOSTIMULATORY FUNCTION

Abstract— -Urocanic acid (UCA) represents the major ultraviolet B (UVB, 290–320 nm)-absorbing component of the skin. Trans-UCA is naturally produced in the stratum corneum and converts to the cis isomer upon UVB irradiation. In this study, we examined the effect of purified cis -UCA (about 99% of cis isomer) on the human Langerhans cell (LC) allostimulatory function by using the mixed epidermal cell-lymphocyte reaction (MELR). We found that addition of increasing amounts (6.5–400 μg/mL) of purified cis-UCA or (rara-UCA did not modify the T-cell response supported by enriched LC (eLC: 8–25% LC) as well as purified LC (pLC: 70–90% LC) suspensions. Because cis-UCA had no effect on the allostimulatory function of untreated LC, we investigated whether this compound could modify T-cell proliferation induced by UVB-irradiated LC. The UVB exposure of eLC or pLC to 100 J/m² significantly inhibited the capacity of both suspensions to mount a T-cell response. However, addition of cis- UCA did not potentiate this UVB-induced immunosuppression. The eLC or pLC were then incubated with cis-UCA for 18 h at 37°C and washed before adding to allogeneic T cells. The obtained proliferative response was similar to that induced by control LC incubated in medium alone, demonstrating that pretreatment with cis -UCA did not alter human LC function. In conclusion, these results strongly suggest that cis-UCA has no direct effect on human LC antigen-presenting function.     

Greffage radiochimique de l'acrylonitrile dans la masse de films de PTFE

Acrylonitrole can be grafted in the bulk of PTFE films provided the monomer is allowed to diffuse into the grafted zones. For a given radiation dose, the amount of grafting is higher the lower the dose-rate. Even higher grafting efficiencies are reached under conditions of discontinuous irradiations, the reacting mixture being stored in the dark in a thermostat between successive irradiations. The grafting yield is higher the higher the storage temperature. The bulk grafting involves a progressive swelling of the grafted polyacrylonitrile branches by acrylonitrile monomer via a dipole-dipole association of the -CN groups of the monomer with the -CN groups in the polymer.     

Helicity‐Encoded Molecular Strands: Efficient Access by the Hydrazone Route and Structural Features

Control over the folding of molecular strands may be achieved by appropriate choice of the constituting subunits, in particular for chains of specific heterocycles such as sequences of directly connected pyridine (py) and pyrimidine (pym) rings, which are known to fold into extended helical structures. Since the hydrazone (hyz) group represents an isomorphic analogue of a py site, the condensation of hydrazine and carboxaldehyde derivatives of pym offers a very efficient approach to strands incorporating hyz instead of py units and constituted by sequences of alternating hyz and pym groups. A series of such strands of different lengths, up to ten hyz units, i.e., 1 – 7 , were synthesized. Their spectral properties indicate that they fold indeed into helical shapes. Extensive characterization was performed in solution by ¹HNMR spectroscopy and in the solid state by determination of the crystal structures of eight such strands. They all display the expected helical geometry with up to 3 ¹/₃ turns and direct stacking contacts. The efficiency and flexibility of the synthetic approach as well as its wide potential for generation of diversity through lateral decoration make the (hyz? pym) subunit a particularly attractive helicity codon.     

Chimeric (alpha/beta + alpha)-peptide ligands for the BH3-recognition cleft of Bcl-XL: critical role of the molecular scaffold in protein surface recognition

Molecules that bind to specific surface sites on proteins are of great interest from both fundamental and practical perspectives. We are exploring a ligand development strategy that is based on oligomers with discrete folding propensities ("foldamers"); we target a specific cleft on the cancer-associated protein Bcl-xL because this system is well characterized structurally. In vivo, this cleft binds to alpha-helical segments (BH3 domains) of other proteins. We evaluated several types of helical foldamer, built entirely from beta-amino acid residues or from mixtures of alpha- and beta-amino acid residues, and ultimately identified foldamers in the latter class that bind very tightly to Bcl-xL. Our results suggest that combining different types of foldamer backbones will be an effective and general strategy for creating high-affinity and specific ligands for protein surface sites.