Phase separation of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals on a chemically patterned substrate

The surface-induced structure formation of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) on a chemically patterned substrate was studied for the first time. The patterns on the substrate were successfully transferred to the PDLC film, resulting in alternating LC-rich and polymer-rich phases. This simple approach offers a new means of organizing micrometer-sized LC domains into well-ordered structures in a polymer matrix of PDLCs.     

Vertical ionization potentials of radicals by the MINDo/3 method

Several methods are used to estimate the ionization potentials of radicals by the MINDO/3 procedure. The results are in quite good agreement with each other and with experiment.     

DWBA predicted relative product rotational state distribution for H + D2 → HD + D

Relative product rotational state distributions for H + D₂ → HD + D are reported based on the DWBA of Suck Salk, and are shown to agree reasonably well with observations. The rotational peak positions are found to have good correlation with computed “semiclassical” angular momentum.     

Analytical and preparative native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis: Investigation of the recombinant and natural major grass pollen allergen Phl p 2

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot are amongst the most popular methods for allergen characterization, such as comparison of recombinant allergens with their natural counterparts. Native PAGE was evaluated as a possible robust and simple method offering high-resolution capacity for characterization of the major grass pollen allergen Phl p 2. Analytical separation of recombinant Phl p 2 provided a superior quality control in terms of homogeneity and, after Western blotting, immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactivity. Separation of natural Phl p 2 identified two major isoforms which were shown to have different N-terminal sequences and IgE-binding properties. After isolation using preparative native PAGE in combination with electrodialysis, both isoforms were investigated by specific proteolysis and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The results demonstrate differences in the primary structures and that the recombinant counterpart corresponds exactly to one isoform. Analytical and preparative native PAGE thus proved to be powerful tools for the investigation of allergen isoforms and quality control of recombinant counterparts.     

Temperature dependent energies of formation for hydrogen-bonded water clusters using a modified mndo and a statistical mechanics approach

Employing a modified MNDO treatment, the hydrogen-bond energies of large water clusters are computed. Considering a statistical mechanical treatment in association with the computed results, an expression of temperature dependent formation energy for water clusters to treat varying conditions of temperature and ambient humidities is introduced. Encouragingly, predicted formation energies (energies of formation) are found to be well correlated with the classical theory of capillarity approximation for the Gibbs free energy change. Based on the predicted energies of formation, stability of water clusters is discussed as a function of cluster size.     

Spin relaxation in the amorphous spin glass Al2Mn3Si3O12

Neutron scattering measurements on the amorphous spin glass Al₂Mn₃Si₃O₁₂ have been made using the time-of-flight method. The scattering lawS(Q, ) reveals a quasielastic line with temperature andQ-dependent linewidth and an elastic line with constant intensity between 15 and 294K. The linewidth of the quasielastic scattering diminishes with decreasing temperature following an Arrhenius law at least down to 15K. Deviations from this exponential form are strictly correlated with an increase of the elastic intensity below 15K. We favour the opinion that this effect is caused by the instrumental resolution rather than by the onset of spin glass freezing.