Preparation, characterization, surface modification and redox reactions of silver nanoparticles in the presence of tryptophan

The synthesis and characterization of water-soluble dispersions of Ag nanoparticles by the reduction of AgNO(3) using tryptophan under alkaline synthesis conditions are reported. The Ag nanoparticle formation was very slow at low concentration and rapid at extremes. For surface modification and redox reactions, manipulating the interparticles interaction controlled the size of Ag nanoparticles aggregates. Our results suggest that the replacement of the BH(4)(-) ions adsorbed on the nanoparticle surface by tryptophan destabilizes the particles and further caused aggregation. A mechanism is proposed for the formation of silver nanoparticles by tryptophan. The experimental results are supported by theoretical calculations. The Ag nanoparticles were characterized by UV-vis absorption, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy techniques.     

Valence and origin of metal-insulator transition in Mn doped SrRuO3 studied by electrical transport, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and LSDA+U calculation

We have studied the valence and electronic properties of Mn doped SrRuO₃ using electrical transport measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and local (spin) density approximation plus Coulomb interaction strength calculation (LSDA+U). The resistivity data revealed that the system undergoes transition from metal to insulator at the critical Mn doping level, x∼0.2, which is accompanied by the structural transition from orthorhombic to tetragonal crystal symmetry. Besides, the significant reduction of the spectral weight at the coherent zone (0.8 eV) of the valence band is observed for x>0.2. The core XPS spectra suggest that both the transition elements exist in the mixed ionic pair, Ru⁺⁴/Ru⁺⁵↔Mn⁺³/Mn⁺⁴. The detail analysis of the results suggests that the Coulomb correlation effect in conjugation with localization of the charge carriers predominate over the mixed ionic pair effect and responsible for the metal-insulator transition in the series.     

Examining the mechanism of action of a kinesin inhibitor using stable isotope labeled inhibitors for cross-linking (SILIC)

It is difficult to determine a chemical inhibitor's binding site in multiprotein mixtures, particularly when high-resolution structural studies are not straightforward. Building upon previous research involving photo-cross-linking and the use of mixtures of stable isotopes, we report a method, Stable Isotope Labeled Inhibitors for Cross-linking (SILIC), for mapping a small molecule inhibitor's binding site in its target protein. In SILIC, structure-activity relationship data is used to design inhibitor analogues that incorporate a photo-cross-linking group along with either natural or 'heavy' stable isotopes. An equimolar mixture of these inhibitor analogues is cross-linked to the target protein to yield a robust signature for identifying inhibitor-modified peptide fragments in complex mass spectrometry data. As a proof of concept, we applied this approach to an ATP-competitive inhibitor of kinesin-5, a widely conserved motor protein required for cell division and an anticancer drug target. This analysis, along with mutagenesis studies, suggests that the inhibitor binds at an allosteric site in the motor protein.     

Perturbation theory of polar hard Gaussian overlap fluid mixtures

A perturbation theory of polar hard Gaussian overlap fluid mixture is discussed. Explicit analytic expressions for the second and third varial coefficients are given. Numerical results are estimated for the thermodynamic properties of quadrupolar hard Gaussian overlap fluid and fluid mixture. It is found that the excess free energy and internal energy depend on concentrationsc ₁,c ₂, molecular diameter ratioR, shape parameterK and the quadrupole momentsQ*₁,Q*₂.     

Synthesis of nanosized silver colloids by microwave dielectric heating

Silver nanosized crystallites have been synthesized in aqueous and polyols viz., ethylene glycol and glycerol, using a microwave technique. Dispersions of colloidal silver have been prepared by the reduction of silver nitrate both in the presence and absence of stabilizer poly(vinylpyrolidone) (PVP). It was observed that PVP is capable of complexing and stabilizing Ag nanoparticles formed through the reduction of Ag⁺ ions in water and ethylene glycol. In the case of ethylene glycol, it has been shown that the use of PVP leads to particles with a high degree of stability. The colloids are stable in glycerol for months even in the absence of stabilizer.     

Universal multiplicity hypothesis of QCD: Bounds on quark gluon coupling,quark mass and confinement region

Assuming the validity of the universal multiplicity hypothesis of quantum chromodynamics, we estimate bounds on quark gluon coupling (α_S) and quark mass (m) from the experimental data on charged hadron multiplicities. We obtain 0.3 < α_S < 0.5 and m ≈ 100 MeV. Our analysis also suggests the universal quark confinement region to be ≈ O (m_π^?1). Comparison with experiment is made for both the hadronic and leptonic induced reactions.     

Effect of orientation,anisotropy, and water on the relaxation behavior of nylon 6 from 4.2 to 300°K

The relaxation behavior of nylon 6 from 4.2 to 300°K was investigated as a function of orientation, anisotropy and moisture content by using an inverted free-oscillating torsion pendulum. Three new relaxations, δ at 53°K, ? below 4.2°K, and ζ at 20°K, were discovered. The characteristics of these new relaxations strongly depend on the orientation anisotropy, and concentration of adsorbed water in the specimens. The results suggest that the mechanism of the γ process is associated with the motions of both the polar and methylene units. The mechanism of the β relaxation is postulated to originate with motions of both non-hydrogen-bonded polar groups and polymer—water complex units. The behavior of the α peak is consistent with the hypothesis that it originates with the rupture of interchain hydrogen bonding due to the motions of long-chain segments in the amorphous regions. Finally, the data strongly support the proposition that two types of water, tightly bound and loosely bound, exist in nylon 6.     

Comparative study of p‐amino benzhydrazide and m‐amino benzhydrazide by free radicals and free electron transfer

The bimolecular electron transfer from p‐amino benzhydrazide (PABH) and its meta‐derivative (m‐amino benzhydrazide (MABH)) to specific one‐electron oxidant results in the formation of anilino radical. In case of PABH, reaction with ^?OH radicals results in the synchronous formation of adduct as well as anilino radical. The interesting observation is that the yield of the anilino radical increases with increase in pH. The effect of substitution also has a significant effect on the formation of adduct. In case of MABH, significant yield of anilino radical gets form on reaction with ^?OH radical. The free radical electron transfer from PABH and MABH to parent radical cation of non‐polar solvent also results in the formation of anilino radical only suggesting that the radical cation of PABH and MABH has short life time. The above results were supported by quantum chemical calculations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.